TO MARKET, TO MARKET, TO BUY A . . .

My Saturday, July 7 trip to the Red Deer Farmers’ Market was not to buy a fat pig. I did have a lengthy chat with Dennis Moffat who runs the market and has been doing so for half his life. Dennis was my PE teacher back in the 60’s when I attended River Glen School–one of the really good ones we all hope to have. He spent many years on City Council and is also known for his silk screen art. I’ll likely interview the Market’s founder at a later date but, for now, here’s a YouTube video.

My videos this week are of the Chicken Lady, a local singer, and the Pottery Lady. As I chat with each one, I learn a great deal and often have fellow marketers stop to add to the conversation. Cindy, of Rooster Ranch, told me how she’d lost 40 chickens last week.

Either a fox or skunk or weasel has discovered the ranch and is rustling up supper with a seemingly endless appetite. I suggested mounting a trail camera to discover who and how the flock is being attacked. Hopefully, she’ll be able to hatch a plan to catch the varmint.

Bradley Abel is the second video.

I only captured a minute of a self-written tune but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Maybe next week I’ll pick up his CD. He plays solo and with a band (known simply as the Bradley Abel Band) at various venues around town. He mentioned a handful but I remember the Hideout, Café Pergola, and the East 40th Pub.

My final video is of Maureen Lewis, the Pottery Lady.

What a fabulous array of all things round? My mom was a bit of a potter and, as my conversation with Maureen revealed, Maureen had purchased some of mom’s potting tools when Donna Mae had fired her last project.

Those are Saturday’s videos but my visit to the Market entailed many more conversations and stops. As always, I picked up my coffee from Phil and Darla, a Sassy Salad from Cindy, cukes from Edgar Farms, a 6-pack of cinnamon buns, Sunflower Sprouts from I Love Sprouts (grown in one of the hangars at Springbrook), and 5 for $10 videos–including 3 old Clint Eastwood shoot ‘em ups.

Great weather. Great vendors. Great visits.