Monday, July 22, 2013

Good Karma

Here's a good story for you. Saturday I was in Saxapahaw selling (or not selling as it was) my wares up on the porch. I was looking down on this farmer that had just driven up in his old beat up pick up truck. He had the truck bed full of watermelons. He took one out and cut it open and it was the most beautiful juicy red melon I have ever seen. My mouth started watering just looking at it. I went down to buy one and as I spoke to him, I realized he was the dude that broke one of my heart dishes during the monk visit. Just as I asked him how much the melons were, he said, "oh hey- I broke your dish up on the porch didn't I?" and he gave me a melon in exchange and apologized once again. I have to say, it was a good trade. I felt really sorry for him, so I bought another one. This poor guy. People were walking up to him and asking how much his tomatoes were and he would just say something like, oh I don't know, just take a few and give me what you want to for them....... lord have mercy, not a way to make a living selling at a Farmer's Market.....

There are people that walk through this world that need someone to look after them. He is a happy sort of guy, I think there is some artistic talent there with woodworking, but no talent for how to make or handle money. He is just happy walking around breathing air. As they say here in the south,
"Bless his heart".

The market was slooooow on Saturday, where is everybody?! I have never seen so few people at the market, even the vendors were scarce. I sold nothing. I have six more weeks there, so hopefully people will come out for the last month of good music, produce and crafts. Not sure it I will do it again next year, but I am committed to finishing out this year. On a positive note there, the space that was once the Saxapahaw gallery has been filled. A new mercantile shop will be opening soon, and they will be selling local art. I met the girl opening the store and I will be soon supplying her with some ornaments and other objects for the holidays. I'm excited about this new store. I think it will be a great space.


Also, these three little guys are back together again. A very sweet collector bought the green one and the red one, and emailed last night that she had been thinking about the blue one and wanted it too. I'm really happy to see them back together. They have been photographed together so much that they seemed like one piece instead of three. 

We had the Chatham Artists Guild meeting last night to review the upcoming holiday tour, and it occurred to me that the tour will be here before I know it. I will have to have three pieces ready for our gallery receptions. I think I need to get busy and get some new work made!


The Tour de France is over and this week we are beginning to pack up Wesley's stuff and send her back to school soon, so I have no more excuses, time to get back to the studio.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2013 tour. What a great stage yesterday was. We sat in front of the TV all day watching. It was quite a closing ceremony! Mostly congrats to Nairo Quintana, my favorite new rider. 23 years old, his first Tour de France, and he wins second! I'm looking forward to seeing him race next year and win first place. He is going to be a great future rider!

11 comments:

Michèle Hastings said...

That is a nice story... I know someone who fits that description exactly. People use to say well he is still young, he will grow up (even though he already had a child). He is about to turn 40, and he is still the same! Unfortunately he doesn't have anyone to take care of him or give guidance.

Tracey Broome said...

Hey Michele, yeah there are a bunch of these folks out there, I know a few myself......

cookingwithgas said...

We just had a friend of my dad's - newspaper man pass away- he could have been your produce guy.
I am going to send you a link.
I still have to get the thing you sent to MJ in the mail! I am a bad OMA!

Tracey Broome said...

Great article you sent me about him, what a character!
Yes, get that fish in the mail! Or you can use it as an excuse for a long drive one day.....

Dennis Allen said...

Everyone has a purpose. For some people their gift is to remind the rest of us how fortunate we are.Hope the crowd returns next week.

Vicki said...

Great story on karma, Tracey. What goes around...

Yeah, markets can be fickle. Even with great weather. Never seems to be rhyme or reason. It just is what it is - good days and not so good.
Perhaps there was some other event on elsewhere that drew people away? I know that when "the footy" final is on, forget selling anything at market - hardly anyone (vendor or buyer) will be there. They're football mad in this state. It's a religion :)

What a great end to the Tour! I so LOVED watching "the little Columbian dude" - as hubby calls him. For one so young! What an accomplishment to come second in his first ever TdF. And, being the 100th Tour too. What a buzz!
I cried. Nairo was my favourite too. I loved to watch his quiet determination as he pulled up those climbs.
A humble, gorgeous guy.

Your wee barns together again? That's awesome!! A very smart collector. She knows heart & soul art.

Tracey Broome said...

Hey Vicki, yep, I cried too. I was so happy for the "little dude", that's what I called him too, haha!
Hopefully this will turn out to be a clean tour, the American riders have sure shamed the sport for awhile..... Too bad.

Lori Buff said...

When I was reading your story about the watermelon farmer I was thinking about Paulus Berensohn who stopped selling his pots and started giving them away, it made him happier. Of course Paulus also had teaching, book royalties...so he has some income.

Susan Wells said...

Yeah! Where is every body? At the beach I suppose. Or grandma's house. So many possibilities for fall tour! I'm sure everyone will be happy to return to your studio:)

Amy said...

yeah about the 3 houses selling together. agreed that they need to be side by side- it's like their siblings!
missed out on the tour de france. :( and thought that wesley was going to school closer to home this year?

Tracey Broome said...

Hi Amy, she was, but decided to go ack to UNCSA.
Yes, so nice the little houses are all together :-)