18th century market fair and bento

Hi bento pals! This weekend we attended the Spring Market Fair at Claude Moore Colonial Farm, a living history museum that re-creates the life of a pre-Revolutionary war era tobacco farm here in Northern Virginia.

  In spring, summer and at the fall harvest, the Farm holds a wonderful fair on its rambling green grounds where visitors can see heritage farm animals and interact with blacksmiths, milliners, woodworkers, tinsmiths, farmers, bakers and dressmakers.

The farm grounds in May have a lush beauty with tendriling green leaves and vines dancing in the breeze before humidity has descended for the summer. It was a perfect day to enjoy the Fair, with the music of this green landscape in tune with the festival's flute, dulcimer and piccolo players....

Some scenes from the day...mama pig and her piglets! A guide explained that this breed, originally from the Pyrenees was the type raised by Colonial-era farmers in Virginia and that they are known for their intelligence (and, I'd add, cuteness!)

Jamison's capture of a peacefully resting sheep...

here's its more alert companion

The air was scented with rosemary-laced chickens on wood rotisseries...

A delicious lunch with local asparagus and buttered whole grain bread...

Various handcrafted items were for sale...

including all natural soaps and lotions

We brought home this delicious black raspberry preserve made at the farm:

Friends visited for a late lunch on Sunday, and Jamison made one of his magical glazed whole chickens with the preserves...yum! I saved a leg for today's bento, which also features red fingerling potatoes, romaine, mint, fennel and cucumber, blackberries and a mini cupcake with a black raspberry preserve frosting (garnished with a baby wild strawberry from the garden):

Have a great week!