Jeannette made a phone call. She works in the kitchen during the festival. When she finished she said she was able to get us a spot, without charge, for the two days. We wouldn’t need the tent as it was in the covered area on the way to the dining area and where the music and dancing is held. The hours would be 9am to 5pm and although I would be there the whole day, someone would have to be with me most of the time. Jeannette was working in the kitchen so Ligia agreed she could be with me. This meant I had a busy week ahead of me.
I had to bake at least 4 batches of Chocolate Crinkle cookies and label and price the jelly. Make sure everything we needed was packed, schedule the trips with Jose, pack everything and get it ready for pickup at 8:30 Saturday morning. And you know how I like mornings. I did it though and I had everything outside when Jose and his helper arrived. He had a small trailer behind his vehicle and away we went. 2 tables, 4 big tubs and a small one, 2 big baskets, my green bag, airpot of coffee, 3 folding chairs and the bag with the macrame hangers.
When we arrived I went and got Jeannette and she showed us to our spot. There was a big table which really helped and she and I started putting everything out. I brought cloths to put on the tables and put my food items in one area and all the crocheted items all around. Ligia came with the rack she built and we were all ready. There was room next to us for another vendor but it was empty. There were 5 other tables set up with merchandise and a fruit/vegetable stand farther down.
My first task was to hand out crackers with jelly and cookie samples to all the vendors. The morning was pretty quiet and the weather wasn’t the greatest. I had on my long sleeved denim shirt and I was cold. And then the most wonderful-or awful- thing happened. The people who are always selling plants and flowers at the Paraiso feria showed up and, yup, set up right next to us! Can you believe it, and I need more flowers and plants! They recognized me from the feria and as they unloaded I checked everything out. Oh my these herbs look great and this bougainvillea is so beautiful and what is this - a lantern tree and I have only seen this one in purple. I love the pink. And a crown of thorns with white flowers and and and. He put everything I wanted over in the corner and I let Jose know I would have some extra things to take home.
It looked like we would have to take everything to Ligia’s for the night but at the last minute we were able to pack everything up and store it in the building. That worked out great and I had just one tub and the chairs and all the plants and the airpot and the little tub to take home. Even when I travel light I don’t travel light. The plant guy lent me a big plastic container for the plants and we returned it the next morning.
Where I live is usually very quiet and any party is over by 10:00pm. Not so much tonight. I need to sleep and get going early tomorrow and the music and laughing is still going on and it is almost 2:00am. I even went out on the road at 1:00am to make sure where it was coming from. Yup, next door. Now the good think is it rarely happens. The bad thing was the timing. Not much time to sleep before I get up and feed the cats and make the coffee and get everything ready.
Sunday was a much busier day. I sold all my cookies, 10 jars of jelly and shared my coffee with the plant people. Ligia did sell a few things also and took an order for a top in a different size. I have ordered the yarn and Heather will bring it in April. Before leaving I gave a jar of jelly to the plant people and he gave me a big rosemary plant. He also gave one to Ligia and a mint to Jeannette which she gave to me. They thanked me for sharing my coffee and cookies and jelly.
I had a container of candy I was giving out. Wrapped caramels I got at Walmart. Two ladies liked them so much they came back and asked to buy some. I had no idea what to charge. Ligia and Jeannette took care of it.
Leaving the festival Sunday afternoon we looked like the Beverly Hillbillies. No trailer, everything I brought Saturday morning, Jose, his helper, me, Jeannette, Ligia and her stand.
Wednesday I had an appointment with the doctor for my left eye and I arrived in Cartago right on time. Except no one knew who I was or why I was there. The doctor isn’t there on Wednesday. Turns out they have an office in San Pedro (by San Jose) and they answer the phone. I called Cartago so I didn’t know they weren’t the ones I was talking to. I now have a new appointment today. Hopefully that goes better.
Captions for the pictures.
My lantern tree
Our booth on Sunday
My pile of plants.
Ligia and the booth on Saturday
Last Thursday I made a trip to Paraiso to pick up more hats.
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