One can learn a great deal by listening to others as they choose their purchases. There are elderly women, who still like to can, choosing just the right cucumbers for pickles. Some folks are seasoned veterans at picking the perfect peppers. When the sweet corn comes in, the place is very busy with people wanting to taste the delights of summer. From apples, eggplant and tomatoes to broom corn, fresh flowers and herbs and jellies, there really is something for everyone. It is one of my happy places.
For the longest time I have wanted to attempt to capture the Market on film. This past Saturday, I finally remembered the camera. It was not one of the busier days, but then the season is winding down for some of the vendors. Most gardens are about done.
This is one side of the area. Armello's brings fresh Italian bread, pizza shells and rolls from Vandergrift about 45 minutes away. The baker told me he is up at 3 am so that the bread is fresh for the Market. And it is. I've had their bread and pizza shells. They are so good. The fresh fragrance when the bag is opened is....well, uh, I guess beyond words.
These folks have quite a variety of wares; from vivid yellow flowers to honey and jams and watermelon. They even had maple syrup.
The Hooks Family. This is where I buy most of the veggies that I don't grow myself.
Mr. Hooks is in the center of the picture in the "Maine" sweatshirt. He has been very helpful answering my many gardening questions and is delightful to talk with. His sweetcorn is the best by far.
Mussers Fruit Farm. My "Apple Guy". It seems they have every kind of apple, old and newer varieties. They had pears several weeks ago that were amazing! Mrs. Musser had blueberries for sale for the first time this spring. These folks know each variety of their apple's best qualities. The Mussers know which of their apples are good for sauce, baking or eating fresh. He is a wealth of apple wisdom. Since I am on this no sugar diet, I wasn't sure if my normal Cortland apples would be the best for my applesauce this year. When I asked him about canning sauce with no sugar, he recommended Ida Reds. The result was perfect. It is nice and thick with a great flavor. I headed back for another bushel a week later. For his other apple choices, he says the Cortlands are still his pick for a drying apple. Empires are his favorite eating apple. I've seen folks buy quite a bit of their grapes, too. I can't wait for the cider! It's pure, unfooled around with, nothing added--or taken away--cider.
There are not many weeks left until just the Mussers will be at the Market. They will be there until Christmas with apples and cider. At that point, I wait until the late spring to see the delights of the Market.
O DIVINE REDEEMER,
Great was thy goodness
in undertaking my redemption,
in consenting to be made sin for me,
in conquering all my foes;
Great was thy strength
in enduring the extremities of divine wrath,
in taking away the load of my iniquities;
Great was thy love
in manifesting thyself alive,
in showing thy sacred wounds,
that every fear might vanish, and every doubt be removed;
Great was thy mercy
in ascending to heaven
in being crowned and enthroned
there to intercede for me,
there to succour me in temptation,
there to open the eternal book,
there to receive me finally to thyself;...
Great was thy grace
in commanding me to come hand in had with thee to the Father,
to be knit to him eternally,
to discover in him my rest,
to find in him my peace,
to behold his glory,
to honour him who is alone worthy;...
When thou art absent all sorrows are here,
When thou art present all blessings are mine.
--A selection from Victory, from the book, The Valley of Vision.
