Post Craft Fair Reflections

  It is Monday today. How was your weekend? I wrote last that I was going to attend the big craft fair in town this past weekend and I did. The children and I headed out around 1:00 in the afternoon on Friday. None of us had really eaten lunch. I am not sure why I didn't take my own advice and plan for success I just had no food in my house and my kids had sort of snacked throughout the day and I just wanted to get there before it got so crazy we couldn't maneuver the aisles with my massive stroller.

  When we arrived to a very full parking lot we parked way in the back but another car pulled in right tight beside us so we spilled out of the van in a hurry trying to get out of the way of the four elderly ladies who were not willing to wait for us to get out. We got ourselves situated with the three year old in the stroller and everyone around it and in we went. When we first walked in there were long tables set up with these works of art that were inspired by holiday feelings. They were so beautiful. All sorts of flower arrangements really that were so incredibly put together it was amazing. We walked into the craft fair and that was when I realized this was a little more than I had bargained for. It literally seemed to go on forever. There were so many vendors there this year and many I had never seen before. If I wanted to buy Spirits, wine, tea, floral art, signs, hand carved spoons, hand sewn coats and dresses, pj's or nightgowns, hand spun sweaters or vests, tuques, felted hats, fudge, candy, cookies, maple syrup, honey, pottery, candles, little animals made out of buttons, rocks, wooden toys, music, books, bath salts, chocolates, anything knitted, (I think you get the picture) it was all there.

   My three year old seemed to develop a fever the second we walked in and started to cry. We started walking the aisles I was hoping each child would spot their treasure rather quickly. I bought some  PJ's for my little one and for a couple other little ones that I have bought from this vendor in the past. They last forever. I bought a massive bag of popcorn for six dollars for my three year old to try to keep him happy as he just wanted to be carried and he is not light! I kept careful track of my free spirited seven year old and made sure we were all keeping it relatively together. I did not know this at the time but I wouldn't back coming back again later as I planned. There were some very special things that happened while we were there and I was feeling quite frazzled. While my ten year old son was carefully picking the perfect rocks he wanted to purchase a sweet elderly lady started to talk to him. I realized she was the same lady I had bought baskets from at the last craft fair I had been to. I just had to talk to her. I told her how much I adored her tiny baskets and asked her her name. She told me she was Ruth and showed me a basket she was carrying in her hand that she had brought to give to someone at the craft fair as a gift. She was looking for them among the vendors. She told me parts of it were made from corn husk. She had cut corn husks into strips and braided it and then woven it into the basket. It was so beautiful and I felt privileged just to see it.

   Just as she went on her way another lady (the lady who previously owned the house I live in now) walked up and I was so happy to see her as well. There are not many elderly ladies in my life now. My Grandma and Granny have passed away and I miss them so much. The lady that used to own this house is so so sweet and we do not see her often. I gave her a hug and chatted as much as a feverish baby and busy seven year old would allow and then she went on her way. I felt like somehow my Grandmothers had given me some sort of gift. I can't explain it fully but it was like they knew in that moment what I needed and sent Ruth and Thelma to me.

   Before we left my ten year old got the rocks and also a little turtle made out of buttons. My twelve year old got three totally different types of fudge. My three year old got a wooden train that all comes apart and you can put back together, and my seven year old got a wooden top (the little toy that spins). I finally sent my twelve year old back to the van to get water for everyone. When she got there she realized we had never closed the doors (and nothing was taken)...and then when we were in the craft fair after sitting down to have a break we walked away and just left our bag of popcorn lying on the ground (which no one touched). We found it later. We were laughing so hard at how totally absent minded we were. As we were walking out of the craft fair we saw an elderly gentleman walk into the ladies bathroom thanking a lady who opened the door as he was walking in...so kindly...and then we heard him exclaim and quickly exit and we didn't feel quite so bad about how absent minded we were. We left the craft fair laughing to the point of tears (some of that being a release of tension I am sure ~ and it felt perfect). We had lasted in the craft fair for two hours!! We got ourselves home and got lunch and the baby perked up.

  However by the time my husband got home I was so tired I didn't go back to the craft fair that evening. I kept trying to get up the strength to go alone but usually I have someone to go with and this time I didn't and so the motivation just wasn't quite the same after a pretty long day. Then the weekend was just to busy there wasn't a proper chance to get there and so this was the first year I didn't go by myself child free. However, even though I was there with my four children and everything I saw felt like just quick glimpses, my soul felt full. There was so much beauty and creativity. Also the fact that I got to chat with those two sweet ladies really made it feel like the most authentic craft fair experience since these fairs remind me so much of my grandmothers. One of the ladies who talked to me share both my grandmother's names!

  All in all this tradition I have established with my children was success. I am thankful that we were able to go. It was a bit hectic but it was lovely.

  I hope you had a happy weekend. I started my Christmas shopping, at Walmart, with the four children and my husband (who had a panic attack) and that is a story all on its own...but we are thinking that we just might purchase one of the glitter sprayed trees that they have in their front entrance. They are alive, and quite small, and the cat couldn't climb it quite as successfully as she might think. However we have our one other set tradition of going to this one Christmas Tree farm every year...so we shall see who wins out...Walmart or Stewarts Christmas Tree farm!

  I wish you the best week to possibly be had at the end of November. It is POURING rain here and our roof is leaking in the bathroom...really the best place to leak since there is a lino floor and the leak is slow...but still! I'll write again soon ~
Love Tansy