riding the wave

as i sit here looking back, today has been an unusually creative and productive day. that is not to say that i am not creative or productive on an average day, but today seems to go above and beyond. i just love when the stars align and ideas, time and energy are high.

the first creation of the day was parsley soup for lunch from my cookbook of the week.

the idea of parsley soup seemed weird, but i have been having so much fun in the kitchen and it seemed like a bit of a taste adventure. plus we have endless parsley at our csa and it is always nice to make use of more things there. the soup was good. there were some comments of it being "very parsley-y". it was also very salty. the recipe is basically parsley, butter, garlic, broth and cottage cheese. i guess the cottage cheese and broth combined to make it very salty. it was definitely pushing the palate envelope, but good nonetheless.

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while i was making the soup bee was busy with her own creation. hot air balloon! it is modeled after some that she saw at the y. i think the summer camp had made them. hers is extra special because she made and cut out some little guys to ride on it.

after rest bee and i combined efforts to make the first jar of pickles of the summer. it's the most simple recipe, a staple of my childhood.

cukes any way you like 'em, 4 or so dill flowers, a couple of sliced up garlic cloves (or more if you like), a sprinkle of kosher salt, white vinegar 2/3 of the way up and then water the rest of the way. leave them on the counter for a few days. pull one out once in a while to check and when they taste just right, pop them in the fridge.

and finally tonight, after everyone was asleep (including D on the couch!), i made some felt food! 

i was inspired by the fact that all henny does is play in the little kitchen. added to the fact that all the stuff spilled out on the floor is not pleasing to my tastes. it's all wooden food and some other things that bee has collected to pretend to be food, but it just looks ugly. to me. 

i want to be great at felt food. i want to make a banana with removable peel, a cupcake, a bagel, oranges and apples. but tonight i started with a cheese and lettuce sandwich on a bun, accompanied by a strawberry and a cookie. it's cute. i can't wait to make more.

i just love when days like this happen. sometimes my life inside these walls can feel small, but today it feels large and full. i love that.