Veggies, week 8

This week, the box wasn't full, but that was because there were a lot fewer leaves and a lot more... solid veggies:

one bunch of Swiss chard :-)
a bunch of baby carrots
a couple of handfuls of small new red potatoes
a big purple eggplant, the regular kind
a narrow light purple Asian kind (with an interesting curl to it...)
one rather unsatisfyingly anemic looking tomato
two green peppers (I don't like green peppers, and forgot to bring them in to foist off on cow orkers)
one red pepper

I already used some of the carrots and potatoes, and the tomato (also the squash from last week's share) in a frittata last night.

Porch update
The oregano is blooming and is basically out of control. Anyone want some fresh oregano? Anyone have experience with infusing vinegars or oils?
One of the mints is also blooming, and I pinched off the flowers on the basil plant.
I ate a handful of tomatoes, and it looks like I must have done something wrong, 'cause it's not growing any more. Ah, well. They were delicious.
The ginger is showing renewed signs of life. Not only are the original two shoots from one chunk growing happily, but the other pieces I planted are also finally showing greenery as well. Rather exciting.
The lemon balm is relatively happy, and the chives are huge, despite me using them in salads and cooked foods rather frequently.

(I suppose it's rather pathetic how happy I get about having locally grown produce, but there you are.)
"

Packing

Sunday I head out for almost a week of fun fun fun with my greater family unit, many of whom I don't know well enough to know what they enjoy doing.

They've rented three houses in Duck, NC (I've decided it's not a noun, but an imperative: there's Devil's Kills nearby...), which is on the outer banks (in August. Hurricanes can happen in August. Luckily I haven't heard of anything brewing...).

And I have to decide what to pack. I want to keep it to luggage I can handle myself, so the suitcase that is an internal-frame pack (seen recently at potluck on the Common), a carry-on, and possibly another bag, if I need it.

The current list of stuff that has to fit in is:
a bunch of T-shirts, including ones to sleep in
the men's pj bottoms I use as pants
a couple of skirts (if I can find some new, light ones, that would be great)
underwear
a light dress, just in case of something vaguely more formal
a heavier top to go over things, in case it gets cool at night
toiletries
SUNBLOCK, a hat, sunglasses
books to read
crocheting or other project to make
games (so far, Set, Xactica, Aquarius, and regular cards; they're portable and relatively accessible to all)
paper and pens
a vegetable peeler
paring knife
TJ's brand flat flexible cutting board equivalent
can opener
cheddar cheese
breakfast bars, or some other just-in-case food.

I'm assuming that I'll be able to get fruits and veggies, and stuff like canned tuna and boring packaged bread, so I'm not bringing anything like that. I debated bringing a pot, but with all the extra stuff, I'm just not going to bother to cook. I'll be sick of raw food by the end of the week, but it won't be the end of me, either.

I have no bathing suit, and am unlikely to find time to shop for one before I leave. I can always go in the ocean in a T-shirt and shorts, I suppose.

Anything else glaring I'm missing?
i

From today's snail mail box

There's a sale at the Garment District Friday through Sunday, 50% off everything in the store. Now how can I fit that in to all the other things I have to do....?

And this year's overnight bike ride is August 17... I need to get in better shape by then.

There are also two events in September that sound cool, that I won't be going to (gotta love the holidays....):
A monarch butterfly migration celebration, Sunday September 22, noon, Boston Common (for a fee), and
the Three Apples Storytelling festival,, September 27- 29, out in Harvard, MA