10 To Market To Market, and a Nordic French Summer

You mean to tell me the weekend is officially behind us? Say it isn’t so.

While I shake off today’s case of “the Monday’s” I’m going to relish for a little while in this past Saturday’s visit to the farmer’s market. We recently discovered one much closer to us, in Calabasas, and we are hooked. And addicted. The friendly vendors, the generous samples (ohh…the samples), and the fresh seasonal organic produce. Every time we come home with bags full of fresh pick’d veggies and fruits, I immediately pull out my cast iron cookware, favorite recipes - old and new, and get cookin’.

Baby Purple (Fiesole) Artichokes

These rustic beauties were too gorgeous to pass up. I simply pulled off the first several layers, cut the tops and bottoms, quartered them, and threw them in a hot pan with a drizzle of olive oil along with fresh chopped garlic, onion, mushrooms, and asparagus tips. Delish!

During our visit, we couldn’t help but notice the unlimited bounties of fresh peaches, nectarines, plums and cherries. I may have sampled 20 or so a few as we strolled through the market.

Nothing brings me back to my childhood summers quite the way fresh plums do. We had plum trees that lined the front of the house I grew up in, where my parents still reside, however the trees are long gone. Looking back, my sister and used to make-shift our dresses into gathering baskets, and pick every last plum within our tiny reach. We would then lie in the weedy grass among the dandelions and eat every single plum we gathered till our bellies were full.

I’m afraid I can’t eat plums quite the way I used to. Maybe too much of a good thing? We bought a bowlful of nectarines instead and we’ve been diving into them before breakfast each morning.

 

Summer’s vibe is all around me, and it feels so refreshing, and welcoming.

Kristy from Starfish Cottage kindly sent me a White Lily scented candle from her collection, and I’ve been indulging in it’s light floral scent.

And speaking of indulging, I wanted to share a peek at the new Jeanne d’ Arc Living “Summer” issue I just received, courtesy of my good friend Kathee from Chateau et Jardin…

 

There are absolutely no advertisements and zero filler pages, making this a jam-packed issue filled with eye candy delight on every single page…





My friend Cindy’s home from Cute Pink Stuff is even featured. And it is gorgeous!

 





 



If you would like to purchase a copy of this issue, you can contact Kathee through her blog or you can email her directly: forty4caliber@yahoo.com


== Time to announce the winner of the Starfish Candle Giveaway ==

Congratulations to Peggy from The Painted Pear! Kristy will be in touch with you soon. 


I guess Monday’s turning out to be not so bad after all. Now then, where did we stash those juicy nectarines? Surely it’s before breakfast time somewhere ; )

♥ Have a great week my friends! ♥

Till next time, click and keep up with us on our favorite sites….