We are out of maple syrup again… not such a good year for syrup due to the warm weather. BUT my rhurbard is growing in awesome and I just made a batch of this strawberry-rhubarb compote. It goes great on waffles, french toast, ice cream…. I find it very appealing how strikingly similar breakfast and dessert are. I guess its just the best way to START and END the day!
Productive monday morning… Wedding platters, devos, mugs altered by baby K, a walk with Hazel and my camera led to this beautiful poppy flower. Just look at those cute baby feet smooshed into the clay – she wasn’t as big of a fan… oh newborn baby feet.
This morning was too beautiful not to sneak out on a quick walk. Spring has been around for a while but you know, the trees are still waking up. I had to get a photo of this tree that looks like it has two different blossoms blooming from the same branches – I’ve never noticed this before. And my beautiful solomon’s seal which looks like the leaves unfold as it sprouts up. Hope you have a little son shine in your life today and get out for a little walk.
This seems like a magical year for produce. I spotted this little grove of apples on camp that I’ve never noticed before. Tucked out-of-the-way is a grouping of twisted trees, surrounded by weeds and tall grass, pressed down by groups of deer that gravitate towards the fruit. Surely the herd wouldn’t mind if I picked a few. I am not sure what the varieties are but these were most definitely planted 50, 60, 70 years ago – by the size of the trees.
The way to get the best apples is to climb the tree which inevitably scrapes your arms or any exposed skin. I try to pick the biggest and best apples I can see. I think these would qualify as “organic” as I may as well be the only one who has picked here in a LONG time, much less sprayed the tree with anything. My first fear was that the apples would be bad, ridden with bugs. My family quickly picked just one basket – which again, I had to hold off my greedy fruit picking tendencies… At home I quickly went to work making a large stockpot of applesauce and homemade apple pie. As I sliced through apple after apple I was so surprised they were consistently good to the core.
As I reflect on my fears, I can’t help but compare apples to people. I tended to go for the apples that looked the best from the outside but there were very few without blemish. From afar they all look like apples but up close you can see the changes in roundness and shape. Scars, blemishes and malformations appear to be the “natural” part of the growing process. We can judge whatever we want from the outside but we know nothing of the fruits health until we cut in and view it from the core.
Here’s to being content, great apples and eating pie!
Psalm 17:7-9 Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.
Amazingly I found myself in the garden this week, without kids and with a camera in my hand. Blissfully quiet I sat quite still and caught a bit of nature in action. These are some of my favorite photos from the savored moments.
As I post these pictures, I am realizing how much we get around the state of Michigan! Midland is beautiful little gem hidden in the middle of the state, the girls and I got away for a little culture field trip and ended up at Dow gardens. They have a great interactive children’s garden where the kids can help water and play through out the carefully planned space. The best part is it is full of all different types of vegetables that are out of their norm, so they can see what the plants look like and even taste. I was impressed with the basil hedge, varieties of beans, corn, squash, peppers, tomatillos, cabbage… it was so education even for me. I wish my vegetable garden looked this beautiful!
I have been wanting to make it out to sell my pottery at the farmers market all summer, last saturday was the first opportunity. I am so proud of our little town for organizing the market, we are in the second year here and there was quite a bit of traffic last week. Sadly after all the worrying I did about my stall set up, I didn’t even take one picture.
My intention was to print cards off to sell every week inspired by seasonal produce but sometimes you just have to keep your ideas to try at a later date. I have managed to make a few, this week I set up next to the garlic lady so she inspired these little cloves. She was so patient with me as I asked her a ton of questions about growing garlic, that will be a MUST to put in my small garden this fall. Needless to say with her in the next stall all my garlic dipping bowls sold. I’ll have to throw a few more in the studio this week.
A while back in May I showed some clay projects I was working on with rhubarb leaves from my garden. I finally managed to squeeze them into my last glaze kiln load. I thought you might like to see how they turned out and let you know some of them are available in my etsy shop. I love the new aqua glaze and how it brings out the texture of the pressed leaf. Shown below are large & small clay journals, The large bowl and matching spoon (which holds 8 cups of strawberries!) and 2 folded wall vases.
My little blog was also showcased today on The Daily Post which features themes and ideas for bloggers who participate in the 2011 post a day and post a week challenge. It has been a surprising joy for me to blog about the things I love the most. Thanks wordpress for helping me share my passions for art, faith, family and ice cream!
Last week I got away with my oldest on a field trip to the zoo. In an unexpected corner they livened up the space with this beautiful display. Living in town, I often dream of a little privacy fence, but my girls have a Berenstain bears book that calls them “spite fences”… so I would feel so guilty putting one up. Perhaps our neighbors would feel differently if we put up something as beautiful as this (at least for a few months out of the year).
I guess I have a little thing for asparagus (and lilacs…) I really don’t know where my kids get playing with their food from! This is the recipe that started it all – I just love this one and I am so excited that there are leftovers for lunch. Don’t worry I won’t even attempt to make it into ice-cream – I do have some sense.
I have been waiting for my clay to dry, so I have temporarily gravitated to watercolor and printmaking. Here is a view of my new little workspace overlooking my kids “work”space… My husband designed that swing set and built it with my brother and our local Amish. What a treat! I can’t wait until our first family campout in there this summer.
I like how the asparagus prints turned out but I think I need to order some green and purple ink, perhaps I will try a little gradation print. I entered a drawing to win Christine’s new book from yellow owl workshop but I really don’t have that much luck with contests (another story for another day), I am sure there are instructions on how to do this in there but I just went ahead and went for it on my own. What do you think?
