I MADE IT THROUGH THE RAIN

Saturday morning, I woke to see a wet street when I glanced out the livingroom windows; the day was wet and foggy all day long.

Right off at the Grange, a petition was passed around to sign; the vendors are not happy that table costs will be going up $10 next Fall. I didn’t sign the paper because there wasn’t any point to doing so: the decision had already been made & set in place … and the tables in town are going for $25/table. Foot traffic is pretty much the same here and there. Bazaars are kinda falling by the wayside with online Etsy shopping. Only die-hard Bazaar faithful’s bother to get out of their houses and browse local Bazaars. And die-hard crafters, like myself, will pay the table fee regardless of the foot traffic.

I like the country. I like Granges; Granges are something I can get behind – public schools and churches not so much. I am a hard-core Home Education Advocate (have been since at least 1966 when I first saw Home Schooling happening; I told Bob when I found out I was pregnant that I wanted to Home Educate - but his Grandmother was the first school teacher to Eden Valley, and she later became Wahkiakum County Superintendent of Public Schools, so he did not get behind Home education until 1989). I just can’t support public or private schooling, so I tend to avoid those openings: and churches have gone the way of vineyard cult doctrine, so I can’t back that nonsense either. But I don’t mind spending my money f it’s something I can get behind. It really is getting hard to find a Bazaar venue anymore that I can support, so when I DO find one, I don’t mind paying the table fee because I know it’s going towards a purpose and a cause I agree with. I upset some people today because I wouldn’t sign the protest paper – but I can’t help that; I have to follow my own conscience, and it really doesn’t matter how many signatures got on that paper: it is already a done deal.

A guy and his gal stopped by my table and liked the American Revolution Finger Puppets set I designed & crafted ... so he bought John Adams. He was very friendly and talkative - and he didn't bat an eye at the price tag. They walked around, and he bought something from every vendor; but he stopped at my table first ;-)

(https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2018/08/mod-old-glory-americana-finger-puppet.html)

MOD John Adams Finger Puppet (https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2018/07/old-glory-americana-finger-puppet-set.html)

Guy & his gal

At one point, I looked up and saw a flag fluttering in the wet breeze. Veteran’s Day is Monday ...

I saw some old friends too: they stopped by the table for a few minutes of chit-chat. We had a nice visit; we haven’t seen each other face-to face for a while: Linda, of course, is a FB Friend as well as an old friend. Bob & I always enjoyed visiting with them:

Linda & Chuck. Chuck & I had a good visit while Linda browsed; we talked a little about how we can feel our loved one - who went before us - around us still.

It was a good 2 days & I did pretty good: I made table costs, and then some. And my bins were considerably lighter when I loaded up to bring them back home :-D

I am content.

I made it through the rain and did okay ;-)

PLEASANT HILL BAZAAR

The river traffic was pretty intense Friday morning; the deep droning of the fog horns woke me up around 4:30 a.m.; but that was okay – they were my ‘alarm clock’ getting me up and moving so I could be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed by the time it was time to walk out the door to get to the Grange on time. I like the sound of the fog horns … and I never minded the sound of the trains clattering over the tracks when we lived on Merritt Drive. To me, it’s soothing. Bob didn’t mind the fog horns, but he wasn’t keen on the tracks’ noise.

Coming down Nevada Drive towards West Side Highway, I passed a house door that already had a Christmas Wreath on it! It’s not even Thanksgiving yet … the holiday impatience just gets worse and worse every year.

I have always liked doing the Pleasant Hill Bazaar; there isn’t much foot traffic – but the other vendors, the shoppers that find their way to us, and the Grange hosts are fun people to be around. I was laughing a lot today: I like that. I needed the laughter. And I made sales today. I did spend some of my earned cash … I signed up for an upcoming Bazaar in December – and I bought a small table-top Christmas Tree from Connie which I can place on the fireplace mantle the end of this month; I usually walk away with something off Connie’s tables, she has some awesome stuff at good prices. I’ll probably buy some more tomorrow ;-)

And I signed on for a 2^nd Bazaar – in Castle Rock, December 7^th @ the Senior Center there: it will be my 1^st ever Bazaar in Castle Rock; there have been Bazaars in Castle Rock over the years, but they have all been very inclusive, shutting outside vendors out. So, this will be a new experience; and I am looking forward to it. If they are reaching out, how could I turn the invite down? I like Castle Rock, and I don’t mind the drive to get there – it’s not that far away. Bob & I visited the Senior Center there about 2 years ago, and I know where it is located. I wasn’t thinking of doing a 2^nd Bazaar this year, but … this one in Castle Rock will be, again, in a country setting; I am familiar with the drive and location: and the foot traffic won’t be overwhelming. I think I can do it without stressing myself out.

I don’t do Bazaars with the hope of making enough for a vacation cruise, or to pay off my mortgage – people who have that mindset will be sorely disappointed. I do Bazaars because my hands are always busy - I like to craft; and my mind is always in process, thinking on an impromptu design. And I get a bang out of other people liking my designs and actually paying money to walk away with one of my 1-of-a-kind designs … which are a little quirky, like me ;-)

When I first started doing Bazaars, about 12 years ago, Bob thought it was a waste of time because I would never recoup the $$$ put into the venture. But I told him, “It’s not about the money Bob – it’s about the art: and the pleasure of seeing someone else appreciate what my mind comes up with and my hands work up. If I make just enough to recoup the table fee and the yarn costs, I’m okay with that – if I make more, that’s okay too. For me; it’s not about the money.” I did the first few Bazaars on my own, going as far as Winlock. And Bob, who was skeptical to start with, was amazed – then proud of me, when the $$$ started rolling in :-D And he started joining me on the Bazaar Circuit after he retired 7 years ago: we spread out - from Winlock to Vancouver ... I won't do Vancouver alone now; maybe Winlock, next year. This year I am staying relatively local. Bob was a good help for me. He was my GPS in the flesh - he could get us wherever I wanted to go without consulting a map: he knew the PNW. He helped me load and unload my bins before and after each event. He was a people watcher as well as a social butterfly, and generated a lot of business for me with his jovial personality. He liked my quirky creations, and he beamed with pride when other vendors, and happy customers complimented me on my handiwork. He came to understand that while making $$$ was an added bonus, the real enjoyment was being in the moment: the environment, the companionship, the friendships made/kept thru the years with the event hosts, the other vendors, and my returning customers who sought me out & sent their friends to my table. I even got so many side orders, I had to halt that because there wasn't enough time to get the side orders made up, shipped out, and restock my Bazaaar Bins.

I really missed having Bob with me today.

Hot dog lunch … Bob’s favorite food. Bob could live on hot dogs; I always kept the ‘fridge & freezer stocked with them.

But I didn’t cry.

After I got home, I unpacked the bathroom boxes. That took an hour & a half. Everything is now totally unpacked and back in place. I am here for the duration. Longview was where Bob always felt comfortable, so I am putting down roots here and staking my claim ... and candy scott can kiss my fat white ass. Bob wanted me to keep the house; and I am going to DO that, now that the kids have cut me loose. Longview was Bob's town - and now, it is my town. I will learn to get comfortable in it. I will rebuild my life here, and spread my wings navigating the surrounding counties.

I will be Bob's legacy.

I love you, Babe.

 

Always.

OX