FF - Friday Fictioneers
Copyright - The Reclining Gentleman
According to popular legend, in
the early part of the 1800's a man named John Clapman traveled about the
countryside in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and elsewhere planting apple trees.
Often
going barefoot with no place to sleep at night, John Clapman was dedicated to
beautifying the landscape of the new nation. Over time, he became known
as Johnny Applehead.
As Johnny
Applehead continued his travels he began planting flowers, shrubs, and bushes
as well as apple trees. Soon he also began leaving garden gnomes, small
windmills, picket fences, metal chimes, and aprons with the words "Kiss Me,
I’m the Cook" on them.
Today Johnny
Applehead Enterprises is America’s largest distributor of garden gnomes and
barbecue aprons. According to popular legend, the man named John Clapman was no
fool.
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Also awesome are all of the Friday Fictioneers, whose takes on the above picture prompt will blossom if you click here.
Now, who wants to order some chimes?
:D Excellent!
ReplyDelete:D back at ya!
DeleteHow many Clapman ancestors share the proceeds of Johnny's foresight, I wonder?
ReplyDeleteWell, however many Clapmen there were, I guess.
DeleteThe Gnomes brings the biggest profit I'm sure. Nice one.
ReplyDeleteYeah, but the "Kiss Me" aprons are second.
DeleteI come here to read and learn. You have enriched my knowledge once more.
ReplyDeleteYes, that is why I am here. For your enrichment only.
DeleteWhere did my comment go? Did you get it? My laptop went weird... I'm going to blame the stupid Blogger interface - can't possibly have been user error.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, what it said was I've missed reading your stories. It's nice to be back, however briefly.
Jen (elmowrites)
Thanks, Jen, I appreciate that. I always like your stories too. And yes, there's something crazy about blogger interface all that messes up comments, especially the nice ones I write to myself.
DeleteAh... yes our garden is filled with a collection of garden gnomes... :-) If just my neighbors could see the value they give to our neighborhood... but they insist that they are tacky.
ReplyDelete"They are tacky" are fighting words to the Johnny Applehead family.
DeleteWe have bunnies, frogs, and girls with no arms scattered all through Connie's flower gardens. You'd really love the girls with no arms, Perry. They're not very good huggers, but at least they can't slap you.
ReplyDeleteWhat a good point, sounds like the girls for me! Perhaps I can come live in your garden. (I can come in to eat, right?)
DeleteSeems he certainly was no fool :)
ReplyDeleteYeah, but I hope he wore shoes. That wasn't so smart to travel five or six states, even if he did put slippers on.
DeleteWell, thank you so much for this little lesson of Johnny Applehead! Of course, the gnomes came from somewhere. And we must have metal chimes! Nothing is quite the same without them, Perry.
ReplyDeleteDon't thank me, thank Johnny Applehead.
DeleteA cute story all wrapped up in a history lesson. What more could we ask for? ;-)
ReplyDeleteSomething funny, I would think, but glad you're not pushing for that.
DeleteFun story.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteGreat fun. He was an entrepreneur. No fool indeed.
ReplyDeleteYes he was a 19th century Donald Trump only without the hair and the being nuts.
DeleteHilarious, Perry. This business a sideline of yours then. Mr. Applehead seemed to know the taste of gardening Americans and barbecue enthusiasts. I had no idea ourdoor barbecues went back that far. I have indeed learned something today. Mr. Applehead no doubt learned his skills from the Native Americans. It was probably their way of making the white man look rediculous. :D --- Suzanne
ReplyDeleteMr. Applehead indeed learned his skills from native Americans because the Europeans had no apron saying "Kiss Me I'm the Cook." But once they did they no doubt looked ridiculous, or however you spell it.
DeleteI think I mispelled "riciculous"forgetting my grammerly spellcheck doesn't work on your program.Perhaps the spirit of Mr. Applehead has played a joke on me. That's as good an excuse as any I guess. :D
ReplyDeleteMr. Applehead couldn't spell it either.
DeleteI must be getting tired. I mispelled ridiculous a second time. It's starting to look ridiculous. :D
ReplyDeleteI never knew you misspelled it once to let you know who looks ridiculous.
DeleteFascinating tale :) enjoyed this!
ReplyDeleteThank you. Yes, Johnny Applehead always fascinates.
Delete
ReplyDeleteI believe we have a Johnny Applehead outlet here in Virginia. ;)
One of the biggest. I heard you're an investor.
DeleteDear Perry,
ReplyDeleteI come here to waste my time.(and to have fun) I'm never disappointed. Why is it that I see Russell's face on one of those garden gnomes?
Shalom,
Rochelle