Local Legends

(Forgive me for the terrible photography) My family has a running joke about me and olives. Dan told them once that the reason he goes grocery shopping instead of me is because I'll spend $30 on olives. (To this day, I get a card from my grandmother on my birthday with some cash and a note that says" buy yourself some olives".) I'm not sure where he got his data, for I have never spent $30 on olives before, but he is right that they will always make their way into my grocery cart in all of their salty deliciousness. I'm afraid grocery store olive fare is small potatoes, however, when compared to that of Millville, NJ's reigning pickle kings. I picked up my $7 jar (yes, it was Zumba class or olives and I chose olives) of Duker T's cheese stuffed olives at the Collingswood Farmers Market this morning and I felt no guilt. After all, they're only available 6 months out of the year, so it is only wise to get 'em while they're hot. They're sortof what dreams are made of. I also picked up some of their famous pickled tomatoes just because I deserve it.
Don't worry, Danimal. I also got some produce, which included this one very alien sweet potato that, for all I know is trying to phone home, and a head of romaine the size of Pete (tragically, not pictured).

Man, I love this town,
Jes

The Tomato Stands Alone

As if I needed another reminder that summer is over...our very last tomato "reddening" on the window sill all alone. Melancholic almost.

Love,
Jes

The last hurray. Yeah, I said hurray.

I'm not going to lie. I'm sad that summer is ending, especially since this particular summer was nothing short of magical. I got really tan and lost 10 lbs! I saw parts of Maine that regular people don't get to see. I slept in. A lot. I made homemade ice cream in coffee cans (video will follow). I'm softening the blow today by making sun and strawflower bouquets from the flowers I grew from seed. I've been making these for friends and family in little juice glasses as they grow in, but I can't seem to keep pace with my two over zealous flower bushes.
These are miniature and starburst sunflowers. I would recommend growing these to lazy gardeners. I really just threw some seeds around and ignored them for most of the summer (watering twice to three times/week).
These straw flowers grew in the most beautiful colors. I have to admit, I thought they were weeds for most of the summer until they started to bud the second week of August. I'm saving the seeds from these and growing them EVERYWHERE next year. They're amazing.
You need to go and buy this issue. It's the kind of amazing that makes your hands shake and it'll get you so ready for the best day of the year. Plus, how awesome and beautiful is Martha on this cover. I mean, really.

Avant Garden

Dan built a little raised bed garden for me this summer. It was beautiful and rustic just the way I like it. (By the by, has anyone noticed people using the word rustic a lot lately?) Anywho, there's nothing like some home grown vegetables---they taste like summer in the same way a gin and tonic tastes like christmas.
Beans, beans the musical fruit!
I had a boyfriend once that hated the fact that I ate peppers like apples. He's gone now, but I'm still wishing they would make a pepper perfume I love them so much.
A little heirloom tomato. Just for you.

Wish you were here, With Love,
Jes