While I was a bit nervous, when I heard about the Three Farrows Crafting Hall starting up a weekly craft fair, I figured that was a good chance to get more business coming in. I wasn't sure how I felt about standing out there with the other hawkers, all those folks bustling around. Some of them came quite close with their big horses! Fortunately, I had the cart with me, so I could dodge if I had to. It was a bit scary, all those strangers eyeing my cart and the table I'd set up with some sausages and Bottle Cakes cut up for folks to try out.
Still, I figured, if I sell even a few bits off the cart to folks, my time would be well spent.
I met a fair number of folks. Miss Farette who works for Butterbur in the stables bought some jam and a sausage, though I could tell it cost her dear. I didn't want to charge her too much but I needed to make at least a few penny off the sale. Still, I quoted her less than I might otherwise. Missus Barleycorn was there, too. She tasted the Bottle Cakes but I think I didn't set it up a good way because she thought they were a bit strong. I tried explaining that they were more for making a soup while traveling. I think I'll bring a brazier and a pot next week so I can have some cooking for folks to taste. Then they'll see how good it is for on the road. Anyways, she bought a fair bit of sausage and some jam, as well. I was real pleased about that. She's a very nice woman and she makes me feel comfortable. Then there was a big flurry of folks checking wares and buying. I can't even remember all their names, it was such a blur. I sold nearly all the jam I'd brought, and some of the pickles. There was a woodsman there seemed really pleased with our pickles. Didn't even wait to get them home before he tucked in.
The best part is I got a big order. I even had a contract all ready to go on the off chance something like this might happen, and it did! A pleasant woman named Adriellyn ordered a hundred and twenty days of preserved foods for when she's out scouting and tracking the movements of those orc monsters! We signed a contract and I got right with Cutwil, who was also at the market, and bought up all the fat and meat he had left after everyone was gone. I have plenty of oats and jerky to use for the Bottle Cakes for her order, but I needed to get some more meat drying to replace what I'd be using up on this huge order. I'm fortunate I already have the food for the contract with Mister Madden ready to go. The money I'll be making off this contract with Miss Adriellyn (she says her people don't have last names!) means I can afford the repairs on the farm before the snow flies.
There was a woman selling soaps and candles named Widow Lissabeth (I didn't catch her last name). I overheard she was from around Bree before she married and was back now since her husband died and her son took over the farm. She seems wise and sensible. We traded goods, I got some good, strong soap powder and bars for cleaning the crockery and some other soap she says will make our hands feel better after all that cleaning with the strong soap. Seems a little odd to me, using soap to make my hands feel better after using soap, but most folks don't understand about how we make fermented cabbage, either, so Ma and I will give it a try. I noticed Widow Lissabeth was wearing a nice dress. I'd worn my regular working clothes but I thought it might be a good thing for me to put on a dress for market days. I'll try that next week, along with making the soup up from Bottle Cakes for folks to taste.
Ma's been fretting about me going out into the city so much, but she's starting to get more used to it. She was stunned when I showed her the signed contracts and even eager to get started working on the orders, despite all the worries over Da and how he's being. He's still not better. I told Ma I'd start asking around for someone who could help out and keep an eye on him. If the repairs aren't too dear, I might be able to just stretch enough to pay someone a good wage for watching him. I'm not sure how keen any of us are to have a lumbering big person in the house. I'm hoping I can find a reliable hobbit, maybe even from Staddle. If I can't, though, needs must means finding a big person I can trust.
