Day 286: Enjoying the Farmers Market, South Park Late Lunch & Shopping on 23rd

Saturday, June 27

The weather was heating up.  I had plans to have a day to myself.  Coming off of twelve days of work with no break, I was needing the relaxation.  I watched some Wimbledon, which I love.  As much as I love hockey players, I think tennis players rate a very close second to athletic hotness.  I just love Roger Smokin’ Hot Federer.  I mean, everyone knows Germans are kinky-freaky-weird, but even with his crooked quirky expressions, he just melts the grass off of the Wimbledon courts.

I headed downtown for the farmer’s market.  I parked, grabbed my cute market bag, and walked down the south park blocks toward the festive market.  As I was nearing, about a block from the market, a young boy had a lemonade stand set up with two nice plastic bins of fresh lemonade with lemon slices and a cooler of ice.  I ordered one cup, he filled it with ice and then dispensed his homemade lemonade.  I asked him how much, and he said it was fifty cents.  I handed him a dollar and told him it was a fifty cent tip.  He was pretty stoked. 

I enjoyed my cool beverage as I wandered happily by vendors selling their beautiful produce.  I bought two heads of lettuce, a cucumber, six tomatoes on the vine, and then I walked around to where artisans were selling their crafts.  I bought a ‘onesie’ for my cousin Kathryn’s new baby girl, Natalie.  It was a 12-18 month cute hand-made design with wild birds and leaves and was made from organic cotton material.  It was a very Oregonian gift, which was my plan.  I also bought a little cap for her to wear now, with a blue and purple flower printed on it.  It was very cute.  I also bought myself one of her cap-sleeved ladies’ t-shirts with a snowy owl – it was really lovely and artsy – not crafty.

After I was finished walking through the market, I headed over to the outside café seating at South Park restaurant.  It was very hot out.  I ordered a small bottle of sparkling water with lime and then a beet salad with greens and an olive oil and pistachio pesto dressing.  It was delicious.

After, I drove up to the northwest and stopped by the New Cascadia Gluten Free Bakery.  I was so excited!  I had been meaning to get here since the bakery had opened.  I bought a baguette, a focaccia, a hot pretzel and a chocolate cupcake.  It all looked amazing!  I nibbled on the yummy hot pretzel, totally satisfied, as I headed back to my car.  It tasted like a real hot pretzel!  I realized my gluten free life might just be getting brighter!  And I wanted to shower owners Chris and Teresa with grateful Euro-kisses on the cheek!!!  They have revolutionized gluten-free baking, as far as I’m concerned!

Since I was by NW 23^rd Street, one of my favorite shopping destinations, I went to a fun boutique called IPNOSI and bought a cute cotton halter top and seashell earrings. Then, I walked over to Compleat Bed & Breakfast, another quaint shop.  They have these amazingly soft bamboo pajamas.  I got a bamboo nightgown on sale and an old fashioned crisp cotton white nightgown, which was beautiful and also on sale.  On my way out, I sampled this incredible coconut and shea butter lotion and rubbed it into my hands, the clean smell of coconut and shea butter working like aromatherapy.  I was soothed, my skin was very soft without oiliness.  I picked up a bottle to purchase.At that point, it was time to go.  I didn’t want the food in my car to go bad, as it was about 100 degrees out.  I drove home and made one last stop at Safeway.  I had a gift card from my mom and picked up some groceries.  I was tired by the time I got home, still, I decided to go to the gym.  I ran for 35 minutes. 

I watched the sunset.  It’s amazing what the heat can do to nightfall sky.  Wild pinks like salmon swimming up the blue waters of the sky, it was a delicate piece of changing beauty.  And as I made a salad with the fare I had picked up at the market, the sky had turned dark.  I sliced up the cucumber and garnished my glass of water.  I was creating a spa experience at home.

 

I used the mico-derm abrasion scrub on my face, lit some candles and relaxed in the coolness of my downstairs living room.  I ate the chocolate cupcake from the gluten free bakery.  It was the perfect finale.