{squish, squish, squish}
Excuse me a moment...
{squish, twist, *wring*, sploosh!}
Sorry, had to get the water of my, well, my... *everything!*
We just got back from Free Spirit Gathering in Darlington, Maryland. At this event, just as at *every* *single* *outdoor* *event* *this* *YEAR*, it rained!
{...and rained, and rained, and rained...}
Unfortunately, unlike the other rainy events, this time we got wind. LOTS of wind. 50 MPH wind. Wind that managed to tear three (yes, three) EZ-Ups into shreds. Not the vinyl sides and tops, mind you: the frames!
Three whole EZ-Up frames, which were the only thing protecting our merchandise, were twisted and shredded into junk in just a few seconds. By a miracle, I was outside my enclosures helping another merchant when my display collapsed. I had only been over at his booth for two minutes! Clearly there is much good karma to be had for helping one's neighbor!
Of course, once the merchandise was exposed, it went flying all over the soggy, puddled ground. At least a dozen rolls of trim were water-logged, several displays were ruined, and amber & jet were scattered about. We're pretty sure we found most of it, but a fair bit is probably somewhere downhill/downstream and gone for good.
On a slightly positive note, the enclosure loss forced me to run out and purchase a family cabin-type tent from Dick's Sporting Goods which I highly recommend. It is about 7 feet high in the middle, has two rooms (one bedroom and one porch), and is 12' x 15'. Amazingly enough, it's quite easy to set up for something that size. I will be using it at Pennsic, as I can use the bedroom for my personal gear and use the porch as an enclosed merchant area! Not how I'd planned to handle things, but...
In any case, I am alive and well (if a bit soggy and wind-blown). My next public event will probably be Sacred Space, unless I can find/get into some smaller events in the meantime. Keep checking our Events page to see where I'll be next.
Hopefully I'll be dry by time you see me...
{prayers, offerings, and towels would be appreciated!}
Blessings,
Kirsten