End of the Indoor Craft Show Season

 I'm happy...no, delighted to report that this was a spectacular season for LeafLady Quilts! The Brewer show the weekend after Thanksgiving was a success, again despite reduced attendance. And the Holiday show in Portland last weekend was also a success! I realize now I need to concentrate on making placemats as I had trouble keeping up with demand this year. And I sold 2 lap quilts after not selling one for 3 years. Just so grateful for the sales and the people who came out. (And that the weather cooperated!)

 And now I'm knee-deep in cookie baking and holiday preparations. Two of 5 kinds baked yesterday, sugar cookies mixed up today but a nap took me away from baking them this afternoon. I think I'm still catching up on the sleep I lost with all those early morning trips to shows and the 4 round trips to Portland this past week. 

 We had our first snowfall this week and I spent it inside until I had to clear the driveway to get out Thursday. Today it's been freezing rain and is only now warming up to be just rain. It's supposed to be 50 degrees tonight which will make the white disappear. But it will reappear at a future date, I'm sure.

Start of the Indoor Craft Show Season

    Did my first indoor show since COVID came to town this past weekend. People were well-behaved, many were masked (this was in Augusta where it's still optional) but the numbers of attendees were down both days. Still, I'm happy to report this was a group in the mood to buy! I had the best show I've had in many years. So a hearty THANK YOU to all who came and purchased treasures from me.

    This coming weekend, the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving, I will be at a show in Brewer. This is my second attempt to crack the Bangor area market so it's still an experiment. I felt I should do this show to support the United Maine Craftsmen organization. I have been a member since 2016 and this past August was elected vice president. It's great group of people and we are doing our best to keep the doors open at show venues around the state. We've had to make some adjustments due to the pandemic, the weather, construction at venues, etc. but we're a diverse and resourceful group, determined to do what is right for our members. 

                                            Booth at Augusta

    Anyway, the show this weekend requires me to rise at 4 am to be on the road by 5 to get to Brewer by 6:15, the start of set-up time. I need all 3+ hours these days to get my booth in order and as this is a new venue, I'm not sure how easy load in will be - considerations are always 1) stairs?; 2) how far I am from the door; 3) how far away from the door do I need to park? 4) how to fit my booth in the space allotted and not encroach on my neighbors. (My 2 favorite venues are the USM show in Gorham where I can drive right into the fieldhouse and park 3 feet from my space and the Augusta Civic Center where they usually have large flatbed hand trucks available for unloading, which means only 2-3 trips from the parking lot instead of 10-12 when I have to hand carry everything.) I'm doing a B & B exchange with our president - She stayed with us this past Saturday and has invited me to stay with her on Friday so it's only one trip up and back for me instead of 2. A win win!

    Watching a report on CNN about how the owner of TY Inc. has chartered a plane to bring Beanie Babies over from (China?) so we will have our pick of those little critters this holiday season. Takes me back to my days working at Mr. Paperback in the Shaw's Plaza in Waterville at the height of the BB craze. The tricks and lies people used to get their hands on the latest releases still amaze me. I divested myself of most of my few acquisitions years ago - donated to charity, given away, yard sale. No need to keep those any more. I never thought I'd get rich but I'm sure there are still people who think that way. Sigh.

Happy Halloween! Boo!

 Back from Roch-cha-cha. Reunion was fun. It's a testament to the SO's classmates that I have now attended 2 of their reunions while attending only 1 of my own! There are a great group of people and always good to see them. Happy to report the quilt shop came through and I purchased all 4 of the fabrics I wanted. Disappointed by the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, however. They seem to have fallen prey to the GenX intern model of display development so things did not flow quite as I had hoped. And they severely downsized the Women in Baseball exhibit and shoved it into a back corner. A real disappointment. 

   I finished a special order and shipped it off last week. And started 2 new wall wall hangings perfect for the holidays. Two weeks from today I'll be at the second day of the first inside show of my season. I'll be the one wearing a mask, even though I'm fully vaccinated plus boosterized as of last Sunday.

WARNING! OLD PERSON RANTS BELOW!

 We attended our first concert in months (years?) last night. We like to support our local venue when we can and this was only their second affair since COVID shut them down last year. It was a band from Boston that I had heard of but not heard and they were fine musicians and somewhat entertaining. Unfortunately, the experience was negatively impacted by some inconsiderate attendees who 1) stood at the side of the dance floor which placed them squarely in front of people seated at tables; 2) same people them relocated to the only narrow walkway to the restrooms; and 3) a different group at the back of the room who talked loudly over the final song of the first set, which was the Beatles Blackbird, done acoustically (as it should be) by the lead singer. I was about ready to get up and go give them my best Librarian SHUSH but thought better of it, given the times we are in. I just wonder why these people think it is okay to be so inconsiderate of their fellow concert-goers and, in the last case, the artist? Was it the alcohol? Was it a sense of entitlement? I'm stymied.

    And I witnessed something I've never seen in person but have seen evidence of on the Internet - one of the inconsiderate floor parkers seemed to think it was their right as a "fan" of the band to cozy up to the stage during the intermission, snag the set list from the leader singer's space and capture it on her phone. I guess that's what passes for fandom these days, but I just don't get it. 

 

October update

A few days after the Flaherty Show, we received word that the venue for Fall Festival, Smiling Hill Farm, had decided they were not willing to host a crowd the size of ours in less than 4 weeks time. Connie and Matt, the directors for Fall Festival, scurried around, chasing all kinds of suggestions and found a marvelous replacement venue, the Chick fields by the Gorham municipal offices. Flat, dry (despite a Friday of rain) and easy in and out. Most customers found us there and it was a sunny, breezy nice day. 

I had a customer early on who purchased a runner, then left it at another vendor's booth. Connie returned it to me and with a bit of Internet sleuthing (Thank you for all those library skills I gained in 16+ year!) I was able to connect with the customer, obtain her mailing address and return her runner that she thought was gone forever. Another satisfied customer! 

I've updated my website to add more holiday items and updated the inventory and really don't have much to add for the next show, the Augusta Arts & Crafts. An inside show again! Should be an adventure! And I'm looking forward to not having to deal with the elements! 

Off to Rochester this week for a high school reunion, postponed from 2020. David has a great group of friends who still reside in the area and it's always fun to catch up with them. And we're doing some fun stuff, too - a trip to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. We haven't been in probably 30 years or so. About time to catch up with our respective favorite teams. I want to see all that Giants memorabilia! And there's a quilt shop in Rochester that I discovered on our last trip that has several fabrics I can't find here anymore listed on their website, so I'm hoping they are in stock for me to purchase. 

A Week Later & the Mud is Gone!

 So, last week's show at the hay field by Flaherty Farm in Scarborough was "interesting". I arrived on Thursday morning to assist in marking spaces and setting up parking. The tent rental people were just unloading and already had their box truck mired in the field. (It started raining Wednesday night and was still raining at this point, after a rainy July.) We measured off the parking and started staking and roping it when we realized the tent guys had driven their 4WD pickup to the back part of the field and were stuck back there. Yikes! The family member who lives next to the field tried to assist but their insurance would not allow him to grab a tractor to pull anyone out. They eventually had co-workers and the boss show up to help them finish and to assist in pushing the box truck out after several tries. The pickup was still in the field when we all left on Sunday. We finished the parking area and moved on to the tent that was set up. I broke for a little lunch and was pretty wet by then - from the thigh down to the top of my Bean Boots. I was thoroughly soaked from perspiration under my rain jacket and pretty wiped out. I wanted to stay and finish but the reinforcements had arrived by then so I took off and retreated to home to await the decision on the Friday day one of the show, which was eventually cancelled. Set up was pushed back until 6 am Saturday, not ideal but we all made it work...well, those of us who didn't woos out! Yes, it was muddy but the family made all kinds of hay available to soak up the excess moisture. Yes, it was hot and humid. Yes, there were not as many customers as in previous years. But we had fun seeing people again and most were respectful of distances and some even wore masks. Sunday was even better - drier, a tad cooler to start then much cooler when the sea breeze kicked in around noon. Not as many customers but my numbers were about the same both days so it was all good. But I'll bet the people who got stuck in the parking area weren't thinking it was all good, including the tow truck driver. (That was operator error as he forgot/didn't know he had to manually lock his front hubs!) 

    Spending the night down there with Rachel and Connie made all the difference in the world even with a less than restful sleep. But I didn't have to get up at dark thirty and leave to be there for the Annual meeting at 8 so it was good. In the continuing story of the stuck vehicles, the elderly security fellow did not follow Rachel's instructions and drove his car to the back and ended up stuck. (He was later pushed out by some sympathetic vendors.) And when it was all over, Connie and Matt were so kind to help me schlep my stuff across the field to my car. I opted not to follow the lead of those who ignored the direction not to drive across the mucky areas because that's who I am. (I was sure one board member was going to get stuck but she lucked out.)

    And I made it home and put my Saturday footwear in the sink to soak - but they were beyond salvation, mostly due to the smell. The Tevas I wore on Sunday didn't take as heavy a hit and area fine after a washing. Things are back in their appointed storage locations and I have plans of what to make next. And the stabilizer bars a purchased for my canopy work great for that purpose and for displaying my runners. I just need to put the pool noodles on the second one and I'll be windproof!

Highway Adventures

 I generally try to avoid the interstate, even though I live a mere half mile from it. Turn left out of my driveway, travel that half mile and jump right on!) I'm a backroads kind of person. But there are times I find the interstate is the most efficient way to get from point A to point B. Today point A was home and point B was Scarborough so I hit 95 and headed South. I made it to West Gardiner before anyone did anything truly remarkable - the driver of a petroleum tanker (one of those BIG ones!) passed me then cut back in front of me so quickly I had to brake heard to avoid being swept off onto the berm. A few choice words his way and he was down the road without a thought for me. When I left Scarborough this afternoon, I was about to get on the Turnpike and approaching the toll barrier a Telsa (with Mass. plates) cut in front of me (again too close for comfort) and ran through the EZPass lane ahead of me. As I got to the barrier I could see the message his passage elicited - something to the effect that he needed to contact the Customer Service center. I'm guessing he didn't have a transponder and will never pay a toll. 

And I saw a news story this past week that because of the shortage of truck drivers the people in charge are thinking of allowing 18 and 19 year olds to get commercial licenses to drive the big rigs. I have strong feelings about that idea. I'm not at all sure that most 18 or 19 year olds are mature enough to handle that driving assignment. I've never driven anything larger than a full size van but I'm confident that driving a big rig takes more skill than I possess and likely more decision-making ability than most 18 or 19 year olds possess.

 Still working on new items for the Flaherty show. I have new wall hangings completed, new pins (actually completed a couple of months ago but misplaced until now), and I have 3 runners and 2 sets of placemats ready for layering and quilting. My creative time and energy have been divided between my business and the business of running the United Maine Craftsmen organization. Our administrator position was a victim of the pandemic and it has fallen to the Board of Directors to carry on. I am on the Membership and Jury committee and we have been busy with outreach to former members, responding to inquiries from potential members, and keeping records straight. At times it's an all-consuming task but when I'm feeling overwhelmed I put it away and retreat to the studio. We are holding elections this year at Flaherty and I have agreed to run for vice president. We'll see how that works out!

I'm currently watching CNN and their coverage of that gazillionaire's space trip. I'm not sure how I feel about this. One the one hand, yes, science is great but on the other, I have a hard time believing that common folk like me will ever be able to afford these trips. And this particular person's idea of moving manufacturing to outer space to save the earth's atmosphere has me wondering what happens if we pollute space like we've polluted this planet? Won't that change the entire deal?

First Show in the Record Books

 So the first post-pandemic show is in the history book. The new canopy performed like the professional it was billed to be, even in some stiff breezes on Sunday. Of course, we had staked it down through the footpads and added an extra outrigger stake on each corner. There was some swaying but nothing to be alarmed about. Still, I have ordered some stabilizer bars for added security and in hopes they can function as additional display space and eliminate the need for the large, unwieldy black A-frame display I've been using for runners. Fingers crossed on that! I also think I have a solution for the drooping lap quilt display in the canopy - just need to go get the materials and have D. do a bit of woodworking to make it functional.

 The crowds were fairly well-behaved although at one point I had far too many people in my booth for my comfort. Fortunately they dispersed quickly. A few adults and children wearing masks but I knw there were unvaccinated children without, just by their ages. Sales were strong on Saturday -lots of hangings! Not so much on Sunday but that's the norm. Still, it was worth the trips. And I'm really looking forward to the Flaherty Show in about a month. I'm working on new hangings and will do more balsam trivets and pins and a few runners and placemats before. I'll have 2 solid days with no other responsibilities next week when D. is off to play golf in NH. 

 The hot weather that moved in over last weekend finally left on Thursday, leaving some destruction in Belgrade Lakes. Mostly trees down but apparently a real mess. It's been cool and rainy since but today is clear. Great sleeping weather and I've been playing catch up. 

 The SDNY finally yielded indictments to the Trump organization and its CFO this week. All relating to payroll tax fraud. These are not free perks, you jerks! They are taxable income and the fact that there is a second "smoking" spreadsheet only supports that. And having your leader claiming ignorance about the laws in a campaign-style rally over the weekend does not help the case.

 And the condo that partially collapsed in FL is now completely collapsed in a control demo last night. Makes it safer for the search and rescue forces and the neighborhood. There was some concern about pets who might have been left behind but they apparently scanned with thermal imaging and found nothing. Still over 120 missing souls. And another building evacuated as dangerous after inspection.

 Racing is marking time until the Saratoga and DelMar meets begin in a couple of weeks. Not surprised by the news that Charlatan, one of Baffert's poster horses, has been retired. And several of his have been transferred to other trainers and begun racing again. The CHRB did not do the sport any favors by timing their meetings and decisions to benefit him. 

 

 Just a month until my first show. Today is the day Maine has essentially dropped their mask mandate with a few exceptions. My grocery store did not initially go along but did announce this morning that they were no longer requiring masks. My trip there an hour ago showed about 50% masks v. no mask in both customers and employees. All good as far as I'm concerned.

 We're a week+ out from the final leg of the Triple Crown and there will be no tri-corner trophy awarded this year. The afore-mentioned Baffert won the Derby and a week later announced that the horse (Medina Spirit) had tested positive for betamethasone, which is not allowed in any amount in Kentucky. At first he completely denied knowing how this came to be, then the next day allowed that the vet had prescribed a cream that contained the substance for a skin rash on MS. Still playing the victim, he called it "Cancel Culture", said people hated him because he was successful, etc. Churchill Downs immediately suspended his privileges to enter races and NYRA (in charge of Belmont) has done the same, the ban extending to all NYRA tracks, including Saratoga. This is all while we await the results of the split sample test, which could take months apparently. Pimlico, on the other hand, came to some legal agreement with Baffert that allowed him to run in the Preakness, where MS ran 3rd behind Rombauer and Midnight Bourbon. Baffert's other horse, Concert Tour, ran 9th out of 10. So it will be an interesting but not compelling Belmont Stakes. I'm hoping Brooklyn Strong who had a horrible trip in the Derby and passed on the Preakness will relish "Big Sandy"!

 And this past weekend it was Old Guys Rule as Phil Mickelson won the PGA Championship at 50. He's just a kid! Seriously, congratulations and it was just the story that golf needed as it returns to full out galleries. 

 In the meantime, my gardens are in need of rain and a good grooming. Perhaps later today for the grooming. 

 And, a bit of political ranting....I'm deeply offended that the les-than-sane members of the GOP in Congress seem to have taken a page from the orange man's playbook and are spouting all kinds of lies, thinking we'll believe them. As Joe says..."Come on, man!"

 Update on the quilting business and shows: I've received my first acceptance, for the Arts in the Park show in Belfast the last weekend in June. This is a great show, wonderful location. I did it 2 years ago but had to forego the second day when my canopy got trashed by a monster thunderstorm late Saturday afternoon. Needless to say, within 5 minutes of receiving my acceptance this year I was on the Internet ordering my new canopy. And this one will be tied down six ways from Sunday when i leave for the night on Saturday, even if there's no chance of a storm! 

 In the meantime, I've started ramping up production for this year. I had to break to create a special order for a good customer but that will be finished today and in the mail tomorrow. And I'm still gathering fabrics for a baby quilt for a friend's grandchild. But between the vaccine and just general good feelings, I'm hopeful for this year's show season. I added a show in Bangor, but the venue is still TBD as the Cross Center apparently booked another event for "our" weekend. (That's one of the difficulties when dealing with a large venue that has had their management outsourced...there's little carry-over or institutional memory to be found.) But I'm certain it will work out. And the Holiday show appears to be headed for a venue change as well since USM hasn't lifted their restrictions on outside groups' activities (and they have broken ground on their huge construction project that will eliminate pretty much all parking for the gym). But Linda has worked with the people at the Portland Expo and we think that will be a lovely replacement venue and the change might even become permanent.

 Second vaccine will be in my arm on Thursday morning. And 14 days later I will be fully vaccinated. I have to say that the experience for the first one was so very positive. MGMC really stepped up to the plate after their shaky start and the process could not have been easier. 45 minutes tops and that was only because for some reason they did not have all my information in their system. I anticipate it being even faster on Thursday.

 D. has had his job at the Arts Academy change yet again. He's back to driving only, 5 days a week, 2 runs each day to Lewiston. At least he gets to drive the van and not a bus and they let him bring it home so he can leave from here in a warm car each day. (It's a real trade off as he cleans it at least once a week.)  He's said this will be his last semester and I don't blame him. Leaving at 6 am each day and making that round trip 2 times a day is a grind. They will surely miss him when he's gone.

 While I've been so happy to see people flocking to Saddleback and all reports are that the crowds have continued to come, I also see some posts on FB that make me glad I won't be there as much. I think they have attracted some unfortunate attention that has resulted in some less than desirable behavior...i.e. someone hiked the uphill access trail and "postholed" it up pretty good last week. Reports of a fight at the top of the South Branch Quad yesterday. Lots of self-promoting posts of bad behavior in general. Maybe I'm just too old to live that life now but I just don't have the patience for those who don't respect the hard work and time and money that has gone into bringing that area back. I see lots of posts from first-timers whose ski history includes areas where some of that bad behavior has been excused. I hope that management takes a firm stand against the ones who decide the rules are not meant for them.

 Horse racing seems to have returned to their previous Triple Crown schedule so Derby preps are in full swing. Baffert is loaded like never before which is good because the attrition in his barn has already started with yesterday's announcement that Life Is Good is out with some sort of hind end injury. Other than that, the rest of the contenders are spread out over a wide variety of trainers. Neither Matz nor Motion have a horse in the hunt, but there are several Union Rags offspring to root for. I have to think Phyllis is up there smiling down at the success he's had as a sire. 

     Happy to report the quest for COVID vaccine has finally ended. I was notified by my health network on 2/4 and missed their call on the 8th. Back and forth I went, between Facebook and phone numbers and FINALLY today got a call back and got registered for first thing tomorrow morning for the first of 2 Moderna shots. And they have already scheduled my 2nd shot for next month. I can leave the house now and not worry about missing calls (because they never left a message!). I have to say, my network has not been especially forthcoming with information about what their procedure is for scheduling - what happens if you miss their call? Do you go to the end of the line? Do they call you every day? (Obviously not!) Do they always call from a number that Caller IDs as them or are they using cell phones? (I know one person in another state who received a call about his second appointment from a number that IDed as Spam Risk!!!!) 

    All good questions but ones I don't need the answer to now. 

    It appears as if maybe, just maybe, we might be able to participate in craft shows this year. The first 3 on my projected schedule are all outside. The first one has already reduced the number of booths to half their usual amount. Still waiting on that one to see if I make the cut. I will need a new canopy for that but have tucked away some stimulus $$$ for that expense. The next 2 are both United Maine Craftsmen shows so I have little chance of not getting a spot. Then comes the 2 indoor shows. I might add a third, depending on how it all goes. It would be in the Bangor area, a location I've had little exposure in, save the highly-touted UMaine Alumni show that was probably my least successful show ever. I am working slowly on creating new inventory. For someone who is retired, it seems I can find plenty to take me away from the sewing machine some days.

    This past weekend we went to Rangeley for a few days. We drove up Thursday afternoon, checked into the Country Club Inn, caught up with Margie, and had a lackluster dinner at the Red Onion as every other place had too long a wait. (Vacation week.) Went skiing on Friday - lovely day, not too cold. Saddleback was crowded but mostly everyone behaved themselves with masks and distancing. I realized quickly that I was not in condition to last the day, even in the South Branch area. A couple of runs, a rest, lunch and one more. Then I discovered that my right ski boot had developed a crack. Imagine that! My 20 year old ski boot was failing! Earlier in the Fall I had tried to get my 20 year old skis tuned and the bindings checked and was told they were obsolete. Hmm, I'm sensing a pattern here. With great sadness and regret, I announce I have given up downhill skiing. The boots will go in the trash or maybe I'll use them as planters in the spring. The skis I might turn into some sort of furniture. I don't know. For now they will reside in their place in the basement along with the replaced cross-country skis from the last decade. So, back to the weekend - We had dinner at the Inn on Friday - salmon for D. and shrimp for me. Steve is such a good chef! All wonderful! Saturday we drove over to Kingfield to check out the Beer Shed, which was a disappointment. It's just a beer store, not a tasting room. Had dinner at a new place in Oquossoc, the Portage Tap House. Pizza was good, D. chicken sandwich was nothing special. Place was loud and crowded with snowmobilers. Eat and run! Sunday was supposed to be another ski day but I opted out and so did D. when he saw the temp - 4 degrees! So we came home to a happy cat and our own beds. 

I'm happy I made good on my promise to ski Saddleback again if they came back and they are back in a big big way. It's good to see. I could see myself doing the nordic trails down the mountain while D. downhills. That would be a good day. But not until this COVID thing is gone. It's just too much work now.