Taking a Moment to Get Caught in the #Rain

Do you have time to get caught in the rain?

I'm going to guess that the answer is no.

As the past week has proved you may not have much of a choice. We aren't talking about a mere drizzle, as we've been experiencing epic downpours.

Provided your basement hasn't flooded, your garden washed away, or your car flattened by a falling tree you can find surprising natural beauty.

And, apropos of the above, and the recent heat waves, and the frequent torrential downpours (to say nothing of the epic snowstorms of this past winter)- to say nothing of the fact that this is a sampling of one year.  This is pretty much everything reputable scientists said would occur with a warming climate. Let me emphasize reputable scientists.

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the scenery.

Secret Gardens: Scaling the Wall via Reintroduction

Do you have a secret garden? Okay, I'm posing a loaded question because you are probably wondering if I mean this literally or metaphorically.

My answer: both!

Yesterday I was accompanying a dear friend around the city. She lived here once, had been delaying a visit, but the time was right. She was in the situation a good number of us have experienced when you reencounter a good friend you haven't seen in years. You know you still care for them, perhaps deeply, but interestingly you can't make much conversation. That must be the shock of unrealistic expectation. Quickly you realize you've both changed, there's almost no point in recounting it all, so you're basically reintroducing yourself.

Yesterday we found this secret garden. I won't reveal the location- as it is a secret- at least to us. But I love the notion, and the original tale by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Where am I going with all of this? That is long ago friends, out of town visits, and secret gardens.

Well, if you are familiar with the tale and the character of Ben Weatherstaff, maybe you like to peer over the garden walls. What you find may surprise you- pleasantly or maybe not so. Maybe it forces you to reconsider your expectations? That can be a valuable experience.

I believe secrets are meant to be kept. But tell me, do you have a secret garden?

Eye Candy

While getting back up to speed, please take a moment to enjoy the eye candy.

San Francisco Localism

As of late last week, I've traveled to the end of the continent: San Francisco.

Since I'm writing this post on Independence Day, I'm going to make this a concise entry.

On each of my trips to this quirky city, I find a unique urban artifact. This time it's the breadth of localism here, and specifically the locavore food production movement.

No better display of this than at the Saturday market at the Ferry Building. The genesis of the movement arises from concern over climate change (it takes carbon to ship food long distances); an appreciation for fresh produce (food must be preserved etc to ship thousands of miles); and a desire to support local, organic producers (someone has to do it! Really, we all admire the local farmer but they must sell their goods).

Adherence in NoCal is simple, there are ample resources for fresh produce, dairy, and meat within 100 miles.

San Franciscans have taken to the movement with gusto. It is tangible in the crowds, and infused in the air on Saturday at the Ferry Building. I am no stranger to this market, but this time I'm taken by the strength of this movement. I have to wonder if we are moving to a post hyper market world, and returning to smaller scale producers. If yes, I think this is the vanguard of an admirable movement. It is a pleasure to behold.