The last outdoor market...

was today, and the morning was perfect for it.

The Farmers' Market is always a feast for the eyes.  From black heritage tomatoes

to dark Coronation grapes (can you taste the pie?), everything is home-grown and delicious.

From spices

to vegetables,

the choices are staggering.

The colour is always amazing,

and so is the taste.  For the first time today, I wrapped my mouth around this Cape Gooseberry at Mike and Mo's stand. Nigel told me it was akin to a pina colada, and he was so right!  And the little lantern packaging it arrives in is lovely too.

I thought they were very clever to match their cloth to the produce, or was it vice versa?

There are makers of all sort, from recycled crates

to jams by the truckload,

and even the neck ribbons sing with colour.

 Brenda's lavender hits all the senses with that heavenly smell and textural display.

I think the sign here says it all - home ground and locally grown.  We can be justifiably proud of our local market.

Today I'm especially grateful to be living in the Creston Valley.  What's happening in your area?  Are your markets done, or just getting started?

Bodacious blossoms...

...are rife here in the valley at this time of the year, and there's no better place to see the best of them than at the Farmers' Market, where Jean Syroteuk displays blooms cultivated by her and her husband Merv.

Take a stroll

through Jean and Mervs' booth

from a recent market

to see why I appreciate

their work so much.

Whether individually priced  (look at this COLOUR)

or by the whole bouquet,

nothing says Creston summer

like Jean's floral sprays!

What says summer to you in your area?  

How do you get your summer colours on?

No summer is complete...

...here in Creston without several Saturday morning trips to the Farmers' Market.

From 9 am to 1 pm, the market is open for business at their new location just beside the Chamber of Commerce, rain or shine, although it's pretty much shine from June through August.

From produce

to flowers,

and baked goods

to canned wares,

the market sings with colour.   In each tent, 

you'll find something that will delight your eye,

tempt your taste buds,

or feed your soul.

Are you looking for something new to try?  You'll find it here.

Or do you need some blue to match that special piece of china you're using at this afternoon's tea?  No doubt it's at the market too.

Best of all, it will be locally done, and likely presented by your next door neighbour.

And you can rest assured that you'll catch up on a week's worth of socializing, and feed all your senses at the same time.

What's happening at your local market this summer - are you basking and buying there weekly?

To market,

to market, but buying no pig.

It was great to stop at the  Farmer's Market at Millennium Park this morning and enjoy the wide range of arts and crafts that are available there, along with the produce which is so plentiful right now.

Wynndel Lavender

Not only is the Wynndel Lavender booth beautiful (especially when it comes with colour-coordinated customers), it smells heavenly as well.

Eileen and Anne

 From paintings to scarves,

Jean and her flowers

 to flowers and hand-sewn goods

Pridham Studios pottery

and pottery, the market is a feast for the eyes.

I feel especially blessed to live in a community that is rich in so many of my favourite things.  From farm-fresh-from-the-garden produce to high quality artisans, we call a wonderful valley home.

What do you appreciate about the area in which you live?