What a weekend!

Definitely the high point of this weekend at Holiday Market was the awarding of the Beth Little Micro-Enterprise Award to Beth, via our beloved Mayor Kitty Piercy. This was Colleen's wonderful idea and many, many people from Saturday Market wanted this to happen to let Beth know how much we appreciate her dedication. Members Nancy Barry and Ann Schwartz crafted the award, and it was a moment of tears and pride in the middle of a rocking Saturday. Thanks a million, Beth.



I always buy things from my fellows but last night I most thoroughly enjoyed my new shoes by the master shoemaker, Bob Walling. They are so comfortable I will be wearing them nearly all the time. I got them for indoor shoes, although they would be fine outdoors as well. When he pulled the bright green ones off the shelf and they fit me, the decision was made.

My taste treat among many was the most exquisite ice cream I have ever eaten, from Red Wagon Creamery. All of their flavors have been wonderful surprises but the Nutty as a Fruitcake was divine. I can't even describe how perfectly it fit my tastes. Succulent moist fruit and toasted nuts and just enough ice cream to hold it all together.

Lots of things are tasty at the Market, and I could mention more, such as George's candies, Zoe's cupcakes and fruitcake, the apricot scones, the butternut squash quesadillas, and the frozen cherries and other fruits from Hentze's at the farmers market, as well as the potatoes I got from Hayhurst Organic Farm. They have narcissus too, which I loved last winter. I love Kasey's heritage beans and popcorn, and all the carefully displayed fruits and vegetables from Grateful Harvest. Shari's cheeses, all of the nuts and dried fruits, cranberries...we are so lucky to have these hard-working farmers and producers in our midst.

I got kiwis from Linda Williams and put them in this bowl by her neighbor Susan Fishel. I have collected so many items from the Holiday and Saturday Markets that it would take several posts to honor all of them. I have many cards from Catherine Emlen, Tim Giraudier, Tim Fox, Erna Gilbertson, and Nancy Bright, and will be sending some of them out this week if I can make myself part from them. I have wonderful earrings from my neighbors Angie Harrison and Sue Hunnel, Gila Fox, Jeff Allen, and Amanda Finegold, and of course the innovative designs of Brandi Crye. Others I am forgetting for sure, but they all have a place in my heart.

I can't even list all of the things I love from my fellows. Bowls from Annie Heron and Linda again, and aprons from Anna Lawrence that I both own and covet. I have and use so many of the handmade products from my friends and Market family.

I have one of Willy and Janey's lamps (thank you Willy.) I have lots of pottery from Frank Gosar and Alex Lanham. Picture frames from Bill, things in my windows from Nancy Barry and Dave Winship and Michael Bertotti and tuna and salmon from Sally and her family of fisherpeople. Holy Donuts! Ritta's quesadillas, Dave's fantastic Oatmeal Fantasy cookies and his expresso shots, Colleen and Dana's artistry in desserts. PadThai from the master, Saman.

Pretty much everything I consume is sourced from the fine artists I am proud to accompany through this life, and I haven't set foot in a mall or superstore in years. My downtown stores such as the Kiva and other Unique Eugene businesses supply me...if I can't find it downtown I will sometimes go as far as BiMart. I have it so good.

The abundance in my life is astounding and I will try to take a few moments today to just appreciate that. I lack nothing. I had such wonderful moments packed into two hard-working days. I hope I give back just a piece of such goodness to all of those who give to me.

My sweet story was the patient, slow transaction with Katherine Gorman and her mother-in-law, who bought "We are the 99%" t-shirts for local activist Roscoe Caron. They have supported my retail activism for decades and it was validation and reward. Thank you everyone.

There are so many more...find them for yourselves, soon! One more weekend, and then the three-day that leads up to the ending, and then you might not see us for three months as we hide out in our studios and work off the ice cream and candy, eat bean soup and baked potatoes, and finish up all that squash we collected. Don't miss out!