For whom the bell tolls

[offcntr]

I sold four butter bells today at Market, after selling precisely one--a special order--all year. A butter bell, or French butter dish, is a device that keeps butter fresh, soft and spreadable at room temperatures. The butter packs into the lid, there's water in the base, which makes an airtight seal, preventing oxidation. Slow evaporation keeps the system cool. It's like a swamp cooler for dairy products.

So at 9:30 this morning, I'm just back from Farmer's Market and a woman come into the booth. Her dad has broken his heron bowl, and his birthday is next week, so she's here to get a replacement. A quick in-and-out purchase before she dashes back to Farmer's Market, where she works selling cheese.

Then she sees the butter dishes. Are those butter bells? she asks. I confirm, take one apart to show her the structure, and she decides she needs one. She makes her own butter, you see, so stick butter dishes don't work so well. She picks out dragonfly dish, but while I'm wrapping it, decides she'll take the fox too.

Ten minutes after she leaves, another woman comes in, a co-worker from the cheese booth. She doesn't like the octopus and raccoon dishes I've restocked, but is quite happy to buy the butterfly model from under the counter, though she has to wait until I finish selling a pair of soup bowls to another couple. All in all, it's a busy morning: four sales before official opening at 10 am.

And an hour later, a different couple decide to take the raccoon butter dish home. It's a good thing I'm overstocked at the moment.

Labor Day weekend is unpredictable; you never know whether more people are leaving town than visiting. This time, crowds are pretty consistent, sales not huge, but good. I also give away a lot of cards to people from out-of-town who want to order online to ship home. Never know how many will follow through, but a business card does no good sitting on my counter.

A large African Muslim family comes by, three generations, grandmother, mother, several teen/tweenage daughters, younger sons, women all in very stylish gown and hijab sets. Mom and Grandmom and eventually, eldest daughter, stop in the booth, and grand is talking at length, pointing out pie dishes and casseroles and maybe mixing bowls? (I don't know the language, so can only follow enthusiastic gestures.) Finally, Mom says Very nice, and Grandmom gives me an enthusiastic thumbs up. I smile and bow and say thank you. Later, Grandmom comes back with another man--dad, perhaps, think I saw grandfather earlier--and gives him the tour as well, pointing and explaining. It's really gratifying to watch, even if I don't sell them anything. Appreciation is always welcome.

Most confusing t-shirt of the day: I appreciate the Muppets on a much deeper level than you.

Oooo-kay...