Our First Market: What a Weekend!

Holy moly… what a weekend! McKenna and I just wrapped up our very first vendor market — and wow, what an experience! The week leading up to the event was a whirlwind of planning, prep, and (of course) baking. We woke up at 3 a.m. the day before to make sure every loaf, cookie, and pie was baked to perfection. After 18 straight hours in the kitchen, we were tired but thrilled knowing our shelves would be filled with the freshest bakes possible.

The event itself? Absolutely amazing. We met so many wonderful people — new vendors, new friends, and so many members of our North Georgia community who stopped by to chat all things sourdough. What a special place this is! We even learned something new from our conversations: several folks asked about Salt Rising Bread, which we had never heard of. (Don’t worry, we’re looking into it — and you might just see it in a future bake!)

Now, we’ll admit — we may have overbaked a bit. But the extra loaves and cookies turned out to be a blessing. They gave us the chance to share the love and donate our leftovers to two incredible groups who serve our community day and night: the Hall County Fire Department and the nurses and staff at Northeast Georgia Medical Center.

As a former night shift RN at NGMC, I know firsthand that the day shift often gets first dibs on treats — so we made sure to deliver our goodies right at shift change so our night shift warriors got some fresh-baked love, too.

This first market was a ton of work (fellow cottage bakers — we see you!), but it was also unbelievably rewarding. We came away tired, grateful, and full of excitement for what’s next.

Here’s to community, connection, and the joy that good bread brings. 💚