Where is my mind

Seems to feel a bit like the end of the Summer push these days. Trying to cram it all in and make the most of it. August is always music time, what with all the Park concerts, festivals and friends playing here and there. Then, there is my job booking a local bluegrass band, Jackstraw. This next week is going to be a big rush to book for winter and put together next year's festival packets. I'm thinking I wont have much time to spend here at the blog, nor at my other pursuits.

...and then there's the garden. August is ripening time, can't wait to pick the first tomato. We have had a few lemon cucmbers for our table recently, fantastic! The eggplant is busting out as well. What was I thinking planting a pie pumpkin in our small space? It was a whim that has taken over the yard, oh my. The Pumpkin that ate NE Portland! How many pumpkin pies can one bake? I mean you already know I love pie, but this is rediculous. I am also wondering if we will get to the blackberry jam this year, so much harvest gold, so little time.

My daughter asked me yesterday, "Mama, do you want to play The Crazy Life with me?"
I said, "I'm playing it all the time."

Boys of Summer

I have been threatening to come up with more boys wear but, to be honest, I haven't made much of a dent. I put together these shorts, a modification of one of the big 4 patterns. I have mixed feelings about the success of this particular endeavor and have received mixed reviews. They are made of the loveliest soft brown denim I picked up at Bolt here in Portland. My friend Tricia called them "hippy shorts". I think it's back to the drawing board until I can call it good.

Family Tradition

So, finally! I think I am almost recovered from last weekend's Pickathon adventure. It's a yearly 3 day music festival on an 80 acre farm just outside of Portland. This year was the 10th annual for the festival. We have been in attendance the last 4 years at least and it is always a good time. We camp on site, bring our instruments for the ample "pickin'" opportunities that pop up around the camps, listen to great music going on at 5 different stages throughout the property, cook up good vittles at base camp or sample food from the great vendors on site (late night pad thai cravings satisfied), and on the final day, end up happy and completely exhausted. This year was especially tiring, chasing Stella over 80 acres non-stop for three days wears a person out. That is one fast 3 year old!

There was a great sampling of music this year, as always. Though I have to admit, I caught a lot of it as I was running by trying to catch up with my runaway baby. My husband did take his turns at the chase so I could settle some on our blanket and take in the tunes. Some of the standouts this year for me...Justin Townes Earle, Samantha Crain an up-and-comer, the everybodyfields- sweet harmonies, Wayne Hancock-just great, Langhorne Slim-great energy, and of course, The Gourds-one of my all-time favorite bands. Really too many to mention, I suggest you go over to Pickathon's website and take a look and listen to some sweet music.

My favorite time of the day at the festival is right when you notice that true evening is coming on, the color shifts in the sky spinning gold and silver, just getting a chance to really look around you and take a deep breath. The Doug Fir behind you, the mountain ahead and a bit of grace on the breeze. Is it possible to feel nostalgia for a moment you are in the midst of? "That's the time I love the best..." it also usually coincides with the babe down to bed and my first beer of the day, which holds it's own magic. It's around this time that the lovely soft and sweet sad bands are playing on the main stage and everyone seems quiet and content. It is this part of the day that fills me with grattitude - for where I live, the family and friends I am so blessed with and music, music, music.

Little Bits

Lola Bag and Helper's Apron

Puppet Master

Meet my daughter's new best friend. It's nice to make friends. She found this at the bottom of her toy box after watching the Muppet movie the other day and has become completely obsessed. This puppet belonged to me as a child and now my daughter is wild about her. I spent hours being a puppet yesterday, and though my daughter realized it was me who was talking and moving the puppet, she became so engrossed in the conversation with the puppet that I think it was almost real to her. When I decided to turn back into a mama person and told my daughter that the puppet was tired and needed a nap, she was quite upset. She took the puppet into her room and talked to her telling her to wake up. A few minutes later she called "Mama," I went to her room and she said in complete deadpan, "Mama, see. Look, she's dead," and to emphasize her point she held the puppet by the hair and dropped her to the ground in a limp pile.

The puppet has since been revived and can get my daughter to answer questions that she would otherwise ignore. It's pretty cute the way she engages with the puppet (who has no name) but, I don't know that I can keep up with the demands of being a full-time puppet. I think I may have to inform my daughter that Hollywood has called and puppet may have to go to California, she's in negotiations for her own talk show.

I Promised Pie

Fruit Pies In the Hand. How much do I love pie? So much. These homely treats were inspired by the beautiful peaches we got at the farmers market. They sat for a few days ripening to full potential and called me to action today. Then, a pint of fresh raspberries made their plea and so, it was on. I thought I had it all planned out and was happily on my way to pie, when...

The Muppet movie ceased to be entertaining, 3 trips to the potty were at emergency speed, apparently flour is more interesting on the floor - all over the floor, a peach thief was afoot, there was a kitty hostage crisis and murals were being painted on the living room wall (I swear I don't know where she found the permanent marker). Still, we ended up with pie and after all, isn't that the most important thing? Yes, yes it is.

...and I think my daughter's abstract free-form tarts are visually superior to my fussy half moons.

How I made these little pies:

Favorite pie crust recipe rolled out.

Filling:

4 peaches cut up

1/2 - 1 cup sugar

1 Tbs. Tapioca starch

1 Tbs. Fresh lemon juice

Smidge freshly grated nutmeg

Pinch ground cinnamon

Mix it up and then toss gently with 1/2 pint raspberries

So you can cut out circles of the dough and fill then fold over and seal the half circles, or free-form it, even line rammekins with dough, fill and cover with more dough...basically you can do as you please and see if it pleases you. Bake on baking sheet at 375 till golden brown and bubbly.

Here is a tip: These are messy. I lined my baking sheets with parchment paper- those were easy to clean, the rest of the kitchen less so.

Summer's Cauldron

Summer is really bubbling now and I am frequently reminded of how blessed I am to live in this beautiful place. This time of year finds us full of activity; running, jumping, splashing
and shouting out into the blue sky. I think I am appreciating this particular season of sun more than ever - having just come through a typical Northwest winter with a full-speed ahead 3 year old. There are so many brilliant things to enjoy. Summer concerts in the park, putting up "Arabian" tent castles in the back yard, bowls of sweet Summer fruit to make our smiles sticky and the lovely color of my favorite Hibiscus iced tea.

Hibiscus Iced Tea:
2 parts dried Hibiscus flowers
2 parts dried Orange Rind
1 part dried Rose Hips
1 Cinnamon Stick

Place ingredients in tea strainer. Place tea strainer in a heat safe container (I use a large canning jar). Heat water as you would for tea and pour into container. Let steep for 10 min. and remove tea strainer. Let cool and store covered in refrigerator for up to one week. You can add sweetener if you like.

With the great pull of the outdoors it is tough to spend time in my basement studio designing or sewing. I am hoping to at least make some headway on Lola's new design logo with the help of the very talented Kylie. Of course we both have crazy schedules so, it could be a little while yet. I should also look into filling out this weblog with links, my profile and image organization but hark, the kiddie pool is calling!

Waltzing Matilda

Here is the latest Lola Nova Design. A 6 gore petal skirt with an attached underskirt. Made from random cotton bits I had hanging around. It makes me happy and reminds me of a waltz for some reason, especially when worn. Some sweet swing along with a little flower power. I had a run away model this day so I was unable to get any photos of the skirt on a live girl. I will be making more of these in different sizes and fabrics. So many possibilities!