Summer's Bounty

Last Sunday I hit up the West Seattle Farmer's Market and it was awash in the vibrant colors of summer and an abundance of community. The heirloom tomatoes beamed in the morning sun as their silky skins of red, yellow, and citrusy orange smiled back at me. Sweet, plump cherries overflowed in their bins and the yet to ripen nectarines were just beginning to warm after waking from their slumber in the coolers. A man with a guitar perched in the corner, hoping for some pennies to drop into his empty case as his voiced drifted above the din of the market. I tell the corner stand every week that they have the best spot, right by the musicians and their soulful songs.

Upon filling my bag with sweet carrots, juicy tomatoes, crisp, cool cucumbers, and the season's freshest fruits, I was overcome with an unexpected pang of homesickness and longing to return home. I know this was instigated by the sweet old man who sold me my cherries, who after weighing them and delicately taking the $4 from my hand, looked right at me and said, "You have nice eyes miss. I hope you don't mind a personal comment like that." I just looked back at him, "Well thank you!" He reminded me so much of my own grandfather who passed away just 3 years ago from Alzheimer's. The cherry man had a very kind and gentle demeanor, just like my grandfather, whose own eyes reflected the trials of the devastating disease that is Alzheimer's.  I couldn't help but think that my own dear grandpa was looking after me and paying me a visit in Seattle. I thought about grandpa a lot since moving here, and I haven't really figured out why. Perhaps its because as I have grown up, my family has spread their roots beyond Missoula and our time together has because less frequent. Going to the markets in Missoula was usually a weekly ritual for my dad, and sister and I throughout the summer and fall. So going to the market in Seattle has been my way of holding onto that tradition.

 Stopping at Great Harvest after the market is becoming a ritual of sorts for me as well, and that also has ties to a Missoula tradition with my dad. Before we discovered my gluten and dairy intolerances, we would pop into the Great Harvest for a free slice of bread and a cold carton of milk....which only spelled disaster for me. Especially since I would spread warm butter and honey on my piece, followed by a long drink of milk. What a horrible idea.........

Never-the-less, I returned from the market with a shopping bag filled to the brim with local produce free of chemicals and pesticides, but full of sunshine and love.

My local purchases: Bag of gluten and dairy free granola, loaf of  GF/DF Cranberry Flax bread from Great Harvest, yukon gold potatoes, sweet carrots, nectarines, tomatoes and sweetheart cherries. *Not pictured: cucumber*

Beautiful potted Zinnia plant from another local market stand. This only cost $10!