Berry picking

Berries are both colorful and healthful. These blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries at the farmers market look beautiful and taste even better!

"I love berries. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberrites, blackberries, anything with an 'errie' in it!"
~ Jordin Sparks

Yellow vegetables and fruit

Inside the Grocery Outlet store, I spotted these yellow bell peppers.



In the slot next were these yellow squash.

I also found these lemons. Nature uses yellow a lot. It is certainly eye-catching. And healthful according to this article.

"Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie."
~ Jim Davis

Oranges everywhere

It's orange season again! This picture contains three common sights these days: an orange tree covered with ripe oranges, a wood pole supporting a branch that is weighed down by too many ripe oranges, and the tools to pick ripe oranges.

I could say more, but I'll end with this...just substitute "picture" for "character...
"Google is my best friend and my worst enemy. It's fabulous for research, but then it becomes addictive. I'll have a character eating an orange, and next thing I'm Googling types of oranges, I'm visiting chat rooms about oranges, I'm learning the history of the orange."
~ Liane Moriarty

First timers at the farmers market

I know Pam and Joan have shown you the Downey farmers market, but this last Saturday my wife and I went for the first time. On one side of the street were the prepared foods ready for consumption, and on the other were the fresh fruits and vegetables. I loved this display of blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries with the color contrast and textures.

It's all about fresh

One of the things I appreciate about our local Farmer's Market is the variety of items you can get that are fresh. It's fun to wander around and choose something for dinner or for breakfast for the week.

Here are some beautiful brown eggs.

Garden fresh

I love going to the local farmers' market on Downey Avenue. There is an appeal to the experience... that what you are getting is local and fresh, even if you pay more for it.

Today we wandered through the stalls tasting and admiring the beauty of the pure fruits and vegetables. It just makes me want to eat better. And, somehow gives me the sense that I am closer to nature or farm life.

"The smell of manure, of sun on foliage, of evaporating water, rose to my head; two steps farther and I could look down into the vegetable garden enclosed within its tall pale of reeds - rich chocolate earth studded emerald green frothed with the white of cauliflowers, jeweled with the purple globes of eggplant and the scarlet wealth of tomatoes."
~ Doris Lessing

Going bananas

The banana palm, native to southeast Asia, is often used around Downey to give a tropical feeling to the landscaping. From the time the fruit first appears, it takes 3-4 months for the fruit to ripen.

Did you know that bananas are naturally slightly radioactive because of their potassium content?

Man, these look good

I found another Farmer's market here in Downey. It's put on by the students of Cal Poly Pomona University at the Kaiser Permanente Hospital every other Friday from 7 am to 1 pm. The students grow about half of the produce displayed while the other half is from local farmers.

There were some unusual varieties along with the usual and all at good prices.

Do you like to visit these local events for your fresh foods?

Mouth-watering

Mouth-watering: Very appetizing in appearance, aroma, or description: a mouth-watering dessert.

One of the delights of the weekly farmer's market in downtown Downey is the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables. On table after table, there are vast displays of both to appeal to the eyes, and samples to appeal to the taste buds.

Later this week, I'll show you what appealed to my nose.

Farmer's Market on Downey Ave.

Today we got up early to check out the Farmer's Market that is now located on Downey Ave. I like the new spot and the new setup. It is fun to visit the booths and check out the various fruits and vegetables available. The samples are generous and tempting.

This lady was out to share her delicious nectarines with anyone passing by. It was enough to convince us to buy a few.

Midnight snack

I love when strawberries are in season!

Custard? Good. Jam? Good

It was a "Friends" New Years for our group and one of the best parts was the trifle. Seriously, what's not to like? Of course, our trifle did not contain meat!

Happy New Year to all.   

Apples to apples

Christmas is just around the corner. So, once again I ended up at Stonewood, our local mall, with my daughter for a quick errand. As we wandered past shops, I spied this beautiful sight: amazing looking candy apples. Yummy! Although I was drawn to the Chili Apple, the Rocky Road looked delicious too. My daughter's choice was the Snickers-topped apple. While each one had its own appeal, I did manage to resist...this time.

Temptation

I have been working Saturdays so I haven't been to the Farmer's Market in weeks. I come for the organic eggs and fresh veggies and fruits...like these brilliant, yellow melons.



Then, I'm tempted by these dangerously beautiful caramel apples. It just isn't fair!

Sneaky vs. successful

There is a fine line between creative, unabashed photographer and "creeper with a camera." Its hard for me to carry a camera and especially aim one in public with people looking at me as if I'm a tourist that lost her way from Hollywood or Las Vegas. The camera phone has definitely helped me make that step into getting used to casually taking pictures of things inside of stores, like this pile of plums in Ralph's, without looking like I'm taking an art class in school. I haven't perfected it yet or even mastered the focus but I'm getting there. The more comfortable I am with this little guy, the more I can start carrying my real one.

Farmers market morning

It was a beautiful summer morning, a perfect day to hit the farmers market for some fresh fruit and the veggies.

I guess everyone had the same thought because it seemed more crowded than usual.

One of the things I enjoy about the market is that you just can't rush it. I like to take my time and walk around, try the samples, find the best tasting items. And, I usually go through the entire market before I buy anything so I know I'm finding the best items at the best price.

The tomatoes looked amazing, as did the berries. My backpack was full by the time we left.

Strawberry season

Strawberries are in season and they are everywhere. I love strawberries. And, lately, I have been buying both strawberries and blueberries to have for breakfast. But, when I opened the last container I was amazed at the size of one of the strawberries. I couldn't resist taking a picture and giving the ultimate fruit a little plug.

"One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating". ~Luciano Pavarotti and William Wright, Pavarotti, My Own Story

The hope of spring in February

It's been raining back and forth for the past few days. This morning it was clear and, even though it was chilly, the crisp air motivated me to work in the garden. It's been a while since I've spent any time there and it needed attention.

After a while, the sun came out from behind a cloud for a brief moment. I looked up from my task to see my nectarine tree (which I thought for some time I had killed). There were new pink blossoms "lit up" with the light from the sun. It was beautiful.

Yesterday the twig was brown and bare;
To-day the glint of green is there;
Tomorrow will be leaflets spare;
I know no thing so wondrous fair,
No miracle so strangely rare.
I wonder what will next be there!
                                     ~L.H. Bailey

If you're an orange

California is a fine place to live - if you happen to be an orange.
~Fred Allen

I live in a section of Downey referred to as the Orange Estates. You can understand why it's called that when you see the multitude of orange trees heavy with ripe fruit at this time of year.

Historically, Downey was a citrus center. The Sunkist packing plant was located on Firestone Blvd. Most of the Orange Estates area used to be orange orchards. (For some background information, see the Downey Patriot article here.)

Very few people actually collect the oranges to eat. Piles of rotting oranges are very common.

Let them eat cake!

I'm back at Tropicana and I can't decide. The cakes are so amazing... almost too pretty to eat. I curse my New Year resolution to eat healthy. Who can resist these beauties? I think I'm with Marie (Antoinette) on this one. I say we should all eat cake!