to Market, to Market

Our local tailgate market opened for the season today.  Last year I rented space a few times to sell photo cards, handmade stuffed toys and a little bit of this and that and this year I signed on as a regular.

Committed.  For the entire 26 week season, minus a few weeks here and there when we'll be away.

I'm pretty thrilled about it all.  To be part of the market community (and oh what a great market we have!), to have motivation to play around a bit and create regularly (because I have to), to share the experience with Claire (which I'm sure will prove somewhat challenging from time to time but I'm alright with that), the connecting that takes place.... all of it.

We had fun today.  Sold a fair amount of stuff and learned ways to make the setting up and taking down of things go more smoothly next time.  Grandma and Papa were there.  Claire was there.  The rain held off.

I intended to take some lovely market pictures to post.  To try to capture that feeling, the pulse of the market......

But I forgot.  And I was using the camera to prop something up for display.

Maybe next time.

But here's what I saw.... smiling faces happy to be back, happy to return to this weekly community gathering, dogs (lots of dogs), flowers, plants, chocolate, honey, crafts, loads of produce (predominantly greens with some beautiful strawberries thrown in), quiches, pies, cheese, eggs, breads, baked goods, soaps, local meats, seafood brought in from the coast, children dancing, a light drizzle, and the best of all.... Claire taking it all in.

Of course once it was time to start packing up she was done, over it, take-me-home-NOW-mama, but that's how it goes.

Here's to the start of the market season, and to some learning ahead for this mama on how best to keep a babe happy and at least somewhat contained and occupied at market.

I'm open to suggestions on that front, for sure.