To Market We Go

{photo by cleber via flickr}

The children and I had a lovely day today with an outing to the farmer's market. The sun seemed to shine just for us as we headed off down island :)

I never know what we might find at the market and actually had no plans to really purchase anything except for a few cookies for the kids as we wandered around the field checking out all of the vendors but I just couldn't resist all of the lush tomato plants that greeted us as we entered *grin*. I ended up with two bushy little heirloom polish paste starts that I just had to have because they are the exact variety that are giving me a really hard time here at home. For some reason those ones just won't grow for me so of course these would be the perfect replacements *grin*.

There were oodles of fresh greens, baked breads, jams, meats and more. I found some lovely red peppers and long english cucumbers grown not far from where we live and had to get a few of each. The ones in the supermarket have been from Mexico lately so it is such a wonderful treat each spring to find so many different vegetables grown right here on the island. I love it!

Just when I thought we had seen about everything I found a small table full of the softest alpaca fleece you had ever touched in hues of creams and browns :) I just wanted to take it all home with me *grin*. Thankfully my wallet wouldn't allow a purchase today but I did take a business card and she has given me a good price on a pound of uncarded fleece that I can process myself. I will have to put away a little bit of money so that I can get it the next time we are down. I can't wait to spin it!

I've been reading Sara's journey this spring over at farmama of how she has taken the raw fleece from her own sheep and scoured them, picked, carded, spun and then knit it into clothing for her family and this is something that I've longed to do for quite some time. Hubby and I are planning to build a lean to for the cows this year and I think I'm going to have to put on a space for a few sheep... I haven't told him yet but he knows I'm crazy for farm animals LOL.

On the topic of Hubby, I know some of you asked me to update you on how he's doing but I actually haven't heard from him since we spoke late Thursday night. I know he's surrounded with lots of help so he's in good hands. I just have to try and wait patiently for him to get phone service again so I can find out what's happening now :)

Hugs,
Rosina

Market Day

I hope you all are enjoying your weekend as much as we are!
Today was market day so we loaded up into the car and headed down island for the day :) First stop was at an old favorite. This farm used to be a nursery and produce stand but it closed quite a few years ago and has just recently been revived again. I always love driving down long winding driveways to hidden farmyards and it just happened that we got a HUGE head of organic leaf lettuce for only $2 for taking the time to check out what was happening at the end of this dirt lane *grin*.

A couple of hours after leaving home we finally arrived at the Comox Valley Farmer's Market and I just love it there. It's bursting with the most fantastic vendors selling breads, jams, plants, vegetables, herbs, honey, meats and much more, plus there is live entertainment always. You can literally spend the entire morning there! I purchased tomatoes, red peppers, kolrabi, cucumbers and a really big pumpkin plant to put in our garden :)

Next we headed into the town of Comox and wandered down and about the streets. I felt a bit like a tourist today as I snapped photos of different scenery *grin*. One of our favorite places to stop when we are there is at Benino Gelato.

They have the most amazing flavors of gelato which if you haven't had it before is an Italian version of ice cream that is sooo good :) Passion fruit was my flavor of the day and as M licked away at his bubblegum flavored cone we headed towards the marina.

Such a beautiful and warm day to enjoy our cones and the views of the ocean and mountains :) We really didn't have any particular destination in mind as we wandered and eventually ended up at the park that is right down at the marina.

Play jeeps, monkey bars, swings and slides... what more could a little boy ask for *grin*.

After all that monkeying around we decided to treat ourselves to a really nice lunch in the dining room at the Crown Isle resort. It's actually really reasonably priced for being able to enjoy the view from under the glass domed rooftop and eat at tables covered with linens. Pretty swank I must say *grin*.

My little man enjoyed his fancy cone of fries as I munched away on a walnut sourdough panini filled with an incredible cranberry chutney, brie, pancetta & chicken breast. Mmmm, it was definitely a lip smacking day. Good thing we did a whole lot of walking around town today *grin*.

How about you, what are your weekend plans?

~ Rosina

To Market, To Market, We Go

Today was a day full of farmer's markets, street vendors and plant collectors :)

We left home at 8am and made our way down island to the Comox Valley to soak up all of the goodness that makes up the Farmer's Market. When we arrived just before 1oam the place was buzzing with activity! The food vendors were offering up tantalizing loaves of fresh bread, cookies & rolls. There was an abundance of vegetable plants to be purchased, lovely fresh produce to be turned into a delicious dinner, and more :)

With our organic lettuce and gingerbread men cookies tucked inside our trug we headed off to check out the street vendors at the annual Empire Days. So many wonderful items to tempt the pocketbook *grin*. We found a very skookum horse chestnut tree for $5 and stopped at the Wandering Moose Cafe which is now in the former post office. A beautiful heritage brick building which was built around 1907. I remember going there with my grandmother as a little girl so it was quite nostalgic :)

On our way home we passed by the Highland games that were in full swing and we burst out into school girl giggles as we remembered the photo on the front page of the paper after last years games with I believe 'Dave' in his kilt throwing something and the front of his kilt flying dangerously high. High enough that you nearly found out of they really do wear their knickers underneath those things! LOL. I know we're just so terrible for thinking such thoughts *grin*.

The last stop we made before making it home this evening was at the Plant Collector Nursery which is the photo above. Such a beautiful place to explore with it's Snow White-esque cottage in the center which is actually the office. With the classical music that was playing throughout the garden I think we could have spent the afternoon gazing at the blooms and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere. A perfect ending to a lovely day!

~ Rosina

Farmer's Market Find

I had a lovely Mother's Day. My husband and I, our 3 children and my mom and dad went to Painter's Lodge for their annual Mother's Day brunch buffet that is literally to die for! Anything you could wish for... it was probably there *grin*. We always joke that my 10 year old son has a bottomless pit because he nearly eats us out of house and home but even this had him licked. I wish I had a photo of him at the end of the table after he had finished his 3rd heaping plate full of food. He looked like he might have just rolled off his chair like a drum. LOL.

After brunch we had just enough time to head down to the Campbell River pier to catch the last couple minutes of the Farmer's Market. In my opinion it's not really a true farmer's market since it doesn't have much produce, artisan breads and other farmy by products, but it is loaded with lots of talented crafters! One gal had gorgeous jewelry that I had to pry myself away from but just across the way I ran into a table loaded with wool rovings. Ooooh so soft merrino in the most amazing mossy green color and more :) Darn!! I should have brought more money with me *grin*.

Where was this table when I was desperately searching for wool 6 months ago?? I just had to grab one of her little needle felting kits to come home and play with :) For five bucks I got 6 bright colors and two felting needles. Not bad at all and I can't wait to dive into it! I've got some more rovings leftover that I had found at Whipple Tree Junction last fall and I may just have to get the kids into the fun and have a little wet felting party with them and make a bunch of felt beads for necklaces :) Oh the endless possibilities of wool!

I have a copy of Julie Collings book Pretty Little Felts on the bookshelf that is just crying out to be used to so maybe I'll have to use some of my rovings to create some of her sweet little flowers :)

~ Rosina