Auf Wiedersehen!

 Sometimes when you are all set to visit your first granddaughter, and fate deals your daughter a blow in the form of storm damaged plumbing, you have to pacify yourselves with different behavior to distract your heart from disappointment.  Yesterday, Hubby and I hit the backyard and garden area with a vengeance, hacking away at the lush weedery, provided by the stormy month we are now preparing to file in the history books..
Today, we were able to visit the Farmer's Market, http://www.orangecountyhomegrown.org/markets.html.  We were able to score a pink gooseberry bush and two tiny pots of Eyelash Begonias.  I have had about every kind of begonia, angel wing, perennial, dark leaf, but never, ever have seen Eyelash Begonias.  Adorabley beautiful.
 A trip to our local Walmart in Paoli for basic gardening supplies, brought us to lunchtime and decisions to make.  Of course, I'm always ready for a trip to Lost River Coop and Deli, http://lostrivercoop.com/ ; Hubby, not so much.  I was up for something different and Hubby suggested the new German Restaurant down a bit from Walmart's exit.  How very convenient for something different to be so near by!

  The German Cafe is remarkably different for this area.  In counties known for home cooking involving lots of Sysco Supplies, good eatin is generally thirty to forty five minutes away.

 Well.  At least it used to be that way...
.Finding fresh ingredients and personal service from the non chain eaterys, is akin to hen's teeth.  The vibe for this restaurant is a kitschy collection of personal memorabilia mixed in with German artifacts.  Each table is decorated differently and I got quite caught up in the eclectic style that the owner used for this wee little restaurant.

Our spontaneous luncheon in quest for something different, took us to the most amazing food that we have ever experienced....
Our sweet little server, fresh from Georgia, and the owners, authenticly German and highly talented, provided Hubby and I with a most enjoyable meal.  The Schnitzel was by far, the best we ever experienced, anywhere.  The tenderloin was tender (we could hear it being pounded in the kitchen from where we sat), the light breading, the pan fried skill that few can do well, was fighting over worthy.  I ordered a platter of salads of all kinds (and served in a wonderfully vintage sectioned tray!) and the plan was to share the HUGE tenderloin with my numerable salad sides.  Both Hubby and I were so involved in our own offerings, that we had to remind each other to share.  Even their tea was grand.  Hubby, eager to try a dark lager German beer, nearly forgot that gout frowns upon most alcohol. Well, one; and recovering from NoVivien-Disorder we thought he might as well indulge.

When Sweet Server offered their very famous Dream Cake or German Chocolate Cake or the Lemon Tart, we simply groaned and made a very prominent mental note for future visits....

If you are reading this in Southern Indiana and points nearby, do yourself a favor and contribute to small business and local owners and enjoy the best German food ever.

 (I do believe my Grandmother's Gutzweiller and VonKoenig would have felt right at home; I thought of them the whole time we were there....).

Okay.  We are still sad about missing Miss Viv, but it sure did help......

Happy Memorial Day!

Farmer's Market Bag!

Every Saturday, as I get ready for the Farmer's Market, I think of how fortunate those of us in isolated Southern Indiana are to have such an assortment of fresh grown, mostly organic produce.  The FM is truly a highlight in these southern counties and I for one like to celebrate it.  While getting ready for The Retreat this summer, I thought it was only fitting that my guests should have their own Market Bag to corral all their purchases.  It was during that process that I received my first copy of MaryJane's Farm magazine.  Within it's wondrous innards, I was pleased as punch to find the pattern for the Perfect Market Bag.  Sensibility told me that to make eleven of them in time for The Retreat, was a bit of a stretch.  But maybe one.  Maybe mine, could be the first of many MaryJane Farm's Upcycled Market Bags!  It got taken out for it's maiden voyage this past Saturday.  I must say, I felt rather proud wearing an official Market Bag.  Especially when a lady in a crocheted products booth was eyeing it carefully.  I could see her trying to figure out the pattern from where she sat.  This little sweetie is embarrassingly easy and you can bet that there will be more to come.  Eldest/Admin wanted it terribly, but she saw that the practicality for her, armed with baby paraphernalia, would probably not be doable.  She did, however, order one with longer handles for her Mama Multihanded Needs.  Could I alter the pattern?  With sisal twine invested, you can't really waste for the effort!  I shall attempt this challenge!

So my Little Market Bag shall accompany me every Saturday.  I shall trade my blackberries, corn, tomatoes and wee little Amish pies soon for squash and more autumnal veggies.
But probably not the books.  As you can see, Youngest Son, scored quite a pile again this week.  He's on his own carrying his Book Obsession. 
Or maybe.  Maybe he needs a Mega Mama Made Market Bag for his book purchases.....!!

Hmmmmmmm..........

Buck a Book; Book a Book....

Nothing gets Youngest Son 'Up an at 'em' on a Saturday morning faster than the Farmer's Market in Orange County, Indiana http://orangecountyhomegrown.org/markets.html.  This grand Farmer's Market is in the top ten in the nation, thanks to all it's fans that wrote in singing it's praises. The Orange County Farmer's Market encourages the buying of fresh local food, and trading with our native artisans.  It is a delightful way to spend Saturday morning and more than one member of my family enjoys it.

Youngest Son is known for making incredible scores at his favorite, Buck a Book; Book a Book stand.  YS, degreed in English, has already accrued quite a library in his small cottage.  All the books that didn't make his particular cut, ended up traded at the BAB/BAB's tidy little self contained traveling library, for tomes more suited to his elite literate tastes.  For the record, he did once try to steal my Shakespeare Volumes gifted to me by Kindred Spirit Friend, but I put my Book Selfish Foot down and demanded their return.  YS has to just wait till I'm dead to get those on his shelves.  He could actually be late for my funeral, now that I think about it, going through my titles before the auctioneers show up.

We usually have to part the ways once we get to the BAB/BAB trailer.  We congregate in the same section and he knows what to look for and I just point out others so we can get in each other's way.  I go off to grab the fresh produce and yummy Amish baked goods while he fills his minimum weekly requirement of literacy.  This past Saturday, I had to laugh when I saw him walking toward me with a Coca Cola crate FULL of books!  The look on his face is one I had seen in my own mirror; the one where I am half giddy/half high from the wonder of the score.  I could see him proudly bearing his heavy load on his shoulders in the beastly heat, carrying in his other hand, the victory drink of Market Lemonade, a particular refreshing beverage.  YS is further enamored with the fact that the proceeds of the BAB/BAB project, benefits the children's library in Orleans and we overheard the 'proprietor' of the project saying that over 600 books were given away to children the past year at their stand.  Love it.

It is a joy for me to share the love of books with Youngest Son.  I love it when we recommend to each other a favorite.  I love it when we can discuss what we gleaned from a certain chapter. The world of books broadens your horizons, stimulates your creative flow and introduces you to the magic of words.

Read to your children. An investment of time never regretted....