Carrots

 In the cold dull days of winter the offerings at the local farmers market have shrunk. Now the tables are piled with fruits and vegetables that are the basis of soups and stews meant to sustain people in cold northern climates---onions and parsnips, sweet potatoes and winter squash. Apples huddle in wooden bins. Someone was in an artistic mood, arranging the carrots into a bright orange fan, where we can marvel at their cheerful hue and quirky irregularities. A little color goes a long way on a gray day.