As we continued the Silverleaf Fair I started making trips to Holly, Michigan. It’s the location of The Michigan Renaissance Festival. I’m putting in a Lotion Candle booth there. I have one in Minnesota already. I’ve written about it several times before. We bought a booth in Michigan and I’m rehabbing the booth to get it ready for opening day.
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While in the Detroit area I figured I could visit some friends I haven’t seen in some while. Beau accompanied me to help with the construction and painting. So, the first night in town we spent at my friend Mark’s house. He is friends with so many of my other festival friends and used to visit the northern Ohio show often. It was great to see him! He’s got a lovely new house and good job. Something I was glad to hear as he was in the auto industry previously.
Work on the booth went well. We got the booth cleaned up and got all the lumber to fix up the interior. The next two days we spent the night at Paige’s house. She’s going to be the lead sales girl in the shop. She extended us wonderful hospitality!
After finishing our work for the week it was time to head back to Battle Creek. I didn’t get nearly enough done so it appeared I’d have to go back after the weekend. After finishing another HOT weekend it was time to go back to Holly. This time I was gonna visit my friend Quinn, an ex-jouster that used to travel in the same circles as I. I spent two days there. On my final day I realized there was no way I was gonna be able to finish without a little help, so I asked Quinn to help out. I couldn’t have finished without him.
Silverleaf was now finished. We broke down the maze in record time. (About 2 hours) I just wish it was as easy to put up! It’s time to make our way to Kenosha, Wisconsin. We’re doing one weekend at the Bristol Renaissance Festival. It’ll be nice to see some of our friends there!
We’ve been trying to get an extended contract in Bristol for a while so it’s important we dazzle ‘em this year. Luckily we did! Great shows, great crowds and great hat. We couldn’t have asked for more. I just hope they noticed. We really belong there. The crowds really get us. If you’re from the area and want to see us there call or email the office. It makes a difference!
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Time will tell if we’re gonna get an extended partial in Bristol but now it’s time to focus on Minnesota. Every year I look forward to Minnesota. It’s one of my favorite fairs. I have so many friends in the area. And, I love all the bars and restaurants in the area as well.
Opening weekend was great. The audience always welcomes us so warmly. And the sheer volume of people there is unmatched by any of our other shows. I hope things calm down a bit in the coming weeks. I’ve been so busy, I haven’t been able to stop and smell the roses.
One of the things keeping me busy is opening the Lotion candle business in both Minnesota and Michigan. Unlike Michigan, the Minnesota booth is already built. But there’s still staffing, training and stocking. This year hopes to be a good one. It’s a great product and is doing well across the country. Of course, along with that I also have my credit card merchant clients to take care of. Just another one of the many hats I wear. I’m a busy, busy boy.
Sorry this journal isn’t that long. As I type this my face is throbbing. Me and the boys went to a dermatologist and I had a procedure done. Ouch!... I’ll survive but this is a story for next month. You’ll just have to wait. Hope to see ya in Minnesota!
