We saw a rattlesnake up close. Really close.

We looked at fly larva with a microscope, the larva came from this stream.

We climbed up really high.

We marveled at all of the dew covered spiderwebs.

We soaked up some sun.

We sweat. A lot.

We felt really good.

We can’t wait to do it again.

How was your Sunday?

…included a trip to a really cool art supply store, the Natural History Museum, the Butterfly Garden, a tour at the Japanese Friendship Garden for just the 3 of us and dinner at the Farmers’ Market (I had a sweet corn and poblano tamale, so good!).

We went on an early morning hike today.

Some of the things we saw: dragonflies, butterflies, hummingbirds, spider webs, poison oak, lichen, native plants and dog poop.

We all agreed that people who don’t pick up after their dogs are really lame.

The two in front chatted, while the two in back pretended they were on a date.

It was lovely.

Happy Independence Day!

I love to talk about CSA’s, read about them, visit the farms that offer them and most of all enjoy one. We were with the same farm for a very long time and loved all the produce we were receiving, but for the last year we have been with a much smaller farm (think 2000 shareholders before, now we are one of 40) and the produce is so wonderful. We are also so pleased with our hlaf a dozen eggs and sometimes jams/sauces that come in our box too. Our CSA is owned and operated by an sweet couple, who work so hard to grow delicious and beautiful produce.

We usually have a weekly share year round but since we moved and are now within walking distance to a nice Farmers’ Market, we have gone down to a bi-weekly share for summertime and we hit the farmers’ market every week.

This is what was in our box this week, along with a couple of extras we bought.

Carrots, naval oranges, half a dozen eggs, lemons, dino kale, baby spinach, baby mixed greens, green beans, 2 ruby red grapefruit, 1 yellow onion, 1 bunch of garlic, cherry tomatoes, raw/vegan cilantro garlic dip (so good!), zucchini and cucumber. Extras: Basil and rosemary.

I’m linking up with Denise at cook.eat.think, she is posting what she gets each week in Wisconsin. She got some asparagus in her box! I wish we got some of that, it’s so expensive here and we love it!

Wanna learn more about a CSA in your area? Find one here.

Ahh, Summer.

Hope you enjoyed your weekend.

We enjoyed soup and biscuits, wishes of tin cups and lots of “Yes, Ma” and “Yes, Pa”.

A man builds a fine house; and now he has a master, and a task for life:  he is to furnish, watch, show it, and keep it in repair, the rest of his days. 

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

I told him about our mini disaster, he told me his house burned down five months ago.  He didn’t say it to make me feel bad and I didn’t, I just felt some of his pain and really, really grateful.

We squealed with delight and watched him run. Everyone around us was smiling, a 10 day old elephant can make anyone happy.

FALL. Just a little late or right on time, depending on who you ask.