Tuesday Treasures

Apparently I look slightly bedraggled at the Tuesday Market...but the hay fork is the purpose of this picture. I finally got to put an old Country Fair face and name together and found this glorious handmade oak item in Virgil and Nancy's booth. Eventually I may use it in the compost pile but for now it is in my living room.

As you can see, the tines are split from the single branch, and he has no need for power tools to make this living artifact from less complicated times. All tools used to be made locally and by skilled (or adequately skilled) craftspeople or farmers or whomever needed the tool. It has a life because Virgil's hands were on it from start to finish. He harvested the wood from a place I am familiar with so it carries that history too. I get all misty just thinking about its value, which is far beyond the very reasonable price I paid for it. He even numbers them, and writes your name in his book because you are participating in the process.

It was one of those things I saw and was compelled to participate in. Sometimes at Market something or someone will appear and it is entirely possible that it will not return for a second chance. I think Virgil's tools will return, so look for him in the 4x4's on Saturdays, and maybe next Tuesday, WHICH IS THE LAST TUESDAY MARKET of the season.

I wish I had taken more pictures this week, as it was a perfect fall day with drifting leaves, sun, albeit weak at times, fog rolling in from the river, and all the produce that is still left in our valley.

Tuesday is a Farmers Market, run by LCFM, so it feels different from Saturdays. Farmers are allowed to pay for more than one space, and often spread out into three, so when we have space we crafters (I hear the preferred word is now merchants...not sure about that) spread out too. The bowl in the background of the squash collection is from John King, who set up on the other leg of my corner, and spread across three empty spaces, which increased the traffic flow nicely and brought me some sales, I'm sure. I missed my regular neighbors, but every week is different, and I was happy to feel successful.

I started displaying my kids shirts in baskets turned on their sides, and at some point it dawned on me that I got that idea from the farmers. Their baskets get emptied and mine do not, but as a fair-weather display I like it very much. It's easy to pack, in that you don't have to take them out and put them in a box, but of course baskets are odd shapes and sizes and don't pack on the cart well. Still, I've become a basket collector. My Saturday neighbors, Sheila and Patricia, make the most fabulous baskets you have seen in your life. They always have a different selection and they are very hard to resist.

Beth came by and admired my hay fork, and quoted her mom's observation that we just make things and sell them to each other, which is kind of how it does work. I trade with a lot of the farmers, but mostly I like to pay cash to the craftspeople when I want their products, and I don't accept vendor discounts. It's an honor to me to own someone else's pride and joy, and I know well the excitement that comes with making and displaying a new product or concept.

Virgil brought five forks and took most of them home, but we're there for many other reasons besides making money. He'll sell them all, over time, and make more, and with that encouragement, he'll branch out into other fine tools. He had some amazing knapped stone and glass knives in his booth too. He may be old, but he isn't finished. That's one of the wonderful things about our market. We provide opportunity, and it's pretty easy. A booth space on Tuesday only costs us $5 and 10%. If no one treasures your offerings that day, $5. My excellent neighbor, Lew, who bikes almost 6 miles with his chain maille, is rumored to have a zero day once in awhile, but he keeps coming for the good conversation and the opportunity. I'm so sorry I didn't take a picture of his chains, every link made and put together in traditional, ancient fashion, and his great bead snakes. You can find him in the 4x4's too.

Of course I spend more than I make most days, at the Patisserie and Serendipity hot dog cart and the various farmers. It's not an easy market to make sales at, mostly because there are not enough customers. People may not realize how convenient and pleasurable it is, to make a stop at the Tuesday Market part of your day.

But next week is the last one and rain is predicted, so I'm not promising to be there. I may just drop in and get my caneles and lemon tart and golden peppers and a few more kinds of squash. Also dried blueberries, beets, the world's best lettuce and carrots (Horton Road) and shrimp seviche from Berg's. You might have to come on Saturday to get my hats, and the sale items I take to Tuesday might not be available until next May. You just never know.

You have to be in the moment if you want the good stuff.