Market Day

To market to market to buy a fat....

pony?

Meet Nand.  Nand is the newest member of the Larson family and Nora is totally in love with him. She shows her love for him by brushing him and braiding his mane and tail.  She dresses him in his jacket when it's cold inside and she even lets him sleep on Jack's bed, much to Jack's dismay.   She doesn't totally spoil him, however.  As you can see, she puts him to work from time to time.  Especially when she's weaving and needs help holding up her loom.

I love the fact that he doesn't leave messes in the yard and requires no feeding.  I mean a few chickens are one thing, but a horse!  That's a whole different ball game.

Nand came to us last Saturday as we pedaled home from the farmer's market.  Nora, and her keen eyes, spotted him standing proudly on a garage sale table.  She abruptly came to a halt, requested to borrow five dollars, and, after paying for him, deposited him into our cart. After joking that the horse usually comes BEFORE the cart, rather than INSIDE the cart, we continued our ride home.  

My Market Bike and new Market Cart,
courtesy of my husband.

Dave initially built this cart for Jack.  So we could haul him around with us, rather than leaving him home alone.  But Jack, being the sensible old man that he is, wanted absolutely nothing to do with it.  Even when we lined it with a beautiful burgundy rug.  Even when we loaded it with his favorite sweet potato jerky treats.  He's no fool.  

Not wanting Dave to feel bad, or have all his hard work go to waste, I claimed it as my own.  It would become my market cart.  Thus, when Saturday rolled around, Nora and I rolled out of the garage on our bikes and headed to the market.  And  I have to say, having the cart was magnificent.  Admittedly, it was a little bouncy and a little noisy as we banged our way up to Proctor Street, but once loaded down with compost, a geranium, a few strawberry plants, and a birthday present, she rolled home (almost) as quiet as a mouse.

Jack just doesn't know what he's missing.

Actually he does.  This is him from his royal seat Saturday night.  After coming out of the restaurant we found him up front--in MY seat!  And this is where he sat.  All the way home.