Farmer's Market Saturday

Sorry I've been AWOL the past couple weeks, everyone. (I swear, I know there are people who lurk this blog, even if Alex is my only "official follower", ha.) I've been... too busy, tired and unmotivated to want to write lately. It's somewhat pathetic, because it also means that I've more or less completely fallen off the bandwagon when it comes to my "eat better and exercise" plan.

I know, shame shame shame. Believe me, I've been feeling it-- both mentally and physically. And I do plan to get back on track!!

This morning, I slept in. Which is perfectly alright, because it's Saturday. 10:45 suits me just fine, I really do need the sleep.

I woke up to a text message from a friend, alerting me to the fact that the City Centre Market on 104th had stalls that had nectarines for $5. Reading this, I scrambled around the apartment like a maniac getting dressed, and then booked it out the door to catch a bus. Didn't even really wash my face before leaving, just wiped it with an unscented baby wipe. And ran a brush through my hair.

So. Bussed to the farmer's market. Love City Centre Market with all my heart, but it's slightly muggy and hot out... hopefully it rains this afternoon and cools the city down a bit.

I attempted to be stealthy and take pictures while I was walking through the market... but kept getting distracted. Of course. At the end of it all, I got maybe one "good" photo. I'll also run with the excuse that the market was super crowded today-- not only was I there around noon as opposed to 9:00AM, but it's pride week and the pride parade is today. Parade route intersects the middle of the market, so there were parade-goers everyyyywhere.

They've also changed the layout of the market this year, with
booths in the centre and two outside aisles. I don't like it, it's made the entire
market much more crowded somehow. Boo.

Made my way back and forth through the market or so, and made a few purchases-- mainly fruit (thirteen MASSIVE nectarines for $10? Yes please!), plus a half-litre of the borscht that Rory and I both enjoy. On my way out of the market, I passed by a spice blend booth and spent a good fifteen minutes sniffing the blends (trying to decide which one Rory would most like to try) and talking to the owner of the booth, who is a personal chef and uses her spice blends on a regular basis.

When it came right down to it, I couldn't decide which to buy so I ended up picking five blends and buying little sample bags (which were only $2 apiece) of each. By the looks of it, these samples are probably enough for one or two uses each. Hopefully we'll be using them this week, and I'll be able to go to the market next Saturday or the one after to pick up the spices he liked the most.

My Farmer's Market haul this week. LOOK AT ALL THOSE
GLORIOUS NECTARINES!!!!!

I made my way home, and by the time I got back up to our apartment I was absolutely scorched. It's nice and shady over on 104th street where the market is, but it was about 17C outside and it's been so humid lately that it felt much much warmer. Bleah. Thankfully, living on the 12th floor of a highrise means that it's a bit breezier than usual up here and our apartment usually isn't toooooo warm.

Unpacked my 'haul'... look at how glorious it is! (left).

I really wasn't kidding when I said that the nectarines I bought were huge. I'm actually quite disappointed that they still need to ripen for a few days before I can start feasting on their heavenly deliciousness. Rory's laughing at me for waxing poetic about nectarines. Little does he realize that each time I go into the kitchen, I pick up a nectarine and sniff it. The smell is pretty much intoxicating. Mmmm, summer. All I need now is rainier cherries and I will be set.

I sound so completely looney-tunes right now, I know.

Seriously though, look at this!  This is one of the 'smaller' nectarines, too!

I can't wait for them to ripen. I'm salivating just thinking about it.