Smithville Harvest Festival and Market

Fall tea in Smithville, Ohio.

Smithville Community Historical Society had it's Harvest Festival & Market. 

They asked me to do this last year, but I had just had shoulder surgery, so I was really excited to be able to participate this year.  It was a great day to be outside (at least until 2:30pm)

381 E Main St, Smithville.  Right off of Rt 57.

The night before I made my tea concentrates.  Since it was going to be a cooler day, I wanted to do a hot chai.  I ended up blending my own.  I did Harney & Son Indian Spices with Natural Hope's Indian Spiced Chai.   And then for the sugar, I used Pumpkin syrup for the fall flavor.  In the morning I added the hot water and put in carafes. Then at the festival I added oat milk when I served it.

The aroma from these teas are incredible!!!! These are both black teas.

Harney & Sons, Indian Spice is a Black tea, cardamom flavor, cinnamon ground, nutmeg, cardamom spices.

Natural Hope, Indian Spiced Chai is a Organic Orange Pekoe Black Tea, Organic Holy Basil Leaf, Organic Ginger root, Organic Cinnamon bark, Organic Clove buds, Organic Cardamom seeds, Organic Black Pepper.

I then made the butterfly pea tea, aka Purple Palmer.  I love to make the concentrate the night before, it is so much easier! 

The Purple Palmer for this event was made with Natural Hope's Moringa Mint, lavender and Mint blend from Oregon, and dried butterfly pea blossoms.

I take part of the concentrate and freeze it, that is my ice for the day and it also does not dilute the tea at the festival.

That day I add more water and the lemonade to finish the tea.

Moringa Mint Tea is Organic Green Tea, Organic Spearmint leaf, Organic Chamomile blossom, Organic Moringa leaf, Organic Lavender buds.

I tried to give my table a fall feel with some pumpkins and leaves.

I had my books to sell as well.

There were about 20 of us vendors there.  A nice variety of people and items.

I had peach iced tea and the Purple Palmer.  The chai was hot.  I sold all of them as 12 ounce drinks for $4.  Once again the Purple Palmer was the big seller of the day.

I saw some high school friends, which was super fun.  Meeting people is so much fun when you are doing these events.  

My friends Amy and Carol showed up- my favorite stalkers ever!!!  It always feels great to have people come out and support you and say hi.

Another friend showed up and said, I came just to see you.  That was great to hear!!

But one lady in particular just made my day.  She said that I didn't know her, but she felt like she knew me.  She said that she was reading my book.  I asked it if it was the tea book.  She said no, it was one of the Christian romance books I wrote a few years ago.  She said it was so good that she could not put it down.  That was one of the nicest things for her to say!  She said that she just wanted to encourage me to keep writing. 

That reminds to me share things with people that would encourage them.  When I think something nice about someone, I should say it!  I should not be embarrassed to compliment someone or wonder what they would think, I should share with them.

The sweet girl in the photo below was drinking my tea in one of the little tea cups I was selling.  I let her pick out a cup.

I was the only one who braved the weather without a tent, lol.  When I talked to the other vendors, we all agreed I should be okay, the rain was not coming until later on.  

I was good until about 2:30...but the lady beside me was nice enough to let me know that the rain was coming.  I was able to get most put away before it rained.  And it wasn't bad, since we ended at 3pm anyway.  Also, it didn't rain hard, it was more of a drizzle.

The other neighbor came over beside me stood over me with an umbrella as I filled my containers with the left over tea.  The vendors are so great at this event.  And I find that to be the case at most events.  People are so kind and helpful!

Psalm 96:3
Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples!