Honey Crisp Heaven

I was running through the produce area of the local grocery store today--searching for some things for a gourmet fruit basket, when suddenly, as if from heaven, the clouds parted and a great light appeared. Heavenly angels were singing and I recognized a sight not soon forgotten--HONEYCRISP APPLES! I nearly fell to my knees and wept. Brian introduced us to the little morsels on a trip to Seattle a few years back. Now, they briefly appear for a few weeks each fall. Yes, the hap, happiest time of the year. I've tasted a lot of apples in my day, but Honeycrisp apples are by far the perfect apple. They're tangy, but not too tangy. Crisp? My yes! Beautiful? Of course. Spurge and try one today. They won't last forever.

Pumpkin Painting

I have the best life ever. Good run this morning, my oatmeal didn't overflow in the microwave, my employees are nice to me and to top it all off, I'm stencilling on pumpkins today. Last night I bought all the "stuff" and can't wait to get to work. I love fall. I love fall. It's the best. I love fall.

Fall Pineapple Palooza

We are obsessed with fresh pineapple!

Fruit Fanatic on the Loose

Ever since my bowl of fake pears went the way of the wind, I've been unusually attracted to all sorts of fruit. It's actually really weird. Yep, fresh strawberry jam is packed into our freezer. There is a ripening pear on the kitchen window ledge. Lots of apples in the crisper drawer and bananas waiting for CoCo to attack. I even have raspberries newly frozen in our freezer door. Mmm. . .a pineapple sounds so good right now. How about grapes? Maybe this hot weather is bringing out my produce cravings. Maybe I'm just having a fructose attack. Maybe I have some sort of inbalance. Land sakes alive. . . I'm headed to Seattle--don't they have an abundance of orchards? Not for long. Watch out Washington--the Fruit Fanatic is headed your way!

Garden-sitting

I'm garden-sitting. . . a responsiblity that I take very seriously. Loveless #2 has entrusted me with his precious vegetable garden while he is on vacation. Don't even worry about a thing. . .it's all under control. Check out these cucumbers. WOW! Oh, their shape, amazing size, and overall perfection amaze even the most discerning gardener. Let's not forget that I spent countless summers in the Kesler's Garden Center advising Master Gardeners.
I like to bond with my produce. We're such good friends now that we've been through a watering together as well as a picking. I wonder how my new friend feels about pickling.
Forget pickling. . .I'm just going to dive right in! I can't quite decide what consumption technique to use. This method of cucumber sucking isn't the most satisfying--that's for sure.
Maybe I should start in the middle and eat it like an ear of corn.
Or perhaps the hotdog technique would be more satisfying.

Ry--thank you for the honor of being the first to partake of the fruits of your labor. This is one damn fine cucumber!

Squash is Squishy

Squash--that's the perfect name for it, huh? It's squishy and squashy. My favorite. . spaghetti.