A Season of Change...

The Bounty from the last Farmer's Market, October 2010

There is something about this transition from summer to autumn that really affects me. I envision the long months ahead, and the cold, dark days and feel a bit bereft. On Saturday, I went to the last Farmer's Market of the season in my neighborhood. Over the past few months, I have taken great delight in these markets. Whether right down the road from me, or in another town, these are not just places to buy locally grown food. These markets are community centers; a place to socialize with old friends or make new ones. I have had wonderful, fulfilling conversations about food, families and the world at large. I have shared recipes and laughed about life. In a world that is moving faster than I can often keep up with, this is a place to slow down and get my feet on the ground; it is like a walking meditation for me. I feel connected here, to the earth and to people.

Saturday was a beautiful day. Blue sky, wispy clouds and a crispness in the air. There was coffee and the most delicious cinnamon/sugar donuts available from the Springs General Store. A different energy was in the air. I sensed a hushed frenzy of buying. People were lamenting the fact that this was it, the end of the market season. I heard one woman tell her kids that "Mom is going on a cooking tear today", her arms laden with produce. I bought Granny Smith apples, new potatoes, radishes, green beans (which I am freezing), a rag tag collection of tomatoes, zucchini, tiny eggplants, gorgeous carrots, spicy arugula, the cutest little cauliflowers (which the farmer dubbed "Pocket Cauliflowers") that I have ever seen and a jar of the crispest, sweetest homemade Bread and Butter Pickles I have had in a long time. A lot of food for us. I realize of course, that I was trying to stay connected by buying so much; trying to stay connected to the earth, to these people, to this day.

The trick will be actually eating it all. I made a soup in the crock pot yesterday with the following ingredients: lentils, onions, garlic, zucchini, eggplant, cauliflower, broccoli and tomatoes with cumin, salt and pepper. It was a perfect supper with Spanish Rice and homemade bread. It was fulfilling at the end of a long day; real soul food for me.

Slowly but surely, we are moving toward the holidays. It is apparent in the cooler air, I see it on the calendar, and Kmart has Christmas stuff an aisle over from the Halloween costumes. If you are looking for the perfect small gift for a friend, a teacher, your sister or anyone else on your list, please visit my Storefront. I have a number of images available as greeting cards or small prints. I will say Thank You for supporting one of your local artists!

Expect good things....