lake morton :: day 6

cool and breezy

the sky was so low we could touch it

& the clouds were blowing

the palm trees like

dandelions

lake morton :: day 4

an entire afternoon

basking in the sun, chilly in the shade

weaving bits of nature

climbing rocket ship trees that really took off

lake morton :: day 3

determined to get in our daily walk

we ran through the night

unencumbered by the dark

{this moment} with Annie Oakley

image(s) from the week. no words. via soulemama.

orange juice factory tour

We recently went on a  field trip to an orange juice factory. Actually, the factory was across the street and we toured a little museum, watched a film and walked around a mini grove. We would have really liked to tour the actual facility, but were not allowed. 

If you drink packaged oj in the morning, it probably comes from Florida. The oranges we grow are tasty, but ugly - so we dominate the juice industry. Ninety-five percent of all oranges are headed for juice. If you are eating a beautiful orange, it probably came from California. 

I thought I would share a few tidbits about citrus that you might find interesting:

-The spanish brought oranges to Florida from Spain. You can still walk through forests and find wild orange trees with really sour fruit on them. They are a far cry from the cultivars we now grown and consumed.

-Oranges are a handpicked crop. Mostly by migrant workers. 

-They need to be picked when they are ripe. Unlike stone fruits, which will ripen after you pick them, oranges will not continue to ripen.

-It takes one year to go from blossom to fruit. 

-Oranges are grown on a sturdy root stock (frequently from the sour orange, I believe) and the rest of the tree is grafted on. This allows for the best root system and tastiest fruit combination. When you graft, it only takes 3 years for the tree to bear fruit, where as if you grew the tree from seed, it would take 15 years. 

Have you toured a local industry's factory recently?

Feel free to share your link in the comments. We can all virtually see what is growing and being made around America (and further).

make mayonnaise in 5 minutes

Have you made your own mayonnaise? If not, I need to sing the gospel of how easy it is do and how freaking delicious it is to eat. Homemade mayonnaise on a tomato sandwich or hamburger is sublime. 

Do you want to try to do it? Here are some basic directions (I learned using the Fanny Farmer cookbook)

What you need

1 egg and 1 egg yolk

1 cup of oil (something light, canola, peanut, sunflower)

1 t Dijon mustard

big pinch of salt

1 1/2 T lemon juice (I usually just squeeze 1/2 lemon)

food processor

What to do 

Put the eggs, mustard, and salt in the food processor and let them whip up for a minute or two.

Add the oil (while the processor is on) drop by drop and then in a very thin stream. This part takes the longest. I even let it whip up a bit between adding the oil. The key is good emulsification. 

When all the oil is added, squeeze in the lemon and taste. Adjust the salt and lemon and refrigerate. 

Have you made your own mayo? Do you have another tip or recipe?

Lake Morton for the month

There are so many great month long projects out there in November. I contemplated writing a novel. Or joining Shannon in a month of gratitude. What I have come up with is more personalized to my life and callings.

This time of year is gorgeous in Florida. When most people are hunkering down for a long, cold winter, we are finally able to be outside all day long. It is sunny with a cool breeze. A little rain here and there adds to the cozy fall mood. So, my month long challenge is going to involve being outside, writing and photography.

My kids and I plan to walk around our neighborhood lake everyday this month. We walk around it a lot already, so it might not seem like much of a challenge - but I think the daily habit will be transformative.

We are very lucky to live by Lake Morton. It is one of the places I have always loved. As a kid, we came to the lake to feed the ducks, and I always knew that if I were to live here I would want to live near this bird sanctuary that is packed with swans, wood storks, aningas, great blue herons, geese, bald eagles and mallards. So, now I do. For the last 10 years we have lived just a few blocks from it. I walked around it trying to convince my first child to leave the womb; I have walked it with babies in slings and strollers. I remember when each kid could walk the whole mile on their own and now with three big kids, we can stroll the lake with no problem at all.

My husband walks or bikes by the lake on his way to work. My daughter and I used to meet him with a picnic dinner when our family was just three. My son fell in the lake with a freshly broken arm and a stroller filled with books from the nearby library rolled into the lake once. We have seen art, fireworks, and protests all from the shores of Lake Morton.

The secret about this lake (and anyplace in nature) is that it is never the same. We see something new EVERY time we walk around it. Everytime. A new flower in bloom, an alligator that should not be there, a hawk eating a duck, new ducklings and cygnets (their numbers getting smaller as the days progress). Stories and narratives unfold the more frequently we go.

So this month, we will go, and watch, and record and feel deep gratitude for a place so near to our home and hearts.

Is there a place near you like this? A place that is woven into the intimate fabric of your life, but begs to be more deeply regarded?