Bless Her Heart

Favorite Thing :: Paper Straws

Favorite Thing: Dai Due

We totally crush on the Dai Due food over here.  Maybe you've heard me rave about their pickles and pimento cheese? Or the peach syrup? Funny thing is...they're a butcher shop.  I've been a vegetarian my entire life, and thus far The Girl is choosing the same path.  However, the other half of the family are ominvores. Neither of the guys eat very much meat, but when they do the majority of it comes from the Farmers' Market and more often than not it comes from Dai Due. I value that all of their ingredients are locally sourced, that I know where the meat comes from, and who butchered and prepared it for my family to eat.  As well as bringing items to pick up at the market, they prepare a hot breakfast for those who are early enough to get there before they run out.  Today, I stuck around and took pictures while they prepared BLTs, chorizo and duck egg tacos, french toast and pimento cheese sandwiches.  It's seriously impressive to watch this crew put out their food non-stop while their patrons stand around the edges waiting. Salivating. Although their booth is on the far side of the market, the aroma of the bacon on the griddle is like a calling card that reaches all the way across the park. You can see people head straight there from the parking lot, like cartoon characters following a swirling, wafting aroma that they just can't resist.  

I've been told that you're not supposed to take pictures of people's hands touching food.  That this is unappealing in some way to those of you looking at the picture.  I can't help but feel the opposite.  This is my pimento cheese sandwich that is being prepared here.  I actually love to see the hands of the people preparing my food.  I love the history shown in their hands, whether they be young, learning hands of The Girl (see the banner above) or the experienced, hard-working hands of the folks over at Dai Due. There are also a few more pictures here if you're interested.

Have a little extra time to read?

My Blog Reader is broken down into different categories like: For the Images, For the Love of Crafting, Foodies, For the Music and For the Words.  I've noticed lately that the collection of blogs that I read in the "For the Words" category seem to have one common thread.  I'm drawn to reading about people who actively trying to figure out what this whole thing is about. Not in the super deep, super spiritual kind of way...but in the day to day kind of way.  I love reading the words of people who find themselves split wide open by the challenges that they are presented in their families, or in their lives and the fierce love they meet these challenges with.  In some cases we're not like minded on other issues in our lives, but I'm digging that above all this common love for our children and families overwhelms the feeling of differences and drives home that here we all are, humans on this earth trying to figure it out the best that we can.

Several of these blogs I've been reading for a long time, and encourage you to scroll back if you have a little extra time to acquaint yourselves with the written history of these families in blog form.  The nuggets you will find are worth the time, I think. I'm not going to write any intros, for fear that I wouldn't do them justice, and you wouldn't click through.  Just give try them on for size?

** Do you have words that move you in a similar way?  Or do you read blogs that speak to you?  Please share them in the comments.  I'm always looking for that thread that pulls us all together, you know?  I'd love it if you'd share.  With love and many thanks.

I've listed the blog first and a favorite post from that blog underneath the main link:

Pacing the Panic Room

---- Rings true to me today 

Diary of an Air Force Wife

---- Fills my heart with love today

The Poor Mahormians

---- This might just be what it's all about right here 

 

Favorite Things: Antonelli's Cheese Shop

After the Farmers' Market on Saturday, The Girl, Auntie and I took a trip over to Antonelli's Cheese Shop.  I had a gift card that had been burning a hole in my pocket since Christmas, and we were in need of some treats.  I had heard good things from some of my foodie friends, and I knew the second we walked through the door that we wouldn't be disappointed.  We were greeted with a smile and friendly conversation by the cheese mongers behind the counter.  John, partial owner of Antonelli's and our personal cheese monger for the visit asked the girl about her favorite kinds of cheeses and deftly gave us samples of what he thought she might like.  She was sold...and we purchased cuts of both.  John and the rest of the people behind the counter are knowledgable and obviously love to share all they know about cheese.  They share information without being stuffy or overbearing about it, making their space a comfortable place to linger and shop...even with kids.  We enjoyed perusing all of the locally sourced condiments and treats and added handmade marshmallows by Delysia and grapefruit marmalade by Confituras to our basket.  We had just about finished up when John remarked that his favorite grilled cheese sandwich was of the Mascarpone/Nutella variety. Curious, we added those two necessary ingredients and locally baked ciabatta bread to our basket and high-tailed it out of there before we got ourselves in real trouble.  I am not exaggerating when I say this little sandwich is deadly incredible.  Super simple and very decadent. Check out the recipe below.

By Suggestion...Antonelli's Sweet Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Mascarpone, Nutella and Banana on Grilled Ciabatta Bread

Crave Brothers Mascarpone

Nutella

Banana, sliced thin

Barrie Cullinan Ciabatta Bread

Slice the ciabatta open so that you have two halves.  Spread the mascarpone on one half and Nutella on the other.  Layer the banana slices on top of the Nutella and then put both sides together.  Grill in a panini press or a cast iron skillet for 5-7 minutes or until golden brown and mascarpone is warm and melty.

*30 Days with a Grateful Heart - Day 8

Day 8: The clogs

Don't think less of me, k?  I am truly, deeply grateful for so many wonderful people and experiences in my life...but today it's all about the shoes.  Auntie convinced me to get up early on Black Friday and see if the Dansko clogs she had gotten the previous week were still on sale at the REI downtown.  Money is super tight lately, so I was feeling guilty even going to check.  When we walked in the door, we were surprised by a friendly employee who handed us each a $20 gift card just for being 2 of the first folks through the door. Auntie turned to me and handed me hers...some sister, no?  Long story short, I used our gift cards and walked out of there with these amazing shoes for $23.00.  $23.00!

If you've ever seen my feet in person, you might know I have these weird knobby things on the back of my heels.  I'll spare you the photos of that yuckiness.  This knobby heel condition makes wearing shoes with backs pretty uncomfortable.  That is...until now.  Y'all, these clogs have changed my shoe-wearing experience for life.  I don't want to take them off. Like ever.  Thanks Auntie for making me go get them, and thanks for not being embarrassed when we're out in the same shoes.  

Movie for your Monday: 180 Degrees South

 

We've watched this film *several times over the last month.  It's inspiring and lovely with a stupendous soundtrack. Sometimes I just play the movie off to the side while I'm doing data entry.  It has relaxing narration and a very mellow soundtrack, allowing me to absorb it from the periphery.  If I have one complaint, it's that each time I watch it, I want to whisk up the family and run to Chile.  The good thing is that this movie reminds me that I could.  Why not? 

*If you subscribe to Netflix it's available on demand.

Favorite Things: Do Fun Stuff

Do you have a few of those blogs in your reader that you make sure you check every day?  I have hundreds of blogs in my reader but there are only a few that even if I'm weeks behind on reading, I make sure to check in with. Ryan Marshall owns one of my favorite blogs of all time over at Pacing the Panic Room.  He writes truthful and often times raw entries about fatherhood and he is a madly talented photographer to boot. It's been a joy that he has allowed us to read along as his ambitions manifest into incredible things for him and his family.  If you have the time to go back and pick through his archives I strongly encourage you to.

Ryan's stepson LB has a genetic disorder called Smith Magenis Syndrome (SMS) which I had never heard of until I started reading Pacing the Panic Room way back.  Ryan writes candidly about the wonders and difficulties of raising a child with SMS.

Today is the release of this incredible album that Ryan put together that I want to share with you.  It's called Do Fun Stuff.  I guess you could classify it as a kids' album since it has songs about potties, caterpillars and sleep (my favorite) on it...but really it's just superb music.  Not only is a great collection of music that you can listen to with your kids, but all of the proceeds go to a fund SMS research.  I am astounded and truly inspired that Ryan was able to  this album to fruition.  GIve it a listen, spread the word and most of all, buy the album to support SMS research.

I can't figure out how to embed the gosh-derned widget, but as soon as I do I'll put it on here.  Until then, please follow the link to Do Fun Stuff, you won't regret it.

Squeeeeeeeeeel!

LOOOOOK at what I got for my birthday!!!  I'll have to get the story about how it all came to be, but my Mama gave me this amazing camera strap from my homegirl Kathie over at Ramonsterwear.  How they managed to make it all work without me finding out is a mystery...especially since Kathie was galavanting up and down the west coast for most of the summer, and Mama was occupied with helping babies be born. It's so gorgeous, and of course the workmanship is freakin' top-notch...I just can't stop looking at it. Just. so. dreamy.

Favorite Things: SFC Farmers' Market (Part II) - San Miguel Seafood

Each Saturday as the girl and I make the rounds at the farmers' market, we always stop and take a gander at the San Miguel Seafood booth.  The enthusiasm that these two men bring to their booth is contagious. They will take the time to give each person tips on how to best prepare their freshly caught bounty.  Each week I watch them pull out the whole fish and present them down low where the younger children can get a good look.  These fishmongers smile and laugh and tell stories...they are truly hands on and it's a treat to watch them engage with the public.

Favorite Things: SFC Farmers' Market (Part I)

Yesterday The Girl, Auntie and I spent the better part of the day running around the ATX.  In an attempt to beat the heat, we met up at the SFC Farmers Market downtown (as early as we could muster).  I have really grown to love this market lately.  It feels more and more abundant each time we go, and I find that I really start looking forward to going by Thursday evening.  Yesterday was "Love Your Local Farmer Day", and I really wish that we could have voted for EVERY one of those hardworking, heating-enduring, smiling-through-the-sweat vendors.  Here are some of my favorites from yesterday:

Fragrant bouquets that include flowering lemon basil (yes they are as incredible as you would imagine), cucumbers, onions, and baby zucchini...all from Bar W Ranch in Mullin.

 
  
 
Tree-ripened peaches from Engel Farms in Fredericksburg.  By this morning, The boy had eaten all but one.

 
From Dai Due of Austin: Maybe the best bread & butter pickles I've ever had. Ever. I wasn't able to capture the pimento cheese I bought before we annihilated it as an afternoon snack.  All of their stuff is SO incredibly yummy.  If I were a meat eater, you would have to beat me away from their supper club offerings.  Seriously.

 
We add a cup to our collection from M. Schopper Ceramics whenever we get the chance.  This week we added a bowl!

 
 The Girl picked this amusing T-shirt from Will Heron Designs.  

 
It was a really hard choice...ending in a wee bit of a meltdown...but we'll just ignore that fact, K? 

 

It didn't really have anything to do with t-shirt choices when it came down to it, but isn't that always the case?  As much as we love going to the market, in this heat it's only a matter of time before someone has a meltdown...this time it just happened to be her.  Nothing that brunch at Zocalo and a little A/C couldn't remedy. We all needed a little something special: The Girl and her tacos, me and my coffee, and Auntie and some kind of horchata/agua fresca concoction that she seemed to think was divine...once it stopped curdling.  :) 

Next stop? City Coliseum Garage Sale!