She says:

When I was growing up, my Mom read us bedtime stories. I was a big fan of Dr. Seuss, and one of my favourites was “And to think that I saw it on Mulberry Street”. It was a story about a kid who travelled down this one street that had all kinds of fantastical creatures and people; it was a real adventure. I always wanted to live on Mulberry Street someday… and now I do.

Photo: Contributed

Paynter Fruit Market

We live on a street at the edge of Westbank, one that is mostly agricultural land. It is certainly not your average suburb. The houses are far apart, and there is a vineyard, and a huge vegetable farm alongside the fruit orchard at one end of the road. Behind our house is a pumpkin patch. There are not only dogs in the yards, but also horses, chickens, geese, sheep, and even a couple of alpacas and a few peacocks. On a fine summer day you can hear the peacocks’ call, and you may hear the alpacas talking to each other, too.

Not everyone is keen to live in such a unique atmosphere, but for us it works very well. Everyone is interested in the neighbourhood and the people in it. Neighbours watch out for each other. We have gotten to know pretty much everyone on the street and often they will stop and chat as they go by walking their dogs or kids, or coming back from having an ice cream at the fruit stand.

I bet many of you just re-read that last paragraph, didn’t you? She has a place to get ice cream at the end of the road?! Yes, it’s true, we are blessed with the Paynter Fruit Market as part of our little world, and there is something extra-special about being able to enjoy your ice cream sitting amongst the fruit trees, or wandering down the road enjoying the animals, the view, the neighbours… it’s just as wonderful as living on Mulberry Street, I think.

There aren’t any houses for sale on our street, but you are welcome to enjoy the ambience. Ice cream weather may be coming to an end but you can come by and pick a pumpkin, or choose some heirloom organic peppers, or apples or pears… well, you get my drift. The Paynter Market is open through November 13th. If you need an idea of what to do with a pumpkin besides having a Jack O’Lantern, try this recipe.

Pumpkin Pound Cake
 

• 2 1/2 cups cake flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 4 eggs, separated (at room temperature)
• 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1 cup unsalted butter (at room temperature)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups lightly packed brown sugar
• 1 cup pumpkin
• Powdered sugar for dusting

In bowl, sift flour, baking powder, salt, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cardamom. Set aside. In large mixing bowl, beat butter until smooth. Gradually add in brown sugar. Add vanilla and beat approximately 3 minutes. Gradually add beaten egg yolks. Add pumpkin puree and beat until smooth. Add flour mixture, a little at a time, and mix well. Set aside. In a separate bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Gently fold whites into pumpkin batter. Spoon batter into greased tube or Bundt pan. Bake in lower third of oven 45 to 50 minutes at 350 degrees. Allow cake to cool 10 minutes, then invert onto cake plate. Once cake completely cools, dust with powdered sugar.