Being Kind and Showing The Love

Strangers stopping strangers just to shake their hand,
Everybody’s playing in the heart of gold band, heart of gold band…(Scarlet Begonias, Grateful Dead)

The title of this weblog has to do with the kindness of strangers. The banding together of the community spirit. The communal brotherhood that emerges when you need it.

I just got back from my weekend away at a music festival. Whenever I slip behind the gates of a music festival, set up camp, and greet my yearly friends, I feel an almost immediate friendly connection. A weekend away, amazing Grateful Dead music, a beautiful farm surrounding the grounds, and strangers who become friends, all weekend long.

Once the festival is over, and everything is packed up, you hug your friends that you will not see until next year, you shout goodbyes to your weekend neighbors that you shared laughs, coffee, wine, food with.

As you begin the drive back out of the gates, down the winding drive of the beautiful farm called, Maggie’s Farm, you take one last look back, smile, and also become a bit sad to see the empty stages, all of the tents coming down, and knowing that at the end of the lane, reality waits to take you back to the everyday.

I always feel so lucky to be a part of such a kind, loving rich fabric of friendship.

Just like at this market…strangers meeting, customers and vendors becoming friendly, trust and bonds are built.

It makes me happy to also see this kind, loving rich fabric of friendship and respect so strong even in our everyday, through our market.

As we start the week, as we start the summer, as we place our orders, today and tomorrow, let the theme of being kind and showing some love lead your way…

Peace and Love,
Cosmic Pam

Land Of The Free

…Because Of The Brave…

Remembering those who gave the supreme sacrifice…

Today, during all of your fun and merriment, make sure to take a bit of time to reflect on Memorial Day…

I hope that you all have had an enjoyable weekend…will be back with my Monday weblog, later…

Peace and Love,
Cosmic Pam

Holiday Road

I found out long ago
It’s a long way down the holiday road…
(Lindsey Buckingham – Holiday Road)

Well, the holiday weekend is just about here!! We are on the countdown to good times, good weather, and good friends!!

I hope that everyone has amazing plans for the holiday!! I hit the Holiday Road, tomorrow, to a fun and rockin’ music festival!! Nothing but sunshine, non-stop tunes and bands, and a ton of my friends!! Let the good times roll!

Enjoy whatever your plans may be and if you think about it…give us a little order while you are soaking up the sun!!

For all who order, I will be drawing a customer name and that customer will win the soundtrack that has started to weave itself through the theme of my Weblogs, each time!! What a fun way to start your summer playlist!! A cd full of the tunes and lyrics that I use!! But, you need to order to be entered into the drawing!!! The winner will be announced next Wednesday!!

Also…just a note to introduce our new vendor!! She is a gluten-free baker with an all natural skin-care line that she makes!!! Live Simply, Live Richly…check her out!

The market is now open…get your orders in before the weekend of fun begins!!

Peace and Love,
Cosmic Pam

Ladies and Gentlemen..

Once again, we thank you for ordering local, giving us a chance to bring you the local goodness, and for always supporting our market!!

If you ordered, we thank you from the bottom of our heart! If you didn’t get to order, we will see you, next time!!

Have a lovely week and we will see you on Thursday!

Peace and Love,
Cosmic Pam
*

Last Call!

It’s 7:45 on a Tuesday…that can only mean it’s the local last call!!

If you still want to order, please proceed to the market, and then to the check out!! We don’t want anyone to miss out on their local goodness!

You now have 15 minutes…make it work!

500 Miles

If you miss the train I’m on, you will know that I am gone…
(Peter, Paul & Mary – 500 Miles)

I have been obsessed with this song, for awhile, and am singing it, now, as I post…as I was humming it’s tune, it seemed appropriate for this reminder…

What we don’t want, for you, is to miss the last day of getting your market order in. You don’t want to remember, after 8pm, only to have us gone for another week!!

Take just a few minutes, figure out what we can do for you, what order needs we can fill, and go ahead and get them in! The train won’t leave without you until, tonight….we don’t want to leave you behind…

Peace and Love,
Cosmic Pam

Soak Up The Sun

I’m gonna soak up the sun
I’m gonna tell everyone
To lighten up…
(Sheryl Crow – Soak Up The Sun)

Yes! The magical summer weekend is staring us in the face. The weekend that officially tells us to start the summer celebration of fun!! Memorial Day weekend is almost here!!

I have been frantically watching the weather forecast because I am packing up and heading to my favorite music festival! The days look bright, sunny, perfect temperatures…get ready to soak up the sun!!

When you think about getting your orders in for the week, think about your weekend celebration needs!!! We can do it all for you!!!

We have Oakview’s products to make your grilling extra special!!! You may need buns for all of your grilling so make sure to check out both traditional buns and artisan buns! The holiday weekend finds people planting their herbs and live plants…we’ve got that covered from Swisher Hill Herbs! Spring garlic, spices, asparagus??? Super sweet pies and cookies for sharing at a cookout? Dairy products, flour, and eggs for any holiday baking? Honey, maple syrups, molasses for baking or drizzling on fruit desserts…Whole chickens for more grilling fun…we just have so much to help make your plans and celebrations extra special!!!

The best part is that it is all local for your lovely celebrations!! How special for you to tell your friends and guests that your celebration includes such amazing market products!!

It is Monday morning, the rush is upon all of us, and the holiday weekend is smiling…get your orders in before tomorrow at 8pm! Start the fun!!

Peace and Love,
Cosmic Pam

A Little Help From My Friends

What would you think if I sang out of tune
Would you stand up and walk out on me?
Lend me your ears and I’ll sing you a song
And I’ll try not to sing out of key…
(Beatles – With A Little Help From My Friends)

Can you believe we are looking at another Sunday, already? The weeks seem to just fly by and then we reach Sunday, and it’s a day to catch your breath, recharge, plan the next week in your life.

This week, in my Cosmic world, was just as crazy as any other week. My weeks seem to pass in a blur of my customers, my shop, my venues, markets. I rely on my good nature, loud music, lots of coffee, and then a glass of wine for good measure. It’s just the Cosmic way. But, one important part of the equation that keeps me sane, keeps me going, makes me smile, is the help that I get from friends.

And, in help, I don’t really mean a hands on, take over kind of thing. If you know me well, knew me growing up, you know that I am the last person to ask for that kind of help. But, what I do rely on is the laughter, the hugs, the compassion, the respect, and the knowing that my favorite friends are always there, they show up when I don’t think I need them or are there in a second to listen to me ramble on, need advice, or just need to let loose with a night or afternoon of fun.

I was reminded of that, this week, in many ways. In my life, I hold my dearest people, so close to my heart. I build my business relations in a different manner but usually, in the end, they become more than just a business relation. They become part of my friend circle. It was a week of board meetings, business meetings, a director’s meeting, an impromptu meeting of the minds at the YMCA at our little market table…friends, and customers, and supporters, and business encounters…it takes many people to make a circle strong. I very much believe that you need a strong circle and you need to know who is in that circle and then you need to keep the circle close.

It was because of that little impromptu meeting at our market table that left me feeling even more like this market is really moving forward, moving ahead, offering all of you the best that there is! It takes just a few people to remind you that we all do really get by with the help of others.

As your market manager, I watch as the orders come in, I watch as the orders are picked up, I receive your emails, your questions, your lovely words of praise. I get to chat with each of you, each week. I get to know your likes, I miss you when you are gone, I know just by seeing your name on an email, what you are ordering. When you enter the market to get your orders, we all know you as you open the door. We lovingly pack up your order and chat and send you on your way for the week.

In my heart, I hope that this market brings you a bit of help from us…your friends of this market. I hope that not only are we filling your order needs but we are also filling your souls with what you need. In the circle, we are all friends, in some way, and the circle stays strong as we all help others to get by.

As I said, it’s Sunday…a day of planning the week. Let us help YOU get by, a bit easier, by placing your order needs in our hands…that’s what friends do!

A couple of notes…remember, Memorial Day weekend is upon us. This will be the market for you to think about what you will need for your weekend of fun.

Also…the impromptu meeting with the YMCA resulted in something very exciting!!! We now can offer you the gift of local through YMCA gift cards that can be applied to a market account!!! You can sign up a new market member by gifting them with a card. You can gift another market customer. You can gift yourself!! The front desk will set you up with a gift card and will then help you apply it to our market!!!

See…we all get by with a little help from our friends…

Peace and Love,
Cosmic Pam

Please Allow Me To Introduce..

Spoonie farm is excited to join the Champaign County, Ohio Virtual Farmer’s Market and introduce our first product, Japanese quail eggs.

The eggs are about one third the size of a normal chicken egg, with a white shell decorated with tan, brown, or black speckles. They make ideal snacks for children due to their bite size and healthy nutritional content.

How can you use them? Japanese quail eggs are great for making appetizer size or first course dishes. Basically anywhere you would use a regular fried, poached, or hard-boiled egg you can substitute quail eggs. They taste very similar to chicken eggs, but the shell and membrane are a bit thicker making them a little harder to crack or peel, but what is inside makes it worth the extra effort. You can make mini-Eggs Benedict, mini-deviled eggs, or mini-pickled eggs. Our eggs hard boil in about 4 minutes, but we recommend steaming them and immersing in an ice water bath to make them easier to peel.

We started raising Japanese quail a little over a year ago. In January we bought our farm in St. Paris and brought our quail with us. We couldn’t wait to join the market and share our eggs with others.

If you have any questions about how to use the quail eggs, or any feedback about our products, please email us.

We love to hear from our new customers!

Michael & Julie Hancock

Spponie Farm, St. Paris

Shelter From The Storm

…came in from the wilderness, a creature void of form, “Come in” she said “I’ll give you shelter from the storm” (Shelter From The Storm-Bob Dylan)

So, it was quite an eventful, storm filled week, here for most of us! Tuesday night started with one of the most amazing, yet scary lightening shows. I was sitting on my back deck, for quite awhile, just taking in that evening. Later, in the evening, things got really stormy, and then, just like that, many of us were in a power outage.

The outage definitely impaired my business since I depend on my ovens in the Cosmic soul kitchen, to keep me groovin’ and able to bring the goodness to the masses.

Most of us were without power from that evening until way late into yesterday afternoon. While it was definitely a pain to deal with, it also provided me a sort of insight, or time to just think in all of the quietness.

Thoughts of gratitude and thankfulness for all that I am able to do, love what I do, and how I love running this little market! The thought that I am so lucky to be a part of things that I feel so passionately about. It made me think of what we are bringing to the community, the relationships we are building, the support that the local community gives us.

During the day, I was reminded of the kindness of people in times of “storms”. Even a new restaurant, downtown, was closed due to the outage, but then when their power came on, they were so kind to open their doors to myself and a friend. They explained their situation but offered bits of food, wine, friendship.

Storms come in many shapes and forms and are not always even weather related. Storms can rip through, at any given time, but the beauty of the storm is the aftermath and the shelter that we all find, in some way or another, in each other.

I like to think of our little market as your shelter. A shelter from busy lives, a shelter of local spirit, a shelter of local love, and a shelter where the customers look to us to provide all that they need, each and every week.

I open the market, tonight, with much love and much excitement over how we are seeing so much growth, support, and friendship, in each market week! We are the shelter that welcomes you!

We also bring to you, a new vendor, via Spoonie Farms!! Spoonie Farms brings us the very different and highly sought after, quail eggs!!

They are working on an introduction blurb for me to send out about them, their new lives on the farm, and quail eggs!!

Be kind to yourself, this week, make it all easier by placing your orders with us!!

We appreciate being able to be your shelter from the storm…whatever that storm may be…

Peace and Love,
Cosmic Pam