I heart chocolate stuffed croissants

I had brilliant, brilliant plans this summer/autumn of going to the farmer's market every single Saturday to buy my produce, and perhaps more importantly to buy a flaky, delicious, dark chocolate stuffed fresh croissant for breakfast. But life happened in it's usual bustling way and in all reality I only went a pitiful THREE times, although I still have a few more weeks before it closes for the season. Here are some pictures I snapped from the few times that I did go.

The Mill City farmer's market - my favorite of favorites.

After we shop we like to head to the park on the other side of the Guthrie and release baby girl to run free in the long fields of grass. Except instead of running free she usually chooses to inspect the buckles of her stroller for long periods of time. Because, you know. Buckles. We have much to learn from them.

Pirates, BEES, Art, and an Eclipse.

Back from a great weekend! There was plenty of time to get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather. Friday night the hubs and I went out to eat at The Macaroni Grill because we had a gift card and free dinners are sooo nice. You can draw on the table mats there and hubster made this pirate and kitty themed masterpiece.

We were planning on going to Art-A-Whirl over in Northeast afterwards but I started feeling sick and we made the totally lame decision to go home and just lay there. Well, I just laid there feeling nasty but the hubs was productive and finished putting flooring in our basement.

The next morning I felt slightly better and I headed to the Mill City farmer's market downtown with a couple of friends. I started off with a fresh chocolate croissant.

Can we just pause for a moment to talk about how filled croissants are the best treat ever? I can't decide if I like chocolate or almond filling better. Probably chocolate. No probably almond.

I'll take one of each, please.

I picked up some of these cherry tomatoes. Beautiful AND delicious!

I always like looking at the fancy honeys, although I rarely get any. And there are actual BEES! In that...bee box.

We came across this cute little mobile furniture shop!

Later that day, the hubs and I had just a tiny bit of time after he got off work and before we were headed to my cousin's play for the night. So we caught just a little bit of Art-A-Whirl.

It was HOT, and we were rushed for time. But I'm glad we got to check out at least a few of the local artists.

Here we are: hot, sweaty, and satisfied.

On Sunday after church I headed down to Uptown for brunch at the French Meadow Bakery with a couple of great friends. It was rainy and crowded, but the conversation was great. And to bring the weekend to a close, our small group tried and failed to see the eclipse (or something) that was supposed to be happening. After a bit of time borrowing the neighbor lady's negatives to look through and being attacked by gnats, we decided to go out for pie instead of damaging our eyeballs.

How was your weekend? Hope it was simply grand!

Farmers Market

Hi!


A couple of weeks ago I went to the Farmers Market for the first time. I know I know. Where have I been all my life? Well, better late than never I say and it was fun to have a new experience. 


And also fun to get a ton of fresh produce for only $9.


I of course meant to take pictures at the actual market, but didn't end up getting any until we got back to the house. (Is this my new fate as a blogger? During all activities I have this small voice in the back of my head saying, "You should be taking pictures of this and BLOGGING ABOUT IT!!!")


This is my sister and two cousins. They are helpful.

I got delicious golden wax beans, fresh spinach, a big bushel of basil, a garlic thing with a long stick still attached to it, plump little tomatoes....mmm. The first thing we did when we got back home was make mini pizzas with fresh veggies. Tasty.


But then I realized I had a problem. First of all, I didn't really know how to store all of this fresh produce. Which things need air and which things should be sealed tight? Which should be refrigerated? 


And I also had another problem. As I am not yet a very experienced or frequent cook, I didn't use everything fast enough. I did make a big patch of pesto and steamed a bunch of the beans to eat with a little butter, salt and pepper...


...but then a lot of it went bad.


(shamed face.)


I'm sorry farmers market! I am not worthy of you. Next time I should probably enlist the help of my friend Kris, who with her husband is always making delicious looking concoctions with fresh fruits and veggies. Kris and Wil, I salute you.


Speaking of things I don't know very much about...remember this post? Where I said I loved that the lady who lived here before us planted sunflowers so they come up every year?


Well. The other day my mom informed me that sunflowers are in fact annual plants and do NOT come up every year, and the reason why we have some this summer is because of the bird feeders we have hanging outside of our window. The messy birds throw the seeds all around and thus we have sunflowers.


I feel silly.


But you guys didn't judge me on my lack of plant knowledge, right?


Thanks.