If you would have awakened (it's right, I looked it up; I know, it didn't sound correct to me, either...) to the scene from my window yesterday morning, I think you would have made the same decision I did. It rained all night long, and when the alarm sounded at 7am, I got up and looked out the window: gray, dark, wet. The backyard full of puddles and mud. I returned to the bedroom to get a shirt, and Husband and cats looked so snuggly I said, the market can wait, and crawled back under the covers. We so rarely get the opportunity to postpone our day, I think we should seize it whenever possible.
By 8:30 I was ready to give it another shot and, lo and behold, although it was still gray, it was warm and only slightly drizzly. I was off. It seems a few of the farmers also decided to take a rain day, especially at the North Market. I guess the growing season is beginning to wind down. It's almost time to repost Thanksgiving recipes. Oh, wait, not yet? Oh good.
My CSA box this week included green bell peppers, butternut squash, carrots (pictured above), this lovely head of leaf lettuce with edible flowers (pictured below), more lettuce, eggs, potatoes, tomatoes, arugula, red bell peppers, and the forgotten.
I also purchased a lot of basics at Dearsman Farms - zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, onions, and the first Brussels sprouts of the year.
From the Worthington Farmer's Market, I was all about buying enough protein for the week - from Oink!Moo!Cluck! farm, it was some sweet Italian sausage, pork chops, and chicken breast (kudos to having reasonable chicken prices), and from Curly Tail Organic it was a pack of pork chorizo.
I also bought these cute little dumpling squashes (do I have plans for you) at Pop and Judy's patch, along with some more arugula (can't get enough!); they have a leafier, softer arugula than my CSA has, which, although hotter and great in pasta, is a little tough for salads.
And! There are a few nice things about this time of year to soften the blow of the coming cold, gray winter: the aforementioned Brussels sprouts and squash, and one of my favorite things to wait patiently for, the first Honeycrisp of the year, from Gillogly Orchards - get there early, because they only have a few trees.
Get out there and enjoy what's left of the market, folks. We only have about 4 weeks left and then it's over until next year. . .
