Christine Chitnis: July 2010

Aha!

Every time I sit down to write a blog post, something pops into my inbox that deserves my immediate attention...do you ever have weeks like that? Everything is SUPER timely, and VERY important. Really, it just exhausts me! But at least I have cute desk accessories to help me keep it all straight... like these clothespins from Zoetropa (found at a market, of course!).

The good news is the first step of our chicken battle is complete, and the results were positive. We passed the ordinance through the committee on Monday night (hooray!) and will now go before the entire city council in September. So that means a slight break in the chicken drama...phew!

In other news...a big ole' Airstream trailer pulled into town about a month ago as part of Mutual of Omaha's Aha Moment Tour. They contacted a handful of professionals in the Providence area to stop by the trailer, which was decked out as a film studio, and talk about a moment in their life where something changed for the positive.

So, if you have ever wanted to know a bit more about my writing career and the path that led me to where I am now...click here! Try not to mind my overwhelming Midwestern accent. Yes...I am from Michigan, and proud of it!

Hiding

Thank you so much for all of your well wishes last week in regards to the chicken battle. The ordinance meeting went very well, and I delivered my speech despite my nerves. The council was very receptive and asked only for a few more specifications to the language of the ordinance, and it will go back to vote tonight. So keep those fingers crossed. Once it passes the ordinance committee, it will then have to pass two votes in the city council...but I have to be honest...it looks very promising!

However, the day after the meeting, The Providence Journal ran another article on our chicken crusade, with a big picture of me (looking super serious!), and once I read the comments, I thought about going into the witness protection program. People are so vicious, uneducated and hateful when it comes to this subject...it's really quite bizarre. Luckily, no opposition bothered to show up at the meeting!

We did manage to escape this weekend without entering witness protection...I was covering a few markets on Cape Cod. We stayed with friends, and knowing my interest in all things local food related, they took us out to the bay to show us how oysters and clams are farmed.

It was fascinating to hear about the seeding process and how the oysters spend the winter hibernating in root cellars when the bay ices over. It's one of those things you just don't think about...where did that oyster on your plate come from? Who ventured out into the waters to retrieve your dinner?

As I write this book, and meet a wide variety of farmers, my respect for their work continues to increase. The dedication, perseverance, creativity and flexibility that it takes to be a farmer is simply mind boggling.

Because our friends happened to be friends with the oyster farmer, Jimmy, he let us take home fresh oysters for dinner that night (none for me, of course). I think my husband ate about 2 dozen! I hope your weekend was just as delicious!

Fight the Power

Our fight to legalize chickens in Providence goes to vote tonight. We have been working tirelessly to try and change the ordinance to allow families to raise backyard chickens...collecting over 700 signatures on our petition, and starting a letter-writing campaign to our city council members. Remember how upset I was when I had to give up my chicks...well perhaps outrage is the best way to incite change, we shall see!

So tonight is the night...and I am busy preparing my speech, which I will have to recite in front of the city council. Yikes! Wish me luck!

If you are interested in the details, here is some of the press our cause has received:
The Providence Journal
EcoRI
Edible Rhody

Portland Architectural Salvage

I promised to share the most amazing store ever today...so here we go. If you have ever had a dream of finding the perfect old building and lovingly restoring it to the coolest house ever (okay, yes I have dreamed that dream) than this is the store for you.

Portland Architectural Salvage is four floors of every kind of salvaged good you can imagine, from bathtubs to fireplace mantels, bed frames to kitchen sinks...this store has everything. I found the perfect farmhouse kitchen sink, an amazing iron bed frame, several drool-worthy chairs and a breathtaking carved wooden fireplace mantel.

You could literally outfit a house from top to bottom with the finds here...right down to vintage details such as old doorknobs and light switch plates.

I restrained myself from going crazy...I mean, really, what was I going to do with that farmhouse sink, and how exactly was it going to fit in my two-door car?

But I did make one purchase...something for the nursery. Oh, I can barely wait to show you...but, alas, it will have to wait for another day!

Portland, Maine

I can hardly believe that it has taken me almost three years of living on the East Coast to make it to Portland, Maine. What in the world was I waiting for? This past weekend, I ventured up the coast to cover several markets, including the incredible Portland Farmers' Market. I stayed the night in Portland, and allowed myself a full day to explore this fabulous town. Can I show you a few of my favorite discoveries?

Homegrown Herb and Tea is a cozy little tea shop, and Sarah, the owner, is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to cooking up the perfect brew. I am considering giving her a call when I start nursing to order some of her Mother's Milk Tea, which she created based on all of the things a nursing mother's body needs. I am telling you...she knows her stuff!

Right down the street from Homegrown Herb and Tea was a fantastic knitting shop, KnitWit, where I picked up some gorgeous yarn for a few new project!

And finally...on Saturday morning, faced with a three hour drive home, I hit up the caffeine at Arabica Coffee, a fantastic, light filled coffee shop with high ceilings and exposed brick walls...not to mention a great cup of coffee!

I am saving the very best for last...so stay tuned tomorrow for the most AMAZING store I have ever visited. Seriously.

A Cool Treat

While I was in Michigan, I happened to flip through an old issue of Everyday with Rachel Ray and I stumbled across the ingenious idea of combining chocolate, peanuts and banana's in the simplest, most amazing way possible. All that is required to make this delicious frozen treat is one banana, sliced into chunks, a bowl of melted chocolate and crushed nuts (I used yummy salted peanuts). Dip the banana into the chocolate and get it fully covered, and then roll it around in the nuts. Place on a plate (covered with wax paper) and freeze. I only let mine freeze until they were firm (about 1 hour), not frozen solid. I am not even going to tell you how many of these I popped into my mouth in one sitting!

Touching Down

It is always difficult returning from vacation, especially when your vacation includes sunsets such as these...

and long days spent lounging on the dock, getting up only to enjoy a leisurely sail on the Hobie Cat...

and outdoor dining in the charming lakeside town of Traverse City...

and perhaps most importantly, living in your swimsuit when you are 6 months pregnant and prone to overheating...

Yup...I am already missing the cottage something terrible, and we just arrived home.

But somehow, coming home didn't really feel like "coming home," if you know what I mean! Does that make any sense at all?

The Vineyards

Whenever I tell people that I am from Michigan, they often give me a sort of pitying look. Many people imagine our fair state as nothing more than Detroit and the surrounding suburbs. So when I tell them that Northern Michigan is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been (and I am fairly well-traveled)...they often look shocked.

But I am not exaggerating...this is not a case of state pride gone wild!

Northern Michigan is the land of vineyards and orchards, great lakes and small estuaries, magnificent dunes and hidden beaches.

Yesterday we set out to explore the vineyards around Traverse City (no tasting for me...promise!). Michigan is starting to come into its own as far as wine making, but that is not what impressed us. We were blown away by the gorgeous views.

Not to mention the fascinating process of wine making, and the beauty of the oak barrels used for aging certain white wines.

All in all, it was a beautiful way to spend a Michigan afternoon, and I didn't even miss the fact that I couldn't sample the goods!

The Journal, Volume One

I am beyond thrilled to finally unveil a project that I have been working on for the past 6 months, along with a wonderful, collaborative team. As many of you know, I have an on-going love affair with Squam Art Workshops, the amazing art retreat brainchild of Elizabeth MacCrellish. Last year, Elizabeth decided that she wanted to create a book that encapsulated all that is Squam...and so our magical team set to work.

Now, finally, it is here, and it is beyond spectacular.

You can look forward to 120 pages of terrific essays and wide ranging conversations about navigating the ups and downs of life with humor, grace, or when all else fails, retail therapy. The journal is filled with spectacular imagery from beloved photographers including Denise Andrade, Jen Gray, Susannah Conway, Jeanine Caron, and Béatrice Peltre, among many others. There's a pop quiz, a kicky craft project, home tours, and so much more including an actual journal within the book itself. These blank pages provide the opportunity to add your voice to the conversation through your own writing, artwork and photography. Fiber enthusiasts will especially love “A Day in the Life with Jared Flood” and a knitting fairy tale, “The Story of Ravelry” (SPOILER ALERT: it has a happy ending)!

Our hope for this 8" x 8" volume is that it will easily tuck into your bag and accompany you everywhere... on the subway, in the cab, on the train, in the airport, on holiday, etc. We hope it fills your day with inspiration, fresh perspective and belly laughs. We trust you're going to like it very much as we created it just for you.

Pre-sale is $19 and after the July 23rd it will cost $25, so go ahead and order your copy right now...I promise you will love it!

ORDER HERE!!

Fireworks over the water

There is nothing like being pregnant on a 90+ degree day (especially when neither your home or car has air conditioning!), and so I am beyond grateful to be here in Michigan, with my family, cooling my heels at the lake. We arrived just in time to celebrate the 4th with a day on the lake, lots of good food and, of course, fireworks. First we watched as the neighbors tried not to light themselves on fire with their Roman Candles, and then there was the big show over the lake. I loved trying to capture the light on camera! For those of you who celebrate the 4th...I hope it was a great one!