A perfect day.
This morning the bunny and I went down to St. Lawrence Market (farmers' market/funky crafts/all manner of food from everywhere in the world/butchers, fishmongers, cheesemongers, etc.) to go shopping. We resisted buying such things as saris, wind chimes made from orphaned silver utensils, toques knitted to resemble strawberries and frogs and flowerpots, Ecuadorian sweaters, deerskin moccasins, emu and elk sausages (although the bunny really, really liked them -- and she's not keen on meat), and many other things. We did not resist the following:
- my favourite ramen noodles (Pantry Shelf, the only kind that's MSG-free, and only ever seem to be available at the bulk store in the basement of that market... though they're phasing out, sadly)
- juicy pear Jelly Bellies and some wee semi-sweet chocolate chips for the bunster
- peppers (red and purple), zucchini, cucumber, broccoli, green beans, celery
- giant sunflower seeds
- brie
- lime and honey mustard from Anton Kozlik's (if he didn't look like Wilford Brimley, I'd propose -- the man is a culinary genius)
- dark amber maple syrup (not the recalled kind!)
- rice vinegar with roasted garlic
- smoked ham bones for soup
- lentils, split peas
- apple cider
Awe. Some. If I hadn't wound up struggling under a backpack weighing nearly as much as myself, I would've bought more. We are stocked up, bigtime. C'est bon.
Went through the drive-thru at Tim Horton's on the way home and got Evil Breakfast Sandwiches (YUM). Got home, ate breakfast, cut up most of the veggies, and whipped up a pot of lentil/pea/veggie soup... which is missing something and needs to be thicker. Maybe I'll cook up some potatoes and puree them, mix them in. Anyway.
Because it's a gorgeous day, and because I had been intrigued by a post on toronto, we all got in the car and drove up to Aurora Road and Warden, to Devin's Orchards. We had a wonderful time, to say the least. We picked two 20lb bags of apples (Ida Reds, Cortlands, and Snows -- you may know them as "Fameuse", they're hard to come by in stores). We also got a lovely pumpkin. The bunny grinned the whole time. We saw ponies and miniature horses (though the black fallow deer were off in the woods, I think). The air was crisp and clear, not a cloud in the sky, beautiful day. Took no time at all to fill up our bags, and oh! We took a hayride to get to and from the orchard. HEE. Fun. So, so, so much fun. The bunny went down the slide on the playground equipment about a million times while we sat and drank hot cider before the farm closed. Filled up a roll of film and used up the shots on the digital as well -- will post pix shortly.
It was... I want to say rejuvenating, but it was more than that. I feel better than I have in a long while. This city (any city, really, but here in particular because I live and work here) eats my joy. If I win the lottery, I'm buying a farm like that one. We all had a great time. I'd go back tomorrow if I didn't already have forty pounds of apples OMG. :)
We can't go up to the cottage this year, but at least we got out of the city and into bliss.
We came home and I had homemade soup, and a crisp, new apple, and yeah, life is good. Hope you're having a great weekend, friends. *kisses you on the top of your head and hugs you tight* *toddles off to mull some cider*