Saturday, September 13, 2008

Jonesing for Produce

For the past sevenish years I have been a frequenter of The Milkpail market in Mountain View. The Milkpail is a haven of all things produce as well as the home of the world's largest variety of imported cheese (no kidding). It is an open air market resplendent in all of the freshest things that I love to cook with. It comes pretty close to being my Mecca!
Since moving to San Jose my life has been desperately short on produce. I have been forced into buying Safeway lettuce and trying to imagine that it is actually tasty. It was at the point where I didn't even want to go to the store because I knew I would be sad because the vegetables were so disappointing. Today I mustered the strength to drive myself over to Trader Joe's in the hopes of securing at least a few edible vegetables. As I drove up I saw the most beautiful thing! Next door to my neighborhood TJ's is a new store called "Real Produce" and it is lovely! It is a nod in the direction of the Milkpail, including a small cheese refrigerator and it brought hope and produce back into my life!
My refrigerator is now bursting with crisp broccoli rabe and juicy deep red tomatoes. I also secured a butternut squash for soup making purposes and dream of the delicious sauce I am going to make with the shallots I bought. Ah...no more night sweats and shakes from lack of produce! YEAH!

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Growing Pains

This past fall I started my own knitting business. It has been an interesting road to travel on. I have nary a clue about the business of business and I've fallen on my face more than once. I love the thrill of designing and making a new hat and watching as people oh and aw over it! The whole creative process rocks my world!
I am currently faced with the issue of marketing my products so that I can make some kind of profit from them. My friends and family all look at them and tell me how beautiful they are but rarely do they ever purchase something. I am now in a quandary. How in the heck can I get people to buy my stuff? Anyone have any ideas?
Check out the pics that I have so far at http://www.chickenandcookies.etsy.com There will be more up after September 20th when I have another photo shoot with some of my new fabulous designs.

Seriously people...BUY HATS!!! It's getting cold outside for the love!

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Civic Duties

This week I was called to jury duty. I don't know how many of you have actually made it into the courtroom and up to the jurors box but let me tell you it was interesting! Today I reported to the Hall of Justice in downtown San Jose. Panel 8 was called and we filed into the courtroom of Judge Brown. The place was packed! The entire process of establishing a panel of 12 impartial potential jurors took us about 2 hours with excuses galore and some seriously intriguing stories from people about crimes that had happened to them or were perpetrated by them. I learned things about strangers that would curl your hair (mine is a bit more fro style as I write this!) One man was held at gunpoint in his own home by a burglar that, after holstering his gun, shot himself in the leg and then died in the man's living room. Another woman's husband was wrongfully arrested on charges of murder but was later identified as NOT the perpetrator by a witness. And this was just the icing on the cake of crimes served up this morning.
Yes, my turn in the box came and my story was much more boring than any of the thrilling tales listed above. I simply will be in a state of financial hardship if I am out of work for 5-7 days. I was gently excused by our friendly and hilarious judge but I kind of wished I could have stayed. I really wanted to see justice through and to have the full experience of being in the midst of a criminal trial. I guess I'll have to wait another year before I can enjoy my civic duties to their fullest. Ah well...