On Saturday, we went to the last outdoor farmer’s market of the season up in Montpelier. There were curvaceous squash, dependable root veggies, like the beets and carrots. There were gorgeous stalks of Brussels sprouts. The greens, like bok choy, tatsoi, spinach and kale were glistening after a rain shower. The leeks, scallions and shallots were auditioning for savory soup pots. There were potters, a cheesemaker and cider and maple syrup vendors. Grab and go food caused waves of steam to tempt our noses. Bittersweet, these days of letting go of this wonderful community of farmers, who have produced bounty even after more summer flooding.
I loved, loved, loved the double rainbow that arched over the American flag, just down the road from Vermont’s beautiful state house. Hope. Friends, it’s all about hope!
We woke up to a confectioner’s sugar coating of snow on Monday morning, and so, of course, I squealed. It was gone by lunchtime, but it was a teaser, for sure. And today it’s 72 degrees. Disconcerting, for sure.
Batman grew peppers in the hoop house, and I finally strung them and hung them in the kitchen. They are so pretty, and are waiting for winter dishes. Batman made the garlic crib for me years ago, and I love it. Artwork by British artist Rachel Grant. You can find the print here.
Chipmunk in the crabapple tree.
Leaving the flower garden for the birds and insects to snack on. Clean up can wait til the spring.
The days have been softened by the mist and fog, creating the perfect mood for this time of year. Halloween. Day of the Dead, Samhain, All Soul’s Day. When we let go of what no longer serves us, and we hold on tight to what we believe in.
Batman had a bit of fun…
I found two reads to be especially helpful as we skid into Election Day.
Krista Tippet sent her “On Being” newsletter earlier this week, and the title of her piece had me at hello. Stitching What Lies Beyond is worth your time, I promise. And my old fave, Hannah Nunn, has some words of comfort too, with photos to mediate with. Find her blog post here.
This time of year prompts a shift in our kitchen. I like to pull out cookbooks and gather new recipes to try and I cull my pantry, looking for things that need to be used up. I check on our seed sprouting supplies. We shift to soups and stews and hot breakfasts. I love to make “hippy banana bread” with a recipe from Shutterbean, you can find it here. Since there are just two of us here, and we can’t eat the whole loaf before it spoils, I slice the bread, put bits of parchment paper between slices and put the loaf in a ziplock bag and into the freezer. Later, we can take a few slices at a time and warm them up on the griddle.
I’d like to remind all of us that the sun will come up on Wednesday morning, the pets will need to be fed, our mugs of coffee/tea will still be a comfort nestled in our hands. We will still have good and decent work to do. We will still find sanctuary in the inhale and the exhale of our breaths.
I’ll be voting in person, and I will be delighted to vote for Kamala. I do not love everything she has to say, but the contrast with the other candidate cannot be starker. And the consequences of skipping the vote are unforgivable. And in closing, let me tell you that I will be deeply grateful to have another chance to cast a vote for our beloved Bernie.
See you on the flip side, dearest readers.
Hang on to hope, light, courage and VOTE!
xo