“To me, photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place . . . I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.”
~ Elliott Erwitt


Ahhh, my precious Saturday morning Market.

We’ve been doing a bit of traveling lately, and I’ve missed a few weeks of this beloved ritual. It’s amazing how much I miss it! I can’t quite describe why I feel so fueled by my weekly visit . . . something about the connectedness . . . sensing my place in a bigger picture. Abstract threads of food and community . . . Oh lord, I’m so crunchy!

Anyway, these pictures were taken over a few different trips, from all of July to early August. Enjoy!

Behold the glory of endless greens!

Tomato starts! I couldn’t resist . . .

This was definitely the year I discovered fancy mushrooms. omg LIFE CHANGING

Lots and lots of love from P-town!

“To me, photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place . . . I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.”
~ Elliott Erwitt


This year the Farmer’s Market has easily become the highlight of my week. What a delicious ritual, this. My family, my community, and the freshest, most vibrant, most vitalizing foods in the city. It’s the greatest way to start the weekend. Damian sipping on his black coffee, Waits sucking on his carrier strap, and me: nibbling off of every vendor’s table. Heaven!

This is the first year I’ve eaten so specifically seasonally, and I can sense the impact in my body. I’m eating high-raw, high-organic, and highly local plant foods. And it feels AMAZING! Each week at the market Damian and I choose a special ingredient, something new and unique and at the peak of it’s season. The week we took these pictures, we stumbled upon the glory that is . . . the Fava Bean!

I’d never eaten favas, let alone cooked with them! But I bustled about in the kitchen until I produced an awesome dish – which I’ll be sharing with you all tomorrow!

Long spring = more greens!

Berry season is still in full swing, though by now we’re moving away from strawberries, into blues and raspberries, and heading full force towards delicious blackberries (the scourge and the treasure of the Pacific Northwest!)

We’ve been eating stir-fried snap peas for weeks. Divine!

Lots of Love from the Rebhals!

“To me, photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place . . . I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.”
~ Elliott Erwitt

It’s our family ritual, this Saturday morning farmers market. Damian, Waits and I, the bustle of the bazaar, and all that local Portland produce. We have our weekly favorites (leafy greens, salad veggies), and we always pick up something new and special. The market is so inspiring: the perfect way to start the weekend!

My dears, I want to share these images with you, so that they may inspire you as my market always inspires me. Let me know if you like them – I’d love share them regularly but only if there’s interest.





























all photos by Damian Rebhal

Just a quick reminder my dears, this coming Friday is Bike To Work Day – the third Friday in May. This is, of course, in honor of bike month which spans the entire month of May. And serendipitously, all of this relates to the Monthly Mission this May, to drive less!

Alas, I work from home so I won’t be able to participate directly. *But*, I will be sending Damian off on his bike that day, and I encourage – no, beg! – each of you commuters to do the same. And if you’re interested in other events, you can see what’s going on for the rest of the month in your city, here. I must say – I’m jealous! (I’ll be thrilled when Waits is ready for something like this)

Just a friendly reminder from your favorite eco-cheerleader (that’s me!) Happy pedaling!

The ‘Bed Rest Nest’ was where I spent the vast majority of Winter 2010.

AND HELLO SPRING!!!

This past Saturday, March 20th, was the vernal equinox that marks the first day of spring – and you better believe I was thinking of you guys on that day! I’m still technically on maternity leave, but I wanted to ‘come out of hibernation’, as it were, (how season-appropriate!) to acknowledge the passing of another winter. And to celebrate!

A very happy and very tired new mama, haha.

Here in Portland the first day of spring coincided with the first day of the 2010 Farmer’s Market. There was no way I was going to miss that! So we ventured forth – my husband, my son, my father, and I – for Waits’ very first outing (and first of *many* Farmer’s Markets, I’m sure)

And I know I’ve confessed to being a freaky autumn lover, but I gotta say: there’s nothing quite like a little sunny lovin’ after a long winter. So I’ve put together another love list, of things that make me excited for springtime!

My wee sunbather, the next generation of farm-fresh-food enthusiasts.

Why I <3 Spring

• BEING OUTSIDE! After 10 weeks of bed rest, birth, and then these quiet postpartum days, I’m so looking forward to getting out and being active!
• Walking my sweet boydogs. I’ve so missed my daily neighborhood meandering. Now I’ll be roving with the little one strapped to my chest, and it’ll feel so great to get back into shape!
• Garden Season! Oh, but of course. My plate is pretty full and I’ll have to scale back my ambitions this year, but that won’t stop me from getting my hands as dirty as possible. I’m planning a bigger and better patio herb garden, and I’ll be filling my planter boxes with tomatoes, tomatoes, tomatoes (lordy I’m ready for good tomatoes again!)
• Getting my vitamin D direct from the source.
• Backyard makeovers! While I may not be gardening as much this year, Damian and I have grand plans for a complete landscaping overhaul. It will be Damian’s next big project, and it’s going to be RAD.
• Sweet sexy sundresses. Unpacking my warm weather wardrobe, and hiding away all the coats and scarves. Bare legs and sandals and the delicious smell of sunscreen (which, to my mind, means grand adventures). Wearing light-as-air cotton, and glittery flip-flops, and . . . my son! =)
• Last Thursday, and First Thursday, and all the other magnificent art culture that Portland has to offer. My son and I will be making the rounds, to be sure.
• Foodie season! Oh man, I do love soups and hearty winter fare, but I’m so ready for FRESH veggies, RAW meals, and all the delicious VARIETY that we get this time of year. Asparagus, artichokes, berries (!!!), oh my. Can. Not. Wait.
• Making sun tea! With fresh mint, grown in my own yard.
• Nature. Playing at the river, hiking in the gorge, exploring the arboretum, and more more more!
• Green smoothies for breakfast. Eating really, really healthy.
• And mostly, taking the time to smell those fresh spring blooms, to slow down and really look around, to love on my new family, and to appreciate this incredible life!

‘Papa San’ calms his grandson. That’s my Dad – don’t we look so alike??

I hope that you’re all enjoying these first few kisses of springtime (or autumn’s invigorating chill, for those of you in the southern hemisphere). I’m going to go back into hiding now, and continue to enjoy these precious, once-in-a-lifetime first weeks, with my newborn firstborn.

For those of you interested, I finally finished writing my [incredibly verbose - would you expect anything less? haha] Birth Story, which you can read here.

For the visually-minded, Waits has his very own microblog (maintained by Damian), here, with tons of photos and even a few words.


And finally, some thank you’s are in order.

A huge and heartfelt THANK YOU to Matt J, the L family, and Barbara B, for the generous contributions to my tip jar. You guys help to make all this possible, and I hope you know how much your support means to me.

A special THANK YOU to Katherine D, who sent me a Neti Pot off of my wishlist. I’m so excited to finally have one, and just in time for pollen season too. You rock!!!

And the sincerest of THANK YOUs to Jacquelyn, who sent me and my son a package of beautiful handmade bibs and burp cloths. These are amazing, I’m so impressed with your craft, and so incredibly touched at the sweet gesture. They are treasures, truly.

So thank you again, and thank you to all of you out there. You’re all my inspiration. I hope you’ll bear with me on my hiatus, and I hope to see you still here when I return!


Now, my dears, what are YOU looking forward to in the coming season?