A Nod to the Farmers' Market

The greatest delight the fields and woods minister is the suggestion of an occult relation between man and the vegetable. I am not alone and unacknowledged. They nod to me and I to them. 

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Peterborough has a bustling and thriving Farmers' Market each Saturday morning and it's just a short walk from my apartment. Outdoors May through to November and then indoors for the winter, there is always something of interest to see, hear and sample. Over 60 regular farmers and merchants set up shop each weekend, ensuring an ample display of food, flowers, crafts, music and activities. Here are just a few of those moments captured sometime in August.


When I arrive, the first stall that I see is full of colourful gladiolus blooms. They attract a constant flow of buyers and I imagine that there are many a cheerful table throughout Peterborough each Saturday night.




Another popular blossom at the market is the radiant sunflower. Summer on a stem.




A variety of musical performers are scattered throughout the grounds. Some are regulars and some happen by occasionally such as Nhapitapi who also appeared on stage somewhere in town, that evening.




He's playing the mbira - an ancient Zimbabwean instrument consisting of metal keys played by his thumbs. The outer drum is the resonator. It sounds something like a plucky xylophone.





Have a quick listen.





Others had well-used musical instruments on display.





And the beet goes on... It's the locally grown fresh produce that draws the crowds.





Bumper sticker for a bumper crop.. I'm guessing that she sold a fair number of carrots that day.





It would appear that this handsome pooch and his trusty teddy bear were at least mildly amused.





Colourful hula hoops for the youngsters and young-at-heart to enjoy.





And no shortage of cute kidlets to try them out.





Each stall offers something of interest.





Heading back home past the gladiolus stand - they have pretty much sold out. It makes for kind of beautiful debris.

Thanks for joining me at the market.

Like A Million Suns

It is hard to be angry when one has seen the sun rise because it makes one feel so small and insignificant. It has been rising forever and will rise forever no matter what we do or do not do. All our problems are as nothing to the sun.

~ David Gemmell

One of the best regular occurrences here at the lake are the beautiful sunrises. Some days it's subtle. Sometimes the rain obliterates the sunrise. Other times the dawn is brilliant. This was one of the beauties

The Sun will rise and set regardless. What we choose to do with the light while it's here is up to us. Journey wisely.

~ Alexandra Elle

Here's a bit of a closer look at the misty hills across the bay.

Limitless undying love which shines around me like a million suns it calls me on and on across the universe.

~ John Lennon

Another lovely sunrise as seen through the screened in porch outside my bedroom.

Universe is the Sun watching its own self.

~ Dejan Stojanovic

And again, the wonder of the dawn as seen from my bedroom.

If there is nothing new under the sun, at least the sun itself is always new, always re-creating itself out of its own inexhaustible fire.

~ Michael Sims

I never seem to tire of the view. It changes every morning.

Never look directly at the sun. Instead, look at the sunflower.

~ Vera Nazarian

The lovely flower that gets its name from the sun.

I need sunflowers! I walk many miles, trying to find some. If they're fresh, I kiss their honey faces. If they're dried, I put them on my windowsill, where they continue glowing.

~ Klaus Kinski

Despite how it may appear, we don't have many sunflowers growing on the property. These kind of just happened as a result of feeding the birds.

Moral indignation is jealousy with a halo.

~ H. G. Wells

One July day, I looked up to discover this lovely sun halo. My camera cooperated by allowing me to photograph pretty much what my eye saw.

I want my words to illuminate like the sun, as I give my daily lecture on photosynthesis to my houseplants.

~ Jarod Kintz

Sigh!

I wanted to do my part to help preserve that golden age of travel... I step aboard The Patron Tequila Express rail car, and I go back in time to the days when a long journey was something fun and very special. 

~John Paul DeJoria

Okay, so this last one isn't really sun-related. Unless, of course, you've ever had a Tequila Sunrise...


More coming up.. at some point.

Follow the Sun

Let's revisit late summer, shall we?

Why?

Partly because I still have some photos (these, and many more) which I've never shown you and I think you might like them. And also because the days are beginning to get longer here in the northern hemisphere and that makes me think of summer's flowers following the sun.

These images are of three kinds of sunflowers. One smaller blossom was doing quite well when I snapped it in September but the large-headed classic sunflower was beginning to show signs of season's end. The tall-growing Jerusalem Artichoke only begins blooming in mid September so they were very much in their prime. I hope you enjoy this cheery splash of yellow.



And the yellow sunflower by the brook, in autumn beauty stood. ~ William Cullen Bryant





With zealous step he climbs the upland lawn,
And bows in homage to the rising dawn;
Imbibes with eagle eye the golden ray,
And watches, as it moves, the orb of day.
~ Erasmus Darwin





But one, the lofty follower of the Sun,
Sad when he sets, shuts up her yellow leaves
Drooping all night; and, when he warm returns,
Points her enamoured bosom to his ray.
~ James Thomson





The author O. Henry taught me about the value of the unexpected. He once wrote about the noise of flowers and the smell of birds - the birds were chickens and the flowers dried sunflowers rattling against a wall.
~ Chuck Jones





The gaudy leonine sunflower
Hangs black and barren on its stalk
And down the windy garden walk
The dead leaves scatter - hour by hour
~ Oscar Wilde





We're All Golden Sunflowers Inside.
~ Allen Ginsberg






Flowers have an expression of countenance as much as men and animals. Some seem to smile; some have a sad expression; some are pensive and diffident; others again are plain, honest and upright, like the broad-faced sunflower and the hollyhock.
~ Henry Ward Beecher






Light-enchanted sunflower, thou
Who gazest ever true and tender
On the sun's revolving splendour.
~ Pedro Calderon de la Barca






Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. It's what sunflowers do.
~ Helen Keller






As the sunflower turns on her god when he sets,
The same look which she turn'd when he rose.
~ Thomas Moore

Summer's Best

The beautiful shades, sights, sounds and smells of summer never fail to make me sigh. Below are a few images taken in the warmth of August.

Black-eyed Susans grow in the field across the road from Frank's place. We wandered out there one day, with cameras in tow.

Along with the Susans are Cone Flowers, also known as Echinacea. It's brilliant pink petals are very attractive to butterflies - none of which were cooperating with us that day.

Another lovely flower along with the above two, is this purple beauty. I don't know what it's called but I have faith in you fine people. One of you will inform me, I'm sure. I hope. You can make out some more Cone flowers faded into background.

And if you lean in close to this one, and maybe squint a little, you'll see the bonus insect that appeared to me when I uploaded the photo.

Another insect, easier to see this time. The bees were all over these flowers. Still, I had a hard time getting a really good shot. I still need time to get used to this macro lens. Lots and lots of time. Can you hear me, Frank? ;)

Aside from the obvious, which is well-fed birdies, another benefit of leaving quality seed out for our feathered friends is the unexpected growth of sunflowers in the yard. This beauty appeared just past the edge of my patio.

And last but never least, one of the best part of summer are delicious Rainier cherries - so sweet, so dense, so juicy. Yum!

Back in a few days with more photos.