All those fingers crossed worked - it was a beautiful sunny and cloudless sky for the market yesterday. This was my first outdoor market in a long long while and though my expectations were much lower than usual i was pleasantly surprised.

it was a good day in so many ways, mostly it was the people who made it.  Cheers B.

Behind the scenes - always a gathering of regular market going friends.

some of the goods;

i returned home to brunch in the afternoon. Gotta love that!

and this;

Next market date is Sunday July 12. In the meantime i will be posting items in the shop as they are photographed.

Locals come and find Little Red Caboose at the Kitsilano Farmer’s Market on Sundays June 28, July 12, August 9th and September 13th.

the neutral shades of this post reflect the natural quality of fabrics and fillings but the set up will be more like a rainbow explosion. you won’t miss us.

After much humming and hawing about what to do i finally followed through with the day’s original plan to return to the island for more delicious berries. Is Summer passing all too quickly for you?  I can hardly believe there’s just 1 week left of picking these delectable fruits. I better call grandma for some recipes  or another jamless year will pass me by. Oh she’s more than generous with her bounty but it’s one of those things i’ve always wanted to learn and do all on my own. I’m sure it’s not difficult and i know i’ll have to suck it up and put sugar in (i am notorious for skimping on sugar when i bake and then wishing later for something sweeter) but i best get on it….raspberries are next in season and that is my most favorite jam of all time.

“Follow me” he says. “I know a short cut.” For weeks i’ve rather followed than carried. His walk is gimped but he’s walk hopping and last night he put on a “walk dance” show. Woowee (or yeehaw as he says wearing this hat) he’s on the mend.

and fell in love with piglet.

oh this was a challenging letting go experience for me to just stand back and let my little one be.  i much preferred his original idea of saving up for a swimming pool but after realizing that he could buy (almost) anything he wanted with his lemonade stand money he rather quickly decided on a new friend, one of his “favorite authors” as he calls them - i think he means characters. i wonder if his love for pooh and piglet and curious george… is true love or in spite of my dislike of them. i try not to make a big deal about my own preference for natural non disney toys but he picks up on it i’m sure. any which way, this was definitely one of those times to just say yes. these 2 have been playing and chatting away together all afternoon. it’s been absolutely adorable and 100% worth it. everything in moderation right? he may be in love with a mass marketed disney character but he can still entertain himself with a simple paper bag for hours.

over the bridge, on to the highway, through the tunnel, over another smaller bridge, on to the island… looking for berries! berries for jam (and smoothies and crumble, straight up and with cream).

Same island, different farm. The rows were more spaced and the plants less tall but the berries were sweet and delicious and the picking was good. ;

so good.

i’m sure this is only the start of the strawberry posts. Next time we’re bringing friends along. i love the conversation between rows…oh especially when picking raspberries…i should take my note book to copy down all the secret recipes i hear. i love u-picks.

and just in case some of you haven’t read this though i’m certain most of you have;

i still love his original idea but we did it up right with lemons (and limes) this weekend. Friends and neighbors were delightfully supportive in more ways than donation.We had our own little front yard circus and games. good times. ($13.70 he’s going to buy himself a swimming pool);

secret ingredient;

On another note…why is it when little ones stay up later they wake up earlier? We had a much later than usual evening at Auntie &Uncle James studio party - it was such a great evening with good peeps, delicious snacks and wine (and candles which are apparently sooooo exciting) that none of us wanted to come home. Little A took the best shot of the evening;

makes me laugh to see the new moo cards altogether;

pink owls, bunnies, ladybugs, toadstools, flowers and polka dots;

vintage lilac and blues;

freshcut pink peony;

orange matryoshka owls and toadstools;

blue yellow and brown;

Quite early in the morning little A decided that he wanted to set up a lemonade stand in the front yard. i wasn’t in the mood and we didn’t have any lemons anyhow so i distracted rather than encouraged his plan. After many other projects and outings he still came around to his original plan and this time he said, “you can sew or stuff something. i just want you to help me carry things and sit outside with me”. Melt.  I felt so guiltily non-supportive of his creative inclinations and so yes this time, finally,  i listened, admired his determination and followed his lead despite not having any lemons. I sat next to him as he sat waiting for passersby on foot, on bikes or in cars…”why isn’t anyone buying any?” He decided to make his sign brighter so the neighbors across the street could see  and also to emphasize the fact that it  really is lemonade and not colored foam blocks. He also called out to those who didn’t “see” his set up, “lemonade for sale”.  He was adamant. Baffled that no one wanted a drink but not discouraged. Aww my sweet bean. Guess what we’re making for real, really soon?

here we go again;

“wait for me papa” his foot is getting better but he has yet to bear full weight on it for more than 1 step. he prefers to crawl. the knees on many of his pants are either gone or grass stained. “i don’t mind” he says.

it’s good to have papa home again. these may look endearing but there was a whole lot of monkeying going on that is bordering annoying. apparently no means yes. we’re at that stage of acting out the opposite. if i can always remember to say the opposite of what i mean then it’s all good. sweet shots despite what’s really going on;

buttercup chains? not so easy;

“whatever you do don’t look at the camera” gets a perfect smile from the little one;

his not so flattering angle of us but i like it because we have so few photos of us together;

it was golden. i just can’t resist this field. i kept the little one up late so we could catch a bit of sunset on grandma P’s last evening.  We found salmon berries, still a bit bitter and tart but exciting none the less. We watched a dog hunt some rabbits and despite his poised and careful approach, he lost to the clever, long eared bunnies. Whew. The little one gathered more buttercups, rolled in lupines, rolled up and down hills (rolling and somersaulting because he’s still not walking)…so happy to be out and not in bed at a reasonable hour for a school night. His clock is tuned to the seasons and he is naturally staying up later (sleeping in late too - the days are sloooow to start).

This is another gorgeous morning. Enjoy.