So, last week's show at the hay field by Flaherty Farm in Scarborough was "interesting". I arrived on Thursday morning to assist in marking spaces and setting up parking. The tent rental people were just unloading and already had their box truck mired in the field. (It started raining Wednesday night and was still raining at this point, after a rainy July.) We measured off the parking and started staking and roping it when we realized the tent guys had driven their 4WD pickup to the back part of the field and were stuck back there. Yikes! The family member who lives next to the field tried to assist but their insurance would not allow him to grab a tractor to pull anyone out. They eventually had co-workers and the boss show up to help them finish and to assist in pushing the box truck out after several tries. The pickup was still in the field when we all left on Sunday. We finished the parking area and moved on to the tent that was set up. I broke for a little lunch and was pretty wet by then - from the thigh down to the top of my Bean Boots. I was thoroughly soaked from perspiration under my rain jacket and pretty wiped out. I wanted to stay and finish but the reinforcements had arrived by then so I took off and retreated to home to await the decision on the Friday day one of the show, which was eventually cancelled. Set up was pushed back until 6 am Saturday, not ideal but we all made it work...well, those of us who didn't woos out! Yes, it was muddy but the family made all kinds of hay available to soak up the excess moisture. Yes, it was hot and humid. Yes, there were not as many customers as in previous years. But we had fun seeing people again and most were respectful of distances and some even wore masks. Sunday was even better - drier, a tad cooler to start then much cooler when the sea breeze kicked in around noon. Not as many customers but my numbers were about the same both days so it was all good. But I'll bet the people who got stuck in the parking area weren't thinking it was all good, including the tow truck driver. (That was operator error as he forgot/didn't know he had to manually lock his front hubs!)
Spending the night down there with Rachel and Connie made all the difference in the world even with a less than restful sleep. But I didn't have to get up at dark thirty and leave to be there for the Annual meeting at 8 so it was good. In the continuing story of the stuck vehicles, the elderly security fellow did not follow Rachel's instructions and drove his car to the back and ended up stuck. (He was later pushed out by some sympathetic vendors.) And when it was all over, Connie and Matt were so kind to help me schlep my stuff across the field to my car. I opted not to follow the lead of those who ignored the direction not to drive across the mucky areas because that's who I am. (I was sure one board member was going to get stuck but she lucked out.)
And I made it home and put my Saturday footwear in the sink to soak - but they were beyond salvation, mostly due to the smell. The Tevas I wore on Sunday didn't take as heavy a hit and area fine after a washing. Things are back in their appointed storage locations and I have plans of what to make next. And the stabilizer bars a purchased for my canopy work great for that purpose and for displaying my runners. I just need to put the pool noodles on the second one and I'll be windproof!
