I just spilled a whole container of sesame seeds on my kitchen floor.
And I haven’t had my coffee yet.
At least this rain is having the positive effect of making me glad I left Portland! I LOVED living in Portland, everything about the city was a perfect fit for me (except how far it is from home, which ultimately became most important). My friend once said something along the lines of “I love Portland and Portland loves me”, and this saying became a common line in our circle. That town really did love me back.
But the rain! I was so happy in Portland that I was able to overlook the rain but I don’t think I could have kept up that act long-term. It really is wet two thirds of the year (if not more!).
We are on rainy-day number 4 here in Virginia and I’ve had enough. The first few days were cozy but now I want to go running or walking or biking or take out the trash without getting soaked. The forecast for the weekend looks clear and I have my fingers crossed.
I attended another lovely yoga class at Ashtanga Yoga Charlottesville yesterday. Honestly, I was not impressed with the teacher but I am a harsh critic. She was fine but not memorable or inspiring or innovative, just a solid “fine”. My body loves the yoga though.
Post yoga I had an exciting discovery, my kombucha is finally ready!
It is fizzy and sweet and tangy and delicious! Success! I have been tasting it every day or two for the last week and until yesterday it was still too sweet and too flat.
The kombucha buzz sent me on a fermentation kick and with yogurt making itself in the kitchen sink
And kombucha brewing in the cabinet
I set about making my first batch of sauerkraut.
This cabbage was $1 at the farmers market and it is perfect!
I used this recipe from the Wild Fermentation website. My variation had 2 carrots, half an onion, 3 cloves of garlic, and some celery seeds thrown in with the cabbage.
Here are two articles on why I have been adding more fermented foods into my diet.
7 Little Known Reasons Why NOT to Avoid Bacteria
Fermented Foods: Top 8 Reasons Why to Eat Them
There is some fermentation of a slightly different variety on tap for this afternoon :). But first, run in the rain or yoga?
P.S. My head is full of Brittany this morning after catching up on Glee last night!
I’ve never made homemade saurkraut! Yum yum:)
I’ll let you know how it turns out! I am more a fan of kimchee than saurkraut but I had the cabbage already so I thought I would give it a try.
We need to have a kombucha making lesso i love the stuff!
You’re on! Come on over next week and we’ll make a batch.
Hi there! Just found your blog off of Kath’s blog : ) I live in Portland right now and feel the same way that you do/did about the city. My husband and I have really grown to like living here, but eventually we plan to move back to Kansas where all of our family is.
Quick question: What were your favorite things to do in Portland? Any tips while we’re still in the area? Hope you have a good day,
Dana : )
Hi Dana,
Thanks for checking out Gracefulfitness!
Ahhh, Portland…
Have you been to Sauvie Island yet? I used to go out there once a week in the summer to get out of the city and pick whatever berries were in season at the U-picks. This time a year is still great to go get some pumpkins and shop at Kruger’s farm stand. And it’s just so gorgeous out there any time of year.
I worked at Yoga Pearl for years and so I am partial to their classes and ambiance if you are into yoga.
Hiking in the Gorge is one of my favorite activities EVER and my favorite hike there is the loop from Multnomah Falls to Wahkeena Falls, it’s about 6 miles maybe and once you get above Multnomah Falls it is super quiet.
For urban hiking I used to go to start at Lower Mcleay Park and head up towards Pittock Mansion.
I could go on and on so let me know if you want more!
p.s.
My favorite date night restaurant was Farm Cafe