pause

separation of seasons

greatest position north

longest day

journey into winter

into darkness

image by karen hanrahan

this was my seasonal greeting card this year

a site i saw repeatedly commuting back into the city…

She shares this statistic:

If 100 households don’t use their dryers for a month it will save ~11,100 pounds of CO2 emissions. That’s 5.5 tons of carbon.*

She even included a scripted text for tweeting or sharing on Facebook 

“Join 100 families to save 5.5 tons of CO2 and some $ by air drying ur laundry in October’s Hang Em Dry Challenge: http://tinyurl.com/27khd9a“

Care to take it on??

Or pass it on to others to try??

I got my supplies and hung line in my basement! I’m ready! Here come crunchy towels Crunchy Chicken!!

Deanna participates in Green Mom’s Carnival with me and a slew of other green savvy women.

image by karen hanrahan

my neighbor gave me this plant. their plants didn’t thrive this summer, mine is blossoming late – isn’t it beautiful ?

Their booth last weekend had quite a bit of hum surrounding it.

Their plan within our fine community however is much much more than hum

As a matter of fact their “plan” really impresses me.

Imagine creating your restraunt following a full year before it opens!  I think it’s brilliant.

I was first introduced to the farm and fork concept,  gee I want to say over 10 yrs ago – it was a place outside new york, gosh – I so wish I  still had the article.

I remember being moved by the uniqueness of the concept – its organic intentionality ( so ahead of its time ) and the photographic imagery was remarkable

Upon first reading about Epiphany Farms I thought – hmmm how is that going to fly all the way out here?

After reading this more in depth Chicago Tribune article my skepticism completely shifted.

There work is truly filled with vision, food artistry, earthy passion and I bet some really terrific stories!

I so adore this picture of the four of them!!

I am also ever so happy for the enthusiastic press they have received!

taken by Zbigniew, Bzdak  Chicago Tribune/April 8th

I was intrigued by something Ron said.

For this time of year – cooler – they grow a more hardy wonderful almost buttery tasting Heirloom Bloomdale variety.

photo by karen hanrahan

I have gotten so used to store bought baby spinach that it didn’t occur to me that spinach has a season.

Different varieties are grown for different times of the year.

Truth is our grocery stores do very little to help us cook seasonally.

Sure we get asparagus in the spring and at a better price,  but we actually also get asparagus all year!

How do they do that?

We get our so called seasonal organics all year too – but often they travel all the way from California – certainly not local.

another thing occurred to me

If I eating according to what my local farmers are growing right now ?

I would be eating a ton of chives, green onions, spring radishes, tender lettuces, arugula and of course spinach!!

Guess what I bought today?

photo by karen hanrahan

Are you a woman who experiences dramatic skin temperature fluctuations ?

This cream contains a proprietary, synergistic blend of more than a dozen natural herbs including black cohosh, soy isoflavones, evening primrose extract, flaxseed, and jojoba seed oils.

Massage it onto your neck and chest and then breathe in the aroma from your hands . The aromatherapy helps constrict blood vessels in the nasal passage sending cooling signals to the brain.

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Note .. this product has no progesterone, which is listed in California as a potential cancer-causing agent.

Great for PMS also!

Conveniently packaged to fit into your purse.  One might need one for your car,  your night stand,  your office desk drawer,  your gym bag …. hooked up to an IV!!

flickr image credit

watching these unfold has been amazing

my daughter captured this shot

At the park nearby were several families of new goslings!

I have way too many images as they were just the cutest things ever!

I’ll let this one image be the token adorableness here.

Love how the parents hiss if you get too close.

I guess I’d be that way too around my newborns.

photographs by Karen Hanrahan

oh my mother earth goodness these blossoms on my tree are turning into leaves in the shape of hearts!

I asked him what the heck this was

his reply morning glory

he encouraged me to get rid of the pod and it’s seeds

they are weedy he said

by the time i went back outside the pods had naturally emptied

OOPS

photography by karen hanrahan