Luncheon

Lone Leek

Today as I came in from the garden after foraging a lone leek volunteer from last years crop I found John preparing, with care,  a lovely luncheon.

John and I have always had a deal.  He cooks and I will clean up.
( See Crockery Chronicles)thecrockerychronicles.blogspot.com

We eat lunch together nearly every day.  John whipping up a salad with our favorite lettuces with small additions from our pantry, cheese drawer and some other magical item he makes appear.  Scavenging in our vegetable drawer usually produces additions from the garden such as freshly picked onion tops, parsley and carrot.

Monday's pickins' Carnival Carrots and Onion Tops

Hoja Santa goat cheese wrapped in Sarsaparilla leaf

Recently John purchased some items from Salumi in Seattle.  Salumi is Mario Batali's Father's cured meat business www.salumicuredmeats.com .  Some old favorites from his visits to Osteria Mozza www.mozza-la.com were in the package along with some new additions.   My new favorites are "Dario"(possibly named for  the most famous butcher in the world Dario Cecchini.  Whose story might take up another post.).. full of  nutmeg, mace, and dotted with peppercorns  The Mole,with it's deep dark color is spiced with chocolate, cinnamon, ancho and chipotle peppers giving it both a kick and a bit of sweetness.

Rigging a special place to store them in our wine cellar the cellar is transformed in to a salumeria.

He skillfully adding small touches and patience he creates the perfectly balanced plate

Nearly There...

A few thin slices of my freshly baked sourdough boule...

Fresh Baked Sourdough Boule

Completed by a little bitty glass of vino...

Now I must do my part and clean.. although there is very little to do...

lunch scraps

Grey Gardens

Before

After

Dinner for Snails

Dry winter conditions and neglect has left our beautiful vertical garden sad, grey, and preyed upon by snails.  

Keeping the curtains closed locked the guilt outside.

Cactus Candy

A spending trip to California Cactus Center www.cactuscenter.com in Pasadena was just the thing to perk me back up.  California Cactus Center is the resource for all things succulent.  They boast rare species of plants from around the world.  A journey there is never a waste of time and always inspiring and informative.

Mariage Frere Marco Polo Tea

A cup of Marco Polo tea and I was ready to work.

Tools of the Trade

The Work Bench

Using knives, spray bottles, watering cans and spoons I went to work

Round three, this time less sedum more lush and juicy succulents.

 one by one we remove the  sad little boxes and give them new life

Recycling, cutting and using a different palate, each cell is min world- scape made of of different colors and textures.

Two Completed Cells

My time and attention completes about one box every day and a half.  At this rate expect a post with the completed boxes sometime in the near future.  Stay tuned for the full picture.