. . . and sometimes it rains.

So Saturday was our first day at the Mad River Green Farmer's Market in Waitsfield, Vermont. How did it go? Well, let me set the scene.

The market runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and it is about an hour away from our farm in Peacham. At 6:30 a.m., Maryellen, Wavo, and I have the truck all packed and we set out to make our fortunes. It is overcast in Peacham, but no big deal. As we drive, we hit some rain, but no need to panic, it rains all the time up here, and sometimes it is only a mountain shower. But then it keeps getting darker and it keeps raining harder the further we get, until we arrive at the market around 7:30 a.m. in a complete downpour. Maryellen and I look at each other and we can only manage one "Hmmm . . . " between the two of us.

Although we aren't set up to manage Waverly in a sheets of rain, we somehow get our stand set up by 8:45 a.m. Still raining heavily. At 9 a.m., the market opens. Not one customer in sight. Not one. Only several dozens cold and wet vendors huddling under their tents and stand umbrellas. Maryellen turns to me and says, "We aren't going to make one sale today." I only nod slowly as I look off in the distance, hoping to see something positive somewhere in the sky. But who's kidding who, it looks very bleak.

By 10 a.m. Waverly has fallen asleep in her carseat in the car (we brought both our car and truck because we had so much bounty to bring to market). After some quick deliberations it is decided that Maryellen and Waverly should make a break for home, and Peter will deal with the hordes of yet to materialize customers.

And then . . .

About 10:30 a.m. it starts raining less hard. Still raining pretty hard, mind you, but not a downpour anymore. By 11 a.m. it stops. Still gray and heavy, but no rain. Around 11:15 a.m., some people start showing up and buying salad turnips.

By closing time at 1 p.m., we have sold 80% of our stuff, or so. It turns out that if it had been a beautiful day we would have sold out by 10 a.m. This is going to be a good market for us. Plus, it turns out the other vendors and the customers are extremely nice.

So all in all, a good day.