opening day at the farmers market (and the honey puppy)

Today was opening day at the Beaverton Farmers Market. Saturday mornings spent wandering through fresh produce, cut flowers, organic dog treats, nursery trees and locally made treats — all while listening to live music from local performers — is one of my favorite summer activities.

It was a gorgeous day for it, too. These cool, gray, overcast days really appeal to me, and it’s precisely this kind of weather that played a major role in my decision to relocate to Oregon.

This morning, the place was hopping! It wasn’t quite as packed as it gets in July and August when the rows of vendors are choked with people, but things were definitely headed in that direction. There seemed to be more vendors than last year, and I was surprised by the array of goods available this early in the season.

One vendor I’d not seen before was The Happy Barker, whose banner carries the slogan, “Dog is great, dog is good.” I’ll look forward to trying some of their vegan dog treats in the coming weeks — assuming my dog behaves herself in the meantime.

I picked up some herb plants -- 2 oregano plants, catnip, mint and sweet basil ($3/each) -- and bought organic leeks for $2.25/bunch and fresh-cut asparagus for $2.99/pound. I also bought local wildflower honey, to help stave off seasonal allergies.

I stopped by Safeway on the way home to pick up some bath soap and such — and checked out the produce prices. At the grocery store, leeks are about $3/bunch, and asparagus is $3.99/pound, so the farmers market was a real deal: Fresh, local and less expensive.

Of course, after bringing my purchases inside — save for the herb plants — I put away everything but the honey. I ran upstairs to check e-mail and change my shoes, then came back down to find the honey was MIA. I checked the canvas tote I’d carried at the market, the bags from the grocery store, the refrigerator, every place I could think of to locate the missing honey bear.

Then I got a terrible feeling…. I looked over at my husky — the Banshee dog — sitting next to the couch, obviously very pleased with herself. I slowly approached, and soon found the honey, buried in the couch beneath the throw pillows, the cap having been ripped off, honey seeping slowly into the furniture and (new) pillows.

Most of the honey was still in the container, thank goodness, and I think the couch cover can be saved. Who knew huskies like honey?

Later, the Banshee insisted on “helping” me plant to herb starts. Her assistance consisted mostly of dashing around the courtyard trying to steal my gardening tools, barking at me from inside the house and tearing around inside the garage wreaking havoc that I don’t want to examine just yet.