from cage-free to pastured-raised

Eggs might be my favorite food for any meal. Heck, every meal.

Remember cage-free? Free-range? Ever wonder why that's not good enough anymore? This video on PBS explains it beautifully. http://video.pbs.org/video/2339515762/

I ate this egg for breakfast one morning in Italy last summer. I could tell by looking at it that the chickens probably get to go outside and eat grass and bugs and run free in the sunshine. At least I hoped.

This summer I have been subscribed out of all the local pasture-raised eggs I normally buy and came really close to building a hen house in my back yard when I saw this at my regular grocery store, Haggen. Thank you Haggen and thank you Vital Farms for bringing pasture-raised eggs to my regular grocery store that doesn't need a farm subscription. Easy.

http://vitalfarms.com/pasture-raised-eggs/our-eggs/#alfresco

Raspberries, Potatoes, Peas

First Local Raspberries

New Red Potatoes

Shelling Peas

Strawberries Go on Salads in June

In the Pacific Northwest, June means local strawberries. So I want them on everything. Don't you? My cereal in the morning, yogurt, ice cream, salad, or straight from the farmer's cardboard basket.

It's a work night, so something simple. I had picked up lettuce greens, sunflower sprouts, a cucumber, carrots, celery and strawberries at the Farmer's Market on Saturday.  

Oh, and  the garlic scapes are in. Have you seen these yet? 

Garlic Scapes

My first experience with them was here in the agricultural county where I live. They are the shoots from garlic and they are cut before they flower. I chop them and add them to salads and salad dressing. They have a very mild garlic flavor, more like a hint.  And they are crunchy.

Because I knew I was going to use my strawberries on my salad tonight, I picked up goat cheese and grabbed a handfull of walnuts from my nut drawer. I have a whole drawer dedicated to nuts in my fridge. Is that nuts?

Olive Oil from Puglia in Italy and Mango Balsamic Vinegar from Drizzle in Fairhaven

And you know where I'm going with this - it has to wear a balsamic dress. This weekend I treated myself to a special bottle of the extra stringent Italian olive oil, one grown in the region of my DNA. It's the kind of olive oil that tickles the back of your throat and makes you cough. An acquired taste that I only learned to appreciate last summer in Tuscany - this is the olive oil with the healthy properties. So if you can learn to enjoy the taste, it's actually good for you.  

The mango balsamic was a gift from my friend, Marion. Thank you Marion - I love love love this vinegar. It has just enough sweetness to want to pour it over strawberries. But I think you knew that.

Strawberries on Salad Dressed in Balsamic and Olive Oil

Dressing

Four spoons olive oil

One spoon balsamic vinegar

Enough for two salads, or tomorrow's lunch

season to taste, or use alone if it's yummy enough

Salad

Greens (I included several dandelion leaves from Terra Verde in Everson, Washington)

Carrots

Cucumber

Sunflower sprouts

Garlic scapes

Strawberries

Walnuts

Goat Cheese

Chop to your desired size and texture. Toss. Serve. Enjoy

More Culture Less Food

I took a break from food and have been focusing more on culture lately.  Thank you to everyone who voted on my food photos.  That project is huge and I'm not ready to hang my show.  I will keep you posted.

To my great delight, I have been distracted by our local county reading challenge.  It's a community-wide reading and discussion program that is held in many places around the U.S.  I live in Whatcom County so ours is called Whatcom READS! which started over five years ago with Sherman Alexie.

The 2014 Whatcom READS! selection is Cheryl Strayed's Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail.

The video clip below is Cheryl, herself, talking about her journey.

To entice readers to write about our own journeys, last summer Whatcom WRITES! posted a writing challenge; 800 words about your own journey.  

Have you ever taken a journey where you didn’t know where you were going?

Or where you ended up somewhere you weren’t planning on?

Or perhaps your journey was an interior one – how did it transform you?

Who helped you along the way? What did you learn about yourself or the world?

I answered the challenge and entered.  On December 31, I learned that my piece had been accepted, will be published in a book and I could read it at Village Books, our independent bookstore, on Sunday February 9 at 4:00 P.M.  I'll be there, please come and smile back at me because my 800 words, "Traveling with my Father" are tough to get through without crying.  I would love your support.  Apparently the authors are only reading their 800 words, nothing else, so it should move along at a good clip.

http://www.villagebooks.com/event/whatcom-writes-reading

In addition to a writing challenge, there was a quilt challenge. Quilters were asked to read
Strayed’s book and create a quilt that reflects the issues, themes, and locations it presents and then explain in our Artist's Statement how we approached the quilt.  Surface design and embellishments were encouraged.  A challenge fabric was handed out and required to be included on the front.  It's the part with the pine cones that I cut into strips and wove with leather boot laces at the weft, tree ring buttons and a spirit line.

I took the challenge and created this, "Weaving Trail". . .

with this accompanying explanation:

Artist’s Statement 

Gina Saettone 

Wild Quilts 2014 Whatcom READS! Inspired Challenge

Cheryl Strayed’s book, Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, moved me deeply in that she went to great lengths to change her life. She risked life and limb, faced wild animals and wild mountain men and found something that she was looking for even if, at first, she didn’t know what that something was going to be.

To find that something, I shook up my life by dropping out of a successful career, moving away from a place that I loved, breaking off a marriage engagement risking security and stability to force a change in my life. Then, when I landed, I learned to weave. As Cheryl’s catalyst for change was her hike on the Trail, my catalyst was becoming a weaver. Weaving changed me. Or at least the slow pace of weaving allowed me the time to contemplate. Somewhere along the line, I found something. I’m still learning to articulate what that something is, but I think it has to do with the courage to create and willingness to share my expression – my voice.

My quilt is made of a few of my weaving scraps and samples. A few symbols I have incorporated are: tying the knot, love of the sea, swimming with dolphins, a turtle named Refrigerator, hospice volunteers and workers (angels), significant love relationships, cross sections of trees that link the trees I live under to the trees that Cheryl walked among, and a spirit line to release any negative energy. I hand-quilted most of this piece which was a particular obstacle for me because I had never done it and this piece is very heavy and thick. I chose rough stitches not only because of the nature of the weavings, but also because I can be rather earthy and relaxed especially now in my woman-of-a- certain-age years. I stitched in a meandering pattern to illustrate and experience, much like walking a labyrinth, my approach to life. I tend to take a step, take a look, and if everything feels right I take that path. I can’t wait to hear Cheryl talk and hopefully meet her. I admire what lengths she took to change her life. Her story inspired me to reflect on my own. This quilt represents my journey. # # #


All of the 36 quilts entered are hanging at various libraries.  Mine is at the North Fork Library on the other side of the history of the Pacific Crest Trail inspired by a Bellingham woman, Catherine Montgomery.

The other quilter's piece has stitched into the sky, "I'm with you always" which is what Cheryl's mother said to her.  Gorgeous.  Notice the challenge fabric, the green with pine cones, used in both of our quilts.  I can't wait to see the other 51.  Actually, I have already seen one, my friend Barb created a beautiful pictorial of the trail and many obstacles.

Cheryl Strayed will speak at the Mount Baker Theatre Monday, February 24 at 7:30 P.M.  It's free and all of the quilts will be hung there.

She speaks the next morning at the Ferry Terminal, also free.

http://whatcomreads.com/

http://www.mountbakertheatre.com/events%3Funcached

If you have not read the book, do.  And then, let's talk about it.  I would love to hear what you think of the story.

See you at Village Books and Mount Baker Theatre.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving

Food Photo Gallery - Vote for Your Favorites

I invite you to vote on your favorite photos for selection to be hung in a show.  No limit.

All photos were taken with my smarty pants phone.  This is a non-commercial site with no advertising.

I am toying with the idea of including recipes for the cooked items to be posted next to the hung artwork, let me know what you think.

CAUTION:
May stimulate appetite,
Urge you to go to your local farmers market,
Create something in your kitchen.

1. Whatcom County Backyard Rhubarb.  Bellingham, Washington

Yes Votes: 1, 1, 1, 1, 

2. Whatcom County Backyard Plums.  Bellingham, Washington

Yes votes: 1, 1, 

3. Whatcom County Front Yard Sunflower Seeding.  Bellingham, Washington

Yes votes: 1, 1, 1, 

comments: very unique, 

4. Wild Alaska Reef-Net-Caught, Hand Processed Chum Salmon.  Bellingham, Washington

Yes votes: 1, 1, 

Comments: looks so sexy, 

5. Whatcom County Cherry Tomatoes.  Bellingham, Washington

Yes votes: 1, 1, 

6. Whatcom County Shelled Peas on Salad.  Bellingham, Washington

Yes votes: 1, 1, 1, 1, 

7. Whatcom County Potatoes.  Bellingham, Washington

Yes votes: 1, 1, 

8. Whatcom County Pears.  Bellingham, Washington

Yes votes: 1, 1, 1, 

Comments: stunning colors, 

9. Washington Nectarine and Tuscan Einkorn Wheat Skillet Cake.  Bellingham, Washington

10. Whatcom County Cranberry Beans.  Bellingham, Washington

Yes votes: 1, 1, 1, 

11. Whatcom County Green Beans, Spicy.  Bellingham, Washington

Yes votes: 1, 1, 1, 

Comments: [this one got invited to a dinner]

12. Whatcom County Bellingham Saturday Farmer's Market Display.  Bellingham, Washington

Yes votes: 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 

13. Whatcom County Swiss Chard, Karina Davidson's Fall Soups Class.  Bellingham, Washington

Yes votes: 1, 1, 1, 

14. Whatcom County Carrots.  Bellingham, Washington

Yes votes: 1, 1, 1, 

15. Whatcom County Carrots, Cooked in Sicilian Dressing.  Bellingham, Washington

Yes votes: 1, 1, 

16. Whatcom County Beans, Basil, and Skagit County Feta.  Bellingham, Washington

Yes votes: 1, 

17. Whatcom County Brussels Sprouts, Apples.  Bellingham, Washington

Yes votes: 1, 

18. Whatcom County Baby Brussels Sprouts, Apple Peels, Hominy.  Bellingham, Washington

Yes votes: 1, 1, 

19. Whatcom County Bellingham Saturday Farmer's Market Display.  Bellingham, Washington

Yes votes: 1, 1, 1, 1, 

20. Whatcom County Asparagus, Tomato, Chicken Salad.  Bellingham, Washington

Yes votes: 1, 1, 

21. Washington Emmer Berries, Whatcom County Tomatoes.  Bellingham, Washington

Yes votes: 1, 

22. Sonoran White Wheat Handmade Pasta.  Mesa, Arizona

Yes votes: 1, 1, 

23. Tuscan Einkorn Wheat Pasta, Whatcom County Tomatoes, Mozzarella & Parmesan. Bellingham, Washington

Yes votes: 1, 1, 

24. Piedmont Tomatoes and Mozzarella.  Pollenzo, Italy

Yes votes: 1, 1, 

25. Piedmont Caesar Salad.  Pollenzo, Italy

Yes votes: 1, 1, 

26. Piedmont Pasture Chicken Egg, Uncured Ham, Yeast-free Ancient Wheat Bread.  Pollenzo, Italy

Yes votes: 1, 1, 

27. Italian Espresso Crema.  Pollenzo, Italy

Yes votes: 1, 1, 

28. Piedmont Green Beans, Tomatoes.  Bra, Italy

Yes votes: 1, 1, 1, 

29. Ligurian Farmer's Market Mushrooms.  Ventimiglia, Italy

Yes votes: 1, 1, 1, 

30. Mediterranean Sea Bass, Ligurian Cucuzza, Green Beans.  Ventimiglia, Italy

Yes votes: 1, 

31. Italian Gluten-free Breakfast.  Florence, Italy

Yes votes: 1, 

32. Italian Ricotta Cheesecake.  Florence, Italy

Yes votes: 1, 1, 1, 1, 

33. Tuscan Senatore Cappelli Wheat, Whatcom County Beans & Tomatoes.  Bellingham, Washington

Yes votes: 1, 1, 

34. Tuscan Senatore Cappelli Wheat, Whatcom County Kale, Carrots, Celery, Sweet Potatoes, Chicken.  Bellingham, Washington

35. Italian Oranges, Tuscan Senatore Cappelli Wheat Cake.  Florence, Italy.

Yes votes: 1, 1, 

36. Tuscan Market Melon.  Florence, Italy

Yes votes: 1, 1, 

37. Tuscan Market Lunch.  Florence, Italy

Yes votes: 1, 1, 1, 1,  

38. Tuscan Market Lettuce.  Florence, Italy

Yes votes: 1, 1, 1, 1, 

39. Tuscan Market Fig, Abate Fetel Pear, Young Pecorino.  Florence, Italy

Yes votes: 1, 1, 1, 

40. Tuscan Wheat Handmade Tagliatelle.  Florence, Italy

Yes votes: 1, 1, 1, 

41. Tuscan Wheat Handmade Ravioli.  Florence, Italy

Yes votes: 1, 

42. Mediterranean Fruit of the Sea Salad.  Florence, Italy

Yes votes: 1, 

43. Tuscan Eggplant Parmesan.  Florence, Italy

Yes votes: 1, 1, 1, 1, 

44. Tuscan Ceasar Salad with Chicken.  Florence, Italy

Yes votes: 1, 

45. Florentine Bakery Window.  Florence, Italy

Yes votes: 1, 1, 

46. Florentine Bakery  Window.  Florence, Italy

Yes votes: 1, 

47. Florentine Bakery Window.  Florence, Italy

Yes votes: 1, 1, 

48. Florentine Bakery Window.  Florence, Italy

Yes votes: 1, 1, 

This show is for fun, I have a charity in mind for the proceeds and will announce that later.  Please take a minute and tell me which ones you like.  I look forward to all of your comments.  Thank you.