The crisp autumn air has made its debut here and the farmer’s market is in full-blown harvest mode. The stands are a sensory feast of sights, smells and flavors, mmm! This is the sweet spot in the year when you can find summer veggies like eggplant, peppers, tomatoes and zucchini, as well as meats and cheeses, festive fall bouquets and sweet fruits and melons heavy with juice. I got a fruit smoothie to sip while Mom, Hayley and I strolled through the Saturday market in the park and I found an onion that was bigger than my smoothie cup. Mammoth onion excitement! I also learned that broccoli “florets” are just that- flowers! The bunch of broccoli I bought has a few tiny white flowers… I never realized!

I personally always count on the market for some of the best people and puppy watching in the county. This past weekend was no exception and there were many adorable doggies accompanying their humans to do some weekly shopping. We even got a little golden puppy’s picture. Can you say fluffy!?

Eventually my bag was stuffed and I couldn’t fit anymore. When we got home it was lots of fun to spread out our bounty. Food from the farmer’s market is so much more inspiring to me. Saturday night’s dinner consisted of mini twice baked purple potatoes and an aldente sautee of patty pan squash, summer squash/zuchini, sweet bell peppers and broccoli. Yum! Today is the Wednesday city center farmer’s market right by my office. I’ll have to go restock – delicious vegetables disappear fast!

I hope you enjoy some of the sights from Saturday! Blair