Opening Day

The market will reopen for the summer season on May 29th, 2011 at the Miramar Plaza, which is just to the southwest of Johnson Road (152nd St) and Russell Ave.  See you there!

Winter Markets

The regular summer season is over, but please join us at two winter markets.  The markets are held on Sundays, November 7th and December 5th, 9am - 1pm at the Kent Street seniors center in White Rock.  It is at 1475 Kent Street, at the corner of Russell Avenue.  If you know where Earl Marriot Secondary is on 16th Avenue, Kent Street heads south from there.

The (Weather) Gods are angry!

It seems that way, as we have had more than our fair share of crappy weather on Sunday mornings. We had one day that we could call 'hot', a few not so hot, and a lot downright anything but hot.

Bad weather doesn't keep the dedicated customers away, but going to the market for a look round and something to do on a Sunday morning isn't what you'd pick when it is pouring rain.

Last Sunday it rained the whole time.
Yesterday it had rained early on, but wasn't raining for setup at least. Then mid morning the skies opened. Add some thunder and lightening to that, and it was just wonderful -NOT!

Thankfully, we'd left the dogs at home. Jake doesn't 'do' thunder.

Look at all the customers! Don't you wish you had been there!

Rubber boots were the footwear of choice, and we had made the right choice at least.

Thankfully it was relatively short lived.

It cleared up and was nice by the end of the market.

Unfortunately it didn't clear up in time to dry the tents out.

Keeping our fingers crossed for next Sunday, and then the two more Sundays left after that.

Just checked the weather forecast.  Rain predicted for next Sunday too.  Maybe I should be making umbrellas.

Let's just hope the forecast changes for the better.

Well we thought it was going to be sunny....

At home on Sunday morning, it was lovely and sunny, but driving down 264th, there was a bank of marine cloud to the south, and it was also to the west, which would be the direction we were heading.  By the time we stopped at the park to walk the dogs, we were under the cloud.

It was peaceful in the park, until Luna and Calli came across a fresh deer trail.  Thank goodness they were on leash is all I can say.  I had seen the deer bound across, but the dogs couldn't see it because the grass was so tall.  But once they could smell it, well their excitement was pretty high.

 

I always want to take photos of the set up at the market, but we are in such a rush when we get their to be fully set up by nine, that there is never time.  What makes it harder is when customers want to start buying things from about 8:30 on.  That just slows you down even more, so we have started stretching a couple of bungee cords across the front of the tent to keep the early birds out.  At least then we can get set up in peace.  Maybe we should do it like some garage sales----Early birds pay double!!

By the time 9 am came round, we were just ready, and we actually had a little line up in front of our booth.  Didn't we feel special!

Here's a shot of our little flower and veggie selection.  Some things were already gone after the first rush.

The Chef's Program is in full swing.

 

And Sheila of Sheila's Deli and Catering Company was the chef of the day

There was a 'special' birthday this week.

 

Helen, (on the left) the market manager, was presented with a cake by assistant manager Deb, and I think I heard the sounds of 'Happy Birthday' being sung.  I always seem to arrive after the fact.

Lookin' good for forty though, Helen!!

The lovely  Vicky Sjohall was the entertainer of the day.  I wonder if she was frozen.  I know we weren't warm stood at our booth, as the breeze got up after a while, and we had more clothes on than she did.

 

And on the left, in front of the coffee tent, she is interviewed by Johan Prost, which you can see here.  Not that I realized that was happening when I took this photo, it was just a fluke.

And I always have a soft spot for an Irish Setter.  That was what MY first dog was.  This one was gorgeous

But now my favorites are the border collies.

We usually buy some baking from Judy's Country Kitchen, to go with our coffee. Last Sunday we had some chocolate macaroons.  She has a great variety of baking, and on the other side of the booth are some interesting things that would make great hostess gifts.

Colour Concepts are set up at the south end of the market.  They are one of the original vendors of the market when it started back in 2000.  Wonderful photography, and great pictures of all things White Rock.  Hopefully there will be a vendor profile coming up shortly.

Lots of empty boxes at the back of the booths are a good sign.  Sales must be going well.

The sun of course came out near the end of the market.  Better then than not at all I guess.

Hooray, it was a sunny Sunday market

And it looks like the coming Sunday will be sunny too.  The market just has a whole different atmosphere on a sunny day, and we have waited a long time for a sunny Sunday morning.

The summer weather has got the flowers blooming, so there was quite a selection at our place to make bouquets from.

  But after our bouquets were gone, there were still lots of flowers to pick from at the market

Rumi  was the entertainment this week.  The soothing sounds of the Pan Flute.

And next to them,  Auntie had the best seat in the house.

There were monstrous dogs passing through.

And fun ways to transport little dogs

The market is a really social place for dogs and people

And if you wanted to, you could grab a cup of great coffee

And grab something to eat from a vendor, or from the Chef's Program, sit yourself down, listen to the great music, and people and dog watch

There are loads of different vegetables at the market, and the Okanagan fruit is making an appearance. 

And the dogs like to get their treats from the Zodies Barkery.  This is an Irish Water Spaniel, which is a dog you don't see very often.  I have fun identifying the breeds:)

Some dogs just find the whole market kind of boring

But then she gets together with her family members, and they make fun geometric shapes while we pack up.

See you on Sunday in the sunshine!

Another grey Sunday, will Summer ever come?

I can't believe that we have had five markets now, and not one of them has been a lovely sunny summer type day.  Today was another grey day, and we had rain as well.  There has been rain on three out of five markets.  Not a good average, let's hope it will improve.

But, like good wet west coasters, most people came prepared for the rain, and umbrella popped up like mushrooms.

Despite the weather, the sales were pretty brisk for us, and it's always nice when all the produce is gone by the end of the day. 

The entertainment was great, and lots of people stood around listening to them, despite the weather.

Here's the dogs of the week.  Not sure if they had been for a swim somewhere, as they were wetter than could be accounted for by the rain at that point.  I think they are Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens.  Not a breed of dog you see very often.

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Our dogs were pretty happy today, as they got a visit from their favourite customer.

Joy is a feisty English lady, and she loves animals.  So every time she comes to the market, she visits Zodies Barkery, and buys them each a good sized biscuit.  She also buys a bag of little ones for her neighbours dogs as well.

Joy was thrilled last Christmas when I send her a Merry Christmas wish, and included a picture of the dogs decked in Christmas stuff and laying under the Christmas tree.  She printed it out and stuck it on her fridge.  And then she did the same when I updated it with a more seasonal one in the spring. 

Anyway, this is the first time this year that Joy and the dogs have been at the same market.  I think she was a little disappointed that the dogs didn't recognize her voice as she was chatting to Duncan when she was buying the treats, but they came over pretty quick when they saw her and she started talking to Larry.

Here's one for you Jake

They all lined up so nicely in front of her that after she had given them the ones she had bought for them, she broke down and opened the bag of 'training treats' that she had bought for her neighbour's little dogs

What spoiled dogs! 

I think she fed them half the bag.

And once again, at the end of the day, we packed up a lot of wet stuff into the truck that will have to be brought out and opened up to dry tomorrow. 

Doggy Days

I've decided that I was overly ambitious when I first started this blog, thinking that I'd be a reporter type, and be chatting to people and getting their information to pass on to you here.  I've decided that I'm really not cut out for that sort of thing, and sometimes I don't have the time, or don't think about it in time, or just don't want to be bothered.

So you'll just have to settle for what you get:)

Last Sunday was Doggy Days at the market, so there was an even wider variety of dogs there than usual.  Last year the 'Dog Show' was held on the grass behind the vendors directly across the roadway from where we are set up, but this year it was held on Russell Street at the far end of the market, so by the time I got myself up there, I think I missed some of it.

Last year myself with Jake and Luna, and another vendor with her two little dogs, put on a small agility demo.  The crowd loved it, and I enjoyed doing it, but it was one heck of a lot of work along with trying to be a vendor there as well.  Just the whole logistics thing of getting some equipment there with the two small vehicles we have, one of which is already loaded to the roof on a Sunday morning.  So in the end I decided to give it a pass this year.

So here's a few of the pictures I took.  There are some better ones here

A Bouvier takes a break.  Ahhhhh....that cold pavement feels good on my belly

A Wire haired Daschund

A cute little Chihuahua.  Don't quote me on this, but I think it won the smallest dog class.

And this one looks like a Japanese Chin.

And here's Teddy!

I'm guessing a Poodle or mix or there could be some Bichon there too.

Don't you just love how he smiles:)  He looks so happeeeee

And this Poodle likes to blend into the background

The Sali group was there, doing a dog wash to raise funds.

This dog was rather reluctant to use the ramp to get into the bath.  I don't blame him...

So he got the ol' heave ho and in he went

Once he was in there though, he seemed to be almost enjoying it.

And this little guy gets towelled dry after his bath. I don't know if they were using warm water or not, but it wasn't a very warm day.

Dad and daughter discuss the strategy for the kids and dogs trick class

Both little girls did an awesome job

And Judge Julia Byrnes of Sound and Furry dog training decided they were both worthy of a prize, and I agree.

Julia judged one of Calli's first ever agility runs, back in 2002

And just behind our tent, two Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers, yeah that's a mouthful, so they are usually just called Tollers or Duck Tollers, got acquainted.  Well they did, although my photo doesn't exactly show that:)

And Jake, the fake Toller, reminded me that there were dog treats on the table, ya know, that should be handed out

Jake was happy how the day turned out though.  Maya and her owner decided that he could share their frisbee, so he got in a game of fetch.  And Jake looooves playing fetch.

Hey, what about me?  How come I'm stuck in this freaking jail?