Race with the Snow

Last week it was a race against the snow to get in the last harvest of the year; turnips, carrots, lettuce. Though the snow was really heavy and persistent, Mike and I were super excited to be back in the garden after a weekend at the Great Lakes CSA Conference.

Surprisingly we were able to salvage a sizable amount of lettuce, and we created quite a gorgeous mix of greens for the Holiday Market in Boyne City; Centers from the weathered lettuce heads, pea tendrils, stunning purple-y reds from the radicchio, fancy frills from the ende Frisee, a tad bit mixers of tatsoy and spinach. Mmm. I was blessed to made a killer salad for the Thanksgiving gathering I attended; lettuce mix, carrots, breakfast radishes, watermelon radishes, turnips, broccoli, croutons, with an improvised avocado salad dressing. It was extravagant to say the least. Yum.

But now I am going through withdrawals from lack of time in the dirt.

These sways,
the rhythm of this world,
cycles lost and found,
drowning in lakes and flesh frozen into snow angel molds,
I haven’t a word to say to you tonight.

Naturalist and Explorer

This is me hugging a tree in Humboldt Park, Chicago. Humboldt Park is 207 acres on the northwest side of the city. I have lived in three different apartments in the Humboldt Park neighborhood. I dug it. It was pretty good living for the city dweller in me. But today, cozy in my snowy country home, I was finally curious enough about the history of who this Humboldt character was. Who was this man who was honored enough to get a 207 acre city park named after him?

Turns out his name was "Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander Freiherr von Humboldt." He was German. He lived from 1769 to 1859. He was a naturalist and explorer, but never made it through Chicago!

Check this out. He wrote a book called, "Cosmos: Draft of a Physical Description of The World." Now I am VERY curious.

Be Happy

Be happy! It makes the world a better place.

Celeriac

I pulled Celeriac today to clear a row for shallots. They had a celery smell to them. I day dreamed of lazy brunches with my family in the city sipping bloody marys. I dreamed of staying warm in small town cozy apartments throughout the winter’s cold.

The Celeriac is sometimes known as "a vegetable octopus" or "Rastafarian turnip." It is a tangled root ball and if you can peal it to it’s core, use it raw or cooked. I have not yet tried the Celeriac. After harvesting four dozen of them I feel like I am meant to put on my witches hat and brew up a Celeriac concoction, drink it and grow some roots.

The Layers Show:

Brown and Pink Vest with Fake Fur Hood, Kmart Seattle, $16
Biker Geek Glasses, Prescription by USA Sport, Internet, $100
20 Use Tube Cloth, used as light hat, REI Chicago, $18
Earrings, Gifted, Free
Green Fancy Girl Camo Zip Turtle Neck, Woolrich, Goldmine Petoskey, $2.50
Pink Sweater, Goldmine Petoskey, $2.50
Having all the Celeriac Harvested, Priceless

Seasons of the Moon

So, as I mentioned yesterday, I was laughing at the moon. I stared at the horizon towards town, speckled with its electric buzzing lights. I cricked my neck up so I could gawk at the breathtaking, and breath-giving moon. This photo was from last week. Last night the moon appeared full. I think today it is at 100%. It shown so bright my darkness could not exist.

To a farmer, lost in his field after dark on a moonless night, the distant glow of a Wal-Mart may be comforting and reassuring, “Ah, yes, there is other life out there.” But on other nights, when the moon outshines Wal-Mart, Home depot and the Casino! I mean, THAT is something to ask questions about. Who controls this massive light bulb in the night sky? It’s luminous is unlike any other light. A cool passing cloud cover dances by like a mystically narrated lamp shade. I stare up and laugh at the immense power that shines down on me.

Tonight this power shines down on me. Other nights I am left in the darkness to strengthen my faith in the galactic orbits, these seasons of the moon.

I think about the excitement Christmas time brings, as we prepare to celebrate the coming of the longer, warmer brighter days. If I didn’t have electricity, this moon would become my best friend, second in line to sun, (though I spose it depends on what style of life style you prefer.) Nights can be so peaceful and still. There is great opportunity to listen close to the stillness of the earth and sky; and the moon shouts down like a close friend,

“You are loved. Keep dancing.”

Fashion Photo #2

Ok, I am going back a few months in time with this photo, back to September. In fact, I think this photo may have been taken on my 24th birthday! What a beautiful weekend at harvest gathering. I love this photo cuz my outfit goes so well with the tent, this time, bottom to top….

Farmer Overalls, Goldmine P-town, $2.50
Winter Staple Green Woolie, Value Village, Sea-town, $2.00
White hooded cotton thermal, Somewhere between NY and far West, $1.00
Music Note tee shirt, Target, Chicago, Humboldt Park, $10
Necklace, Gift from South West adventures, Love
Smile, ragged, elated, Priceless
Hoop Earrings, Kmart, P-town, 3 for $9
Pink Snow Cap, Walgreen’s, Sea-town, $10
Tent, Marmot, Borrowed from Family, Love
Trees, Priceless!

So this photo is my farewell to summer, fall, and Indian summer. It has been super blissful. But now we hit hard into the transition into the winter months.

Tonight I worshiped the moon. I stood where the boardwalk meets the water. The moon blasted light down on to the earth. This powerful light over shadowing even the bright buzzing lights of the new Walgreen’s complex. I laughed with the moon as I asked it silly questions.

Fashion Photo #1

Welcome to the Layers Show:
From top to bottom,

Pink Snow Cap, Walgreens Seattle , $10
Brown and Pink Vest with Fake Fur Hood, Kmart Seattle, $16
Brown wind breaker, Columbia from REI Chicago, $28
Blue Merino Wool Sweater, Sal Army Petoskey, $1.00
MI NORMAL tee shirt, Bioneers Traverse City, $25 (with membership)
Black Smartwool long sleeve tee, Getz Marquette, $50
White with heart print thermal, Kmart Petoskey $16
Erlewine Sisters Skirt, Goldmine Petoskey, $2.50
Black Leggings, Kmart Petoskey, $1
Leg Warmers, Stewart House Free Table Seattle, Free
Smartwool socks, Moosejaw Chicago, 3 for $20
Earthshoes, Whole Foods Seattle, $70

That's a total of less than a dollar investment every day for a year. Stay tuned for more Fashion Photos. I'll keep ya warm with all my layers.