barefoot in the orchard

What's In Season - January 2012

2012-01-09T08:50:00.000-08:00

Priorities
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Happy 2012, everyone!! I hope it is off to a wonderful start!! My little ones just returned to school today from winter-break -- so... I consider today "my first official" day of the New Year!!

I've had to adjust some priorities and work obligations over the past few months as I have been caring for my father, who turned 80 in December. If you have ever experienced a family member with the beginnings of dementia, you will understand what a challenge it is. I've missed posting to barefoot in the orchard daily and reading all my favorite blogs -- all you wonderful people really do inspire me!! Now, let's get this New Year started!!

Slow Food Movement
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I've mentioned this before on my blog but I thought I would share information about this movement once again. What is Slow Food you ask? Slow Food is an idea, a way of living and a way of eating. It is a global, grassroots movement with thousands of members around the world that links the pleasure of food with a commitment to community and the environment.
Learn more about our work from Plate to Planet and Good, Clean and Fair.

Northern California

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Vegetables
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•asian greens

•avocados

•beans
•beets
•bok choy
•broccoli
•brussels sprouts
•cabbage
•cardoons
•carrots
•cauliflower
•celeriac
•celery
•chard
•collards
•cress

•dandelion/chicory

•endive
•fennel
•garlic

•gourds
•kale
•leeks
•lettuces
•mushrooms

•nettles
•onions
•parsnips
•potatoes
•radish
•rapini
•rutabaga
•scallions
•spinach
•squash, winter

•sunchokes
•turnips
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Fruits and Nuts

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•avocados
•dates
•dried fruit
•grapefruit
•guavas
•kiwi
•kumquats
•lemons
•limes
•mandarins
•oranges
•pears
•persimmons
•pomelos
•tangerines
•walnuts

(Photos Courtesy of Jupiter Images)

What's In Season - December

2011-12-01T09:18:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays!! Wherever you are located - try to find something fresh and locally grown to add to your holiday food menu and don't forget to support your local businesses when buying gifts this year!!

Some Good Info:

Food grown in your own community was probably picked within the past day or two. It's crisp, sweet and loaded with flavor. Several studies have shown that the average distance food travels from farm to plate is 1,500 miles. In a week-long (or more) delay from harvest to dinner table, sugars turn to starches, plant cells shrink, and produce loses its vitality.

Northern California

Vegetables

•artichokes

•asian greens

•avocados
•beans

•beets

•bok choy

•broccoli

•brussels sprouts

•burdock

•cabbage

•cardoons

•carrots

•cauliflower

•celeriac

•celery

•chard

•collards

•cress
•endive

•fennel

•garlic

•kale

•kohlrabi

•leeks

•lettuces

•mushrooms

•onions

•parsnips

•peppers, bell

•peppers, chili

•potatoes

•radicchio

•radish

•rapini

•rutabaga

•salsify

•scallions

•spinach

•squash, winter

•sunchokes

•sweet potatoes

•turnips

Fruits and Nuts
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•avocados

•chestnuts

•dates

•dried fruit

•grapefruit

•grapes

•guavas

•kiwi

•kumquats

•lemons

•limes

•mandarins

•oranges

•pears

•persimmons

•pomegranates

•pomelos

•tangerines

•walnuts

(Photos Courtesy of Jupiter Images)

What's In Season - November

2011-11-01T05:37:00.000-07:00

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November - Check out your local farmers market or any grocery store that supports local farming -- who knows what interesting/delicious things you might find.

The following is a rough list of what I might find here in California. Eating seasonally means enjoying the ripest and freshest food at the height of its natural harvest time. It means supporting local farmers who transport their goods the shortest distance to your plate. It also means experimenting with interesting foods you might not otherwise consider adding to a meal!

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Fruit

•apples

•carambola

•cherimoyas

•citrus:

grapefruits

lemons
tangelos/tangerines
valencia oranges

•figs

•grapes

•guava

•pineapple

•kiwi

•green passion fruit

•peaches

•persimmons

•pomegranates

•quinces

•raspberries

•rosehips

•sapote
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Vegetables

•artichokes

•asparagus

•basil

•beans, green

•beets

•broccoli

•brussels sprout

•cabbage

•carrots

•cauliflower

•celery

•chard

•chili pepper

•collards

•corn

•cucumber

•eggplant

•greens:

chicory

chard

kale

spinach

arugula

fava

•kohlrabi

•lettuce

•mushrooms

•mustard

•okra

•onion

•peas, black-eyed

•peppers

•potatoes

•squash, summer squash

•winter tomatillos

•tomatoes

•turnips

•yams

Friday's Photos - Owen's House Once Again

2011-10-28T09:28:00.000-07:00

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Over the years I have continued to receive many emails and comments about this post - which I did on Oct. 27, 2007. It amazes me that so many people became as enamoured with this set decor as I did.

For all of you who would like to see an absolutely incredible three dimensional, miniature model of this home - please follow the link - The Owen's House on Magnolia Street. You will be in Owen's House heaven!!

Happy Halloween!!

Some years ago - back in 1998 to be exact - a movie came out called Practical Magic, written by Alice Hoffman (novel). It starred Nicole Kidman, Sandra Bullock, Stockard Channing and Diane Wiest. It also starred Aidan Quinn and Goran Visnjic. I fell in love with this movie and have watched it so many times through the years I've lost count. I must admit one of the reasons I have watched it so many times was to see the house/set it was filmed in and the surrounding property. Set decoration and production design have always been something I've loved as much as the movies themselves. This house was built entirely (and torn down) for the film on an island in Washington and what an amazing job they did. The design and feel of that house really inspired me. I have tried to glean as much as I can from the look of the set and incorporate into my own home here and there. I also wish I owned and ran the shop that Sandra Bullocks character does in the film.

It's a great fall/Halloween flick and features music by Stevie Nicks and Sheryl Crow. It was also featured in Victoria Magazine article called, Casting a Decorative Spell, back in October 1998. Here is a little bit of that article.

In turning Alice Hoffman's novel "Practical Magic" into a Hollywood film, Production Designer Robin Standefer had to conjure a fully decorated house --from scratch. One day she faced a barren patch of rented land on Washington's San Juan Island, then poof! a Victorian house grew. Here she shares the decorating tricks and secret sources that helped cast a decorative spells over this wonderful movie...Though this Victorian house looks as if it's been in place for a century, it's actually an architectural shell. Even the blossoms on the trees are fake -they're made of silk.

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The aunt's house is every bit a main character in the movie.... "I analyzed the descriptions of the stairways and the tangle of vines growing over the back door, and decided it had to be Victorian,"she (Robin Standefer) explains. "But it couldn't look haunted.It had to be clean and white, not fading and cobwebbed. The aunts never really age. Their magic keeps them young. What if they lived in a house that never really aged? The design, based on East Coast shingle style, evolved to include a lighthouse on top. "Women were traditionally light keepers and this was a house of women," says Robin.

What's In Season - October

2011-10-03T06:36:00.000-07:00

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October ~ Northern California
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Fruit

•apples

•avocados

•citrus: grapefruits, lemons, tangelos, tangerines, valencia oranges
•grapes

•guava

•pineapple

•kiwi

•green passion fruit

•peaches

•pears, asian

•peas, black-eyed

•peppers

•persimmons

•pomegranates

•raspberries

•sapote

•strawberries
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Vegetables
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•asparagus

•basil

•beans, green

•beets

•broccoli

•brussels sprout

•cabbage

•carrots

•cauliflower

•celery

•chard

•cherimoyas

•chili pepper

•collards

•corn

•cucumber

•eggplant

•kale

•kohlrabi

•lettuce

•mushroom

•mustard

•okra

•onion, dry onion

•potatoes

•spinach

•squash, summer

•squash,winter

•tomatillos

•tomatoes

•turnips

•yams

Why buy local? LOCALLY GROWN FOOD TASTES BETTER!!

Fall Fav ~ Deepest Dish/Bowl Apple Pie

2011-09-28T06:34:00.000-07:00

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(Photos Courtesy of Jupiter Images)
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My cooking urges are in overdrive now that fall has arrived -- and it's time to make one of my absolute favorite pies!! This is actually a deep-bowl, rather than a deep-dish, pie. I used my largest Fiesta mixing bowl (oven safe) but you can use a deep dish pan as well. Eight pounds of apples are tossed with cinnamon, cardamom, and sugar and then piled into an ovenproof bowl, tucked under a blanket of pate brisee (see below), and baked until bubbling. When the pie is served (with a spoon), a mound of crust and sweet fruit grace each plate. For savory contrast, serve with slices of cheddar cheese.

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Deepest Dish/Bowl Apple Pie
Ingredients - Serves 10
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Pate Brisee (Pie Dough)_
Recipe Below -- or you can find it ready-made among the frozen foods of most supermarkets. .
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5 1/2 pounds firm, tart apples, such as Empire
1 cup sugar, plus 1 tablespoon for sprinkling
2 teaspoons cinnamon
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup brandy
1 large egg yolk
Juice of 2 lemons
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Directions
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Heat oven to 450 degrees.
Place 3/4 of the pate brisee on a lightly floured work surface. Roll dough out to a 12-inch-diameter circle, 1/8 inch thick, dusting work surface with flour to prevent sticking, if necessary. Brush off excess flour; roll dough around rolling pin and lift it over a deep-dish pie pan. Line the pan with the dough, pressing it into the corners. Trim dough so that it hangs over pie plate by about 1/4 inch. Roll out remaining dough to a 10-inch-diameter circle. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet and refrigerate.
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Peel and core apples, then cut into 1/4- inch-thick slices. As you cut, place slices in a large bowl and sprinkle with lemon juice to prevent discoloration. In a small bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon. Toss apple slices with cinnamon sugar.
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Divide butter between 2 large skillets and melt over medium-high heat. Divide apples between skillets and cook, stirring often, until sugar melts and apples are golden and coated in syrup but still firm, 8 to 10 minutes.
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Pour brandy into a measuring cup. Pour half the brandy into 1 skillet and carefully ignite with a match. Cook until flames die down, shaking pan to toss apples in melted sugar and brandy. Repeat with remaining brandy and apples. Remove from heat and set aside.
Transfer cooked apples to prepared pie pan, letting apples mound in center. Whisk egg yolk with 2 tablespoons water and brush mixture on edge of dough. Remove rolled pie dough from refrigerator and center over apples. Tuck edges of top crust between pie pan and bottom crust. Using your fingers, gently press crusts together along edge. Cut several steam vents into crust. Brush surface with egg wash and sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar.
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Bake pie until golden brown on top, about 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake another 45 to 50 minutes. Let stand about 30 minutes before serving.Note: To garnish the pie with candied apple peel, toss strips of apple peel with sugar and arrange on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Heat oven to 400 degrees, turn off, and place baking sheet in oven overnight.
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Pate Brisee (Pie Dough)
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Ingredients -Makes 1 double-crust or 2 single-crust 9- to 10-inch pies
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Pate brisee is the French version of classic pie or tart pastry. Pressing the dough into a disc rather than shaping it into a ball allows it to chill faster. This will also make the dough easier to roll out, and if you freeze it, it will thaw more quickly.
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2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
1/4 to 1/2 cup ice water
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Directions
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In the bowl of a food processor, combine flour, salt, and sugar. Add butter, and process until the mixture resembles coarse meal, 8 to 10 seconds.
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With machine running, add ice water in a slow, steady stream through feed tube. Pulse until dough holds together without being wet or sticky; be careful not to process more than 30 seconds. To test, squeeze a small amount together: If it is crumbly, add more ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time.
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Divide dough into two equal balls. Flatten each ball into a disc and wrap in plastic. Transfer to the refrigerator and chill at least 1 hour. Dough may be stored, frozen, up to 1 month
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Recipe Courtesy of Martha Stewart
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Loveliest Season of the Year

2011-09-23T09:02:00.000-07:00

When the trees their summer splendor

Change to raiment red and gold,

When the summer moon turns yellow,

And the nights are getting cold;

When the squirrels hide their acorns,

And the woodchucks disappear;

Then we know that it is Autumn,

Loveliest season of the year.

Autumn by Carol L. Riser ~

It feels like Autumn at my house today, and I am a happy girl!!

(Photos Courtesy of Jupiter Images)

Mid-Week Pause ~ Reflection

2011-09-21T05:58:00.000-07:00

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul. John Muir ~

The Importance of Eating Your Veggies

2011-09-20T06:16:00.000-07:00

Re-post
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Eating 5 large carrots per week can decreases the risk of stroke by 68%.

One of the most dramatic findings to come out of the well-known Nurse’s Health Study (which tracked 87,000 nurses for eight years) was that those who ate just five large carrots a week lowered their risk of stroke by 68 percent compared to those who ate only one carrot per month or none at all! By the way, carrots also lower cholesterol because of their fiber content. A study from England showed that those who ate two large carrots a day for three weeks reduced their total cholesterol by 11 percent, which is roughly the same amount that’s achieved with statin drugs!

Wow!!

Selecting and Storing

Carrot roots should be firm, and smooth. The deeper the orange-color, the more beta-carotene is present in the carrot. Look at the stem end and ensure that it is not darkly colored as this is also a sign of age.

Carrots are hardy vegetables that will keep longer than many others if stored properly. Make sure to store them in the coolest part of the refrigerator. If you purchase carrot roots with attached green tops, the tops should be cut off before storing in the refrigerator since they will cause the carrots to wilt prematurely as they pull moisture from the roots.

Carrot, Green Apple and Mint Salad
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1/3 cup plain nonfat yogurt

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon cider vinegar

1 teaspoon honey

1 pound carrots, peeled and trimmed

1 Granny Smith apple, cored

2 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh mint leaves

Salt

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Fold a full sheet of paper towel into quarters and place it in a small bowl. Spoon the yogurt on top of the paper towel. Place it in the refrigerator for 20 minutes so the yogurt can drain and thicken.

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In a small bowl whisk together the thickened yogurt and the mayonnaise, until smooth. Whisk in the lemon juice, vinegar, and honey.

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Grate first the carrots and then the apples in a food processor. Transfer them to a large bowl and stir to combine. Pour the dressing over the carrot mixture and toss. Add the mint and season with salt.

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Serve chilled.
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Nutritional Analysis Per Serving

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Calories 86
Total Fat 4 grams
Saturated Fat 0.5 grams
Protein 1 gram
Carbohydrates 13 grams
Fiber 3 grams

(Courtesy of Ellie Kreiger's Healthy Appetite, Photos Courtesy of Jupiter Images)
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And The Winner Is...

2011-09-19T05:42:00.000-07:00

I am so excited and happy to announce the winner of the fabulous
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{Red Fir Shabby Apple Dress}
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drum roll please........ is...

Eneia over at "The Charm White"
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Yay!!!!!! Congratulations!!

Thanks so much to everyone for entering. Thank you also Shabby Apple!!
It was a really fun giveaway.
I hope to host more in the future. xx's
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P.S. Happy Monday!!
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P.P.S. Hosting a giveaway & need a way to generate the winner randomly, try Random.org
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Friday's Photos - Dress Giveaway via Shabby Apple!!

2011-09-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

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This Giveaway is now closed. I will announce the winner Monday (morning) Sept 19!!

Here it is!!
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I'm so excited to announce this giveaway via "Shabby Apple" - an amazing vintage inspired online dress boutique, that offers absolutely beautiful women’s apparel, jewelry, & more!!
Honestly, I wish it were mine!!
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I'll make entering to win this gorgeous dress {seen above} -- Red Fir, from their Yosemite Collection, as simple as possible. Good Luck!!
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1. Follow the link "Shabby Apple" and check out all of their amazing dresses -- they are arranged by collections {which I love} and pick the one you like most.
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2. Return to barefoot in the orchard & post a comment telling me which one was your fav.
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3. You may also want to check out their blog - Shabby Apple ~ Apple a Day - & follow them. ;)
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Note: This giveaway will run for one week and ends at midnight PST - Friday September 16, 2011. I will announce the lucky winner and Shabby Apple will send you the dress, in the size you specify, directly. This giveaway is open to US residents only.
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Here are some more things from Shabby Apple {not included in the giveaway} that I love -- enjoy!!
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Good Morning ~ Good Coffee

2011-09-08T05:46:00.000-07:00

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I love a good cup of coffee! Let me rephrase that -- I crave a good cup of coffee!! Coffee is the second largest traded commodity in the world after oil. A path that 500 million people are journeying and I am right there with them all.
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For all you Californian's, there is a website called delocator.net that helps you find independently owned coffee shops in your neighborhood or a neighborhood you may be visiting. I use it to find - coffee - wherever I go. It also helps support the underdog and promote a future that includes the culture of small businesses!
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My favorite local place: Flying Goat Coffee.
My favorite coffee: Espresso Con Panna (a shot of espresso topped with whipped cream).
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What's yours? Happy coffee drinking!! :)
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P.S. Wonderful Giveaway Coming Tomorrow!! Don't Forget To Check Back In!!
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(Photos Courtesy of Jupiter Images)

Mid-Week Pause ~ Reflection

2011-09-07T05:19:00.000-07:00

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There is no meaning to a flower, unless it blooms. ~

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(Image Courtesy Jupiter Images)
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Jardin Potager - Kitchen Garden & More

2011-09-06T05:42:00.000-07:00

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As fall draws ever closer (my favorite season) - I'm in the process of clearing and readying a new fall garden space. I've actually seeded some things already -- a second summer planting of fava beans, cucumbers and butternut squash. Soon, I hope to add kale, lettuce, leeks, arugula and beets. I also hope to clear even more space for additional plantings, such as fruit trees and berry bushes -- so excited! Zone 9 (Northern California) usually experiences summer-like weather that stretches well into October. In fact, it isn't unusual to be out trick-or-treating in flip flops.
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My current veggie garden space (which is much smaller but very productive) is happily growing lots of yummy summer things -- tomatoes, italian parsley and other herbs, arugula (which I can never get enough of) pumpkins and edible flowers. I love going out to the garden each morning to water and see what is ready to harvest and eat. Lots of tomatoes never seem to make it to a salad or sauce. ;)
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Fertilizer is an important part of growing vegetables, as any gardener will tell you. I am lucky that we have two adorable bunnies (Tamale and Luna) that make lots of bunny gold {bunny poop} to spread around the garden. I recently found out , from a very accomplished gardener, that rabbit pellets are considered cold manure and therefore can be placed straight into the garden and is safe to use without composting.
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Bunny Gold Fact: It contains the highest concentrations of basic plant nutrients of any common animal manure. Go bunnies!!
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(Photos Courtesy of Jupiter Images)

Perfect (Labor Day) Recipe - Grilled Watermelon w/ Arugula & Goat Cheese

2011-09-02T18:19:00.000-07:00

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Happy Friday!! Have a great 3 day weekend, everyone!!
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Grilled Watermelon Salad

Ingredients (Serves 4)

1/2 (5-pound) seedless watermelon
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
Extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt (specialty salt is great here, if on hand)
2 cups fresh baby arugula, washed and dried
1 cup goat cheese, crumbled, preferably a French Chevre
Fresh finely cracked black pepper

Directions

Stand the watermelon half cut side down on a cutting board and slice away the rind, leaving a solid block of melon. Turn the block on its side and cut it into 8 squares, roughly 3 by 3 inches and 1-inch thick.

Pour the vinegar into a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Cook until reduced to a thick syrup consistency. Set aside.

Heat a nonstick grill pan over medium-high heat. Drizzle just enough olive oil over watermelon slices to thinly coat and place on hot grill pan. Grill each side about 2 minutes until grill marks appear; transfer to a plate and season with salt.

To assemble the salads, put about 1/4 cup of baby arugula on a serving plate, followed by a grilled slice of watermelon in the center, and top with a tablespoon of crumbled cheese and another 1/4 cup arugula. Add another watermelon slice and another tablespoon of cheese. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Finish each salad with a very light drizzle of olive oil and balsamic syrup. Dust with black pepper and serve immediately.

Recipe courtesy Claire Robinson - Photos Courtesy of The Food Network & Jupiter Images

What's In Season - September + Salsify

2011-09-01T12:04:00.000-07:00

Northern California

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What is Salsify? I found some at the farmers market and asked the same question.

Salsify is a member of the sunflower family. It is cultivated in Central and Southern Europe, the United States, and in Asia (Taiwan), and is said to have originated in the Mediterranean. Its root is similar in appearance to a thin parsnip. Additionally, it is long in length and is cream or white in color. The leaves are edible and can be used in salads. Also, the root can be boiled, steamed, creamed, or mashed. A popular recipe suggests cooking the salsify root then mashing it and forming the mashed salsify into patties that are then fried. While it is known for its oyster-like flavor, many people have also claimed it tastes similar to an artichoke. When cooked it also has the texture of an artichoke heart.

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Fruit and Nuts

•almonds

•apples

•asian pears

•avocado

•blackberries

•dates

•figs

•grapefruit

•grapes

•guava

•jujubes

•lemons

•melons

•nectarines

•oranges

•peaches

•pears

•persimmons

•pistachios

•plums

•pluots

•pomegranates

•quince

•raspberries

•rhubarb

•strawberries

•tomatillos

•tomatoes
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Vegetables

•artichoke

•arugula

•asian beans

•avocado

•basil

•beans

•beets

•boy choy

•broccoli

•brussels sprouts

•burdock

•cabbage

•cactus pads

•cardoons

•carrots

•cauliflower

•celery

•chard

•collards

•corn

•cress cucumbers

•eggplant

•fennel

•garlic

•horseradish

•kale

•leeks

•lettuce

•mushrooms

•mustard

•okra

•olives

•onions

•peas

•peppers

•potatoes

•purslane

•radicchio

•radish

•rapini

•rhubarb

•rutabaga

•salsify

•scallions

•shallots

•spinach

•squash, summer

•sunchokes

•sweet Potatoes

•tomatillos

•tomatoes

•turnips
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(Photos Courtesy of Jupiter Images)

Home Grown Tomato Yumminess!

2011-08-24T12:32:00.000-07:00

"It's difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato." ~ Lewis Grizzard
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Fresh organic, heirloom tomatoes from my garden & my lunch. ;)
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(Above photos copyrighted to me - Sabina DeShazo)

Back to Blogging - Imperfect Motherhood

2011-08-23T08:57:00.000-07:00

(Caitie-Baby 2001 -- above photos copyrighted to me)

Note: This is a re-post from a few years back but still relevant and I could use a reminder - enjoy. :)
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With my kids all happily back in school (yay!!) and a summers worth of swimming, picnics, car trips, and lots of fun in the sun behind me - it's time to return to my daily blogging.
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Good Mothers vs. Bad Mothers - Moms Judging Moms vs. Moms Supporting Moms

I thought I would begin my first post back by talking about being a mom. I am fortunate that I have been able to be a stay-at-home mom, but there are all kinds of moms out there. Let me be the first to say - we as women all need to support each other more!! We seem to have this vision of perfection that is an unrealistic idea for anyone to live up to. I read a small article from a book this summer that hit a nerve. It went something like this.

The good mother remembers to serve fruit at breakfast. Is always cheerful and never yells. Manages not to project her own neurosis and inadequacies onto her children. Is an active and beloved community volunteer. She remembers to make play dates. Her children's clothes fit perfectly. She does art projects with them and she enjoys all their games. And of course is never too tired for sex.

If you can prove this woman exists - I'll bet she is a "Stepford Wife."

Have you ever noticed that dads completely get off the hook when it comes to this standard of perfection. I find that my husband only has to do the most minimum of activities with the children for the whole world to take notice and let him know he is "such a good dad." I am completely guilty in this observation of other husbands myself. If I see a dad walking through our neighborhood holding a child's hand - I think - what a good dad. When I see the countless women doing this same task - I take little or no notice.

I have found that we as women tend to look for models of "bad mothers" because it makes us feel better. At least I'm not ----. "Good moms" make us feel like a failure. We have to reject this. Women cannot be everything to everyone. We have to stop judging ourselves and others by this "perfect mom" yardstick.

So today I am celebrating the imperfection of motherhood and all the joy, tears, laughter and frustration that comes with real life and being a "real mom!!"

Happy Friday - Brene Brown: The power of vulnerability | Video on TED.com

2011-08-19T10:40:00.000-07:00

A lovely TED talk to start your day...if you have 20 minutes. If you don't, maybe save it for later. ;)

Happy Friday!!

Brene Brown: The power of vulnerability | Video on TED.com

http://www.brenebrown.com/
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(Photos Courtesy Of Jupiter Images)

What's In Season - August

2011-08-02T07:23:00.000-07:00

August (Northern California)

Local seasonal foods are tastier, fresher and more nutritious. Why? It’s because the produce has been harvested in the last few days and has only traveled a short distance to market. This means less packaging, processing and refrigeration. All good for the environment and your health.

Vegetables

•arugula
•basil
•beans
•beets
•corn
•cucumbers

•eggplant
•fennel
•okra
•peppers

•sorrel
•summer squash
•tomatoes

•carrots

•potatoes

Fruits

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•dates
•figs
•grapes
•mangoes
•melons
•nectarines
•apples
•apricots
•blueberries
•peaches
•plums
•raspberries
•watermelon

•Valencia oranges

•avocados

•boysenberries

•blackberries

(Photos Courtesy of Jupiter Images)

Thinking With Your Heart ♥ Improve Your DHEA

2011-08-01T06:04:00.000-07:00

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(Re-post - Happy Summer)
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I have been accused of thinking with my heart and not my head, numerous times in my life. I admit - I am guilty as charged - but I think this has made me an infinitely happier person. Now there is scientific data to back this up! Apparently thinking with your heart improves your bodies own natural DHEA levels. By the way, DHEA is known as the anti-aging hormone.
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With that in mind, here are some photos of babies sleeping. These kinds of images often bring our minds to our hearts. Think with your heart today and see if your life and the lives of others are not improved.

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(Photos Via Jupiter Images)_

Friday's Photo's - Herb Bouquets

2011-07-29T05:57:00.000-07:00

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I love the look and smell of fresh herbs stored in a vase of water on my kitchen counter, waiting to be plucked out and used to make something taste better! Happy Friday!!
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(Photos Via &Via & Via & Jupiter Images)

Is White A Color?

2011-07-28T06:20:00.000-07:00

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The answers are many and conflicting.
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It depends upon whom you ask. Scientists consider black to be the absence of color and white to be the presence of all colors. Fine artists, on the other hand, believe the complete reverse: white is the absence of color.
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I asked my three youngest children if white was a color and my 7 year old son just pointed to a cloud and said with complete confidence, "There it is."
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Whatever the case - I love the "COLOR" white!!
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(Photos Courtesy of Jupiter Images and Zappos)----{A Re-Post From 4/30/08}

Mid-Week Pause - Reflection

2011-07-27T05:16:00.000-07:00

"I am not afraid of storms, for I have learned how to sail my ship." Louisa May Alcott ~

(Photo Via Jupiter Images)

Love Makes A Family - ♥ Duh!

2011-07-26T05:03:00.000-07:00

With all the "joyous" weddings going on in New York { } I thought I'd re-post this.
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♥ I would love to get this wonderful traveling display of photos presented at my children's school. We are fortunate to live in a very open community and my children attend a progressive school with an open mind and heart.
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♥ Respect, tolerance and kindness are things we hold in very high regard.
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♥ By educating people of all ages to recognize, support, and celebrate the full range of diversity helps reduce prejudice, stereotyping, and harassment of all people who are perceived to be "different" from the "norm."
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Love Makes a Family is a museum-quality traveling exhibit including photographs and interviews with families that have lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) members. Through first-person accounts and positive images, this exhibit seeks to challenge and change damaging myths and stereotypes about LGBT people and their families. At the most basic level, Love Makes A Family combats homophobia by breaking silence and making the invisible visible. By encouraging people of all ages - beginning in early childhood - to affirm and appreciate diversity, this traveling rental exhibit contributes to the process of dismantling the destructive power of prejudice and intolerance, thereby making the world a safer place for all families.
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♥ Designed for audiences of all ages.
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Elsasser-Robinson Family

"Our family life is a very traditional American one - early morning getting up, eating breakfast, getting dressed, making sure everyone has matching socks, getting the boys off to school, and then going to work. At night, it's homework and getting ready for bed. Michael and I have been class parents in Zach's and Justin's classes every single year. We could not imagine living without children. It's a wonderful experience to watch our boys develop and mature."

Galluccio Family

This is the story of Jon and Michael Galluccio, two gay men living in New Jersey, who become foster parents to Adam, a premature baby born with AIDS virus and addicted to crack, heroin, marijuana and alcohol. While nursing Adam through the many medical emergencies of his first year and surviving the daily dramas that all new parents go through, they realize that this child, their son now, could be taken back from them at any time by the state, and they decide to try to legally adopt him._