The Cape Calls...

Another beautiful day, inside and out, with Mara and Spencer, both at Half Pint Farm, and at The Farmhouse for dinner. We met up at HPF around 11 - they had already had a busy work morning, probably up at 5 or 6. Kind of planned each of our days, for us, laundry, laundry, laundry; for the farmers, farming, deliveries of farm goods, farming, post office, meeting on interns (yes, they're teaching a new generation). We made plans to meet up at 2 at their house. But first, they hooked us up with Adam the blueberry farmer at the place next to HPF:

Yum. I love me some blueberries, and Adam was gracious enough to let us try and glean what was left after a busy summer season. We scored two pints that I plan on using wisely.

We had gobs of laundry that we quickly cleaned and dried at a local laundry place. Also had a little nosh and met an interesting young man who claims to be on a law enforcement task force targeting child abusers. I love the people you meet and their stories. Not sure his was the whole truth, but he was a character.

Met up at the Welton's house and set up my beading station. Put together earrings and a bracelet for beautiful, magnificent Mara, while Spencer gave "the boys" a bath (Smeems, Bullet and play-date friend Buddy, that is)and Mara roasted peppers. When I went outside to the pepper grilling BBQ on their deck to measure and finish Mara's bracelet, we discussed her penchant for peppers. Uh, no, obsession with. She was roasting, bagging and noting their date as quickly as you can with her inordinate skill at this task. My question was, "What do you DO with all these peppers?" Her reply, "Eat them all winter." Me: "Oh, they're for you, not to sell?" She: "Yes, I have to have a freezer full to feel comfortable." Me: "So, it's kind of like a security blanket of peppers?" She: "Yes!" Me: "Is that from your grandmother (Rose)?" She: "Yes, and Aunt Kathy, and dad. It's just what you do at this time of year when the peppers are on."

I love that conversation.

We tootled back to the RV to check on Roku the kitty-boy, with plans for dinner at one of their local favorites, The Farmhouse restaurant in downtown Burlington. We hadn't seen downtown yet, so were excited to look around. Mara needed a dress for Phil and Sharolta's wedding, and Spencer needed a shirt, both of which are available near the restaurant.

Little kitty-boy was very glad to see us, so we put our laundry away and hung with him for a short while. Soon were back on the road to Burlington, mostly lost. Finally parked and found them seated. The Farmhouse is an old McDonalds that was sort of drummed out of this earthy, organic state and city. It serves all local farm food, from animals to greens. We had fun choosing what we wanted to eat and talking, talking, talking. Started with a cheese plate of triple cream, blue and a Taladesia (?) sharp, with crostini. Delish, of course, and all local. I though of my sister Dawn while eating this, as she is a cheese connoisseur, and would have loved this.

I chose pulled pork, Spencer the venison burger, Tony a beef burger and Mara - I think she won the "best, best dinner" - fried chicken, chard and mashed spuds. Uh, yum, on all accounts. My pork had just been pulled from the smoker, and I tell you, it was so simply divine - no BBQ sauce glomped over it to make it taste smokey - just a beautiful shredding of meat. Now, alongside my pork shreds, was a square piece of cornbread. I am leery of cornbread, because I make about the best in the world. This proved worthy. Buttery, crunchy, fall apart delicious. A little slice of cornbread, topped with a blob of pork shred - holy shitskees! HEAVEN!!!!!

And, our conversation was equally delicious. There were so many questions I had about the farm, farming, their friends, the town, their house - and I was able to get answers to all and sundry. We talked some family trash, some family love. Caught up on how we eat, why we eat, what we eat. They are so dedicated to their community eating the freshest food possible. I asked what they "snack" on, what do they reach for when they haven't had a chance to eat all day? No surprise, they shop on a Sunday for the week, and plan every meal and snack. Smart, smart. So the majority of their food is freshly prepared and slow.

For instance, when we rolled into town, by the time we set up our rig and made it to their house, it was 6 or so. Spencer was on the back deck blanching their tomatoes, then processing them into another large pot, in order to be canned in a hot pack. Mara was roasting peppers, eggplant and tomatoes. While all this was happening, Spencer's pizza dough was rising. As an appetizer, they roasted tiny padrone peppers and sprinkled thick sea salt on them. We love these little snacks and will definitely be cooking these up for ourselves.

Um, eggplant? And me? No. Nonononono. We talked about eggplant, and Mara discussed in great emotional and descriptive detail, the beauty of that particular vegetable. I will try ALMOST anything, eggplant being innocuous enough to be included in the list.

Are you reading this Tsha-Tsha???!!! Friend Tsha loves, loves her eggplant - insisting, puzzled, determined that I try it cooked the "right" way. Well, I guess I have my chance now, as IT'S ON THE GRILL READY TO GO ON MY PIZZA. When everything is put together, along with a salad, we sit to chow down. Love it. Beautiful pizza without the globs of cheese, just roasted veggies. And the eggplant, oh the eggplant! Buttery and smokey and delicious. Everything was top o' the mark.

But, today is onward and upward day, deciding whether to stay, or head to the Cape. We THINK we have reservations for the 25th, but can't remember. Due to the time difference, I need to call our camping club and see what day our reservation is for. Regardless, we think we've taken up enough of the Welton's time, and will probably start moving on across a few states, getting closer to the Cape.