Summer's Favorite Things: #1 Farmer Markets

I have been thinking about how much I love summer. Light weight clothing, sunshine (for us mixed with huge thunderstorms), BBQ's and S'mores, painting outside, surrounding field crops near our home, community swimming pool full of splashing kids, trees chock full of dense leaves and song birds, out door art shows, inviting white wicker chairs, open windows, and our wonderful gurgling porch fountain...

This little posting is the first in my list of favorite 
SUMMER ACTIVITIES.

Number 1

 FARMER'S MARKETS

Half a mile from our home is this colorful market. Just love to go there. I am not sure if it is the wonderful fresh fruit and vegetables to choose from, or the very quaint, European market styled red umbrellas that cast a rosy glow over everything.

Behind the scenes of a market can be as interesting as the front. Those gigantic sunflowers make me smile....

My painterly interpretation of  summer's many markets...complete with little floral bouquets wrapped in lacy 
paper doilies. This is a large painting and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute creating it. Available on website or through RiverView Gallery in Maryland.

Four years ago I participated in an outdoor art show in western Maryland, up in the scenic high hill country. Near my booth was this amazing market with its blazing oranges, rusts, and greens. 
Amazon sized pumpkins, stacked corn stalks-squirrels darting in and out, from the awning hung bronzed dried corn, everything autumnal sprawled every which way. Yes the building was a beautiful shade of AUBERGINE!

Now if only one or two fruits seems recognizable, you are probably correct. 
Bali is the setting for this open air market.

No brightly colored umbrellas to protect sellers 
from the scorching sun.
Cement and dirt to put one's wares and produce on.
Rustic, hand-woven baskets filled with fruits 
and vegetables which to me considered EXOTIC.


So many colors. So many textures. So many tastes.
So much to experience.

I love the way this smiling woman's green head scarf matches the green of the plantains.

Patiently she will stay in this position from EARLY morning until afternoon. 

Aren't these baskets wonderful. Weaving baskets is part of the economy and provides a minimal wage. This woman is sorting very hot peppers, a key ingredient in delicious Balinese food. 

Always my favorite, the fragrant, brilliant colors and textures of cut blossoms. 
Many of these flowers are used to make DAILY offerings to the GODS.
Others are used in cooking and adornment.

Along the side of a winding narrow road we saw this dilapidated  wagon. This is a typical
"market" on wheels found in India. Corn is roasted right on the spot, providing a tasty snack or dinner for a passer by.

One does not need to go half way round the world to enjoy an open air market. But it surely is fun and informative. These women are very proud of their fruit and vegetables; just like the energetic 80 years young woman, selling her produce near our home.

The following are pages from my sketchbook inspired by markets around the world.

These paintings are in an 8 x 8 brown paper sketchbook. All are painted with gouache. 

Ms. Furilla's Invitation

Ms. Furilla, extended an invitation for us to come and visit her in New York City. 

Now that is a welcome invitation. Our home was sitting idly on the home market, taxes had been filed, paintings taken to a gallery;  what better way to use our new found time than to visit with Ms. Furilla, New York City, Princess.

Upon arrival she purred a welcome to her NYC pent house. She posed, strolled saucily past; but  was she subtly asking us if she could pose for a few photos. Happy to oblige. 

This is her regal pose, she knows she is a Princess!  The little striped stocking in the background belongs to her companion H.esq.  H. entertains her royally, and loves to snuggle and cuddle and pull her royal tail.

 Ms. Furilla loves to not only have HER  portrait taken, under kind lights, please, but also loves to see the sights of New York on the BIG SCREEN, ahem THE blog.

Again happy to oblige, here are a few of our first glimpses of New York, on a warmish day....we were dressed for Maryland's  cold weather in sweaters, jackets and jeans while many New Yorkers non-nonchalantly walked the streets  in shorts, short sleeves and the accoutrement ipod dangling from their ears!!! 

Okay, Ms. Furilla, Princess of New York City this is all for you.

Not wanting to leave the company of Ms. Furilla for too long, we took a little stroll. 

Spring time blossoms everywhere. And bouquets of PUSSY WILLOWS for Princess Furilla.

Don't you  love it, a few steps away is an ARTS SCHOOL for young and old alike. Shakespeare, writing, acting, you name it. Love the colorful Easter egg motifs painted at the bottom of the windows. This art exhibit was of 'psycho-metaphysical ' paintings.  Not sure what that means.

Have you ever been in a full city block size Whole Foods? The entrance is the size of our local grocery store back home!!

We were LOST in a maze of color, smells and textures after passing two aisles. We felt like we had fallen down Alice's hole into Wonderland.

Note the tawny eggs all delightfully tucked into a bed of straw.....the peppers with little green stems all pointing out, begging to be picked up, and miles of fresh fruit. 

But we were on a mission to find something delectable for Ms. Furilla

Bacalta Salted Cod?  Frankly I thought someone had cleverly dipped a whole fish into plaster Paris...couldn't resist touching it. Yes it felt like plaster Paris. No this wouldn't do, The Princess enjoys only soft foods. So looking further....

This is just what a Princess would love, two huge aisles of beautifully displayed FRESH fish. Every swimmy fish  one could dream of ever eating. 

Turning the corner we felt  we had stumbled upon a Provence market. Olives of every possible type, flavor, color, texture, saltiness and pungency...forget the fish this salty snack was perfect. Who could not photograph such a delectable treat UNLESS IT WERE FOR...................

PASTRIES

Howard knew we really were lost in Alice's world, as he stood, stared, indecisive as to what could be the best treat possible???????

The neighborhood HOT DOG STAND !!!!!!!

Until the next adventure

bon appetit