They moved me!

 Hey there Folks,
 I want you to know that I have not fallen asleep at the wheel here. Since fall, this pace around here has been faster than I can report. They made big changes and even shut down the store. I had no idea where I was going when two guys carried me out of what had been my home for nearly 5 years. Wasn't sure what to report, except, "Help! I'm being stolen!"
   The dust has finally settled and we seem to have a new home. We have big windows still but no traffic, I only see trees and river. I still have the job of welcoming people and Frank has been given the job of holding up the bolt of batting.

As for me, I still do my usual great job of smiling and making people just feel good. And finally I can get back to my job of blogging.

We are still getting set up in here, I'm guarding a bunch of chef hats until I hear different.

~Wes

Whopping News Folks!

  After years of having short Aprons and long Aprons, the Company heads have gone out on a limb and created a new length. They haven't come up with a name yet. I'll go out on a limb myself and title it, Medium. I know what you're thinking, not very creative but it does sound right with short and long. Here's a peek at one.

If you imagine it on a real person, it would go to just above the knee, as compared to way above the knee or way below the knee.

Hopefully something more exciting than this will come along soon.

~Wes

Fall Foliage Tour 2011

Hey there Folks,
 It's official! This years Fall Foliage Tour will take place on November 12, 2011.  That might sound a bit late for Foliage and it is. Here in Vermont with our yearly tours we have decided to celebrate all our seasons. You may not realize this but Vermont has way more seasons than other states. We have Apple season, Maple Sugaring season, Mud season and even more. This year, we have decided to celebrate, Almost Winter. Sometimes this is known as Taint, as in, it taint Autumn and it taint Winter. But here at The Vermont Apron Company, we are going with the season's most popular name, Almost Winter.
  We hope to captive the very essence of Almost Winter. I will again be hosting at critically related places and activites to Almost Winter. We hope if you see us on the road that day, you will give us a wave.

Women

 Ya know, I thought we had plenty of women around here. It's all women in here except me and Frank. I'm ok with that. But now, the owners show up, clear out one retail window and once its empty, poof! suddenly they are setting up a new woman. I don't get it. How many women have to be working in here? I mean, it's a little store, at what point do they realize we're cramped?

Then, to change things more, they switch me and Frank. Now, He's in the mens department and I'm window mannequin. This doesn't happen often because they complain mens sales fall whenever I leave the mens department. Frank doesn't have the magic charm, I guess. You need to have the Wes grin.

When everyone left the store, I yelled over to the new woman.
"Hey!, what's your name?"
She was kind of shy but smiled and replied kind of quiet, "Betty"

Somehow I got the impression from the tone of that one word reply that Betty wouldn't be hanging out drinking with me and Frank. I bet she even goes to bed on time each night.

Here, I snapped you a picture.

Later,
Wes

Country Bib Aprons

Finally we have Aprons to match the hats... or as I'm told, they're called Mop Caps. They call them Prairie Aprons sometimes and Country Aprons other times. No idea, I'm confused. Anyways, reporting the news for you, here's a photo.

 Here's the Blue Check one.

 Here's one in Red check, which seems to be the most popular, at the moment.

And finally, the black check, this will hide sloppiness the best, if you ask me.

There you have it, the news for today. I have more tomorrow!

~Wes

Ruffled Prairie Hats

Alright, it's been ages since I have been free to report. And quite frankly, this is important so I plan to be more authoritative when it comes to my job here. After all, it is my job to get the news out.

Let's get to it.We have new hats for the women. (not men.) Why? Men like chef hats...period... we don't buy anything else... just chef hats. Women have a lot more fashion sense than that. They want head gear to match to their apron. They aren't happy just matching in color, they want to match in style, too. Bottom line, we have to work harder for them.

So, ok, here's me working harder,too. In other words, here's me showing you the new Ruffled Prairie Hat....

 Here's a shot of one of the girls wearing one. (Frankly, it fits her better.)

And of course, in every situation, there's always one person who has to be different. Fine....if you want a more Parisian look, you can shape it like this on your head.

But, the hat is meant to be worn like this. 

She looks cute.....I'm not sure about me....

Yeah, you're right, my head is kind of big to be modeling these. But like any good reporter, I need to jump right into the action. (excuse me for not wearing the matching apron.)

~Wes

Fall Foliage Part 5 at Autumn on the Green

We finished our Fall Foliage tour right here in Danville,Vermont, (largely due to the fact that The Vermont Apron Company owners wanted more cupcakes and this is where they have them). But also, Danville is home to a terrific annual craft show, Autumn On The Green. It is a show in which we participate annually as this is a special place for us.

 It was on this town green that The Vermont Apron Company participated in its first craft show. It is also the place where our Men's Aprons were conceived. The idea came from a man who walked into our booth and said, "Women aren't the only ones who cook, ya know." It has been reported that this sarcastic quip sent our designer back to the cutting table. So they added mens aprons and ......That's when they hired me to help sell them!!

So that's why Danville's Town Green is a special place to me!

Well, that concludes our First Annual Fall Foliage Tour.

I had a blast. I've heard that next year,

there will be a plan and a more organization to the trip.

Truth be told, I doubt it. Let's say I've gotten to know these people.

~Wes

Fall Foliage Tour Part 4

 Here's me, Wesley, proudly posing in front of one

of the many Vermont covered bridges still in use today.

After all, how could we not show a covered bridge in Vermont? Aren't we the only state left with covered bridges? Wasn't there even a movie called, Bridges of Caledonian County?

Maybe I have that wrong.

We decided to take a look at what's under the bridge. No one ever talks about the underneath of bridges. We were surprised at what we found down there. No quiet little stream here, it was white water rapids. Who knew such drama lay beneath the bridge? It's my job to smile, but honestly, I was a bit nervous. I nearly broke into a concerned frown. Thank goodness I'm a professional.

Here I am standing on the cliff's edge to give you a better view of the danger that lurks beneath the bridge. Even the wind was wild, it was trying to blow my hat off.  Notice my apron. They put the drinks one on me so we would have a water theme going. How 'bout a Perilous Photography theme???

Here's a good shot of the water. It was powerful looking!

(Remind me to wait in the car next year)

Ok, so my hat blew off but here I stand still pretending this is really enjoyable. Couldn't we have just gone to the cheese place?

  

We found this nice bench not far from the cliff's edge. You can sit and rest on it. I choose to stand on it so I could get an even better view of the dangerous, perilous rapids and rocks below.

 Just ignore that mans arm in the photo.

I was really happy to be back in the car.

~Wes

Fall Foliage Tour Part 3

 Not only does Vermont have a lot of trees and farms, it has villages. And in the heart of every village, (well not every village, some villages are so small, hardly anyone lives there) So I'll say in the heart of most villages, they have a general store. General stores are where you go to get what you need and say Hi to your neighbors. They are like micro-mini Department/Food stores with a great, big warm heart. You can buy gourmet coffee, a fresh baked muffin made by a neighbor, a hat, a new broom and tin foil. You can discuss the weather, get directions, decide what other kinds of muffiins the neighbor should bake and get advice about snow or gardening.

We stopped at this General Store. They were surprised to say Hi to a traveling mannequin. The owners of The Vermont Apron Company got more gourmet coffee and a bottle of plum juice. They never had plum juice before and were happy to have some. Me? I just stood out front and watched the traffic go by. I didn't want plum juice and frankly it was a lot of fun to smile at the people driving by. Vermonters wave a lot!

I wasn't sure if it was me or the hot pizza sign that excited them.

The theme here is roads of Vermont (I guess... I'm inventing here). I'm standing on the edge of one. There are lots of them so I'm wearing my Big Wheel Apron and Tool Hat. Why the tool hat? Because on the road, at some point  you need tools. We don't talk about it much but cars break down. Its just one of those sad, sad topics we try to keep under our lids.

Here's a closer look at me with my Tool Apron. Yeah, my grey slacks match. Good styling, I thought.They left me standing here for quite awhile. I think there was a map issue. It was ok, though. I got to hear big trucks blow their horns as they drove past. I think they liked the Tool Hat.

~Wes

Foliage Tour Part 2

Vermont is filled with big trees, fields, fences and lots of leaves. Here I am standing under a tree just being a man...... in my Being a Man Apron. I'm being brave,too. There's an electric fence right behind me. I could topple right onto it. I don't even have my leg brace on. But in the face of this danger, I keep on smiling with my arms folded and hope they move me soon. That's what I do. It's my job.

We drove onward and the owners suddenly stopped the car, announcing they had found a "canopy of yellow". All I know is suddenly I'm left standing in traffic. And I'm wondering why they didn't dress me in the yellow apron to match the "canopy of yellow". At least we're in Vermont. Vermont has it's own category of traffic.......as you can see in the photo.

Here's a test of my acting skills. I have been stood here in this field with cows not far off. I'm told that the little electric wire hung on posts will hold them off. I've become a skeptic. I'm to mention that the hills behind me are covered in color and you can even see an official Vermont Farm in the background! (You have to look close, it's about a few inches off my right ear and above my shoulder.)

Here's a wider view. I had hoped this photo would show how close I am to being trampled in a stampede but I guess not. You'll have to trust me on that one.

~ Wes

Fall Foliage Tour Part 1

Today was the big Day! I went in the car with the owners of  The Vermont Apron Company! (they listen to weird music, use a GPS, eat cupcakes and onion rings for lunch and alternatively drink plum juice, diet soda and organic decaf coffee.) ....hmmm...I have nothing but good things to say about them!

I also immediately discovered they were people with tools but no real plan. They had a GPS, a camera, me and a variety of aprons. Other than that, it was music, cupcakes, assorted drinks and a lot of "chillin" as they called it. There was a lot of spontaneous verbal spurts such as " Hey! That looks good!" .This would be followed by us pulling over and hopping out for pictures.This would also be followed by a change of clothes for me and once I was even left standing naked chest on the side of the road. I met a lot of people, most of them laughing hilariously, I guess Vermonters laugh hilariously a lot. At least that's what I saw.

Oh, and there was that woman who shreaked when I was pulled feet first out of the back of the car while we were parked next to the lake. No idea what she was thinking.We were busy working and had a great day doing it!

Me showing off the lake.  I smiled really big so everyone would know how much I love lakes!

Notice I am wearing a navy and white outfit to match the colors of the water.

I can't name the lake. It's location will be a contest later in the week....SSHHHH...

Here's a better view and you can just barely see leaves turning in the background.

Look over my shoulders to see them.

They were packing the car and left me standing here.

It's a funny little building. They thought it was an outhouse.

Maybe it is an outhouse, interesting that it faces the forest.

Next photo group tomorrow!

~Wes

It's Official!

 They made it official. Monday will be my foliage tour day. I"m geared up and thinking about what to wear. I hear it's going to be in the 50's. I better find a sweatshirt to wear....and probably a hat would be a good idea. I haven't heard where we're going and knowing them, we're probably going to put on sweatshirts, get into the car and head off looking for scenery and leaves. I"ve been in this store for a long time.I can't wait to head outside.

~Wes