My Favorite Summer Ritual

It’s been an unusually soggy summer for us here in North Carolina. We have all of the typical heat and humidity of the Southeast plus but with lots of late afternoon tropical showers. While our greenery loves this weather, it’s had us all a bit bummed out that we can’t enjoy some of our normal summer outdoor activities for fear of getting caught in a super-soaker rain storm.

D2 and I decided to defy the weather predictions and headed out to one of our favorite places, The Piedmont Triad Farmer’s Market. It’s one of the largest farmer’s market in the area with growers coming from North Carolina, Virginia, and South Carolina to sell fruits, vegetables, plants, and baked goods.

D2 is a farmer’s market pro and we love introducing our friends to this amazing local treasure.  We load up the SUV with our wagon and lots of bags to hold our loot. I love the farmer’s market because it’s a great way for me to teach D2 about where food comes from  and to appreciate what real, fresh food tastes like. Since this is a year ’round farmer’s market, the produce changes with the seasons. Here’s what we spied during our latest trip.

Nothing like fresh herbs for lovely salads.

Gorgeous SC peaches.

I can’t leave the market without walking way with at least one bouquet.

I can never get enough of tomatoes in the summer. I put them in tarts, salads and eat raw!

Organic blueberries. Need I say more?

Look at these lovely zucchini.

Gotta love these beauties. I’m a sucker for a roasted beet

A rare moment – D2 standing still long enough to snap this pix.

Do you have a farmer’s market in your area? What are you loving this season? What are you cooking? Let me know in the comments!