Farmers' Market Day

Despite the light rain, I headed for the farmer's market this morning. I wanted some Ambrosia sweetcorn for tonight. I was rewarded with some little tomatoes.

There were fewer vendors than last Saturday. However, the tomatoes are starting to show up. My favorite vendor Patchwork Farm has yet to appear at the market. His tomatoes ripen later than some of the others however. The seller of today's tomatoes told me the little ones began ripening this past week; her bigger ones need hotter weather she said. We were actually pretty hot earlier this week, but maybe what they really need is more sun. This has been one of the wettest summers I remember.

We ate the last of the fresh blueberries I had put aside from what we picked July 14th. I made a parfait using the lemon-flavored pudding between bunches of blueberries.

This pudding is in the refrigerated section. We have several gallon bags of frozen berries left to eat at our leisure.

The whole front and corner of my landscaping is being reworked. It will be interesting to see what the landscaper puts there.

Two new bushes were put in yesterday; I will have to ask what they are when she returns on Monday. There is some sort of tall daisy around the corner now; also rudbeckia at the corner with the relocated irises.

The coreopsis I planted next to my patio seem to be doing OK. Next year I will have to add something else. I will deadhead the tickseed plants until autumn, then let them go to seed. I may get some new little plants next summer from this process.

A Summer Saturday

 

What a beautiful day! We will be eating our lunch sitting on the front porch for sure. By next Thursday we will be in the 90’s; have to seize the opportunities when we can.

I went to the farmers’ market this morning. Bought some sweet corn from The Farm. Delicious Ambrosia corn for tonight’s supper. The man whose tomatoes I especially like had none ripe yet. He said about 2 weeks. But there was one stall who had tomatoes, a gamut of varieties which I always enjoy. This farmer said he has plenty coming ripe right now.

I also bought a loaf of home-made bread. We’ll find out whether we like this vendor’s wares at lunch.

Since I was downtown, I stopped at the public library to check out a book I saw suggested in a newspaper article about Indiana’s bicentennial.

When we moved to Texas, I read Fehrenbach’s history of Texas. I grew up in California so California history was what was taught in the schools. This history of Indiana is a lot smaller than the Texas history; should be easier reading. I had wanted to read a history of Indiana when we moved back here in 2007, but nobody had any suggestions. Hoosiers by Madison was published in 2014.

I am scheduled to give a book review on October 5th at the Winona Literary Club. I was thinking about Quiet by Susan Cain which I read a few months ago. Recently I learned the theme for the 2016-2017 club year is Indiana. If the Madison book is decent, I will probably review it instead.

Time to make sandwiches and put the TV trays on the front porch. Have a nice Saturday.

From My Front Porch

The last few days have been cooler, nice enough to sit on the porch again. I try to water my plants each day if the soil feels dry. Despite the recent heat, even the pansies seem to be doing OK. The unit next door is vacant, but even those plants are putting on a colorful display for me to view.
            
Yesterday morning my husband and I drove the country roads to Teel's restaurant in Mentone. If you visit there, keep in mind that the bacon that comes with your breakfast is a huge pile. I ate 4 pieces from my husband’s order, he ate at least 6 pieces, and we still have about that much left over that we will eat in BLT sandwiches today. We learned from our first visit, only one person needs to order bacon.
This morning I went to two farmers’ markets in search of some early tomatoes for today’s sandwiches: the one at the fairgrounds that has a few holdouts unwilling to relocate, and the new one downtown. No luck with tomatoes so had to stop at the grocery store. While crossing the road from the downtown farmers’ market, a car full of ladies asked me if this was Winona Lake. Somehow they had missed the turnoff and proceeded to Warsaw where they were forced to make a decision as Center Street is closed for the market sellers. I instructed them how to get to The Village at Winona, but today is less than ideal as a big triathlon is in progress this morning.
Last night we attended the symphony concert of the Masterworks Festival which is also held in Winona Lake. Excellent as usual. We plan to go tonight to another concert if my husband isn’t wiped out from helping with the triathlon.
Winona Lake is a great place to live and to visit.