Already some new growth on one of my new succulents. And I am finally feeling more productive. Got some good work in and then indulged in another long meandering walk exploring the neighborhood with no particular destination. Peeking into some spectacular gardens. Getting a little lost and enjoying the puzzle of placing myself in the slow expanding web of my mental map. More cooking. The end of a great short novel and a much anticipated new book await. I am really loving my current, though temporary, lifestyle and the setting of my own pace it affords. Grateful. Some of my loved ones are struggling right now and I will be keeping them in my prayers and close to my heart.

A long walk. Everything looks so ultra bright green from the last weeks rain. And I realized that I have only seen this place in the (relative) dry season. I can’t imagine the shades of green that might come in the fall. Sitting at the beach with my feet in the sand. The water was rough and hypnotizing. Listening to the wind in the trees as I fell asleep.

Congratulations. It sounds like an amazing experience.

Left over soup. Catching up with Erin on the phone. Long walk in the rain. The wet sounds and colors. Dinner turned out amazing. The best pork chops I have ever had! The house is warm and full of good smells. Warm loving conversation. Epic games of Dog vs. Cat. Starting to get a handle on our finances which aren’t as bad as I thought.

And a great shot too.

what you are going to see on mass transit. That’s the fun of it. Your post made me smile.

Last night was fun. I felt free and easy, a weight of social anxiety lifted. Made it to the service, my first scouting out of the Unitarian Church. Sand left in my shoes feels soft and comforting. A fabulous day of farmers market and cooking. Flavors and spices turned out just right. Warm house filled with the smells of baking on a rainy day. I feel the way squirrel looks smiling through fat cheeks stuffed with nuts. The whole family cozy on the couch. Steinbeck’s Red Pony waiting for me.

I love it!

The farmers market here in Ballard is un-frickin-believable. Like a dream come true. I have worked toward this goal for a long time, but for the first time it feels within reach! The displays and colors alone are breath-taking. Not only is there beautiful produce and drop dead gorgeous flower bouquets, but rolled-in butcher counters with local farm raised meets and dairy and eggs. And of course lots of beautiful cuts of fresh fish.

I bought 6 oysters caught yesterday off the east coast of the sound and we ate them on the half shell as soon as I got them home. YUM! I found almost all the ingredients for Italian Wedding Soup for our first of a new tradition – Soup Sundays. Turned out wonderfully! I spent most the afternoon in the kitchen. Froze a bunch of blueberries, which I hope to keep stocking up for the winter. The peaches are so good right now, I would love to learn how to do some canning. I baked a quiche with really good cheddar, spinach, wild mushrooms (my favorite booth), broccoli, and ham. Froze some extra filling for next time. And dinner for the rest of the week is planned – marinaded pork chops served with braised red cabbage with apples and lime, potatos au gratin with ham served with grilled radicchio, okra and eggplant curry, tacos with three colored beans, and brats with corn on the cobb.

Next week I have got to take advantage of the fruit harvest and bake up something sweet.

I’ve found lots of good resources and recipe inspiration. The market has a What’s Fresh page. A great blog Eat Local Northweat. Sustainable Ballard and Vancouver’s 100 Mile Diet site.