Had to go to town this morning– pleasant though not remarkable. We had to detour around Trade Day which I’d read about in our little weekly newspaper but had forgotten. Came home, picked up the Italian post-doc, and went to Trade Day.

Trade Day is new– started last month without my knowledge. It takes its name from an old practice where farmers and vendors would display their wares at the Courthouse once a month on Court Day. In its resurrection, it takes place at the park that was established where the Old Courthouse burnt to the ground in ’13. Here’s a photo. As you can see in some above, they left a few remaining elements of the Old Courthouse. Sort of like a sad theme park.

Shrimp and grits, and tacos from the food truck. I had stupidly mentioned that vendor space was $10 and so naturally by the time we sat down on a foundation wall to eat, Mr. Big Food was thinking about what sorts of things *we* (!) might like to do. By the time we left he’d decided *we’ll* (!) be doing three chilis and a soup in December, five bucks a bowl.

While he was waiting for his name to be called at the food truck, I walked across the way to look at some woodworked items. … Found the Mississippi shaped box. … The woman called him Glen and I turned the box over and saw the initials “G.E.” so I asked, “Are you Glen E___?” Yes he was. “We live in the house you built at the end of the road!” That set us to talking. Later, after we’d eaten, Mr. Big Food chatted with him some.

Meanwhile the Italian post-doc told me they didn’t take cards. I. Was. Shocked. (jk) Fortunately for her, I had shoved a small wad of cash into my pocket. Not a problem. She bought $15 worth of homegrown & made jams and salsas, and I bought $10– plum jam and fig preserves.

By now Mr. Big Food was back from his History of Our Farm lesson– just in time to carry the 40 pound box of sweet potatoes for which I paid $20. We are set for sweet potatoes this winter. Fellow said he thought they were Orleans variety, and though I didn’t contradict, they looked more like Beauregard to me. And ah ha! The internet tells me

‘Orleans’ is an orange flesh, light rose skinned sweet potato. It is a twin to ‘Beauregard’ in many ways. Skin and flesh color are similar to ‘Beauregard’ and the sugar profiles are identical to ‘Beauregard’ so flavor is unchanged. 

(So now I am all poofed up with myself thinking that I know sweet potato varieties on sight!)

The Italian post-doc likes to walk so after Mr. Big Food put the sweet potato box in the back of the truck she declared that she was going to start walking home. No doubt the one and only time in the history of all mankind that an Italian woman in a dress– and high heeled boots, no less– has ever been walking on our little county road.

Have a good weekend!