Hello!!

Before I lose your complete attention to all things election…don’t forget to log into the market, quickly, make a fast order, and then you are free to go watch the election results come in…

I know, it’s tense times, it’s a battle ground. This little local market of love just wants to lighten the mood, the load, the week.

We are here until 10pm, and then we will bid you good night, and good week, until we reopen for next week!!

Don’t miss the bus…get on board with an order!!

Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam

Hello, Old Friend!

As I am strolling down the garden path,
I saw a flower glowing in the dark.
It looked so pretty and it was unique;
I had to bend down just to have a peek.

Hello old friend,
It’s really good to see you once again.
Hello old friend,
It’s really good to see you once again.
(Eric Clapton-Hello, Old Friend)

Hello, this evening, to our old friends, End Of The Road Farms!!! Make sure to show them some love, show them how much they were missed, and show them your love for this little local market of love…

I hope that all of you had amazing, beautiful, sunshine filled weekends!! Today was like a breath of spring!! I just had to pop my A/C on, again, my herbs are the most beautiful yet, the Hippie and the Farmer gardens are seeing a second run of tomatoes, peppers, and lettuce, and I am sooooooo trippy, hippie happy for all of this!!

Also, tomorrow I am meeting with someone who is interested in becoming your next market manager!! So excited for this person who has been so dedicated to the local cause, for so many years!!

So, this evening, hello, old friends, old market of love, and a huge dose golden sunshine days!!

Remember to order…you have until tomorrow evening, but you don’t want to miss out on any of the fun!!

Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam

Time For Me To Fly

Time for me to fly
Oh, I’ve got to set myself free
(Time for me to fly)
And that’s just how it’s got to be
I know it hurts to say goodbye
But it’s time for me to fly
(Time For Me To Fly-REO Speedwagon)

Well, here we are, me giving a nod back to one of my high school songs, writing another Weblog to you, the lovely little market of love customers.

The last time this song really rang true in my heart was, oh, like, 1980, when I was bidding my high school sweetheart a fond farewell, as he was older than me, was setting out on his own path, and me, well, I was all full of attitude, and sass, and all of that kind of stuff, totally took my heart by the heart strings, and set off on my own path. I played this song, over and over and over…I am surprised that my high school girl gang didn’t disown me. I do think that they let me sink into this song, let me cry, let me pour my heart out, and then they had quite enough, and made me listen to some heavy metal, of some sort.

And, now, this song brings me to this evening. Another path. Me, as your market manager, is ready to fly. Yes, it’s time for me to fly.

I have spent weeks going over and over my decision. I went to both, Heather, the founder of this market, and Paul, our YMCA CEO, and spoke with both of them. I spoke with your beloved assistant manager, Mark. While nobody was exactly happy with my decision, they all totally support my heart.

Slowly, I have been easing out of the market scenes. Slowly, I have been easing into my new ventures, new adventures.

Eight years ago, Cosmic Charlie hit my first market, in downtown Urbana. I then joined the Mechanicsburg market scene. I got gigs at The Depot Coffeehouse, Everyday Organics, Mad River Market, Café Paradiso, Winners One Stop. I got a lovely gig at Seasons Bistro and Grille. I helped get Madison’s Downtown Café up and running, and did baking from there, for a short time. I moved onto even more farmers’ markets. I took the Springfield market by storm, and landed my first ever store front, in downtown Springfield. I was part of the festival and event scene. I became a driving force in the local foods movement. I cross promoted, and formed friendships with many of our local vendors. I opened up my Urbana shop front. I began leaving a few things, so that I could open doors to new ventures. I began to co-manage markets, and vend with your assistant manager, Mark, of Oakview Farm Meats. We’ve been out in the trenches, fighting the good fight, for the local food movement. Together, we formed our own LLC, Hippie and the Farmer, and we watched that explode, into the stratosphere, all summer, and we show no signs of slowing down. We put in our own commercial kitchen. We became growers of three large gardens. We worked closely with many of our local vendors, as Hippie and the Farmer growers. We have been going strong with our event making part of the venture. We are getting ready to kick off phase three of our business. My own Cosmic Charlie continues to rock the town, my Girl business continues with my vintage and hippie clothing, and I have just kicked off Girl About Town, a writing/blogging gig, that chronicles me, my business, our vibrant downtown, and where you can find me.

But, through it all, I have been your market manager. For 5 years, I have been your on site manager, and then I became your overall manager. And now, well now, this market manager would like to take this time to, well, fly!

I love the local scene. I love this little local market of love. I love you, the customers and vendors. I have loved every minute of our time, together. I will remain a vendor, here, but as all epic break ups go…I am hitting the road, packing up my manager status, and exploring new territory.

Now comes the hard part…who will fill these shoes? That is what I will begin doing. Vendor? Loyal customer? Who loves local enough to take this lovely market from me, and continue to make it fly?

Over the years, we have perfected this market to super simplicity! I will stay on to help you through the ropes. The YMCA staff is super. Paul is amazing. It’s a volunteer position that just really makes you feel good!!! Think about it, and let me know…

I love you all to the moon and back, I will be here until we put a new manager in place, but then…it’s time for me to fly!!

Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam

Hey, now!! It's the Herr Family Farm!

You love them, and they are coming back!

Herr Family Farms will be in the lobby, tomorrow evening, in the lobby of the virtual market, with their apples, several varieties, amazing large sized squash, and their maple syrup!!

Make plans to stop by!

Peace and Love,
Cosmic Pam

Happy Summer in November!

That’s right! Who isn’t loving these amazing days, the past week? Who was happy to enjoy such a beautiful evening for trick or treat? Who is in a sunshine daydream kind of mood?

I can answer yes to all of the above!!

With these mild days, Halloween behind us, the World Series game in front of us, and the beginning of November, let’s hurry and get our orders in!!

It’s Tuesday evening, and we will be closing at 10pm!!

Go, order, be happy that you are getting your shopping done, on a happy note…on a local note!

Peace, Love, Good Vibes
Cosmic Pam

Cruisin'

You’re gonna fly away
Glad you’re going my way
I love it when we’re cruisin’ together…
(Cruisin’-Smokey Robinson)

Cruisin’ together on this little local vibe via this little local market of love…

If we all just put an order in, we will be cruisin’ together, totally…

The outdoor markets will all be closed, after today, for the season, but here we are…cruisin’ the year round gig.

This weekend, in between sunshine, warm temperatures, Halloween fun, fall festivities, please make sure to take a bit of time for ordering. It’s simple, pain free, feeds your soul, makes the world a better place…well, you get the drift.

Come on, let’s go cruisin’…

Peace, Love, Good Vibes
Cosmic Pam

Galway Girl

When I woke up I was all alone
With a broken heart and a ticket home
And I ask you now, tell me what would you do
If her hair was black and her eyes were blue
I’ve traveled around I’ve been all over this world
Boys I ain’t never seen nothin’ like a Galway girl…
(Galway Girl-Steve Earle, performed by many)

So, this week…yeah, this week. One of those weeks that knocked you for a loop, gave you crazy goals to accomplish, obligations to fulfill, and then gave you a whole lot of emotion to sort out.

When I get in these busy times, when it looks like I will either get it all done, or I will have a break down that will result in me regrouping, taking off, finding myself, and then returning to kick it all in the ass, is when I turn to what makes me strong, what made me, my roots, and I focus.

Music, obviously, does this for me, in these times. I found myself turning to the music that I could twirl to, dance to, sing to, and give a nod back to where my family all came from. It helps me to think of my grandfather, his Irish roots, my family that hailed from Galway in Ireland.

This song was with me, all week. I love the Irish roots, I love all of the different versions that I could find, I love that part of the Grateful Dead performed it…my roots brought me back to life, this week. Made me remember who I am, who had a part in making me become me, and who would be guiding me, still, if he were still here. My grandfather would give me the time to go work it all out, whatever was weighing on me, and then promptly kick me back into the fold of things.

So, here I am…back to all of you, ready for action, many goals accomplished, this week, many tasks and business obligations completed, and now, here I am…twirling around, looking to bring you all into this market. This little local market of love. The pride that is this community.

Let’s go…let’s all get our twirl on, and take a spin with some ordering love.

I open the market, tonight, with much love…

Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam

Tomorrow!

If you are picking up an order, tomorrow night, or just want to come to the lobby of the YMCA, we will have Kim, from the front desk, set up in the lobby with her all natural, pumpkin dog treats!

Make sure to stop and check it all out!!

Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam

Almost That Time!

I realize that you are all watching the World Series, but here we are! Almost 10pm!!

Get those orders in!!

See you at market closing!

Peace, Love, Good Vibes!

Cosmic Pam

Sunday Morning

Sunday morning and I’m falling
I’ve got a feeling I don’t want to know
Early dawning, Sunday morning
It’s all the streets you crossed, not so long ago…
(Sunday Morning-The Velvet Underground)

Well, just a quick hello on this sunshine, golden hued Sunday!! I know that it is the perfect day to be out and about, but don’t forget to set a bit of time aside to get your market orders in!!

Let the sunshine on the local scene…

Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam