Will Forage for Food

Hi, Monday. You came around quickly this time. Weekends once held a pretty special place as it was designated family time, the days for Tim to catch up on the latest developments and antics expressed by the boys, time to do chores and tackle big projects. The change in work situation has blurred the lines of the weekend, making it a little less 'do, do, do more' and more like, well, a Thursday.

One thing that sticks is the Claremont Farmer's Market. It is the best around, lots of local growers, people we know and chat with and take the time to support. It is where I purchase the majority of our green produce for the week and if we are splurging, some fresh eggs or a flat of berries. Our home garden is growing, but not a major producer yet, so to Market it is. This week everything looked good and I quickly blew through my allotted 20 dollar bill, then promptly broke the other 20 for some fresh sushi grade ahi and a book donation.


Tim opted to take the boys to the local college farm nearby as the hands on those two have been quite grabby grabby 'mine!' lately.

It was nice to get through the Market quickly and choose what I wanted without toddler struggle, but I hurried over to the Farm to meet up, curious to see it's Spring state. We had been visiting regularly but fell off in March and had yet to see what was growing and changing. Well, lots, I have to say. One of the colleges decided to use the area for a growing project, divvying up plots and planting their choice of food producers. From the looks of it, they all had some degree of success. But the thing is, school is out, which means that students are gone and there seems to be no one around to gather the products. We did met a lovely guy hanging out with his cook stove, flipping pancakes and scrambling eggs, all his goods packed on his bike. He offered to share and gave us blessing to gather. So, after spending a good portion of green at the Market, I went on the gather a few more things...all free.


And that is what trips me out a bit. Just down the street, there is food for sale. Other side of the street there is food sitting, rotting, ripening, shooting, going to seed.

I love that the students had the impetus to do the project, but wonder at the next step. Was there no time to arrange a way to harvest? To find a way to gather and donate? And who would take it? Families in need? People who buy at the Market because it is 'certified'?

The food there is viable, organic, delicious and not locked away in any way, shape or form. But it might as well be if no one knows to eat it. There are at least 30 squash plants, 15 tomatoes, ripe peach trees dropping fruit, chard and kale and cukes and and and...


Food. It is at the crux of the story Ishmael. Because We work because They lock away the Food. And you need food to Live, so you Work and earn Money which you take to a store where you Buy a can of beans or a meal in a box composed of many many different parts, and take it home to Eat and then maybe the next day Work so you can afford to buy a Meal out.

Of course, I am simplifying it a quite a bit. But is it not true?

So, my plan is to contact the name on the board to find out the plan for the Food. Capital, because there is going to be a lot. And not many who know. Which is a shame for all that beautiful food. It is there, it makes me sad to think of the waste. I might be wrong and an army of volunteers may be planning on descending today, tomorrow or at peak tomato time. But I think not, considering the dearth of souls we find when we wander it's paths.

Want some gathered food? Email me and I will give you the address. And if you have not tried it yet, grab a copy of Ishmael and give it a read. Talking anthropologically-minded gorilla aside, it has a message, one we all should be able to actually hear by now.

You can click on this picture to get a rough recipe for what I did with some of the food, free and paid combined.

For the Mamas

Of course, every day is a day for Mamas. Every day you have one or you are one or you need one.



Every day you might turn to yours and hold her or argue with her or wish you had a little more time for her.



I do not mind having a day when it is about them, us, her. It is nice to have a day, arbitrary as it may be. Especially when it involves hand made cards with real sentiment, blue sky and cool air in a new backyard,


And lots of quiche. Mmmm. Quiche.


The wonderful thing about a day like this is it gives you time.

Time to realize the privilege involved with this role. The give and take, the push and pull, the ebb and flow. And so if you are a Mama, thank you for all that you do. And if you have a Mama to hug, I send a little bit of love your way to make that hug just a bit stronger, longer and tighter. There is one Mama I think of often, she is Jessica, Tuesday's mama. There is a very special blog event going on right now for Jess and her family, a way to physically provide support to them. Her awesome online friends have arranged an innovative way to give. You can go here....

and give.

Give one dollar, give 10, give what you can. Then scroll down to all the links and find one that looks good and leave a comment on that blog to be entered in their giveaway. And there is some good stuff. You can enter here too. I am giving away a onesie with a hand embroidered emblem and a pair of the lovely soft cotton pants I have made for the boys multiple times.


Here is a similar set to give you an idea.

They are not made yet so if you enter and win you can request a boy or girl colorway for your little. I guess-timate that the size is 6-10 months. I will whip it up (ahem, maybe not whip, but it will get done) and you will not only gain a sweet outfit but also know that your support is felt by a family that needs it. So please, go and donate then come back here and leave a comment and I will draw a name on Wednesday morning. Because we have to do what we can when we know a Mama that has lost. Just one way we can give.

Finishing for Friday (on Thursday) =

October has shaped up to be a busy month. I have had such a blast preparing and celebrating the season even though our temperatures refuse to back down from the 90s. It looks like we will have cooler weather for our Halloween celebrations which is awesome as the boys 'costumes' really are not complete without their jackets. It brings it all together.

This past week, In a fit of crafting I made a pair of reusable trick or treat bags for the boys to use in our local MOM club party.

Well, we were a little late to the party and the bags did not see any use, but I love them and look forward to trying them out tomorrow. I found a few themed placemats and dishtowel and cut and sewed them into these. I love the idea of keeping them and having the boys use them yearly. I might even add a patch for each year to help us recall how they dressed up.

And it goes along the sustainable, non plastic lines, even though the original materials may have been created in a place where folks do not get paid enough for their talents (sorry, digression, consuming is something I have been thinking about a lot lately).

I loved seeing Halloween come to our home in different ways, the various homages to the season, my favorite of the year. This little display features an antique chair I found at last week's craft fair (my only purchase and quite reasonable at 20$) and a cleverly carved pumpkin, designed by my brother Jon.

I called him Peter the Pumpkin eater, as he consumed his little brother/friend. So very cute, and now collapsed due to our unseasonably warm weather. Glad I had a photo opportunity.


Speaking of Jon, I had to include this shot I took this morning. This is Jon and David, his best friend since the small years.

I know we are all worried at times in regards to the disaffection of the young, the early loss of innocence that seems to happen if allowed. But here is a shot showing that all youth is not lost. My baby brother, now a senior in high school, still gets dressed up for Halloween. Today is their dress up as they are off tomorrow. He was up late chopping up t-shirts and preparing his "Robin" boy wonder costume. Pretty sweet. huh? Creativity definitely runs in the blood. I loved it when he said he was doing it because as a senior no one can make fun of him, he is at the top. Love him.

And to top it off, I have one more Christmas present crossed of the list. This is the Sun Ray Shawl, a pattern I found due to Brook.

She made it look so lovely and I wanted to try a new lace pattern. This one is free, easy and quick due to largish needles and thicker yarn. I have knit a few Xmas gifts with Knitpicks Elegance and I am smitten. It is soft and drapey and has a great feel in the fingers while knitting. And Knitpicks' prices make the slight luxury so reasonable. The photo does not do the color justice, it is a deep blue green with a sheen due to the silk. MMMmmmm. I will not say who it is for as the recipient occasional stops by. But it is a lace piece for someone I dearly love. The deets are on ravelry.

So, Friday, you are not here yet, but I am finished with you so I can get down to the real business of Halloween. So, here are a few shots of the boys 'in costume'.

Now, I did not mean to do two giveways in one week, but I want to see how many out there can guess what they are going as. First commenter to get it right will receive a special little sewn gift, the mystery piece I have yet to blog about. More on that next week.

Okay, folks. Now is the time to embrace the spooky, the altered, the different, the hidden, the scary and the sweet. Hope you have an awesome holiday and find just the right identity for you and your little ones. I cannot wait to see the posts coming up after this weekend. Boo!

We have the Winners!

Wow! I want to say a huge thanks to all the readers who commented, both old and new ones. Let me tell you, one way to garner a whole bunch of comments is to do a giveaway. I loved reading your encouraging comments regarding the jewelry and felt bolstered to take a step forward, but I will get back to that.

So, we did it the old-fashioned way, with little paper bits rolled up tight and the winners are

Preeti

and

Pinku

It is awesome that I picked Kat because she is an Aussie living in Japan, and the necklaces were made in Oz, so, serendipity working in it's best form. And Preeti has a wonderful blog here, she is embarking on sock knitting, something we knitters all have to do at some point. I love that both of the winners are international and crafters and mamas. Once again, thanks for all the comments and interest.

Which brings me to the next point... I have gone and opened my own Etsy Shop.
You can find the remaining necklaces featured there, plus a few Box Bogs from an earlier post.


Apparently, things were a little slow at the craft fair this past weekend, which makes any of you out there winners if you would like to score a cute little bag.


I have been contemplating a shop for some time and I am glad it has come to be. I plan on stocking it with some of the different crafts I dabble in and will always let you know when there are "bits" to buy. Hope you enjoy items and buy, buy, buy. Smiles.

And if you have not had enough of the giveaways yet, go visit Jennifer at JCasa Handmade. She is a huge inspiration to me in the sewing category, really lovely patchwork items and quilts, lot of fun stuff for the little ones. Read about her giveaway and enter if you would like one of her precious handmades. This blogging/craft/mama thing has really opened my life in so many ways and just want to say thanks again.

Pinku and Preeti, I will contact you to get info as soon as I feed the yodeling twins and get another moment to sit at the comoputer. Smiles!