RUN FOR YOUR LIVES--LARRY THE LIZARD IS ON THE LOOSE!

If you thought that ARNOLD-THE PIG was big, wait until you see LARRY-THE LIZARD at the upcoming festivals! Towering NINE feet over the landscape, this monster commands and demands attention. Check out my festival schedule in the left hand column "WHERE THE HECK IS WALDO" to find out where I will be in your neighborhood or call or e-mail if you don't see anything near-by. This is the first of many "over-the-top" items that will be available this season for my customers. Come by to browse, shop, buy, or just chat. If it's weird or off-beat, who knows, maybe I can find it for you.
706-302-8902
larrycook351@gmail.com

AND SOMETIMES YOU HIT A SOUR NOTE........

I had no sooner bragged on how good Clay was at this festival business when it all went to hell in a handbasket. I will say though, he was in an uphill battle with that crowd in LIVE OAK, FLORIDA. Why that bunch would have had Arnold for dinner if they could have figured out how to build a fire.

Any time the people in your booth are wearing "camo" head-to-toe, huntin' boots, a REDMAN CHEWING TOBACCO hat, and juice running out both corners of their mouth--AND THIS IS JUST THE WOMEN--then folks, you are in redneck territory, and I mean deeeeep! The above "Queen" of the festival is exhibit "A". I rest my case.

The poor boy almost froze to death and it was wet too! Still he came home and asked when the next show was and could he do it for me. Just like a TIMEX, "he takes a licking and keeps on ticking". If the weather will co-operate, I will send him to one of my favorite spots, Virginia/Highlands, this coming Saturday to see if his luck changes. At least he won't be 350 miles away from home if he strikes out.

On another note, Arnold keeps having nightmares about this ordeal and I am afraid that I am going to have to send him to counseling. I have been checking around. The hold up is not that he can not get an appointment, seems no one has a couch in his size!

THE HOLIDAY MARKET AT ROSEMARY BEACH

The Saturday after Thanksgiving is always a date to which the GLIDER FAMILY looks forward. It is the HOLIDAY MARKET at Rosemary Beach, Florida. Many of the Condo owners are there enjoying the holidays and it kicks of the Christmas season in the community.
There are the traditional things like Breakfast with Santa, the lighting of the Christmas Tree (and not a wimp-ass "Holiday Tree"!), and most of all for me, the HOLIDAY MARKET.
The people are in a festive mood and always a happy mood. Who wouldn't be; on the beach-and not just any beach-the EMERALD COAST, Thanksgiving holiday, and a first class festival right outside your door?!
This year was very different from the past. Janice will no longer be able to travel with me, except in my heart, so a dream come true happens. Our youngest son, Clay, asks if I would let him do the show in my place, as I had already paid and also had an order to deliver there.
He as helped me on other shows in the area, the SEASIDE COMMUNITY YARD SALE, held twice a year, being the main ones.
And man is he good at it, if I do say so myself! And another bonus for Janice and I, he took his oldest son, Craig, with him. That made us twice as proud of Clay, for going solo for the first time, AND, taking his 10 year old son to spend time with. I am not sure I could have pulled it off with the level of expertise that he did.
Janice and I hope this is the beginning of "passing the torch"to one of our children. We have sat and talked about this for hours. For your child to want to follow in your footsteps is a most moving personal moment.
We have built-up a business of many repeat customers. It is not uncommon for someone to say, "I bought from you at the festival in Atlanta last month, for example. And the fact that they were happy and want to buy again says a lot to our personal values. To me, those comments are just as important as the actual sales. You can make money lots of ways, but you can only get customer loyalty one way-EARN IT!
Now I am looking forward to Clay returning from a show and say, "I had some customers ask about you, or Someone ask if I was the son of the guy that used to do this show". Ah, now that would be music!
larrycook351@gmail.com
706-302-8902

FLUTTERBY FESTIVAL & FALL and WINTER MARKET at WATERCOLOR---FABULOUS!!!

Here we are at Watercolor, Florida for another wonderful festival. ARNOLD, THE PIG can be seen helping Linda and Mitch Shannon of http://www.cottagecollages.com/ and myself set up.We always try to get ajoining spaces to help each other load and unload, but more importantly, to blend our merchandise to have the most interesting display of the whole show.

The FLUTTERBY FESTIVAL is a children's festival to celebrate the annual migration of the monarch butterfly as it passes through on it way to winter in central Mexico.

Watercolor is known for its ability to produce a very good festival, with entertainment and food that is unbeatable along 30-A. This is all made possible by the hard work of Hillary Fosdyck and Briane Workman of http://www.monarkevents.com/. These two women are masters at what they do. Give them a call if you having an event in the area and want it to

be the most memorable possible.

Linda is in her "mirror" phase as an artist. She had at least 10 mirrors on display and no two are ever alike, as they all are custom made one at a time from reclaimed items.

NOTE the one with piano keys!

If you ever get tired of the "boxed" motel/hotel experience, come to WATERCOLOR, FLORIDA. You will never go anywhere else.

larrycook351@gmail.com

706-302-8902

"ARNOLD" AND SCARECROW--HUGE SUCCESS AT HARVEST MARKET, ROSEMARY BEACH

Chuck Hinson of HILLTOP PRODUCTIONS has done it again folks! The 1st Annual HARVEST MARKET of Rosemary Beach, Florida was held Oct. 31st. and despite the few little showers that came and went, the show was a great success for me and Janice.Yes, I got to take Janice with me, which seldom seems to happen. We put Susie in the kennel for a well deserved rest and Janice and I took the whole weekend for ourselves. I thought it was illegal for "working people" to sleep past 8am. Guess not!

The HARVEST MARKET was held in the same location as the WEST INDES MARKET and the HOLIDAY MARKET. The number of vendors was less than at other markets: it could have been due to it being new or the unfavorable weather forecast. Either way there were enough vendors to give the crowd a good selection to browse through and buy.

Janice had us running to the ever popular

WAL-MART to buy candy to hand out to the kids

that would attend the market. She had also

planned ahead and brought her scarecrow costume

to wear.

She can be seen in the second photo posing with

guest celebrity "Arnold the Pig". Arnold as you

may recall was the lead pig on the old TV show

GREEN ACRES.

Here Arnold is talking with the Scarecrow and trying to get some of the free candy that Chuck had thoughtfully given to each vendor to be sure to have treats for the kids. That Chuck thinks of everything!

I want to stop here and personally thank Chuck for being so kind to some new vendors to the show. They needed to set-up next to me to help me unload and then re-load after the show. Chuck said, "No problem". Trust me readers, you don't get that from many promoters.

These are the 7ft.6in. TOY SOLDIERS that Janice makes. They are impressive and have great curb appeal at Christmas time. We have a few left and if you would like some, let me know as some as possible, as it takes a long time to get these guys ready to send out the door.

Joe, my son "the chief lineman" at the glider shop, got this BUNTING WHEAT PATTERN ready the day before we left to go to the show. That kid is amazing at times.

Be sure to check the left hand side of the blog page for updates on coming Rosemary Beach shows, as well as all the other shows that we do.

"Arnold the Pig" and I will be looking for you there!

As always I can be reached at
larrycook351@gmail.com
706-302-8902

1 JOKER+3 FAIRIES+1"BIG ASS" PIG= AVONDALE AUTUMN FEST

THIS IS THE RESIDENT "JOKER" GIVING THE MAGIC TWIRL BLESSING TO ONE OF MY GLIDERS! THIS IS SAID TO BRING GOOD LUCK INSIDE THE PERIMETER OF 285-LET'S HOPE SO!


THESE CUTE "LITTLE" FAIRIES JUST HAD TO KISS THE PIG FOR GOOD LUCK. THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHY YOU SHOULD LIMIT THE NUMBER OF ADULT BEVERAGES THAT CAN BE CONSUMED AT A FESTIVAL.

















AND OF COURSE, THE HIT OF THE AVONDALE AUTUMN FEST WAS ARNOLD, THE PIG. IF YOU CAN REMEMBER BACK ABOUT 40 YEARS, ARNOLD WAS THE LEADING PIG ON "GREEN ACRES". NOW THIS CHILD TV STAR HAS GROWN UP TO BECOME QUITE THE HAM!


IS IT ANY WONDER THAT I LOVE THE ATLANTA FESTIVALS MARKET? GREAT FUN, GOOD PEOPLE, FABULOUS FOOD, BEAUTIFUL FALL COLORS, AND A 4 FOOT TALL PIG TO CALL MY OWN!
larrycook351@gmail.com 706-302-8902

KNOCKERS, BEER and A 260lb.FAIRY---NOW THAT'S CANDLER PARK FESTIVAL!!!!

Although the weatherman predicted doom and gloom it was a beautiful week-end! The kind folks at the festival gave me a fantasic spot to set-up and we helpful in every way. From my stand point, if the promoter will take care of the vendor, the vendor will take care of the customer.

This was my first outing with CANDLER PARK FALL FESTIVAL and I loved it! Held the second weekend in October, this festival draws huge crowds. A vast array of artists, delightful food, and some of the best sounding bands in
Atlanta, and of course a kids zone, the FESTIVAL had something for everyone.

We were visited on Sunday by a local fairy that I see at INMAN PARK FESTIVAL in the spring. He was in the spirit of the show and was entertaining the crowd. "THANK YOU" to whoever his alter ego is, and please visit us again.

What on earth could ever top a truck that is completely a beer keg!? I am sure they have been around for a while, but this was my first sighting and I just had to laugh. For those that like a beer, this has to be an answer to a prayer.

I found an old door out back of my workshop and it just begged me to clean it up a bit and use it for a door knocker display. Well it worked out just fine and I sold many more knockers from the door than I ever do when they are just lying on the table.

SEE SOME THAT YOU LIKE? WANT A PRICE? CONTACT ME AT larrycook351@gmail.com OR 706-302-8902.

NEXT REPORT: AVONDALE AUTUMN FEST, COMING UP THE 24th AND 25th.