Well, I have lots of food and gardens on my mind this week. Do you? I love this time of year, when we practically live outdoors and tend to share more meals with friends. Last year at this time, we were living in Bend, Oregon. We ate breakfast each morning on our front steps, and packed a picnic to take to the park almost every evening. That was a crazy time in our lives, but we have really fond memories of those meals and times together.
Food and Gardening:
Here's a really inspiring story about a town in England-- Todmorden-- that is into growing and sharing their food. They are working toward becoming self-sustaining, in a very community-oriented way. I love it! (And thanks to my lovely reader-friend Marisa for sending it my way!)
Here's a very simple but incredible useful how-to: Never buy a rotten avocado again!
Ever seen a blue tomato? The Indigo Rose was recently developed (through classic plant breeding methods-- not genetic modification!) in Oregon, and has some blueberry traits. I would love to try it-- you Pacific Northwesterners are going to have to keep an eye out at your local markets, and pick some up on my behalf!
Food and Travel:
This may sound a little weird, but I get really attached to restaurants. When I move, I miss them like I miss people. So, restaurants and cafes seem like really reasonable travel destinations for me. This week, I am dreaming of going to this place in Sydney that Katie took gorgeous, evocative photos of. I could sit in their garden ordering salads and coffees all day... Also, don't miss the pizza with whole tomatoes on it!
There was a time about three years ago, when Jeff and I were applying for a position in Sicily. I had decided that this would be the absolutely perfect place for me to live, mostly because of the sea, the sunshine... and the food-- such a beautiful blend of cuisine influenced by Greece, North Africa, and the surrounding Mediterranean countries. I've never been there, but I almost feel like I can miss it anyway. Nicky took some gorgeous photos of food and surroundings on a recent trip-- be sure to scroll to the bottom for a slide shop of these vivid images.
OK, one more sunny, delicious destination! Jenny and friends met up for a fun weekend in Provence. I love the yellow sunshine in her photographs, and of course she captured my favorite thing to take pictures of-- open markets. Any girlfriends want to meet me in Provence?!
The UK:
Well, this is a super fun week to live in England. We are celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Laura has been documenting this event nicely, and I don't have just one post to point to-- just go over and read all about it!
My sister let me know about this really funny/ adorable event to celebrate the Jubilee: Sheep Racing (with stuffed animal jockeys!) Too bad Barnsley is over three hours away-- I would totally pay to see that!
A quick note to my UK blogging friends-- if you cover any Diamond Jubilee activities this week, please feel free to post a link in the comments, so we can enjoy the celebrations with you from your angle! Of course, you can also see our Jubilee Celebration.
As I give this the final once-over on Sunday morning, I am sad to report that it is gray and rainy again, and has been since Thursday. The boat parade down the Thames with the royal family happens today, and I wish I was there-- but I guess the dreary weather makes it just a little easier to be at home. Anyway, I hope you are all having a lovely weekend!
Food and Gardening:
Here's a really inspiring story about a town in England-- Todmorden-- that is into growing and sharing their food. They are working toward becoming self-sustaining, in a very community-oriented way. I love it! (And thanks to my lovely reader-friend Marisa for sending it my way!)
Here's a very simple but incredible useful how-to: Never buy a rotten avocado again!
Ever seen a blue tomato? The Indigo Rose was recently developed (through classic plant breeding methods-- not genetic modification!) in Oregon, and has some blueberry traits. I would love to try it-- you Pacific Northwesterners are going to have to keep an eye out at your local markets, and pick some up on my behalf!
Food and Travel:
This may sound a little weird, but I get really attached to restaurants. When I move, I miss them like I miss people. So, restaurants and cafes seem like really reasonable travel destinations for me. This week, I am dreaming of going to this place in Sydney that Katie took gorgeous, evocative photos of. I could sit in their garden ordering salads and coffees all day... Also, don't miss the pizza with whole tomatoes on it!
There was a time about three years ago, when Jeff and I were applying for a position in Sicily. I had decided that this would be the absolutely perfect place for me to live, mostly because of the sea, the sunshine... and the food-- such a beautiful blend of cuisine influenced by Greece, North Africa, and the surrounding Mediterranean countries. I've never been there, but I almost feel like I can miss it anyway. Nicky took some gorgeous photos of food and surroundings on a recent trip-- be sure to scroll to the bottom for a slide shop of these vivid images.
OK, one more sunny, delicious destination! Jenny and friends met up for a fun weekend in Provence. I love the yellow sunshine in her photographs, and of course she captured my favorite thing to take pictures of-- open markets. Any girlfriends want to meet me in Provence?!
The UK:
Well, this is a super fun week to live in England. We are celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Laura has been documenting this event nicely, and I don't have just one post to point to-- just go over and read all about it!
My sister let me know about this really funny/ adorable event to celebrate the Jubilee: Sheep Racing (with stuffed animal jockeys!) Too bad Barnsley is over three hours away-- I would totally pay to see that!
A quick note to my UK blogging friends-- if you cover any Diamond Jubilee activities this week, please feel free to post a link in the comments, so we can enjoy the celebrations with you from your angle! Of course, you can also see our Jubilee Celebration.
Here at our house almost the whole yard is dedicated to gardening food.Every other year our fruit trees and berries really crank out the fruit,this is going to be one of those years.I can not wait until we are eating mainly from our own garden,so far just peas and strawberries.
ReplyDeleteI love the looks of the Indigo Rose,it's a bit late for one this year but I have added the name to my garden journal for next year.
Rois, I love that most of your yard is edible. That was definitely our goal in Portland, but here everything was planted out already, most of it ornamental. But we got the OK to put in some raised beds, and we have plenty of edible weeds. Thankfully, there is also plenty to forage in common areas, as well. We have it on our list to go collect a whole bunch of nettles soon, and I remember that at the end of summer last year, there were blackberries available seriously everywhere! So, I think we'll have some good eating this year.
DeleteI'm sure you'll find some blue tomatoes at the farmers markets this year!
I'm trying to leave a link! AH!
ReplyDeleteWe went to Perth for the Kilt Run and it was awesome! Loads of entertainment, food, and fun. And thousand's running in kilts!
http://marydebastos.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/perth-kilt-run.html
Thanks for sharing, Mary! That looks like so much fun! Things were kind of a wash over here, but we did go to a fayre today, and that was nice. And that tiny little kilt... So adorable!
DeleteYay! So excited to see the link to Todmorden - and thank you for the shout-out :)That is fun for me to see!
ReplyDeleteOf all your links the one that grabbed me the most was the restaurant in Sydney. My goodness that place looks amazing. I don't only want to visit - I want to live in that place! With a perpetual supply of salsa verde and crusty baguettes with cheese - and pizzas - pizzas with eggs and walnuts and whole tomatoes. I could go on and on - looks like absolute heaven! Meet up in Australia???? ;)
It's ON Marisa! That place looks so wonderful. I'd love to go in January, when we are going nuts with the gray, the rain, and cold. That would be so perfect!
DeleteYes - that sounds absolutely perfect - as you know January in the Pacific Northwest is pretty hideously gray and rainy too! Ok - must start saving my pennies :D Can't you just imagine us though? We'd sit in the sun and just eat and eat and eat until we popped - at least I know I would!
DeleteI also want to say that like you I've had really terrible success growing tomatoes here. I'm convinced Washington was not meant to grow tomatoes. BUT every year I try again. Hope springs eternal I guess and there is nothing that can compare to a vine ripened tomato! And every year I have such high hopes thinking "this is gonna be the year!" Wish me luck because I'm thinking it yet again . . .
Oh and forgot to say I am SO excited to start searching out an indigo rose tomato. I get so excited every year to seek out the very best varieties of tomato - and usually end up with far too many. But this one looks fantastic - I am completely intrigued! Nothing, and I mean not one thing tastes better than a sun ripened tomato in summer. The BEST.
ReplyDeleteYep, you'll have to post a picture for me when you find some! I have never had great luck growing tomatoes outside of California, and my tomato seedlings I started here are already dead. I'll just have to rely on the farmers using green houses and polytunnels around here... Enjoy!
DeleteThanks so much for including me! I loved looking at all of these! What a great avocado tip. And that restaurant in Sydney looks fabulous! Why wasn't I reading that blog while I lived there??? I must say, your Jubilee celebration was my favourite of all. Hope little Amelia is all over her spots! xx
ReplyDeleteJenny, at least they hadn't opened for business while you were living there-- that would be hard to realize, right? Aw, thanks for the comment about our Jubilee celebration! Amelia is feeling better now, so much so that we went to our local fayre today and did just about everything available. What a fun thing to be a part of!
DeleteVery intresting and lovely blog!
ReplyDeleteWhat do u say about following each others blog on Gfc and bloglovin just to stay in contact this way?
Lots of love,
www.nicoleta.me