Many places inspire me, but one that tickles all my senses is our local Farmer’s Market. There’s just something invigorating about a Farmers’ Market on a Saturday morning. I can pick up fresh vegetables, homemade treats, and colorful flowers, while looking for new products I haven’t tried before. From the elegance of a hand-thrown piece of pottery, to the sturdiness of a forged iron doorstop, to the colorful home-made quilts and more, the creations are as varied as the craftsmen. I marvel at their expertise and am inspired to reach such beauty and sustainability in my own craft of writing.

One booth has picnic tables for sale. Another is offering a selection of carved wooden bears, while a third vendor has a table full of wooden toys that are sure to delight both the young and the young at heart. All three of these wonderful and different hand-crafted offerings started out as a piece of wood. It reminds me of storytelling in that, while some storylines may start the same (boy meets girl for example), it’s how each author craves out the characters and crafts the story that makes the difference in the end.

The abundance of colors, aromas, textures, and sounds found at a Farmers’ Market is an inspiring wakeup call for my senses.

Deborah Epperson