All but the most phobic or allergic are pretty much suckers for a cute puppy; even people who don’t particularly care for dogs are drawn in by a puppy who wrinkles up little shoe-button eyes and grins a puppy grin punctuated with shiny, tiny, white puppy teeth. For the very resistant, the pup throws in a head-tilt and a half-flopped ear, all the while looking straight up beguilingly. That is it. The hook is set. Reel in the prize. Recognizing victory, the puppy flops over like a tossed rag doll, exposing a shiny, tight, round, bright pink, bare belly. “Here is my tummy, you lucky person, you.”
Resistance is futile, and why would anyone want to, anyway? When you find that magic spot just under the ribcage, the little foot starts to go. At first, it is just twitching toes, then the foot flutters in the air. Finally, the whole darned leg starts hammering away like Keith Moon on a hot lick, thumping out a fast tattoo of happiness. The eyes roll back, the ears flop, the tongue lolls. The puppy heaves a contented sigh. Life is good.
Such exuberance on the part of our customers at the Presque Isle Farmers Market might be a little over the top, all that rolling around and belly exposure in the Aroostook Centre Mall parking lot at 8:30 in the morning even a bit off-putting. But that is just about appearances. The market is all about good feelings on Saturday mornings all the way to 1 p.m.
The vendors have all the makings of a “life is good” breakfast. You can find fresh eggs from Delphinium Blue Farm, nitrate-free bacon from Chops Ahoy, several varieties of sausage from both Chops Ahoy and Hidden Meadow, and a selection of bread for toasting from either The Country Bakery or the Easton Bakery. Slather it with jams, jellies, preserves, or honey from Zook Family Farm and your breakfast is complete.
If those selections don’t bring your inner foodie a tail wag, those same two vendor-bakers also offer a host of muffins, doughnuts, apple fritters, cinnamon rolls, and other treats every week to make your Saturday morning Farmers Market adventure worth the trip. Throw in a hot steaming cup of freshly roasted coffee from Stori Bord and some pleasant conversation with friendly folks on both sides of the tables and you got yourself a morning!
Release your inner puppy. Can that thumping foot be all that far behind?
The Presque Isle Farmer’s market’s president is Kevin Ehst of Hidden Meadow Farm in Bridgewater. For information about participating or visiting the market, contact him at 425-4050 or via email at kevins@ehst.com.
