I packed up my tent and tables last Saturday at the end of the Market for the year. Others will continue for a few more weeks, but I am happy to be done. The about of buyers drops dramatically after Labor Day as the tourist season ends.
I would say that overall it has been good and I am thrilled that I was able to help earn some income. It has also been a tremendous amount of work and for that I am glad to be done. I say I am done, but really I am just taking this weekend off. I will have a booth at another town's Harvest Days next weekend. I don't know what to expect there, but I am also hoping to get to meet up with others a bit closer to home. There are a few other markets and craft shows between now and the holidays and I am trying to figure out which, if any I will join.
I'd like to be able to ultimately sell most things from home and getting known in my own community can only help with that. To that end, I have even agreed to be interviewed by our local paper. I know there are only a few readers, but I am a bit nervous about it all somehow anyway. The lady doing the interview had come to the Market with another person I know from our town and became interested in what we are doing. Plus, I think after writing an article on people in a town this small must be hard because you will simply run out of people, interesting or not, to interview!
This is the end of September and so it means other changes around here as well. My Mom will be heading back to Denver this weekend and we will all miss her so much. She is a joy and a delight and I know many people will miss her sweet sparkling smile. We love you, Mom!
We'll also head back to morning lessons next week. We typically try to "do school" three mornings a week year round. I chose to take September off entirely this year because of all the harvest-related work. It's been a wonderful choice. Truly. My mind has struggled with it after all, school always starts in September!!! Always. But why? Really. It's the craziest time on a farm in our climate, at least.
It's been so nice to be able to just say we are not doing it and to try not to think or fret about it. This is one of the reasons we homeschool: freedom! And we live in the perfect state for it. It would be crazy not to take advantage of the freedom we have. I know not every state is like ours. We do not need to even school this year at all, according to the law, as Pumpkin is still only six.
Even next year when he "requires compulsory education" we don't need to keep track of days or hours of schooling. It's up to The State to prove he is NOT receiving an equivelent education. I like that.
And really, since that adorable aformentioned six year old is reading and comprehending The Hobbit himself these days, I'm just not too worried about him. ;) Dumpling will be beginning his reading lessons with Daddy starting in October as well, so that will be a lot of fun. Since we basically did Kindergarten with both of them last year when he was four, I think he'll be fine as well.
The schools around here are experimenting this year with a four dau school week this week. And I am glad I don't have to send my kiddos in for that! I personally think my guys would be nuts by the end of an 8-4 school day. But, on the up side, it means that we'll be able to get totgether with some other kids on Fridays when they aren't in school. We're planning to have just some time to play together, but also to do crafts and maybe some hands-on sciencey things as well. I am looking forward to it.
Goodness! The early quiet is slipping away. I need to get off of here get going. Hope you have a wonderful day.
Oh! About the signs and selling online: I still haven't set up anything. Poor Sweetheart has been on crowd control a lot this last week with all the other things I've been doing. And as he is the Tech Guy, we'll just have to wait and see!
Oh Kimberly how exciting a interview:)
ReplyDeleteI am inspired by your hard work at the market and it sounds like it went very well.
I a also inspired at the job you have taken on to home school your lovely children they are extremely lucky. Take car and enjoy the little bit of rest you will get this weekend. Happy Fall. B
I know you will do well in the interview Kimberly! You are so blessed to have such a helpful and sweet mother (and she you :). I absolutely agree with your philosophy on taking the harvest month off. Very wise of you. Also, congratulations on the success of your business venture! It IS such hard work, I do know first hand as we used to often set up at craft fairs and festivals and sell home made goodies and later had our own workshop/shop (it's been a few years but the work and stress involved is highly memorable :)).
ReplyDeleteThank you for your posts as I enjoy reading about your adventures!
Love,
Tracey
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P.S. So great to hear about your son's reading the HOBBIT! I was so excited when I first introduced my children to the joys of reading...it is such a gift to be able to delve into books...those "frugal chariots of the mind"!
P.S. Do you have an Etsy shop? I was thinking about starting one myself but have yet to make the commitment!
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I have promised a young homeschooler a blog post for ages about the way we combined Charlotte Mason and unschooling. But we ended up with a scholar!
ReplyDeleteFortunately, the two states we lived in during our homeschooling years were two of the easiest and there were a lot of homeschool supporters.
Stephanie has to submit all kinds of plans and such to their town government in New England.
I know you will do an excellent job with any interview. :)