Merchant’s Log February 16 http://www.thetreasuremerchants.com
3rd Entry
Morning
The morning dawned bright and beautiful. There was an excitement in the air today, as it is with every ”Market” day. Showing my wares at the Bazaar is especially enjoyable to me, as it gives me a chance to get out of the shoppe and meet new faces, and take in all the sights and sounds of the hustle and bustle atmosphere of the “Great Marketplace”.
Merchants and traders from exotic cultures near and far would be gathering to display their wares and to offer trade. The many caravans would arrive heavy laden with treasures, and I hoped to acquire some for my shoppe.
My steps were light and quick as I went by the shoppe to gather a few things, put the sign on the door “Meet me at the Bazaar” and headed down the main thoroughfare to where the “Great Marketplace” was being readied.
The main tent of the great Market was massive, as it held all the other smaller tents beneath it to shield the merchants and buyers from inclement weather and dust. Outside the main tent, brightly painted wagons were in place, opened in the back with an awning propped up for shade. Wares hanging, draped or stacked for best effect.
Inside, as I entered, such a myriad of heady scents tickled my nose. Incense braziers were puffing wafts of frankincense, myrrh and amber into the air. Baskets and barrels were being filled with grains, spices, and fruits. Freshly baked breads, pies and other delicacies filled the air with a warm “hearthy” goodness.
Tinkling bells and chimes lent a glittering sound to the ambience. Silken and velvet, beaded fabrics were artfully draped across tables and mannequins to show their fine workmanship.
My tent, or my” Bazaar”, as it is called. Is located beneath the main tent, in the corner of the “great marketplace”. I had asked Sean to bring my wagon on ahead this morning, and he was busily setting up the crates and barrels for display.
After everything was in place, there were a few minutes left before the throng of people gathering outside, would be allowed to enter. I took this opportunity to dash through the market to acquire the best pick of items for my shoppe.
I passed by a merchant with beautiful silken, mirrored and beaded pillow covers. They sparkled and glittered in their colorful arrangement. I learned that they were from India and were handmade. I could picture them all throughout my home as well as the shoppe, so I purchased some in every color.
Next, I came to a merchant selling fragrances for the bath and body in wonderful tropical fruit aromas.
I took a deep breath, imagined myself on a lush tropic island, and purchased some of each. As I carried them along, I felt my stomach ache in hunger for want of some real tropical fruit to eat!
And something curious… I came upon a merchant, placing some nuts in a bowl. The curious part was that he then poured a little water in the bowl, swirled it around a little, and foam and bubbles started to form!
“A natural soap from the earth that is grown on trees. Used since ancient times to cleanse the hair, body, and clothes without harmful additives.” he told me. They were called Soapnuts. I knew I must have them for my shoppe, as many of my customers have been asking me for something such as this to use. I made my purchase and turned to go back to my tent with my armload of treasures.
As I turned, I was surprised to see a merchant, selling, of all things, shepherd bells!
“Just like the one on my shoppe door” I mused. The hand hammered copper bells have such a true tone unlike any other bell. They say that the sound can be heard from one valley to the next.
I felt a pang of loss as I remembered my father, who had placed our bell atop the door the day we opened the new shoppe. Such a simple thing, but he beamed with pride every time that bell rang as another customer walked through our door. It signified the success that had made our move to a larger location imminent.
I roused myself from the memory and shook my head to clear it. “Well, he’ll come back, they’ll find him, I know it”. I had to continue to remain strong for him.
I lifted my chin, gave the man what I owed him, and took his entire collection of bells!
Perhaps this was my own way of assuring myself of success. Success in my merchant friends finding my father, presumed lost at sea these many months. Whatever the case, I now had shepherd bells in three sizes! Now it was my turn to beam with pride all the way back to my tent.
Oh, customers waiting!………………..
Buzz: where can you find the products featured in the Bazaar?
Shop The Treasure Merchants at:http://www.thetreasuremerchants.com
Copyright 2009, The Treasure Merchants, all rights reserved.
Dear Merchant,
I have been checking your site daily for the next installment in your Merchant’s Log, and at last it is here.
The telling of your life as a merchant, set in the surroundings of life by the sea, with its comings and goings of world travelers and other merchants, is so romantic and captivating. It is an adventure I find myself hopelessly charmed by, and uniquely involved in.
What fun it was to go to the bazaar, and be inundated with all those wonderful aromas, sights, and sounds, filling the air, as I mentally strolled along with you looking at all the wares of the other merchants, traders, hawkers, and peddlers there.
However, I ate far too much of the delicious food offerings, and after the fourth hour of standing and walking, my shoes had to come off.
I tried to bring a Shepard’s Bell home with me, but that is where my daydreaming didn’t work. So I will have to order it from you. Oh, and those Soap Nuts, wow, how unusual is that? I’ll take those. And let me see (as I browse through your purchases displayed here at your shop), hummm…guess I’ll have to try one of those fruit soaps (taking a deep and long breath), ahhh, they do smell good.
Thank you again, for making my shopping so uniquely personal, caring, adventurous, and fun.
Yours Truly, (and eagerly awaiting, the next log entry).
Darlene
My Dearest Darlene,
I am so greatly honored by your comments once again, indeed, I find it somewhat difficult to formulate a reply, for the words escape me!
In the writing of these entries, my purpose has always been to involve the reader through my descriptions of life as a merchant’s daughter, in our shoppe by the sea.
In describing all the different aspects of this life such as:
The day to day simple joys of serving customers, to the excitng, exotic treasures and acquisitions, and the hustle and bustle of the harbor….
….to the adventures past and the ones that will present themselves, I have endeavored to relay the sights, sounds, smells, and surroundings, as well as I may.
Not quite ever knowing if my humble attempts have succeeded… till now.
I feel as though you really have walked with me through the Gift shoppe & the Bazaar, and have partaken of each aspect of this telling….
…and I invite you to continue on with me to the next adventure.
I Thank you most sincerely,
TMD