Let’s Do Year Fifty on the Green

Our Chester Fall Festival neighbors and dear friends shared that 2017 was their last year of participation. Knowing full well it took us two days to recover ourselves, we talked of this being our last; but heck, 2018 is Year Fifty for Bundles. Let’s do it!

Lew and I encouraged St. Luke’s to have a presence during the Festival and did much of the organizing. Jennings & McComber (daughter Kara and son-in-law Andy’s duo) played on the church lawn Sunday at 2:30 to a very pleased audience. Granddaughter Shiloh helped me up pack the dolls. Lew helped load the instruments. and then we barbequed steaks for dinner with the family on the porch. No wonder we were exhausted, especially in the very hot, humid weather.

I gave Bags of Joy away to little friends. Sam the fireworks Calico Paper Doll kit slipped into little boys’ hands. Catalogs flew out of the canopy. Two favorite dolls found mommas, and the potential for orders from special connections seems credible.

A highlight was a visit from Fiona. Her grandma and I collaborated on one of Chester’s coolest events—The Big Little Wedding—a bear and doll marriage in 2010. Fiona shared that she loves cats, like me, so I encouraged her to create a face. It was perfectly beautiful. I asked her to sign her art.

So Rotary, count us in for 2018. Now to get working on grants and a couple museum venues. Two of my favorite visitors to my booth on the Green said, “Go for it. You have a legacy to share, not only in Chester but all over Vermont.”