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The past couple of days I have been reading a novel by Cassandra King, (wife of author Pat Conroy). I have read several of her other books and very much enjoyed them but this book was a bit deeper than the others I had read. It was about a woman psychiatrist who was an expert at helping other people how to deal with the loss of a relationship (divorces) but could not accept her own loss of her husband due to a hunting accident. End of story: with help from her daughter and best friend, she is able to walk a labrynth during a ceremony of "release". The book got me thinking that maybe I have issues I myself need to release, and maybe I will be happier and work will be easier.

This evening the television was on, and a show I ordinarily wouldn't have watched was on. There were people at a retreat who, instead of walking a labrynth, were at a bonfire and throwing into the fire, material items which symbolized the relationship they were leaving....wedding garters, wedding rings, love letters, etc. With two such close coincidinces, I think perhaps I should take this as an omen and find my own ceremony of rebirth.

Scared

A little over a week ago on Fri., May 4, I was on my way to Wimberley for a one day show. I normally arrive there on Fri. afternoon and visit with friends as we work to set up for an early crowd the next morning. We camp out in our spaces, some people have rvs or trailers to sleep in, and some sleep in their vehicles. I was happy with myself because I was running on schedule instead of behind schedule as I gassed up and headed out of town.

I went around San Antonio on the loop to the interstate and shortly after I got on the interstate I had a blowout. In all my years of driving I had never had a blowout and it really scared me to the core. Luckily, I managed to keep control of the van which wasn't easy to do. After gaining a slight bit of composure, I turned on the emergency flashers and searched the highway for a nearby exit to get off the interstate. This area has very high semi-truck traffic and I was uneasy. But there wasn't one in sight and the tire was ripped to shreds and couldn't be driven on anyways. Of course, I was loaded down with inventory and displays, so I started unloading off to the side. The weather had been cloudy and cool all day, but this is when the sun decided to make an appearance, so all of a sudden it seemed like a sauna.

I read the manual to get the jack out and was trying to decipher where the spare was and how to unhitch it from the underside of the van when a San Antonio city police officer came along and helped me get things taken care of. I was grateful for his help, but would have been just as grateful if he didn't offer a finger, but just sat there with his flashers on to slow people down and make them more cautious.

So then I limped along to the next little town on the donut-tire where I found a Wal Mart and bought a new tire. So by the time all this was taken care of, I was about 2 1/2 hours later than planned in getting to my destination. But at least I was safe. I hope never to have this experience again!

I was sick with a stress headache on Sat. night when I got home, and think it was from all the stress involved with the tire on Fri., and not sleeping well on the cot Sat. night, and then I didn't get any "real" coffee on Sat. morning, since my friend offered me decaff. So I believe it was a combination of factors. From now on, I'm taking my Folgers and my coffeemaker....gotta keep that caffeine level up!

Finally!

Finally I had a decent show.....no, not quite what I had hoped for, but a better show than I have had in quite some time. This was at King William Fair in conjunction with Fiesta in San Antonio.

My friend Courtney came in from the Houston area to do the show too, and I had dinner with Courtney and her husband Cody after we set out canopies and displays up on Friday evening. We went to Red Lobster, and I had the steak and shrimp, and enough steak left over that I brought it home and had a very nice steak sandwich on Sat. night after I got home from doing the show. Courtney had a lot of fish and scallops left over from her dinner, so we had those packed up as well, and I "shared the love" with the dogs and cats. The dogs were particularly fond of the scallops.

I juried into the show with jewelry and paintings, and I sold two of my paintings which really helped to make the show good for me. I don't know why, but this seems to be the time of year I sell my artwork. I need to discuss that with my art teacher and get her input as to why that might be, and maybe find an art for each season!

I have been very busy the past month and more. I have done 4 shows on the past 4 weekends, some one day shows, others 2 day shows. I have a show this coming Saturday at Wimberley and then, thankfully, will have a free weekend. During the past month, I not only had 4 shows, but I had both state and federal taxes due in the same week! I reasoned that I don't have a reason to kick myself in the backside for not doing more work when I look back at all I had to accomplish.

Wining

I'm a winer...... I have a glass or two of wine every evening as I wind down for the night. It's been my routine for quite a few years. I've introduced several friends who visited me to my favorite affordable wine and they liked my taste enough to buy it for themselves. In the past couple of weeks one of those friends has called me twice later in the evening because she knows it's safe to call me late. We have the same cell provider so we're calling for "free" and can afford to chat. Each time we were both sipping our wine for the evening as we chatted. We don't do many of the same shows any more so it's nice to keep in touch on our cell phones and online. We talked about our shows, customers, designs, and products. Mostly we talked about our businesses and mutual friends and customers. I miss having Wendell to talk with and his companionship. While this is nowhere near the same, I enjoyed these visits via the airwaves. Both nights were warm enough to sit out in the dark under the stars and really listen. I'm blessed to have friends like these.

April Woes

I've been neglecting the blog again because I feel I am repeating myself with the so-so shows, and so-so life. But that's my life.

Last weekend I had a show in La Villita, in San Antonio. We had an unusually strong for this time of year cold front hit, and temps were in mid-30's for a high on Sunday with rain and wind. Some of the vendors who had set up their booths on Fri. showed up on Sat. morning to dismantle thier setups and call it quits. The weather was so bad that most of the vendors who did tough it out closed for the day at 3:00 instead of 6:00. And there were more vendors who tore down their spaces at the end of this day. Sunday was even worse customer-wise than Sat. was, but at least the weather was a bit better. It was still chilly, but at least is was dry.

After such a disastrous show last weekend, I needed to try to make some money and my next scheduled show isn't until next weekend, so I decided to try doing Goliad Market. Another cold front came through Friday night and while the temps were completely bearable, the wind was horrific. Canopies were in peril of flying like kites, and merchandise was being blown about all day long. Even my jewelry which was on wire displays was being blown over. I had to rise at 4:30 to drive the 90 miles to Goliad. I am most definitely not a morning person, so this made it especially hard. I was pretty tired by afternoon, and had to walk around a bit to rouse myself. I was concerned about the drive home last evening, but managed just fine. The exertion involved in taking the canopy, displays, and merchandise down and hauling it to the van and reloading worked really well to wake my body and brain up.

Today I'm resting a bit before I gear up for my show at Gruene next weekend. The doggies will be happy because "Aunt Kim" will be coming from the Houston area to stay with me while she does the show. They love company, and Riley gets to sleep with her.

Springtime

It seems as winter may be ending here in S. Texas. Some trees are beginning to leaf out but according to local lore, we aren't out of the woods as far as a freeze is concerned. The mesquite trees aren't leafed out yet, and if they aren't leafed out, we are still apt to have a frost. There is quite a difference in the way the air feels and it won't be long until I'll be complaining about the heat. Maybe next week I can get started with some badly needed yardwork. Soon we should be getting some springtime thunderstorms. I love watching the lightening. I remember that as a child, pushing my bed up against the bedroom window at night so I could watch Mother Nature's display.

I will be travelling out of my normal territory to do a show this weekend. I'll be doing a show on the coast, at Fulton Fri.-Sun. Since I will be sharing a booth and motel with a friend so this will cut expenses greatly. It's always fun doing a new venue to see new and diferent artwork, but just as sweet is doing a monthly show where there many of the same vendors are there month after month and year after year. So I'm looking forward to week after next when I'll be back at Gruene to do the market there.

For The Birds

Finally, we've had a couple of partial days of sunshine which were appreciated greatly. Wednesday while sitting in my art class, I looked out the window to see the first robin of the season.

Today I made a delivery to my shop in Castroville, and have to drive most of the 50 mile distance on rural roads. I thought maybe I would see more robins on the trip, but I didn't. However I did see some kind of a bird of prey...it was really pretty...not a hawk or a Mexican Eagle, but a raptor of some kind. Also, the meadowlarks were out, and I saw an emu loose on the side of the road coming home.

I had lunch with the shop owner at Castroville and a friend who also sells to the shop, and does quite a few of the same shows as I do. We had a very nice time visiting and the food was good, too. I've taken the rest of the day off, but must get back to the grindstone tomorrow. I have a small inventory built ahead now, but it won't take it long to deplete once show season starts up in earnest.

Edited to add....I found out what my unknown bird was. It's a Crested Caracara...very pretty.

Sunshine On My Shoulder

This morning brought a bright sunshine to burn the fog away. Although we were only supposed to have a chance of sunshine this afternoon, I'm glad the weatherman was wrong today. I ran out to Wal Mart the first thing to get my shopping out of the way so I could come home to enjoy the rest of the day. After lunch I took the dogs for a walk which was long overdue for them as well as for myself. The sun was so bright I think I may have gotten a touch of sunburn on the back of my neck, the sun sure felt hot there. Then I spent some time digging up a small plot for some mesclun and turnip greens and planted the seeds. Our sunshine isn't supposed to last long, as cold, cloudy and rainy weather is due to return tonight, but it was enjoyed while it was here. We really have needed the rain because we've been in a drought for several years now. I just wish it weren't several weeks at a time before we had a sunny day! For now, they are saying we may have some sunshine later in this coming week. That would be nice.

Weather Woes

I'm really tired of the cold,cloudy and wet weather that we've been having for the past couple of weeks. I'd love to have an afternoon of sunshine even if it was cold. My past two shows have been rained out which makes paying my mounting bills hard to do. Last weekend I was on the Riverwalk and there were about 12,000 people in town for conventions just a block or 2 away and they should have given us lots of business except that the rain and cold temps kept them and all the other tourists holed up in their motel rooms, restaurants and/or bars. (3,500 of them were Meteorologists) Business was so bad that most of the vendors (myself included) packed up and left on Sunday morning, not wanting to endure another day of slow torture by the weather gods.

Earlier this week we had frozen precipitation which was really pretty, but pretty well closed down a good chunk of this part of the state. It cancelled my art club meeting Tues. evening as well as my class on Wed. I'm by no means ready for our blazing summer but would love to see the sunshine again for a bit! It does make for nice soup weather, and hot tea weather. The animals are all enjoying lying in front of the gas stove or the woodburner. I can only get away with doing that for a day or 2 before I have to get back out in the studio to work and look at the drippy weather as I do so.

Houston, I have landed and flopped.

Yesterday I did a market in Houston. The first time I had been to the show, I thought it would be nice to try a new venue, but should have stayed home. I did have a good time while there, except for the not making any money part, and the drive home. I left on Friday afternoon to stay with a friend who was doing the show also, and lives about 45 minutes from the location. We had a nice time chatting and "wining" that evening and I truly appreciated her and her husband's hospitality. The weather was really not the best weather to entice customers to come out and shop. The clouds were very low and it looked as if it would rain at just any time, and it was chilly but not too terribly cold. Thankfully, the rain held off just until we were getting the last couple of items in our vehicles at the end of the day. I did have to drive most of the way home in rain, several times in downpours. I stopped about 75 miles out of Houston to get gas, pulled up to a pump before noticing the whole pump area was under several inches of water, so I pulled across the street to another with a dryer "landing pad". So now, it's back to the drawing board, I have to get jewelry made for a show this Fri.-Sun. , and my inventory for it is very low, so I have to really bust my backside this week.

Christmas Eve in the Afternoon

Since late Saturday morning it has been raining almost constantly. Mostly a slow, soaking rain for which we are very thankful because we have been in a drought and
need the moisture desperately. It seemed to be a good napping day yesterday, but my mind wouldn't let me doze. I tried two different times, but gave up the effort. I have tried to take some vacation time for myself, but am uneasy at having no pressing deadline for a show or an order to complete. I can't immerse myself into reading, but I was able to watch a video last night of Under the Tuscan Sun.

Today I am making an effort to clean a bit and bake a few things. The last batch of cookies is due to come out of the oven soon, and I may be adventurous and make some biscotti later. Tonight I will watch another video, then I will spring into action tomorrow to fix a nice Christmas dinner for my parents. Mama had suggested Golden Corral again, but I wanted to have dinner at home, so offered to fix it here since we went to Golden Corral for Thanksgiving buffet. Yesterday morning I drove by our Golden Corral and found it to be closed, their sign taken down, and a big realty for sale sign posted in front . This was quite a shock since I hadn't heard any rumors or statements about their closing. I know it will throw a wrench in my parent's eating out habits, not that they eat out that often, but that is where they go when they do! After tomorrow's dinner I will get back to the grindstone...maybe I won't feel so uneasy.

Late December Musings

I've been so busy the past month I have neglected my postings. I'm finally done with shows for at least a couple of weeks, and as of today, I'm current on wholesale orders for my signs. That sounds really good except for the fact that the money supply has stopped until the shows and wholesale orders pick up again. I do have one commission for a painting, and perhaps another! This is very exciting news for me. One commission is for a first-timer who has seen my work and wants to decorate her new house being built in Gruene with one of my bright, funky paintings. The second commission hasn't been finalized yet, but is for a return customer, a "collector"....he already has two of my paintings decorating his new house, and we are negotiating a third, a bigger, badder one for his living room.

I returned from my visit to New Mexico in pretty much the same frame of mind as when I left. I had hoped for some solitude and meditation ...just some peace. But it wasn't to be, with so many family members and friends packed into a suite. So many people, so little room! Cloudcroft was different, but Santa Fe has my soul. I was glad to be able to take my mother so that she could spend time with family, and to be able to relieve Daddy so he could go visit his brother, who is terminal. Daddy said that Uncle Roy woke up long enough for them to talk a bit, and he recognized him, but not my other uncle who had traveled with Daddy. I know it meant a lot to him to be recognized. My next trip will most likely be to Louisiana to yet another funeral.

I made a delivery to my wholesale customer in Castroville today. I took a different route today, going through several small towns such as La Coste, Lytle, and Natalia. They were such "old looking" towns.... I will have to go back and investigate instead of just driving though.

Life goes on....things change, things stay the same.......que sera, sera.

Giving Thanks

For Thanksgiving "dinner", I went with my parents to Golden Corral, a local buffet restaurant. I wasn't a very happy camper when Mama said that Daddy wanted to arrive there about 11:00. I'm not an early bird by any stretch of the imagination, and at that hour my stomach is just starting to think about settling from the light breakfast I might have had. But by the time we arrived, I found I was famished and we all had a nice "dinner" with everyone getting to eat their favorites with no work to prepare the meal or mess to clean up afterward. Quite a deal! I was also surprised at the number of people who were there so early. I came home and took the dogs for a walk. This was a treat for them, but it was also to help my meal settle. The dogs enjoyed it much more than I.

While on our walk, I pondered the things I have to be thankful for. Yes, it's been a hard past 9 months, but I am thankful I am still here giving it the good old college try. I am lonesone for the companionship I have lost, but grateful for the family and friends I have. I'm thankful I'm still able to support myself with my own little business, and that I don't have to work for someone else. I'm thankful that I have my health, and am sleeping much better these days.

Now I believe a nap is called for, then it's back to the grindstone. I have a wholesale order to fill, a show to do next weekend as well as the next, and I must take some time off tomorow to go into the big "city" for a jewelry market and to pick up more lumber.

On the Road Again

I made a delivery again today, leaving home in time to arrive at my destination before the shop opened. A cold front came through last night to blow all the humdity out of the air and it was a nice, sunny drive. I had to wait a short while for the shop owner to arrive but I found a nice bench in the sunshine and a shop kitty to keep me company while I waited.

I treated myself to an alpaca scarf being sold in the clothing room of the shop. I needed a warm scarf and this seemed to fill the bill...soft, natural fiber, and warm. The shop owner is friends with an airline hostess who picks up goods for her on layovers, the scarf was from Peru.

After making my delivery and receiving yet another order, I drove into San Antonio to pick up more lumber. I stopped in at Pet Smart to get some food for the dogs then ended up getting caught in a mess of traffic. I knew there was construction in 3 areas of town today and where they were........I made certain to stay away. What I hadn't planned on was that the traffic from one of the highways I didn't get onto was being diverted to a street I was on. Holy crap, what a mess. I was just then trying to get to a certain restaurant for a quick bite of Mexican food before going home. I gave up the notion of getting where I wanted to in the first place and while driving by a mall, thought "what the heck?" knowing that at least there was a food court. So I parked and found the food court...there was a Mexican grill with a Carne Asada Plate special that was really decent. They even used a leaf lettuce in their salad instead of iceberg, and had 3 different hot sauces. I tried 2 of them, and I'm missing at least six layers of skin off my tongue....I think the sauces were so hot that they cauterized that place in the back of my throat that usually acts up, making me cough and be hoarse for the first few minutes while eating a hot salsa.(but that doesn't deter me)

So with a full stomach and missions accomplished, I found the back way out of Dodge and arrived back home to check on my parents. I found myself more or less corralled into making a trip to New Mexico in December that I hadn't planned to take. My brother and his family are celebrating Christmas early with my nephew and his expectant significant other coming in from Minnesota. They are renting cabins in Cloudcroft for a couple of days, and Daddy wants me to take Mama, as he wants to go to La. to visit with his brother who is in the last stages of Parkinson's. I really don't mind the trip, I've not been to Cloudcroft that I remember, although Daddy says I have been there when I was too young to remember. My niece wanted to take Mama, but with her disabilities and the fact that Tamrah hasn't driven on snow before, and since I have 10 years' experience at it, if there's snow or ice to worry about....Daddy wanted me to be doing the driving.

So it's back to the grindstone, and the same old same old....build inventory.

Election day

My weekend market was another not so good, not so bad show. The weather was pretty chilly so the shoppers were pretty slow to get started in the morning. Normally the shoppers arrive as early as 7 a.m., but it wasn't until about 10 that the crowd began arriving. But since I always enjoy going to this market, and I did make a little money in the process,it wasn't a loss.

I must get going this morning, get out to vote and then put my nose to the grindstone. I have an order for signs to be delivered, a show next weekend to make merchandise for, and I should stop by a local shop to see which of my signs she wants to buy, as the owner visited me at Gruene market and wants to buy from me. I need to mow the yard, plant some winter flowers, and paint the trim on the front of the house, but there's only so much of me to go around with so few hours in the day, so some of the chores will have to wait.

....later in the day

I decided to run some errands while I was out to vote, then came home to unload and sort through signs for the shop here in town. I checked my messages only to find I have picked up yet another wholesale customer. I foresee many late nights in my future.

Campout

I've been working very hard the past couple of days trying to get ready for my Market Day in Wimberley this Sat. and to get some of one of my wholesale orders started so I can start delivery next week. It's been fulfilling in that I can see just how much work I've done, but it's been a week with disruptions too. I've had workmen here the past two days putting a new face on the studio (front of the house) because the wood was rotting out.

I'm really looking forward to the Market this weekend. It's a camping trip of sorts. About 10 other vendor friends are in the same general area of the market, and all go up the day before to set up. We arrive in the afternoon and work awhile then visit back and forth as we work awhile and then visit awhile until dinner time when we walk to a nearby restaurant. Afterwards we work and visit until bedtime and sleep in our booths or vehicles. It's an early market, and is over at an early 3 p.m. We pack up and then all meet in town for an early dinner before everyone scatters to their homes. It's not the most profitable of shows, but a very nice change from the norm. The weather is going to be chilly, so I hope it'll make a nice holiday spending mood for our customers.

Fooled

Fool me once.....shame on you....fool me twice....shame on me. I was fooled thrice, and that really hurts! My market at Kerrville was another bomb. Actually not a total bomb since I did better than the two previous shows, but it was still a slow market. Just no crowd at all. I didn't lose money, but surely didn't make any. The weather was a glorious, crisp start to the day with chilly temps and light winds that tapered off to leave a sunny, warm afternoon.

Driving home was horrific. The sun was setting and traffic coming through San Antonio was very heavy which made really bad driving conditions. My eyes were really strained by the time I got home, and I took a catnap to rest my peepers.

But I don't feel quite so badly about the show after talking to a good vendor/friend who's doing an art show in the Dallas area and has done very well at this show in past years. She said sales today were down a lot from past years, not only for her but other vendors as well. Not only that, but she and her husband had something to do with propane on their horse trailer stolen. I was only partially cognisant when she called, as I was "resting my peepers" and had fallen deeply asleep!

So tonight will be early to bed for me, then I'll be hard at work again tomorrow getting ready for next weekend, and trying to make some headway for my wholesale orders.

Countdown to Market

It's the night before Kerrville Market and I'm through working for the night. I had intentions of having 8-10 more signs made than I do, but I've run out of time and instead of staying up later and losing sleep, I'm calling it quits for the night.

I have to get up about 4 a.m. to be ready to leave by 5 so I hopefully will arrive around 6:30-7:00 or so to set up for the show and be ready to rock 'n roll by 9:00 a.m. The van is gassed up and loaded, all I have to load is the potpourri displays, some of the signs I have left to seal that need to dry overnight (or what's left of it), and my water jug and coffee.

The weather is supposed to be just right for a market....crisp, sunny fall weather. I hope it brings out the spending shoppers. Now I have 5 signs to seal quickly then I'm going to get a glass of wine and a book and go soak in the tub before heading for bed (for me) early.

Relief

I have the order I had hoped to deliver this past weekend done and ready to deliver tomorrow. I'm glad to have that order off my shoulders. It was for 100 little plaques that were hand lettered with about 40 different sayings. Now I can concentrate on trying to build inventory for myself for shows the next two Saturdays and to work on other wholesale orders for stenciled signs. I had planned delivery of these signs today, but there was rain throughout the area, and I didn't want to drive 75 miles there and back in the rain if not absolutely necessary. So tomorrow I will make my delivery and pick up more lumber while I'm out and about.

With so many wholesale people knocking on my door I have been tempted not to do the show I am scheduled to do this weekend, but I'm a glutton for punishment, so will go,. I committed to the people who are running the show, and to the customers who expect to see me there. I am scheduled for another show next weekend in Wimberley and after that, I 'll have to cut back to just doing my regular Riverwalk and Gruene shows so I can be a better supplier to my wholesale customers.

The weather has been really nice the past couple of days until today when the heat and humidity returned. It's actually not hot, but about 75 degrees, with a dew point of about 70, which makes for a very muggy atmosphere. I took the dogs for a walk tonight, leaving the house about 8 p.m., and really worked up a sweat in the 10-12 blocks we made. We're due for another cold front in tomorrow night which is supposed to leave us with a very nice fall weekend. I hope this brings lots of customers to our market in Kerrville.

Finally!

A decent cold front came through that's cooling things off for more than 12 hours! It was a chilly start to the morning, but the afternoon is beautiful, and the weather's not supposed to be too terribly warm for the foreseeable future.

I had my show in Gruene this past weekend, and finally had a decent show again. It wasn't great,. but I had a good, solid show. Business was great on Sat., and not as good on Sun., but that's the way things tend to go at most shows. I picked up another wholesale account from a business in my hometown, and my shop in Castroville is already reordering, so I am in over my head at moment. I already have one order I am trying to finish up for a shop in Gruene, market in Kerrville this Sat., and a market in Wimberley next Sat., so I am busy, for sure.

I took the morning to visit with my parents and to get groceries, then went to my hair appointment. Now I'm going to take a well deserved nap before getting to work finishing up the order I have started. I guess I'll be working some long hours for awhile!

The Natives are Restless

We had a cold front come through last night so this morning the temps are in the low 60's and it's very breezy and crisp. Felix is feeling the change of weather and is ripping and tearing through the house like he's on speed. He was doing this all during the night and kept playing in front of the door which made sounds similar to the scratching sound Riley makes when he wants outside. So I was up and down a lot during the night to "let Riley out" only to find out he didn't want out. I thought he was senile or I was hearing things in my sleep until I saw the "actor" in motion a bit ago. His latest "situation" happened minutes ago when I came from the back of the house to hear a strange noise in the studio. When I went to investigate, I found Felix playing with the plastic bottle that the Beta's fish food comes in......he had knocked it off the table,the top had come off, and this made a great new toy. I tried to rescue as much food as possible from the floor, then Nellie and Riley came along and played clean-up crew. So now I have dogs that have fish breath.

I have my Market Days at Gruene this weekend and lots of orders to make as well as try to get product made to sell to the general public so I hope he settles down a bit so I can get to work, or at least doesn't make any messes for me to clean. So many of my customers are having special requests for repairs or pieces made this month, which is great....but unfortunately, they are all coming at the same time.

Night's perfume

Often in the middle of the night (usually about 4 a.m.) my dog, Riley will let me know he needs to relieve himself. Sometimes I will go out on the sidewalk to wait while he takes care of business. I have a brugmansia plant growing on two different sides of the house this year, one of which is near the doorway where I let the dogs out. These flowers are very fragrant and release their scent during the night. I went out with Riley last night about 6 a.m. (6 a.m. is still night as far as I am concerned!) and was treated to a heavy perfume, and because we had low clouds, the beacon at the local airport was giving a light show as well. Maybe I should spend more time outside during the night and see what else is happening, but I treasure my sleep too much!

Basketball season is starting again, and since I dropped the satellite service to cut costs, most of the time I'll have to cheer my team on while listening to their games on the radio. Go Spurs Go!

Autumn Stuck It's Foot in the Door

We had a cold front to go through last night which will help cool things down a bit for a couple of days. It was cloudy, breezy, and chilly this morning and I really wanted to stay home and brew some tea, snuggle up inside the house and enjoy the weather as I worked in the cozy house. But I had a delivery to make, so I took another delivery of signs to the shop in Castroville.

It was another peaceful trip through the countryside. I took the opportunity to go back through San Antonio on the way home so I could pick up some more lumber at Home Depot, and to make a stop at Michael's to buy some paint brushes because mine are very worn at this point. I spent a lot of time in Michael's just browsing the aisles looking at the supplies for so many different crafts. I only bought the brushes I went in to buy, but really enjoyed just looking around and taking a bit of time for myself. I really wanted to spend some time at Barnes and Noble, the bookstore in the same strip mall, but I didn't have that much time to waste, so forced myself to get in the car and go home.

So after an early dinner and a bit of time on the computer, it's time to get back to work for a bit. I have another wholesale order to fill as well as product to make for the Gruene Market next weekend. I'm hoping we have some brisk fall weather for that show!

Changing Seasons

It seems fall is finally starting to creep in a little at a time. We had a cool front pass by today, bringing us a smidgen of rain and much cooler temperatures. But tomorrow the temps are supposed to be very warm again before it cools off drastically on Thursday and stays cool through the weekend. I am anxiously awaiting being able to turn on the oven without heating the house up to feel like a sauna, and being able to build a fire in the woodburner to take the chill off and to heat the house. I know I will be complaining about the cold when I have a show and am freezing my fingertips and my back end off trying to set up the canopy and displays but I look forward to enjoying the weather while I'm not out peddling my wares. I do wish for an early freeze to kill the annual vegetation for the season though. Ragweed is blooming here and as a result, I am sneezing quite a bit and my eyes are watering a lot.

I already have another order from the shop I visited last Sunday, so I'm going to bust my backside to get order # 2 ready for her, and I have an order for a shop in Gruene taken care of, then I get to create for my show in Gruene next weekend. I took yesterday off for R&R, thinking that I might get some work done later in the day, but it just didn't happen. I needed the rest and heeded my body's call to take it easy. Today I ran some errands and paid some bills then got back to the grindstone. Tonight I attended my local art club's meeting where we made plans for two late fall shows and workshops to be considered and scheduled for the first part of 2007. I don't get to participate in a lot of the workshops or shows, because I am usually busy working a show somewhere else on those weekends.

Kim stayed with me the past weekend while we were doing the Paseo del Rio show. At the end of the evening we would share a couple of glasses of wine together and have more conversation before heading to bed. I miss having her company while having my wine. The first thing I do upon arising is to get the coffee brewing as quickly as possible. I would get up and get the coffee brewing and start getting dressed before waking Kim for the day. She emailed me that she misses having coffee ready for her when she got up. So I'm missing her company in the evening and she's missing my coffee in the morning...

The Day After

I'm back and recovering after the three day show. It was a grueling show, as always. My sales were down quite a bit for the riverwalk but at least there were some sales. There was an art show in La Villita (a couple of blocks away) where some of my friends were selling their works. I took a break yesterday afternoon and walked over to check out their show. I found some inspiratation from some of the jewelry I saw there as well as some of the artwork.

Thankfully, the weather was a bit cooler this weekend. It was hot, but not as bad as it's been recently. Friday was hot, but Saturday was much better, and yesterday wasn't too bad, either. We are supposed to have a cold front coming through later in the week that's going to bring quite a bit cooler temps, and I'm ready for it!

I was so tired when I got home Saturday night, I brought my house key I normally leave in a hidey hole outside, inside with me. Yesterday morning I noticed the strange key on the counter, but I was still so groggy I didn't realize it was the door key. So when I got home late last night, I found myself locked out of the house...I finally managed to get myself in and after a quick sandwich, I called Kim, (my booth-sharing partner) who was on her way back to the Houston area to make sure she was making her trip o.k., and then I climbed into bed an called my friend Courtney who was on her way back (from an art show) to the Houston area from Dallas to make sure she was o.k. She was thankful for my call because she was getting sleepy and needed the wakeup. I kept her company until I was so goofy I was incoherent before I went to sleep.

So after I get a bit more rest today and get a few chores taken care of, I have to start working on a wholesale order for a shop, and then get busy making inventory for my next show in two weeks' time. The fun never ends!

The Day Before

Show time again on the Riverwalk. I've been busy trying to get everything ready for the weekend. Doggies bathed and fumigated...Kim is coming to stay to share the booth and stay with me, and Riley will beg to sleep with her so I have to make sure they don't smell too badly, and I don't want the fleas to have a recurrence while I'm gone, so they got treated to make sure that doesn't happen.

I've loaded the van with most of the stuff, all I have to do is wait until Kim gets here tonight so we can load her stuff and then the dolly to haul it all (about 5 trips, with it converted to "wagon")down to river level once we get unloaded.

Next, I need to get busy and get a little more product made while I'm waiting. I always get the urge to create at the last minute.

Discipline

The time has come that I have to start disciplining Felix. He has made himself so much at home that I am finding him lounging on the dining table. Such a sweet kitten otherwise.

The calendar says fall....but it doesn't feel much like it, The temps are in the low to mid 90's, but at least it's taking longer to reach that plateau, and it's cooling off earlier in the evening so I'm not having to run the a/c so long. But I'm itching for a nice cool snap so I can build a fire in the woodburner. Unfortunately, I think that won't happen for a couple of months yet.

The Road Less Traveled

Today I made a trip to a shop in a town about 50 miles from home to wholesale some product. This is a community that was founded by French-Alsatian people, and there are some very lovely old houses in the community that have been restored. Instead of going through San Antonio to get there I took back roads of state highways and farm to market roads. Lots less traffic, and it was a very peaceful drive through the rolling hills. Butterflies are migrating to Mexico, and I hit a bunch. I'm glad now I didn't wash the van yet because it has plenty of bug guts splattered all over the front of it and st least they're on a dirty van instead of a just cleaned one! My sales trip wasn't as profitable as I would have liked, but it was acceptable, and hopefully it will be more profitable as the shop owner is more certain of my product and my ability to produce what she wants. I went back through San Antonio to hit a lumber store since I was out and about. I should have stopped there before taking the wares to Castroville, as the lumber had been majorly picked over and I wasn't able to get as much as I had planned. But it's a start to be working on, and I can make a quick trip into "town" if I need to.

My Outdoor Room

After doing art and craft shows for so many years, I have accumulated several canopies that are past their prime. It costs nearly as much to replace the tops of them as it does to buy a completely new unit so it's always easier to buy a new one and have a new frame as well as top. Late this spring, I took the frame of one of the canopies, and hung some of the window screens that I had used in the past for color and atmosphere and to display jewelry on along the top of the frame. I planted gourds, morning glories, cucumbers, moon vine, and air potato vines at the corners to make a "white trash gazebo". The gourds are really starting to set now. I hope to have a bumper crop before frost gets them. I enjoy sitting out there early in the morning drinking coffee and visiting with my mother when she comes by, and sitting out there late at night sipping a glass of wine. I had planned to hang some little twinkle lights from the top but haven't gotten around to that yet and I enjoy the darkness anyway.

Moving In

I've been moving Felix indoors by allowing him inside for longer periods of time each day. He seems totally comfortable being inside and already has several favorite napping places. His most favorite place of all is the food dish which I keep full for the inside cats, he loves the unlimited access to food. The outside cats are only the first thing in the morning so there are no leftovers by evening.

I've had a problem with raccoons tearing my screens to get in the screened-in laundry porch to get at the cat food I keep stored in a galvanized garbage can. I try not to encourage the raccoons to come back by making sure there are no leftovers to encourage them.

The dogs don't pay Felix much attention but Nellie would love to play with him. Felix isn't too sure about the barking that goes along with Nellie's attempts at play, but they should have it all worked out soon.

He will grow up much too soon, but it's nice to have a kitten in the house again.

A Day of Rest

I was so completely exhausted last night that as bedtime came closer, I became sick with a tension headache. I place most of the blame on the stress of waiting all day long at the market to only make one sale. So this morning I slept in a little later than normal and have taken two naps. I haven't done any work but gave myself the day off.

A cold front came through during the night, and the weather today has been heavenly. I have the windows open throughtout the house, and the breeze has been almost nippy at times. I've made several cups of hot tea this afternoon, something I usually only do during the (too short) wintertime. It's been overcast all day, and the temperature has only been in the 70's for a high. I probably should have taken advantage of the cooler weather to cut, sand, and stain some wood for a sign order or to unload the car, but all I've done is to piddle a bit with some of my outside plants and do a little online research. Tonight I've vegged out watching t.v., but tomorrow I will have to be back to the grindstone.

This evening through the window, I noticed the light to be almost an apricot color. The clouds had broken quite a bit and the setting sun made for an eerie glow. Shortly, the light went to a pinkish color, then almost lavender as sun was closer to setting. It's not often I notice the sunset, but maybe I should more often.