Yesterday Hubs and I were doing our weekend running, with my wonky vision lately, I get a bit anxious running errands and such. I know it's an irrational fear, but I'm good with my knight in shining armor escorting me on the weekends. One of the stops was down outside of Arnold at Your Quilt Shop, it's my favorite shop locally. They seem to enjoy the same types of fabrics that I do, making it so easy. Not to mention that I simply LOVE the folks that are there. Owners and customers alike.
I had purchased a bunch of fabric and a pattern last weekend, but we were in a rush and they were super busy and close to closing. As I wasn't starting the quilt anytime soon, I decided to simply come back for it later.
My joy in this shop is immense, thankfully, I live no where close or I would be going back to work to feed my addiction. It isn't just the fabric or the stuff they sell, although they definitely make my styles. The people are incredible. No one is a stranger, everyone is welcome. Heck the ladies in the back room are usually giving Hubs snacks and keeping him entertained while I shop.
Yesterday, during a wandering conversation with the owner, she asked if we liked fresh tomatoes, I mean who doesn't? Then we started talking about gardening and the next thing I knew she handed me a bean pod. Not just any bean pod. But one from her garden. One that has a lineage.
Oh it's just a mild mannered unassuming red bean. But it is from a line that has nourished her husbands family since before the great depression. It comes from a line that fed them during those dark times. I am so stupid excited about this little bean pod. It's unbelievable.
Hubs and I spent time yesterday plotting where those precious seeds would be planted next spring. He's building me a raised box, one that will have an open bottom, and it will have a trellis for them to grow up onto, as high as they would like. I plan to cherish them, to grow as many as possible, to carry on the story.
She also mentioned that the Roma is one of the meatiest that she has ever encountered and suggested I save those seeds as well. You definitely know that is going to happen. Honestly, my tomatoes have been a disappointment on many levels this year. I will be making a spaghetti dish with the few that were actually not mushy inside. The critters have enjoyed all of the "failures", it's just so disappointing, but there is always next season.
Hopefully the roma's I grow next year will be from this wonderful gift I was given.
I know it seems tiny, some might even feel it is silly. To me? It feels like a gift I can never repay. Her hubby has started tending bees and we were able to buy a jar of their spring honey. OH MY! I actually had to make some yogurt last night, I cannot wait to enjoy that for breakfast on my freshly made yogurt. It is the most beautiful flavor, she was explaining that it's because it was gathered before the bees started feasting on clover and the like. It's from the first flowers of spring.
The treasures that you cannot buy in a grocery store or even from a seed store.
I am "patiently" waiting for the yogurt to cool so I can strain it and get it ready for breakfasts. I will share a jar with my friend and my youngest grand - she loves it drizzled with honey and sprinkled with fruit and granola. I figured while I waited I would also work on a few of the things I've been putting off. There is a big pot of broccoli cheddar soup on the stove right now, I will jar up some for a meal this week, but the rest is heading to the freeze dryer. I think I'm also going to make a batch of sloppy joe's and a batch of what my Hubs call's Marty's beans (it's a recipe from her and he loves them!). I'm also going to try my hand at making Chicken Mulligatawny soup. We had some recently, and we have no idea how we have never had it before. Some of each will be put in the fridge for easy meals this week, some of which will be freeze dried, for camping, traveling, when I don't feel like cooking...
In the midst of it all, I am going to take advantage of this beautiful weather and get my scroll saw out and cut out the hippo that my sister ordered and she is waiting, very patiently, for. Now that the weather has broken and it's pleasant I have so much that I want to do. That I finally have the energy to do. The heat drains me, the coolness makes me want to do all the things.
The soup is done. Time to start the beans, they need to bake for a bit, so I need to get on it.
I hope that someone blesses you with a tiny treasure, that you can experience the joy that comes with it. I can't be the only silly one on this planet! Or maybe you get the blessing of sharing a tiny treasure with someone else?
much love, b
Good one! 381+
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