Still not reading so I guess I'm going to turn the blog into a weekly check-in for now lol
I cannot believe tomorrow is Halloween! It's my favorite holiday and I got a jump on indoor decorating in September but still haven't done a thing outside yet. I just bought candy this morning. Kevin dragged my skeletons and gravestones out from the basement Sunday, so there's still time, I guess lol
I did buy a few books at my new local indie bookstore, Copper Bell Bookstore and at Powell's in Portland.
I haven't been getting many physical books but I wanted to support them. I got Teach the Torches to Burn by Caleb Roehrig. I've always enjoyed his books and how he writes in several genres (all YA). This is his take on a queer Romeo & Juliet remix.
Solitare by Alice Oseman. I love the Heartstopper graphic novel series and Charlie's sister Tori is a favorite of mine. This is her book - in regular novel form - not a GN.
My Roomate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine has a super fun retro cover (which you can't see here lol) and it's been ages since I've read anything paranormal.
This past weekend we checked out the Portland Farmers Market at PSU. It's one of the oldest and largest in the area and that's where a lot of chefs go to get their produce. I can see why. The sheer variety is off the charts. There had to be at least 50 apple varieties between all the vendors and all grown locally. There were about 20 potato varieties as well.
I picked up some unique grains like this Abenaki Polenta. It's a heritage corn variety with red and yellow corn. I bought wheat berries because I can never seem to find any at stores.
And my new seasonal obsession, squash lol I had no idea there were so many kinds and just picked them up at the grocery store. The two rounder ones are both spaghetti squash, but unique, and the one to the right is sweet potato acorn squash. And a pretty radicchio.
I also got this GOREOUS fresh Peruvian ginger. I've never had fresh ginger. This smells and tastes amazing!!!!
And just because...Ripley - standing next to the weekly famers market pun sign
"What helped the witch win the race? Her vroomstick."
I'll see myself out after that one lol
Happy Halloween!!
P.S. I have a follow up CT scan this week (they saw several nodules on my lungs 6 months ago) so please send good vibes. I'm trying and only half succeeding at not freaking out and wait for actual results.
All those veggies and such look lovely! I would love to have a personal chef cook for me and use fresh food and herbs. *buys lottery ticket* I don't buy many physical books these days because I don't really have any bookshelves. That said, I just splurged for a hard cover set of one of my favorite fantasy series - The Seven Kennings by Kevin Hearne. Maybe it will motivate me to work on the former playroom and get that project done (and bookshelves installed!)
ReplyDeleteI've been buying (vintage) cookbooks a lot but I think I've only bout 4-5 regular reading books this whole year. I use the library or get the ALC copies from libro.fm. mostly.
DeleteRipley is so photogenic and look at that pose! The market looks amazing and what a haul. I hope you read and enjoy all your new books. I thought Vampire was campy and fun.
ReplyDeleteShe always looks so annoyed with me lol
DeleteI love Halloween too and feel like I've missed out on some of the spooky doings this year. Everyone says how October flew and it's so true lol.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a fantastic farmers market. I'm starting to get into squash too.
I've always loved squash and ate delicata, spaghetti, butternut, acorn but I didn't know how many varieties of those there were and then I've tried a few small pumpkin type ones that I stuffed and could eat, skin and all. I bought a kobocha squash but it still needs to ripen more.
DeleteYay, I love finding other Halloween enthusiasts. That Peruvian ginger looks amazing. I guess that's how all ginger grows? I've never thought about it before. Happy Halloween!
ReplyDeleteYes, they cure it and that's what we normally get in the store. But the Peruvian ginger is even a little better in that it's sustainable and can be grown organically. I guess most store bought ginger in from China.
DeleteHappy Halloween to you too!!!
Halloween is my absolute favorite! Thinking of you for your CT Scan. I hope things are looking okay after 6 months.
ReplyDeleteI have Caleb's new book too, and I hope to read it soon. I love his work as well. I also have My Roommate is a Vampire which will be my next read I think.
Lauren @ www.shootingstarsmag.net
Thanks Lauren. Caleb has written several great books and in different genres which is tough.
Delete"Kevin dragged my skeletons and gravestones out from the basement Sunday"
ReplyDeleteYou know how it sounds, right? 🤣
"There had to be at least 50 apple varieties between all the vendors and all grown locally. There were about 20 potato varieties as well"
Who has ever seen all of those? Not me, that's for sure. I didn't even know they existed!
Ripley is such a poser LOL.
Wishing you...squash for your scan 🤞 (I'm thinking of how THIS will sound to everyone who's not us 🤣).
Our secret veggie language lol
DeleteI'm always stunned with the varieties of things out here. I went to buy a rosemary plant once and there was a looooong table with about 15+ varieties.
Um, how did I not know that Tori had her own book? *makes note to check library immediately*
ReplyDeleteI would love to wander and browse through that farmer's market. How fun to take it all in.
Sending ALL the good vibes!
It's been out for several years too! The markets out here are awesome!
DeleteThanks for the vibes :-)
Hope you have a wonderful Halloween then! Farmer's markets are a blast. I wish they were year round as they only happen in the summer and fall time here.
ReplyDeleteThis one is open year round and the one we usually got to, closer to me, is going to stay open for the first time. I have no idea how this happens with all our rain and high winds lol
DeleteI love squash. I found out last year that I love spaghetti squash. Who knew. lol
ReplyDeleteThere always something new to discover!! I just bought two new types of Spaghetti squash.i can't wait to try them.
DeleteI think we all have reading slumps from time to time, thank you for still checking in with what you have been doing.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't even exactly call it a slump - I just don't feel like reading lol Not a lot to blog about when that happens though lol
DeleteI would love to read about his sister! She is always so there in the background in the series
ReplyDeleteShe doesn't get a lot of screen time but she's awesome every time she shows up though.
DeleteI love good produce and have learned what you explain: the best veggies and fruit come from farms and farmers' markets. The variety and quality can't be beat. Like you, I love discovering new types and playing with them in dishes. P.S., I hope your medical test went well.
ReplyDeleteIt's just mind boggling how many varieties of things there are and thankfully there are still people out there trying to preserve them. & Thank you - still waiting on results.
DeleteI'm sending all the healing and love your way. <3 <3 <3
ReplyDeleteThanks so much. The results were kind of the same as last time so they'll repeat in a year and keep watching. So no new news is good news I guess lol
DeleteUhm, excuse me but I feel like the grocery stores in NJ totally pale in comparison to that many apple and potato varieties! That's amazing! And that ginger looks so fresh; I imagine it must taste so incredibly amazing to make something with fresh FRESH ginger but I always buy it frozen in cubes bc it's easy to pop into a pan. But it's just. Meh lol.
ReplyDeleteSending all good vibes and hope the test went well! it's SO GOOD to be back here. Also. Can you believe Halloween is over already? THE HELL!
I use the frozen ginger too!! lol
DeleteAnd I miss you!! I can never seem to be able to post my comments on your blog. Maybe a WP thing?? But I do read your posts.
Yay for Teach the Torches to Burn! The farmer's market sounds lovely. I've never had fresh ginger either, what a nice find!
ReplyDeleteI don't unusually buy hardcovers anymore, but I wanted to support a new, local bookstore and my ordering the one copy helped Caleb - plus they ordered another for the store.
DeleteIs there an update on your CT scan results? 😯
ReplyDelete