beauty that moves

every girl needs a good cut

Two posts in one day, crazy but I just had to share my new haircut. This is mostly for friends and family who visit here and have pretty much known me to have only one hairstyle, long. I tried to capture it this morning before the deed was done. Three weeks ago I had four inches taken off, so this is my short/long look.

Now, the new mane... prepare for many angles... I'm pleased as punch and feeling quite liberated with my new doo.

The layers... the movement... the connection/kinship to my girlhood hero.  Feeling sassy (I mean ultra cool, as Leather would) and looking forward to a getaway to Boston this weekend. Any restaurant or crafty recommendations? We're going on a little homeschooling adventure, just the three of us. On the agenda; The Freedom Trail, Science Museum, and Fenway Park Tour. Other than that, we'll figure it out as we go. But do share your favorite spots, it would be most helpful!

dessert, then breakfast

Apple pie for dessert...

Apple pie for breakfast...

Adam's Grandmother approves of this practice. I'm happy to heed the advice of a woman turning 91 this year, who still lives on her own and heats with wood, grows most of her own food, cooks on a wood stove, rises early and keeps busy with the tasks of running her homestead. Though I am sure her vitality has more to do with these things than having the occasional slice of pie for breakfast. Also, the clean Green Mountain air she breathes, that helps too.

On an unrelated note, have you heard about this?

Also...

A couple of new arrivals in the shop.

Happy Halloween!

comfort

There is restorative food and there is comfort food. In this house there is plenty of both. Please do not have the impression that it's all kale and barley around here, even if my husband and daughter sometimes feel that to be true. There are many meals prepared in our home that would make Great Memere happy to dine with us, except we do not serve baked beans and red hot dogs on Saturday nights as customary in Northern Maine. We also skip out on Creton as well, though I ate plenty of it as a child.

Comfort food is different than healing food, both have their place. 

Last night all of my houseplants were brought inside after many warm months spent outdoors. Today we wore smart-wool and hooded sweatshirts and pants under dresses and hats. There was frost in the valley. We turned the heat on for the first time and the old steam radiators began gently clanking as they got to work. 

Tonight I made Macaroni and Cheese. Making this meal brings me joy on two levels; it is Emily's favorite and most requested recipe, and I always dream a little as I prepare the dish about the life of the recipe's creator, Tasha Tudor. I could get lost in her world; with her hand dipped candles and her red wool capes against white snow and barn wood and her tiny waist always adorned with an apron. She grew a shirt for her brother once, maybe it was her son. She planted the seed, grew and harvested the flax, spun and wove the fibers into fabric and thread, and sewed the shirt. It took three years. Slow food, slow crafts, slow life. Quick to notice the world and her tiny, important gifts.

final market

The final market day of the season came and went today. Goodbyes have been said; gifts, tokens, and phone numbers have been exchanged amongst farmers and artisans. Kind and genuine words were shared in a brief closing ceremony. I've enjoyed my place in this community over these last several weeks, and I look forward to returning next season.

How did we fare on our final day? It was windy! It is the one thing that I find difficult to deal with when it comes to setting up shop in the great outdoors. Perhaps it's because I've seen one too many tents over the years be swept up into the air and thrown down twenty feet away in a twisted heap of metal. We all made it through, with messy, wind blown displays and very patient customers as we wrestled tissue paper and business cards flying out of hand. Tents were dismantled before they became airborne, and cheeks were seriously wind burned. It feels fabulous on top of my recently acquired poison ivy, but that's another story.

There are  a few remaining items that I will load into the shop here and there over the next few days, so check back as you'd like.  What I am really looking forward to is time  to finish up a few things; a friends shower gift, a housewarming gift for another friend. Starting on holiday goodies, a list that is growing each day! For the last several months I've continuously filed away new ideas, using my time to keep a plentiful stock of current designs. Patiently I've waited for the space in my schedule to play with  a few new ideas. I'm looking forward to some serious free time in the studio, and hope to have many fresh creations to share over the next month or so.

 

These are the first two from my stock to find there way into the shop. Hope your week is off to a wonderful start.

And if you are a farmer, thank you for all that you do.

this and that

A while back I wrote a post about restoring harmony with nourishing food. I asked you all to leave a comment sharing the foods you prepared when you needed balance, healing, relief from stress. I loved the responses, and today another rolled in. Thank you Heidi, I literally read your comment, wrote down the ingredients, and headed right out to the store to collect what was not on hand. Your restorative meal was just what I needed this afternoon Heidi, thank you. I let the quinoa cool to room temperature then added the other ingredients, not really a hot meal, not really a salad. Not really summer, not really winter. Perfect for transitioning.

The subtle heat of the cayenne was warming while the freshly squeezed lemon juice kept it bright and fresh. I did go a little heavy on the cayenne initially (oops) so added a splash of my favorite balsamic vinegar, the sweetness fixed that extra heat right up!

I'd love it if any of you had more healing food ideas to share in the comments.

Here is Heidi's "recipe"...

"A nice, light meal of quinoa, chopped parsley and arugula, tomatoes and green onions all mixed up with some lemon juice, cayenne pepper and olive oil does the trick for me. It's great warm or cold and I could eat it for days on end!"

Thank You!

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How about a little eye candy for the weekend. After a completely wasted trip to Joann Fabrics yesterday... not a single cute fabric to come home with. Nothing! Today I made up for it at a smaller, closer to home place. Thank goodness for the independently owned fabric stores out there.

Pretty sweet, yes? Have a great weekend!