You'll Have to Wait

If you were thinking of visiting the Chattanooga Market, but just haven't made it there yet, you'll have to wait. If you were thinking of going to the Chattanooga Market to pick up a few more unique, hand-made Christmas gifts, you'll have to wait. The Market wrapped up the 2008 season 12/6 & 7 with the festive 2-day Holiday Market. So, if you wanted to go to the Chattanooga Market, you'll have to wait until April 26, 2009.
We did surprisingly well, considering the current economic turmoil, although not as well as 2007. Overall, though, we did much better for the whole 2008 season at the Market than 2007. Bottom line, there is no way to predict how the season will go. The customers determine that and you really never know what they are going to do.

Did I mention that it was cold? Mark brought the propane heater to us.

He also came back and helped us load out.

At least it wasn't raining and not nearly as cold as the first Holiday Market Friday night in 2006 when it was a frosty 17 degrees.

We were in a group of 4 vendors, so we had some 'shared' space that made room for the heater. It certainly did wonders for our popularity - ha! There was even a passerby that just came behind the tables and warmed his hands. It was pretty funny, because we all thought he was friends with one of the other vendors in the group. Turns out he was just an opportunist!

Even though I'm happy for the break, I will miss the Market and the buddies we have there. I managed to catch a few of them over the course of the weekend.

Here's Miss Gladys. She makes killer fudge, oreo/cream cheese bonbons, and Mexican wedding cookies. She gets credit for about 5 pounds on my butt.

This is Jean and her husband, Tim. Tim is usually calm and collected, but evidently a camera brings out his wild side. Jean has a baking and catering business called Jean's Delicious Delights. She makes the best bread pudding and carrot cake I've ever put in my mouth. She also makes little loaf breads, cookies, cakes, pies, biscotti, decorated cookies and bars. She can cater dinners, weddings, etc. and if her 'regular' food is as good as her baked goods, you couldn't possibly go wrong.

Here are some of her goodies:




Larry and Sherry have Sheerlark Farm in the mountains of Alabama. They raise sheep and goats. They sell organic lamb and chevon (goat), and also have wool for roving, etc. Larry does a bit of forgery. Oh, not the check kind, but more on the anvil. He makes neat stuff with horseshoes.

Then there is the flamboyant Ms. Lannie. She's a can-can girl, just not the high kicking kind. She makes the best sauerkraut and loads of other tasty canned goods. The name of her business is Daylilies, L.L.C. I stocked up on her sauerkraut, spaghetti sauces, pickled beets and some salsas and relishes.

This is Michael, the best lemonade maker in the county. I say county, because I've never had lemonade too far from home - ha! When the weather is cold, he serves the lemonade up hot and spicy!

There are more folks, but I didn't get pics of everyone. All I know is that it will be April 26th before you know it.