Picked Strawberries. Made Jam.

We went out to Sauvie Island with a few friends to pick strawberries. It was a little early in the season but we still ended up with a full flat of gorgeous berries. The weather was perfect - slightly cloudy and cool and it wasn't crowded. Calvin had his first hayride out to the fields!



Here is a good pointer: it is neither wise nor practical to undertake a jam making session less than 2 hours before one of you needs to get to work. It was a little nuts but we made 6 lovely jars of jam and Brad made it to work with seconds to spare.

After looking at several different recipes - all very similar with just slight variations for the most part - we decided to use the recipe from Apples for Jam for reference. Very simple: berries, lemon and sugar. It was fun. And delicious. We will make more!


This morning we enjoyed newly made jam on toasty buttery croissants along with yogurt and berries.

Loving reading...

I just got this 'On the Night You Were Born' book, which is lovely, for Calvin. He seems to love all the books we have for him so far but has really been taking this one in - looks from page to page and kicks and waves his arms and listens. It's so wonderful. (Another early favorite: Matisse Dance for Joy)

Dinner Dinner the Trip to Sauvie Island

Fresh peas from Kruger's Farm became simple supper. Oricette with peas, basil, mint + cheese. Yum!

Saturday Farmer's Market

We went to the very crowded downtown market this past Saturday. Bradley made 3 gorgeous meals from what we got there!

First: a salad of carrot, radish, cucumber, fennel with lemon vinaigrette.
Second: halibut with quinoa, spring onions, beets + beet greens, and lemon thyme.
Third: bowtie pasta with pancetta, snap peas, and a fresh basil mint pesto

This Year's Porch Roses So Far...