Saturday, 10/18/08

Oct 10, the penultimate Saturday Market. Here's my question; Why say "penultimate" when you could say "Next to last" and use one less syllable? Oh, well.

Next week makes a full six months of the Brattleboro Farmers Market. It seemed to go by fast, and although I look forward to not waking up at 5 am. on the Saturday after next, I know I will almost immediately begin to anticipate the first Market next May. Guess I just like it here. It's a nice way to spend the day; outdoors, making new friends, watching kids play. 

Market makes people happy.

Mr. Natural pays a visit to Market.

Discussing farming issues.

MMM....Donuts.......

Saturday, 10/11/08

A great Columbus Day crowd. A cooler, more colorful, leafier Market day made for much celebration and rousing music and dance. We had good, down home fiddle music all day, and an afternoon performance by the Morris Dancers. See the video and pix below.

Our country's next Secretary of "LET'S PARTY!!!!!!!"

Saturday, 10/4/08

Well, we had a perfect Vermont  Fall day; cool, sunny, breezy, trees all colors. The license plate count was about 75% out-of-state. The difference between a good Market day and a great Market day is the number of visitors from other places. 

Food vendors had a hard time keeping up. That brisk Vermont air makes everyone hungry. I must have sold five gallons of coffee and two gallons of hot apple cider-we're in  high cider season. 

Kids raked leaves into giant piles and then staged running leaps into the piles. A good time was had by all. Check out these snaps of Howie's fantastic flowers.

Saturday, 9/27/08

A cool Fall day-some color has started-yellows and a little orange. I prepared for a day of rain, but it never happened. I think the Market must be in some sort of protected geographical area this season.
We had a great band of fiddlers, playing, singing and strolling through Market.
Political talk has faded in favor of economic talk. Vendors agree that when the crash comes, the Market will do pretty well. More people than ever will shop locally. Maybe I'll carry pencils and matches as an homage to tales my mother told me of life in the 1930s.

Isn't this a great shot of the bounty of produce from John and Tress at Walnut Ridge Farm.

Natasha Grubdalia, our Russian emigre athlete, shows her form in the pumpkin shot-put event. We expect great things from Tasha at the upcoming Vegetable Olympics competition. Watch the web site for dates.

Emily whipping up crepes at Market.

Four Fabulous Fiddling Fillies.

Saturday, 9/20/08

A perfect fall day in Southern Vermont-sunny, cool, breezy. Visitors can't believe how good the weather is here. We had such good weather that the usual political junkies took a break to just enjoy the day. 

This was the first day for hot apple cider-leaf season cannot be far behind-peepers stopping their cars in the middle of the road to snap pictures.

After Market we held a memorial for Dwight Miller. People talked of their memories of Dwight, and we sang several verses of "America the Beautiful". It was decided to plant a tree in his memory next spring-its a little late for planting this year. 

Priscilla returns from New Hampshire for a Market visit.

Kathy Miller and sister-in-law Mala.

Read Miller.

Don't forget to vote. This means you!

Saturday, 9/13/08

Sunny, warm September day-many international visitors (the weak dollar has its benefits).

Chocolate Chip Guy was there. He loves chocolate chip cookies. Also, Mr Conspiracy, Old Original Hippy, Miss Cape Cod, and Gold Dollar Dude, all among my regulars,  turned up for the sunny Market.

I notice the changing tastes of the kids as they grow. Donut eating toddlers turn into cookie crunching 8 year olds, and whoopie pie devouring teens. 

Kurt update-Kurt Hackler, our intrepid bread guy and awesome cyclist, has reached Germany on his bike trip from above the Arctic circle in Norway, to Spain. Follow his and Oracle Jen's exploits on his blog, The 411-2WDs Riding Chronicles.

Politics update-Everyone previously torqued off about the national election is still torqued off. Maybe I should sell them decaf instead of high test...Nah. See you next week. Rara

Patty Austin, who makes things like.. (see below)

...these perfect little confections.

Howie's flowers, plants and veggies-the most colorful booth at Market.

Two fisted coffee drinker.

Happy Birthday, Ingrid!!

Saturday, 9,6,08

Warnings of Hurricane Hanna-nothing at Market except overcast and quite humid. Some fair weather vendors failed to show up-good news for their competition who saw increased business. I felt pretty dopey all day-blah weather saps my energy. 

Everyone seemed to be caught up in the national political goings on. I heard many conversations about Sarah, Joe, Barack and John-Sounds like a Dion song; (insert musical notation here)" I saw them walking up over the hill, Barack-Sarah-Joseph-and John". 

Here's a few Market pix.

Dieneba at her Malian food stand

.

Very colorful and creatively designed bags.

Thelma and Louise live!!

Lunch tastes better at Market.

Kids belong outside.