More and More Farmers Markets.

Last week we were invited to sell our almond products at 2 farmers markets in Bakersfield, these are new markets just opening so I went and just visited the sites. The 2 markets are very small so it is mostly babysitting the product and introducing ourselves but hopefully the markets will grow and be profitable. It is fun being a part of a new market though and getting to see where it goes. Today I worked both just to make sure everything goes right when I send employees next week.

Many farmers markets do not want much competition between vendors so we have not been able to get into other markets that sell almonds. That being said we were unable to get into the largest market in Bakersfield because another almond vendor was in that market. Just this last week the vendor decided to quit the market as they were not making any money. Apparently the son didn’t like to sell so the parents didn’t make any money. Too bad for them but our gain.

We jumped into that market asking the manager on Wed if we could take the almond spot on Sat morning to which he said yes. Then the manager called and asked if we’d also work the street fair on Thursday night.  We ran completely out of product by Thursday night so I had to make a run to my son’s to pick up more of everything.

Now we have just been invited into another new market on Sat mornings in Bakersfield. This makes 5 new markets in one week!!!

What is so great is that my son and I are able to hire people and give them work; we now have 5 new employees in Bakersfield.  Things are booming here, no sign of a recession.

Balancing Work for Money v The Passion

I’ve been fighting some depression this afternoon. I’d started writing estimates for a contractor and when the requests come in the money should be great. We had a fee schedule that we had agreed upon; they’d suggest the rates even. This is the work I do in order to follow my passions.

Today I was going over the budget for our Alaska trip and looking at income due still and the remaining expenses. I’m still owed $1,000 from the contractor for an estimate written over 2 weeks now. I can stop in and get a check but I’d just like for them to drop it in the mail quickly, like they needed the estimate written.

As I was thinking about the contractor I reflected on the 2 prior estimates; one totaled several hundred thousand dollars with an agreed upon percentage to me. For that one the contractor asked if I’d take $500 up front and then the remainder if they got the contract. I could understand as it would cost the contractor quite a bit if they didn’t get the contract, however I was unhappy as we had an agreed upon schedule. Then the next estimate was very high but again they asked if I’d take $500 up front. I said ok but the next time I’d want a higher percentage of the estimate.

I’ve only received about 1 estimate request per week lately, then last week they called late on Sunday night but I was in Northern Cal and couldn’t get back in time for the early Monday a.m. appointment. When I returned Tuesday the estimate had been completed by someone else. There were no other estimates this week.

Now what is depressing is that I’ll likely need to put myself back into the Cat adjusting pool. The money is good but I must travel across the country by myself, working a ton of hours. Worse yet is that I must leave the businesses that I’ve been working so hard on behind. I’ll have no time to work on anything but adjusting claims. My husband said “well you will be back and can just pick up where you left off”. Great, leave everything in limbo for 6 weeks to 2 months and then come back and just pick up where I left off. I’ve done this before and when I get back everything is in disarray and I’ve lost all of the business that I’d worked so hard on.

I’d decided to just give up entirely on all of the businesses and was really set on dumping them but then thought of my nieces, my granddaughters and the neighbor girls. They all look up to me to be steady in the face of adversity. My niece only recently said that she takes after me with all her endeavors. I always encourage them to try, don’t give up but try again and I believe in them. How can I just give up in front of them and how will they believe in me if I give up.

I’m kicking myself in the butt and making myself rethink how to make life work now. And maybe things will turn around here; I mean really who knows what changes tomorrow will bring. Hope none of the girls read this blog!

5 Weeks and Counting

I think that I’m more excited about anyone else over our upcoming Alaska trip, but then the grandkids don’t know about all of the plans yet.


As I’ve written before, we have been to Alaska 2 times with our kids so now we have it down on the best route and places to visit. We like to start in Anchorage, go down to the Kenai and then up to Denali.

In the Kenai we like to take a wildlife cruise with a National Park Ranger along. The rangers give talks along the way. We go to Exit Glacier and hike up the side of the glacier to the Harding Ice Field, then drive to Denali National Park where we camp at Teklanika campground about 30 miles inside the park. Once inside it is fun to take the National Park shuttle bus back into the backcountry. The drivers keep contact with each other stopping to see whatever wildlife happens upon the road. We have had wolves walk right by the bus, seen golden eagles land nearby and lots of bears.

We were lucky this time, I just called for reservations for the wildlife cruise and Denali and were able to reserve everything we wanted on the dates we want.

5 weeks and counting.

Bassinet Skirting for our new baby.

I love working with silk fabric; the feel, the rustle of the fabric as I work it thru the machine, the glow of the fabric when the light hits it just right. There is nothing as nice as silk.


I’ve made silk bassinet skirting’s for my oldest and middle son’s kids bassinets so now with a new granddaughter due it was my youngest son’s turn.

My daughter-in-law chose a coral mist color but didn’t want any trim as I’d done on the other 2. This turned out to be fine as the bassinet came in a two part set, a 1 piece bottom with a basket to set inside. The skirting would fit perfect on the bottom piece.

I promised to take the bassinet and skirting up to the baby shower on Saturday but of course, didn’t start until Wednesday. I had it cut out but had to work on the farmers market nearly all day Thursday, getting back to it late that night.

I was really concerned about getting the elastic into the skirting but after struggling with my last one, Dale had an idea and made something up for me to use by cutting up some clothes hangers, saving several hours of work.

I also made a quilt to match the skirting but for flannel I used a piece of fabric from my grandmother, the baby's great-grandmother. So by 11 p.m. I’d made the skirting, a quilt, and pillow for the baby and a silk pillow filled with organic buckwheat hulls for mom.

I think that I may just try to market these, yikes, one more thing!