THREE CALCULATORS AND A REAM OF PAPER LATER.....

WELL IT'S OFFICIAL, THE HIGHLAND/AMSTERDAM MARKET SALES FAR EXCEED ANY OF THE CURRENT VIRGINIA/HIGHLAND RECEIPTS. I ONLY MENTION THIS TO PREFACE THE FACT THAT I MIS-JUDGED THE LOCATION. BY COMPARISON VA/HI IS MORE OPEN AND AIRY IN MY OPINION. LOTS OF FOOT TRAFFIC. APPARENTLY THAT FOOT TRAFFIC JUST KEPT ON WALKING! THE CROWD WAS SMALLER (AT AMSTERDAM), HOWEVER THERE IS GREAT PARKING OPPORTUNITIES BEHIND THE POST OFFICE AND SHOPS; NOT SO AT THE OTHER LOCATION.
I AM SCHEDULED TO GO BACK NEXT WEEKEND, BUT WITH "SUMMER-FEST" JUST DOWN THE STREET ON VIRGINIA AVE., AND THE CROWDS OF PEOPLE THAT IT BRINGS IN, I MIGHT NOT HAVE ENOUGH INVENTORY. DANG, THAT WOULD BE A BUMMER. OH WELL, I MUST GET OUT BACK OF THE ENCHANTED COTTAGE AND SCARE UP SO MORE FABULOUS VINTAGE PORCH FURNITURE. MY TRUSTY KNAVE, JANICE, HAS BEEN PAINTING HER HEAD OFF, TRYING TO KEEP AHEAD OF THE DEMANDS OF THE SPRING SEASON. I JUST MAY GIVE HER A DAY OFF IN AUGUST.
NOTE: THOSE OF YOU THAT KNOW JANICE, KNOW THAT THE LAST PARAGRAPH WAS TOTAL B.S. ON MY PART.
larrycook351@yahoo.com 706-302-8902

"I WAS JUST DRIVING DOWN THE STREET......."

I LOOKED AROUND AND THIS YOUNG LADY IN THE PICTURE WAS ENTERING MY BOOTH. "I WAS JUST DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND I SAW THESE CHAIRS!" MAN WAS SEE EXCITED! SHE AND HER FRIEND WERE ON THEIR WAY TO BREAKFAST, BUT SHE COULDN"T WAIT.
WELL AS YOU CAN TELL BY THE LOOK ON HER FACE, TERESA HAD HER OWN "GLIDER STORY" FROM BACK HOME IN MISSOURI. NOW THAT SHE HAS RELOCATED TO ATLANTA, THIS WILL HELP HER STAY GROUNDED TO HER GIRLHOOD PAST BACK HOME. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! ALTHOUGH THIS IS PRETTY MUCH THE TYPICAL REACTION OF PEOPLE WHO REMEMBER THIS ERA, I NEVER GET TIRED OF THE LOOK, OR THE PERSONAL STORIES AND MEMORIES THAT THIS FURNITURE BRINGS BACK. IF I WERE A "MUSHY" GUY, I WOULD SHED A TEAR, BUT GLIDERMEN DON'T CRY. larrycook351@yahoo.com 706-302-8902

IF THE RAIN EVER DOES STOP......

IF THERE IS AN UPSIDE TO THE TORRENTS OF RAIN THAT SEEM TO BEFALL US EVERY WEEKEND, IT IS THAT I HAVE TONS OF INVENTORY. NO MONEY, JUST INVENTORY. BUT BEING A CHILD OF THE '60's, ALFRED E. NEWMAN (MAD MAGAZINE) WAS MY HERO--WHAT? ME WORRY! A GOOD MOTTO TO LIVE BY. THERE AIN'T NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT THE WEATHER EXCEPT STAY DRY OR GET WET. I CHOOSE TO STAY DRY. IT IS PROBABLY A BLESSING IN DISGUISE. WHEN DRY WEATHER DOES SET IN, THERE WON'T BE TIME TO PREP ALL THE CHAIRS AND GLIDERS THAT ARE SURE TO BE IN DEMAND AS HAS BEEN THE CASE IN THE PAST. IF YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR A CERTAIN PATTERN OR STYLE, CALL OR E-MAIL, AS RARE ONES GO FAST.
TO PROVE MY POINT, I JUST PICKED UP A STAR-BURST 3 SEATER GLIDER SATURDAY AND RECEIVED AN E-MAIL INQUIRING ABOUT THAT SAME PATTERN MONDAY. THAT GUY LIVES IN RALEIGH, NC. AND HAS ALREADY CLAIMED 1st DIBS ON IT WHEN I GET IT RESTORED. HE SAID HE HAD BEEN SEARCHING FOR A LONG TIME AND JUST GOT LUCKY FINDING ME. LUCK OR KARMA, YOU BE THE JUDGE.

I ALSO WENT TO VIRGINIA/HIGHLANDS SATURDAY AND HAD ALL THE MAKINGS OF HAVING ANOTHER WONDERFUL SHOW THERE WHEN THE RAIN GODS UNLEASHED A FLOOD THAT HADN'T BEEN SEEN SINCE NOAH! NOTHING SAYS COMMITMENT LIKE LOADING IN ANKLE DEEP WATER, IN A BLINDING RAIN. NOT AS MUCH FUN A BEING A POLITICIAN, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIE ABOUT IT.
SO MUCH FOR CRYING, BETTER TIMES ARE A COMIN'. SCHOOL WILL BE OUT FOR THE SUMMER THIS FRIDAY AND POSSIBILITIES FOR TRAVEL ARE JUST BEING PLANNED. STAY POSTED FOR MY SEMI-INTERESTING TRAVEL BLOGS.


SEEN HERE ARE MY TWO LATEST CREATIONS IN CHAIRS: SWEET LEMONADE AND PUMKIN PIE.larrycook351@yahoo.com. 706-320-8902

WEST INDES MARKET-ROSEMARY BEACH, FLA.

WHILE THE POOR SOULS AT SCOTT'S WERE STRUGGLING WITH THE WEATHER, LOW TURN-OUT, AND THE SORRIEST BUNCH OF FLEA-MARKET REJECTS, I WAS BARELY MAKING ENDS MEET (HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TO TOUCH THE ENDS OF A HUNDRED DOLLAR BILL WHEN IT IS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE ROLL?)

ANYWAY, THE FLORIDA SUN WAS OUT AND SHINING, THE GULF BREEZE WAS BLOWING, AND I WAS B.S.ing MY HEAD OFF. IT SEEMS SHAME WHEN I LIVE ONLY 48 MILES FROM THE ATLANTA ANTIQUE MARKET BUT HAVE TO DRIVE 300 MILES TO MAKE A DESCENT PAY-DAY.

THE WEST INDES MARKET AT ROSEMARY BEACH IS CONDUCTED THE SECOND WEEKEND MAY, JUNE, JULY, AND AUGUST. THE OPENING SHOW OF THE SEASON IS ALWAYS THE BEST. SUNDAY, MAY 10 th, BEING MOTHER'S DAY, I SOLD TWO GLIDERS AS MOTHER'S DAY GIFTS AND RECEIVED ORDERS FOR TWO MORE. BEATS THE HELL OUT OF $19.99 A DOZEN FOR ROSES, AT LEAST ON MY END. I LOVE IT WHEN A GUY REALLY KNOWS HOW TO APPRECIATE THE MOTHER OF HIS CHILDREN BY GIVING HER A GLIDER. NOTHING SAYS TRUE LOVE IN MY BOOK LIKE AN ATLANTA STOVE WORKS 3SEATER ANY COLOR.

ANY CLUELESS HUSBAND/SON/ETC. OUT THERE IN BLOG LAND THAT IS IN THE DOG HOUSE FOR GIVING A DUMB, POORLY THOUGHT OUT GIFT, OR WORSE NO GIFT AT ALL, FEAR NOT, I CAN HELP. E-MAIL ME AND I CAN SEE THAT YOU GET BACK INDOORS IN NO TIME, AT LEAST FOR THIS OFFENSE.

AND GIRLS, IF YOU WERE DEPRIVED, NEGLECTED, OR GOT THE SAME LAME-ASS TRINKET AS USUAL, BEFORE YOU BEAT HIM INTO A STATE OF UNCONSCIOUSNESS, DRAG HIM OVER HERE TO THE SCREEN AND GIVE HIM ONE LAST CHANCE TO REDEEM HIMSELF. YES, I AM WILLING TO HELP. ON BEHALF OF MEN EVERYWHERE, BY-GOD, I WILL RIGHT THOSE UNSPEAKABLE WRONGS......SORRY, FOR A MOMENT I THOUGHT I WAS RUNNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE AGAIN. QUICK GUYS, BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE, LET ME HELP YOU!

larrycook351@yahoo.com 706-302-8902

AND YES, ONCE AGAIN THAT PIECE OF S... CAMERA LET ME DOWN--NO PHOTOS OF THE MARKET, CROWDS, BIKINIS--NOTHING DAMMIT. I AM WORKING UP THE COURAGE TO ASK THE ONE IN CHARGE FOR A NEW CAMERA. WISH ME LUCK!

FREE AT LAST...FREE AT LAST.. THANK GOD ALMMIGHTY WE IS FREE AT LAST

BIG DECISION THIS WEEK! DO WE BITE THE BULLET AND GIVE UP SCOTT'S OR DO WE JUST KEEP MUTTLING ALONG, LOOSING OUR BUTTS AND WASTING OUR TIME ( YOU CAN PROBABLY SEE WHERE THIS IS GOING).
WELL I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT I AM SPITTIN' GUN POWDER AND LEAD! I AM LOOKING AROUND TO FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO FILL OUR CALENDARS. IT WON'T BE HARD. I COULD BREAK DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH MY TRUCK LOADED AND MAKE MORE MONEY THAN I HAVE BEEN MAKING AT SCOTT'S.
AS FOR MY LOYAL CUSTOMERS, E-MAIL ME AND I WILL SEE THAT YOU DON'T GO LACKING.
I WILL BE POSTING FESTIVAL DATES SHORTLY TO LET YOU KNOW WHERE TO FIND ME. TRUST ME, THERE ARE NEW HORIZONS TO BE EXPLORED! COME JOIN ME ON MY QUEST TO CONQUER THAT GREAT UNKNOWN.......WAIT A MINUTE.......GOOD GOD I HAVE GOT TO LAY OFF THAT COUGH SYRUP EARLY IN THE MORNING.larrycook351@yahoo.com. 706-302-8902

2009 ISLE OF 8 FLAGS SHRIMP FESTIVAL

THE 2009 SHRIMP FESTIVAL IS HISTORY. THE CROWDS CAME, THEY BOUGHT, THEY LEFT, HO-HUM. THIS MAKING MONEY BUSINESS IS BECOMING MONOTONOUS (BORING FOR YOU PEOPLE IN ALPHARETTA). SOMEHOW I WILL MUTTLE THROUGH. I AM A SURVIVOR. SOMEONE HAS TO KEEP THE CUSTOMERS HAPPY AND IN LINE. I HATE TO COMPLAIN, IT'S JUST HANDLING ALL THAT DIRTY MONEY WITH SWINE FLU AROUND AND ALL. THANK GOD I HAD JANICE TO COUNT IT FOR ME! AS YOU HAVE MY NOW NOTICED--NO PICTURES. I GUESS I AM GOING TO HAVE TO HAUL MY CHEAP-ASS SELF TO THE STORE AND BUY ONE.

NOW, WITH ALL THAT B.S. OUT OF THE WAY, THE SHRIMP FESTIVAL WAS TRULY GREAT! THE CROWD SEEMED DOWN A LITTLE, BUT THE MOOD WAS FESTIVE. NOTHING STARTS THE SPRING ROAD-TRIP SEASON OFF ANY BETTER THAN A SUCCESSFUL SHOW. IF YOU WERE IN THE AREA AND DID NOT COME YOU MISSED THE FINEST COLLECTION OF FOOD, ART, FOOD, ANTIQUES, FOOD, STUFF, FOOD, ENTERTAINMENT, AND DID I MENTION FOOD, ANYWHERE. GO AHEAD AND PROGRAM IT INTO WHATEVER DEVISE YOU USE (CELL PHONE, BLACKBERRY, PC) FOR NEXT YEAR, OR SIMPLY FOLLOW MY BLOG FOR FESTIVAL UPDATES. NOW, BACK TO COUNTING. larrycook351@yahoo.com 706-302-8902