Notes from A Cottage Industry

Getting ready for friends

    
 The guest room is ready and waiting. I spoke with my friends from reTreat last night. They're driving down from the Seattle area and should be arriving in Reno for the Tumbleweed Cotillion Wednesday in the early afternoon. They're going to be staying with me while they're in town and I am so looking forward to their visit!
If you're planning on attending the event you're gonna love Deb and Bob and all of their great stuff. So much talent!
     I'm still franticly running around like a crazy woman, getting things painted and sanded and priced. I guess I must like working under pressure, putting certain things off until the last minute, because this seems to be a pattern with me.

Hmmm,  I need to work on that.

A package in the mail!

    

     I love it when a package arrives. It doesn't matter if it's something I ordered or a sample of dryer sheets, I just get happy, you know? Well, today's mail brought an extra-special-oh-so-very-over-the-top-exciting package. I won Joanne's 50th birthday drawing and the prizes arrived today!
That's right people, pri-zes...plural.
While  love them all, I must admit I am particularly smitten with the vintage egg beater, with the adorable green wooden handle. So sweet. I can just imagine some woman, a woman just like me, beating up cupcake batter with this little gem at one point in time when kitchenaid mixers weren't around in every kitchen.

*sigh* Thank you so much Joanne.

Flutterby birthday cupcakes (it's a 2 post Friday)

     Last night I baked three flavors of cupcakes for various orders. These lil' cuties are for a birthday party. See the little candy butterflies? I hope the little girls at the party enjoy them as much as I enjoyed making them!

High school graduation cupcakes

Oh yes. It's that time of year.
     Graduation cupcakes are kind of a challenge to me.You can't really tell in the picture, but the flags are a gray-silver color with blue printing, 'coz that's the school color combo.You know, you've got to try and get remotely close to the school colors, and yet, there is something so unnatural to me about a color such as royal blue frosting, that I am not sure I could eat one of these little guys.

*sigh* Next week I am doing some more for another high school graduation where the colors are red and blue.

Italian paperclips

     
    Just look at these beauties.
    Aaah, there's nothing quite like them. Exactly the kind of tiny detail that catches your eye, the difference between average and fabulous, really.(Really!)
     I first saw them when one of the vendors in the Tumbleweed Cotillion submitted their application and used one to hold her packet together. Wow. I loved the look. Did she make them, I wondered? I wanted some of these darling little miniature mattress spring looking things...so, I wrote and asked her. No, she had bought them, and she'd be happy to send me some and I could pay her when she gets up here for the faire. (She and her sister are coming up from San Francisco to sell some of the most wonerful candlesticks and such that they create from vintage chandeliers. So cool.)    
     The paperclips arrived yesterday and I. am. in. love. (I am quite sure of it.) I'll be using them Friday night as I finish up some Press kits and I know they will make the presentation.
Thanks Rebecca!

A preview of my Antique Mall booth!

     I was down at the new antique mall all day Monday, (Memorial Day) getting my booth set up. Back and forth, hauling treasures from the garage to the booth, prettying up the wall space, and creating a charming feeling within my little slice of the mall. Then, more work Tuesday and Wednesday nights after work and Thursday on my lunch break from the grown up girl job. Whew! It's all coming together quite nicely, if I do say so myself. (now, keep in mind, this is the "bones" of my booth; the backdrop for the treasures and trinkets to appear later this weekend.)
     The very cool old brick building has character, but the back of my booth is done in peg board. While I like the versatility of pegboard, it certainly doesn't lend itself to any vintage theme I had in mind. What to do? well... I "wallpapered" the walls in my area with old book pages and copies of vintage photographs... and I plan on adding lots of little surprises too...

    They will be doing a soft opening today and I want everything to look perfect, although I won't have the booth stocked fully for a few more days. (probably not until Sunday afternoon, and I'll share more pictures then!) I hope to sell some of my overflow pieces there before the Tumbleweed Cotillion at the end of June...we'll see what happens!

Typepad troubles

I have no idea what has happened with Typepad, but my posts are now all messed up............please email me and let me know if you are only seeing ONE post and NOTHING on the right hand side bar..
Thank you,
Tracey

May 27th

 

Today would have been my wedding anniversary.

I wonder how many more May's will have to pass before that date on the calendar stops hitting me, cold in my tracks, with that sad, sick feeling that envelopes me for the entire day.

My big morning on camera

       It. was. a. blast. (and this was the only picture I took all morning. Mm hmm, just the camera guy filming our strategy sheet for the days yard sales.)
     The camera guy (Jay)  and the news guy (Brian) arrived promptly at 7:25 this morning. (I was ready and waiting for them at 7:00!) The Navigator was...late. ( Oh well, it gave me time to chat up the news guys.) I wore my sassy  "Vintage Chick" shirt, which I thought was appropriate; not too dressy for yard saling, not too grubby to be immortalized on tape.
     I was "miked up" and they had me walk them through my main rooms of the cottage, sharing my treasures and then did a sit-down-up-close-and-cozy-by-my-bookcase-full-of-cameras-and-old-books interview. Oh! It was so fun! Then, we drove, with Jay in the backseat filming us, to a nearby yard sale. More filming, and interviewing and then... we were done. (Sheesh! I realize I am making it sound like they spent enough time to do a mini series on us. In actuality it was an hour and a half and the clip should be 1.5 minutes in length according to the news folks.)
     The newscast is set for this Thursday in the 5:00 news slot, unless something earth shattering news wise happens then.

You can bet I'll be sharing the clip here, people.

the big black Rebel

I did it.
     I broke down and got myself a new camera. I'd been researching them for the past seven full months, (after the last engagement party when my camera was holding up the photo shoot of posed shots because of such a slow response time to actually take a picture) and I finally did it. I ended up getting the Canon Rebel XSi and I am so excited to learn how to operate it, and yet, I am still a little afraid of it. I'm not great with change, and this will take me a little bit of practice before I am feeling confident with it.
     My old camera has been good to me these past 6 years, but it has become increasingly obvious that it is getting...tired. It stalls and freezes up more often than not, and with the 3 weddings I became painfully aware I had the slowest shutter time of anyone taking pictures in the room.
You know that I take pictures every single day of my life. Now, with two grandbabies (two grandbabies!!) on the way, and my various side businesses blooming, it was at long last, time for a more advanced and better quality camera.
     I ended up buying it (QVC baby- gotta love their return policy, fast shipping, great prices, and the four months no interest charges payment plan!) and it arrived at my doorstep over a week ago. Last night I finally got up the nerve and took it out of the packaging to check it out. Wow. Nice. I set it on my night table and looked at it. I held it in my hands and tried to get used to the bulky heaviness of it. I mean, this is a serious picture takers photographer's camera, people. I still kind of can't believe I bought it.
     This was a huge investment for me.

*sigh* A huge investment in me.

little blog post and a big cupcake

     Another busy day. I'm up and at 'em early for Toastmasters, then work, then an event for work..after work. I wanted to pop in for a minute to share another b-i-g cupcake.
Have a fabulous Thursday, people!

ps.Thanks so much for all of the support and confidence yesterday in my latest adventure of baking my way to bliss. I'm still struggling with the logistics of how this is all going to work out around my gown up girl job, but I am sure I'll figure it out so I can do both.

What's in a name?

Um....just everything.

    I've really thought this through, people. I mean, now that we've got a baby on the way, (People!!!! We've got a baby on the way!!!) I've been obsessed contemplating different names, and spellings. Oh, I know what you're thinking. It's not really for me to choose. Well, if we want it right, I think it is.
     A name kind of shapes a person's identity, wouldn't you agree?  You know, someone once said, "Your clothes speak before you do" and I believe it's true. After a first glance at someone's overall appearance, our name gives the first glimpse at who we are, really. Take the name...oh.. Poindexter. Let's take a moment and just ponder the visual that comes to mind, shall we?

     It conjures up a definite type of person, right? Alrighty then, so you see what I mean. We grow with our name, so to speak.
     Now, before you think I am referring to what they'll name the baby, I'm not. No, no, no. I implicitly trust the parents-to-be to make that decision. (although I've already let the mama-to-be know that Henry and Zoey are at my tip top of my boy/girl name list, and of course it goes with out saying that the names Robert and Roberta would be out for sure, since their last name is Roberts...you've just got to question the kind of parents that would do that to a child...)

Where was I?

Oh yes. I wasn't talking about the baby's name.

     What I was talking about was my name. Yes people, I'm talkin' 'bout what the precious lil' sweet smelling baby will call me.
      Do I look like a "Grandma?" Or am I more of a "Mimi?" (or is it "Meme"?) Maybe I'm a "Gramma"or  "Gram". Yes, maybe I am.
     I do know for sure I am not a "Nana",not because I don't like it, but because at my grown up girl job we always call each other "Nana" when one of us can't find their glasses, or complains about something like a work event lasting too late and it's only 6:27 in the evening. Then, there's Nonnie. And Nonna. Those are both respectable contenders in my book.
     I know I am not a "Grandmother" because it's so formal, and I am anything but. Oh, and I am absolutely not a Me-maw. Or a Maw-Maw. (Oh, lordy.For personal reasons, I hate that for myself, so let's not even go there.)
     Am I a "Grams"?  Or, how about a Grammie? (Grammy?!) Gosh, that sounds too much like an award. OK, that spelling is out.
     I know that I can't be Grand ma ma, because that is what my one son-in-law calls my Mom, and it sounds so charming and endearing when he calls her that. I do believe that is who she will be, unless she decides that she's "GiGi" for Great Grandma..?

OK, back to me people.

     Could I be a "Glam-Mom"? I heard that's what Goldie Hawn is called.(Yes, I do watch Inside Edition and the Insider on rare occasions) It's kind of cute, but it's also kind of hard to pronounce, with the two "m's" so close together.GlammmmMmmom. Hey, this might be something to consider.

...Or not. It's actually a little hard for me to pronounce smoothly, and I'm over half a century old.
     There's Marmee...too Little Women"-ish? Very possibly, ...moving right along...While I like it, I'm not sure about "Nanny" because it does kind of remind me of either a goat or a babysitter, although not necessarily in a bad way.   
     There are foreign language versions of Grandma, like Bubbie, Vovo,Oma and Yaya....Um,Ya, no.
     This is tricky stuff, people. I don't want to get it all wrong and be shackled with some weird nickname that sounds like a type of pasta the rest of my days. (I plan on having oodles and toodles of grandbabies you know...)
     I think it's safe to say that while I don't know exactly what I want to be called, I do know that I want to pick a name. Otherwise, the name will just somehow "evolve" and that can be..well...dicey at best. Do you know what I'm saying?
     I mean, c'mon now. We all know people who's grandbabies call them some strange name, that they say somehow just "happened". I'm just not sure I want one of those. The odds of the name being cute are just too iffy.
      Many of my friends have now taken to calling me "Gramma Cupcake" and actually, I kind of like it. It's cute. The mama-to-be is positive that it is too long of a name for the baby to ever get out legibly, and then, most certainly, some strange concoction of the name will evolve. After thinking about it, I realize she is absolutely right.

The last thing I want to end up being is Gramma-Ca-ca.

Words to live by - week - 66

That man is richest whose pleasures are cheapest.          Henry David Thoreau

It's amazing to me just how much pleasure I can get out of baking a simple batch of cupcakes to share with friends.

To slightly alter a line from Winnie the Pooh: No one can be uncheered by a cupcake.

 

When is an early Mother's day gift the best Christmas present you'll ever get?

...Give up?

Well...before I tell you, let me begin at the beginning.(I actually was trying to wait to do this post until the day before Mother's day, but I just can't wait a single. minute. longer. I fear I will burst)

The newest newlywed is a planner by nature. Always has been. Born on her due date, not crazy about surprises, makes lists. Doesn't lose them.
      She thinks things completely through, every move is a purposeful decision, big or small. By her own definition, she's a "planner". Definitely not one to simply "wing it" or fly by the seat of her pants, like her older sister, and younger brother.
     Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying she isn't adventuresome; quite the contrary. She's my cutie patootie that's a world traveler, (even going to Morocco while living in Spain, shortly after 9/11 when I told her not to go) and the one who invited her baby brother to get tattooed together. (much to my horror) What I am saying is that those things were well thought out, and carefully planned, even if they were not Mom approved.
      She's the middle child, so she's used to sharing, and compromising, and not necessarily getting to be the center of attention all that often. Seldom does she get the opportunity to be the "first", and she's fine with that.
      I think that's what makes this all the more special. It's her time, their time, to bask in the thrill of being first, on both sides of the family, and share their joy and excitement with the entire family.

     So, I'll pose the question again.

"When is an early Mother's day gift the best Christmas present you'll ever get?"

That's easy. It's when they give you one of these.

After all the squealing and jumping and hugging I did in Chili's restaurant when they gave me this fabulous little present, I did some quick math. (With my birthday in December, and my son's birthday in December, it wasn't all that hard.)
    They laughingly admitted that with all of the planning, the due date was the one thing that they never even thought about. They just knew they wanted to start their family right away, so the planning began.

*Sigh* I can't think of a better Christmas present in the whole. wide. world.

Last day for April showers...

...and I found these just in the nick of time. (I told you, Ms. Crafty got me hooked on looking for these to decorate for April...)
    Aah, the thrift store, on half off day, no less.A whole whopping dollar twenty five. Yippee skippy! These little darlin's are just too adorable, don'tcha think? Perfect little puddle jumpin' centpiece for my table, even if it is the last day in April.

A fabulous workshop, but no pictures to prove it.

     I am so ticked at myself. I meant to take pictures all through the workshop this morning, but...too much talking, teaching, and cupcake eating, and I somehow  forgot to get pictures from about midway on.(I even forgot to take a shot of the completed paint can full of supplies and work books!!! Augh!

In the end,everyone left with a completed chalkboard in an antiqued frame, and a cute paint can full of everything they'll need to make more.

Yes, I'd say a very good time was had by one and all.

A little post with a big thank you.

      Better late than never when it comes to blogposts, right? (I hope so, anyway)

     Just a quick little late evening post.....for the many sweet souls that emailed, (or called and left messages)wondering where I was, with no post this moring.... thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I certainly didn't mean to alarm so many folks! I am fine. 
      Honestly, I simply didn't get time to post this morning, and I was sure I'd find time a bit later. Today, later never happened.
     You see, I thought I'd get time in the early morning, but after heading out the door at 6:30 for Toastmasters, our event manager at my grown up girl job had some last minute emergencies (today we had our largest event of the year) and needed help picking up some signs...the next thing I knew, it was 5:10 p.m. and I was finally heading home to finish the set ups for the workshop at my cottage this Saturday, which actually means I came home to change clothes and head out the door to run errands till after 9:00. Whew!
   I did find time to give myself a treat though...Last weekend I got a super deal (Are you ready for this? $29.)on a close out of this fabulous little stereo that would usually sell for nearly $100 (complete with ipod docking station, no less!) at the JC Penney Catalog outlet store here in Reno. Tonight, I took it out of the box and got myself all dialed in, people. Well, it's all dialed in, in the kitchen at least, for tonight. Tomorrow night I'll move it to the living room armoire.
     Since becoming suddenly single, I have been using my daughter's old stereo that we gave her in middle school. Not to sound ungrateful, but let's just say this bad boy has seen better days. After it plays for a while , it skips...er..sticks...you know, like I'll be listening to Jack Johnson and suddenly, it's like Jack has the hiccups or something. It drives me nuts, especially on Saturdays when I am home and want to listen to my housecleaning music way up loud. The old stereo is well over a decade old. What did I expect? It was time for it to go to stereo heaven, or Savers.

Anyway.

Thanks for all that bloggy concern and love. I'm gonna go take my bubble bath and listen to some good music (way up loud) and think about just how blessed I am to have so many people care about me.

*sigh* Really. You people are rock stars.

Full house of painting ladies....

     This Saturday is my "Make it Special" Furniture Painting Workshop, and I'm thrilled to tell you that it's all sold out. Yes, all my seats are full! This workshop is going to be so much fun.
     Last night I began assembling the goodie supply kits for the attendees. Oh! They are coming along nicely and I think everyone will like them.
     I'm using gallon paint cans that I bought and added bright colored paint drips to, along with coordinating color drenched paint brushes (which are part of each attendees place cards; they will have each person's name attached!)
     Drop cloths with brightly splattered paint will cover the work table and each attendee will have their very own take away little containers of primer, paint and antiquing glaze.
     I completed the take-away booklets last night, complete with a perfect quote from Edgar Degas. (Click the picture to see it enlarged so you can read it)

Tonight I'm prepping some of the items I'll be demonstrating techniques on while our paint dries between steps. Then, all that will be left to do is bake my treats for our little break and I think I'll be all set.

Ooh!I can't wait!

One grand bakery.

    I came upon this picture yesterday when I was googling bakery stuff  researching something terribly important to economic development at my grown up girl job. It's an old oil painting of a French bakery at the Champs Elysees back in the day.(sorry, I saved the name of it and now I can't find it...) My, oh my. Isn't it grand? Going to that bakery must have been quite an affair.
Look at how high the ceilings are. And the chandeliers. And all of the pastries on the counters. It's all so terribly chic.
I'm not sure why I am sharing this with you, except...I was so busy last night, and I'm rushing off to Toastmasters this morning. I thought I wouldn't even have time to post today ...and for some strange reason, I can't quit thinking about this painting...about that bakery, and the grandness of it all.

Does this podcast make by butt look big?

   
    **note** It's another one of those blog days with 2 posts...

Have you heard of ZNE? It's one of the largest mixed media focused art groups in the world today, with over 1,000 members worldwide. A very cool place online. I had known about it from my sweet Georgia friend Dawn. They have forums, and share ideas and hold events, both in person, and via podcasts, which brings me to my little bit of shameless self promotion. …ehem…(this puts me completely out of my comfort zone, folks)
    I did my very first ever podcast interview last night. (I can't believe I'm typing this) Mmm hmm. Me.Moi. Yours truly. Chelise Stroud Hery, the founder of ZNE, emailed me a while back and asked if I’d do an interview. I was shocked. I was thrilled. And flattered. I said "yes, of course, yes!"

 Anyway.

  Last night was the night. My night. I’m not sure why, but I thought it would be something like a short ten minute spot (who, other than my friends and family, would want to talk to me for longer than that?) Well, let me warn you now, people. If you want to listen to the podcast, you’d better get yourself a cuppa something and have a comfy seat, ‘coz I ramble on for an hour with the fabulous Ms. Chel. (the truth be told, I’m afraid to listen to the podcast, because I know I rambled and blabbered lots of stuff that I will then critique half to death and pick apart, followed most likely by a long period of being mortified at the things I said.) With all of this being said, I must say now that the best thing about a podcast is that you can do it in your jammies, and not worry about if your having a bad hair day, or if the telephone makes your butt look big. (just one more reason I love the internet, people.)
    So, listen if you like, (and please, before you tell me, I am aware that I sounded sappy in more than one spot of the interview, yammering about living a beautiful life…just know that I was nervous, and as syrupy as some of it may sound..yes, I do believe that stuff I said…I just didn’t mean to sound so cheesy.) and be sure and check out the ZNE site too. (Thanks so much Chelise, for my moment in the spotlight. I had a great time!)

Go to this link, and then I think you'll need to click on the Blogtalkradio box on the right hand side.

I'm afraid I might be a laundry room weirdo.

      OK. So, I have a thing for laundry rooms. There, I said it.
     In my last house, my favorite room was the giant laundry room...and I had such grand plans for the little "walk-through-on-the-way-to-the-garage-from-the-kitchen" laundry room in my sweet cottage, but now that it's on the market I've put them aside. I'm afraid they'd be too personalized... (I was going to paint the walls Robin's egg blue and put in stick-on vinyl tiles in black and white checks...)
     Last week, when my friends were over to assemble the tiny flags, one of my guests commented that they had never seen such a "staged" laundry room. Hmm...I wasn't sure if I should be offended or flattered. (Who am I kidding?! I was a wee bit offended. I tried to tell myself she was just jealous.(wink, wink!)Poor thing. Maybe her laundry room was boring and sad and pitifully neglected, and so she felt the need to attack mine...or...could it be that she thought I was... suspenseful background music here.....a laundry room weirdo?)
     I told her it wasn't staged, it was how I lived. I take the basket off the washer when I do wash (hey, it's only me and I have 2 loads of laundry, per week, on Saturdays..No big deal, right?) She looked at me like I said I had just returned from a flight to Mars with George Clooney. 

Anyway.

   It got me to wondering...am I the only person that decorates the laundry area of her home? (surely I am not!)
       To clarify, (and to defend my sanity and sense of style) the basket of ivy and the washboard are concealing the very high-on-the-wall water knobs for the water to go to the washing machine. (They are like the ones on a bathtub- huge..and very ugly...to me, anyway) See? It serves a purpose.
    The lamp...well, it brings some black and white toile,(which is in my kitchen) along with a whole lot of ambiance into the little room, which, when lit up at night, is seen through the lacy French door in the evenings, and adds a touch of romance to my kitchen (...once again, for me, anyway.)
     The framed quotation (oh, you know how I love good quotations...) makes me smile every Saturday, because I do find joy in laundry, in being home...in nesting.

*sigh* If that makes me a laundry room weirdo, I guess I'm OK with that.

One cool conference, and an epiphany.

     A little update here... I'm home from today's big event. It was very inspirational, and I learned a lot about the steps to getting published, as well as some basics I can tackle right away. Basics like making a time line ( I love goal setting and time lines, so I'm starting this project tonight.)Oh, and little tips with huge impact, like not over using words like "was", "had" and "that" when I write. I tell you, it was great.
     At our lunch break I was able to go and chat up one of the speakers to bend her ear for some advice. She gave me all kinds of valuable advice on where to go from the point I'm at right now.

Wait! Did you just read that last sentence I typed?

Remember this?! Oh. My. Ga. I do believe Toastmasters has made quite an impact in my confidence about speaking off the cuff to strangers about my passion. Wow. I've grown. I've learned something and actually applied it somewhere, like it was second nature. Wait until I tell them all about this on Thursday morning. The Toasties are gonna be so proud of me... heck, I'm proud of me.

What I wanted to be when I grew up

    Funny, the things we remember about our childhood.
    I remember that I loved to read.(I still do) My mother took us to the public library often, and I was allowed to order a book from the paperback book club at school each time the little brochure came around. (What a treat that was! It was like picking out your own birthday present.)
    I remember that we had a school librarian who was amazing. She was a published author herself and she could speed read. (she had taken one of those speed reading courses, you know...)
      You could ask her about a book, and she'd read it very fast, running her hands down each page, almost like she was reading braille, and then tell you all about it, so you could decide if you wanted to check it out or not. (So impressive to a fourth grader. Actually, it still impresses me today.)
     Then, in the fifth or sixth grade, we were all asked to share what we wanted to become when we grew up. I announced that I wanted to become a mother, a social worker, and a writer. (I am not sure how I even knew what a social worker did for sure, but I pictured myself helping people)
     Anyway, years passed, and I got married and forgot about writing somehow. Until Blogging. Writing daily on this blog rekindled my passion for writing, and the more people commented on my posts, the more comfortable I became with writing, and I found my style. I found myself.
     When I start writing, I completely lose all track of time. After what seems to be a few minutes of writing, I will look at the clock on my computer and be shocked at how much time has passed since I sat down and began typing. Writing has become for me, a thing I need to do, not simply want to do.

I know what I am now. I am a writer.

      So, today will be another first for me. I am attending my first ever Writer's Conference. It's an all day affair. I'm excited, like I used to be for the first day of school. Really, I am.
     First Toastmasters, and now this. Who knew?! No one is more surprised than me, that's for sure. It makes me wonder ....what's next?

*sigh* God help me. Maybe I'd better stop watching "Dancing with the Stars". (I just might find myself in a dance class!!)

500 flags down, 500 to go

     Whew! We worked. And chatted. And ate. And worked some more. Lots of fun.

We'll finish them up next week and be ready for the big event. I can't wait to see them on all the tables, sticking out of the charming little cupcakes!

Who says you can't buy happiness?

     The happiest little cottage in Reno, Nevada just went on the market.
     This wonderfully special home helped save my life in more ways than one, these past many months.
     In the beginning, it provided many a late night project that helped me to fill those lonely, scared, sleepless nights. Then, it presented a warm and welcome haven to come home to each night, to keep my sanity and many happy, memory making meals with family and friends gathered around the table.
     Now it's time for someone else to enjoy it's warm embrace.

Seven things

Happy Leap day! I've been tagged by Tracy at Plumcute Designs for a game. Here are the rules:

The rules of this little adventure are as follows:
1. When tagged, place the name of the person and URL on your blog
2. Post the rules on your blog
3. Write 7 things about yourself
4. Name 7 of your favorite weblogs
5. Send an e-mail letting those bloggers know they have been tagged 

OK, now for the 7 things about myself...
1. I've wanted to be a writer since I was in elementary school.
2. I'm one of those people that strangers are drawn to talk to...in grocery store lines, at the fabric store, garage sales, thrift stores, the Post Office....
3. I am very messy in my workroom. I can (and often do) go through more than 30 pieces of paper when creating the template for a project,(like invitations, place cards, etc) trying to get things exactly the way I want them, before being able to actually do the project.
4. I hate to be late. To anything.
5.I sing, out loud, a lot, when I'm alone. In the car... At home. (I love to sing the old Mary Tyler Moore Show theme song ...it's kind of my own personal theme song)
6. I love, love, love Friday afternoons and evenings. About noon on Fridays I begin to feel buoyantly happy. Giddy almost. Seriously.
7. When I go to work and it's really cold outside, I leave my dogs inside the house, and I leave my TV on during the day for them. Not that I think they watch it, but, I think the background noise makes them feel like I'm home.(Although I do think Moose is partial to the food network)
As for the 7 of my favorite weblogs...
Can't do it. Waaaaay too many great ones. Consider yourself tagged, read the rules above, and play along if you like, by sharing in my comments area!

More fabulous-ness from you-know-where

What can I say? I love me some TJ Maxx.

     Mmm hmm, I found this on my last expedition there with a friend on our lunch break from our grown up girl jobs. I've wanted one of these babies for, like, a year.
     Now that I have it, I don't really know what to do with it. It's tall, more than three feet high, and it's made from heavy rust colored metal wire. It could be a most incredible centerpiece outside on a buffet table this summer. Right now it's sitting in my workroom, and it's looking fabulous on the floor there,if I do say so myself, but if I am going to keep it, it has to pull it's weight around here, you know?
     Ideally, I picture it in my booth at the Tumbleweed Cotillion, full of adorable tags and such, or even better, in a corner of the boutique area of a Cupcakery, full of birthday candles, handmade gift tags and place cards for sale...but for now...for now...what shall I do with this masterpiece to justify the $39 purchase?

The Icebreaker

      You remember that I joined Toastmasters, right? It's been several weeks since I joined. It's not so much just a club, but also a bit like a class.
  They send you a massive packet of stuff to study and you have speech assignments. I have learned so much (Like the fact that I say "Um" a lot) and the people in my club are fabulous. Every age- Gen X'ers to old timers, and they're all good speakers.They're all working to get even better.
    I have a mentor in the group. Her name is Ruth. She's easy to talk to and gives me great tips and advice. I really like her.
     It's a fun club, and I look forward to Thursdays, even though I am terrified that they might call on me to give a " Table topics " quick thinking two minute speech.
     It's actually a lot of work, learning to stop saying "Um" between words, and to be concise and not get off topic, and speak in front of people you don't know from Adam.
    Tomorrow I am giving my first "real" speech at Toastmasters. It's called an "Ice breaker" speech and it it's 4 to 6 minutes long, telling about yourself. Sounds easy. It's not.
     Anyway, it occurred to me that you might like to know a bit more about me, yourself. I mean, my background, in a 4 to 6 minute nutshell, which, by the way, is no easy task. (I had no idea I was so long winded till I wrote the speech and then had to scale it back)
So, get yourself a cuppa and have a seat. Here is my "Icebreaker". Oh, and you must have a title for your speeches,so here is mine:

The first in the series of "My not so ordinary life" -
I used to be June Cleaver, but I'm not sure who I am now

Mr. Toastmaster, fellow toastmasters and guests,

My drivers license says my name is Tracey Buxton.  I used to be June Cleaver, but I’m really not sure who I am now. I'd like to start off with a few trivial facts about myself-

I was born in San Francisco and raised in the bay area. According to the pictures of me, I don’t think I was the cutest baby on the block, but I do remember that I was a happy child.
I always did well in school, and was seriously the most sought after babysitter in east San Jose in the late 60’s.
I never had a date or a kiss till I was 17 and a half.
     High school graduation day came, and as was typical of the times, all of my girlfriends hoped and planned for jobs like teachers and legal secretaries or nurses. I not-so-secretly longed to get married, to “do crafts” and raise a massive brood of babies.
     Fast forward 2 years, during which time I dabbled in a few college classes, went to Beauty College to become a hairdresser, and finally, married my high school sweet heart.
     Fast forward another 6 years and 3 babies later. We couldn’t afford to buy a home in California, because every time we thought we had some down payment money we’d have another baby.
     My husband at the time was offered a transfer to Reno Nev-ah-da. "Absolutely not!" I said. I hadn’t been to Reno, but from what I knew, it was riddled with gambling casinos, and cat houses; certainly no place to raise our children. Well, my husband insisted that we simply must come take a look-see, after all it was a free weekend get away, and believe me, when you have 3 children under 4 and the words "free weekend getaway" are about as exciting as winning the lottery. So, we came and took a look.
     Wow. Real families lived here. Not a cathouse in sight. Heck, this place was as close to Mayberry as you could get! We returned home, he took the transfer, we bundled up our little family and moved away from the by now unaffordable bay area to Reno. We quickly learned to pronounce Nev-aaa-da and began life in paradise..
     *sigh* I was in my glory, living out my fantasy life as the June Cleaver of the biggest little city. I had it all, and I knew it. I was married to the man of my dreams. I had a house with 2 car garage a yard, 3 kids and a dog. I was the head room mother, decorating the house and having couple’s dinner parties. Aah, life was good.
    The years catapulted into decades and before I could blink twice, we were shopping for colleges for our third and last babe to leave the nest.
     I remember vividly, one morning in November of 2002, when that third baby was a senior in high school, it suddenly hit me. I was being forced into a mandatory retirement. Not retirement from motherhood entirely, because I think that’s actually illegal, but certainly from packing lunches and monitoring curfew times.
    I was headed for the proverbial empty nest stage of my life. It became clear to me that soon, it would be my dear hubby and I headed into the golden twilight years to sit on the porch in dueling rockers, and travel around all the national parks in a slow moving RV during summertime.
    I had a light bulb moment that day.. Clearly, it was time for me to get a j-o-b. A job OUTSIDE of my home.
    By the end of January 2003, I ended up after a long and painfully drawn out process with a real grown up girl job at EDAWN, the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (but that’s a whole other speech for another time)
    At the same time, I began a little home based craft business and later, a Blog online named "A cottage Industry", where I was able to dabble in a longtime passion of mine, creative writing, and share my crafty projects, along with entertaining, how to's and decorating tips.
    You know, they say things happen for a reason and it's true.
    Fast forward once again- A year ago on the last day of September, I came home to find myself suddenly single. Literally. Suddenly.
    Single, after nearly 30 years of what I had gravely mistaken for wedded bliss.
    Time stopped.
    After slowly coming to the realization that I wouldn’t be spending my golden years with that guy I thought was the man of my dreams, I found myself, along with my dogs, starting over at the mid century mark. Not at all how I had pictured myself spending my 50th birthday. After this shock wore off a bit, I realized just how grateful I was for this job.  I was also grateful for my family and friends, both here and throughout my Blog readership. They were my lifesavers, they encouraged me to move forward.
    It took a long while, but gradually I found my footing. Life returned. Slowly at first. Yes, it is different. Not better, not worse, just different.
    In the year that has past since then, I have had celebrated my five year anniversary at EDAWN (I celebrated with a pair of Jessica Simpson stiletto heels and lunch out with my coworkers)
    I've planned 3 weddings for my 3 children within the past 12 months. I continue to paint vintage furniture, recreate a home within my little cottage where I now live with my dogs and have coordinated a successful vintage craft fair.
    These days, I’m not sure if I am June Clever, Martha Stewart, Erma Bombeck, or possibly Bob Villa. What I am sure of is life goes on whether we’re having fun or not, and we’re all about as happy as we make up our minds to be.
    Thank you Mr. Toastmaster, fellow toastmasters and guests.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ok, that's the speech. I hope you feel like you know me just a little bit better!

I SO heart Jessica Simpson

    Yes, people, I have a girl crush on my most recent favorite shoe designer..Jessica Simpson. OK, her name is on the shoes...and the shoe box, but I am not exactly sure she does the designing. No matter. I have to say, the woman makes the sexiest shoes I have ever seen. Evah. You've gotta love 'em.
    Click on the picture. Look at them close up. Ooooh. That's black patent leather with little polka dot holes overlaid on white, people! Adorable. About a three and a half inch heel. (Did I mention that I'm less than 5'4" and my boss at my grown up girl job is 6'8"?) Stunning, sexy, fabulous shoes.
   Ifound them Saturday and I had to have 'em. I decided I'd cut back on groceries and turn the heat way down this month so I could buy them. Right then.
*sigh* Sooo worth having Progresso soup for dinner 15 nights in a row and wearing my sweatshirt over my PJ's this month.

Now, I am wondering...When I am a farm owner can I still wear cute shoes?

Kindred spirits and a theme song (second post for Sunday...)

If you can dream it, you can do it. Always remember that this whole thing was started with a dream and a mouse. Walt Disney

If you can dream it, you can do it. Always remember that this whole thing was started with a dream and a house. Tracey Buxton

Umm, ya.
     I'm starting to think ol' Walt and I are long lost kindred spirits. I have gone so far as to choose a theme song for myself.(again, from Disney) It really hit home for me with where I am in my life.

A dream is a wish your heart makes
When you're fast asleep
In dreams you will lose your heartaches
Whatever you wish for, you keep

Have faith in your dreams and someday
Your rainbow will come smiling thru
No matter how your heart is grieving
If you keep on believing
the dream that you wish really will come true

Disney's Cinderella:
Music and Lyrics by Al Hoffman, Mack David and Jerry Livingston

Sweet Jesus, maybe I have gone off the deep end.

     It's just that you people have inspired me so. I mean, I just meant to share one of my many little dreams with you, and you made me see that I need to investigate it, not just keep it as a pipe dream. For real, not just in my head, or on a blog. You made me see that maybe..yes, maybe it is possible. I won't know until I check it out all the way. Only then will I know for sure. You made me see that I have to keep the faith.

Thank you all for this.

     I spoke with the listing Realtor and yes, the farm is still available. Yes, it has been reduced once again! Yes, she'll keep me informed of any activity, and yes, she'll get me the information I'm requesting.   
     I spent most of today on the SBA website, studying and copying templates for business plans, googling barn venues for other event ideas, and got things really rolling. I created a time line and an inspiration board.
     I got myself so excited and motivated that I had to take an extra long bubble bath to unwind myself. Now, I'm all ready to hop into my bed with the freshly changed sheets in my favorite jammies... and dream the wish my heart is making.

(one of) My secrets behind the secret

     Who watched Oprah this past Wednesday?! Oh. my. gosh. I am so totally working on developing my power of positive thinking, the law of attraction and all that good karma stuff. In a word, FAITH.
Remember "The Secret"? Did you see the movie, or read the book? If you missed Oprah, it was about just that...it was called "the Secret behind the Secret", and it focused especially on the power of list making, and inspiration boards (putting things in writing or verbalizing them reinforces your ideas and desires basically.) Kind of a Dr. Phil, "You've got to name it to claim it" attitude.You know, thoughts become things.
    Anyhoo, I decided to take the leap, to bear my soul and share with you one of my (many) desires for my life. (besides owning the cutest  cupcakery slash home accessories boutique in the free world, writing lifestyle books about living a charmed life on a shoestring, and being on the Oprah show myself...)

    See it up above? And there again, from up in the sky?
    Um, ya. It's a fabulous old Victorian that's for sale people! Pure heaven, that's what that is. (Can you picture it at Christmas time?!) It's perfectly located, just outside of my favorite spot, Portland, Oregon...and it's just outside of my budget. (although it has been reduced just recently!)

    The house is so charming, so quaint. Sure, it needs some "Foofifying" here and there, but all in all, it's in amazingly great shape. Oh, but that's now why I want it. Oh no. I want it for this...

*sigh* Picture this spectacular old barn, all rustic and romantic (why yes, I do it see it that way) with a new wooden floor, a prep kitchen and restrooms added, with oodles and toodles of twinkle lights at night...to be used as the most wonderful event venue for weddings, meetings, family reunions, Tumbleweed Cotillions...you name it.(too bad all my kids will already be married!) The guy with the massive property behind this gem has some kind of rodeo racing business, and I can see him needing to throw some big awards shindigs in this wonderful barn....My mind reels at the endless possibilities. Really, it does. The barn is enormous inside, and it has a huge upper loft area (That's where the band would be!)
    I'd live in the oh, so charming house, with three porches no less! (I would decorate these babies for sure!)

...and the clawfoot tub I've always dreamed of in the bathroom...

*sigh* Built in 1900, it's only ever had 2 owners, and the history is so very romantic all in itself. It has 5 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. I could use one bedroom for when the future grandbabies come over to stay, and 1 for brides to use as a changing room when they are renting the property for their weddings. (see? I have it all planned out)

The pictures don't do it any justice, because the property...the property (over 6 acres!) is to-die-for as well..I just can't say it enough. It's beautiful...Oh! Did I mention it was getting a new roof last fall when we looked at it?.... it's all located on a huge corner lot with a great space for parking on opposite side of the barn...) and plenty of room for outdoor events in summertime as well (have ya been to Portland in the summer? So many flowers!)

There's a gazebo (of course) and 2 more outbuildings...the bride-to-be pointed out that one could be used as a cigar bar for events (can ya picture that?!)
    Then, there are two large (I mean ginormous) old garage type buildings. One could house all the table rounds and wooden folding chairs for events. (mmm hmmm,you're thinking it too, right? You're thinking, " It's like it was meant for this"...)I'd have a multitude of cutwork tablecloths and fabulous color coordinated fabric napkins for renting out, along with wonderful candelabras and votive candle holders. The other old garage has been redone inside with a nice long counter and a sink...so beyond perfect for me to teach classes in (cupcakes...furniture painting...crafting...)

and it has a charming bathroom too!

Now do you see just how perfect this is for me? When I am not running a Cotillion or an event, I will be found sitting in a sunny upstairs bedroom window (think Jo from little women here...) with my computer, and my pups, writing books on creating a charmed life on a shoestring, or posting on my blog.
   Oh, my I almost forgot to share, and then I'll quit, I promise...out on the back of the property, it has the original 3 seater outhouse, people!

Now, that's history. So cool.
As if this isn't all too perfect for me, I was given another sign..there is a Christmas tree lot across the street (you can see parts of it from the arial photo above)...named..are you ready for this? Tracy's Christmas Tree farm. Now, does that give you goosebumps?! (I am going to overlook the fact that they spell Tracey differently than I do. That's just a technicality)

*huge sigh*
Ya, so that's one of my secret dreams...now, I'd love to hear yours!