Walnut Room this way

Walnut Room this way
Rio.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Saturday morning at the Taylor Farmers Market

The morning dawned a coolicious 70 degrees, sunshine, blue skies with just a few fluffy white clouds here and there. I drove out to pick up my new "friend-daughter" (I love that term, just learned it). I have been seeing this truck lost in the kudzu for the last week and wonder how much longer before nothing will be visible. It is a common site here, actually.

One cannot imagine how much kudzu is everywhere--a picture simply does not give an accurate indication of how overwhelming it can be in places.

The farmers market was already getting busy by the time we arrive a bit after 9. I got white bread here, for making tomato sandwiches. I have never had it, but was informed Thursday I have to try one.
There was the usual herbs, truck garden vegetables, especially tomatoes, lots of homemade jams, salsas, and pickles, and quite a variety of breads including white, banana nut, tomato, multi-grain, and strawberry tempted this bread lover.
Peach tea, lemonade, and lots of non-food items rounded out the offering. Jesse makes purses out of potato chip bags, and believe it or not, they were quite beautiful. He folds and weaves the bags so they look like woven leather, but are colorful. It reminded me of all the everyday items in South Africa with which people make functional items, such as crocheting purses out of strips of plastic bags.

Handmade soaps, stained glass, black smith made spoons and other items, jewelry, pictures, and wood turned items rounded out the selections.

Tatum and I bought some soaps, heirloom tomatoes (those are the ones you are supposed to use in your tomato sandwich) and I got beautiful little eggplants and peppers to saute with tomatoes and basil for my lunch.

All of this, and entertainment, too. A lovely country morning.

7 comments:

Gigi said...

I love me a farmer's market! That kudzu is totally out of control!

Suzassippi said...

Ya think? How 'bout I send you some?

Kathi said...

There is nothing like FRESH everything! I'm trying to do as much organic and local as possible-wish there was more of it. Love your pictures. I read about kudzu being like an out of control vampire, sucking the life out of all of the native plants as it goes. It hasn't made it here yet...I guess I should be glad.

Suzassippi said...

That's about the best description of kudzu I have ever heard. LOL It was brought in originally for erosion control. Then they discovered the cows wouldn't eat it and that it grows 12 a day. It has killed whole forests in places and when it goes dormant in winter, it is just one giant gray mass. It currently has reached 3 feet above our fence top as it keeps twining around itself to grow taller until it reaches something to latch onto.

Betty said...

So what's with the truck? Did you check it out? Maybe there's a body in it...

I haven't seen any kudzu around here. Is it native to the south? If I ever get to see you, will you take me to your farmer's market? Looks fabulous!

Suzassippi said...

It's native to Japan. It was brought to the world's fair (I forgot which city) as a "gift" to the US. Mississippi decided it would be great for erosion control--as a friend once said, "an experiment gone horribly wrong."

I assume (I know one should not) that if there was a body in the truck that the folks who live next door to it would have discovered it by now. However, I can stop by and ask if it makes you feel better. :)

Betty said...

Thank you! LOL!