Let's just say that there's a certain crunchy vibe happening around town. And I dig it.
I don't know exactly what's happened to me. I think it all started back when I began sliding from my former Right Wing status into a vague sort of political apathy. I will spare you my beliefs - they are complicated and boring - but suffice it to say that over the past year I've decided that maybe they aren't the most important thing, after all. Maybe they don't define me as much as I once fancied. Maybe they'll be just fine there on the back burner. (Don't. Tell. My old boss Robert.)
1. I will visit the Farmer's Market every Saturday.
2. I shall dine in the coffee shop.
3. I will bring home a bouquet of flowers. Always.
4. And maybe a cupcake with frosting twice as high as the cake.
5. Or some cheesecake.
6. Or a personal cherry pie.
7. I would like to become more familiar with grains.
8. I'll start with wheat berries.
9. Is that even a grain?
10. Seems like it shouldn't have "berries" in the title if it's a grain.
11. Portland is confusing.
Luv,
Flower Patch Hippie Girl
Looks like a fabulous place to shop. I mean, if they have cupcakes with icing twice as high as the cake, it has to be good! :-)
ReplyDelete~FringeGirl
We live in the middle of Mennonite country and let me tell you, those are some fascinating and wonderful people! Embrace your new Mennonite tendencies.
ReplyDeleteMay I just say I love YOU...
ReplyDeleteare you TRYING to turn me into your stalker?? because this sounds like heaven. :)
ReplyDeleteGirl. Come the heck over.
DeleteThis is hilarious, especially since I'm Mennonite.
ReplyDeleteHere's a wheat berry salad recipe. The restaurant I copy-catted it from is run by Mennonites. (I think.) So it's exactly what you're looking for. (Probably.) http://bit.ly/Nw0ipA
Woot!! Thanks a mil.
DeleteI'm menno too, and also find this hilarious! But I'm weird menno. I've lived in the city for 20 years. On the edge, but I attend an inner city church. So I'd say I'm nicely stirred!
DeleteI just love Goshen. Bought all my produce today at Meijer and wished with all my heart I'd been able to go to the farmer's market yesterday instead. Looks dreamy! We hit Maple City co-op last weekend, but I just couldn't bear to buy more than a honey bear and a package of sensitive-skin bubble bath. SO expensive, unless you buy the bulk stuff. I long for the crunchier days of my youth (aka early 30's) when I could afford it. Anyway, we're in for Friday! Your pick! Hope you have Allegan pics to share soon!
ReplyDeleteIf wheat berries are like crunch berries...I'm in.
ReplyDeletemaple city is my store!
ReplyDeletewell...i mean, i shop there. a lot.
i love those bins, and the little pudgey spice jars. and the dark chocolate. and the buckets of almond butter, messy as they are:)
it's a good place to be!
Have wanted to try Maple City Market for a long time but never made the trip. Your pics are convincing. Might just have to call it a field trip!
ReplyDeleteLove those red pendant lights! And fresh flower bouquets from the farmer's market. Sunflowers should be in at ours soon- can't wait! Your quirky new town sounds like fun.
ReplyDeleteYou know I live in a Mennonite town right? Right? Have we discussed that?
ReplyDeleteThey help me love this town most days, when I'd really rather not.
They also make me want to drink coffee, which I don't.
Hope the new walls are settling well with Siles.
xxoo
Did you happen to read "Cruchy Cons" by Rod Dreher? One part of his definition of crunchy conservatism is the conservation of local culture ... like local small businesses, local farms, everything small and local and personal. That reminds me of what you're enjoying about your area.
ReplyDeleteWow! I was just in Goshen two days ago! Explorin'! Cute little town! We are RV'in and have been in Bristol (just up the road ) for a month!
ReplyDeleteThis is kind of funny to me because I grew up in a Mennonite church and I'm obsessed with Portland! I've been wanting to visit that city for a few years and will hopefully make it happen next year :)
ReplyDeleteI live in Portland, I'll keep reading about your new town and let ya know, the farmer's market and upcycling obsession sounds pretty matchy-matchy.
ReplyDeletexo~Jill
I'm coming over!
ReplyDeleteSounds like what Sedona was like back in the 90's when I moved there. I still drink wheat grass to this day and have an affinity for crunchiness.
The beauty of the 90's is still alive in Portland, Portland..
You must view some of "Portlandia"..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2LBICPEK6w
xoxo~
Your tree hugging, upcycling pal~
TT
I love Portland. We'll be there on the weekend on our way to the coast <3 <3 <3
ReplyDeleteI was a flower child in the 70's, still am.
Enjoy each crunchy moment : )
Oh, food porn (the only kind I like) everything looks so beautiful and fresh. We have a farmers market 5 minutes from where I live but nothing is displayed with such care.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a week of blessings, berries, sleep and sunshine. I just looked up the book mentioned above and will investigate further but it does make sense to me- you're my fav kind of "crunchy con /hippie /farmgirl!"
ReplyDelete((hugs)))
Leslie
ps my little man is off to Kindergarten today and as I seek out blogs for distraction you're where I always find myself... <3
Sounds wonderful! I love all your decisions about your new home town. :)
ReplyDeletei DO love me a local market!
ReplyDeleteif ours was closer than 40 minutes, i may just be there every single day!
xo
Never been to Portland or Goshen, but we do live in Kansas Mennonite country and attend a Mennonite church. Just not the crunchy kind.
ReplyDeleteI AM baking homemade granola this morning. Does that count? ; )
Your photos remind me of Pike Place market in Seattle. Now THAT I love!
I hope homemade granola counts because I'm not a very crunchy Mennonite either. I'm intrigued by all the mennos reading here!
Deletewhole foods has an amazing wheatberry salad recipe, amazing.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/672
I make it all the time in the fall!
Mennonite Portland? Heavens, that sounds amazing. I've always wanted to visit Portland. And I have never met a Mennonite who couldn't throw down some seriously good eats. Sounds like you're in the right place.
ReplyDeleteSo fun to see pictures of my town and read what you wrote (and will write) about it! You will definitely have to check out First Fridays. Fun for the whole family, or a really fun date. You have to try the falafel they serve in front of Venturi. Welcome to Goshen!
ReplyDeletefrom a recovering right wing fanatic to another: i get you. so much. xo!
ReplyDeleteWheat berries are just the grain part of the wheat plant. It's the part one grounds to make flour. It can also be used in salad as previous posters have pointed out (try saying that three times fast) and can be slow cooked in a crock pot and served as a very healthy and filling breakfast with the addition of cream and honey. YUMMY. Primarily though, it's used to grind and make flour in place of the store bought junk. Once you grind your own berry you're officially a hippychild. Enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteAll sorts of good here. I like it. Way to embrace the crunch!
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of towns and the things they offer....we were in Allegan this weekend and walked away with a few treasures. My first time there for the Sunday extravaganza - finally! - and couldn't get enough.
Nice pics of G-town. GC will keep it crunchy!!! BEST farmer's market. EVER. A real farmer's market. Rachel's bread still around??
ReplyDeleteoooh..i love the mennonite portland title. that makes it sound like i could drive 40 minutes away and feel like i'm taking a vacation!!!! i've been itching to go experience maple city market:)
ReplyDeleteooooh, I'm so telling Robert. okay, not really. i'm moving to be your neighbor. hope that's okay. i'm into Jesus and diversity. do you have that going on??
ReplyDeleteloving your new town....remind me how far it is from your farm house?
ReplyDeleteI love your list! Especially bringing flowers home. Always! You've brightened my day, so thanks!
ReplyDeleteLove those pictures! And I, too, want to live in that crunchy world of visiting our Farmer's Market every Saturday. But for now and thanks to soccer season, I'll have to settle with picking my own flowers for a bouquet. I hope you love Goshen as much as I do. :) We must do a whistle stop together at my favorite place- The Whistle Stop. Seriously.
ReplyDeleteI visited a Mennonite farmers market this weekend and am hoping to become a fellow "Flower Patch Hippie Girl" who eats grains :) So far, it's a tough switch. Lord help us.
ReplyDelete