My family is fond of projects and good ideas. As most people are, I would hope.
My mom came to me a few weeks ago with an idea. Holding her laptop open to Ana White's website, she pointed to her screen and said, "I want this."
A large farmhouse table. For the backyard. For the summer parties we host on a weekly basis.
...thank goodness I'm dating a carpenter.
A trip to Home Depot, my dad's large grey toolbox, power tools, some music and a long afternoon.
I present to you the finished product.
Instead of spending a thousand bucks on a fancy finished table, we spent little over a hundred on wood and supplies. Bribed with the promise of free lunch and a home-cooked dinner, my beau came over, ready to work.
This is where all the semesters of building theatrical flats, platforms and other miscellaneous set constructions majorly came in handy. As a result of my technical theatre training, I sorta kinda looked like I knew what I was doing.
Sorta.
I may have made a mess with the wood glue and gotten a little... overzealous with the drill. But nobody got hurt.
And that's the important thing.
Mostly, I just watched him work and took some pictures along the way, occasionally asking him to look up and smile...
...but he's a bit camera shy.
Six hours later, we were finished. In a professional celebration of our success, I immediately tap-danced all along the tabletop. He sat and watched.
But our work was far from over. Steaks had to be cooked, a salad had to be tossed, potatoes toasted, asparagus cooked, bread warmed in the oven, drinks poured and candles lit.
And so, after a long day of sunshine and sawdusty labor, we enjoyed an incredible summer feast, outside under the lights and the flags and the cloudy summer sky.
Keepin' the summer magic alive.
And now there's a giant table in the backyard. Go figure.
Oh my.
So my older brother runs a little pancake booth at a couple of local farmers' markets. I've had to show up a few times for emergency morning coffee drop-offs and chalkboard sign edits. In return, I earn my free pancakes.
But ever since I started going, I've become fascinated... okay, a bit obsessed with market culture.
I'll usually wander around with a friend, my family or just my camera. In the past few months, I've learned:
But even as pro as I've become at working and wandering the markets, I still get excited when there's a new one that comes into town. Saturday morning, me and my beau drove down to San Juan Capo to explore the 3-week old farmer's market.
Not gonna lie. Fruit is one of my major comfort foods. Especially when it's super fresh. And the signs are fun.
...also "pluot" is just really fun to say.
(I don't judge their spelling skills if the product is good.)
Along with some giant, ripe, perfect tomatos and a basket of figs, we walked away with a loaf of rustic bread, fresh pita bread, organic hummus, and a jar of homemade roasted red pepper salsa.
Wonderful date to go shopping for breakfast and lunch items, especially if you plan to eat them the day you get them! Dozens of meal options under a couple of white canopies.
After any farmer's market excursion, you must enjoy (pardon the pun) the fruits of your labors.
So we sliced our tomatoes, picked some basil from the garden, cut up some chunks of fresh mozzarella (purchased from our neighborhood meat house), drizzled garlic avocado oil and balsamic vinegar, sprinkled some zesty lemon salamoia (purchased from the Laguna Hills farmer's market. Find Stella. Her product is to die for.) and voila!
An Orange County Caprese Salad. All fresh, all natural, totally delicious. With a side of warm fresh bread and some figs for dessert?
I think yes.
"Monthiversaries are stupid."
I used to believe that.
I thought they were one, big, clichéd reason for two people to continuously celebrate an insignificant milestone.
Used to.
Then I found my beau. And we do that now. We acknowledge the 22nd of every month (as well as the days on either end of it) to commemorate our first weekend as "two peeps in a kickbutt relationship."
Once in awhile, I still think it's silly. With all the car singing, my bad jokes, his funny voices, our weird stories, our quirks... all we've done is not drive each other completely crazy for yet another 30 days.
And maybe that's an accomplishment worth celebrating.
Regardless, it's a fabulous excuse to dress up and eat amazingly tasty food. And return to our favorite places. Or visit new places we haven't yet explored.
But I'll be the first to admit it's mainly for the food. ;-)
A day of wandering, people-watching, talking, exploring, eating... I got to do all my favorite things with my favorite person.
Yes, we had a wonderful time. We always do.
And yes, you too should go exploring with your favorite person.
...as long as good food is involved.
- - -
P.S. EAT AT ALL THESE PLACES. I AM SERIOUS.
20-something - artist - designer - photographer -
Recent Comments