The Anatomy of an Art Fair

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There are 24 lemons and 24 limes on my dining room table.

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The menu's written down, the press releases and lawn signs are peppered around, the six foot tables will be delivered tomorrow, six pounds of meatballs, two pumpkin breads, and one batch of no pudge chocolate brownies are cooling on the kitchen counter. I have a grocery list three pages long.

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On Saturday, JB will beam as her 3rd Annual Art Fair unfolds. She and I are pulling together 22 artists and artisans, providing meals and munchies from Friday night through Sunday morning, and preparing our rather modest ranch house to welcome 6 or 7 sleep over guests and up to 40 friends from everywhere for Saturday night dinner.

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Remember that vacation mode I came home with, after a month by the ocean? I still have it. So far I am having a good time writing lists, checking off what gets done, what's needed. If unfounded insecurity doesn't kick in, especially around all this food preparation, I think the whole experience is going to be a blast.

In my mind the YART has already begun. No more work until Tuesday. By noon today I will have finished much of the grocery shopping (eg five dozen eggs, four pounds of butter (got to be ready for those frosted white cupcakes), and, all told, the equivalent of six maybe seven meals from tonight until Sunday afternoon.

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Late this afternoon I will pick up Robin at Bradley Airport, my wonderful friend met through Renee before she died, and we will walk side by side, breathe the same air for the first time.

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And on Friday and into Friday night, whether it rains or not (it will?) friends and participants will come and go, we will cook and bake and set up and knock off a three page list of what will hopefully be done and ready by Saturday morning.

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But we're not compulsive. Just doing things one by one. I hope that approach and attitude lingers.

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I have to end this update by confirming that six wonderful friends born from the blogs will be here for the YART. I can't believe it. And I know who they are--I love and care about each--even though for some this is the first time we will 'meet' in person.

Still, there are several wonderful friends who will not be here (boohoohoo) which gets me thinking about next year.

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Another update to come, but I can't say when.

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Meanwhile, if you're looking for me, I'm the woman with the most packed grocery cart you've ever seen.

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Oh, and I'm also the woman reading tarot cards with the moniker Madame kj, charging $ 2 for a three card reading and hoping like hell I plan my time better so I have time to look up from the Queen of Wands and the Hierophant and take it in that JB and I are doing a very very good thing.

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Love

kj