Taking time to stop and smell the (garlic) roses

Just down the road from Dripping Springs, Texas is the "village" of Wimberley where every Wednesday a farmer's market is held from 3-6pm, rain or shine, in the Lion's Club parking lot. And every Wednesday from 3-6pm I feel like I'm just too busy with work to go to the farmer's market, but yesterday, with a kindly push from my mom who lives nearby, we set off down Ranch Road 12 with empty canvas bags. We returned bearing loaded bags brimming with organic beets, blackberries, onions, tomatoes, japanese eggplant, squash, greens, and elephant garlic, still clutching its bridal bouquet of tiny lavender flowers, and destined to be deflowered this evening by a handsome fish curry.

While this will not be my last time going to the Wimberley farmer's market (indeed, next Wednesday can not get here fast enough), this will be my first time cooking with elepant garlic. Word on the street is that it has a milder, sweeter flavor, the "Charlotte" of garlics, if you will. And, on that note, I can put "Sex and the City" in my labels now.

Dewberry Sounds

If a tree falls in the woods and no one has a camera to take a picture, does it make a sound? Or something like that.

My camera has gone on the fritz so I have been unable to take photos of the glorious dewberries making themselves in patchy homes across my property. I picked enough the other night to make a simple sauce to drizzle over angel food cake and ice cream.

The color was so rich and vibrant and no camera to prove its existence. Perhaps the dewberries never existed.

SPF (Sun Protection Freak)

Pale and freckled, I do my best to avoid the sun but the reality of living in the Hill Country is that the sun is gonna getcha, girl. I never leave the house without sunblock. The one time I did, I panicked and pulled a bag over my head and shortly thereafter a new neighbor came by to introduce himself and I'm standing there with a canvas grocery bag (I'm "green"!) on my head (the purple handles did create a stylish flair, though). I've tried a variety of products, but Neutrogena just came out with my current go-to SPF, their Age Shield Face Sunblock SPF 70. I've been using it for about two weeks and while July and August will be the true test, I have done some sweaty yard mowing and rock hauling and, so far, it hasn't done the usual burning lava run into the eyes. I read one review where the woman said she quit using it because it left some white streaks and she had to check the mirror after she put it on to make sure she had rubbed all those in. Oh the humanity! Not that! I've had several skin cancers removed (most courtesy of a spectacular chest burn received at a Red Hot Chili Peppers outdoor concert) and a little white SPF white streak should not be a deterrent. You should put any SPF on at least 15-20 minutes before going outside and give it a chance to soak in a bit. Check the mirror then. The Age Shield can give you a bit of a mildly kabuki appearance initially, but once it's had a chance to mellow for about 15 minutes either it goes away or, pehaps, I've ceased to care. All in all highly recommended.

Oh deer!

I have dewberry patches all over my property and the dewberries are starting to get ripe (more on that later). I picked late yesterday and went back this morning to pick some more and as I went to pick in the biggest patch I almost stepped on a brand new fawn! It had to have been born last night. It's about the size of my 14 pound my chihuahua mix all curled up. After quietly backing away, I ran to where my sister was working nearby (kindly) planting some plants for me and I (quietly) freaked out. She went all National Geographic and crept over and snapped a photo with her phone. I've circled where the fawn is on the attached phone photo. but it's really hard to see it -- those spots work! I need them for my thighs.