Tuesday was the last Farmer's Market of the year. I had been going off and on this year and not weekly like I had been for the past 4 years in a row. I was out of town for the month of August and by Sept I started to go when it fit into the schedule and didn't push us to go when we were tired or lazy or had other things we wanted to fit in that day.
I think part of the reason is that like everything the market has changed. Or at least the cohort that shows up has. Back in 2007 and 2008 it was a kid bike frenzy. If you showed up at 3pm I would see all of Girlpie's contemporaries out on the blacktop ( now green) riding scooters and bikes each week. Now a days there isn't anyone there. Granted I arrive earlier now because I want to get home in time to deal with homework, and making dinner, but there is nary a bike or scooter to be seen. I think a lot of Girlpie's peers are now older ( 8 or 9) and have many after school activities that they must attend. ( I had been careful not to choose something that got in the way of our market time each fall...). So the same bike festival that it was 3 years ago just isn't present. I sat on the bench while the kids had their ice cream and looked out over the basketball court reminiscing of tuber riding his balance bike and shocking all the adults who thought his two year self was riding a two wheeler. I remember my pride and how easily and fast he zipped around practicing his balance. Girlpie would also ride her bike around and then we'd all wander over to the "climbing tree" and the adults would sit under the tree while the kids climbed as high as they could getting sticky sap all over there hands, pine needles dropping on us as we chatted. I am sad that those times are gone.
I also think that now that I have my electric bike- my ability to use the bike for longer trips is easier and the farmer's market isn't among my close perfect trips by bike anymore. I would go because it was one of my favorite trips- but now going 3 miles over to the library is among a favorite possiblity. Or I am spending so much time on either one of my bikes that I don't need to force the kids to stop playing at home so I can get my bike fix on.
It's still one of my favorite rides and I was happy to go on this last day of the year. I was hoping to bring home a few giant pumpkins just because I could, but there weren't any for sale. I did stock up on $60 worth of goat cheese from my favorite vender Crystal Brook Farm. I already get a veggie box every other week through Boston Organics, so I actually don't end up buying much vegetables each week. But I religiously buy goat cheese every time I am there and now I have some to last me for the next 6 months in my freezer. Come spring maybe we'll take a trip out to the farm to visit the baby goats and pick up some cheese there.
This post is prose heavy. I was going to take lots of pictures of the kids with pumpkins and the market, however Girlpie became upset about something halfway through our time and I had to focus all of my energy on emotion control and then we ended up making a hasty departure. I did get a few pictures in though.
Girlpie when she was happy, jumping rope on the empty court.
Tuber strikes a pose
The ride home, Girlpie is still pissy and taking the bench all to herself to sulk. Tuber is happy to read a new book
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