Favorites April 2012

I sometimes take full liberty in exploring things other than food at the beginning of the post, and this will be no exception.  This was a week of visiting and reminiscing with family.

I have mixed feelings about this premature spring, but over the last few days I let myself thoroughly appreciate the warm breeze and the early color.  And as I was enjoying this luxury that may bring later discomfort with blistering summer heat, my siblings and I were also visiting our mother who is entering her last days with us.  What can one do but wholly enjoy the beauty and sweetness of what is right now… even if the approaching summer may be sweltering, and even though when she goes an ache will establish residency in my heart and I will miss her terribly.

Such is life, so get out there and smell some of these prematurely blossoming flowers.

.

Here are some tidbits from our tender weekend.

.

.

One of our destinations was the Jaarsma Bakery in Pella, Iowa that bakes the Dutch Letter pastries with an almond paste filling.  Not gluten free, but they’re fun to photograph.  They look bigger than my head in this picture!

.

.

.

This looked like a fabulous spring treat—Morel and Leek Cheese from Great Midwest Cheese.

..

.

A lineup of sausages and meat sticks made at one of the meat markets in Pella.

.

.

.

..

.

.

I love archways and bricks, portholes and pathways.

.

Favorites April 2012

• The most exquisite prosciutto ever: La Quercia.   Really.    And it’s from Iowa.

.

• Lovely Food Photography Blog Food Pixels

.

• Maps of the U.S. made from cast iron skillets  

.

• This isn’t new, but it’s super cool—stop motion video with music by Radiohead

.

• Miniature food art to blow your mind

.

• I am sooooo going to try this Gluten Free Gnocchi sometime soon!

.

• When time and space are limited, these daily exercises are amazing—condensed yoga.   I do them every day and they keep my shoulder pain away.  The Five Tibetan Rites print version, or with little moving animated guys to show you how

.

• One Million Bones, scheduled to arrive in 2012

• My sister found these Deviled Peep Eggs to cheer us up

.

• Incredible paper sculptures by Peter Gentenaar, from the CMY Bacon site

.

.

.

Afternoon sun at the Cabin

Cheers to you all!
.

.