She bought food, a new book, made Pj’s and finished her Holiday Traditions Swap December 20, 2008

I had a great time at the Farmer’s Market.  There were fewer vendors, not a lot fewer, but definitely fewer, and few people braved the weather than last time, but the folks that were there seemed to be serious about buying and the choices were still plentiful.  I still have a fair number of potatoes, Garlic and Squash from my own garden, as  well what I stocked up on at the last market, but there were plenty of all of those to be found.  The meat folks were well stocked, and the maple syrup and gifty items like spiced nuts and cookie dough was out for the tempting…and I did succumb.

I got 3 pounds of  Sweet Italian Elk Sausage since I loved it so much last time.  I made up a batch of pea soup almost as soon as I arrived home!  This time using just 1/2 pound and I’m much happier with that ratio.  Rutabaga and Turnips for a lovely root veggie soup.  I got a pound of Elk burger to try, along with a couple more pounds of beef from my regular farm.  I bought maple syrup from a delightful fellow who makes it himself, using low heat to hold in flavor and nutrients.  It’s oatmeal season around here and I don’t like to go cheap on the syrup!  I picked up a pint of cookie dough for those days when I just want a couple as a night time snack. Oh, and not to forget the 1 1/2 year aged cheddar cheese!  Delightful and so creamy.

I also picked up a copy of “Holy Cows and Hog Heaven: The Food Buyer’s Guide to Farm Friendly Food”.  The fella with the syrup, and the rutabaga, was selling copies at cost!  Only $7.00, as a way to get the word out.  I bought one, and am hoping Hubby can read it to me while I knit.  It’s written by Joel Salatin, who is the farmer that was featured in Michael Pollan’s book, Omnivore’s Dilemma.  Michael wrote the forward to Joel’s book.  It has a fun cover and I can’t wait to get started.  Joel is such an amazing thinker as well as a hard working farmer.  Here is the beginning of his introduction:

“Farm subsidies.  Farmland preservation.  Food-borne illness.  Antibiotic resistance.  Genetic engineering.  Clones.  Corporate power. Globalism.  Biosecurity.  Factory farms.  Chemical use.  Healthy food.  Organic certification.

After discussing any one of these issues, our tendency is to ask, almost rhetorically because we can’t believe there is an answer ‘So what can I do?’

Every day you and I decide what will be on our dinner plate.  It’s a decision for which we can accept responsibility, or one that we can take a defeatist attitude and sigh: ‘What’s the use?’

All of us need to be Empowered.”

The book is meant to Empower food buyers to pursue positive alternatives to the industrialized food system.  Bring clean food farmers and their patrons into a teamwork relationship. Marry the best of western technology with the soul of eastern ethics.  Educate food buyers about productions.  And create a food system that enhances nature’s ecology for future generations.

Does any of that interest you?  I hope it does and if you want a copy you can get it on Amazon.com for a $12.21.

After the market we took a trip to the milk farm.  They were at the market, but not with their milk and cream as they aren’t allow to sell it there.  Good food, being illegal to sell in to the public…seriously what has this world come to?  But I won’t jump on that soap box right now.  I stocked up on milk, yogurt and they have a new cream separator so I was able to get some whipping cream!  I think that will go on top of some blueberry rice pudding very soon.

Mini loves her new Pj’s.  I saw no need to wait until Christmas to impart this little gift, as no one should wait to be cozy if they don’t have to.

I wrapped up the collection of goodies for my Holiday Traditions trade.  I’m late, but she is too, and we both understand each others delay, so it’s worked out well.  I’m sending off on Monday and I hope it arrives before Christmas, but if  not I hope she enjoys getting late goodies as much as I do.  My mom never remembers where she stashed all the gifts so someone, inevitably gets a gift the day after Christmas or in some cases up to a week later.  We don’t mind, it’s kind of a “tradition”, and when it’s me I’m actually happy because who doesn’t like a surprise no matter what day it comes?  So after Christmas I’ll show you all the goodies I sent off, for now…shhh.

Advent

Day 21

Matthew 2:1-12

Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”

King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem.  He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”

“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote:

‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah,
are not least among the ruling cities of Judah,
for a ruler will come from you
who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’”

Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared.  Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!”

After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!

They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.

People traditionally think of a manger/nativity scene with three wise men.  The bible never says there are 3, but list 3 gifts, so I guess that’s were the idea that there were three men.  The bible also indicates that they found Jesus in his home, after the family had left Bethlehem.  So the wisemen should not really be in a nativity scene…unless you put them across the room.  But seriously, whether there were three, when they arrived, all not the point.  The point is that God gave these men a sign of their Messiah and they followed, requiring traveling a long distance, taking great risks, and seemingly with no doubt about what they should be doing and who Jesus really was.  That is just amazing.  It’s one thing to know the end and believe, but it’s another to be like these men and Mary and be there in the beginning and trust.