We just celebrated the Solstice over the last weekend. Two of my friends and coven mates spent the weekend at the coast. We spent hours talking, knitting and laughing a lot of the time. The weather ran the whole gambit for us from a few brief rain storms to brilliant blue skies with high puffy clouds.

Friday night we explored the Farmers Market in the center of Manzanita, Or. It was small compared to the one we see in Beaverton, but it felt like the whole town was involved. It's early in the year but they had a full compliment of beautiful spring lettuce, glowing red radishes, and any of the other early veggies that you can name. There were a number of food booths where you could buy sandwiches and other fully prepared edibles. There were jewelery booths, handmade candles, even a booth that featured local yarns and wool. More than one booth included handmade soaps with wonderful scents, as well as creams and salves for many purposes. I bought Heel Balm made with shea butter, peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil. It is sandal season after all and my feet are thrilled with the new balm.

Our star purchase was a Peach/Cherry pie that we bought at the pie booth, after much debate on what kind of pie we wanted. They had several different fruit varieties and it was a difficult choice for us. I have to say it was the best pie I have eaten since my mother's. (I have to give my mother her kudo's, she made the best pie crust ever.)

The attitude of the people in the town was amazing. Manzanita is a small town on the Oregon Coast. Since there doesn't seem to be a lot of industry in the area, my assumption is most of the jobs deal with the tourist trade. In many tourist towns the 'locals' have an attitude towards the people who visit their area. We are given the impression that we are an intrusion into their lives, an unwelcome intrusion at best. Manzanita seems to welcome people with open arms. It's a comfortable town to visit and well worth the time.