Kinfolk Dinner at Terrain

It’s really exciting when you come across something you really love when it’s unexpected.  To just stumble upon a website, not knowing, it is about to change you for the better.  I found Nest that way, and it has bloomed into 5 years of very rewarding volunteering and a fantastic friendship with Nest’s founder.  And I also found another love that way, Kinfolk Magazine.

The first time I saw Kinfolk online, the magazine was just getting started (Volume 3 is out now), and I instantly fell in love with it’s purpose…. how it takes a meal and simplifies it, but relishes the art of the eating and gathering.  I read the first issue a few times online, just soaking in all its goodness.  I anxiously awaited to get one in print, in my hands, to hold and love more.  And then came the day when I was at work at Williams Sonoma, doing my weekly peruse of the cookbooks (yes, we know I’m a bit obsessed), and there it was in real life right in front of me.  Williams Sonoma was selling Kinfolk! (and still is!)  I squealed when I saw it there and had to share my love with my co-workers…. letting them know they should love it too.  :)  I just love everything about it.  And it’s not a magazine to flip through and just look at the pictures…. you have to take special time for yourself to read it, savor it, be inspired by it.

gorgeous flowers by Sullivan Owen

So, imagine the heel kicks I did when I saw Kinfolk was hosting dinners in cities across the nation and soon they would be on the East Coast!  I signed up for the Brooklyn dinner and got picked by lottery, but was bummed I couldn’t just jet off to Brooklyn that particular night.  THEN, they were coming to Philly and hosting the dinner at Terrain, which we know I love too, and I had an idea pop into my head…. could I somehow get Nest involved with Kinfolk?!?  And I did!  (heel kicks!)

The Kinfolk dinner was Saturday night hosted at Terrain.  50 guests consisting of Kinfolk sponsors and guests picked by lottery.  I was so thrilled to be included as it was truly a magical evening.  Nest so generously donated favors for the eve, in addition to other fine sponsors like Happy Cat Farm (love my tomato seedling), Brown Betty (tasty cupcakes), and Sullivan Owen (who made the most amazing flower arrangements).  It was so lovely meeting Nathan Williams, who started the magazine, as well as many other Kinfolk-ers.

It is a beautiful thing in life when you get to meet inspiring people, so thank you, Kinfolk, for giving me beautiful pictures, beautiful pages to read, and a beautiful evening to be remembered.

favors from Nest and Happy Cat Farm

happy swag from the night

Friday’s Feature

Today’s song is for the loveliest of lovelies, the birthday girl, my sister dearest, Kerri.  Wishing you the happiest of birthdays tomorrow!  I’m daydreaming about celebrating with you in New Orleans!  Cheers, deary!  Uber love for you!!  :)

And here is one of her favorite singers from Middle Brother (or Deer Tick or Diamond Rugs), John McCauley, and a fantastic song - “Daydreaming“.

Enjoy!  Happy Friday!  And Happy Birthday, Kerri!!!

Listen here.

Wilderness Wednesday (on a Thursday)

Yes, I realize it’s Thursday.  I’ve been a day behind all week…. and it’s Friday tomorrow already!  Maybe I’ll catch up to myself by June!  :)  I was just going to skip Wilderness Wednesday this week, because life has been hectic, but today my husband was out doing charity work with his company at a farm and sent me a flower.  The picture below is the one he sent… no filter, no edit.  It brightened my day and I hope it brightens yours too.  Happy day!  (And thanks, Steve!  :) )

“Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers today;

And give us not to think so far away

As the uncertain harvest;  keep us here

All simply in the springing of the year.”

_  Robert Frost

Playing Catch Up…

I have missed you, Turquoise Autumn.  Last week was indeed a busy week.  Busy but fun, and I feel like I am catching up after a vacation when I wasn’t really on vacation.  Until I get myself organized this week (yes, I realize it is Wednesday already), I thought I would share some Instagram’s from all the festivities last week.  Here’s a quick list of some of the fun:  Phillies game, Village Whiskey, Philly airport to pick up family in town, The Highline in NYC, ABC Kitchen (got to meet Dan Kluger!), Eataly, Radnor Hunt Races, a baby celebration in Newtown, a family celebration at home…. it was quite the whirlwind of funness!  Happy Wednesday!  I’ll be back again soon!

Wilderness Wednesday

“The light which puts out our eyes is darkness to us.  Only that day dawns to which we are awake.  There is more day to dawn.  The sun is but a morning star.”  _  Henry David Thoreau

Friday’s Feature

I recently purchased Jack White‘s new (solo) album, Blunderbuss, so I have been a bit on a Jack White kick.  Today I thought I would share a great version of a Hank Williams‘s song that Jack does on the album, The Lost Notebooks of Hank Williams.  This whole album is great, but this song is one of my favorites!  Enjoy!

Jack White, “You Know that I Know“

Listen here.

Click on images for credits.

Wilderness Wednesday

“Let the rain kiss you.  Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops.  Let the rain sing you a lullaby.”  _Langston Hughes

Friday’s Feature

Here’s a song to bring some sunshine to your Friday!  A little Western swing from the 1930′s, talking of berries, fruit, and the love of eating!  ”No matter what it is, I like to eat.”  Yep, my feelings exactly, Sweet Violet Boys.  :)  Enjoy!

Sweet Violet Boys, “I Love My Fruit“

(There’s not much info out there about the Sweet Violet Boys.  They were also known as the Prairie Ramblers who backed up Gene Autry in the early ’30′s, but recorded this song under the name Sweet Violet Boys.)

Listen here.

Heel kicks for Friday!!!

In the Kitchen with Kerri: Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo Sip ‘n Snack

Just in time for Cinco de Mayo festivities this weekend, Kerri and I had a hankering for sangrita.  What is sangrita, you ask?!?  Well, it is a tasty little number, one that you definitely want to try.  It is a traditional Mexican non-alcoholic aperitif, a combination of  juices and spices, and used alternately to sip in conjunction with high-end tequila.  Now I am a tequila lover and believe me when I say, it makes the Patron taste even tastier!  It is the perfect partner to tequila, cleansing and brightening, as you sip along.  The origin of sangrita is often debated, but Kerri and I are glad we tasted the goodness on our lips one festive night in NYC.  So here is our version we concocted to our liking and to be perfectly married to our Patron this weekend.  Salud!

Sangrita

1 cup organic strained tomatoes (We used Bionaturae)

1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice

3 tablespoons spicy pickle juice (We used the juice from McClure’s spicy spears)

1/2 cup finely chopped yellow onion

1/2 cup finely chopped celery

3 pinches of chili salt, plus extra for garnish  (We used the chili margarita salt from Williams Sonoma)

pinch of freshly ground black pepper

1/8 cup water

Throw all ingredients in your Vitamix and blend away.  Makes 2 cups.  Serve the sangrita chilled (but the tequila should always be room temperature!)

And for our little sangrita fiesta, we of course had to have something to nibble!  We whipped up some guacamole as well.

Guacamole

2 avocados

1/4 cup finely chopped red bell pepper

1/4 cup finely chopped red onion

2 tablespoons finely chopped jalapeno

1 clove of garlic, minced

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice

1 tablespoon tequila (yep, that’s right, tequila)

1/2 teaspoon sea salt, more to taste

dashes of hot sauce, optional (We dashed in smoked chipotle hot sauce, yum!)

Place all ingredients in a bowl or molcajete and mix together.  (Neither Kerri nor I had a molcajete, so a good tip for mixing the guac all together is a pastry blender… works fabulously!)

Serve the guacamole with tortilla chips, tequila shots, and sangrita.  Oh. my. goodness.  The festive tastiness that you are about to partake in!  :)  Again, salud!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!  Salud!  Patadas de talon (heel kicks!)  :)

Wilderness Wednesday

“This is a delicious evening, when the whole body is one sense, and imbibes delight through every pore…

…I go and come with a strange liberty in Nature, a part of herself.”

_ from Walden or, Life in the Woods by Henry David Thoreau

Happy May!  Happy Wednesday!

I snapped these pictures late yesterday afternoon in my sister’s yard when the rain had gone, the sun was warming us with its shine, and the flowers were happy.  The month May brings us the Flower Moon, which gives beautiful flowers in abundance.  Let’s take the time to stop, smell, and enjoy them!