Friday, February 06, 2009

Friday Flowers: At the Winter Market

The random nature quote of the day on my sidebar on Thursday said this:

Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful;
they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.

Luther Burbank


Our local farmers markets are open year round and we visited the largest one last weekend. It was very cold outside but several vendors bundled up and sold their wares from early morning until mid afternoon. The large, two level market building in the first picture was bustling with people who came to buy meat, cheese, baked goods and a large array of other foods and goods.


The flower displays caught my eye and were a spot of sunshine on a grey, snowy day. I received a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers the day before from my husband as a birthday gift, or I might have purchased a little bit of summer here.



I wanted to get some apples and went outside to visit a vendor who has been at this market in all seasons for over twenty years. The temperature was well below zero and a single display apple of each variety was out on the table. I selected what I wanted and my basket was filled by a person in the large heated trailer where the bulk of the apples were protected from the cold.


I had to smile as I watched these Old Order Mennonite boys admiring a display of cell phones. The vendor was demonstrating how to use them but it was unlikely that he made a sale. Many OOMs do not have telephones at all, or may have one shared line with neighbours in an outdoor shelter. They are less tempted to use the phone for personal use and gossip if it is placed in an inconvenient location. I do wonder if this generation will continue to follow the traditions of their elders.

There is something for everyone here, from flowers to food with interesting people to observe. No wonder they do not have to close for the season.

16 comments:

  1. Your random nature quote today is "Colors are the smiles of nature" that fits beautifully with your welcome Friday Flowers posts. I always look forward to Fridays to see what color you will have smiling at me when I check your blog. Have a great weekend and stay warm.

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  2. I love that you have so many local markets there Ruth, and that you take us along. So cute seeing the OOM boys fascinated by the cell technology. :c) Have a beautiful weekend.

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  3. Lovely vivid color in those flowers. I wish we had something like that in my area. I love buying from local vendors vs. the bigger stores.

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  4. Anonymous7:53 am GMT-5

    The St. Jacob's market is a great place to visit. I go for the wares, while my husband goes to watch the animals being sold. That part makes me sad. It's a great place to watch OOM move about. I have witness OOM using cell phones in the past couple of years. Sometimes the techology catchs up and you have to give in. I can remember a time when they did use cars and tractors. They now are slowly implementing those into their lives. It's sad, because I love the way they live their lives...simple! The flowers are beautiful, I may have to go and get me a bunch or two.

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  5. It's delightful to see all of those flowers at this time of year. We have the Byward Market in Ottawa, but it's mostly open, and I don't think there's much going on in winter.

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  6. That farmer's market must be quite the place to visit.The flowers do brighten any day.
    Blessings,Ruth

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  7. Hi Ruth......I love markets of any kind. They are always colourful and full of life......

    I could not agree more flowers are certainly good for the soul......

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  8. I love the quote. It is so true.

    Nice photographs. I wonder what the OOM boys were thinking...I would have been tempted to sneak up to try to overhear their conversations.

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  9. I envy you your year around market ... a draw back to living in a small town. Even our summer market is very small and poorly attended. There is not much growing season up here. Of course, when we go to Vancouver, there is always Granville Market to visit.

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  10. Anonymous3:37 pm GMT-5

    That's where you'd find me, over by the flowers!

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  11. Well Happy Birthday - a little late. Nice of hubby to bring you flowers. They are the best gifts by far!
    I too wonder if the young generation of OOMs will follow their elders or make changes.
    You have an interesting market place to visit.

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  12. I love markets - the pic of the boys is adorable.

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  13. What memories these pictures bring back. For once i`m not interested in braving cold to buy Canadian apples (the world`s best) We are waiting to return home to warm Mexico. These 19 - 25 F temperatures in the Dallas area are too cold for us.
    Yesterday saw bobolinks, western meadowlarks and many unidentificos Will check when I get home to my books.

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  14. Anonymous5:24 pm GMT-5

    Flowers are so good and giving us needed color!

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  15. ohmigosh Ruth, it looks so cold! We have an indoor farmer's market and although it's still chilly in the building, at least they're protected from the outside breezes and snow!

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  16. Thanks for visiting and commenting. Thanks Cheryl D for your info on the OOM and cell phones. Things are always changing, even where people resist change.

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