Sautéed Dates with Olive Oil & Sea Salt

 

When I grow up I want to write just like Molly Wizenberg.  I'm sure you know her blog Orangette.  And if you don't, please do yourself the biggest favour ever and head over there.  Now.  Her writing is honest, funny, so true to life and so goddamn good.  I was fortunate to have received a preview copy of her latest book Delancey way back before Christmas.  I saved it to savour for the flight to Phoenix.  I'm not good on planes.  I fidget and squirm, breathe deeply when there's turbulence, and grip on to the seat ahead of me when things get really dicey.  Seriously.  If you ever have the misfortune of sitting next to me, ask to move.  But with Delancey in my hands, I didn't even notice I was in a metal contraption millions of miles above the ground.  I was into it.  Molly's honest account of opening a pizza restaurant with her husband Brandon in Seattle is both charming and poignant. It's about finding your way as a couple and building the life you want to have together.  I think what I like best about the book is the vulnerability.  She doesn't gloss over the mucky bits, she lays them out flat for all to see.  It's a book about faith and love, perseverance and imperfection.  Oh, and food, too.  Each chapter concludes with a recipe; simple and straightforward.  What you would eat if you were building a restaurant and a life together simultaneously.  

Where I've Been...

 

"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.' ~ John Muir

Hello.  My name is Renee.  Maybe you remember me?  I write a food blog called Sweetsugarbean.  I know, I know.  I can be a cheeky wench.  But seriously.  Where have I been lately?  This space has been so quiet.  But life surely hasn't.  Let me tell you that.  You know when you least expect it, shit just happens.  In this case it's been all good.  So good.  I adopted another kitten.  Yes, for real.  She lived under my bed for two weeks.  Long story; all of it coming soon.  Also, I met a boy.  Who turned out to be my boyfriend.  Long story; all of it coming soon.  Maybe now the blog silence is beginning to make sense?  Ren's been busy!  Plus it's planting time and I've been busy digging in dirt rather than in computerland.  If you want to get in touch, I won't be on Twitter of Facebook very much, but in my garden and with my friends.  You know.  Interacting with real life.  Speaking of real life, at the beginning of May I made another visit to the yurt.  Maybe you'll remember when I took a little retreat there in the fall?  Well, as a birthday present to myself I went back for a couple of sweet days, just to unwind and regroup from the general unpleasantness of winter.  It was a long one here, and as you'll see from the following photos, winter was still clinging on a bit up in Northern Sask, but I didn't mind.  It was just as spectacular as the first time I went - a tonic for this soul, if there ever was one.  Flora Bora is definitely one of my favourite places on the planet, and since my stay there life has been so good.  Knock wood, touch wood, whatever you call it.  Good feeling, stay with me just a little longer.

Petite Retreat: Buckwheat Porridge & Caramelized Apples

We need the tonic of wildness...We can never have enough of nature. ~ Henry David Thoreau

 

I needed it badly.  A getaway from the city; from my busy life.  It seems like ever since June hit I was running full steam ahead, with the new job and side projects and writing and well, life.  Taking a break from this space helped, but not quite enough.  I needed to remove myself from the everyday life and just retreat.  Luckily I knew of just the place to disappear to.  A while back a friend mentioned that she visited a beautiful forest lodge, called Flora Bora, that rented out yurts.  What is a yurt, you ask?  Read all about them here, for a far better explanation than I could ever give.  This place was to be my tonic.