Notes from A Cottage Industry

Photo shoot.

I am supposed to be prepping for Barn House, and I am. Truly, I am.

But, this past five or six weeks have been kinda rough for my family, (if you read their respective blogs, you'll know some of the reasons why.) and so today, I ended up doing a really fun lil' photo shoot of my number one daughter. It was a hoot, and we even had one of my neighbors poke his head out and ask if she was a movie star. (Movie Star?! Buddy, she's a super model, cant'cha tell?!) This next in looks a bit like a senior picture....

 

You might notice that she doesn't look anything like me. (Well, I get that a lot. None of my kids do. They look much more like their Dad's side of the family) Anyway, she'll be working my booth at Barn House this Saturday, so if you're attending, come by and say "hi!"

Oh, and you can see her cute new banner shot on her blog here.

Now, back to prepping for Barn House.

This is where I discover I am not nearly as laid back as I thought I was.

(A picture-less post, because I am having a bad hair week that will hopefully end on Wednesday.)

I know, I know. My friends will say that I am not necessarily a laid back person. Admittedly, I am a bit on the do-it-all-or-nothing-stay-up-half-the-night-be-excited-about-life-or-forget-it kind of girl, but I am talking about things like how messy my home is, or getting the car washed on a regular basis...Let me say that I am pretty laid back about those kinds of things... I don't usually sweat the small stuff...er..at least I don't sweat most of the small stuff.

Just don't mess with my kids...or my hair.

This past week I discovered that I am not as laid back as I always thought I was, when I went to "get my hair did" as my daughters both like to say. First off, let me say it was really my own fault. Well, mostly it was. My latest stylist (Number seven since I moved to the Pacific Northwest nine months ago.) is a very nice early 40 something goth looking chick with heavy black eyeliner, who wears her hair back combed. Back combed very high.

Anyway, she seems to want to change my color and "high-lights" at each and every appointment, (this was my third time with her.) even though I am sitting in her chair telling her I like the color just fine as it is, thankyouverymuch.

Well, this week she was "feeling" that I was too "warm" and needed "low-lights". I told her I liked it fine already, but with that being said, it was only hair after all, and (I bragged) I am a pretty flexible gal. (Or so I thought.) 'Nuff said. Ms. Goth-hair-stylist whips up her potions and goes to town on my head. An hour later after she has shampooed me, she spins me around to see my wet hair as she prepares to work her magic with the blow dryer. Even wet, I could see what I can only describe as tiger stripes in my hair.

I informed her I was officially afraid, which I have never before said to a hairdresser. Never.

She laughed and said to relax, it would be great.

She finished me up and...it wasn't great. It was...kind of..striped. Dark brown, strawberry-ish blonde, platinum. So not me.
I hoped it was maybe just the lighting. I drove to my daughter's home where I was given her verdict..."not good."

Daughter number two gave her opinion..."not all that bad."

I needed the opinion of someone that would really be honest, so, I ran over to Camas Antiques to get a good friend's opinion. (I figured, if anyone knows a bad hair color job, it's your best gay guy friend.) He looked at me and, after telling me to turn all the way around..slowly...announced.. "it looks great...if you're trying to look like a punked out 14 year old."

Well, that said it all. I went home, and called the salon. I go back in on Wednesday for some..er...modifications. Wish me luck.

Weekly Words to Live By - Week 178

It's hard to wait around for something you know might never happen; but it's even harder to give up when you know it's everything you want.

                                                                                                                        -unknown

I really like this quotation, because it is just so true. It's all about holding on to our hopes.

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If you'd like to join me in sharing your own "Weekly Words to Live By", use the Mr. Linky tool below to link your blog post to this week's specific Words to live By post, and please remember to link back to this post here on Notes From A Cottage Industry.

Thoughts in black and white....

It's not about where you go,but what you do when you get there.

It's about making a place more alive.

It's being the person who gets the evening started.

Pretty good words to think on...don'tcha think? Guess where I found them. These words were inside the latest White House Black Market mailer.(in case you don't know what that is, it's a women's clothing store chain where everything is in shades of black...or white.) It's funny how we can find motivational thoughts in everyday things, huh? Just thought I'd share....

Sleeping habits.

My life and my lifestyle are very, very different from what they were four years ago. In every way imaginable. Everything, from a (supposedly) secure financial situation, to a well planned and much anticipated rosy trip down the garden path to our golden years...all changed in an instant.

I can see clearly many blessings that have come along the way as time has passed. It's just that it is not what I thought my life was going to look like. (Don't get me wrong, I don't miss him anymore. No, not at all. I know I am far better off now, in every way. It's the concept of having a partner that I miss.) I miss the part of being...half of a pair. A two-some. I am far more comfortable as someone's better half than being a whole me, flying solo. It's just how I was made, I think.

I know a large portion of you are married folk. Half of a couple. Hopefully half of a very happy couple.

Would you like to know what daily minute I really miss most about being married? What I miss about not being part of a couple? It's waking up in the morning and rolling over to see the other side of the bed.

Where a perfectly content, happy (or so I thought) sleeping man used to be is now an assorted pile of white pillows in shams, (usually with my laptop balanced precariously on top) kind of lined up down the bed to roughly resemble the shape and feeling of something...of someone being there. Someone to smile a sleepy smile at, to snuggle deep in the covers with for just five more minutes, to whisper good morning, and I love you to.

I go along fine for stretches of time, busy with life, and I don't think about it much. I don't let myself think about it. I try to jump out if bed the minute my eyes open. I attempt to keep focused on the tasks at hand..earning a living in my newest hodge-podgy sort of way, keeping up with housework, and daily life stuff. I feel proud of myself. I am fine, I think. I am tough. Then, out of the blue, that giant-lump-of-lonely feeling reappears.

Always in the morning.

And I lie there, and try to retrace my steps backwards...slowly...to exactly how...I got here...from there. Only I don't really know how. It simply is so. And I sometimes worry that this little piece of early morning emptiness in my soul will be with me always.

Another Barn House Tour Bus...this time from Eugene, Oregon!

 

I just wanted to share the news that Jill just sent me. There is yet another tour bus available for those of you wanting to attend the Barn House Flea Market, but you don't feel like driving over two hours by yourself....Check it out here!

I'm looking forward to meeting everyone a week from Saturday!

The latest window display at Camas Antiques....

I'm so ticked at myself that I didn't take a few pictures of this latest window display last week, as much of what was in the window has already sold, but...better late than never.

This month's window is created by Joann, the owner of Camas Antiques, and I am drooling over the color scheme...corals, and Robin's egg blues and turquoise, with shades of whites and creams.....Mmmmmm, absolutely yummy. She has a great eye for color and texture, and I always love her displays.

Oh! In case you didn't know it yet, Joann will also be at the Barn House Flea Market on July 31st!

Weekly words to Live By - week 177

Dare to believe that something inside you is greater than your circumstances.

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If you'd like to join me in sharing your own "Weekly Words to Live By", use the Mr. Linky tool below to link your blog post to this week's specific Words to live By post, and please remember to link back to this post here on Notes From A Cottage Industry.

Alfresco dining, townhouse style.

My cousin stopped by a couple nights ago for a quick dinner on her way home to the Seattle area from California. The weather was absolutely perfect and it was nice to have company. We sat on the balcony and enjoyed a glass of wine and Caesar Salads. Nice.

So nice in fact, that I decided I will be dining out on the balcony for more meals, (for as long as the Pacific Northwest weather cooperates) enjoying the view and getting back into doing my little table settings that make any meal feel special. Candle light, cloth napkins and a tablecloth; it doesn't take more than a minute to go from ordinary to extraordinary.  

 

Don't get me wrong, I adored my wonderful backyard entertaining space on Norman Drive, with the yard big enough for the pups to run around, and yet small enough for me to manage. (With the help of my Mow and Go guy, Rosindo) But still....

I continue to be amazed at how well Moose has adapted to townhome living, and at just how much I am enjoying having only a small outdoor living area. It turns out that alfresco dining is equally nice on a balcony of a town home, or a patio or deck of a single family home. I guess what I am trying to say here is that whatever size space you have, large or small, can be made into a retreat, a haven, a sanctuary.

The 2010 Garden Tour

I hope you're as excited as I am to tour some of our bloggers garden and outdoor living spaces! Before I share my own personal balcony space, let's begin by going over to Marianne's blog to see what she has to share....

Next, we'll go to and have a look-see at Savannah's beautiful spot...

Then, Sharon wanted to share a photo from her wonderful outdoor space, but she doesn't have a blog, but, here is her photo, all the same...

Now, on to Janae's garden spot at her new place! Let's head on over to Carol's from here.....
One more stop...right here....
Next, we're off to see Gabrielle's outdoor living spaces...
Laurie's place is next on the list. Let's go see what she's sharing....
I'll be sharing the photos of my balcony area in my next post.......

Two weeks and counting!

Oh.   My.    Ga.

Only two weeks left until the big Flea Market at Barn House. (Will you be there?) It's going to be huge. Ginourmous, really. OH! And there will even be two busloads of shoppers coming...one from Seattle, and one from Yakima.

The vendor list is fabulous, to say the least. So many of my favorite junkers, and so many truly good people.
Did you see?

Right there. I'm listed on the vendor list. (Somebody, pinch me!!!) I am thrilled to be included and in my usual fashion, I've procrastinated a bit (where did the time go??!) and am feeling oh-so-incredibly-under-the-gun-but-in-a-good-way, scrambling and getting things ready.(I don't know why I am even surprised. This is how I operate every time.)

Anyway.

Now that I have my patootie in gear, there's just no stopping me.

Summer Garden Tour Reminder!!!

Just a lil' reminder for everyone....It's very nearly that time again. Mark July 16th on your calendars for the Annual Garden Tour. Let's all share our favorite outdoor entertaining spaces, and flowers and veggies, oh, my!
I for one, am quite anxious to share what I have done with my lower balcony...I am excited to say it's amazing what all can be done with not-so-much space!

Here's all you need to do to participate: Email me from my sidebar email button or type in my email address: ([email protected]) and send one photo and a link to your blog post and I will add you to the tour. Then, share the Garden Tour button on your blog along with a link to my blog here. The tour will be on Friday, July 16th....it will inspire us all, I am sure!

Ain't life grand?

..well, it is when you've got grandbabies.

I got to finally meet my third and newest grandson this past weekend, in a whirlwind-don't-blink-twice-coz-it's-over weekend trip to Reno.

Be still, my heart. So precious.

So beautiful.

So perfect.

Just shy of five weeks old, he is a gift from God.

Weekly Words to live By - Week 176

Simple pleasures are the best.

That's my one of my daughter's pups, Miss Ruby Tuesday in the photo. She loves her some air conditioning.

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If you'd like to join me in sharing your own "Weekly Words to Live By", use the Mr. Linky tool below to link your blog post to this week's specific Words to live By post, and please remember to link back to this post here on Notes From A Cottage Industry.

Real life.

I've been remiss on blogging, I know. 

Sometimes life takes twists and turns we aren't expecting, or wanting, and we suddenly realize what a blessing an ordinary day really is. Those moments when we think, "What happened here? Ten minutes ago everything was fine, and now, everything is a mess." Those moments where we'd give anything to turn back time, just one day, just one hour. But, we can't.

"Doo-doo occurs" as one of my friends used to say. (Ain't that the truth.) And, since I feel I am somewhat of a rather reluctant expert in the area of doo-doo occurring, I know that it does no good to look back and try to untangle the mess in our heads to figure out why it happened, but to look forward, and trust. Trust that things will indeed work out for the best in the end, that we will come out the other end in one piece, stronger, that we will get through the next ten minutes. Ten days.

I have shared bits and pieces of my suddenly single story, and looking back, I have meandered quite a good long way down the rough and rocky path to being a stronger, better me. I'm proud of that, actually, but, still...I wouldn't wish this experience on anyone.  

I know first hand that a divorce, when you think everything is going along fine and you're headed for the finish line together, is earth shattering, and mind boggling, and it rocks your confidence (and shatters your heart into ten thousand pieces) in ways other people cannot imagine.

Life isn't fair.

My first born...the nurse, the obsessive Auntie, the let-me-save-every-stray-puppy-and-person-and-share-anything-I-have-with-you daughter found herself, less than a month ago, suddenly single. The club I would have given my life to not have her join. Like me, it was not her plan. Not her choice. Her love could not heal his broken childhood, his damaged heart.

But, it is so. And she will get through this, finding her way down her own rocky path, filled with hills and valleys. And she will come out on the other side, just like I did, stronger and better. And proud of herself too.

I only wish with all my heart I could fast forward it for her so she could skip all the doo-doo.

**Check out Lindsey's blog here.

Weekly Words to Live By - week 175

"Motivation is when your dreams put on work clothes."

                                                                               Benjamin Franklin

Dear God, if ever a quotation was meant for me, it is this one.I have the Barn House Flea Market coming up on July 31st and I need to get myself into over-over drive!

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If you'd like to join me in sharing your own "Weekly Words to Live By", use the Mr. Linky tool below to link your blog post to this week's specific Words to live By post, and please remember to link back to this post here on Notes From A Cottage Industry.

A dream day of thrifting.

I hope you aren't sick to death of these thrifting posts, but I just had to share an eensy-weesy bit of my major score from yesterday.

Moose and I left our home at 6:20 yesterday morning (anything after 6:30 and you hit stop-and-sit traffic until nine o'clock-ish.) and headed over to my daughter's home across the river in Oregon. By 8:30 we had gone to Home Depot, planted flowers in pots for her patio, changed a few light bulbs, and added a new shelf to a fabulous little cabinet in her living room, thankyouverymuch.

We then headed out thrifting and ...(I know I've said this before, but this time I really mean it) we hit the motherload! We actually had so many large pieces that we had to take one car load back over the bridge to my home, then head back and get the second carload, which we then had to tie my hatch back down on my car, because the fit was not quite close enough, and we didn't want to turn it into three car trips.

I kid you not, it was as if we had a golden touch. Every piece of furniture we found was more charming than the last. And, to make this a real dream trip in the thrifting world, every item we wanted was either incredibly affordable, or not priced. When we would ask the price,we were shocked at how cheap the stock person would announce the price to be. They had the largest overstock of furniture I have ever come across in a thrift shop on a single day.

So many of you have commented or emailed me on occasion to say that you never seem to find great things out thrifting. I want to encourage you to keep going. Those of us in the business (it's like a sickness really....we get so hooked on thrifting.) know the rush of adrenalin that comes over us when we spot a diamond in the rough that the person before us had missed.

It's a hit-or-miss process, and sometimes you have to go to the thrift shops, estate or yard sales multiple times before you find the types of things you are after. Next time you are at a thrift shop, go slowly. Look past the messy pile or bin of what appears to be real trash.

You just may discover a real treasure or two or ten.