old friends will not be forgotten!

we'll take a cup 'o kindness yet

for auld lang syne!

tally me banana

Bananas are ripe and at their best when they're just like this - I found these two piles of organic bananas on the going-bad rack at the super market for $1.90 - perfect!  Peeled, frozen bananas are a must for any smoothie - they taste and act like ice cream and are so good for you!

from Abe to Charles

About a year ago, the peeling finish in my bathtub bore a resemblance to Abraham Lincoln (original post here).  Many showers and another year of use later, it's beginning to look like Charles Manson

 

one up top, one below

double deckin'

consignment jackpot

seasonal red St. John knits jacket with great detailing and buttons

little kelly green vintage cardi with a tag that reads KINGSLEY - this was meant to be mine

who would ever get rid of a delicate pale blue knit sweater with gold lightning bolts?

and the score of the day: Brand new Frye harness boots, in my size.  New, these retail for $320.  

My price: $25

Little Falls love

John & Mary, my teachers who make cheese on the farm where I apprenticed in Maine sent me a Christmas box containing a piece of their wonderful organic aged goat's milk cheese, and a pile of vintage post cards from Maine, England and Spain

* * * MERRY CHRISTMAS * * *

detail from David's Christmas card

the force is with them

In the parking lot at Star Wars 

oh Jimmy

Thank you Agnes, for one of the best Christmas presents ever!

old timey jammin

Been having fun listening to amazing archival music from a couple of great sources

http://www.loc.gov/jukebox/

http://radiodismuke.com/

sky study #140 plus a story

You completely can't see it in this picture, but there was a complete rainbow in front of this dark rain cloud over the gas station.  This was December 15th and we were having a seasonal warm, balmy rain storm.  I went in to pre-pay $20 of gas, and took note of one of my weaknesses: seasonal scratch off lottery tickets.  I told the gas station people about the rainbow, and went out to pump the gas.  But my tank only took $18.90, so I had $1.10 in change coming.  I decided the rainbow and unexpected $1 was a sign that I should buy myself a Holly Jolly Jackpot ticket

And I won $6!

found: old hippie publication

At the farmers market, there's a take a book/leave a book box that's usually filled with romance novels.  But last Saturday I picked up this weird booklet, which is filled with essays, quotes and poetry juxtaposing the topics of gratitude and greed, as it pertains to the environment.  Huh?

in huevos grande news

another jumbo egg from the girls

first class

the nose

Bestie David has always been a true connoisseur of scents, and this year started experimenting with making his own candles.  I got a box of some of his work in the mail last week - can't wait to try them!  I am so happy when people have creative hobbies and explore making things - this is exactly how my cheese career began.  Go David!

Forest Hacienda

There is a vendor next to us in the Winter market who sells locally foraged mushrooms, as well as his home made "crafts" (think pieces of wood with rocks painted as turtles on them) and jewelry (think piece of bone with a fake diamond glued to it). I mentioned him in a blog post from 2012 here.  On Saturday he was very proud of a drawing he made of a photograph of mushrooms he found, on which he drew little faces.  This picture doesn't do the scale justice - he blew the picture up on a copier to 11x17.

fresh, saucy and sweet

This weekend's farmer's market trades: fresh pea shoots and a bottle of home made sriracha sauce

half box of organic apples

the resale center

I had a meeting an hour North of where I live on Monday, but more importantly got to visit a supremely amazing thrift store, The Rainbow Shoppe in Charlevoix, Michigan

vintage book about budgies $0.25

a pristine 1970s floral bomber jacket complete with vintage snow-suit style elastic cuffs - half off pink tags, $3.50

vintage slip that looks like a Prada cocktail chemise - look at those pleats! $3.00

maxi skirt with gold glitter detailing $2.00

sky study #139

sunrise to the East December 2, 2015

same sky, same time, looking West

made for walking

knee high black suede boots - Goodwill - $5.99

but the butter was safe!

sometimes your cold smoker catches on fire

it's what's for breakfast

my British favorite

stormtrooper wallet

My friend Kat with her fabulous wallet

turkey trot

meet Freeway

I am very proud of my friend Raquel for saving this little kitten - please read the story here:

http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2015/11/injured_kitten_rescued_from_me.html

Raquel brought Freeway with her when she came up for Thanksgiving last week - he is a happy, bright, playful, normal kitten - we don't think he even realizes he is missing a leg.  We interchangeably call him Freeway, Tripod and Triple.  

black Friday

Last Friday Raquel and I hiked Pyramid Point on the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore - a cold, blustery and beautiful day! 

vintage book love

the yin/yang of cat/dog

napping together

farewell Roosty Jr.

My friends Jack & Joelle have 6 hens, and had a very mean/aggressive rooster, who they got rid of.  I offered to relocate one of my two gentlemen Roosty Junior's  to them.  I hear he has acclimated very well, and is happy in his new home with his new ladies.  Three roosters was too many at my farm, so it worked out well all around.

Happy Thanksgiving!

this Winter's tenant

There are many seasonal occupants taking shelter from the weather out in my big barn, the cutest being my friend Amy's UK-made 1967 Sunbeam Minx - classiest little classic ever.

chicken scratch

'

When I feed the chickens, sometimes the rabbits camp out underneath the feed table, because they LOVE chicken scratch, a mix of corn and other coarsely chopped grains. Here's my bun Blackie, happily parked underneath the chicken table at feeding time (the chickens don't mind her at all), eating her fill, with chicken feed all over her head.

Thanksgiving bartering: a series

serious trading happening at the Saturday farmers market this week: above, carrots and more carrots, frisee lettuce, brussel sprout staff, hot & spicy Smelt City Pickles from Boyne City

Spinach, spinach, spinach, and chard

Beets, beets, and purple kale

a nice squash, fingerling potatoes, and fancy dried mushrooms (honeys and hedgehogs)

sky study #138

No filter at all on this fully purple sunrise Monday, November 16th, 2015

for the weird egg file

Thick, wrinkled shell on an egg collected this week - sometimes they have a few pleats, but I've never seen one like this

inspector Buffy

Cheese room renovation update: concrete footings approved, plumbing approved, insulating foam board down - next up: concrete floor being poured.  Buffy the hen approves!