Market hauls of different sorts

I'm tired and I'm late: yes, it's Sunday and I'd wanted to talk about the market yesterday, but it was Hive Power Up Day, and I had other business to do.

Despite that, my market business happened. As it does every week. As a consequence, and because I have a busy week ahead (I hope), I started some advance prep today.

Yesterday's market was notable for a number of reasons.

We now have an actual sign pointing people to our market, and which tells them our trading times. Yes, I know that most people are completely illiterate, including the most educated, but at least this way, we do have a point of reference. It was a team effort: I did the "art work" and commissioned the job, J got permission for the spot and The Husband then sorted it so that it was rigid enough to chain - permanently, we hope - to that corner pillar.

Despite my facetious suggestion regarding the broader population's illiteracy, latecomers to the market did observe that they were late:

You close at 11?

Ahem...yes, that's wot the sign says, doesn't it? said the speech bubble over my head...

Bread and bartering

It was so lovely having our friend, R, from the mountain (remember the birthday celebration?) making an impromptu stop at the market with their magnificent produce. We don't see her often - usually it's B...

So, we bartered. Bread for, no, not wine, but the most glorious flowers.

This bunch includes the king of all proteas and added a touch of spring to my stall.

Although, by value, one bunch should have covered it, she insisted on my having a second bunch and I chose a bunch of warratahs that, when I came home, put in a vase with the pincushions from The Husband. I love it: a bright, happy show.

Because they're so beautiful:

This was the array from which people could choose.

The other market haul

Last month I talked about my quest to use less plastic and waxed lyrical about deliveries of jars. Yesterday was one such day of bounty: two bags of jars and loose ones from two regular customers and my market pal, J.

Of the 19, 8 were "my" jars. Chickens coming home to roost, perhaps? The other 11, all totally useable. Happy me!

Speaking of jars, what was in the jar this week?

Thank you for asking: it was the roasted carrot, almond, olive and rocket salad that I dress with my spicy plum jam and apple cider vinegar. It's one of my "made-up" salads (I'll check if I've done the recipe), and each time I do it, I get great feedback. This time, I made enough for us. Tomorrow's supper and a report of how I will serve it, to follow!

After last week, programming was back to normal. After three weird weeks, it was a relief!

Until next time, be well
Fiona
The Sandbag House
McGregor, South Africa

Photo: Selma
Post script

If this post might seem familiar, it's because I'm doing two things:

• re-vamping old recipes. As I do this, I am adding them in a file format that you can download and print. If you download recipes, buy me a coffee. Or better yet, a glass of wine....?
• and "re-capturing" nearly two years' worth of posts.

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Original artwork: @artywink

• lastly, graphics are created using partly my own photographs, images available freely available on @hive.blog and Canva.
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