Sunday Farmers Market

I have lived here a year now and have just attended my first farmers market in the area. The city can be a hectic place for a little hermit like me, so I don't get out to explore much, but I'm always grateful when I do. So maybe I should get out more.

I'm not a walker. When I think about this, it surprises me somewhat. When I was a little girl my mother walked us all over San Diego, miles and miles. The only time we'd take the bus is if our arms were loaded down with shopping bags from the mall and we were faced with walking up the huge Texas St hill. I think I'm just too impatient to walk. It takes so long to get from one place to another that you might as well run, or bike, or drive. There are more efficient ways to get around.

When I run along the local bike path and see people walking together, drinking their lattes and catching up on the week's events, I think it looks pretty fun. More fun than running 12 miles. When I see people walking the sidewalk of a busy street, with a grocery bag in their hands, I assume they can't afford a car and must walk or take public transportation everywhere. Nobody chooses to walk as a form of transportation.

This morning I decided to go to the farmers market that's pretty much in my neighborhood. It's the closest one. It's 2.5 miles from my apartment-one way. That created a situation. I could bike there and it would be really quick. But what would I do with my expensive bike while I perused the market? I have a lock, but this baby was worth $2500 in its youth (nearly two years ago). I'm fairly careful with it.

I could drive, but it sounds like this is the most popular market around and parking is a hassle. Plus, being as my new life involves a lot of sitting (which I love-sitting is fabulous), I should take advantage of opportunities for a little exercise.

Walking 5 miles round trip seemed a little extreme, but I thought of all the walking I did as a kid....and all the running I do now, and figured I could handle it.

It is absolutely frigid out there.

As I approached the market, which was not quite open yet, I saw a man walking toward me with a bag in his hand that looked as if he had already been to the market. His eyes lit up when he saw me and he opened his arms as if to give me a hug. Maybe he thought I was someone else? He didn't look crazy. I stopped short so he wouldn't hug me but gave him a smile and said "Am I late?" (like for the market).

"No!" He said with a smile, and then continued, "I walk ten hours everyday! I can't sleep. You know, I just went through a sleep study and I was hooked up to all these wires, I felt like Frankenstein. Well I had to go to the bathroom, and you know what? The technician had fallen asleep on me!"

I laughed "Well he must've been exhausted!"

"Yeah! And I dance like Elvis." He gave me a little demonstration and then pulled the hood of his sweatshirt down. "Do I look like Elvis? With my flat top?"

"Yeah you do a little bit!" (Not really)

"Well, goodbye!" He said with a smile and held out his hand.

I shook it and told him to have a nice day and try to stay warm.

I continued to the market where they were getting all set up.

I had read about a very famous and delicious bread company (I guess it was a restaurant first and now sells bread) that sells out quickly and usually has a ridiculous line. The line forms well before it opens. It's a little expensive which is fine being as I don't need to develop a bread habit to replace the sugar habit I'm trying to ease up on. What I really need to develop is a salad habit.

I sampled an amazingly sweet fuji apple enroute to find the bread place and vowed to come back.

Found it! They were still getting set up, so I joined the line that was forming behind the canopy.



As we waited in line, I discussed my flip phone with strangers (always a conversation starter) and how it was my first time here. Turns out this place is opening up a retail location at the end of the month. The jam guy next door let us sample some of his jam while we waited.

Across the way is a cool lamp shop.

And a little bakery where apparently every Sunday, all chocolates are 10% off.

And here they are! The goods!

I got the Ham and Cheese Seeded Brioche and the Caramelized Onion Gruyère Tart. The brioche was my second breakfast.

So incredibly amazing! The bread was so soft and flavorful and it was stuffed with ham and cheese. I slowly strolled and looked at the other booths. I bought some of those delicious fuji apples, some amazing looking lettuces and a fresh bunch of dill (one of my very favorite herbs-love it!!).

I headed back home, still bitterly cold. I took the bike path back that gets me about halfway there and watched runners go by me in shorts with legs reddened by the cold. Runners are so crazy. What are we running from?

A couple of presumably homeless people stood by the creek, smoking cigarettes and drinking out of a can of what looked like bud-light. It was 10am. The lady called out to me asking if my new jacket worked- if it really kept me warm. I replied that it did and took mental note of her sweatshirt which was most likely not keeping her warm. "Bless your heart!" she called out, and I responded with "Have a great day!"

I finally made it home to my somewhat warm apartment (the heater needs to be fixed-the landlord is calling tomorrow) .

What's left of my spread (minus the brioche):

Now I'm going to take a hot bath and then make a nice fresh salad.