Saturday morning market time came earlier than I'm used to on Saturdays, for sure! And the girls do this every week?
Tom and Hannah put the tent up just as the rain was beginning...so the sides and back flaps went up in addition to prevent blowing rain on all the soaps.
I actually didn't have much to sell since Sarah wasn't home to do all her baking. As you can see from the blackboard right by me, the pumpkin pie fudge, mocha fudge, cookies and cream fudge, marshmallows, and cashew brittle were the only food items we brought to sell for her:Hannah switched the setup around a bit to give her side more space to spread out. She had lots of free soap samples this week to give out to folks:The vendor right beside us (Country Rhodes) has a beautiful double booth and sells tons of baked breads and granola every market day. Her pumpkins, gourds, and broom corn displays made everything seem so much like fall. As you can see, this photo was taken early, early morning before the customers showed up: Here's another fall display. I actually like the white pumpkins...and even the pumpkins with all the warts:The customers were few and far between as the rain came down, pouring at times:My favorite, favorite part of the morning was visiting with friends! A blog reader drove over the mountain from Richmond to visit her aunt and uncle for the weekend and decided to come by market.
You originally met Bobbi on the blog 4 years ago in this post,"I Met a Lurker and Survived!" I really enjoyed getting to see and visit with her again...thank you, Bobbi, for stopping by and brightening a rainy day!Well, I already knew about Bobbi possibly stopping by market...but I was totally surprised! when this friend showed up at market!
You originally heard about her in this post, "Lunch With a Lurker." (Am I detecting a theme here??)My friend had read on the last post that I'd be taking Sarah's place at market and decided to drive over the mountain and surprise me! She did!
We've gotten together a few other times this year since we met in January, and I've enjoyed developing our friendship. Thank you so much, friend, for the time and effort it took to drive that distance just to see and surprise me! Market ended up being a fun day! Thankfully, Sarah has returned and will be busy this week restocking for this coming Saturday's market!
~Deb
It was so good to be able to see you and Hannah! It's funny that you survived two "lurkers" in one day. I had such a good time in Staunton, visiting you and my aunt and uncle. Please tell Sarah that the mocha fudge is amazing!!!! We are really enjoying it.
Blessings to you,
Bobbi
Posted by: Bobbi | Monday, September 15, 2014 at 08:16 PM
In spite of the pouring rain, it sounds like you guys did a great job!
How big are the samples from Hannah's soaps? Does she make special batches for them, or are they simply "leftovers"?
Posted by: Alice | Tuesday, September 16, 2014 at 03:49 AM
Yes, Bobbi, it was good to see your smiling face visit us on Saturday. Alice, the soap samples are usually end pieces of the logs of soap I make, thin slices less than ¼” thick. It’s a nice use for something otherwise wasted.
Thanks for the comments.
Posted by: Hannah | Tuesday, September 16, 2014 at 09:45 PM
Hi Deb! The booth looks great; it's too bad the rain put a little damper on the sales. I'd love to try all the fudge and soaps - maybe someday when I'm in Virginia with time on my hands. I laughed and laughed when I read the titles of your "lurker" posts. That was hilarious, especially since my husband thinks meeting someone you "met" on the 'net is beyond bizarre. (Oh yeah, he's funny, too.) I think it's great because I know only nice folks would care to read such a nice blog. :)
Have a great day!
Toni
Posted by: Toni | Wednesday, September 17, 2014 at 08:20 AM
Some of the nicest people I have ever met, write blogs. :) Sorry to hear it rained upon your market. Hope next week is better.
Bobbi no longer qualifies as a lurker since she wrote a comment. :)
Victoria
Posted by: victoria | Wednesday, September 17, 2014 at 08:51 AM
Hello Deb,
I used to read your blog regularly and then found that something in my life had to go, so I pretty much stopped reading blogs and browsing the internet. I've popped in periodically, but it's been quite awhile.
I have to say that you look great! At the risk of sounding rude (and I hope you know I'm not trying to be)have you been losing weight? I'm forever trying and rarely succeeding. :-}
I honestly had to look twice at your photo because I thought it was someone else!
I'll go read some of your other recent posts to "catch-up" with your family.
Blessings to you!
Michelle W.
Posted by: Michelle W. | Friday, September 19, 2014 at 08:36 PM
All these market photos make me wish I were living in the area. I'd love to try some of that soap. Hmmm.... I wonder how many bars would fit in a flat rate envelope... :)
Posted by: Nic | Friday, October 31, 2014 at 03:42 AM