I love love love Farmers Markets and along with my Mom, am a frequent buyer at our local one.  However it is always great fun if you can get to one in another town and even better if that is a small town, with a big heart and even bigger talents.    This early in the spring there really isn't much at our markets in the realm of fruit and veggies (although this one had one booth full - they must be hot house growers) so it is interesting to see what exactly arrives at the market.

Hamilton is a cool little town I've not ever visited.   Inundated with tourists in the summer but right now just a great localized small town.   I loved getting to park and walk a bit past some of the old houses around the center of town just off main street.  We found this amazing huge blooming tree as well.   No clue what it is so offer suggestions if you know!

I was so very impressed with the Hamilton market.  One block around the county court house (in the center of town) had most of the food booths and there was such an amazing array of good eats.  I was kind of glad I limited myself to the $20 in my pocket so only indulged in one bakery stop there.   There was a booth selling some wonderful dog beds, bed covers and some hand made toys.  Epic got a new braided fleece tug as it was the first place we stopped.

The other block and a few fringes of it had mostly hand crafts and one booth that had a most amazing array of spring flowers.  We also learned that the lady with the gardens they came from allows the public to come walk through her gardens (we hoped to stop there but didn't make it).  The gal working at the booth said this week was pathetic compared to the amazing flowers they had the week before but she also added just how much she LOVES her job!

There was live music scheduled for the lawn but when we were there I was super excited to see a REAL old-fashioned cake walk!  Who knew and I haven't seen one of those since I was young.  (no comments)    I so love small towns!
At the end of the street around the corner was an artists booth where he had made all kinds of objects out of metal recycled art.  The best one however was this robot.   Isn't it just the cutest thing ever??    We visited a bit and commented on the robot and the kind of left brain thinking that is needed to create such fun pieces of art from everyday found items.  The guy laughed and mentioned that if lifted off the robot's hat we'd see he even had a brain!  He did - a bright pink plastic one!   LOL I also found and purchased a spurtle.  In general it is a flat wooden utensil developed in Scotland was originally used to stir porridge and prevent it from becoming lumpy. It is still used for this purpose today, and is part of a high-profile porridge contest in Scotland where the winner receives a golden spurtle.  Some were shaped more like spoons with holes in them.  Mine is more flat like a spatula and will stay in the trailer as I didn't have anything to flip burgers with or a nice big stirring stick.   Came with history and instructions (including that they don't like "bubble baths") and was made by a gal recycling and using up wood ends from the cabinetry shop she owns and works at.  Cool huh!    

It was a great way to start a day of exploring and a long hiking day.  Leaving we snagged an amazing cinnamon roll to share from the artisan bakery booth and it was AMAZING!     I will definitely be back to that market when I'm up in the valley again!