This September

September 22, 2015

Baby Turnips and Mushrooms | In studio at the Farm to Table Photography Workshop in Seattle | Fake Food Free

I’m usually not one to comment on how quickly or slowly the months go by. It varies for me from year to year. It all depends on what I have going on.

Lately though, I’ve been thinking a lot about this September. Mostly about how it came along quickly, after what felt like a long August, and now suddenly it’s almost gone. 

There are 3 very good reasons for this.

The first — we are gearing up for another move. I have loved every minute of the our time in the Bay Area, but it’s time for new adventure.

We aren’t going far. About 3 hours southeast of the Bay, to the land of agriculture. What we will lose in water views, we will gain in hiking in the Sierra Nevadas, the smell of citrus blossoms, walnut and almond groves, a house we own, and a potential studio space for my photography work.

Sequoia National Park | Fake Food Free | California and National Park Travel

Not a bad trade. We’re ready for it. 

The second reason for a speedy month was a Labor Day trip to Washington with two visits to the Gorge Amphitheater to see DMB shows. 

It included a stay in Ellensburg with a stop at Cornerstone Pie for a spinach salad with pickled red onions, bacon, feta and Dijon champagne vinaigrette. Then the Pesto Pacifica pizza with cedar plank salmon, prawns, scallops, prosciutto ham, peppers, tomatoes, olives and pesto. Yes, every bit as good as they look!

Spinach Salad from Cornerstone Pie in Ellensburg, WA | Fake Food Free | Food and travel.

Pesto Pacifica Pizza from Cornerstone Pie in Ellensburg, WA | Fake Food Free | Food and travel.

We followed that up with a visit to Iron Horse Brewery. I also brought back some beautiful pottery from Johnson’s Pottery in Ellensburg. It went pretty well with the handful of black cherry tomatoes I was finally able to harvest from our patio plant!

Tasting Flight at Iron Horse Brewery in Ellensburg, WA. | Fake Food Free

Bowl from Johnson Pottery in Ellensburg, WA | Patio Garden Black Cherry Tomatoes | Fake Food Free

Then we spent the night in a tent at La Wis Wis campground outside Mt. Rainier National Park. 

La Wis Wis Campground in Gifford Pinchot National Forest | Fake Food Free

We included a hike on the Tipsoo Lake-Naches Loop Trail. Then we closed out the trip by hiking Glacier Basin. 

Tipsoo Lake-Naches Loop Trail in Washington | Fake Food Free

Glacier Basin Trail, Emmons Glacier, White River, Mount Rainier National Park | Fake Food Free

As if that wasn’t enough, the third reason for a fast September was a second trip to Washington this past weekend. This time? A farm to table photography course with Clare Barboza.

Jubilee Farm, Washington | End of season in the Tomato Houses | Fake Food Free

Jubilee Farm, Washington | End of season in the Tomato Houses | Fake Food Free

Jubilee Farm | Work share volunteer harvesting peppers | Fake Food Free

I spent a weekend visiting  Jubilee Biodynamic Farm, a CSA and work share farm that had everything from grapes and cabbages to peppers and pumpkins. 

Grapes at Jubilee Farm in Washington | Fake Food Free

Melon Patches at Jubilee Farm in Washington | Fake Food Free

Oh, the pumpkins. Variety after variety of winter squash and I think I photographed them all. 
 Pumpkin Patches Jubilee Farm in Washington | Fake Food Free

Pumpkins at Jubilee Farm in Washington | Fake Food Free

Pumpkins at Jubilee Farm in Washington | Fake Food Free

Then I had the pleasure of visiting a small pork farm doing honorable work with an inspiring philosophy. I met Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Carson. (It took me a while for those names to click, too.)

Red Feather Farm, Washington | Fake Food Free

Mrs. Hughes at Red Feather Farm, Washington | Fake Food Free

Another highlight there, the farm dogs. 

Redfeather Farm is named for 12 year old Emmy. Equally vying for attention were Fiona and guard dog, Floyd. 

Emmy, the namesake of Red Feather Farm in Washington | Fake Food Free

Fiona, working dog at Red Feather Farm in Washington | Fake Food Free

Floyd, Anatolian Shepherd and resident guard dog at Red Feather Farm in Washington | Fake Food Free

Another day of the workshop was spent in studio, shooting in beautiful light with a prop board selection that dreams are made of. 

Antipasto | In studio at the Farm to Table Photography Workshop in Seattle | Fake Food Free


Chocolate Cake | Food Photography | Fake Food Free

Finally, a visit to Ballard Farmers Market. It was like a book about fall opened its cover and I walked inside. Late summer tomatoes sat beside stone fruits, winter squash and hot apple cider. All this was set among historic buildings now holding restaurants and cafes along a ground that was speckled with yellow leaves falling from the trees. 

Ballard Farmer's Market | Travel in Seattle, Washington | Fake Food Free

Ballard Farmer's Market | Travel in Seattle, Washington | Fake Food Free

So, no. I have not been in the kitchen. I’m doing all I can to keep up a meal plan that can still be classified as healthy while I squeeze in my marathon training runs and squeeze myself around piles of boxes. 

Soon I’ll be settled and back in a kitchen with plenty of opportunity to make up for lost time during this pumpkin-loving, apple cider-crazy, sweater-cozy time of year. 

 

 

Hello! Thanks for reading! All photos in this post are watermarked and copyright protected. Use of any of these photos without permission is a violation of copyright. Many photos are available as stock photography. Please contact me to inquire. Also, please feel free to pin and share on Pinterest. 

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  • Danielle September 23, 2015 at 6:45 am

    Wow! What wonderful adventures you’ve been on. Your photography is spectacular! What an awesome class you got to be a part of – doing 2 of the things you love. 😉 Best of luck on the move!

    • Lori September 23, 2015 at 7:56 am

      Thanks so much, Danielle! I’ve been doing some fun stuff for sure. I feel very fortunate! I hope you are doing well!

  • Nancy Buchanan September 23, 2015 at 8:44 am

    Oooooh…. I loved seeing all those photos and I agree with Tracey – this is NOT a “cop out” post!! I definitely hear you on “where did September go”? So glad that that question could be answered with amazing adventures!!!

    • Lori September 23, 2015 at 11:04 pm

      Thanks so much, Nancy! It has been a fun month!

  • suki September 23, 2015 at 10:35 am

    can’t always be in the kitchen, but it looks like the time out of it has been well spent! 🙂 too bad we couldn’t connect up in seattle, even though we were in the same places just hours apart.

    • Lori September 23, 2015 at 11:05 pm

      Definitely well spent! I hope you had a great time in Seattle!

  • Maureen September 24, 2015 at 6:17 am

    this is my “cop out” response since I rarely comment on blogs anymore. An entirely separate conversation.

    But. I love these types of posts. Slice of life. Lots of gorgeous visuals. This is what I’ve been doing kind of posts.

    Love that you’ll have a studio in your new home.

    Thanks for sharing. Those dogs!!

    • Lori September 24, 2015 at 8:16 am

      Thanks, Maureen! So far I think everyone who has commented has clicked through Facebook! Haha! My cop out got a lot of attention! I’m hoping to do more photo stories in the future.

  • Andrea September 24, 2015 at 8:37 am

    Oh I love all the pictures, Lori! What great shots and Floyd seems like he just an awesome dog. 🙂 Also that pizza looks amazing, what a great combo that I would never have even thought of!

    • Lori September 24, 2015 at 10:06 am

      Thanks, Andrea! We were intrigued by the pizza combo and it ended up being so delicious! And Floyd was the best! He sat and posed while we photographed him. He knows he’s the star of the farm!

  • Erin September 26, 2015 at 9:32 am

    Hi Lori,
    It was so nice to meet you in Seattle! I’d love to meet up again when you visit Seattle next. The workshop was fun.

    • Lori September 28, 2015 at 3:11 pm

      Hi Erin! It was great meeting you, too! We’ll definitely connect again in the future!

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