Foodies and Gardeners Rejoice!

This weekend brings two super cool events that gladden the heart of any gardening locavore -- the Ballard Urban Picnic (or BURP) and the Seattle Tilth Edible Plant Sale!

I'll talk about the plant sale first, since that's the event I'm more familiar with. I nearly missed it last year because I had the flu, but managed to rally on the last day of the sale and wander amongst the tomatoes. This is where y'all want to go to get your summer plants. All of the starts are organic. There should be a list on the website here : http://seattletilth.org/special_events/copy_of_edibleplantsale2010

If you're growing in containers this year, be sure to pay attention to the plants that are marked as "good for containers." You can grow more than you think. Tomatoes will grow quite well in containers. I tried to grow some zucchini in a container last year, and it died fairly quickly. I'm going to try again in my raised bed. We'll see how well it works.

If you see me near the tomatoes, please steer me towards the basil or the sweet peppers. There are still about 20 healthy tomato starts in my house. I'm allowed to buy one Brandywine tomato, and that's it. No more. I do plan on giving some of my tomato starts away, but as it is, you're not going to be able to see my front porch this summer for all the tomatoes. Seriously, if you spot me anywhere near the tomatoes, yell "Anna Elizabeth -- unhand that tomato!" (I'll probably jump if you use my middle name. Only my mother does that. It's how I knew I was in big trouble as a kid.)

When selecting tomato varieties, look for ones that have Slavic names. Now, I'm not just saying that because I'm a Slav-o-phile -- there's a real reason for it. Go get a globe and look at our latitude. Now look at Russia's latitude. Also look at that of the Czech Republic's. A Slavic-named tomato is going to be more cold tolerant than tomatoes that prefer California's climate. We have a short summer up here. Cold tolerant tomatoes grow well.

OK -- on to BURP! The Ballard Urban Picnic is a new event, sponsored by the Ballard Chamber of Commerce. (http://www.ballardchamber.com/node/1786) There's a lot of information about it on the Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Ballard-Urban-Picnic-BURP/116851734992166?ref=search&sid=10739751.1315775694..1), including some of the food vendors. There will be live music, an outdoor movie (I love outdoor movies!), food trucks, and a beer garden. My brother and I will be going in the afternoon, after I get out of the Mariners game. Come on out, enjoy some local food and local fun, and help me discover new beers to try!

If you need some inspiration on the beer front, here is what I've tried (and liked) in the three weeks I've been a beer drinker. I'm serious about being a beer novice!

Fat Tire
Manny's
Alaskan Summer Ale
Mac & Jacks

So, dear readers, what beer should I try next? I tend to like beers that are amber-colored or lighter. Not a big fan of the darker stuff. And call me a beer snob, but I don't like beers in cans -- the aluminum does something to the taste that I don't like.

The life front seems to have calmed down some, which is great. I turned in my application to UW Seattle's Special Education program, and all I have to do is sit back and wait. I'm not the most patient person on the planet -- which most of you likely know. In my head, I'm like Dorie from Finding Nemo, going "Oh! Oh! Oh! Pick me! Pick me!" I'm a compulsive planner (in this way, I take after my father), and it's really frustrating to not know what I'm going to do next. Uncertainty, while beautiful, is a little bit frightening. I have to remind myself to live in the moment and enjoy every one.

I am the woman who, in Morocco, kept thinking about and writing about my upcoming trip to the Balkans with my family. I had to remind myself "Anna Elizabeth, you're in MOROCCO. In a frickin' village in the High Atlas mountains! Stop thinking ahead and enjoy the moment for cryin' out loud!" Knowing me, there were probably some swear words thrown in here and there, too.

Had a wonderfully random day yesterday. I went to a lecture about earthquake science (and enjoyed a Manny's), and ran into an old friend/co-worker. The two of us, along with a couple of new friends, ended up going out for another beer, and going square dancing at The Tractor. I swung my dance partner around so much I got dizzy! Square dancing was great fun, and I can't wait to go again. I think I need to buy something plaid first. Can you believe I don't own any plaid anymore?

It didn't quite top the Best Day Ever, which was one month ago yesterday and involved both Felix Hernandez and Jay Buhner signing my baseball, a Junior walk-off grand slam, and hitting double bullseye twice in the gay cowboy bar in Phoenix. (Damn, how I wished some of those cowboys were straight!) Oh, and that Best Day Ever happened to coincide with the one-month anniversary of my unexpected singlehood. But you know, it was a pretty damn good day. I think I've finally left all that sadness behind me. I'm going to stop marking time in terms of distance from That Awful Day. Unexpected singlehood isn't always a bad thing. In fact, I'm really enjoying mine.

I can swing my partner round and round, laugh with wild abandon, and dance into the next phase of my life. I definitely need to dance more. I was probably the clumsiest waltzer on the dance floor. But you know, practice makes perfect, and it doesn't matter how clumsy you are as long as everyone's smiling.