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Scarecrow Festival

10/7/2013

1 Comment

 
PicturePatches...32" x 43 1/2"
Wow, what a weekend.  I’ve never seen that many people in Mahone Bay!  People coming from all over Nova Scotia and neighbouring provinces to see our scarecrow display, antiques and planned festivities.  
 
It was like an invasion, busloads of people being trucked into our little town. The air was filled with chatter and laughter.  People walking by my open door with excited kids who stopped to pose for pictures with my sheep photo board. All day long I heard "Baaa Baaa" and "Is it Bow Peep mom?" as they stared up at my red headed witch.


If I had a dollar for everyone that took pictures of the trio of sheep on the lawn and stuck their head through the photo board, well I’d be retiring a bit earlier than planned.  

Once again the festival snuck up on me so I didn't get the hooker scarecrow built as I'd planned, but I put the hooked head of past festival displays in the top hole of the photo board and stuck on a witches hat and from the squeals and giggles it generated, I think I did my part to keep the crowds entertained.  
 
Every time I looked out of the front window the cars were moving at a snail’s pace or were completely stopped.  A traffic jam in Mahone Bay!  It’s almost a joke!  And I wondered, where did all those cars  park?  Someone said they were backed up all the way to Keddy’s landing and down past the fiberglass plant and every side street from here to the back of town.  

The shop was swarmed with visitors.  At times I couldn’t see more than a few feet ahead of me.  I am on the less noticed side of the monument so we usually only get a small percentage of people.  But this weekend the sidewalks were filled on every part of main street, crammed like sardines in a can.   There was standing room only in the shop, people politely passing shoulder to shoulder, sometimes in the numbers of twenty-five to thirty all at once.  They came in waves, like summer breezes, sweeping through my door and walked the length of the shop, oohing and awing at the rugs and the wool.  I had to smile when one woman asked if I had a thing for sheep. I only have a about a hundred figurines and stuffed sheep toys and sheep related items about the shop….like baaa….do ya think?  She asked why I was so preoccupied with sheep and I explained the craft literally existed  on the backs of the four legged animals. Without wool, we’d be nothing!  It’s shear luck we have them!  She smiled. 
   
 I so hope all the shops and restaurants did well.  We're a tourist town so there is nothing better than seeing people milling about.  The buzz in the air was palpable, everyone was in a super mood, out for a day of fun. The normally five minute ride to work lasted almost twenty minutes, weaving in and out of poorly parked cars and people risking a bit of jay walking.  The already narrow streets were bottle necked but the drivers were polite, taking turns and waving each other on, stopping to let people in and out of side streets. It was an impressive display of how generous people can be when surged with a festive mood.  
 
I was really happy for our little town, to see it so alive.  It didn’t matter about traffic jams and obstacle courses.  Once the numbers are in I’m sure this festival will have had unprecedented attendance.  The skies smiled down on us with bright, sunny days and crisp, clear evenings.  If someone had written a  script for this weekend, it would have been a flawless performance with numerous encores.
  
The first timers to the shop told me their inaugural visit to the town was impressive. They appreciated our quality wares and pleasing shops.  The said they would be back, with their friends in tow.

A family came in with two delightful daughters.  I believe one was six and I showed her how to hook and she successfully pulled a few loops.  Lovely children, sweet and  curious.  The  dad eyed my Swimming with the fishes rug and bought it for their home.  I was so happy to see it go to such a lovely family.  I’m like a dog breeder, I need to know my babies are going to a good home.  


Driving into work this morning I realized I had a smile on my face.  I do love my little town.....it's hard to believe the contrast from the weekend and now.  It's so quiet, quaint and laid back once again.  Now that the leaves are turning it's a Currier & Ives painting.  We residents are very lucky to call this little patch of the earth our home. 

Patches, the above hooked rug, is always a perfect window display for the Scarecrow Festival.  Susan Leslie hooked this piece for me and it's one I'll never part with.  I bring him out at this time of year to take center stage in the shop.  Susan hooked a real personality for this guy with his pumpkin grinner smile and parsnip nose.  We crossed over seasons and gave him a snowman carrot nose, but because of the pumpkin colours it was decided to be a parsnip. He's a dapper dude in a herringbone jacket and purple plaid shirt, and teal pants.   Only the patches hint of his poorly, recycled appearance, after all scarecrows never wear tuxedos, do they.  Susan certainly knew how to hook a fine looking pumpkin!  I love this piece! 

To view the design click the link: http://www.encompassingdesigns.com/whats-newblog.html

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My witchy woman. Botox lips, sculpted with two shades of red and a wink to put you off your guard. She's hiding in plain sight for unsuspecting children and men who have a passion for redheads.
1 Comment
Glenna
10/8/2013 12:49:33 am

WOW...sounds like you had a great weekend, hope this week is as fun and busy!!

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