OFF AND RUNNING

We were fairly busy Friday, Saturday and Sunday, our crew did a great job, we about doubled what was projected every day. It was pretty slow during the week, gave me time to get some decorating done. I put up my Christmas tree.....

Darrell put some lights up on the tripod.

I had saved some pumpkins for a few projects....I thought the snowman turned out cute.

And the pumpkins made to look like Christmas ornaments......

We got some taller  trees this week.......

More Nobles than we thought we were getting.

And Darrell got some flocked, we were ready for a busy weekend.

And we were busy! We sold  225 trees over the weekend! Our boys were hustling!

On Monday the Santa Anna winds were really blowing! Doug and Deidra stopped by, Doug thinks we could all sell out by  the 15th if he can't get anymore trees. We had to lay most of the trees down that were outside. 

On Tuesday the Santa Anna was blowing even harder! It blew out  two corner posts from the tent, had to call Doug to come help get them back in. Doug and Greg came to help Darrell. Gusts up to 60 miles an hour, while they were putting the posts back in a fire started not too far from us!

We didn't feel it was safe to be open, so we stayed in the RV most of the day watching news reporting of the big fire in Ventura, burning neighborhoods down. We were able to open at 4:00.

The firemen got the fire out that was near us, I don't know how they did with the awful wind, but we were grateful.

IN BETWEEN AND SHORTAGE

We got all set up again, Darrell put the fifth wheel right back where it was, which was quite a feat! I set up my Thanksgiving display the next day,  finally a Big Mac  was leftover that I could use in my display.

The flocking machine was looking pretty shopworn, Darrell put a fresh coat of paint on it, it looks nice!

 BEFORE

AFTER

I started turning the Pumpkin Minion into a Christmas Minion.

Also, had started working on the Picket Fence that was on the cashier's booth when we arrived. I freshened it  up with a new coat of paint. 

We got the cashier's booth all decorated for Christmas.

We got our crew hired, we think we've got a good group of guys.

The Managers Meeting was held on Saturday, November 18 without having any Christmas trees. 

Doug explained at the meeting that there would be a shortage of Christmas trees this year. He wasn't even sure how many trees he would be able to get.  He said the biggest shortage would be in the 7 to 8 foot Noble fir, our biggest selling size.

We got 175 Nobles  the next day.

Doug's crew got them unloaded.

On Monday morning, two of our new guys came and stood trees.

It's a hard job! Usually Doug's crew does this, but they were busy with other lots. 

The boys stood the trees, Darrell brought them up and I filled the bowls with water and cut the strings, before long the tent was half full of Nobles.

We opened Tuesday, November 21,  poor Marlee  hurt her back, so she was confined to her crate. She could hardly walk.

Laura and Vicenta were here making wreaths and garland  they were very glad we were back!!

We weren't very busy Tuesday or Wednesday, we closed for Thanksgiving Thursday. I made a turkey with trimmings. We have much to be  thankful for. 

A LITTLE VACATION......GETTING READY FOR CHRISTMAS TREES

We are allowed to leave in between the pumpkins and the trees, we have  always just stayed,  but we had heard about Castaic Lake RV Park,  it has a hot tub!!   We also  thought that maybe Castaic Lake would be a good place to kayak. So, on Monday, November 6, we packed up  drove a half hour to the RV park.

It's  a nice RV park......we had a pull through site.

We could hardly wait to get in the hot tub!

We had it all to ourselves!! Started soaking away the aches and pains. We decided it would take more than one soaking....glad we had three days here.

The next day we took Maggie and Marlee  and drove out to check out Castaic Lake.

Beautiful Lake!

Grass and Trees!

Maggie and Marlee enjoyed it too!

We had a good time walking around the lake.
The next day we left Maggie and Marlee home and brought our blow up Kayak.

Practically deserted too!



The Dock

Our blow up kayak.

We had a great time......it is a perfect lake for kayaking.

We drove home the next day feeling rested and ready to start setting up for the trees and Manager's Meeting, which will be held at our lot, Saturday, November 18.

SHERRY & BAXTER VISIT, MORE OF THE PUMPKINS!

I invited Sherry to stop by for a visit on her way to Arizona. She and Baxter  arrived Sunday, October 22. It was good to see her!

Marlee just couldn't wait to see Baxter!

We had a good visit.....even had a picnic in the tent!!

The last ten days of October, we were very busy! 

Darrell and I call it "The Pumpkin Buying Frenzy!"

These SoCals do enjoy their pumpkins!

Long line waiting for their pumpkins to be rung up!
 All the wheelbarrows and wagons were being used......so improvise!!

This tent was a wonderful addition this year....it was a hot and windy season.

We sold $54,000 in merchandise and pumpkins.....we were very pleased!

This was our fourth year selling pumpkins for Bennett's Best and of all the years, we enjoyed this one the most! We closed early Halloween night and had our traditional dinner at Olive Garden.