1. Is there such a thing as too much strawberry shortcake? For example, would it be so wrong to have dessert every night and have it be strawberry shortcake each time? Hmn. Don't answer that.
2. Last week, on the side of a pizza box she dragged out of the recycling bin, Annabel drew a family portrait of our, um, bums. She didn't forget a single Soule, and I dare say her renditions were quite fabulous. Sadly, the box found its way right back into the recycling by accident before I could save it, frame it, or take a picture of it. Thank goodness though, the image will stay in my brain forever and ever. Number 5, and she's the first to have thought of such a family portrait? She's a special one.
3. I can't believe this to be true, but it is. We have run out of pork. Which means no bacon, or sausage, or pulled pork or pork chops or any other of our favorites until early October. Thank goodness, though, for a garden full of greens. Salad, salad and more salad - we're making up for winter.
4. I have a new shoe love. Pons by Arvaca. I have them in one color and while I don't think I'll indulge, it IS awfully tempting to think about getting a rainbow of colors (and I dare not show my Annabel, Necklace Rainbow Magic Candy, the sparkly kids version, for I'll never hear the end of it). Growing up, my mother - who loves shoes more than anyone I know - had a full rainbow in her closet of the very same pair of heels. And being the 80's, I kid you not when I say it was the full spectrum of the rainbow. My three sisters and I teased her relentlessly about them, but the truth is that we all secretly really wanted our own rainbow of shoes. Who wouldn't?
5. I am so excited for Ida Pearle and the release of her first children's book, The Moon is Going to Addy's House. I've been looking forward to holding this in my hands for quite some time, knowing how beautiful it would be with Ida's art. It does not disappoint - Annabel and I are quite in love with this one, the sweet story and the beautiful illustrations. Dreamy, awesome, pre-bedtime reading.
6. I've just started planning a trip for next month to the Newport Folk Festival, where Taproot will be having a booth. I've always wanted to go, but it's never been in the cards until now. To make the deal even sweeter, I'm bringing along one of my favorite Taproot contributors to help me staff the booth. Ahem, SoulePapa. We can't wait. Any tips from those of you who have been? (And yes, that is one rockstar of a friend who is willing to take on the farm at the height of summer, plus five children and a mother in law!).
7. Remember my chatter about the lack of good quality clothespins that actually work these days? My prayers have been answered! While at the Mother Earth News Fair earlier this month, a sweet gentleman named Kevin came by our booth, with a package of clothespins in his hands. Clothespins he had made himself, from local wood and stained with linseed oil. Apparently, one of you had told him to seek me out (thank you!). Anyway, I took the pretty things home with me and was so happy to discover they're just what I've been looking for. Big enough springs to actually hold clothes on the line, no matter the wind. And they're pretty, and made by hand. I instantly ordered three more sets and can't tell you how lovely it is to have a basket full of working pins. You can find Kevin and his awesome pins at Lady and the Carpenter. Yay for the little things that make a really big difference (and Yay for readers looking out for me!)!
8. While there have been many trips to the lake, I haven't put my feet in the (East Coast) ocean yet this summer. I'm giving myself a week to remedy that situation.
9. I had a ridiculously whiny moment in the garden on Saturday afternoon, after coming home from the Farmer's Market with some (many) unplanned for seedlings. "There's no more room in the garden!" I whined to my husband, who stopped what he was doing across the yard, and gave me the hairy eyeball. "Thirty acres and you can't find a spot to put four husk cherry plants?" Oh, right. And so I got some pots and made do (and then looked around and wondered what else I could add).
10. I'm excited about the week ahead, full of summer adventures, garden play, editing of the next issue of Taproot (FOLK, without a doubt my favorite issue yet!), and of course that visit to the ocean. I wish you and yours a most lovely week too!
