Apples to Applesauce

Earlier this week, we took a bike ride to the library to pick up some books that were waiting for us. On the way home, we passed a local park and saw a huge apple tree with many tiny apples littering the ground underneath it. We were curious about the apples still up in the tree, and sure enough, when Ben climbed it, he found lots of larger ones just ready to drop. So we did some old-fashioned gleaning.

He picked a bunch and dropped them down to me. I caught them and gathered them into bags for the ride home. We offered a few of them to others as they walked by on the trail, but mostly people just smiled and walked on. It was great fun, and we're both glad we took the time to stop and rescue the apples so they wouldn't go to waste.

At home, we filled a drawer in the fridge with apples, and then, later this weekend, I spent a little time making applesauce. Yum!

A Trip to the Farmers Market

Even though they said it was going to rain, it looked beautiful out so we enjoyed a nice bike ride to the farmers market. We brought home lots of locally grown organic food:

It was fun to use my new lightweight, reusable produce bags. We have lots of canvas bags that we use all the time, but it's nice to have some bags for carrying smaller amounts of fruit.

All of this delicious fruit is from Tonnemaker Family Orchard.
The peaches are absolutely scrumptious!
I know because I've eaten two of them already!

Fresh from the Kitchen

Mmmm...
Zucchini Bread and Blackberry Pie

Yes, the kitchen smells wonderful!

Too Much Time on My Hands...

Actually, not really, but it is kinda quiet here with Ben away at camp. So this week, I'm doing all my regular activities plus a lot of decluttering and organizing. Certain areas of the house really needed some extra attention, and it's always fun to make things more efficient and livable.

Of course, I took the photos so I can remind myself of the accomplishment and so my dear readers can share in my organizational joy. Also, I know the men in the house will just smile politely and wonder what was wrong with the way it was before!

Fun with Jars:
for walnuts, almonds, peanuts, and cashews,
two kinds of trail mix,
rice and pasta,
and herbs from the garden

An Organized Entry:
for raincoats and umbrellas,
and cute little baskets to hold
sunglasses, keys, gloves, pruners,
and all the other little stuff

Useful Mudroom Shelves:
for boots and work gloves,
grocery bags and bike panniers,
bike tools, gear, and bungees,
extra towels for rainy day rides,
and a caddy for nails, screws, and miscellaneous hardware


Linen/Sewing/Office Closet:
for seasonal tablecloths,
quilting fabrics,
cloth for making gift bags,
and current boxes of bookkeeping files
for home, office, and farm


Do you have a favorite?

I think the jars are my favorite for their visual appeal, and they'll come in handy for bulk items when the local PCC opens next month. However, practically speaking, I'm thrilled with the mudroom shelves because they'll make our cycling lives easier, especially as we approach the fall and winter months.

Thanks for reading!

Bicycling This Week

I've pedaled all over town for many different purposes this week, at least 50 miles total. Some trips have been short, some much longer. Some days have been sunny, others cloudy. I love the cloudy, breezy days because it's easier to keep cool even when I'm working up a sweat. I love the time I have on my bike to relax and ride, watch the scenery go by, and think about the beauty of the day. Here's a short summary of the week:

Where did I go?
* The farmers market, a bookstore, a bank, and a bakery
* Our CSA farm along the Sammamish River Trail
* Two libraries, the post office, another bank, and an office store
* The grocery store and a take-out restaurant

Who and what did I see?
* Two lakes, a winding river, and woodsy neighborhoods
* Geese, roosters, wildflowers, and a variety of gardens
* Friends, farmers, shoppers, and construction workers
* Families riding bikes and people walking side by side

What did I carry?
* A whole bunch of fruits and vegetables
* Books, bread, mail, printer ink, and paper
* Groceries for camping and dinner for the evening

One of the things I love most about riding my bike is the people I see. Sometimes I have chance meetings with friends when I'm outside a location like the library or the bakery, and they often notice me first because I'm on my bike. The red hair/Xtracycle combination probably helps. Also, when I stop in a store or at the farmers market, if I forget to take off my cycling gloves or I'm carrying my helmet, people strike up a conversation about bike riding. Clerks or other shoppers notice how much I'm carrying and wonder how I can carry it all on my bike. It's fun to tell them. Then of course, when anyone sees me with the bike and everything I'm carrying, they often do a double-take and inquire about it. I like this because it makes shopping and doing errands a friendly, people-centered activity instead of just something to get done. It's a good thing.

Living Well

We rode our bikes to the farmers market today. It was a nice meandering ride through some woodsy neighborhoods, so it was cooler than our usual route. Before we started shopping at the market, we went into the nearby bookstore to peruse a few books. I found this one:

"How to Live Well Without Owning a Car:
Save Money, Breathe Easier, and Get More Mileage Out of Life"
by Chris Balish

I've started reading it already, and it's full of good practical ideas and philosophy. Lately we've been talking about the possibility of living with just one car instead of two, so I thought this might be a good book to get us started. We'll see how it goes...

Solar Power

One of my favorite parts of summer...