Thursday, October 1, 2009

It's Fall Y'all

Poster2009 Fall means college football, and for me and LBeau that means at least one trip to Fayetteville to watch the Razorbacks.  And there's nothing better on a cool, crisp game day than an early morning trip to the Fayetteville square for the Farmer's Market.

The Farmer's Market is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year.  We were living in Fayetteville when it opened in the spring of 1974.  Hunter was a baby, and I had bought a book with recipes for homemade baby food.  The Farmer's Market was a great source for fresh fruits and and vegetables.  I cooked everything from applesauce to carrots and green beans and froze it in ice cube trays.  When it was time for a feeding, I just popped a cube or two into the electric baby food dish for warming (those were pre-microwave days).

If it's not too early in the fall, I always like to find an unusual pumpkin or two to bring home.  In fact, it was at the Farmer's Market a few years ago that I first spotted the green Jarrahdale pumpkins.  I thought they were so pretty that I brought one home for each of my friends.

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On a recent Farmer's Market Saturday, the square was closed to all but foot traffic.  Plenty of friendly folks, most decked out in Razorback red and carrying steaming cups of coffee or hot chocolate, were milling around in search of produce…

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flowers…

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and handmade Ozark crafts.

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Volunteers from the Humane Society walked a variety of dogs that were looking for new homes, and musicians provided amateur entertainment.

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Fall%20color Now be sure to visit Rhoda at Southern Hospitality for more autumn inspiration.  Here in Alabama fall is definitely in the air.  Time to get out the pumpkins, turkeys, witches and ghosts for the upcoming holidays.

23 comments:

niartist said...

Oh this is just beautiful! Thanks for sharing such great photos! Definitely a fantastic way to ring in fall! Oh, and if you're going to be doing any spooky Halloween decor, stop by my blog for a how-to and a giveaway! I hope you can!

The Working Housewife said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
The Working Housewife said...

Hello! The colors in your photos are so beautiful - it makes me want to run out to an open air market and buy flowers and produce! I am with you 100% on the college football - fall wouldn't be the same without it!

Sue said...

Kathy, this is such a refreshing take on the onset of fall. Football doesn't get any better than on a crisp afternoon or evening when we watch our favorite teams! I love going to pick out pumpkins and a farmers' market is so much fun to experiment with "new to us" produce!
Have a glorious day- I hope the sun is shining on you like it is on me.
hugs, Sue

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

I am really enjoying football, and finally a little bit cooler weather here in the desert. I love the pics of all the wonderful pumpkins. They look great. Hugs, Marty

Christi @ A Southern Life said...

The Fayetteville is one of the best. Sorry the Hogs didn't pull out a win for you. That would have been a perfect day!

Christi

Joyce said...

Beautiful pictures! I am looking forward to having pumpkins this year...they are very hard to come by in the UK.

Debby@Just Breathe said...

That sure looks like fun. I wish I could find a local Farmers Market but I guess it's alittle late in the year for that. Glad you had a nice time and the pictures are beautiful. Love the pumkins.

Joyce said...

Well, the weather is unpredictable there and you could have some nice days...they've had a pretty nice fall so far. And there is never a bad time to see London...I love all the places you mentioned...('cept I probably don't need to see Stonehenge again-it's definitely worth seeing, just not 56 times or thereabouts!)...I love Windsor....we lived in Gerrrards Cross which isn't too far from Windsor. And Bath is one of my very favorite cities in Europe...so charming! Just writing this comment makes me feel a little homesick...good thing I'm going to see my kids tomorrow-that helps! I'll look forward to hearing about your trip.

Carrie said...

Oh, what I would give to have a farmer's market like this in my area! Wow, talk about inspiration and who doesn't love shopping local?!

Chari at Happy To Design said...

Hi Kathy...

Ohhh...I love a good Farmer's Market!!! Just looking at your photos made me think of how perfect a Farmer's Market is for autumn! Just look at all of those beautiful vibrant colors! hehe! Girl, I have never heard of a green Jarrahdale pumpkin before! I will have to look them up...I'm so curious! Thanks for sharing your trip with us today...

Warmest wishes and Happy Fall!

Chari

xinex said...

Beautiful photos, Kathy! The vegetables look amazingly fresh. I love Farmer's Markets....Christine

j said...

The photos are wonderful!

Have a great weekend - we will be enjoying college football all day Saturday!

Anonymous said...

lucky girl! i LOVE arkansas in the fall.. my fondest memories are making the drive up the mountain, from van buren to fayetville.. via old hwy and mt galor. one of the fun memories, was a visiting uncle, who made the drive w/ us teen kids in the back seat. every other curve.. [which you know is like every hundred yards!] he would state, "kids, kids.. look at the vista" LOL now, every time we're traveling w/ our kids.. i tend to happily make the same quote & get the giggles out of my kids, that he did with us. enjoy the market, the fall colors, and the beautiful vistas!!

Lou Cinda @ Tattered Hydrangeas said...

These photos are beautiful and make me want to go!! I LOVE sunflowers and those pumpkins are gorgeous!!

Have fun!!

Lou Cinda

susan said...

Kathy- I think the Fayetteville farmers' market is more tastefully arranged than the one I go to :) The pictures are beautiful! The weather here is perfect for football. I loved reading and seeing pictures of your reunion. It is wonderful that that many of you have remained friends. I'm so glad you came by. I love that cotton field picture too!

nanny said...

Beautiful, beautiful pictures!!!!

Sue said...

Hi...don't you just love fall for all the outdoor markets you can attend...and flea market season too..Leaving for Jersey in themorning daughter has two weeks of nothing but sales and markets to attend....I'm loking forward to apple picking and those great apple cider donuts!!

Susie Jefferson said...

My goodness - this all looks amazing! What a lovely day out. That is some sunflower...

Sarah said...

Kathy, I enjoyed seeing your trip to the Farmer's Market. We have a couple here in town that we like to go to. Love the group of pumpkins.

Just met Susie today as she came through on her way to meet her high school friends. She was with Laurie, who had arranged to meet me for lunch. Well, actually those plans were altered and I met them at the airport for lunch. It was a fun hour! Now I know the story behind the painting on the header of your blog. Such fun to actually meet Laurie and Susie. It felt as if they were old friends. The world is full of wonderful people if we just open doors.
Happy Fall to you! ~ Sarah

susan said...

Thanks for the support of my "cause" :) Your Razorback and my Rebels had a good weekend :)

Debra Howard said...

Wow those really are inspiring fall pictures. I am so ready for that crisp feel to the air and the need for a jacket and the leaves, and pumpkins and spice scented candles.
Debbie

Anonymous said...

thanks for the birthday wishes!!
how 'bout dem hogs?!?!! :D