05/23/2019
Who am I, what do I do...and why?
(if you chose to read this, it may be the longest FB post you ever read!)
We have quite a few new people on this page lately... I am SO grateful... and I thought I would take a minute to explain a little about this little RoG business I love so much.
I am Cara...aka "the bread lady", "the pie lady", "mom" or "granddaughter" to Nanny and Papa (the two amazing people you will get to know a bit the longer you spend here). Four years ago I moved my family from our rural home to become "townies" in order to care for Nanny and Papa. They have always had my back...so as they aged (and had given up their drivers licences) I knew it was my turn to have theirs. The balance of an - at the time - massage/holistic health practice and the solo-mama gig along with their needs was a little bit of a juggle (and by a little bit of course I mean A LOT!), so one day (at a wee bit of a breaking point) I decided I needed to do something that A) I LOVED and knew was goodness for my mind and soul, and 😎 could be flexible enough that I would be available to drop everything and go whenever the family needed me. So... I put a little card table at the end of my driveway (the same one I grew up playing cards at with Nanny), printed out a sign and spent the day baking bread. Day one was a bust. Day two I got a little braver and wrote a post on a local FB site. It rained that day...hard. The phone rang and I was suddenly called away. I updated the post and moved my little table to the front steps covered with fresh loaves of bread, banana bread, muffins and a few cookies. When I came home at the end of the day everything had sold. You, my people... read the post and drove to my house, got out of your cars and walked in the rain to my door to buy bread. Confession... I may have shed a tear or two (or three hundred) of gratitude that night. Within a few short weeks I had upgraded to a tent in the driveway...and then another when the wind blew it down... and then another. Quickly I convinced a buildy-kinda-friend to help me create a farm stand I had seen on Pinterest (ask any buildy-guy how much he loves the phrase "I saw this on Pinterest") ...the same little stand we all know so well. I put in extra parking space and started setting the alarm for 4:00am (typically 4 hours after I had laid my head on the pillow). A successful little business was built... and my family had the support they needed.
Fast forward to one year ago... when at 99 years old, Papa decided it was time they give up their home and move in... with me! I "pressed pause" on RoG and the last year has been spent acclimatizing to our new living situation and growing (patience, love, future business plans, etc...). Together, we have celebrated Papa's 100th birthday and Nanny's 92nd. We've worked through the aches and pains that come with moving a strong minded elderly man in with an independent "middle aged" (said in a whisper) woman. I've watched the delight on their faces as they get to experience the day-to-day dynamics of living with an active teenager. We've introduced them to new technology, new foods, new neighbours. Not every day is as sugar-coated as FB will make people believe... but I am proud of our choices and soooo delighted to see them flourish.
Now... for the future of RoG. In December I started construction on a new kitchen so I could bake again. I have missed it - and all of you. I am tiptoeing back into being "open" with a few test days to check for equipment failures (yep...I've had a few!) and to find my rhythm again. I can't guarantee a lot yet, but I am excited to watch it all unfold again. I still require the flexibility to be on call for Nanny and Papa. The endless calendars of elder-care appointments do consume a lot of time... and... I have made a promise to myself to maintain my own mental health by making sure I still maintain my own independence and sense of self (so easily lost in the demands of our new living situation)... which requires some "me days". My goal right now is simply two or three days/week and to build again from there (we all know four or five...or seven will happen from time to time).
How it works. I post on days that I am open and let you know what is available. At this time I am not taking holds, but as things progress and the rhythm is established I will bring back the tote bin system where you can comment on posts with items you want and they will be held for you so you can pick up at your leisure (FB has changed business page settings making this a little more challenging for me this year, hence the time to create and establish new systems). The business operates on the honour system. Pop by and pick up bundles of goodness. Items are priced (generally $3-8) and cash can be placed through the slot and change can be made from the mason jar. My business is only as good as my neighbours are happy so I do ask that you park on the gravel in front of the stand or in my driveway so as to not damage the surrounding lawns.
Welcome. I am so happy to see so many new names and faces. I try to pop out as I am replenishing baked goods... and Papa is getting the greatest kick out of sitting in the swing in the front yard and watching people come and go (please feel free to give him a wave).
*closed this weekend, but I will see you again next week!*
❤ Cara
