Christmas Day, 2008

OK, so here I am, standing on my newly built deck, looking at the snow on my newly laid roof. The woodstove inside is cranking, making the house warm, and the cats totally zonked. It's my favorite time of the year. I can't remember warm weather right now, though I suppose it won't be long before we can start to count down to the '09 Market. Let's give ourselves another week to think about this great winter. Here are some holiday snaps.

 

Final Markets 2008 Season

Well, it's all over till next year. It might be cool to have an all winter market under a heated circus tent, but I look forward to hibernating. That feeling lasts through the holidays, after which I start to look forward to the next market season. I suspect that everyone has a way to mark the passage of time, a recurring time theme. Mine is the Market. There is Market season and not-Market season. Market season feels like one long blast of all encompassing activity. Galen calls it my "market head". Not-Market season works quite differently. My activity level is much reduced, and the Thanksgiving-Christmas season breaks up the interminable Winter. Sitting around the wood stove, playing with the cats, catching up on various indoor chores etc. make up our Winter. We enjoy the relative non-activity. Here are some pix from the last Wed and Sat Markets.

Last Sat-about 25 degrees

The "bonfire" could be felt inches away.

Last Wed Market. Martha thinking "I should have stayed in school".

Amanda's version of a Mona Lisa smile.

Saturday, 10/25/08

Well here it is-the last Market of the season. It's sort of sad and a relief. Next Saturday I can sleep in. Of course, there is a very cold Market the Saturday before Thanksgiving-Pretty strange-everyone runs naked and throws pumpkins at each other. I think there will be a brass band(also naked), and a bonfire. I wouldn't miss it.

I think the kid wants to sit in.

Katherine is an avid Market booster.

These guys are great. Kind of punk bluegrass.

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.