Hello World

Love the new start to the year this month. But my it is cold this morning brrrrrrrrrrrr. My flowers are just not understanding. Just a quick note today. The shop will be closed next Wednesday, February 23rd. We will be in Seattle at the UW for reconstructive surgery number 2. The exciting part is that he will then be done for six months and the last surgery at the end of summer will be a fine tune project to clean up the scars. He is really doing well through all this and we thank you for your prayers. Have a wonderful weekend.

New Beginnings

The last month just needs to disappear completely, but it is over We need to celebrate new beginnings around here and we are. First off, the child who was attacked, beaten and had part of his nose bitten off has had his first reconstructive surgery. It went so well that they actually did two major surgeries in one. So at the most he has two more to go Happiness is a good thing to feel. He has started seeing a therapist to help him work through the mental and emotional things that are now a part of his life since the attack, which is fantastic. He has his good days and bad days, but now that the process has begun he is more at peace. On a side note the surgery was done at the U of W Medical Center, what an awesome place. The second reason for happiness around here is I am finally well and the shop is open regular hours again. The bug turned into pneumonia and for nearly two weeks the shop was closed and I was home in bed and on the couch. I learned one important thing I don't like being home. The decision was made and the store will remain open.I am so excited about new things to come. So now we are shopping whenever we can to bring in lots of new fun stuff. Hopefully by the end of March we will be full to the rafters again.Now it's off to the shop and tonight to celebrate the 41st birthday of our first borne. I am not old, just a women of experience. Doesn't that sound better than old.....

I don't really feel very much like Christmas right now.My spirit took a major hit last Monday night when my son and his girlfriend were attacked and beaten in this little bar/restaurant near his home. No one helped his girlfriend or him when they were attacked, no one called the police. It wasn't a few punches it was a beating totally unprovoked and the male person bit part of my son's nose off. Now he faces months of plastic surgery and healing, both physically and mentally. No one helped, they didn't even call 911. It has rather dented my faith in the goodness of people. I know there is always a reason for things that happen so now I will await the outcome. Tomorrow will come and we will celebrate the day without this child and his girlfriend but they will be with us in our hearts. They have chosen to curl up at home and have a very quiet day, something they would not have if they were with us, and something they need. So tomorrow we will celebrate the day and delight in our grand babies and say many thank you prayers that this child and his girlfriend are alive. Merry Christmas to all

Surprise

In my shop window, for Christmas, we had this wonderful old sideboard that we refinished, and painted white. It even went to Junk Salvation, but came home. So for Christmas it went in the window with the black re purposed dish dresser and a Christmas tree on top. Figured it was a safe bet. It wouldn't sell before the holiday, yup the perfect window for a Horatio's Christmas. Black, white, silver and pinks, just really perfect. Sold that sideboard today. It's going home at the end of the week with yup, a big pink bow. So, tonight we were supposed to get our tree, but instead we're at the shop pulling the side board out of the window and resetting about half the shop floor. Gotta love the new arrangement. It's all in woods now except for the tree. I'm just delighted that moving the tree went so easy. We are talking a fully decorated Christmas tree here with not one broken ornament. Happy dance for a good day. As for the tree at home, well maybe Wednesday. Because of our own version of itty bitty kittens,we now have three Nigel, Fitch and Gilly Hicks, I'm not sure this tree will have many decorations. They certainly are busy. Peace and Joy to all

Time

The time this year has most certainly gone too fast. It seems the older I get the faster time goes. We just put Christmas away and now we are dragging it all out again. It is so fun to unwrap and find all our decorations. It is like finding old friends. This year I had some expert help from our two youngest grandbabies. They enjoyed the stories about the where and when and why of some of the inherited Santas and Grampy's nutcrackers. We had to get some of the family albums out so they could see pictures of their great grands who had these Santas before. So we decorated and had family history 101 on a very simple level. I do wonder how I used to get everything done when my five were little though. When their parents came to pick them up it was fun to see their faces as they too remembered the decorations and those who came before. Merry Christmas to all

Not one but two

I did it, really did it and survived the whole thing. We did not one show this weekend,but two. We were tucked into a cozy space at Junk Salvation, and our usual spot at Crossroads Doll and Bear Show. We set up for both on Friday, which was a bit of fun and by Friday night I was wondering why but it was fun. Both shows were full of happy people. That is a contagious feeling and nice to experience. It was also a chance for folks to support their local vendors and economy. Shopping local keeps your favorite little shops in business and your tax dollars at home. If you choose not to shop local, before this nonsense with our economy is over, your favorite little shops will be gone.

Labor Day

Once upon a time, long long ago, Labor Day weekend meant finishing up all the canning and grandma and Ben's birthday picnic at my aunt and uncle's beach house on Fox Island. All to quickly it became just canning as we lost our old ones. Then it was the final prep to get the older kids ready for school. All to soon they were all off to school and I went back to work for the district. Now it is all about cleaning and finishing those summer projects. You know those infamous summer projects that we all schedule because the days seem to last forever. So we spend this weekend scubbing the kitchen, cupboards, pantry, drawers and all and it really does look good and I can find everything. The fall grocery list is made cause I cleaned and reorganized the pantry yet again. Then because I'm cold I sorted out the long pants and put away a few pairs of summer shoes. Just a few pair. I don't like wearing shoes. I will postpone that as long as possible. It wasn't a weekend at the beach, but it was fun in its own way to get the list knocked down. It is still very long and as lists go I have added a few more things. We even marked a 10x10 foot square on the shop floor so I can plan my booth at the Funky Junk Show in October. Here is where my sanity is in question for we are doing 2 shows on the same weekend. The Crossroads Doll and Bear Show and The Junk Salvation. Fortunately they are maybe 5 miles apart and I have a terrific honey who will work one show. I will have the master plan and schedule to end all schedules and we all know what happens to the best laid plans. It is a good thing life is an adventure and not meant to be boring.....