Good morning! 

In just over a week, we have had three birthdays in our household – Aaron 44, Frannie 5 and Ken 70. Each celebrated in their own way, but Frannie, motivated by her own dream in the night, started riding a bike with no training wheels. It’s inspiring to watch the determination of someone set to do something new – leaping from a falling bike over and over, legs striped with grey marks from the wheels, yelling ‘I’m ok!’ whilst falling. I get into a similar – albeit quieter – mode in these dark days – I take up creative pursuits that I don’t have space for in the busy long days of summer. I try making something new. I love working in the workshop, making wooden gifts, warmed by the wood stove and surrounded by the grease, paint and sawdust smells of my father. I like making weird minimalist holiday decor for myself that has very limited appeal to anyone else, and all my favorite cookies. I burn beeswax candles like I’m a beekeeper. I stretch and read novels and plan really ambitious, super-time-sensitive plans for my no-till vegetable operation that are totally screwed by June but it’s ok because I’ve spent so many dark hours over cooking it and organizing my brain that I really have three overlapping plans. 

Jess just commented the other day that she just realized that we are closer to asparagus season than we are far away….I told her to just be quiet already. Let me enjoy this for a second. 

New this week – 

French Lentil Soup – green French lentils with parsley root, carrot & celeriac. Eat it on its own, or treat it like a grown up hamburger helper and add a pound of ground beef – brown the beef in a pot, then add the soup. We did it yesterday for lunch and it was fantastic. Pro move – make a wild pesto garnish with chopped parsley, and/or arugula pesto, onion or shallot, preserved lemon & chopped olives. 

Coming soon – more Dill Pickle Kohlrabi Kraut, more Curried Veg Pickle, variety packs of hot sauce, popcorn seasoning. 

Have a great week and thanks for all the support.

Ellen