We had a previously planned dinner engagement this past Saturday with friends in Briarcliff Manor, and decided to seize the moment – and the beautiful day – and tack on a little jaunt.
Almost 11 hours later we were back at home, well-satiated with the things that help to make it such a good life – wonderful food (a stop along Arthur Avenue in the Bronx to shop and have lunch), a delightful and inspiring excursion (to the Bronx Botanical Garden), and wine and a lovely meal with friends. Does it get any better?????
Exhausted but exhilarated, it was home to rest, replete wtih a well-stocked frig and new ideas and motivation for the garden. Perfect!
______________________________________________________________
A little sideline on the Botanical Garden-
This was a structure in the “The Edible Garden” at the Botanical Garden, a multi-faceted exhibition that focused on staying local – growing and eating great food locally grown and harvested. Even though I frequent our local farmers markets and farm stands, I get even more satisfaction from picking veggies, herbs and flowers from our own little backyard garden. In that vein…..
This morning, before coming to work, I picked a basketful of tomatoes and some sprigs of Italian parsley. I washed and cut the tomatoes, marinated them with the chopped parsley in olive oil and a little balsamic vinegar for about an hour, seasoned them with sea salt and freshly ground pepper, and put them in a 200 degree oven on Silpat lined cookie sheets. As I write, those freshly harvested tomatoes are slow roasting in my oven and I am already anticipating their delectable aroma when I open the front door upon my return home. That’s about as “local” and fresh as it gets.
Here’s one other structure I thought might find its way into the garden next year in some form. I’m a sponge for new ideas – love the inspiration stirring my creative juices. I sure could have used this idea for my Diva and picking cukes this summer….
More on our garden in future posts – as I bet you are, I’m already thinking of next year’s undertaking!
