Montavilla Farmer's Market

I'm really smitten by our neighborhood farmer's market. This is a picture of today's purchases. Yes, the market is tiny, but that is one of the things that makes it enjoyable. There are an adequate number of legitimate farm stands that sell produce and a minimum of crafty, non-food items. There are at least 2 bakeries, a place to get seafood and free-range organic meats. There are 2 flower vendors and some interesting prepared food stands- barbecue, tamales, sausages, lemonade- just to name a few. I also like that it is on a Sunday and doesn't start until 10am.

I never go to the downtown market at PSU on Saturday's anymore unless someone is visiting from out of town. It is way too crowded and you have to get there early- 8:30am- to get some of the high-demand items. Plus, it is like a freakin' dog & stroller show.

Now, I understand that small children and babies can't be left at home alone and most grow to a size that makes it impractical to carry them or strap them to an adult body, so I concede that strollers are a necessary evil. (Though, it may seem darling to you parents as you allow 2 year-old Sofia, Ava, Henry or Jackson push the designer, Italian-made, produce laden, wheeled baby-container into the back of ankles but in doing so you are slowing down the flow of humanity and I'm from the East coast and move fast through crowds and have other things to do this Saturday so please- this is NOT cute but annoying. GET THE KID OUT OF MY WAY!!!)

But I beg of you, leave the dogs at home. I make this request not because I don't like dogs but because I care for them a great deal- a heck of a lot more than I care for your human spawn. Hey, this is summer time and it is hot and your poor dog is standing on asphalt and isn't wearing shoes like you are. They can't run or even walk at a normal pace. They are slowly wandering around in circles, having their leashes jerked every time they smell something interesting and go in for a better sniff. They are surrounded by human legs and baby-containers on wheels with kids grabbing for their faces and tails. The little one are getting stepped on and the big ones are getting challenged by other dogs. Yes, your pup may act like going to the Farmer's Market is the most exciting, enjoyable thing a doggie could ever do as you headed out the door, but believe me, your dog is miserable. I can see the disappointment in their eyes when they realize they aren't headed for a park, or a hike, or a simple drive in the car. Kind of like the expression they have at the vet.

The Montavilla market is very small but there is plenty of space between the booths. So even though there is a fair number of posers with their canines they are easily avoidable. But I still feel bad for the dogs...

After the market, I stopped by Bui Natural Tofu deli to pick up some- yeah, you guessed it- tofu. I was hoping the lemongrass tofu would be coming out fresh from the oven but the freshest was the green onion and mushroom. Well, I 've been trying to eat more "cruelty free" food but their tofu stuffed with seasoned pork was also fresh-from-the-oven and was beckoning me with its sizzling, porky tastiness. Mmmmmm, delicious cruelty...

I pedaled over to A and L's house. They were recovering from a Timbers game the night before and were watching soccer and the Olympics on TV. I hung out for a few minutes then headed home to get my sunflowers into some water. 'L' commented that I looked like a "Portland Girl" with my produce and flowers in my bicycle basket.

While I waited for the green light at Washington and 82nd, a guy in his twenties rolled up on his bike. He appeared like a typical Outer-Southeast inhabitant: pasty complexion, baseball cap backwards, erratic pedaling. He started talking about the sunflowers:

"You know why they are called sunflowers? Because they follow the movement of the sun, supposedly. They are such nice flowers- so pretty and happy. They are like great, big smiles."

The light turned green and off he went.
Awwwww... I love this town.