July Farmer Lunch

For a week or two in July this was the basic farm lunch : Rice, Sauce of some kind (soy sauce or my standard Asian inspired sauce), Hard boiled Eggs and whatever veggies and goodies were hanging around. Can't forget the Sriracha....of course. In this picture the feature of the day was sauteed fava beans, onions, and raisins with a side of sauerkraut.

My co-worker got me on a hard boiled egg kick for a while. It made the whole meal making thing go really quick.  Leaving more time to lounge or nap in the orchard. That's a win-win right there.

Midnight ---> Moonlight ---> Hammock

This is the song that I have been playing on repeat lately. I felt like it captured the mood of this moment

Saturday evening, I got back to my latest house sitting gig after a long but fun and productive day and just had to take in the hammock and killer view of the full moon peaking through the clouds for a few minutes. I pushed away every paranoia and mosquito that was attempting to sabotage this moment and I claimed it for myself. This is my moment . . .

Sunny Seattle

This Saturday I helped a good friend use some gift cards at Anthony's, one of Seattle's famous seafood restaurants. . . for there are many. It was really good. I really like seafood, especially when it's free.  

It was a beautifully spontaneous day out on the town with the gals and the weather could not have been more agreeable. It was so agreeable that we didn't even care that our server forgot about us multiple times (but only when it came to water refills and picking up the check). We just chatted, took in the views, and enjoyed soaking up the sun's wonderful rays. 

Mt. Rainier photo bombing my Seattle water front picture. 

Panorama shot with Ghost tornado  

Can you spot the goats in this next shot?

They use them to clear the weeds (mostly Blackberries) on steep hillsides in the city apparently. Thanks Ladies for the wonderful day!

Father's Day

I was house-sitting in a heavily wooded area on Father's day so I got up early to pick some Salmon Berries for my dad. He was nice and shared them with us at our Father's day Waffle dinner.

Lunch on the Farm

There are many reasons why I love to work on a farm, but one that is near the top is the Farm Lunch. I get an hour to myself to make lunch with fresh ingredients then I can go sit in the display garden and eat, rest, nap, and/or socialize with coworkers. 

Close up of Friday's concoction

I usually bring some kind of base item. Like today it was quinoa in a sauce I made out of sunflower seed butter, soy sauce, splash of chicken broth, and some ginger (needed coconut milk but I was out). Then I improvised with what was harvested today and what I could grab from the display garden. That's how the sugar snap peas, red romaine lettuce, arugula flowers, strawberries, and Moroccan mint garnish all ended up on my plate today.  Oh can't forget, the drizzling of hot sauce.  Lunch on the farm has turned into a choose your own adventure where I can foster my laziness or 'winging it' in the kitchen philosophy with special attention to exploration of  flavor fusions. It's awesome. 

Friday's lunch under the grape arbor and overlooking the raspberries. 

Having fresh ingredients right at my fingertips in every season is really great. I'm super lucky in that regard and I try not to take it for granted. I'm also trying not to take the beautiful weather we've had this spring for granted either. Compared to last year's grey "June-uary" this spring has been sunny and warm.  

Snapped this picture of the new grape vine growth on a particularly beautiful sunny day on one of my lunches last week

I love the color combination of green and blue in this picture. Blue and green are cool on their own, but so much cooler together. 

Farm-Sitting

Limitations

"Learning to be creative within the confines of our limitations is the best hope we have to transform ourselves and, collectively, transform our world."



This talk reminded me of my exit interview with my adviser in grad school. When listing my strengths he said "You know your limitations". He meant it as a compliment. I know this because he followed with "I mean that as a compliment."

While pursuing my education, I faced all kinds of my limitations. Physical limitations, emotional limitations, brain capacity limitations, the real limitations, the limitations I made in my head, etc.

I learned a lot about me during that time. I'm still learning a lot about me because that is part of life. You don't hit a milestone and then it's all clear sailing. There will always be something in life that will come up and "school you".

Every once and a while I get bogged down with my current limitations so this talk was a pleasant little reminder that "Limitations may be the most unlikely of places to harness creativity, but perhaps one of the best ways to get ourselves out of ruts, rethink categories and challenge accepted norms." 

I truly believe that our limitations or weaknesses are something that God gives us so that we remember Him and so that he can change us for the better. Although in the middle of a major bog-down, I may not take everything coming at me in stride, I'm trying too do better.

And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them. (Ether 12:27)