On the Market.

Happy Halloween, my Market darlings! Here’s a picture of my husband and I in our spooky best.

Christmas is creeping up. So why not get a head start on your gift stash with something affordable. Soaps make wonderful gifts for the holidays and are widely appreciated. They are also an easy gift idea for co-workers you’re having a hard time shopping for. Just tie up your soap purchase from Rebecca’s Soap Delicatessen, Enchanted Forest Soaps, or the Blue Ribbon Boutique, with a handmade, pottery soap dish from Jane of Blue Heron Pottery.These lovely dishes are a wonderful compliment in any gift basket.

Speaking of the holidays, I happened to notice this week that Twist and Turns has a gorgeous selection of lighted Christmas trees now available. Be sure to swing in and see what they can do for your home for the holidays.

There was also a new vendor on the Market on Saturday. Ann-Margaret Shortt creates custom handbags and home fashions for her business, Morning Designs. For more information on Ann-Margaret’s products and Market availability, you can contact her at gssams@swva.net or by phone at (540) 745-3677.

I recently tried a new smoothie at the Little Dipper and fell in love! It’s blasting with orange-mango flavors and is absolutely my new favorite. And, even better, if you can name this zodiac smoothie, you can win a free bar of soap from Rebecca’s Soap Delicatessen.

To enter, just leave a comment below with your answer. All comments will be held until October 31st at which point I’ll draw a winner. The winner will then receive an email from me and can then come pick up his or her soap of choice on the Market anytime. (See my site for Market availability.) In the meantime, be sure to stop in Little Dipper Monday through Saturday from 11am to 5pm to enjoy a delicious lunch or daytime treat.

This little cutie got a new outfit on the Market from Danielle Reid on Friday afternoon. Choose from a whole line of dresses for your pooch in front of Wertz’s Restaurant on most Fridays and Saturdays.

Looking for something fun for yourself? Then take home a pair of socklady sol mate socks. These fun, knitted socks are not only cozy, but they’re mismatched with care in Vermont and proudly crafted in the United States. They’ve been featured in various magazines as well on ABC’s The View where Whoopi Goldberg gave them a big thumb’s up. Buy them at Blue Ribbon Boutique.

That’s the title of Jefferson Street Realist’s August 30th article on tag being banned at his child’s elementary school. And now I can tell him exactly why tag was banned. About two weeks ago my son, Cody, had a collision with one his classmates during tag at his own school. His front tooth hit his friend’s head when they both accidentally turned the same way. The result? Cody ended up at the dentist that afternoon getting x-rays on his permanent front tooth that was both chipped and knocked loose. The other boy ended up with a big knot on his head. Cody informed me several days later that they were no longer allowed to play tag at school. I imagine to avoid a potential lawsuit. As for running games they can play… Well, apparently Cody’s class came up with a new game called the Intimidator in which the kids try to get from one end of the basketball court to the other without being run off the court by whomever is “it.”

While Saturday’s Harvest Festival on the Market had to compete with the craft show at the Civic Center, the Fall Festival in Vinton, and other coinciding events, we still had a great turnout with lots to buy, do, and see. Here are a few pics I was able to snag.

Farmers offered dried lavender for sale…

along with dried wreaths,

and dried gourd flower arrangements.

There were also fresh cut flowers like these from Julia Light,

and seasonal potted plants like this one available from Rolling Meadows Farms.

You could also find tractors and small old time engines,

along with pottery demonstrations, lots of candied apples, pumpkins, and even a cake walk.

Speaking of pumpkins, everyone had a chance to enter to win cash by guessing the weight of this pumpkin.

And last but not least there was face painting…

and even a bee hive!

This week’s City Market newsletter sent out by Hope Hollingsworth contained a schedule of the entertainment for the Harvest Festival that’s coming up this Saturday. I figured I’d share since not everyone gets that newsletter.

10am - Country Kickers Cloggers
(From Roanoke)

11am - Floyd Ward Cloggers
(From Roanoke)

Noon - Broken Wire Band
(From Galax)

1:45pm - Jack Tale Players
(From Ferrum)

2:30pm - Bolt Brothers Band
(From Willis)

Hope has this to say about the bands:

Broken Wire and the Bolt Brothers are both award winning bluegrass bands from our region. Broken Wire, all teenagers, hail from Galax where they have won high marks for the last few years for their incredible bluegrass group skills.

The Bolt Brothers hail from Willis and have played nationally including Broadway.

See you there!

Sumdat Farm Market has homegrown chestnuts for sale. Swing by Sumdat and ask Barry what city or county in Virginia these chestnuts were grown and you can win a free bar of soap from Rebecca’s Soap Delicatessen. To enter, just leave a comment below with your answer. All comments will be held until October 16th at which point I’ll draw a winner. The winner will then receive an email from me and can then come pick up his or her soap of choice on the Market anytime. (See my site for Market availability.) Sumdat is open daily Monday through Saturday from around 9am to 3:30pm.

The Glazed Bisque-It is offering an adult class on October 13th to create a spooky Halloween bowl from 10:30am to Noon. See their calendar below for other events and reduced fees.

Wednesday, October 10th you can Paint the Town Red at 202 Market starting at 5:30pm in The Loft at 202. Stop by for a fine art show featuring one of a kind art work by such names as Juan Astianax, Christine Carr, Ed Dolinger, J. Gail Geer, and Kathleen Wilburn Lunsford. All works are for sale. There will also be Hors d’ oeuvres prepared by Chef Chad Scott as well as wine tastings provided by Stan Davis of the Roanoke Valley Wine Company. Admission to this event is just $10 and supports the new Art Museum of Western Virginia.