Plum Goodness

Something I wore:

90's sheer floral maxi skirt: thrift gift from Brigit

vintage vestlet: thrift gift from my neighbor, Mary

Dansko clogs: vintage seller at a craft sale

old Target tank

shorter necklace: thrifted bits

longer necklace: earring from Herbal Symposium market turned necklace

bracelet: Herbal Symposium market

Something I accomplished...

By the time we finally got it together to try canning for the first time last Fall, we'd just missed plum season and I vowed that I wouldn't let it happen again this year. Now, with 15 deep purple jars of yummy plum jam under my belt, I'm feeling pretty good about my efforts!

I also managed to bake a tasty plum crisp AND roast a pork tenderloin with homade plum barbeque sauce. We're fortunate to be blessed with so much backyard bounty this time of year and have been making a more conscious effort to utilize it. So much goes to waste if we're not on top of it!

Tomato and summer squash are being heavily featured in meals these days including an amazing summer squash pizza that Lucas has been experimenting with. I'll have to share the recipe once we've got it perfected.

Next stop, the grape vine, and then there's the fig tree.

Happy Fall y'all!

Heirloom Afternoon

It ain't a bad week in suburbia when you can walk within 10 minutes of your front door to the top of a downtown parking garage for a mustache and bicycle-themed art and music event, then just days later go for another short afternoon stroll to find yourself at the "World's Fair of the pure food movement"!

"Um Lucas, I'm gonna need you to take my picture in front of this mountain of squash, K?"

"Oh boy, here we go..."

Can you believe it's already bio-regional swap time again? Yay! The dress that I wore was one of many magical treasures gifted to me by the lovely and amazing Anne who I was lucky enough to get as my swap partner last year. Whoever got her this year, I'll tell you right now, you're stoked.

Considering how this dress came to me, I can't imagine a better backdrop than a giant towering pyramid of beautiful homegrown heirloom squash :)

Giant pumpkins and a giant tree man helped Clover get over the grumpy mood she started off in.

Some fun kids activities helped too.

Oh yes, two peas in a pod we are :)

Making warm fuzzy friends with cool blue eyes.

Speaking of fuzzy friends, our girl goes bonkers for this sort of thing. She knows there's a person in there, but still she gets SO EXCITED. It's really fun to watch.

These kind folks did some pretty magical things with popcorn and a VAST array of natural flavorings. Clover munched on a pesto/garlic oil/parm combo while Lucas and I sampled some kind of jalapeno/honey/chocolate/mole concoction that was super yummy and had quite a kick.

Raised awareness around honeybees, their plight as it relates to chemicals and GMO crops, and holistic approaches to their stewardship in general were a big topic.

The "Sun Hive," an alternative bee nest made from rye straw.

Sunshine and the yodeling sounds of Sourdough Slim.

As I was taking a picture of this Clover Stornetta ad on the side of a truck, a woman passed by and said "You're not from Sonoma County are you?" "Well, as a matter of fact lady, I'm so Sonoma County, I named my kid after this cow."

Haha, I'm totally kidding, I didn't say that, nor is my child the namesake of a local dairy brand, though we do have fun with it and she really does adore that cow. Especially at parades and events where someone is walking around in the suit!

Oh, those honeybees, they do so love their Clover ;)

In addition to all the cool exhibits and things to wander around and look at, there were also films and speakers over the 3 day event that would have been really interesting to have checked out. Both Lucas and I wished we'd planned better, unfortunately, heading over there on a whim on the last day with our four year old didn't so much allow for it. Next year though.

As a "not-for-profit event centered around the pure food movement, heirloom vegetables, and anti-GMO activism," the National Heirloom Exposition felt especially timely with Prop 37 on the horizon here in California. I for one am looking forward to the opportunity in November to vote YES on this crucial ballot measure that would require genetically modified foods to be labeled as such.

Lots of good reasons to pass Prop 37 can be found here, but really the bottom line comes down to reason #27: Consumers have a right to know whether or not they are eating GMOs. I mean, don't we? Am I missing something? If, as Monsanto and the corporate food industry would have us believe, GM foods are A'Ok, then why the secrecy?

On that note I'll leave you with this 30 min documentary film that was screened at the expo. It follows the story of seed, and in doing so, does a nice job of shedding light on why all is NOT A'Ok with the proliferation of GM crops. I learned some things, maybe you will too.

Seeds of Freedom from The ABN and The Gaia Foundation on Vimeo.

A Thing or Two

Clover's School of Outfit Shot Posing... I'm enrolling, who's with me?

Cardigan: originally her cousin Chiara's (now 19 years old!) also worn by cousins Vida, Fiona, and Lucia through the years before making its way to Clover :)

Fuzzy Hat (it will be a sad day when she finally outgrows this), Hello Kitty Tee, and shoes: hand-me-downs from Lucia

Silver star tights: new from Target

Vintage Jessica McClintock skirt: thrift gift from Laura Jane (the elastic waistband busted while she was at school and when I picked her up she walked out the door in only her slightly too small t-shirt, tights, and shoes. It was pretty cute/hilarious. Ah the perils of wearing vintage to Kindergarten!)

Thanks so much you gals for all the sweet comments on my post about Kindergarten. Your thoughtful and encouraging words and shared experiences have been such a comfort to read and so appreciated! Progress continues to be made :)

Trumpet Vine & Sunchoke, 'Staches & Spokes

With the trumpet vine and sunchokes along our fence having conspired to create such a lovely backdrop, how could I not take advantage? Also, I hear outfit posts are making a comeback, and I'm all for that ;)

vintage cream silk top: newly thrifted

nude silk tank: thrifted

dress: thrifted

gray tights

boots: flea market

crystal bullet necklace: lost boys and lovers (gift from Sadie :)

Now on to the fun free local event I wore this outfit to on Saturday afternoon. Welcome dear readers to 'Staches & Spokes...

Remember the Whiskeydrome?

Always a kid pleaser.

Not to mention a crowd pleaser, especially when there's a live band rockin' out in the middle!

Joey dappered up his Whiskeypunk jumpsuit with an old thrift gift from yours truly. Nothing says class like a butterfly collar and sky blue tuxedo ruffles, right?

Dizzy yet?

'Staches and Spokes took over the top level of this downtown Santa Rosa parking garage for its second annual mustache bash and bicycle themed art show. Essentially, it's a big party with good bands, good beer, and good people all coming out to celebrate bikes, art, and mustaches. Sometimes I just love this town.

AND, all proceeds benefit the wonderful non-profit arts education program, Artstart of Santa Rosa :)

Some art on display. Those hand-crafted, hand-painted cigar box guitars are not only fun to look at, but functional as well! We'll come back to that in a bit.

First, are those not the coolest bicycle seats you've ever seen?!

Now on to the mustache portion of our program. Some guys start growing out their whiskers months in advance for the big competition.

Some guys take their mustaches more seriously than others.

I was quite impressed with Skye's facial interpretation of a squid battling a whale. I think if it were a beard competition he would have had a good shot at the win.

Just love this.

Klaus, Jessica, and Sara, all lovely folk that I am happy to know, are responsible for this awesome event. Coincidentally, all three have made appearances in our post-derby old timey fair photos. Speaking of which, things took a turn for the even wackier this year. I'd show you, but this is a family blog ;)

The distinguished judges. Mica looked rather adorable in her red dress, and Buzz in his mullet hat, well, he really committed to his character... "Love it or Leave it", indeed.

In the "Name Your Own" category, "The Badass Joey" was beat out by "The Milkman".

While dude in the middle, with the beard-gone-'stash was named The Innovator and Marcos, with his lightening bolts, took Ladies Choice as "Guy Fieri's Friend". (fyi, Guy Fieri is a local celebrity chef. if you're into The Food Network, you may know this.)

All hail the big winner and mustache force to be reckoned with!

The evening closed out with 'Stash Bash favorites, The Budrows. You can have a listen to their aptly self-described "100% foot stompin' cigar box rock n' roll" here.

While the Budrows are based out of Southern California, Jason, the maker and player of those awesome cigar box guitars, is a Santa Rosa native. (fun fact: I went to high school with him)

They are indeed a fun band to see live, so keep that in mind you SoCal girls, I think you'd like them!

As evening approached, foot stompin' blues filled the air, the sun sank below the trees, the kids went wild, and a good time was had by all :)

p.s. Whiskeydrome video brought to you by our friend Luis.

p.p.s. If you're reading this on Sept. 13th and it's not yet past 9pm Pacific Time, hurry hurry on over to Nicole's Amazingly Generous Giveaway because it's not too late to enter and ENTER YOU SHOULD! I know the odds are good that you already have, but just in case...