This weekend marked the opening day of the Cranbrook Farmer’s Market 2011 season!  This year marks the third year that the market has been running, and it is getting bigger and better every year!  There are tons of talented people that have come out of the woodwork to show off their creations, produce and general community spirit!

I have to say . . . IT’S ABOUT TIME CRANBROOK GOT SOME CULTURE and spirit!  And uniqueness.  (Cranbrook rant done.)

I have been going to this market for the last couple of years as a customer, but this year, Paul and I decided that we wanted to be a part of it!  We brought  JJ’s to the market!  We did a couple of indoor markets in Windermere in the spring, but that paled in comparison to the number of people that came down 10th Ave this weekend!  It was great people watching, and a great chance to get to catch up with people you haven’t seen in a while!

It was VERY different from the “other side”.  I decided to do a pros/cons list for this (because I’m a dork)!  When’s the last time you made a pros/cons list?  Grade 4?

Pro: I didn’t spend any money.  Con: I didn’t have time to leave my booth!

Pro: I didn’t have time to leave my booth!  Con: I didn’t get to see all of the beautiful jewellery I kept hearing about.

Con: Our cupcake balloon flew away!  Pro: A man CLIMBED a tree to get it out!  I gave him free cupcakes.  Thank you monkey-ability man, whoever, and wherever you are.

*Note, when putting a helium filled balloon away in a truck, make sure the windows are shut (not just the doors).  Yep, that was me that did that, but I did try pretty hard to blame Paul for leaving the windows open.  (That’s the balloon in the pic below….try to take your eyes of the two cuties selling cupcakes).

Pro: We are working out all the kinks in our booth set up.  Con:  We still have a lot of kinks.  And scrapes.  And scratches.  On us, and the &#%^ gazebo.   Poor Paul.  I’m not my finest early in the morning.

Pro: My mom came to refill our change drawer when we ran out.  Con: She brought like $20 in nickels.

Pro:  I made a lot of cupcakes.  See my cake fridge?  Con:  I didn’t get to eat any of them.

Pro:  I have the greatest FREE labourer in the world!  She is my cupcake expert equal.  Con: We don’t get to talk because we’re too busy!

Pro: The market allowed me to FINALLY meet my first blog friend!  Karen from Toronto Girl West!  Con:  I acted like a dork . . . and forgot how to talk.  It was like meeting a celebrity!  I can’t imagine what I would do if I met (uhhhh, insert current favourite star here…I can’t think of any as I have been in the kitchen too long!).

Despite my large dose of dork, I LOVED meeting Karen!  Go and check out her blog, because she is an amazing.  And what a  photographer she is!  I love her pictures, she’s always travelling, and she is so real!  I love reading her blog because I totally relate to things that she is saying.  Besides, we both like to workout, eat, and have small dogs!!  How could be NOT love each other?

The market overall was a great success, for us at JJ’s and I hear from all the other booths as well.   The organizers were great, right from the start, I loved their organization (it’s the teacher in me), and stickiness with rules (being the anal control freak that I am, of course I would love to follow the rules).

If you’re around Cranbrook this summer, please come and stop by our booth.  We are alternating between the Cranbrook Market, and the Baynes Lake market throughout the summer.  If you want to know specific dates as to where we are, shoot me an email and I will let you know!  jenn@jjscustomcakery.com