It Starts With a "P", Ends With a "T", and I Think I'm Addicted.

It's Pinterest.  This inspiration site has got me  - hook, line and sinker.  If you're not familiar, here's the bio from their FAQ page:

"Think of Pinterest as a virtual pinboard - a place where you can create collections of things you love and "follow" collections created by people with great taste.  We know you have great taste in something. Our mission is to make Pinterest the best place for you to share your taste with the world."

Once a member of Pinterest, you create your collections (called "boards") and "pin" photos and ideas that you find stirring to the appropriate board.  You can follow others and they can follow you, you can leave a comment on pins, "like" them, repin them, or simply scroll through and enjoy.  

Not only is it fun to see other Pinners' choices, but I also get lost in the boards I've put together for myself.  It's similar to pulling out a book that draws you in with its beauty - be it on decorating, photography or whatever else moves you.   For me, it is nature and the simple cottage style of living.  

I want to share some of my pins with you.  Below each pin is the name of the board from which it came.  Do any of these resonate with you, too?

{poppies}

{lovely cottage style}

{black, white or sepia}

{makes me happy}

{pink and turquoise}

{dreamy}

{beauty in nature}

{my style}

If you'd like to get started on your own Pinterest account, email me and I'll send you an invite (the quickest way to get started).  If you're already there, check out my boards here.  Perhaps we'll follow each other?   

I need a bigger bucket.

Bucket list (buck·et list)

noun

informal

a number of experiences or achievements that a person hopes to have or accomplish during his or her lifetime     

  : An Outstanding in the Field farm dinner is at the top of my bucket list

Two nights ago I checked an item off of my bucket list.  I've dreamt of going to a farm dinner hosted by Outstanding in the Field, and my wish came true on Tuesday night.  I’m bursting and must share.

First, a little history.   Jim Denevan, the founder of Outstanding in the Field (OITF) brings diners to their food by way of an 80-foot-long dinner table that is set up in a field, ranch, dairy, vineyard or community garden.   These delicious alfresco meals reconnect us to our local land and to the farmers and food artisans who tend it.  The ingredients come directly from the fields in which the great table sits and the individuals who work so hard to cultivate them share equal billing with the guest chef, and sit shoulder to shoulder with the guests. 

As we entered the beautiful grounds of Tres Sobores, we were greeted by one of the many happy staff members of OITF.  Imagine yourself arriving at a famiy reunion and having your cousin come out to greet you…yep, they’re that friendly.  The young man explained that we would first gather in the olive grove, and to get there we were to walk between the rows of grapevines and make a left. 

We were offered a glass of Tres Sobores’ Por que no? wine, a delicious red blend, or a  Gin-arita made with organic pomegranates from the property.  I, um, had both.  A few delicious hors de’oeuvres were passed and each picnic table had a beautiful salumi tray.

We were then welcomed by Jim and Leah of OITF and the property owner, Julie.  Under the shade of the olive trees, a glass of wine in hand, you could feel the comraderie beginning to develop among the guests.  We all could sense we were in for something very special.

As is tradition at these farm dinners, we walked the property of Tres Sobores.  Julie told us of its history and we learned much about the different grapes they’re growing and of the 100% organic methods they use.  We were introduced to their lambs and guinea hens, (otherwise known as “dinner”), and we picked and ate ripe strawberries from the organic garden, still warm from the sun.

In keeping with tradition we were then led to the long stretch of table with its white tablecloths, framed along its curve with grapevines, and topped with twinkling wine glasses.  If it wasn’t apparent before that Jim and his crew have been doing this since 1999, it was now – the string of chairs gently curving along the tableside were perfectly in line.  This was such a magical sight, and I saw a sparkle in Jim's eye as we all got our first look.

We were invited to pick any seat and each of us had our own dinner plate from home in hand…another wonderful tradition upheld.  As Jim states in his farm to table cookbook, “The dozens of individual plates set down the length of the table effect an incredibly striking visual testament to the diverse community we create every time we set up that table. “

Dinner was served family style starting with huge grilled Baja scallops.  Big bowls of salad with farm fresh vegetables and fingerling potatoes were brought out followed by heavy trays of spit-roasted lamb and guinea hen married with a moro bean and chard ragout.  We finished up with sweet and tender peaches and cherries topped with crème fraiche.  All of these courses were perfectly paired with Julie’s wines, and during the dinner we met many of the growers who provided their part of this generous feast.

On this beautiful day in this glorious spot of heaven called Tres Sabores, dozens of strangers gathered together in the late afternoon, came together to enjoy the fruits of the land and the labor of the chef and growers, and left as kindred spirits.  

Although I’ve crossed this incredible experience off of my bucket list, I'm adding another one right back on – I have the burning desire to experience another dinner with Jim and his crew at a Secret Sea Cove location somewhere here along our California coast.  Perhaps next year.  And if you find yourself at one of the 68 remaining farm dinners this season (there's a very good chance there's one near you), please tell Jim and Leah I say hi.

"Never iron a four-leaf clover, because you don't want to press your luck". ~Author Unknown

May the road rise up to meet you, 

may the wind be ever at your back. 

May the sun shine warm upon your face 

and the rain fall softly on your fields. 

And until we meet again, 

may God hold you in the hollow of his hand.

All photos from my visit in 2006 - where the land is greener than green, and the locals treat you like an old neighbor.  Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Hmm. Watch the Oscars or Go Sledding at Twin Peaks?

This is what’s happening in my neck of the woods:

  

Snow in San Francisco?  I suppose that is website- and Twitter-worthy.  After all, it hasn’t snowed here for 35 years – not since February 5, 1976 to be exact.  So while waiting to see just what happens when the unsettled cold air mass from the Gulf of Alaska arrives, a little helper and I went around my cottage to see what was blooming. 

Bailey, my little helper

The hellebores are always the first ones to delight.  Just when I start to get antsy about getting out in the garden I can count on these to brighten up the grey days - and these are super easy to care for.  

I only have two varieties but will probably add more to my garden since they are so easy – even in shady spots.  I like them best in hanging baskets, since their flowers tend to hang down and you can enjoy them better this way.

blurred photo taken by little helper while giggling
I just discovered clivias several years ago and planted quite a few.  They thrive in full shade and put on the prettiest show in early spring.

I love when these little pansies drop seeds during the summer and surprise me with new plants in the spring. 

Here are my favorites: wild violets.  They arrive before all of my annuals wake up, creating a bed of pretty color.  As everything else grows back around them all spring and summer, they gently fade away, dropping plenty of seed to ensure another show next year.

Hope you’ve enjoyed this little ‘walkabout’.  Wherever you are, it won’t be long until you see little signs of spring, too.  As I typed this last sentence, little beads of hail were falling through bright sunshine.  I’m looking forward to a weird and wonderful Oscar weekend - enjoy yours, too!

Marathon Training with Roger

You may have noticed that I haven’t blogged for a while.  Yep, you guessed it - again I’ve been stuck.  I learned from one of the best out there that it takes a good six months to find your voice as a new blogger. I suppose you have to write during that six months, not just wait for your half-year benchmark?   So write I will, especially since my sweet friend Amy from Verde Farm in West Virginia has given me the gentle nudge.  This is where the magic of blogging comes in – the amazing and supportive friends you meet along the way.  If you haven’t met Amy, read about her farm and country living journey here.   Thank you, my blog Angel.

This morning I took a beautiful hill walk in my Mill Valley neighborhood, Day 2 of my new fitness regime.  Without going into great detail about the length of time it’s been since my last workout, suffice it to say I’ll be ready for my next marathon right around the time I win the Pulitzer for my blog.  Yes, I’ve been stuck in this aspect of my life as well, but I go forward with great optimism!

With each step onward and upward, the endorphins started kicking in, and I realized as I continued on the hike signs of spring were everywhere – daffodils are blooming and fruit trees are blossoming!  As I became lost in thoughts of starting seeds for my spring garden, I came upon this:

Now I suppose I should tell you right off that I need glasses for distance and never wear them.  When I saw this up the road I was sure that this dog was in distress, stuck and struggling for his life.   The rock wall is almost six feet tall, and you can tell by the dog’s expression that he was near death, probably hanging there overnight.  He was weak and unable to bark or wiggle his way free….right? 

As I went for my cell phone to call for help, two lovely ladies rounded the bend and promptly called out, “Good Morning, Roger!”

It turns out that this Roger wasn’t stuck, hanging or near death. 

It turns out this Roger is vertically challenged and this is his perch.  And this dog spends his e-n-t-i-r-e day here greeting every passerby.  

The ladies tell me he is famous.  People are known to stop their cars here to say hello.

I discovered that Roger likes a good scratch.

Roger and I became fast friends and we made a deal.  I would come by each day and give him a head massage, and he …uh, hmm.  Actually he didn’t commit to anything.  But I think he’ll be looking for me, and I guess that’s a good way to keep me honest and on track.  Good Dog, Roger.

Foodie in Paradise

This is my neighbor.

And this is his store.

And this is my neighbor in his store.

My neighbor and his lovely wife Tolan are very generous.  Quite often they invite me to their store to meet very talented chefs and cookbook authors.  I walk over from my house and they offer me wine and cheese when I arrive.  Can you imagine what a Foodie like me thinks about all of this?  AAAAAGGGHHH!

Last week I met a lovely woman named Cate Conniff who works here.

Cate was part of the team that helped open The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena, California in 1995.  She has been the marketing manager at Greystone for over 15 years and in that time she has been working, cooking, eating, gardening and going to the farmers' market with many of the chefs and other food and wine loving members of the Greystone community.  I immediately felt a Foodie Kinship with Cate, and then found out we grew up in adjoining neighborhoods in the midwest.  I really like this woman.

Cate wrote this cookbook.

When Cate talked about food and cooking, there was a certain hush throughout the store.  Her words are mesmerizing.  You can almost taste the food she speaks about.  I quote from her book, "I had something of a Garden of Eden story in reverse:  I reached out to pick a perfectly plump and ripe fig from a one-hundred-year-old tree.  I still remember that taste of my first fresh fig."

And then, after describing how she "scraped the carmelized flesh of the butternut squash from the skin", Cate served us this.

And perhaps it was the amazing Cali 351 Chardonnay that Cate's husband Michael was pouring, or the heady fragrance of the toasted pumpkin seed oil steaming from the soup, but I ran to the register to call this book my own.

Given that I can walk to Tyler's beautiful store, or drive to Greystone in 45 minutes, I truly am a Foodie in Paradise.

Enjoy your weekend!

Fall is in the Air!

There's no denying it - fall is in the air!

colored leaves falling to the ground,

the crisp morning air,

pumpkin carving, football games, 

the warmth of the fireplace, 

apple picking and yummy homemade soups and stews

on the stove.  

fall is my favorite time of year, 

and to celebrate, i've decided to have 

poppies' first sale!  

please visit poppies' website for great savings 

of up to 40% on many of our 

cottage-inspired items, 

now through november 30, 2010.  

it's the perfect time to get a head start

on your holiday shopping, 

or to feather your nest for the coming season.

i hope you enjoy all this special season has to offer, 

and that you bask in the warmth and love 

of family and friends.

Bridget, a Bus, A Book and a Blog

I love to cook.  It’s my favorite pastime – right up there with gardening.  But I have a confession to make.  I’m really, really, really timid about cooking for people.  There, I’ve said it.  I’m Kim, I’m a Foodie and I have mageirocophobia – fear of cooking (for others).  I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately for a couple of reasons.  First, the summer has nearly passed by and I haven’t had a single dinner party.  

It’s not like I don’t have the tools necessary...a beautiful cottage kitchen,

I have amazing copper pans, all the gourmet gadgets a girl could ever want, scads of table linens from the south of France and hundreds of cookbooks.  But when it comes right down to it, I have terrible cooking stage fright. 

  

Via Wikimedia Commons

I even missed a meeting at the beach with a good friend once - I cancelled at the last minute because I offered to bring the food and then couldn’t imagine a ‘good enough’ menu.

I want to be like Bridget Jones.  During final preparation of a birthday dinner with an exotic and complicated menu, just as her dearest friends were about to arrive, she peeked into her leek soup and it had turned blue!  (not a good idea to tie leeks together with blue twine).  Bridget never faltered.  She smiled, had another sip of wine, and enjoyed the toast by her friend Tom, “Well done Bridge, four hours of careful cooking and a feast of blue soup, omelette and marmalade. I think that deserves a toast, don't you? To Bridget, who cannot cook, but who we love…just as she is.”  

Have you heard of Outstanding in the Field?  This amazing group, led by  Jim Denevan, feeds anywhere from 130 to 200 people at a time – without a kitchen. 

           

Their mission is to re-connect diners to the land and the origins of their food, and to honor the local farmers and food artisans who cultivate it.  It is a roving culinary adventure – literally a restaurant without walls.  

The talented staff arrives in this bus and puts together an afternoon/evening of magic.

Ingredients for the meal are almost all local (sometimes sourced within inches of your seat at the table!) and generally prepared by a celebrated chef of the region. After a tour of the site, they all settle in: farmers, producers, culinary artisans, and diners sharing the long table.  How I long to attend one of these…and to gather my friends together at my humble table with the same spirit and passion this group has.

handmade pasta - no kitchen here

they didn't have a kitchen for this either.

Uh huh.  175 guests.  No kitchen.

I mentioned that I've been thinking about my fear of cooking for a couple of reasons.  This is the other one - a great book and blog I just found out about by Sandy Couglin, called Reluctant Entertainer. 

Sandy comforts people who are reluctant to entertain and urges them forward through both inspiration and practical guidance. She encourages them to open up their home to others, helping them feel comfortable in their own skin, their own kitchen, their own home – imperfections and all, and to be free and real with other people! Sandy calls it real entertaining for real people.

So I’m going to spend some time on Sandy’s blog and in her book, and I’m going to schedule a dinner party.  And I will just be myself.  And it’s going to be magic.