Dan Nichols Autumn Jubilee was a wash-out in more than one way. Saturday was perfect weather for going to a festival; eveyone was having a good time and buying products.
Sunday, on the other hand, was yucky; it was cold and damp from the ...rain the night before. Thankfully I didn't lose any products but several marketing pieces were damaged. Sigh ... . Since it was cold and damp many folks didn't venture out. From my observation the only booths with people around them were the food venders -- the more heat generated the better.
That afternoon I walked around the vendors a bit to see what/who was there and noticed that the number of vendors has almost doubled since I began showing. Apparently the park keeps adding vendors, which is to their advantage because of the vendor fee. BUT unfortunately, the guest population hasn't increased proportionately, which isn't to the vendors advantage.
Lastly, the music was louder than usual and absolutely terrible. God love the Elvis Impersonators but I'm tired of hearing the save voices singing the same songs over and over and over. If you've heard one Elvis Impersonator, you've heard them ALL.
Kudos to my fellow vendors who helped everyone get OUT of the parking lot. Saturday night's rain had turned the parking lot into a huge mud hole. Many cars/trucks got stuck and needed pushing. Even though the park patrol had put hay in strategic spots, we still got stuck. I hung around and watched as the more experienced drivers escaped the sludge. It was scary to see how fast these big trucks were driving but I now understand why. Not that it was a lesson I had been looking for but I now have a better understanding of how to drive OUT of the mud. Once you get momentium -- you haul ass and don't stop!
I must admit that hearing the "Go Mama Go" helped me accelerate to get my huge van OUT of the mud and onto the road. Whoever you are, thank you for that.
Up until Sunday I've enjoyed working festivals. But the combination of these observations has changed my mind. Bob and I are re-thinking our business approach to working festivals. I seriously doubt that I'll work them any more, especially if I have to set up my tent. It's too much work for such a limited return. Instead I'll be focusing on supporting my current dealers and building new retail accounts.
With that said, be on the lookout for a list of my new retail accounts on my blog: http://goatmilkbath.blogspot.com/
More later ... Pat
Tuesday, October 09, 2012
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
Sunday, January 08, 2012
Thank You Natalee for All You Have Done
You are truly an angel. Watching you grow is pure joy. You gave me the time to heal that I so desperately needed. There was no way I could have continued caring for our critters with this foot injury. Thank you so very much.
Into week four of the broken ankle is so much better than the first few weeks. Walking without crutches is easier than trying to maneuver with them. Now I just wobble along with Big Foot. But that's a good thing.
Most of the pain has subsided so I'm pretty much to doing what I had been doing ... except for ... just a few things. Like standing several hours a day, walking in the barn, getting up slopes is a challenge, and going up and down steps is a hoot but Big Foot protects the ankle nicely. Together we make it around the ranch pretty well. I just have to be super careful not to fall again.
To that end, we have ordered more rock so we can expand a walkway in the chicken area. No more muddy, slippery spots. However, the chickens do make that challenging because of the way they love to dig. Those chicken holes do cause problems, don't they. But they are signs of happy chickens.
Once the tractor was started, it's business as usual. But to start it I have to use my left foot to hold down the clutch. THAT smarts so I've learned how to start the tractor with my right foot (not a good idea but necessary). Whew, at first we thought the tractor was broken because it wouldn't start. Nope, it was just that I couldn't press the clutch in as far as I used to. Sigh ... figured it out though.
The family has been an incredible support (no pun) throughout this ordeal. Soon, boys, soon I'll be back to normal. Ah hummm, my definition of normal.
I've missed working with the animals, they being so much pleasure to my life. Love them all.
Natalee, thank you for caring for them so well while I was unable. They all look good thanks to your tender care.
Please keep in touch. I love watching you grow. Keep smiling and study, study, study.
Love always,
Pat
Into week four of the broken ankle is so much better than the first few weeks. Walking without crutches is easier than trying to maneuver with them. Now I just wobble along with Big Foot. But that's a good thing.
Most of the pain has subsided so I'm pretty much to doing what I had been doing ... except for ... just a few things. Like standing several hours a day, walking in the barn, getting up slopes is a challenge, and going up and down steps is a hoot but Big Foot protects the ankle nicely. Together we make it around the ranch pretty well. I just have to be super careful not to fall again.
To that end, we have ordered more rock so we can expand a walkway in the chicken area. No more muddy, slippery spots. However, the chickens do make that challenging because of the way they love to dig. Those chicken holes do cause problems, don't they. But they are signs of happy chickens.
Once the tractor was started, it's business as usual. But to start it I have to use my left foot to hold down the clutch. THAT smarts so I've learned how to start the tractor with my right foot (not a good idea but necessary). Whew, at first we thought the tractor was broken because it wouldn't start. Nope, it was just that I couldn't press the clutch in as far as I used to. Sigh ... figured it out though.
The family has been an incredible support (no pun) throughout this ordeal. Soon, boys, soon I'll be back to normal. Ah hummm, my definition of normal.
I've missed working with the animals, they being so much pleasure to my life. Love them all.
Natalee, thank you for caring for them so well while I was unable. They all look good thanks to your tender care.
Please keep in touch. I love watching you grow. Keep smiling and study, study, study.
Love always,
Pat
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