I would gladly pay you February for fall weather today.

Well, it's time to put away the Halloween decorations and, for me at least, it's the beginning of the holiday season. It's time to focus on home and family. Santa production is in full force. And although it is still 83 degrees, it's time to start pulling out my cozy pajamas and hot chocolate supply.

We are using the air conditioner during the day and the heat at night. It seems like mother nature has taken the same approach to the seasons as the retail stores. On just turns into another and it seems we miss one or two in there. What happened to fall? Is this it? 83 degrees is fall? I remember when it snowed on Halloween, and leaves would actually change colors before falling off the tree. Anymore, I am putting up Christmas lights in my shorts.

Not to worry. If tradition continues, the weather will change overnight and we will go from 90 degrees to 32. I could be confused but, I seem to remember a number called 60 that should be somewhere in between those.

I think nature has gotten older like the rest of us. And when we get older, time flies. We find ourselves unable to fit it all in and we end up having to give up some things. Sometimes, we have to prioritize and give up things we love. Sometimes, we figure out that we are doing things we only think we like. Or we are doing things we hate out of obligation. If we can figure out a way to get rid of the extraneous obligations that we don't enjoy, and we can keep the things we love, I think we will be okay. As for me, I hope nature figures out that February is an obligation and gives me back fall. I would much rather have chili-eating, jacket-wearing, leaf-changing fall, than muddy, wet, gloomy February.

Launch of new Christmas Blog

Hey y'all.  I started a Christmas blog to feature all things Christmas.   Well known legends, obscure information.   I will be posting Christmas recipes, crafts, etc.  This is your site too, so please post away!
Frost on the beans

Sawdust and Hair Gel

I missed a week on the blog.  Last weekend was such a nice one.  I braved the massive throng and went to War Eagle craft fair.   Because of traffic, it took a little over an hour to drive 5 miles.   I have to confess, I went to check out my competition for next year.   My husband went for the food and to check out the wooden products.

I love craft fairs.  Craft fairers are my kind of people.  They are individuals, independent thinkers, creative minds.   As I walked around admiring their art, I wondered if they were side hustlers like me, or if they were the fortunate ones who have figured out a way to break out of their 4x4 closely monitored cells permanently.  After buying a few precious finds, we went home and I started planning my inventory for next year...providing I get accepted for a booth space.

I have found that some of my favorite times are working in the garage with my husband.   He makes furniture and frames and I stain them.  He is always listening to his Willie and Waylon Pandora station.   At that moment, I feel closer to him.  There are no distractions, no cell phones, no tv's.  I always tell him I wish we could do this forever. 

What is the point of all this mindless rambling?  I guess its to say that I thrive on creating.   I have to be constantly thinking, creating, designing..if only in my head.  Many of us are the same way.   Yet most of us pay the bills with jobs that not only underutilise creativity, but purposely choke it out.

I had to visit and unnamed company this week.  They are known for their elaborate new work environment.  Innovative, I believe is the term.  All the cubicles are frosted glass.  The group I was with was enamoured with the setup, but all I could think was this must be what the inside of an ant farm looks like. 
I wondered why I can't look at this and think like the others.   I wondered why I am not impressed with all the hands on the hips and hair gel. 

I said before that I had had a big dissapointment in my "career".  Since I am a planner, I immediately started planning around that.   I was determined to not make my job who I am.  I sat down and made an elaborate plan to start copyrighting my patterns, I formed a new partnership with my godson, I started taking classes to help with all this.  I felt like I was happy, on the right track, in control and I started feeling like the dissappointment was a blessing.   Then, work threw another wrench in the machine. 

Due to the constant progression of bigger and better, I assume my job will be greatly reduced in January, so I get the feeling they are evolving it into something I don't feel suited for anymmore.  I mean, 10 years ago, I wanted heels and laptop cases and business lunches, but now, I want the 8-5 so I can have my sawdust, my paint can, my husband and "Lukenbach, TX".  So here I am,  at the crossroads again. At this point, in order to keep my side hustle, I will have to try to fit myself into the square hole.   So if any of you have words of encouragement or advice, or if you can tell me how to use that much hair gel without becoming a fire hazard, please post.

The wisdom of Ted Nugent

After a relaxing but fairly uneventful weekend, I wondered what to write about.   Unfortunately, the universe decided for me.  

My goldfish took a turn for the worse last night.  I waited for nature to run its course.  I don't believe in euthanasia.  If it's so humane, why won't they allow us to do it to ourselves.  My personal spiritual beliefs don't award me the authority to decide if something should live or die.  I use live traps, I catch bugs.  Don't get me wrong, I have a contract with Terminix to keep these critters out.  Deep down I know they are dying, but since it is hidden, I can imagine they are just repelled by the chemicals.  

I grew up on a farm and death was a part of life.   Back then, it didn't bother me.  Since I have become removed from rural life and gotten a little older, mortality is something I greatly ponder.  Death has become something that I almost cannot deal with any longer.  I personally blame factory farms.   I go to the store and buy nice little packages of cows.  No longer do we have to look our food in the face and make a decision between tonights tacos and a life.   Ted Nugent once said that everyone should have to kill their meal at least once.  That way you understand the sacrifice being made.  I agree.  Still, death is something that I am not comfortable with especially if I am the reaper.

So here I am with a suffering goldfish.  Nature is letting me down.  He lays at the bottom and gasps for air.  Reluctantly, I research the most humane way to euthanize a fish.  Decapitation seems to be the most agreed upon method.  So, I get my sharpest Santoku knife and prepare myself to test my strength.

It was quick and I hope relatively painless for the fish.  For me, I cried like a baby in my backyard.  I know my fish is better off now.  I know he was suffering.   What's the lesson I am taking away from this?  I don't know yet.

I suppose when we take on the responsibility of a life, we also take on the responsibility of an eventual death. 


I guess in the end, my goldfish got what most of us really want, a long happy life and a short painless death.  I hope, someday, I get the same.

Busy Busy Worky Work

What a fabulous weekend we had here in the Ozarks.  Beautiful fall weather, Bikes Blues and BBQ, and a relaxing crafty Sunday with my wonderful husband.  I have to say that even after 10 years he still makes me want to listen to sappy love songs (insert Claire Lynch's "Falling in Love"  here.)

Did I mention he is also talented?  He is in the process of making our bedroom furniture.  I will add photos to the craft page.  We spent Sunday finishing up the nightstands.  It's times like that I wish we could make our living making things together.  I know better.  Once you do anything you love for money, it usually stops being fun.  Still it was a great way to spend a Sunday. 

I have been very busy filling an important order...one for my 6-year-old business partner Braden.  I am shipping him a box of handmade primitive Halloween decorations.  He takes the holiday very seriously.   In fact, he told me he couldn't start work on our stitchery designs until the day after Halloween.  Along with making his bats and such,  I have started working on my own designs as well.   I will post the nativity I did on the craft page.   I also learned a valuable lesson about coffee staining and oven baking.  If you go overboard, your beautiful ghost will look like died in a fire.

Something some of you may be interested in, the Ozark Folk Center is having their Homemade Holiday workshops Nov  18, 19, 20.  I am thinking of attending the corn husk nativity class.   Paula is teaching it and she is a peach.  You can get more information at Ozark Folk Center.

Something I wish I could have attended this year was the Ghoultide Gathering.  It's a meeting place for folk artists to focus on Halloween.

Here is the thought for the day...and one I have considered often lately as I hold my breath and count to ten:

We all have talent, some of us just keep it hidden.