As cold as it was on Saturday, I wasn't sure there would be flowers at the farmers market. But there were. Lovely, sweet, smile-inducing flowers.
Several were selected to bring home. Because they were there, they make me so happy, and I could. What more reason is needed than that?
The Lawrence Farmers market opened today! And with it, a change in routine.
Getting up just a bit earlier, off to see the local farmers who are going to inspire me with their wares.
And brighten my home with their flowers... and provide my needed replacement of strawberry jam that elevates my morning oatmeal to gourmet status.
I spied my favorite "cold -weather, hat-wearing couple". They had no choice but to allow me to take their picture once I started spinning a tale about how I "needed" it for my first day of the market post.
There was hot coffee to keep you warm.
Or blankets, depending on your preference.
The chill did not prevent spinners from spinning, smilers from smiling, or friends from catching up on the latest news.
As for me, I am delighted to have locally grown greens for the week.
This gorgeous romaine is going to turn into a salad with a few mushrooms, some sliced hard boiled eggs, a sprinkle of walnuts, and a light vinaigrette dressing that contains a hint of Dijon.
The rainbow chard is for lunches this week. My favorite way. Wilted with sweet onions and tart cherries.
And this jar of insane strawberry goodness, in addition to being amazing on any warm grain breakfast you can dream up, will also make you shiver with delight if you spoon it over Greek yogurt and throw a few toasted walnuts on top.
The Holiday Farmers market was today in Lawrence, and it was splendid.
Decorations, produce, gift ideas, and tempting treats. It was all there.
I fell in love with the chickens at DoGood Farms and getting to meet the genius behind all the handmade, home-grown, products is something I enjoy about this annual event.
These iced molasses cookies caught my eye and I brought one home for dessert tonight. Crunchy outside, chewy centers, just the way I like them.
More garlands for the tree on the front porch were also procured. It is simply not possible for me to walk by any kind of garland without partaking.
We went over the river and through the woods today. Or more accurately, down 15th street, through the fields, and across the railroad tracks.
To the best spot I know of in Douglas county for poinsettias and greenery.
There was all manner of other finery out there too.
But oh the poinsettias.
I came home with the most spectacular red one out there. If you want to get the second most spectacular red one, Pendleton's will be open until December 7th. They will also be at the holiday farmers market next weekend. Which happens to be one of my favorite events of the whole year. I need all hands free for this extravaganza. Hence fresh wreaths and poinsettias must be purchased ahead of time.
More info on the holiday market here
Have you seen the inside of a Kiwano fruit? Otherwise known as a "horned melon". Me neither. Until last Saturday at the Farmers market. My first thought was "now that's a strange looking fruit". My second thought was "oh, so many seeds". Thought #1 made me want to try it. Thought #2 made me not buy it.
And while we are on the topic of seeds. There was also this. I haven't eaten a yellow watermelon, but gosh they were pretty.
Moving on to the pumpkin portion of this post... they were stacked atop each other, lined up, and laid out. All equally pleasing to the eye.
Other sightings included a young lad showing the proper way to hold on to your cookie, a teen-age girl demonstrating her rebellious spirit and a cool skirt (meanwhile isn't her little sister cute?), and an extremely nice gentleman carefully observing the flowers as he waited for his companion to make her selection.
And after all that, I went home and made the last batch of wilted greens with cherries and onions for the season.
It was a perfect morning.
Yesterday's post was just words. You were supposed to supply the pictures. From your own fall-photo file cabinet. Stored somewhere up in your noggin. Today is pictures from this past Saturday's farmers market. You supply the words.
I have to say a few things of course. But you knew that. These green beans could not be passed up and so were a rather unconventional side dish for hamburgers at dinner on Sunday.
I was not close enough to overhear this conversation, but am learning to read lips and I think this is what they were saying. The lady in the black shirt was telling her friend how good her poached eggs were for breakfast. The man in the red shirt said he wished he would have ordered them. Mr. white shirt was taking notes so he wouldn't forget to order them, and Mrs. red pants was asking if they still had blueberry pancakes on the menu.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the market, red glasses in wedges is telling backpack in boots that she forgot her wallet and wonders if he has any cash.
I did not eat poached eggs or blueberry pancakes for breakfast, nor did I forget my wallet. Here is what I bought.
Along with this bouquet. With those gorgeous green and red stems that look as beautiful as the flowers and foliage on top.
Because of my extremely orderly and regimented nature, I feel compelled to show photos from last week's farmers market before moving on to what I saw today. I would let it go and forget all about last week's market except there are some important things you need to see. For example... did you know there was such a thing as an eight ball zucchini?
Or that in addition to genetic code, a key difference between males and females is that boys like to muck around in puddles and girls like to carry umbrellas? This would likely not be born out in a scientific study or even a questionnaire, but it was so last week in my observation of these two.
There was also the first sighting of ornamental cabbage.
And a delightfully orange turban squash. Who has cooked one? And how did you do it? Something this pretty has to be good. Right?
With my purchases, I made a batch of carrot ginger soup and an apple cake from America's Test kitchen. If you have never made the soup. It is a WINNER. The apple cake was OK. I can't believe I am going to say this, but it was too dense for me. I know. Heresy. But it was. That doesn't mean I didn't eat it. The best thing I learned when making it though was about reducing apple cider. Which makes a delightful addition to a cocktail.
In the reading arena while I was away, I read Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf which I did not love like I loved Plainsong and Eventide. BUT, my friend Mary Joan liked it very much. It's a fast read and you may like it. I also worked my way through Dear Mr. You by Mary Louise Parker which had some high points. Lots of them really. But it's kind of like living constantly in the fast lane. Luckily the format of the book is a series of letters. So you can read one or two and put it down for a bit.
Let me bring you up to speed on what has been happening at the farmers market the last few weeks. I'll be brief. In a word ... sunflowers.
There were also pumpkins, a bit of crooning, and apples.
And these amazing cabbages! Which had me thinking of majolica and needlepoint pillows. And Andrea's cabbage rolls.
The first butternut squash was bought and roasted and make into a fall salad.
But mostly it was about sunflowers. And this cute girl.
I was real glad I got to the bucket before she did.
Or there wouldn't have been enough for me to bring these home to enjoy. And I certainly have. Enjoyed the heck out of 'em to be precise.
In addition to the snapdragons and zinnias from Madeline, I also got this lovely arrangement Saturday at the market. Why just have one bouquet when you can have two?
The dahlia is what drew me to this one, but also the lovely mums.
And what about that celosia? It reminds me of a lovely fabric you would made some sort of fancy ball gown out of.
And when the light hits it just right it turns from pink to orange to gold.
I have not typically been a huge fan of celosia, but this one here has me singing a different tune.
This is Jo. I made her acquaintance Saturday morning at the farmers market. I almost dropped my basket when I saw her hat. She won the award for "best sense of style" at the market today. Hands down. No one else came close.
There was also winter squash and a man selling watermelons despite his injured foot. I felt certain there was a good story behind the need for crutches but I thought better of asking. Sometimes you just have that feeling it's best to zip the lip.
I was glad to see a good selection of heirloom tomatoes because I needed to supplement what we grew in order to make my tomato pie this weekend.
Katie, Madeline's sister was home and helping out at the market today. She lives in the big city now (New York) but the farmers market is in her DNA and she couldn't stay away.
These are the snap dragons and zinnias they arranged just for me.
These serious musicians were giving it their all as I wandered by. I will keep this photo in my file of "people who are going to hit it big one day". They might need it in a future special of how they got their start.
I spotted a "new to me" variety of spinach and picked up a bag.
This is the first box of decorative gourds I have seen. It made me happy.
These two Cherokee purples and one Georgia stripe are the heirlooms I ended up bringing home.
Another lovely Saturday at the market. The mornings are getting cooler here. Even with highs in the 90's the last several days our temperatures have started out about 60. Perfect for walking, and marketing, and especially for having an extra day off.
On Saturday, at the farmers market, while I was busy making goo-goo eyes at this amazing bougainvillea ...
... a lady came and selected the best dahlia at the market.
But, before you start feeling sorry for me, it made for a great conversation starter with this student who also happens to be a Friday night bouquet maker at the Pendleton's farm ...
... and he led me to the second most beautiful dahlia at the market. After which I saw this fella. And got all melty inside.
Some of my other favorite sights this weekend were the eggplants, the fresh juice-maker, the madison peaches, and tables full of apples.
I have a new recipe I want to try for an apple cake this fall. But before I head in that direction, I decided to try these blondee's. A new variety to me. Which I will report back on in detail after I bite into one.
Aren't these little miniature watermelons cute? Except they aren't watermelons. And no, I didn't get any. If you have tried them, do tell.
I am addicted to peaches and blueberries with muesli this year. Or peaches and blueberries with yogurt and granola. And sometimes when that isn't enough peaches in a day, I slice more peaches and top them with a whisper of whipped cream and have them for dessert after dinner. A taste so good, the memory will carry you through until pumpkin season.
I dearly hope you have fresh peaches available where you are, if not, I apologize for the cravings that this post may create.
First thing this morning at the farmers market I saw this lady, giving in to the natural instinct to sniff a fresh peach.
She apologized for messing up my photo. Then I told her SHE made the photo and asked her to do it again. Which she did.
The blackberries in the morning sun and a gorgeous orange tomato were the next things my eyes fell on.
And then, I spotted her.
And her sister.
And I wanted to say "I haven't seen my great nieces and nephews for awhile would it be OK if I gave you each a giant squeezer hug?" But I did not. I just asked to take their photo and their cute mom was most obliging.
Don't you love the table cloth under these flowers? Not to mention that fabulous, rusted, bottle-carrier the jars are displayed in.
This watermelon grower was counting up his sales. Hoping he had enough for whatever it is he is planning to buy with the earnings. Bike? Computer? I don't know what 12 year old boys want/need/dream about buying.
Last stop for the morning was to get my peaches.
I came home fully prepared to have to toss my breakfast peach in a skillet with a sprinkle of brown sugar to soften it up before topping it with yogurt and granola.
But I took a bite and found the texture and taste to my liking, exactly as it was. I haven't done yogurt on peaches for breakfast before. But I will be doing it again. Tomorrow. And actually every single day until these peaches are gone.
Then it was time to move on to the red pepper, Anaheim pepper, and kale.
All chopped up, with a can of black beans added, along with a vinaigrette with cumin and garlic. Lunch for the coming week done. Check.
Then I moved on to the porch-sitting part of Saturday. Looking through recipe books. Tomorrow is Lemon Bar Sunday. In case you didn't know. Get your engines started.
Tomatoes were well represented at the market today. Heirlooms. Big, beautifully irregular, with cracks and such.
I went for the ox heart heirloom below. Front and left. BLT's are on the menu tonight. First time this summer.
It was 70 degrees and sunny this morning. Unheard of in July in Kansas. The perfect weather for a dress, apron, and hat.
The peaches were also looking good today.
Those will have to wait until next week to come home with me. The basket was too full by the time I spotted them.
It's important to only buy what you can cook AND eat in a week.
I was intrigued by the bitter melons. The farmer selling them told me they were like a combination between a green bell pepper and dandelion greens. Say what? Will give you the 4-1-1 on this new-to-me food item, as soon as I figure out what to do with it. I only bought one.
Gosh it was good to be back at "my" market after a 2 week hiatus. Beginning Saturday with good people always gets the weekend off to a great start.
Before I head to the farmers market in the morning, here are a few glimpses from the market on Lummi island, as well as some of Charlotte and her fresh flower stand, located (handily) one turn up the road from our cottage on the island.
We stopped on our first night on the island and every few days after that. The Shasta daisy's are like mutants there. Big, white, gorgeous, standing straight up on sturdy stems in large groupings.
One evening, after our 2nd our 3rd stop, Charlotte came out from her garden to chat. "Six" came with her.
She and her family have been on this land for 50 years. She was kind enough to answer all my questions and we discussed the differences in growing flowers on the island and in Kansas.
I had never seen or heard of Godetia before. Stunning.
Oh I do love a bouquet of sweet peas. Almost as much as I loved the brown sugar short bread we bought from these two at the farmers market and that pretty pottery mug. Which I did not buy because I already have way too many. But that did not stop me from admiring it. We did also get a little carton of the most delicious raspberries ever. It was a small market, nothing like the one in Lawrence. Enjoyable, none the less.
For the rest of my life, this image of the sign for Charlotte's flowers, will call to mind a perfect moment of simple happiness. Happy weekend all. Hope your Saturday and Sunday are filled with many good moments. No matter what you are doing.
Since I am "zinnia rich" these days, I enjoyed getting a totally different bouquet from Madeline (the zinnia wizard) at the market last weekend. Lord help me these little red flowers with the white things sticking up in the middle are amazing! If anyone knows what they are, please do enlighten me.
In combination with the red and white snapdragons the whole thing was pretty spectacular.
And the gomphrena! They are on the list of seeds for next year.
So many flowers to get better acquainted with. But now I am off to finish packing. Then dive into bed. Sister and I are meeting up in Seattle tomorrow morning to head up to Lummi Island for 10 days of laughing, exploring, star-gazing, drawing, painting, and who knows what else. In the event that WiFi is limited, I will be posting on Instagram. Sweet dreams and happy weekend!
Yellow flowers, in all makes and models, were front and center at the Farmers Market on Saturday in Lawrence.
Blackberries, cherry tomatoes, and the cutest summer squash you ever saw in your life were also available to buy.
This industrious farmer in training was bagging up sweet corn as fast as she could. Please note that her necklace was not slowing her down one little bit.
But, lets get back to the flowers. Conversation overheard as I was walking up to look at all of them.... "THESE are much more important than vegetables".
A mixed bouquet of yellow was just what I needed. I couldn't decide between three different varieties. So I did what any sensible person would do - and bought all three.
Seriously, they were 3 for ten dollars. It was clearly a best buy.
I am off to saute these beauties with garlic and parsley - side dish to the smoked brisket and potato salad Chris is making. We are gearing up to watch this documentary on the History channel tonight about Amelia Earhart. As dad would say "it's gonna be a hot time in the old town tonight!"
For me, there is as much enjoyment in trying to figure out what to do with my farmers market buys, as actually going to the market, and hanging with my people. This week Nancy brought a shredded carrot salad to work from Andre's, a KC favorite lunch spot. It was completely delicious. All about the carrots with a bit of parsley and a very light dressing that stayed in the background. I knew I was going to try and copy it.
After washing, peeling, and shredding (I wasn't sure if using the food processor was a good idea or not, but it worked perfectly), I chopped the parsley and got to work on a dressing.
I had looked in all my cookbooks to find something similar to use as a guide, but came up empty. Until I searched on-line and found this. Which was delightful reading by the way even if you don't want the recipe.
In the end, Chris and I both found the salad good. Not great. I added some chopped cashews on top because I think cashews and carrots go together well. The lemon juice was too acidic for my liking - the next time I am going to try a champagne vinegar, I will not add the tiny touch of dijon, I am going to substitute honey for the sugar, and add maybe a tablespoon of creme fraiche. Alternately, I could go to Andre's and see if they sell the dressing for the salad and use it. But what fun would that be?
Today was an exceptionally good morning at the market. It was sunny and 64 degrees at 7:10 am when I pulled into my parking spot. The one that says "reserved for Carol" in red letters. In my mind.
Madeline and I got caught up on everything that has happened in each others worlds since we saw each other last summer. I like having a 16 year old zinnia-growing friend.
Cabbages, beets,and kohlrabi were on display. Plus giant hanging garlic.
I bought cucumbers from an extremely cute red-headed girl with a very sweet smile, and flowers with a flag from Karen to kick off the 4th of July decorating.
When I arrived at the Mellowfields Farm booth, I was just in time to get the last head of lettuce. And my usual kale, and an amazing basket of green beans.
Right when I was getting ready to leave I spotted these two. Such friendly faces and a great sense of style.
They don't know it yet but we might be destined to be friends. I have a sixth sense about these things.
This week it was ALL about the flowers at the farmers market. And the really nice people selling them.
I have it on the highest authority that we are at this moment, and for the next several weeks, in the height of flower season right here in Lawrence.
I plan to take full advantage, and fill all the available spaces in my life with blooms.
Mere photos can not do justice to the abundance at the market this week. All colors and textures were on display.
For the record, I did buy other stuff as well. Since I haven't figured out how to eat flowers for lunch, yet.
And one last thing... you could get some therapy for your back at the market this week too.
Conventional or unconventional methods available. At your own risk of course.
The things that I like best about this weeks bouquet from the farmers market, in no particular order are: they fit well in the Ken Klostermeyer pottery pitcher, the flowers rise up to meet the fabric pom poms hanging over the table, the amazing blues, the bright yellows, the fact that no one will notice a hole in your tablecloth with flowers like that to look at, and finally that every time I look at them they make me happy.
That's what I call good value for your money.
There were lovely flowers to celebrate my return to the farmers market after a two week absence, plus blueberries from my favorite blueberry growing family.
Madeline's zinnias have also returned to the market. The very essence of the colors of summer.
Conversations were happening. I think these two were talking about how to flip omeletts or it could have been a friendly debate regarding the preferred method of boiling eggs.
There were some lovely onions, which reminds me I have not made any pickled cucumbers and red onions yet this year.
I saw these angel wing begonias and broke my vow NOT to do any this year after the past two years where they have looked good for about 6 or 8 weeks and then gone down the tubes.
If any of you are angel wing begonia experts do give me your advice. I have tried to be especially mindful not to over-water, but maybe that is it? I have always had them in pots on my front porch where they get a bit of morning sun but shade in the very hottest part of the day.
Couples had not stopped holding hands in my absence, and cute girls are still bringing their pups with them as meander through the booths. Which makes me very happy.
Basket contents above. My refrigerator is full of greens and I am glad to report that in Lawrence Kansas, all is right with the world again.
Eyes were on the sky Saturday morning at the farmers market.
For extremely good reasons. Wind, wind, and wind!
It was literally "blowin' up a storm". Which we are used to in Kansas.
Feet were on tent poles, canopy saving moves were being made, and all hands were on deck to avoid umbrella disasters.
Right when I got to Mimi's booth her sign came clattering down, and it was time to head home. When I described in dramatic detail (sound effects included) the experience to Chris he said "well it's a good thing you came home when you did... safety first". To which I replied "no, actually it's peonies first... safety second".
Happily, Karen was there this morning so I could make my purchase. About an hour after I got home things blew over in my neighborhood and I went out on the front porch for coffee. While I was sipping I came upon this great read, which I pass along in case you would enjoy reading it with your morning coffee tomorrow!
It was overcast and cool on Saturday at the farmers market. Weather does not deter diehards from coming. Those of us who need greens and strawberries and conversation.
This is Nora, I came upon her as she was licking what I thought was frosting off a cookie. Turns out it was hummus off a cucumber slice. She won the best dressed prize for her winning combination of boots and jacket.
Purple daikon radishes are pretty! Almost as lovely as the beets.
I roasted the beets and put them in my kale salad this week, along with grated carrots and raisins. The beet greens got wilted along with spinach and oriental greens. If you haven't eaten cooked greens before, try them sometime. I love a nice crunchy salad as much as the next guy, but a big old pot of cooked greens is hard to beat.
This is Mimi. I walked right by her and then without breaking my stride, did a U turn after reading her sign. I did not think twice about selecting peach over blackberry for my pie. It's going to work on Monday. Palliative care nurses know about life being short. Maybe we will start having dessert for breakfast every Monday. Or maybe one Monday a month while Mimi is making pies.
There might not have been any sun in the sky on Saturday morning, but all the sunshine I needed was right here in these buckets.
And you better believe I brought plenty home with me.
This weeks bouquet. Because I KNOW you want to see it. From every angle possible.
Even their finale is something quite spectacular to behold.
The first strawberries at the farmers market are ALWAYS a treat. Especially so this year, when our Spring weather has been uncooperative with sudden cold snaps right when it's time for picking. Every single one of these was perfection. Nary a dud in the bunch. AND red all the way through. I am hoping for an equally good basket next week.
In addition to great tunes and a spectacular mounding of radishes, there were lots of tomatoes to choose from this week. Except we are going to have to wait until we get home from vacation this year to start ours. We don't want to plant and then leave them on their own for a week before they get a good foundation. It's good to experiment. That's what I am telling myself anyway.
There was no shortage of pretty flowers this week, as well as a cute boy carrying his hand-made ninja doll with orange yarn hair in his mini baby carrier. It's important to have your hands free in case your mom needs you to hold a cookie at the market. And quick! can one of you advise me on what to make with mustard greens?
Fern + impatience + begonia + super cool coleus = award for best Mothers Day flowers that will last on the porch all summer long.
Speaking of colorful beauty... how about this? There is something so wonderful about a grouping of well loved threads, all mixed together, waiting to be stitched into who knows what for sure.
This basket belongs to Pam from Prairie Found Farms, creator of gourd garlands and many beautiful hand made items. One of these Saturdays I am going to pull up a chair and just watch her stitch. For hours.
Here is what jumped into my basket at the market this week. I love unpacking it, thinking about how it will all be used this week.
There is nothing that beats a bag of tender freshly picked lettuce for salads with dinner. Unless of course, it happens to be the first kale salad of the season that you are taking for lunch every day this week.
The Lawrence Farmers market is as much about the people I see there, as it is about the things I buy there. Like this young couple from Leavenworth. Who I hadn't seen before, but my eyes were drawn to the oriental greens they had on sale, and then to the name of their farm, and finally to this farmer who clearly cares about what he is selling and wants me to enjoy it.
And my friend from Pendleton's farm whose name I don't know, but is always smiling, and helped me pick out a blue false indigo for my garden.
Or this couple whose peonies had my name written all over them.
Or the guitar player with the soulful, strong voice, who I could have sat and listened to all morning.
Then there are all the people who I don't talk to but I try to imagine what they are talking about.
And I haven't even mentioned all these cute girls getting started early on a tradition of Saturday morning at the market.
I came home with a full basket and that extremely corny, good feeling inside that comes from connecting with your people. On a weekend morning. When the sun is shining.
Sometime, in your life, I hope you get the chance to go out into a field and pick asparagus. And if, while you are there, you get to see a girl in a sun bonnet, well so much the better.
A work commitment kept me from my appointed rounds at the farmers market on Saturday.
So I was pretty happy to be able to go out to Pendleton's Market and get my weekly produce. It's amazing to see asparagus just popping up out of the ground.
Initially you might wonder how you could possibly fill up a basket.
But you can, in no time at all. It's a family affair, and if you want, you can also take a tractor ride out to the field and Mr. Pendleton will school you in the fine art of picking.
There were all sorts of things growing in the field and "along about July" they will have 9 different kinds of potatoes ready for digging. Raise your hand if you've always wanted to try that.
We made a stop at the tent for greens too. My hands were flying through the spinach, chard, and bok choy.
Then I came home and soaked and stemmed and chopped and lunch for the week was prepared.
I loved listening to these kids ask "which one is the spinach?" and "is that lettuce?" Such a great experience for them.
In addition to all that gastronomic goodness, they most definitely have treats for the eyes at Pendleton's. If you are into succulents, they have a great selection and some wonderful ideas for how to put them together. And don't even get me started on the combinations of flowers put together in pots.
P.S. did I mention I got to pet a kitty? Pure bliss.
On Easter Saturday at the farmers market I saw rhubarb, superman eating kettle corn, and a jayhawk with a head feather.
There was colorful coleus, a future contestant for the Westminster Dog show, and Karen listened carefully to a gardening question before rendering an opinion on the problem.
Asparagus were available for Easter dinner, I saw a cute Easter outfit, there were flowers for a centerpiece, and oh yes, the handpie girls were there again.
I came home with a basket full of good things to eat, plant, look at, smell, and just plain old enjoy.
Including a handpie. An apple cheddar rosemary handpie, to be specific.
Today was the opening of the farmers market in Lawrence. Maybe in your town too? If so, I hope your weather was as perfect as it was here today. Sunny and breezy with blue skies and puffy white clouds.
Market season means it's time for streamers, flowers, and planter boxes that I must consider how to use.
...and girls in flowery dresses with coats and sandals. You can count on good fashion tips at the market.
Hello johnny jump-ups, ginormous dog, and farm fresh eggs.
Neither a strawberry hand pie nor an orange scone came home with me today. But next week may be a whole different story.
It's hard to decide if the spring flowers or the amber colored honey with the sun shining through it won the prize for the most beautiful item at the market today. I got some of each.
Here's to another season of new adventures at the Saturday morning market, discovering new ways to enjoy locally grown foods, wandering around seeing whats what and who's who. I will be bringing the best of what I find here. Just for you.
It was not an easy task to narrow down my favorite photos from all of the strolls I took through the Lawrence Farmers Market in 2016. But it was extremely enjoyable looking through each one again; trying to arrange them into a pleasing whole.
My aim was to convey that the Lawrence Kansas Farmers market is more than the flowers, the produce, and the people. It has a spirit that is all it's own. You can touch it as soon as you cross New Hampshire street and begin to mingle, basket on the arm, happy to be here, looking for whatever finds you.
Dear co-workers: I am sorry to report that at the Lawrence holiday farmers market this past weekend I encountered a very nice Swedish woman who was selling her very special tea rings.
This means you will be forced to help me eat it this week. I know we agreed that we would slow down on the holiday treats, but what could I do?
All the farmers were so nice and the Bee Man had a tuxedo on.
There were wreaths that could be adorned to your liking, frosted sugar cookies, and a tree of birdies made from yarn that were oh so clever.
This lady did not have a crocheted jacket for sale or I would have bought it. Isn't it lovely?
This little miss, whose Dad obviously knows how to pick his battles, made me laugh out loud. In his defense, it was before 9am. On a Saturday morning.
In addition to the Swedish tea ring, I found a great rag rug which everyone needs to go by their back door in the winter when it's sloppy outside. Plus some of Karen Pendleton's hand-painted gourd ornaments.
A few bags of fresh spinach came home with me too. Because there is nothing better than a simple fresh spinach salad, with chopped egg, red onion, and a drizzle of honey mustard dressing. Especially when a large portion of one's calories for the day have already been allotted for the consumption of the Swedish tea ring.
Saturday was a mitt and scarf day at the farmers market. Early spring and late fall markets are my favorite. Cool mornings. Changes in seasons. All that stuff.
This man is a regular shopper. Always walking with a purpose. Always getting his business done and getting back to his job at one of the local restaurants downtown. I think he is a baker. But I could just be making that up.
Friendly hat wearers, colorful jams and jellies, and excellent greens were other things I spotted this weekend.
I never know what I am going to take pictures of at the market. But I know it when I see it. A cute girl toddler in pony tails and a hat wearing boy toddler looking for something in his mom's pocket both caught my eye this week.
And of course the flowers. They always need to be photographed. Karen had peach, red, and pink dahlias in her bouquets this week.
I passed by all of them and went for the yellow/red combination dahlia. Maybe because it had a sunflower and that super cool reddish purple feathery stuff in the bouquet as well. All I know for sure is I bought it first and walked it back to the car before I did the rest of my shopping.
Some weeks I am okay tempting fate. Other weeks I like to play it safe.
Pretty radishes, pumpkins, and flowers were on display at the farmers market this morning.
I was very glad to see the True Vine blueberry ladies because stocking up on blueberry jam for the winter was on my list of things to do today. Their pink toned hoodies and smiling faces were a bonus.
I had already purchased sweet potatoes, peppers, and kale and was getting ready to leave the Mellowfields Urban farm booth when I spotted this fellow carefully surveying the tomatoes. I stood back to watch which resulted in my deciding I needed a Georgia Peach and Johnson Red for BLT's this week. It seems late in the year for a BLT, but with tomatoes that look this good what could I do? When you sit back and listen to a current and former tomato grower talk about their craft, it makes you want to eat tomatoes.
Would you get a look at this giant dahlia? I almost fell over when I saw it.
I roasted red peppers, sweet potatoes, and red onion today. This will sound very strange, but I love roasting vegetables and putting them on salads in the fall. This week I had romaine lettuce, celery, egg, roasted butternut squash, and sunflower seed salads. Completely delicious.
I did not come home with any pro carved Jack-o-lanterns. But I did think about it. For a minute. Or maybe two.
Squash was front and center at the farmers market today. It was 70 degrees when I arrived at 8:09 am. People were smiling. And sneezing. Apparently I am not the only one with "ragweed problems" who eagerly anticipates the first frost each year. Rest easy though, this post contains no scary ahhhh-chooo photos.
This young merchant, whose proceeds are going into a college fund was artfully arranging his produce.
These globes of tomato goodness were quite appealing to they eye, and had I not already placed tomatoes in my basket, I may have gotten them.
Remember that wee ironing board from a few weeks ago? Just when I thought it couldn't get any cuter... it was joined today by a teeny weeny shopping cart. Oh Katharine Ray how I needed you with me today.
This was my first glimpse of BIG pumpkins. For the record that cute boy with hair and socks that matched the pumpkin just happened to walk by and I did not pay him to be in the photo.
I came home with a most unusual market bouquet. Amaranth, ornamental cabbage, hot peppers, and some very sweet little white flowers. A perfect accompaniment to the table of pumpkins.
These Cherokee purple heirloom tomatoes are on the menu for supper tonight. Think pumpernickel bread, roast beef, cream cheese, tomato jam, salt and pepper. Maybe a frito or two on the side and a nice glass of zinfandel. We are sophisticated diners. Chris and I.
I don't know what I will do with these pears yet. Probably just eat 'em. With a hunk of blue cheese and maybe some of that no-knead bread with lots of seeds.
After a two week absence, I was glad to get back to my farmers market Saturday am. I missed my people. My fellow early risers, eager to get out and see just what our farmer friends are coaxing from the earth.
The zinnia's this year have been absolutely beautiful, and of course none more artfully arranged than Madeline's.
Right next door at Pam's booth was this gorgeous bunch of gourds, which have nothing in common with zinnias except for the fact that they are just as beautiful.
My discovery this week at the market were Grimes Golden apples. They apparently originated in Virginia in 1832 on the farm of Thomas Grimes, and are the probable parent of the Golden Delicious. That's what I read about them anyway.
This nice man, who grew them just south of Eudora, described them to me as a sweet/tart/cidery tasting apple. So of course I had to get some.
I also came home with these which were turned into the season's first batch of butternut squash soup by 1pm Saturday. We made fajitas with the red, green, and yellow peppers I bought, and the Genovese heirloom tomatoes will be going on BLT's later in the week. Deviled eggs rounded out the weekend cooking when Chris came home from the store with a dozen because he didn't know that I bought a dozen at the market. Can you have too many eggs? Dottie, don't you answer that question.
Yes, this is a teeny tiny ironing board. Yes, there is a teeny tiny iron on it. Yes, I about died when I saw it. Died from being overcome by cuteness.
The bee man had his antennae hat on today, the master gardener was advising, and the cello player made me swoon. A regular Saturday morning at the Farmers Market in Lawrence Kansas.
My favorite garland maker/embroiderer (Pam from Prairie Found Farm) was busy today at her booth. Will you look at that stuff in her giant bowl? She told me she is having an open house the first weekend in November. Mark your calendars if you live in the area.
Watermelon and cantaloupe have made it to the market. Sunflowers too.
There was also this cute boy in his green t-shirt with his green snake and a green ear of corn. I wanted to interview him but settled for the photo.
Today at the Farmers market I witnessed profound indecision, muscled my way through crowds at the peach table, saw a cute blonde toddler, was influenced to buy carrots because I liked the sign, and heard a trio of angels singing "What a Wonderful World". That was all in the first 10 minutes.
Upon my return home, I unpacked my basket, arranged my flowers, made carrot-ginger soup, washed and chopped tomatoes, made this greek orzo salad, and once again added cucumbers like I did last time.
After all that I needed a nap. So I took one.
P.S. I also found the home of the hermit crabs today. Thank goodness. I have been wondering where they lived.
Since returning from Sweden I am getting back into old routines here at Tall Tales Headquarters. I went to the farmers market on Saturday where I saw tuberoses, the first peaches of the season, Rapunzel, and a nice selection of fairy gardens. Fairy gardens #!*
I also saw elderberries, which apparently you have to cook before eating. My only elderberry experience to date is St. Germain which is made from elderberry flowers. Hmmm. Something worth investigating.
After unloading my basket and arranging the flowers, I proceeded to make some muesli. Because I have some blueberries to eat and it seemed like the perfect thing to go with them. I decided on a small batch because I wasn't really sure what I was doing. 1 cup oatmeal and some rough chopped almonds - toasted, a few tablespoons of a flax/chia mix, chopped dried apricots, raisins, pumpkin seeds, a pinch each of cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
Oh, it's good. Really good. I should have made more. After adding the fresh fruit and milk I squeezed some honey on top. Next time I am going to use hazelnuts too. Dottie reminded me of this when I was telling her about my experimentation. She knows about muesli from her travels through Germany.
One kale salad and practice drawing of Mary Ann and myself later and it feels like a regular Saturday. Hard to believe last week at this time I was standing under an awning, in the rain, waiting for the #2 bus in Stockholm.
Say, did you know that tuberoses give off their fragrance in the evening? Even when they are inside? How amazing is that? How do they know when it's the right time? Inquiring minds want to know.
If you had been with me at the farmers market today you would have seen sunflowers, 2 boys with their bikes and their dog, and my friend Elinor in a cute t-shirt.
You would have spotted the first sweet corn of the season, been captivated by a very nice farmer selling cucumbers (so much so that you purchased 6), and it's likely you would have bought a jar of zinnias. You can not have too many jars of zinnias.
You would have seen lard for sale at the market for the first time ever and might have even contemplated buying some to try using it in a pie crust. But then changed your mind. You would have walked by a super cool orange and eggplant colored lily, and observed two nice ladies with pretty white hair trying to decide if they needed to buy farm fresh eggs this week or not.
Had you been with me today, you most certainly would NOT have seen this doggie. Because he was not at the market today. He was at the market last week but I forgot to put his picture in that post so I am adding it today. Because he was very fluffy and extremely well behaved.
Your basket contents might have looked like this when you unpacked after getting home. Then we would have sat out back in the shade, had a cup of coffee, and talked about what you were going to make out of everything you bought. That's what would have happened. If you had gone to the market with me today.
I went overboard on flowers at the market this week. You would have done the same if you had seen what was there for the buying.
I decided it was a good idea to buy flowers for all the rooms in our house.
The gooseneck loosestrife could not be passed up. I don't generally go for an all white arrangement but this one was calling my name. Very LOUDLY. I think it said "I would look great in that creamy tan pottery pitcher you have".
These black-eyed susans begged to go amidst the yarn, sea shells, rocks, books, and candles on the table in the living room.
Zinnias from Madeline in the kitchen. Where they belong. So I can examine them very closely. Every single time I walk by.
I would like the record to reflect that I did not buy any peonies in cups.
Although I probably should have. To put right up here next to my computer. In the art room. What was I thinking?
This weekend at the market I had to made a trip back to the car to drop off produce so I would have enough hands to carry flowers. Such a lovely problem to have.
It ended up working out very well because on the way back from drop off #1, I ran into this fellow.
Our paths cross regularly at the market. He is generally leaving as I am heading in. He always has two bags of cookies with him. Not one and never three. Always two. Maybe next week I'll talk with him. Right now we are just smile and nod friends.
There were fresh blackberries and blueberries at the market this week.
On the music venue you could choose between zydeco and bluegrass. I had a helping of each.
There were beets, carrots, and green beans that I had to pass up. Too many other ideas for foods to prepare.
I spotted my pal Dianne buying tomatoes from Madeline, who I was delighted to see back at the market this week. It was the first time I had seen her this year. The Angie in me worries about all sorts of possible calamities when someone is out of what I think is their usual routine. She is fine. In case you were concerned too.
If you have blueberries where you live right now, you gotta make this blueberry snack cake.
It's my very favorite thing to do with fresh blueberries.
In addition to throwing them in salads, eating them with yogurt, and adding them to oatmeal.
Come to think of it, I don't have an un-favorite way to eat blueberries.
There was some "London Bridge is Falling Down" going on at the farmers market Saturday. Games with giggling girls are the best. The garlic scapes looked interesting (I must look up what to do with them), there were peonies by the stem, and the coffee girls were rocking it out at the Repetition booth this week.
My eyes landed on gorgeous bunches of carrots, gooseberries , and a dynamic grandfather/granddaughter duo from Taylor farms in Baldwin Kansas.
Unusual yellow flowers and beets were bundled up and waiting for good homes to go to.
And just when I though I had seen all there was to see. I saw this. A serious case of CE. Also known as "Cookie Excitement".
Which you know led to this.
In my defense, it was a breakfast cookie as you can clearly see.
Plus, I was worn out after unloading my basket.
My camera landed on a bunch of boys at the farmers market this weekend. Boys buying tomatoes and boys in lime green crocs searching for puddles.
There were also beautiful arrangements of greens, peonies to buy by the stem, and a giant head of cabbage.
Brothers holding hands were my favorite boys, but I also liked the one playing music just fine, and the one carrying greens under his arm in a berry pretty bag looked like a helpful sort.
This Spider-Man shirt, Jayhawk short, cookie-eating boy was most decidedly uninterested in chatting with me. And I blamed him not one bit.
I left all those boys at the market, choosing instead to bring home cauliflower, asparagus, lettuce, and kale.
Oh and let's not forget these. I felt a little "piggish" getting so many, but the lady I bought them from assured me there was no such things as "piggishness" when it comes to peonies.
You will notice I have taken to carrying my basket to the market. It worked a little better than the bag in my opinion. Easier to put things into and I can also nestle the camera in there easily if needed.
Because I don't think people all around the world understand how extremely wholesome and good looking people in Kansas are, I present "cat-eyes" and "dimples". I was getting ready to leave the market on Saturday when I spotted them. I saw her glasses first as I walked by and decided to be bold and ask if I could take their picture. As you can see, they said yes.
More cute people coming up later on today's post, but first I present edible flowers, the singing storyteller, and flowers for smelling. And looking at.
I walked by this trio who had samples of kale salad to try. I told them I was a kale salad making expert already. They said they needed an expert to render an opinion. So I stopped. I tasted. And I learned something. Something I will incorporate into what I am making with the bundle of kale I bought this week from Jennifer. I did not buy radishes because I did not anticipate that Chris was going to make tacos this week and that I would want to pickle some. Drat. Nor did I buy a drink to put a straw in though I did like the straws an awful lot.
I almost succumbed to the coral charm peony but did not. Nor did I bring home any little girls or doggie treats although they also looked appealing.
Here is what I did get. Flowers. Kale. Rainbow chard. Eggs. Spinach. I have plans for it all.
Oh and a new find. Morning moonshine. Which I took to the Mulvenon family picnic on Saturday. It was quickly polished off by the iced coffee drinkers in attendance.
It lasted 6 hours. I guess I should buy 2 bottles next week? Or just go back to my tried and true method of cold brewing using the french press.
As I made my way through the booths at the farmers market this weekend, searching for strawberries, I saw romaine lettuce that was lit by early morning sunbeams, beautiful pots of flowers backlit by that same golden light, and sweetly sewn lavender dolls.
Just when I thought I had struck out, and there were no strawberries to be had, Pam - the lavender lady who sews like a dream, alerted me to a vendor that might have some.
I knew I was on the right path when I spotted Catgirl carefully removing a stem before popping a red gem right into her little mouth. There to the side, hidden from view by the flour and a small horde of fellow strawberry seekers, they appeared. The object of my desire.
I patiently waited in line and snapped up 3 pints when it was my turn. As I turned to go I spotted Catgirl (who might really be Owlgirl on closer inspection) and gave her a nod of appreciation for showing me the way.
She was playing it cool in the shades, but I saw her wink at me in solidarity as I walked by.
We served these for dessert, stems still on, accompanied by dark chocolate and some of that smoky sweet carmel-ly Spanish sherry that I have become a fan of. I also like them dipped in creme fraiche or sour cream and sprinkled with a dusting of brown sugar. Mmmmmmmmm. Good.
There were lots of things for mothers at the farmers market on Saturday.
If Angie would have been with me we would have gotten one of these crepes to split. A sweet one for sure. As I passed by, I enjoyed listening to the crepe maker talk about how he got started in the business.
Other things that caught my eye were blanket flowers, running boys in shorts, rhubarb, and peonies. All things Angie would have liked too.
Next week I think I am going to try bringing a basket to carry things in. People that use them seem like they know what they are doing. I will report back after my scientific evaluation of purchase toting methods.
This is the embarrassment of riches that came home with me this week. Butter lettuce, asparagus, chard, and kale. I think that should be enough greens to get me through the week, if I ration them carefully.
There was also this flower arrangement that included a coral charm peony. I introduced it to the new vase purchased last week at Art in the Park. I think they like each other.
Rain on a Saturday morning never deters the serious Farmers Market lovers. There are many ways to deal with a little precipitation. This week I observed the puddle jumpers, umbrella lovers, those who believe in a good jacket with a hood, and of course the ball cap wearers which I count myself among.
I thought for 10 seconds about getting back into bed and skipping this week, and then thought about what I might miss.
Turns out I would have missed some beautiful collard greens. Plus I needed eggs and of course FLOWERS!
I turned these greens into Molly Katzen's recipe for bitter greens, sweet onions, and tart cherries. Recipe included in this post from last year. If you have not tried it yet, promise me you will. I just read somewhere that eating greens adds many years to your life.
But the real reason to make it is because the combination of the tart cherries, sweet onions, and greens is just flat out good. And it makes a perfect thing to take to lunch when you spoon it into one of these.
Because jam jars are not just for pudding and soup.
Today at the Farmers Market I spotted a new type of lettuce. I like the name of it very much. Imagine all the beautiful first course salads that could be made with it.
This fellow was more excited at the prospect of selecting a cookie than he was at examining lettuces, and I can't blame him for that.
Nor do I fault this man for holding on tightly to his serving of asparagus for one.
There was coffee, flowers, and herbs and I wandered among it all juggling my bag, my camera, and a nice strong cup of coffee.
I did not purchase any Kale/Broccoli but I did get another one of those heads of Salanova lettuce. This past week I made salads with it along with red pepper, cucumbers, asparagus, a bit of left over smoked gouda cheese, ranch dressing, and sunflower seeds on top. Sublime.
I eavesdropped on experts giving gardening advice and made a new friend this week.
Herbs were purchased to add to the assortment already growing out back and I also came home with some swiss chard to wilt along with spinach this week.
This "jupiter" coleus came home with me as well because I don't have one with curly edges like this on the front porch at Tall Tales headquarters yet. And I am pretty sure I need one.
Saturday morning purchases included all green stuff this week. It's green color season. But not exclusively.
This lady had some stunning AND fragrant lilac bouquets, creative black and blue aprons, and a super squishy baby that was just waiting for me.
The coffee men were nowhere to be found this week, but I did see this crazy tomato plant (that already had fruit on it) AND and an amazing multi-colored jughead hat.
Move over iceberg wedge salads - your new competition is in town. Imagine this on a plate with a creamy white ranch dressing, a sprinkle of bacon, some sunflower seeds, and fresh chives.
Just so you know, underneath is as neat as the top.
There were no asparagus at the market this week. No matter. I went to the asparagus mother ship and snapped some right up. Picked on Friday, eaten on Saturday. Doesn't get better than that. I also talked to this very nice lady about asparagus recipes. I was trying to remember Anne Burrell's last name so I could tell her to look up the specifics for her asparagus/pecorino/red onion salad except my mind was a complete blank. Luckily she thought of it right as I was leaving. Two brains are so much better than one.
These beautiful specimens were dropped in boiling water for a very short 2-3 minutes, after which they were dressed with a tiny bit of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon. Sheer heaven.
The first kale salad of the season was made this week with kale, yellow pepper, mandarin oranges, orzo, and goat cheese.
There is nothing like the taste of that first salad you make with a base of greens from the farmers market.
What I have discovered is that while it is the flavors that are most important, there is also something else that comes along with the first bite. It's a flood of ideas for culinary masterpieces that I may dream up over the course of the next 7 months as I am exposed to fresh locally grown ingredients. To me there is nothing better in the whole world than the feeling that things are possible.
Of course having a big container of salad, in the refrigerator, ready to eat with anything is also pretty good. Especially if you made spicy/sugared slivered almonds to go on top for some crunch.
And did I mention their was a vinaigrette made with orange juice, olive oil, a clove of garlic, a dash of honey, a spoon of sour cream, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper? So good you will want to drink it, but save some for the salad anyway.
