Clucking about farmers markets

So why do I drag myself out of bed on a drizzly, gray Saturday morning to head to the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market? Sure, there are the fresh mushrooms, the last of the tomatoes, the fresh lettuces and the apples-that-taste-like apples.

But the real reason is the chance to see stuff like this: Young Maple May Cookson in her chicken costume on Halloween morning.

That's her mom, Holly, holding her in front of the sign for the Cooksons' Red Dirt Ranch in Ellenboro.

Maple sweetie, when you can walk, we'll have to teach you to do the Chicken Dance.