So, it’s possible that I might have gushed mentioned that the first Saturday Farmer’s Market in Deering Oaks took place last Saturday, which to me is as much a hallmark of the start of summer as baseball opening day or the first robin of spring. The thing I love most about the market is how it inspires me: on Saturday I bought whole-wheat flour (grown and milled in Maine), super-fresh Mozzarella, a leek, some scallions, and some green eggs, and was inspired to make leek and bacon pizza (including using the mozzarella) and it was every bit as good as it sounds. I wonder what I’ll be inspired to make next weekend?

Here are a few of the sights from the market in the park’s opening day:

I have to confess, I have a weird thing for pickles. I don’t like how they taste, but I think they’re beautiful.

These guys – Fuzzy Udder creamery – were by far my favorite vendor there. The cheese is divine, the quilts are beautiful, and they had brought along a couple of little lambs who stole the show.

Note: not real cupcakes. Instead, cupcakes made from soap!

The gentleman selling these amazing African fabrics was born in Portland, but works in Africa most of the year doing commercial fishing and working with an AIDS-related NGO.

Here’s an article that ran in the Press Herald about the market’s opening day.