Well, Hello There!

I'm back!  It seems like I missed a ton of stuff while I was away, so I know I'm going to spend the next few days catching up on all of your news!  Yeay!  I'm looking forward to it.

I thought I'd fill you in on how the Harvest Festival went on Saturday, since I spent weeks prepping for it.  Overall, it went well.  The truth is, most people weren't really buying--anything.  Those we saw walk past us had food and nothing else.  However, those who did buy, came to us for the most part.  We did pretty well.  I am pleased.  In a crowd that wasn't really spending, surrounded by almost entirely commercial items, we were pretty good.  Want some pictures?  I know I do!

First, I will start with my helpers.  My son, my daughter, and my daughter's bestest bestest bestest friend.  They are like peas in a pod, those two.  My son was very helpful all day long.  My daughter and her friend were most helpful when they went away.  :)  He he.  10 year old girls.  What are you going to do? 

Seriously, though, they were troopers.  We got there at 7 in the morning to set up until 9.  We didn't take down until after 3.  It was a long day, and they were great.  My son wanted to do the money, and he did, for most of the day.  When he wasn't doing that, he was handing out business cards to everyone who went past.  He did a good job.

This is the produce table, which was the front table.  We didn't have much, as it's gotten really cold here at night, and everything is slowing down, but we did sell quite a bit.  We had tomatoes, peppers and butternut squash.  We also had our eggs, which went well. 

In front of that, we had our informational sign, which told all about what we do.  I thought it looked pretty good.

 

Then on one side, we had the rockstar of the day, Philip Johnny Bob.  I'd like to say we educated the town about Angora rabbits on Saturday.  Certainly a million people seemed to come by and scritch him and ooh and aah. 

 

He is certainly a handsome devil, and very personable.  Kids and adults alike wanted to see him.

He was part of a contest we held.  Not too much participation there, but that's ok.  Certainly he enjoyed all of the attention no matter what.  He was very tired at the end of the day.

 

On the other table, which was open to the crowd, we had the "cheater soaps"--melt and pour.  I made quite a few, thinking they were cheap, which they were, and they appealed to kids, so they would sell, and they really didn't.  You just can't tell what a crowd wants, right?

Above them were the garden soaps--super scrubby.  These went moderately well.

Overall, though, the ones that sold were the cold process-thank goodness.

I got lots of comments that they were too pretty to use, and we sold plenty. 

I also got 4 invitations to various craft fairs, so that's good.

Overall, a good day.  Our neighbors for the day were Pampered Chef, Avon, the local phone company, a booth with store items (like signs and clocks), a booth with a bunch of shirts (premade, not handmade), cheap toys (not handmade) and some other commercial items.  There were very few handmade items overall.  I wonder where all the crafters are?  Back when I was a kid, our school district used to hold a craft fair every year in November.  It was HUGE, and it was almost entirely handmade.  After I was first married, there was a similar school district that did the same.  Now if I go to a craft fair, it's full of people reselling mass-made crafts.  It's so sad.  As a people, we no longer seem to DO anything.  So, we are making our lives easier with all this technology for what?  To free up our time to watch TV?

I don't get it. 

Anyway, getting off my soapbox, man, was I tired when it was over!  I was still tired yesterday.  Today I go out into the garden to pick and then clean up, because things are done, and it needs a good cleaning.

I hope you all had a great weekend!  Happy Monday!