Medusa - With her untamed reddish brown locks bobbing as she goes, she prances from vendor to vendor in no particular pattern. She is wearing a hot pink shirt that slightly shows her 45 year old midriff. Her jeans have rhinstones on the butt and her electric pink kitten heel sandals clickety clack under her towering body. She almost dances as she walks. Her fingernails are long and unkept. When she visits my booth, she inquires about "what my bread is made of and where do I make it and why do I have it in plastic bags that hold moisture and create mold?" Sheesh lady. She eventually parked herself on a bench and had a lengthy conversation with an invisible gnome while she thumbed through the things in her tin can purse before marching off into the city.
Dog lovers anonymous - Many patrons bring their dogs to market. Why shouldn't they?! A place where dogs are welcome and it's a great way to socialize them and even pick up a treat or two. There are several vendors just for dogs like Maddie's Backyard, who offers free snacks and a drinking station for your pup! I picked up a stuffed monkey toy for Willow there this weekend. Another pup vendor has tutus for dogs. Literally a frilly skirt for dogs - they come in all colors, even for Gator lovers! Some market-goers share their purchases with their dogs like Kernel and Kettle's kettle corn or Sugar and Spice's delicious cupcakes.
The Unfortunate - The sad truth is that Ocala is home to many homeless people. Some of them visit market looking for free samples (I gladly offer) or scraps from vendors and patrons alike. My first day at market, two officers from Ocala PD woke up a man sleeping under the gazebo. They told him he had to leave so I gave him a muffin for his travels. Saturday I saw a woman pulling a rolling basket with all of her belongings inside. She was wearing a purple velvet adults' Halloween costume that she likely bought at a thrift store. Something about her grownup princess costume was kind of charming.
Big Accessories - Several young mothers attend market each Saturday with their toddlers in tote. For some of them, I feel that this outing may be the only public outing they experience all week long, only because they rock every large and flashy accessory they own at once. Big floppy hat, giant purse with bling, a five-piece set of costume jewelry, giant flower headband on baby, oversized Vera Bradley tote with matching diaper bag. They have to be hot and miserable carrying/pushing all that stuff around in 95 degrees with virtually no wind factor.
Husband Helpers - Quite a few of the market vendors are women entrepreneurs. Jewelry makers, bakers, crafty ladies with painted scarves and bags, lotion and soap chemists and gardeners. But setting up for market day is really hard to do alone. (Possible because I do, but it's very difficult and stressful) So, many of them enlist their husbands to come early and help. Sugar and Spice is run by two stay at home moms and they alternate weeks running their cupcake shop at market. But it never fails, every week, at least one husband is there at 7 a.m. dragging tables across the lawn and fluffing tablecloths. He passes, she arranges. They make an adorable team. One young baker who also sells Amish butters, jellies and dips gets help from her spouse who gladly brings her supplies in their pink, 1968 VW mystery van. She kisses his scruffy beard before bidding him adieu for the day.
That's one of the great things about market. It's so flavorful. Not just the tasty items for sale...but the people too!
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