Day 21 - Farmer's Market and Homemade Bread

Today was a fabulous day! It's Saturday AND it's a 3-day weekend due to Labor Day on Monday. So I have time to relax -- "chillax," as my daughters say.

Woke up a bit early. Remember, my toddler doesn't ever sleep in on weekends. (sigh.) Oh, well. Had my French Silk coffee and my middle daughter and I hit up the Farmer's Market together.

We rarely spend time one-on-one, so it was a real treat for my eldest to watch the youngest so I could go with just my 10 year old.

We walked down to the market hand in hand. I looked over at my beaming child. She was wearing her saddle shoes, a pair of fancy socks with lace, a cute little peasant skirt, and a sweater. Her hair, which has been cut into a 1960s inverted bob (higher in the back and longer at the ears) matches mine. The sun was shining, the birds were singing. I pulled a $20 out of my checking account a tad bit hesitantly. I know how tight money is...but I really, really longed to spend a great morning with my daughter at the market.

The market was packed by 10 a.m. Fresh fruits and vegetable stands, homemade breads and jams, the "honey man" as we call him with his locally-made honey. Even a few locals playing guitars or violins. We strolled along looking at various stands. Some even sold hand-crafted jewelry. We purchased some farm fresh eggs, a couple of sun-ripened tomatoes, and a few red onions and ears of sweet corn. Filled my cloth shopping bag to the brim, turned and headed towards the local coffee shop where we sat and had specialty teas made with the actual tea leaves.

It was a marvelous morning, for sure, just me and my middle daughter.

Later on this morning, we cooked a fresh scrambled egg breakfast using our locally bought produce.

And by early afternoon, all three of my girls and I took a casual walk downtown to the public library...closed for the extended holiday weekend. Turned around and headed home, but made a pitstop at the homemade ice cream shop on our way.

A storm blew in. Rain and dark clouds. I took a quick nap when my toddler went down for hers. She's still sleeping, in fact, while I sit and type this out.

My husband and middle daughter are at the athletic club...swimming in the hot springs pool and using the exercise equipment. My eldest daughter is walking around the house, picking things up and asking when we can drop off some boxes of things to the Goodwill.

I started baking homemade white bread. The bread is rising now. It's the same recipe we used earlier this summer when my mother came out for a visit. She had to show me how to bake homemade bread. I hadn't baked a loaf since probably 11th grade in high school!

The storm has passed now and the sun is again peeking out of the sky. My dishwasher hums as it cleans my dirty dishes for me, my bread is rising on the oven, and the smell of rain-soaked earth floats into my open kitchen windows.

Yes, it's been a good day. Praise the Lord...:)