Dreaming of sunny days, warm weather, gardening, swimming, baseball and golf. Not yet! We are still in the throes of winter. Keep enjoying our heavy sweaters, winter coats, boots, furnaces, and fireplaces! I was reminded by the Mindfulness post on Facebook where it said, "If you choose not to find joy in the snow, you will have less joy in your life, but still the same amount of snow." I'd like to tweak the post and say, "If you choose not to find joy in winter, you will have less joy in your life, but still the same amount of winter."

That quote gave me pause to think about my relationship to winter. I decided to adjust my attitude since I couldn't adjust nature and the weather. So for the remainder of this season, that often feels too long, I am following some suggestions from social media that I thought would challenge me and help me pass the days. Here is a schedule I am going to record on my calendar. Each calendar day will be different, like: lunch with a friend, afternoon walk (no matter the weather), observe my backyard for a morning and record the visitors (No TV or phone), a movie, bake a cake for my neighbor who shoveled my walk, spa day at home, eat at new restaurant in the area, visit one store I have not every been to, choose a frozen dinner I have never tried. See, the list can be endless, so I set up a one-month calendar to encourage me through the wintertime.

Because I already started my events, my first Saturday was Broad Ripple Winter Farmer's Market, located at Liter House at 5301 Winthrop Avenue. The rooms where buzzing with conversation, questions, and connections. The selection from a rotation of nearly 40 vendors was just the pick-me-up I needed for a rainy, dreary Saturday morning with snow in the forecast. Honey, coffee, livestock products, winter vegetables, fresh breads, pastries, to many varieties of apples, cheeses, gluten-free foods and organic wonders, the market did not disappoint.

Jim Baughman, vendor from Freedom, IN, offered a great variety of vibrant looking organic produce.

"This is a wonderful community and a great place for the folks to gather. I get lots of questions about my produce and that often leads to interesting conversations and advice about gardening. The bonus at this market is that there is lots of parking! Most market aren't that lucky."

Mandy Corry of Schacht Farm travels every weekend from Bloomington. She's been working the Broad Ripple Farmer's Market for twelve seasons. She calls her livestock retail "a labor of love". I looked up and saw a line forming at her booth. Her customers love her fresh eggs and meat too. I moved on to David Boots of Wild's Apple Farm who offered an amazing array of apples. He grows heritage apples and had many varieties I had not heard of, even one created by Purdue University. You get to pick the apples you want, put them in a small basket, and he weighs them. I got to share apple stories with him, and he said he could even help me in March learn to spray my young apple trees that I planted in my backyard. You just never know what you will learn, what you will buy, or who you will meet at the market.

The visit to the market ended with me speaking to Barb Wilder, one of the market masters. She was able to tell me more about the winter market and the wonderful partnership with Eddie Sahm, owner of Liter House. The vendors sometimes rotate, like working first and third or second and fourth Saturdays. She advised to check out their website, brfm.org, or their Instagram site weekly to know the vendors attending and any special events. They celebrate national food days like National Spaghetti Day, National Gluten-free Day or Gourmet Coffee Day. With music accompanying your shopping, they also add special events like collecting hats and glove for IPS. I also heard praise from the vendors for the hard working market masters and the quality Broad Ripple Farmer's Market always offers-winter or summer. These vendors work the market for their livelihood, and the market organizers respect this and run a great event. All are working hard for you, the customer.

We are fortunate to have a gem right in the heart of Broad Ripple all season long. So don't despair about the weather. Make a visit to the Winter Farmer's Market and get a seasonal boost. You can see your friends, have a great conversation, and afterwards, lunch at Liter House. . . .all with free parking! Remember, if you choose not to find joy in winter, you will have less joy in your life, but still the same amount of winter. The market is joy!