Saturday, July 17, 2004

BEFORE and AFTER, redux

The peak of the blueberry season. Fresh berries are so phenomenal in a tart: a flaky crust, a thin layer of crème patisserie, a heaping mound of berries, currant jelly and toasted almonds. It’s really a perfect midsummer dessert. And so I made it.  
 
Eventually it had to go back in the refrigerator.
 
Except that it took a detour. Sadly, it can’t be mended. The bright side? It slipped out of my hand after the first tasting. And, the dog had a field day with the gloppy floor.

I spent an afternoon on this.. Posted by Hello

a blueberry up-side-down tart? Posted by Hello

Running on niceness

Market notes:
 
   *     To Bill of Snug Haven for discounting my 6 pounds of tomatoes by 75% and, so that she wouldn’t feel less loved, for discounting the next customer’s tomatoes 75% as well; 
 
   *     To blogger pal Dorotha, who looks just like her blog, for taking the time to chat at the Market and for introducing me to her friend [it is always surprising and disheartening when you are not offered this basic courtesy, as if a rude absence of introductions is supposed to be an inconsequential act of forgetfulness – which it almost never is]; 
 
   *     To the photographer who followed me around the Market today, for knowing how to give instructions without insult, and for showing me the wonders of his fantastic camera; 
 
   *     To Artesian Trout, not only for the whopper discount, but for being willing to float me the sum until next week, just so I wouldn’t have to walk to the other side of the Square (for my tenth orbit today!) to use an ATM;
 
   *     To Bill again, for letting me write a check in excess of the amount so that I could pay back the nice seller at Artesian Trout;
 
   *     To Felix of Capri cheese for making a small amount of espresso ice cream each week because he knows I like it (he doesn’t typically sell it, but if you ask, he’ll save you some); 
 
   *     To Ruth of blueberry fame who waited and waited (after she’d already finished selling her very last berry) until I had a moment to run back and get the correct checkbook to pay her for the flats of fruit [Ruth is a schoolteacher who supplements her income by growing and selling blueberries; she tells me that this is what teachers do these days  – she was not surprised to find a colleague filling cars at their local gas station]; 
 
*        To the bakers who prepared for me a box of croissants and spice girls to take home; 
 
Thank you all. It means so much to have this much niceness charge my early Saturdays.




In the early hours, the sun is barely able to burn through the morning fog Posted by Hello

the lens is wide enough to reach the blue and white striped overhead umbrella Posted by Hello

croissant bakers John and Dave (yes, I saw you too, John, playing the violin on Wednesday, in your real life as part of the Madison Chamber Orchestra) Posted by Hello

the first week of tart cherries (Poles prefer these to the sweet cherries we're used to here) Posted by Hello

some of these went home with me at the end of the morning Posted by Hello

Paddle & Portage day today on the Square; this guy is one of those who did NOT drop the canoe. Posted by Hello