Jennifer Jeffrey, Writer & Editor

Random Photo Friday: Rock the Tractor

After a whole week of not blogging, the least I can do is post a photo for Random Photo Friday.

This is one of my sisters, down on the farm, bringing some style to the tractor.

'Cause that's how we roll 'round these parts. Style, substance, and a handful of dirt tossed on in there for good measure.

And now, on this gorgeous September weekend, I'll leave you with this, one of my favorite passages from poet Mary Oliver:

I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.

- Mary Oliver

Here's to fields, and to strolling, and most of all: to paying attention.

Rock your Friday out.

Random Photo Friday: I'm Afraid Too

I almost skipped Random Photo Friday today, but my sister texted me to ask why I hadn’t posted a photo, so I decided I’d better get with the program.

Remember the Sumi ink drawings I posted a few months ago? This is another of those, and the reason I chose it for today is because I’ve been kind of freaking out over here for the past few weeks. For so many reasons, the presidential election campaign has completely done a number on me. I feel like I’ve been knocked in the teeth with a hockey puck, or run over by a drill rig, or mauled by a pit bull. Or all three.

I know I’m not alone: I’ve spoken to countless friends over the last couple of weeks who are feeling similar things: rage, astonishment, helplessness, foreboding. This is a nod to the sharp knuckles of fear that have come rapping at my door, at 3:00 am or any old time of the day.

But I think I’ve made a bit of progress today in regaining my perspective and yanking my ankles from the quicksand of despair. I’m working on writing out a few thoughts that have helped me to breathe a bit more easily, and I’ll post those in a day or so.

Hang in there, everyone. We're going to make it through this.

Happy Weekend! The sun is edging over the horizon later and later in the mornings, and disappearing  earlier in the evenings. Enjoy this last bit of summer while you can; the first day of Autumn arrives on the 22nd.

XOX

The Art of Slow Food Nation

I realized over the weekend that I don't have a whole lot to say about Slow Food Nation. Despite my best intentions, I ended up attending only one of the many events, which hardly qualifies me to write authoritatively about it.

For that single event at the Taste Pavilion, I had every expectation that there would be long lines for food - and indeed there were - but having expected it, I wasn't frustrated. I simply walked around and took in the venue and the art. I loved the creative use of materials, from gorgeous bottles of olive oil to glass mason jars to paper umbrellas. It was inventively and beautifully staged, and therefore a treat for someone who loves eye candy as much as I do. I soldiered through the crowds for a few bites of cheese - I do have my priorities, after all - but didn't have the patience for most of the lines.

Did Slow Food Nation live up to its mission? I'll leave that for you to decide. I've assembled a list of links at the end of this post where you can read the thoughts + opinions of people I respect who have considered the issue far more carefully than I have.

It turned out that what I wanted most on the last official weekend of summer was not to run from one gathering to the next, but rather to rest and relax, spend time with friends and enjoy good food + quality conversation. And that is exactly what I did.

I do have some photos for you - I promised you those, and here they are. As you'll see, I've focused on the artful design of the venue. Enjoy.

 

Assorted pickles. Pretty.

Lamp made from a mason jar. I thought this was a fabulous idea - can't you just see these scattered around a porch to light late summer evenings?

A "ceiling" created by jar lids suspended from fishing wire.  This was one of my favorite "installations."