Sage-N-Sun Festival in Ephrata

And so our craft season starts!

Our first show of the 2009 season was at Ephrata for the 100th Annual Sage-N-Sun Festival. This show was new to us and although 3 hours away we decided to give it a try. The show wasn’t our best show . . .but then again it wasn’t our worst either. It fell right in line with an average show and our show minimal show expectations. It was a nice show on the Grant County Courthouse front lawn under some beautiful old trees. There was a church nearby that had the most beautiful music that chimed throughout the town every hour. The slight breeze and shade really made it a nice day . . .and the architecture from this 1895 building wonderful. It was a small show but a nice one.

We are always amazed at the difference going over the pass makes. Not only in terms of weather but in terms of the people. They seem more friendly and down to earth. The families seem somehow more wholesome and family oriented. And of course the political views are far more conservative. It’s almost like going to a different world.

While meeting people who came into our booth, they routinely asked where we were from. And we when told them, then would nod and say “Oh, you are from the dark side.” The first person that said this I thought was just perhaps teasing, but we began hearing this from pretty much everyone. We had to smile. Sitting there analyzing this I wondered if they came up with the term “dark side” because of our weather . . .or perhaps because of our crime and “darker” lifestyle. It was an interesting thought.

I had always thought that here in Western Washington I lived in “normal” America. But sitting there on Sunday afternoon, and seeing all the families dressed in Sunday best walking hand in hand around the courthouse, I began to think that perhaps they were “normal” America and more in line with how most of our country lives in the cities and rural areas of the main portion of our country. Definitely some food for thought - - and yet it seems that the big cities control the country’s politics and laws.

So as our craft weekend came to a close we began our three hour drive home to the “dark side.” The closer we got the more at home I felt. The skies did indeed get darker and the temperature dropped a good 20 degrees. We began to see trees . . .and mountains . . .and small waterfalls and even an occasion deer. Over the pass we went toward home. Dark side or not, it was home and as we pulled in the driveway even Leo was excited to be home. Getting out the cooler air felt good and the air fresh and crisp to my nostrils and throat. As much as we enjoy our weekends, it is always nice to be home. And the threat of rain during the coming week . . .well that doesn’t bother me at all . . It comes with the lush greenery, fresh air and cooler temperatures that I love!