The crowds were thicker than this!

The logo has changed - What happened to the Partridge in a Pear Tree?

 #112 November 15:  The Southern Christmas Show: Emily and I had a mother–daughter day at the Southern Christmas Show today.  The time with my daughter was as delightful as ever:  she is funny and we shop at the same pace and usually like to look at the same things. I hadn’t been to the show since several years before the pandemic.  Here are a few things I learned at the show.  The ratio of vendors with handmade vs. mass produced products (probably made in China) has flipped in the last 7 years.  The show used to be at least 60% locally-made (at least Southern) now most the vendors were selling mass produced products (made in China?).  I was expecting pottery and wood works.  It was there but you had to really hunt to find it.  Laser cut anything from ornaments, signs, and even vinyl records were plentiful, along with screen printed T shirts and sweaters.  The other thing I learned is since the pandemic, I have a much lower tolerance for crowds.  I thought a Monday morning would thin the crowd some; NOT.  Traffic was even backed up on Independence for over a mile.  I can only imagine (and don’t want to!) what Saturday was like!  Emily and I had to park at Ovens and hike through the tunnel to The Park.  After 3 hours of crowds, I happily gave a donation to the Shriners, complete with Fez who drove us to our car (up the hill!) in a golf cart.  We finished the day with a late lunch at Lupies.  What I learned there is the menu hasn’t changed in 15 years!  11/13