fall lettuce

It seems like it was just yesterday that we turned my daughter's garden bed and got ready for a late summer planting.  The carrots are just popping up now.  She wanted to plant lettuce too, but that turned out to be too much to focus on for one day (the swing beckoned).  So when I saw the beautiful lettuce starts at the farmers' market, I leaped.  In they went to the prepared bed, and the sun and water from the newly fixed irrigation seems to have suited those plants.  Just 2 weeks later, we enjoyed our first fall salad from the garden.  Makes me smile.

I got some great shallots from the market, and that inspired me to make up a jar of my favorite vinaigrette.   Add 1 - 2 Tbs minced shallot to 1/3 cup sherry or white wine vinegar, as well as a tsp. mustard and salt and 2 Tbs maple syrup.  Then pour or whisk in olive oil (about 2/3 to 1 cup).  Simple and wonderful.

a not so lazy day on the river

Ever since our 3 day trip up to the Russian River, on which I fell in love with the river again, I have been dreaming of taking a family kayak trip down the river.  Our good friends have been kayaking various segments of the river, and we managed to find a day to do the Monte Rio to Jenner section together.  It was a beautiful fall day, and it was supposed to get warm, and thus have little wind.  The boys were in their own kayaks, which always makes me smile seeing them paddling themselves down the river.

We were able to paddle in these calm waters for awhile, and drank in the natural beauty around us.  We even saw a bald eagle, and a river otter.  Unfortunately we also ran into a few areas with a strong headwind, and somehow our final destination eluded us.  Jenner was further than we had planned for.  There was a time constraint as well, for we needed to return a few rented kayaks.  Enter a bit of stress, and some frustration (!!!) and guilt (on my part).  At the moment it was difficult, but in hindsight a learning lesson, and with a friendly guy with a truck who helped us move our boats, and then a pint of Negro Modelo and a delicious chile relleno in me, it was in sum a wonderful adventure.