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Tag Archives: Buy Fresh Buy Local

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28 Monday Sep 2015

Posted by home, garden, life in Albemarle county, Charlottesville, city market, farmer's market, key lime pie, Lifestyle, shop local, Virginia

≈ 18 Comments

Tags

Albemarle County, Buy Fresh Buy Local, Charlottesville, city market, fall, farmer's market, key lime pie, lifestyle, shop local

Fall arrived right on time, yet I did not want to let summer bounty slip by without sharing numerous market images, taken this month. Enjoy!

Attending a local farmer’s market as a vendor or as a customer, is a very special event. It is a community who follows the seasons with dedication and appreciation. It is a place for sharing and educating; coaxing the senses away from the routine — nudging compassion to full fruit.

outrageous mushrooms from our local schroom man

outrageous mushrooms from our local shroom man. Freshness like this is only found at your local farmer’s market!

First time I raised Lilliput melons this year...delicious, yet plant had mighty fungal issues

2015 was the first time I raised Sakata’s Lilliput melons…delicious beyond words, yet the plants had mighty fungal issues. The melons did not go to market, but I had to show them off here.

showstopping sunflowers

showstopper sunflowers

the first Crenshaw squash appears at market

the first Crenshaw squash appears at market in September

dazzling peppers!

dazzling peppers!

scallions anyone?

scallions anyone?

vibrant eggplant appears to glow in the morning light!

vibrant eggplant appear to glow in the morning light!

calories don't count on weekends!

calories don’t count on weekends!

this fabulous bread is baked in a outdoor wood oven!

this fabulous bread is baked in an outdoor wood oven!

coffee makes the world go round, and this vendor peddles his way to market

coffee makes the world go round, and this vendor peddles his way to market

I could not resist this image. An enviable braid.

I could not resist this image ~ an enviable braid

Toddlers make great subjects as they free flow through the market

toddlers make great subjects as they free-flow through the market

This young man may have a modeling career in his future

this young man may have a modeling career in his future

I could not resist capturing this tender moment between father and child

a tender moment between father and infant

of course I had to plug my famous key lime pie. The banner drove sales higher this season

lastly, I shamelessly plug my famous key lime pie. The banner drove sales higher this season, quoting what customers named my pie back in 2005.

October’s end marks the culmination of my fifteenth season as a vendor at the largest farmer’s market in central Virginia. If I had an inkling of what I would become when I left a professional life in DC, and returned to my small hometown, I would have fallen over laughing. Life has a way of throwing curve balls, and one must dodge and roll to stay in the game. home, garden, life is my testament.

Happy fall, dear followers. I always enjoy hearing from you in the comments section.

Copyright © 2015 By Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

Christmas…time for downsizing

07 Friday Dec 2012

Posted by home, garden, life in Christmas, energy conservation, Holiday, home keeping, Lifestyle, P Allen Smith, renewal, sustainable lifestyle

≈ 19 Comments

Tags

Buy Fresh Buy Local, Christmas, downsizing, Garden Home Cottage, Holiday decor, holiday maddness, home, lifestyle, nature, P Allen Smith, the meaning of home

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simple holiday décor on the cottage

My dear cousin inspired today’s blog. Describing how she struggled with the artificial Christmas tree assembly (sans husband), the frustration of which dead bulb affected the entire string, and how this process was no longer a joy, I wondered why bother; after all she and hubby are now empty nesters.

I relate to this tale, as last year I cut a small stray cedar at a nearby farm, hauled it home, dragged out all the accoutrements, and as I hung the decades old ornaments, realized that I no longer connected with this ritual. Three days later, I deconstructed the tree, wound all the lights into tidy bundles, bagged the ornaments that no longer held meaning, and donated the lot to the animal shelter in time for their holiday sale.

Christmas can be a time for renewal as well as a time for rebirth. Out with dated habits and in with new inspired traditions is my mantra. The suggestion to my cousin— make a list of current rituals that no longer hold meaning—the volunteering that no longer sparks passion—the chores that are dull—and make a new list—one that inspires good will and creative exploration—a direction intended to spread one’s light on the world.

Therefore this season, with fresh eyes and heart, I erected a small everlasting iron tree form in my bay window where I hung the remaining ornaments that hold meaning. Simple yet eternal—not the extravagant decorations of magazines, yet tiny snippets of my past that inspire moments of contentment.

everlasting tree with ornaments that hold meaning and a handmade felt tree skirt repurposed in the bay window

everlasting tree with ornaments that hold meaning and a handmade felt tree skirt repurposed in the bay window

Here in the United States, I am annually horrified by the manic holiday season which is driven by the retail monster. Long before Thanksgiving, our senses are dulled by a push to spend, spend, spend. Most Americans do not have much to spend, yet are herded by traditions that perhaps are long past obsolete.

I opted out of this madness decades ago and choose instead to create a few tokens of affection and appreciation of my making. No outsourcing here.

Homemade, homegrown, home.

May your season be blessed with true meaning.

Copyright © 2012 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

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thank a pumpkin

22 Thursday Nov 2012

Posted by home, garden, life in blessings, healthy food, photography, pie, quick meals, quick recipes, recipes, season, Stretch Gardening, sustainable lifestyle

≈ 14 Comments

Tags

Buy Fresh Buy Local, Cinderella pumpkin, comfort food, cooking, Cooks Illustrated, healthy food, home garden, Long Island Cheese pumpkin, quick recipes, seasonal food, soup, stretch gardening, Thanksgiving, vegetarian

Fall delivers shapely pumpkins to home gardens and farmer’s markets.
I frequently select a beautiful Cinderella variety—as I relate to the story—work, work, work, during the holidays.

Long Island cheese pumpkin

With Thanksgiving around the corner, I created a luscious soup recipe to share with my dedicated blog followers. It gracefully transitions traditional Halloween décor into a memorable starter or a main course. This pretty pumpkin decorated my front stoop from October until this morning, when she came inside for a final shower.

Next she succumbed to the ice pick…

Next she roasted at 400F for two hours until tender.

cool this beauty before removing seeds and skin

When the roasted pumpkin feels tender to the touch, let it cool then remove the meat from the skin—separating the seeds and string, all while avoiding spills of the copious liquid. In retrospect, simply cut the pumpkin into huge wedges, seed, then roast. I vaguely remember doing this last year and most the liquid evaporated, making the pulp removal a breeze.

Diane’s Recipe: Sauté a large, peeled/sliced sweet white onion in 2T olive oil, add 1.5 lb. drained pumpkin pulp (do this in a strainer), 1T sugar, 2t ground coriander, 4 cups of low sodium vegetable broth (I use Imagine Organic), sea salt and black pepper to taste. Cover and simmer 15 minutes. Add one sliced/peeled/seeded Bartlett pear, remove from heat for 10 minutes. Use a stick blender to puree contents in the pot, or for a finer texture, process in a blender working in batches. Add 2T sweet butter to finish.

Serve in pretty cups garnished with chives and cilantro. Serves 6

Freeze any remaining roasted pulp in 2C containers, as this is the perfect portion for more soup or pumpkin pie. Cooks Illustrated has a perfect pumpkin pie recipe that calls for cooking the pulp a bit more to remove additional liquid…a super solution.

ready for the freezer

the finished soup

Oops, I see the Cinderella light flashing! Now where is that glass slipper??

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

POST SCRIPT: This is pumpkin is actually a Long Island Cheese Pumpkin, an heirloom variety. Another favorite is the Rouge Vif D’Etampes if you can find it.

By the way, check out http://gardenclub.homedepot.com/thank-a-pumpkin-making-pumpkin-soup/ to see this post on the Home Depot Stretch Gardening Series! Who knows what else you will find there! Good Stuff!

Copyright © 2012 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

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colors of city market part III

06 Sunday May 2012

Posted by home, garden, life in color, farmer's market, Lifestyle, season, spring, sustainable lifestyle

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Buy Fresh Buy Local, Charlottesville City Market, dog cookies, farmer's market, peonies, plants

OK this will complete spring’s market photos:

Please slide you mouse over these images for further description…

heirloom peonies from my home place on Long Island growing nicely here in zone 6 in central Virginia

And please remember to support your local growers and producers!

Copyright © 2012 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

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colors of city market part II

29 Sunday Apr 2012

Posted by home, garden, life in farmer's market, Lifestyle, season, spring flowers, sustainable lifestyle

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

Buy Fresh Buy Local, Charlottesville, Charlottesville City Market, entrepreneurial spirit, farmer s market, farmer's market, good times, happy spring, travel, Virginia

I could not resist taking my camera again yesterday to our local farmer’s market.

The following views are even more representative of the entrepreneurial spirit that lives at farmer’s markets! Why would we shop any where else???

Enjoy these images and remember to slide your mouse over the photos for further description and thank you for your continued comments!

Happy Spring!

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Good times were had by all!

Copyright © 2012 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

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colors of city market part I

23 Monday Apr 2012

Posted by home, garden, life in farmer's market, Lifestyle, Poetry, spring flowers, sustainable lifestyle

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

Buy Fresh Buy Local, Charlottesville City Market, design, farmer's market, poetry, shopping, support local businesses, vacation

Buy Fresh Buy Local® ~ Support local businesses.

Have you visited your local farmer’s market recently?

Things are happening there!

You know the drill…glide your mouse over images for further information. 😉

Don’t wait for someone to bring you flowers. Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul. ~ Mario Quintana

Copyright © 2012 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

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Check out HGTV where two of my garden designs are featured…

I was featured on HGTVGardens.com!

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Essay Titles

  • “this too shall pass”
  • there is no place like home…
  • the perfect Tiny House
  • Miracles everywhere
  • And so it goes…
  • Transform, transition, resilience
  • An Artist’s Way
  • Sunday’s monster project
  • Meanwhile
  • how fragile we are
  • what I learned about Keto
  • small steps
  • do no harm…
  • will this convince you?
  • Plastics…a soapbox tale
  • Let’s clean up our act
  • 2020…are we ready?
  • All I want for Christmas
  • Thanksgiving…remembering love
  • At last
  • Keto “potatoes”
  • When critters call
  • Keto bread revisited
  • My report on Keto
  • for the love of rock, II
  • give a gardener a cool summer day…
  • Oh July, July
  • Kale, the ultimate chip
  • gone Keto
  • she’s baaaack!
  • Perhaps missed
  • for the love of rock
  • the anatomy of a popover
  • the garden visitor
  • what blooms this week
  • porch envy
  • Summer in Virginia
  • timing is everything
  • pies and peonies
  • words cross centuries
  • zen and now
  • April brings flowers and…chores!
  • Kudos, followers
  • this week’s reading challenge…
  • February dreaming…
  • kitty love
  • the dormant season
  • Soothing, quick comfort food for winter days
  • ahh, November
  • August garden

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