The weekend is a good time for grazing. This is a summary of some of the delightful Blog articles I have been reading during the week. I invite you to graze through these, and also through the archives of the creative writers who wrote them.

Food canning equipment, tool carts, compost bins, growing kits, cider and fruit presses, the Squeezo Strainer, food dehydrators, juicers, smokers, cold frames, greenhouses and so many more innovations contribute to making our lives organized and healthier and to turning our homes and properties into an oasis where the living is good.

All of these things exist because we are creative and because we have a unique ability to adapt to our environment. In truth, foodies, homesteaders and gardeners who write about their experiences are telling the ongoing story of our inventive spirit. On their pages, every tool and appliance is like a paint brush; ready to express a new vision.

You can access the entire Weekend Highlights series to date by clicking on that category in the sidebar at left.

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David Lee Hoffman

“Most people who know the name David Lee Hoffman probably know that he was the subject of a documentary film called All in This Tea,” begins a recent Tea Blog article… “Hoffman is perhaps slightly eccentric and maybe even a bit obsessive about tea…”

Slightly eccentric and a bit obsessive? Doesn’t that amount to being passionate? The best teachers and role models, after all, are often the most peculiar characters. It is because of this that they make an impression. They entertain, thus making learning easy and enjoyable.

A companion article about said movie, titled Tea Movie Review: All in This Tea, suggests, “If you’ve crossed the line from casual tea drinker to connoisseur then you’ll understand that there’s something about a truly great tea that can inspire equally great passions…” [Read Full Articles]

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This week, I came upon For My Mother With Love and Hugs, at Savoring Every Bite and thou my timing was off, Mother’s Day having come and gone already, this was a reminder that one does not require an official occasion in order to honor others.

I was delighted when, upon reading the first few words, I discovered that the author was not who I had expected, but her daughter instead. Now that is sweet.  What better token of appreciation than to cook a meal and write about it, in the spirit of mom and in honor of the activities she herself values so much. Also, it is not every day that you come across an article that honors mom with a picture of a scrumptious green pepper dish. I instantly liked the idea. Mothers provide nourishment in so many forms.

“My name is Gina and I am the daughter of the ever so famous Spicegirlfla!  For a special treat for my mom I decided to create my own post in dedication to her. Since she is in the process of moving our family to Atlanta she has not been able to post for quite a while.  I know how much she is missing her blog… I just can’t imagine her living without her cookbooks and food processor…” [Read Full Article]

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May 21 – National Strawberries and Cream Day

Did you miss this important date? Ho well! It’s summer and you can make up for the omission anytime you want. One fact states that, “In a test, subjects who ate nitrate rich foods like strawberries before exercising burned 100 more calories than those who did not.” Look at it this way: Whether you believe this or not is quite irrelevant. You and I can still indulge. Strawberries are a superfood whether followed by a three-mile jog or an afternoon sitting in the shade. Ponder this as you visit Foodimentary for a bit of uncommon food trivia. [Read Full Article]

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What goes through your mind when you have a birthday? Do you dread reaching a certain milestone age? Do you regret anything? Do you make resolutions as if it were New Year’s Eve? Indeed, a birthday is a new year’s eve. Do we take a bite out of life and take the time to chew on it and taste it?

“I have lived a full thirty years. Thirty years full of fumbles and mistakes.  Thirty years of accidents and apologies. Thirty years of learning,” Says Joy The Baker in, These Things I’ve Learned in Thirty Years. “These are the trivial bits of thirty years of learning,” she continues. “Some of these lessons it took me three minutes to learn, others… about 29 years and 347 days…”

Here is a peek to set the tone: “Go to college.  Just go.  It’s where you’ll learn how to be, how not to be, and how to set booby traps in the shower so your roommate stops using your expensive shampoo… Talking crap about people sometimes feels good (just admit it), but tastes bad.  It’s the opposite of eating McDonald’s… If it hurts, don’t wear it.  At some point the pain will show… You are not inherently patient.  It’s an exercise…” Now you go discover the rest. [Read Full Article] Ho! And wish her a “Happy Birthday!”

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Thank you for stopping by to read this Weekend’s Review. Please take a moment to leave a few words on the Blogs you enjoy, if you feel so inclined that is.