Summer Day ~ Beach

Well, that says it all for a blog called Gone to the Beach!

Hi everyone! Weather here is lovely but the eclipse was a fizzle. It was very fun to get texts from friends and read FB posts as everyone in the eclipse path experienced the awesome sight.
From Mel who was in Missouri:

But I live far to the northeast, we had nada. It didn't even get a little dark! I expected twilight. Something?
Mo and I stayed in, our optometrist friend urging us strongly not to risk our eyesight. Here's a view from my window at the height of the eclipse:

Business as usual at the beach. I really don't think anyone would have noticed anything except for all the TV coverage. And just to add---watching an eclipse on TV is sort of like watching Macy's Fourth of July fireworks on TV. Bland, boring, and dull---with commercials.

big flock of now-grown sea gull babies, in their dark and ugly plumage

Just an ordinary day...

But back to the beach. See this bracelet:

It's from My Intent  I kept seeing their ads online and I cherish the stamped inspirational key my children gave me, so this past spring I treated myself to the simple bracelet. The Giving Keys

You know how every New Year there's a lot of bloggy talk about choosing one's word for the year, the single word that will define and guide throughout the year? I always thought that was a little silly, to be honest. These bracelets are similar, but instead of choosing a word like kind or peace or simplicity, I chose to make my focus more tangible. I asked myself, What do I want to accomplish this summer, and this year?

Well, most important was to walk Mo again, but I was already doing that as best I could.

What would be a bigger challenge?  Admittedly my world is small. My disk would not say, A summer in Provence or Christmas in Vermont or Move to Sweden.

It had to be doable.
Looking back, despite the pain, I enjoyed my summer last year, me and Mo sewing very day on the deck, but I also felt lonely and isolated and left home alone as family and friends went to the beach. Without me.

My goal this year is simple. My bracelet says:BEACH.

Each bracelet is hand stamped just for the recipient. As when my friend Hunter makes origami cranes, folding blessings into their paper wings, the artisans who make the bracelets are told why the word they're stamping was chosen, and add their thoughts to their work.
Beach...

What has surprised me is--it works! There are days when I do not feel I can make the walk down to the beach. The beach is wide this summer,  and round trip, with no extra walking/ beachcombing is about 1 1/2 miles. I sit on the edge of my bed in my swimsuit and think, I just can't, it's too far and so hot...but then I glance at my wrist, tying on my old New Balance walking sneakers,  and I think, You can do it. You can, and you will.

I pack up Bitty, a large jar of water, some snack crackers; bug spray, sunscreen spray, a towel. I tie Mel's bracelet she made me, all shells and seaglass beads, on top of the Intent bracelet. And off I go

Carpe diem, sieze the day.

Darling Mo, sadly, must remain behind. That breaks my heart, even though I understand pugs do not belong on hot sandy beaches.

...................

Do you have a word, a mantra word? Do you think a charm or talisman can actually work?

love

lizzy

gone to the beach!!!!

bracelet My Intent

word keys: [these are real re-purposed recycled keys!]  The Giving Keys

Back to the Farmers Market, What Did We find?

Hi!I think a big part of a farmers market's charm/ appeal is the treasure hunt aspect of it.

Just like when I go to the flea, at the farmers market, I never know what I might find to make a delicious meal for me and my family--or who knows what? And unlike a trip to the supermarket, there is no point in going list in hand with a set notion of what I must buy this week. I walk around, take in the choices, admire the colors, breathe the fresh scent and excitement.

And finally make a choice.

This week I was still looking for berries, raspberries or blackberries, But no. Cukes for pickles, no. And the Italian delicacies I mentioned last time were all sold out. Probably just as well, because who really needs fried blueberry ravioli with chocolate studded mascarpone?

I was tempted to do a little early Christmas shopping! One year I gave everyone flavored olive oils and herbed vinegars. This year I'm intrigued by the silk scarves at the India fair trade booth.

The ''wellness'' booth keeps getting bigger, and though it is not local produce, I love the things they sell and will not complain. These silk scarves are handmade with sari scraps, then finished with large stitch Kantha quilting.

Oh robin's egg blue, my fave.

Surely some of my girlfriends will love these too?
The earrings are cool too. Am I past the age of wearing rather life sized filigree gold leaves earrings? Maybe not!

As usual I was very short of cash so I stuck to things I knew we'd actually eat. The Long Island corn was glorious. Tiny sweet perfect kernels. Beautiful, especially considering it is organic, which often implies flaws and bugs, especially on corn. The tablecloth is a faded cheddar cotton Provencal textile, from Pierre Deux, in NYC. c.1980?

Onions, yellow squash, tiny tomatoes.

I made a fresh pasta sauce which I froze; I also steamed the summer squash with cauliflower, lots of black pepper, a sprinkle of parm, Yum. With brown rice it made a lovely light summer supper.

Bigger green and red heirloom tomatoes for Fried Green Tomatoes. I'll make the  seasoned flour version [salt black pepper, paprika, onion salt, garlic powder] instead of Southern cornmeal fried, because I just cleaned my baking pantry and I know I'm out of cornmeal.

I wish I has an inkling of how to make turnips taste better. They sure are pretty! Taste like mud though, a rare veg we do not eat at my house. EDIT : I think I meant beets!? :

Early melons, lumpy but sweet.

The kale was lovely for a farro, kale and squash w/ feta salad.

And a big bouquet of field flowers. So colorful!

 
And look, green zinnias! I must have them next summer, in my deck planters.

recipe for Fresh Veggie/ Pasta Toss Sauce

In a large heavy pan saute sweet onions, coarse chop, with halved miniature plum tomatoes or  mixed baby heirloom tomatoes. Stir on medium heat til all begins to wilt and the onions look transparent. Add whatever fresh veggies you brought home. Usually I put zucchini and/ or yellow squash, sliced thinnish, cauliflower, mushrooms. In the spring you can use new peas and asparagus.

Add fresh minced garlic, to taste, maybe 2 teaspoons? Chopped fresh parsley and basil.

Add a little water or white wine, 2 T of butter, 3 T of sugar, salt, pepper , oregano to taste. Add enough liquid so the mixture won't scorch but not a lot, not wet. Stir a few times, bring to s good simmer. Then cover and either turn off the stove entirely or leave on very lowest heat. I usually let it sit for an hour-ish?

Stir again, add a little more white wine of needed. Add some parm.

Toss with hot fresh pasta, I often use it with simple ravioli, but even shells or spaghetti is fine. Add more parm on top and a couple more basil springs. Mm mm.Smells so delicious, tastes great too.

But the plain, steamed, just picked corn is just as good. Feast of summer.

PS These oh so cute stripey sweet peppers were a my grocery today. New to me. A sausage and peppers night soon, sounds delish!

Mo was bored to tears, he's not a veggie dog.

Mo is sulking in the upper right hand corner here.

Have a great weekend!

love

lizzy

gone to the beach.....