Slightly Off Center

So in my calendar, it was Easter weekend; I featured bunnies all over the booth, dinner and dessert plates, pie plate, teapot and French butter dish. Wound up selling three of them, amidst the other sales.

It was also Earth Day weekend. Saturday Market closed the streets, sponsored special events, including a scrap collage table and a scavenger hunt for artists that recycle or upcycle in their art.

We also had another demonstration, this one associated with the 50501 movement. Got a mildly alarming email from the manager, talking about how they were ensuring our safety? And there were two police cars parked in the not-available-to-customers street parking across from my booth, which didn't make me feel all that much safer.

Oh, and we had our first bullhorn evangelist of the new year. I guess I should have expected it, being Easter weekend. They come from a conservative church down in Roseburg, set up with signs and a loud-hailer on the corner between us and Farmer's Market. There was no traffic to wave signs at, but I could hear him all the way to my booth. Theoretically, they're not allowed amplification, but the police have never done anything to enforce the ban, so we just wait for the mainstage music to drown them out. There for a while, there was a noise-off between the preacher and a drummer across at the Free Speech Market, but I think the cops told booth of them to dial it back. In any event, they were soon drowned out by the anti-Trump march, for which we were properly thankful.

Didn't get organized marchers past my booth, I think the manager negotiated a circumnavigation of market, but saw a lot of stragglers after the fact. Appreciated the guy in the MAGA-red hat that said "Is He Dead Yet?", with an orange cowlick on the "e". Better still, the very good doggo with the "I Bite Fascists" sign hanging from his collar.

On a more relaxing front, the camas lilies behind my booth were in full bloom, and the possible morning rain didn't materialize, so I was able to move empty boxes out into the space behind. Saw lots of familiar faces, friends and customers both, and I seem to have three young couples who've been inspired by the story of Cara and Jeremy (the couple who replaced their boring wedding china, one piece at a time), and are coming to buy a new piece every week.

Cheri and Jim got all the late and load-out sales this week, which was fine with me. I still sold about halfway between the previous two weeks, and Denise sold over $70 worth of paper and cards.