25 August 2008

Serendipity

I made ratatouille from our CSA vegetables, while the child watched Ratatouille in the other room. It made a perfect side dish to some lamb we found in the freezer, and the next night, the leftovers turned into a great pasta sauce through the addition of fresh mozzarella and basil.

We went joy-riding in the pickup truck and fed carrots to the valley horse.

We picked so many wild blackberries that I had to make a cobbler.

And we found that there were plums on the neglected plum tree, so I made blackberry-plum jam.

The child, erratic at best in the foods she eats, ate about a pint of the seedy astringent wild blackberries, her happy face streaked with berry juice.

She threw rocks in the stream, and made dams, fell down and got up again wet.


I made a peach-apple pie with CSA fruit, and tossed in a handful of blueberries from the bush outside the kitchen door.

And because none of us had to be anywhere on Monday, we stayed an extra night.

A serendipitous mini-vacation, all because the cable guy didn't show up when he was supposed to.

26 comments:

flutter said...

what a great time!

Girlplustwo said...

i am convinced, utterly convinced, that if i was your neighbor i would never be lonely and always well fed.

Kyddryn said...

How lovely...life gave you lemons and you made cobbler, pie, preserves, and a very hungry reader.

Shade and Sweetwater,
K

Awesome Mom said...

That video was too cute! I love it when kids sing what they are doing, it makes real life into a musical.

Anonymous said...

Don't you just love late August? I think it is my favorite time of year for just the reasons you listed.

RuthWells said...

Sweet! I made cobbler this weekend also (mixed berry) and the dimply plum cake from Dorie Greenspan's wonderful "Baking from My Home to Yours."

She She said...

Hey, I love that song!

Mayberry said...

sounds divine! Love the video.

painted maypole said...

you know you can always count on the cable guy to not show up when he's supposed to

but to turn it into a vacation? well done!

Gwen said...

Is ratatouille really as good as the movie makes me think? I've always wondered. Glad you had a lovely little vacation. Guess irresponsible cable guys are good for something.

Anonymous said...

Oh, that sounds so much better than the mac & cheese from the box I made yesterday. Also, I am just feeling lame and unproductive, so now I'm thinking I should schedule the cable guy and, hey!, then all would be better. Right? Right? It would, right?!

The photos are great, too -- what a lovely day afterall.

Anonymous said...

How absolutely wonderful that sounds! Sometimes last minute is best.

crazymumma said...

You just inspired me to make gazpacho.

KC said...

At least that cable guy was good for something!

EmmaL said...

This sounds like such a great time! And the cobbler looks yummy!

Cynthia said...

Oh the cobbler...yum!

Woman in a Window said...

Wonderful! And why can't we all learn from this? Lazy, we are.

Unknown said...

I'm so jealous! I think I have blackberries growing outside my ghetto abode, but I have been too afraid of poisoning myself to try them. I guess I need to get out the Audubon guide and put poison control on the speed dial (just in case).

Anonymous said...

That's completely pure fun! Awwww...so jealous!

Katie Zeller said...

What a glorious mini-vacation!
All those lovely fruits... berries... Yum, I love berries....
There is no fruit at our house this year, sigh....

Melissa said...

That's awesome! I love the dish and the movie.

lilypotter said...

Sounds wonderful- and the pie looks delicious! Love the video, too.

Jenn @ Juggling Life said...

I do so love me some Ratatouille.

It sounds like a lovely day.

Kyla said...

Sounds so lovely! Your girl is beautiful!

the dragonfly said...

Wonderful! Sometimes it's great when things "go wrong". :)

And your daughter is precious. Love her little song!!

MadMad said...

Sounds like a great time!