It astounds me that there are now three farmers’ markets  happening on different days in different cities during each week (Palm Springs, Palm Desert, La Quinta). Not only that, but we also now have a storefront Grower’s Market in Palm Desert, with local produce. Add to that a recent initiative by a local grower to increase the number of their own farm stands, and to have traveling farm stands. In our community, a “country club” with about 2,000 homes, Madison Street Produce comes once a week with produce picked on their farm that morning. Great strawberries! And I usually get their broccoli.

This is a town with many retirees, so it’s great to see them getting the opportunity to easily eat fresh and local and frequently organic. At the farmers’ markets, we can also try “off-brand” heirloom varieties of vegetables and fruits; important not only to widen our own appreciation but also to keep these varieties alive and growing.

Here’s our haul:

Golden carrots, two varieties of spring onions, tiny sweet orange tomatoes, golden rasberries, and Black Arkansas apples (they’re not black on the inside, don’t worry). Not pictured: cauliflower.

Meal one Roasted veg (cauliflower, the carrots, butternut squash, and tiny potatoes with sage, basil, and rosemary from Pharmer Phil) with a side of pasta.

Meal two My Asian soup interpretation: Chicken stock, sesame oil, chili oil, soy sauce, coriander, hot pepper flakes (from Pharmer Phil), the spring onions, the leftover carrots and squash, mushrooms, and a bit of local watercress I still had in the fridge. After everything was cooked through I added some angel hair pasta. A good warming dinner after a chilly day. I think perhaps I could have added just a touch of sweetness of some kind, though I’m not sure what–suggestions are welcome!

His anxiety diet now is white meat chicken, which I cook and chop up, and white rice, which I cook. Then all are divided into meal portions, mostly as an act of self defense by us. Nemo gets SO excited at meal time, we try to get it out to him as quickly as possible, for our own sanity.

As you can see, sometimes he misses the odd grain of rice:

“What?” he’s saying. “What are you looking at?”

Here’s a little guy, a baby elephant who’s looking a bit anxious. Not unlike Nemo.

But he has a bit of a secret smile. Maybe he’s just shy.

Meet Phillip, with two els.

He has settled in, with much less anxious squeaking, limited usually to the heater going on (up to no good!) or a few various computer noises. In fact, DARE I SAY IT, he’s getting to be a good companion. He is responding well to attention, regular and more frequent feedings, and he likes his walks.

Enjoying watching TV en famille.

Mr. Pink Mouse. What do you think, are his ears too too much? Does he look a little blobby?

Aloysious “Al” Mouse

Meet Nemo.

Looks like a tough guy, doesn’t he?

Oh, appearances can be so, so deceiving.

Nemo is an anxious, timid, fragile baby dog. He’s really about 13, but acts more like 3. And I mean mentally and physically. He’s pretty large, but built skinny with long white fur to fill out his frame. In good health he would run about 75 pounds, but I think he’s more like about 55 right now.

He’s afraid of many electronic noises. The click of the central air heater turning on. The washer (but not the dryer). The microwave. Slick floors–although he has good solid paws, he makes himself slip on slick floors once he starts freaking out about the possibility of slipping.

While I was away, Miss NightSky took care of Nemo in addition to her Rottweiller, Raven.  And in our current living situation we are restricted to two dogs. So, once Lily left us, it was time for Nemo to come back–especially since Miss NightSky was moving.

And it’s been a bit of a roller-coaster here ever since. He’s had separation anxiety, his normal anxieties, and intestinal issues. Of the liquid variety. We’ve had to hose off his backside and our back patio several times, plus numerous trips outside in the middle of the night.

He’s gradually gotten a little less anxious (but be wary of that heater!), and we’ve taken him for a walk each day.  I think his feeding and digestive problems are our biggest concerns right now. A few years ago he had an emergency stomach surgery because his stomach twisted up and inverted. Now he has to eat lightly or it could happen again. He’s a little too thin right now, but increases in food have led to the previously mentioned intestinal issues. I’m trying to spread it out in small feedings throughout the day, but poor thing, he just seems to be starving. He seems to feel fine (except for you-know-what), though.

There’s not a mean bone in Nemo’s body, and he just wants to love and be loved. And have your sandwich.

The big galoot.

Written by Aimee Bender, it tells the story of 8-year-old Rose Edelstein.  On Rose’s 9th birthday she discovers, while eating her birthday cake, that she can taste the emotions of the chef. In this case, the chef is her mother, and the sensations are not at all pleasant.

We follow Rose, and her somewhat unusual and disfunctional family, through her early 20s and in her search for a way to deal with her mysterious ability.

I loved the idea of her affliction. Not only can she tell how the baker or cook is feeling, but she can also trace back all the ingredients to their sources–and she knows if the cows are depressed, if the factory workers are bitter, and if the ingredients are really organic.

Rose is a great character, one of my favorites. She doesn’t feel sorry for herself, her parents love her, she’s not a misunderstood genius or spoiled brat. And she eventually finds direction and resolution in her life all by herself.

I miss her.

Lily was part Chow, and so very limited in selecting the people in her life. But to us she was very loving, sweet, stalwart, and funny. She had the most intelligent eyes, the most expressive eyebrows, and she was the most gorgeous color of auburn or russet.

I know this is a part of life, the circle of life, but why does it seem so unfair? I’m just glad to have known and loved her.

Goodbye Lily, and sleep peacefully, run after cats and rabbits, and have all the dog biscuits, pork chops, steaks, and McDonald’s french frys you want.

Bear and Bunny Engagement Portrait

Puppy Portrait, First Day of School

Bunny in a Summer Dress

Now, I’ve always been very attached to stuffed animals, as is Miss NightSky. They are friends, and, if it’s not too dorky to say, I kind of think they have little animal souls. They definitely each have a personality.