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North America, Travel
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August 2, 2009

Dane County Farmer’s Market, Madison, WI

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First day in Madison, WI.  I fell asleep next to my 2.5 year old on the air mattress that was laid out for him and his brother.  I was woken up to the easily recognizable squeals of them playing in the living room, enjoying the fact that they had even more attention being bestowed upon them by the great aunts and uncles and cousins who live here.

The sun was shining bright, and there was a cool breeze of fresh, clean air kissing my face Good Morning as I walked out. We headed out fairly early, aimed with a full list of things to do and people to visit.  But before anything else, we wanted to start our day with at one of the best, the largest farmer’s market I had ever been to, even within New York City.

The Dane County Farmer’s Market is set up every season, which usually runs from April through November, on Saturdays and Wednesdays on a different location for each day.  But the most popular day, and the best location, is on Saturdays on the Capitol Square.

When we arrived to the Capitol Square, the area was already crowded, and the selling farmers were busy and active. The air smelled like fresh cut flowers and we were excited to see what we could find.

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IMG_9672As we slowly followed the crowds around the Capitol, I started reminiscing about our time living here, and the times we used to come and browse and shop and stroll, making these our Saturday mornings.  Back then however, I was either pregnant, or just had a baby, or was pregnant again, or just had a baby again, so we didn’t visit as much as I would’ve like.  Not as much as we would visit if we still lived here.  Amazing how we appreciated it even more now, than then.

Maybe it was the beautiful heirloom tomatoes, maybe it was the amazing flowers brought to us by the Laotian farmers, maybe it was the wonderful smell of baked goods, or the good old Wisconsin maple syrup…not sure exactly what it was, but I felt as torn between my New York City self and this other life I used to have living in Madison, WI.

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IMG_9705The boys loved stopping by at the stands and checking out the different snacks and treats along the way.  But even when they weren’t buying snacks, there was plenty to see and touch, and plenty of reasons to stop and say hi to the vendors and check everything out.  It seemed like one of the simplest thing any family could do, visit their local farmer’s market, and yet here we were, watching bees, eating popcorn, and smiling to other families who passed us by.  We even took a moment to sit on the lawn for a light and early lunch made up of our purchases, while the boys ran around and we admired the majestic Capitol building, it’s architecture and grandeur.  As we rested, the crowds kept passing by, enjoying the day, enjoying the market, and helping Madison feel like home again.

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Fast forward to the end of the day and this feeling of being home remained in our hearts as we sat and watched the sunset, surrounded by nothing more than the sound of the same breeze that kissed me Good Morning, except this time it was cradling me into night.

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Lake Waubesa, McFarland, WI

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Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, close to home or farther away. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and CEO of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications management, and brand development agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She splits her time between her homes in New Jersey and Finger Lakes.

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5 Comments
  • Melisa with one S
    August 2, 2009

    Great post! It's so great to be able to slow down a bit and really feel at home, isn't it? Huge diff between Madison & NYC too! I'm glad you enjoyed your day.

    (and pics are fab, too!)

    Reply
  • WeaselMomma
    August 2, 2009

    I can't get over all of that hair.

    Reply
  • duong sheahan
    August 3, 2009

    WOW, you are up in the area where I used to hang during college! Love Madison and haven't been there in many years! I love the farmer's market…and it's a biggy up there in WIS. I haven't found one close to me in NW subs of Chicago since I've lived here! There's nothing like getting coffee, browsing all the fresh fruit/veg stands and grabbing a bunch of fresh wild flowers, discovering free range meat and making a farmer's day!

    Enjoy your family Road Trip!

    Reply
  • Elisa
    August 5, 2009

    WOW. That is stunning. The gorgeous market, with goods aplenty, and the colors from the flowers and vegetables. I can almost smell the handmade soap and the freshly baked cookies.

    And then the capitol, and the photos from the shore. I'm not familiar with the role of Madison, WI in American history, but you have inspired me to look it up and find out more!

    Reply
  • Daydreaming of Summer and Road Trips! | NYCity Mama
    June 28, 2010

    […] Dane County Farmer’s Market, Madison, WI […]

    Reply

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About me

Hi! I'm Carol! I am a communications professional, an award-winning travel blogger, a public speaker, CEO of a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency, a wife, and a mom of 3 sons and 2 puppies. Welcome to my blog where I share stories of my travels and professional public relations insights and advice. Thank you for reading!

Carol Cain

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Mother Nature sent us some dusting. She must be Sp Mother Nature sent us some dusting. She must be Spring cleaning.

I know. I know. Snow 😖 But we’re almost there...I just feel it. Just not today!
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#myflx #fingerlakes #snowinspring #snowday #lakelife #iloveny #senecalake
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Not complaining though because I also got to hit up one of my fave coffee spots (@amitycoffeeco), in one of the prettiest main streets in Penn Yan, NY. And I got to do it with this handsome dude, @travisjcain.

Also, being in this place just makes me so dang happy all around.
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Perks of life in wine country: membership to our f Perks of life in wine country: membership to our favorite wineries. Where as in some places farm-to-table is a trend, here it is a way of life. This made it easy for us to pick up a slew of winery top picks from @hectorwineco and we can’t wait to pair them with some awesome dishes I plan on cooking this week. 
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Home life has become less tense as the end of scho Home life has become less tense as the end of school days get closer and closer. Work has been fulfilling and gratifying. I’ve started putting more time into my fitness, which is making me feel really good. I’m slowly booking my calendar to see my dearest, and nearest friends. And though long distance travel is still not in the works for us, we are gifted with the Finger Lakes nearby and are not taking any of it for granted.

So while @theflxcottage is still being worked on, we decided to take a weeklong workcation along the beautiful Seneca Lake.

The air is still a bit too chilly for swims or BBQs but I plan on spending as many sunsets as possible right in this spot.

I hope this inspires a road trip close to home for you. Because don’t we all deserve a bit more serene beauty in our lives? Go get yours! @flxwinecountry @flpplake 
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My youngest hesitated. Saying he didn’t want to go.

In my heart I felt his fear. I understood it. I’ve spent many years playing in the ocean. I’ve had many encounters with sharks, jellyfish, sea urchins, and even had a near drowning experience. The ocean both thrills and terrifies me. But I venture into it often because fear is such a debilitating drug. And that was my biggest fear for my kids. So I made him sit on the edge of the boat as he teared up, and I nudged him into the water. 

As I prepped to jump in after him, I saw our Jamaican guide give me a thumbs up, and the other tourists give me a look of disapproving judgement.

I jumped in the water and held my boy’s hand, tears were coming down his cheeks, past his goggles. 

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We started swimming. Fish of every size and color passing us by and gliding beneath us. He would look at me, nod his head, give me a thumbs up.

After awhile he signals wanting to go up, so we do.

“You Ok?”, I ask. “Yes,” he responded, “You can let go of me now. You don’t need to hold my hand anymore. I’m not afraid.” Then he let me go and started swimming away.

I swam along side him. Never leaving his side. The warmth of my tears fogging my goggles as I realized that it was me who needed his hand holding far more than he did, and bursting with pride at the newfound courage in him, at the beauty of watching my son grow up before my eyes.
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#travelstory #parenting #travel #oceanfun #Jamaica
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I texted my boy last night. And he didn’t respond. And I fell asleep fighting off all thoughts of potential harm that could come his way. I think of the tall, beautifully brown-skinned, big smiled man he has become. How bright his present and his future are. How much he is loved and all the dreams he has. I think about how he is still learning, still growing, still making mistakes, things that shouldn’t be held against him much less cost him his life. I think about how he is my heart and my soul and I can’t imagine it - what these mothers and fathers are going through.

I woke up to his reply. He had been out bowling with his small niche of friends. His happiness pulsing through the text. And I felt grateful that I alone carried the weight of the fear and sadness of these repetitive moments of violence against our Black and brown babies. He and they all deserve the bliss so easily enjoyed by others. But maybe so do we in knowing they are safe too.

The violence isn’t just physical. It is emotional and psychological, and it reaches far and wide, beyond the latest crime. And maybe that’s the point? Maybe that’s the goal? But it is also why we should and will fight harder. Because, Black Lives Matter too. And our families and our children deserve peace.
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#blacklivesmatter #bipoclivesmatter #protectourchildren

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