Can You Tell?

I just started a new job as the full-time,short term Spanish teacher for the public middle school in Farmville. I know, I know, I don't speak Spanish, I speak French, but apparently the two languages are similar enough for me to be a quasi expert at the beginner level. Though I have slipped in a few "oui, ouis" instead of "si, sis", the kids are relatively forgiving. In fact they seem much more interested in my personal life than any -ar verbs that they should be conjugating. I thought I had done a fine job at hiding my belly bump from the students, but I have been asked in almost all of my seven classes: "Ms. Glasserkey, are you having a baby cause your belly is popping out?" One of my darling sixth graders told me that he is now going to be my protector by making sure that I don't drink soda or get sick.

Charlottesville Farmers' Market

We have gone to the Charlottesville Farmers' Market twice now, and I am impressed by the size, selection, and popularity of the market. The Waterpenny Farm is our favorite place to get tomatoes because the scarlet gems taste just as succulent as they look. I have been making lots of gazpacho, but mostly we just eat the fruit as is. There is nothing like a perfect tomato with no bling. (The gal next to Dave is not me...yet!)

The unattached cantaloupe

Charlottesville folk take their farmers marketing so seriously that they coordinate their outfits to match the fruits and veggies that they don as accessories.

Curtis, the "Dahlia Man", and our friend Bill have been bemoaning the dismal state of the Dahlia season. Curtis says that his flowers are usually much taller, fuller, and abundant by now, but he still manages to show up to market with his lovely few, so delicately displayed.