Two Saturdays ago was our last Finnegan's outing of the year. It was bittersweet - half the vendors were already gone, there was a chill in the air, the skies were dark. People were giving each other hugs and wishing each other a good winter - it felt a bit like the end of camp. I bought a bag of beautiful deep red Empire apples from the Verger Hudson stall and we made our way into the barn, where a box full of silvery goodies awaited us.
Christian had been eyeing a silverware set for about three years - yup, three years, that's how we shop. I love pretty silverware and was willing to wait for just the right set; that is to say, affordable on top of all the other requirements I had in my head. Call me a weirdo, but there's so much to be particular about when it comes to just about anything, and for me that includes silverware (although, being particular does not lend itself well to shopping on a budget - which is why it often takes us years to buy stuff). The proportions, the weight, the length of the fork tines, the spoons - oh my gosh, the SPOONS. Perfectly round soup spoons, please. I don't know why this is so important to me, but it is. This set included the best dessert spoons I've ever seen - perfectly proportioned, with a matte gold bowl. So pretty.
Salvatore's stall is a fixture in the barn: beautiful serving pieces, silverware and accessories, and always a sweet little dog (one of their several) taking a nap in the chair at the back. We negotiated a special end-of-the-season price and he was kind enough to polish and sharpen all the knives for us - although now we're afraid to use them. They’re very sharp. Thank-you to Salvatore and his wife for making our last purchase of the season so memorable. Until next spring, Finny's.