Country Chatter

Ten months ago was April 12 and as I write this, in one minute (6:54 p.m.), it will be the exact time we got the call to look out our window.

Never could I have imagined how our lives would change in the next few minutes and hours. Everything we had worked for, our feed store business, the newly opened Quarterfield Market (one week) and farm shop all burned to the ground along with a storage room of our and the Hostetters personal stuff, memorbilia and irreplaceable family treasures. Our life was now devided in two distinct seasons; before the fire and after the fire.

Today, February 12, our farmer’s market opened in the newly built barn. It wasn’t planned this way and there was a push all week by everyone involoved to make this happen. Orignially we were told the market would be done by Christmas, then New Years, then the end of January but dealing with contractor’s schedule, permits, subs and weather it was the way it turned out.

Tonight we realized what a peaceful, stress-free day it had been. We had stressed and worked so hard for ten months leading up to this day. And then it happened. There were no more deadlines to be pushed back, no more construction decisions, no more what ifs and how longs. We actually received our occupancy permission yesterday at 2 p.m. We were pushing and stressing down to the wire. The market opened this morning at 9 a.m. and all day there was a steady stream of vendors and happy shoppers. Jill and Lauren were very excited and pleased with how the day went. It was fun. It was relaxing. It was stress-free. The weather was perfect, the sun was shining.

Ten months to the day. The reward has been worth the labor. Quarterfield Market was the last of our rebuild and it feels like we are moving forward. We lost so much but received so much more. By the way, it is a terrible way to get new buildings!!! We give God thanks and praise for how he has provided during a dark season of our life. We thank each who reached out with caring arms and gave us the encouragement to keep going. Many supported us with gifts of money. It was invaluable. The raw wound has healed and we are so happy to be at ten months to the day on this side of the tragedy.

You can follow Quarterfield Markets website or on facebook and Instagram.

Hours are:

• Sunday and Monday: Closed
• Tuesday-Friday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Saturday: 9 a,.m. – 2 p.m.