Farmer's Market—Week 10, August 6, 2012

This week was amazing.

Last night, I was having a tough time of it. I have a "real" job where I work in an office, and my role is an operations manager for a design firm. I love that job, but baking is my passion. I love to bake, and most people that eat my treats love to eat what I bake, so it's always a win-win. But during the farmer's market season, I don't get a day off. I work at my "real" job four days a week. On my three days off from my real job, and even on days that I work at my real job, I'm home baking, or I'm at the commercial kitchen baking or making dough. So I have no day that I'm free from work. And then even on those days that I'm home baking (you know, those days we call weekends), there's so many things to also be done at home that I rarely feel like I get to rest or relax. It feels like all my family does is run here and run there. I'm sure you feel the same way. It seems to be an epidemic that we're always on the go.

Well, last night, I had a mini breakdown. My husband and daughter spent the day at a birthday party (they were gone from 1 pm until almost 8 pm), while I stayed home to get things done. I didn't get to relax at all, and barely had time to eat dinner before they got back, only to be disappointed in myself that I didn't get everything done that I wanted to get done while they were gone.

So after my daughter went to bed, and my husband and I were finally sitting down to watch a little bit of TV, I just started to cry. It's been over two months of this non-stop pace, and I had just had it last night. I was tired, cranky, hungry, pooped. You name it, I felt it. Jack suggested I take a week off from the market. But this is where the rub comes in—I can't seem to be able to allow myself a day off. What's wrong with me? Am I a glutton for punishment? I don't think that's it. I guess standing at the market, having a sell-out, greeting customers, talking with my regulars—I guess all of that outweighs the pains it takes to get there every week, and it makes it all worth it.

To make my point, today I had one of my regular customers stop by to buy her three regular treats: Squish Monsters, Chocolate Chip Snowballs, and Fudgy Brownies of Doom. We chatted for a minute or two, and when I went to give her her $1 in change, she said, "Just keep it." I tried to give it to her saying, "No, I couldn't possibly keep this. It's not necessary, but thank you." But she insisted. And then she said something like, "I'm so glad you're here every week, so I want to thank you with this tip." Well, if she just didn't know what to say at the right time, huh?

But it's for reasons like that, among all of the other accolades that I receive from my customers, that keep me coming back. Not because I like people to tell me how good my treats are, but because I know that I'm making them happy with my treats. I'm so happy that I can make all of you so happy. Again, it's a win-win. 

So to everyone that came out, to those that hung out and chatted with me for a while, for those that I haven't seen in a while, and for the new folks that came by today and tried some goodies for the first time, thank you so much for making what I do so worth it. 

Oh, by the way, today was another sell-out. Woo-hoo! So an extra thank-you to that man that bought the last pack of oatmeal raisin cookies. I really appreciate your business!

Until next week, have a yummy day!