Flashback Friday ~Farmers Market Season in Review

This week's flashback is a look back at this season's Broadway Farmers Market in Tacoma. This was my last week to be able to visit it since I'll be gone next Thursday on the finale. Here's what it looked like in the Spring! Just look at those fresh green leaves :-)



Rhubarb, onions and greens were mostly all that was available veggie wise.


My favorite Crepe stand, Paprika was back! Love the crepes and the lady that runs it is so friendly and cheeful. She does catering too!


Dr. Terry was there with his pies


This may have been the day I brought Randy a piece of rhubarb


And the flowers...well they were very springy too!


As spring moved into summer I discovered the Bacon Forever booth with all of their goodies


Starring none other than...BACON! My favorite was this. Do not turn your nose up at this ladies and gentlemen. This is a seriously good apple pie...


Leaves were definitely in full summer swing


It was a busy summer so I apparently didn't have time to take many at the market! But I made a point of taking a few at yesterdays market to round out the season.


The bouquets had definitely taken on a fall flavor


How cute are these pumpkin arrangements. All you Martha Stewarts out there get hoppin' and make one of these.


Still tons of gorgeous dahlias


Veggie stands were decked on in fall gear - also known as dried corn stalks.


Sweet potatoes, concord grapes and fresh apples....mmmmm


I love to see all of the furry friends that come to the market each week.


I enjoyed my lunch (Indian shishkabobs) in this little park. I love the trompe l'oeil at the far end.


I'll miss the market in the winter months but it does give me something to look forward to! I'm so lucky to have this market just a long block from my office.

If anyone has a flashback they'd like to share please add it here.

Flashback Friday! I'm baaaack

I took a little extended blogging break, but I'm back and wanted to quickly flashback over the past couple of months to get you back up to speed! There may be more to come, but this is the (blog) readers digest version :-)

I spent some quality time with my best childhood and lifelong bud Allison!


We took a tour on a duck with Captain Tenille (I kid you not)


Saw the market at night


Took at steam engine ride on the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad


Saw a beautiful reflection


Felt the love at the Hoh Rainforest in the Olympic National Park


Braved the rain at Forks


To hang out with some vampires and giant wolves


Spent the night at a brothel - the Miss Kitty room at The Palace hotel was verrry nice


Took a boat ride to the San Juan islands


To eat some fish tacos


And see some whale tails!



Saw the Seattle skyline from a different perspective


We finished our week watching the lady elk show off for their man at Northwest Trek


Then my sister came to visit and we at some cheesey ice cream at a Taste of Port Orchard


Found some spawning salmon


Took in some mountain flowers at Tipsoo Lake

Went on the Savor of Seattle gourmet tour - yummmmy



Then I headed to Kansas City for work for a week and met up with one of my internet buddies, Cynthia (and her hubby John). Here she is eating up a big ole plate of gizzards at a neat place called Strouds.


Headed back home just in time to catch the end of the Western Washington state fair in Puyallup


More recently I was able to spend some quality time with my parents. Here is my Mom checking out the test dahlias at the Point Defiance Dahlia Trial Garden. Isn't she cute sporting her post cataract surgery glasses?? Love you Momma!


And finally we sought out an internet legend - have any of you seen a photo of this house in your email? I've gotten it a few times. Its really a piece of work! So many plants to water :-) It's right here in Tacoma!


Well maybe you can see why I had to take a little break! Its been a whirlwind around here, but I enjoyed every minute of it.

If you have a flashback to share please add your link here!

Flashback Friday ~Late Summer

Summer is fluttering away


The daylilies are nearly finished


And the raspberries are nearing their end


I did really enjoy them this year though. I had an abundance so of course I was looking for recipes. I came across this one for Raspberry Bread Pudding that is to die for. I think Kneaders is a restaurant. If I made it again I would skip the cream sauce although it was really good. I think the pudding was awesome on its own.

Kneaders Raspberry Bread Pudding

Cream Mix

1 1/2 loaves aged, white bread

1 quart heavy cream

3 cups sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

In large bowl combine cream, sugar, egg and vanilla. Cut bread into 1 1/2″ cubes and add to cream mixture, coating bread well. Let stand 30 minutes stirring every 5 minutes to allow cream to absorb completely.

Fruit Filling
5 cups frozen or fresh raspberries

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup apple juice

Combine raspberries, sugar and apple juice, stirring until sugar is dissolved.
Layer a 9×13 dark baking dish 3/4 full with bread mixture, pour fruit filling over bread mixture, spreading evenly, top with remaining bread. Bake 40 minutes at 375 degrees. Serve warm. Top with vanilla sauce.

Vanilla Sauce (Totally optional - it was almost overkill)
1 1/3 cup butter

5 tablespoons flour

3 cups heavy cream

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/3 cup sugar

Over medium heat melt butter, and add flour stir 10 minutes until it has a nutty aroma, do not brown. Add cream and sugar and boil till mixture is thick, remove from heat adding vanilla. Serve this wonderful sauce cold.

My flashback today is a pic of my friend Allison and me being silly at the beach in Biloxi circa 1980 right before we started junior high. It's not the best picture and you can't really make out our faces but it makes me smile!


We met when we were both in 4th grade and have been close ever since. She is coming to visit me tomorrow for a week and I'm so excited. Kitchen Bouquet will be on vacation as well from now until after Labor Day. I may send some postcards in the interim, but will definitely have some fun things to share when Kitchen Bouquet is back in business.

If you have a Flashback you'd like to share add your link below.



Joining in for Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum and
Flaunt your Flowers at Tootsie Time

Flashback Friday ~Happy Birthday to my Sissy

Its my sister Cindy's birthday today! So I'm flashing back to her visit to see me a couple of years ago. She will be coming back in September! Yay!!! Here she is by the Tuttle River on our way up to Mt. St. Helen's


Here we are from the viewing area. That's our "adopted" sister Cathy.


Cindy and Cathy on the Space Needle!


Here she is at beach near Forks.



And with me, my Mom and Cathy on a giant Douglas Fir - the biggest!


And another giant tree! Western Cedar - also the biggest :-)


Coming down the path at Olympic National Forest


Here she is all smiles on our whale watching tour


It was a fun trip and I'd like to do it all over again. Looking forward to the September visit too! Happy Birthday Cindy! Love you! I know you love daisies - here is a neat African Daisy for you :-)



If you have a flashback you'd like to share please add your post below.