Clearing out the crowded shed (mind)

Holiday season is always a crowded endeavor. It is crowded in our home, business, project list but also crowded in my mind. That urgent sense of uncluttering is always in desperate sight. So what did I do this past week? Panel a wall, paint that wall, move an entire room around, clean it, organize it, build a bed, do several loads of laundry, dishes, cook dinner, did i mention that was in one day? Did I mention that was in one room? So much still to do and of coarse, walls have not been decorated.

So not only is this rush to get things together but also continue to move things out from inventory. I need to wrap several things to be mailed today but also get a new perspective of what I really want to hang onto. I really can't see me continue to take on things from people that are not in line with what  I have in mind. Christmas and the New Year are those times where you can reevaluate what you are doing.

Monday followed Christmas and we were well on our way to New Years weekend. I have items on hold to reach their destination this week but also I have to do a follow up on people who claim items and really haven't given me a time or any real communication. Frustration is not something that will be following me to next year.

We had decided to get off our mountain and away from snowbunny activity to see what was up at Antiques at the Barn and Antique Asylum. We spent less then a hundred and got a dozen and a half things, but it was just nice to get out, have lunch, take a drive. People were friendly and I can see they were happy to be back selling. Came home, relaxed, did some chores and rested since I wasn't 100%.

Tuesday morning now has arrived, I have been up most of the night feeling less then perfect. Have big goals for today, basically regrouping, cleaning, making lists, straightening out. As I stay on task and muddled through ill health, I want to focus on these things and bring those overwhelmed feelings to a manageable state.

2016 has basically been a big zero starting with my bf's fathers passing in February, my continued estrangement from one of my children, feeling the loss of my best friend and business partner and finally our decision as an electoral nation to pick the man child, I do have to turn that around in what we do and what we focus on. There is a light at the end that tunnel.

My youngest offspring, Wesley 15, made it clear a couple of weeks ago that he wanted to become more of an intricle part of my business. Which actually brought a smile to my face. It would mean scheduling more shows, making decisions together, planning in a more productive manner. Although I have support, I would not feel like I am out there flapping in the breeze alone. This could be what I need, he needs and the positive change we are welcoming.

So 2017 could be a definite turn around in the shadow of not so great 2016. It is up to us.

Friday is deceptive

Friday is a funny thing. Throughout my adulthood it is suppose to be exciting because it is the gateway to the Weekend. But the premise is you are not working over the weekend, so it is actually a let down. I always work on weekends. When I taught, all my prep was on the weekend and when I did anything else it was on the weekend. So some, like the BF, think it is great, I think it isn't so much.
Fridays predicament was getting some things accomplished and then go down below to do a little shopping. I had acquired an outdoor work table or so i think it is an outdoor work table in aqua. This fellow brought it by for me too buy. I should have known when he said he would grab it out of the truck that things weren't going to be that great. He talked my ear off and then left.

 

I know this color is a hip thing at the moment but not for me. So I moved it to my work area near the garage. That is when i discovered what i had in store for me. Where the long pieces meet their perpendicular companion my hand could go through it. Upset, I decided much like the Six Million Dollar Man, I would build it better then it was. Ok that just gave away my age. 

I pulled the bad plank and found two in my reprotoire that I could fill in. There was still a problematic area that was to be filled in with wood putty. So I cut things to jive with one another and then followed with putty. When that finally set, I opted for an indoor outdoor paint, barn red. Standard off the shelf. 

So not complete, but will find time this week. Since it needs to go away. 

As quickly as I could I moved on to going down the hill to shop. First stop was a Latte from Starbucks by the Outlet mall and off to Target. I spent a good hour and a half shopping, browsing and figuring out what I needed. From there I went to a series of places until I ended up right back at the outlet mall for Pottery Barn. I had eyeballed this Killim rug for the longest time and I was waiting for a sale. Rug in hand I made my way home. Unload, organize, dinner and then out til morning Saturday. 

Good Morning Saturday!! Slow start but then I realized we were picking up an armoire and have to demo the closet out. Demo you ask. Yes, this was a makeshift closet that was made from the shower of the original two room cabin. Of coarse I did not wear shoes, safety glasses or gloves. Of coarse I was injured. We got it done, got truck packed for the dump and left. It was a joint effort. Wes would clean and we would demo. 

 So we picked up the Armoire!!

Got it home, purged a couple bags of clothes and organized. Then we ordered a pizza and called it a day. 

Sunday we spent the day doing two different things. I focused on pickups from clients and the BF focused on all around chores. Between working online and getting things done, I realized I was still in my pajamas. I guess I was relaxing in a way. With Cape Fear playing the background and Robert Mitchum being his eerie self, I got off the computer and we decided to take a ride out to an area I have mentioned before, Lockwood Valley. 

He was looking for quail, I was looking to relax and maybe collect a few rocks for my landscaping project. I read, listened to music, worked on my phone and eventually Chris returned. No quail but we drove around a little to see if there were any signs of anything. I gathered some rocks and by 5 it was starting to get dark and time for us to come home.

Chris made burgers on the grill, hung out, watched the telly and talked about the weekend. My hands hurt, I have multiple cuts and such from wielding the hammer. But the weekend was a wrap. Maybe tomorrow will be a better day for a little R and R.

So Friday is not a lead in to rest and relaxation, but really the opening of a can of hard working worms.

  

  

Planting Merrells and the Information Portal

So the week starts out with a wet blanket of what's to come. I have become just fascinated with the despairity of getting up with chutzpah at 4 am and muscle through to about noon, versus the dark cloud that moves in overhead late afternoon through to evening. Not whining, don't want to, but observing the movement of my environment.

We went out on the weekend to just get ourselves in our surroundings. We are fortunate since we live in a forest or I call it a high desert with faded trees. I lived in the city and I loved it and still do, I can also remove myself from the chaos. So we drove out to what we call Mutau Flats, which is like driving from the Hollywood Bowl to Fairfax High. Just a point of reference. Close but not that close.

At some point my phone did not work in that area and I sat reading the latest issue of Modern Farmer, a hip progressive magazine for those wanting to connect back to growing, raising and harvesting. Yes hip, on beautiful paper, great graphics and wonderful editorials. Concerned about the bees, raising heritage turkeys that aren't sickly like butterballs and a historical region of African American farmers. One of the few mags I read cover to cover.

Got through that and just sat there, my info portal glaring "no service" in the corner of the screen. So everything I wanted to do I realized involved the portal. I again looked around, opened the window, pulled my keys out of the ignition and got out. Now what? It was quiet, still and I have no idea where the BF went off to. I should mention he was looking or "glassing" for quail. I know I am usually on the hunt for rocks for landscaping and by this time I would have filled the bed of my truck halfway with all sorts of "special" rocks. One of many Lucy moments. So I changed gears.

I have a friend that taught me that when things seem chaotic and it leaves you flapping in the wind, you have to get grounded. Realize I generally don't subscribe to that sort of new agey thing. But I am always open to trying anything if it makes me feel better, outside of addictive drugs. So I proceeded to do that, but first I looked around to make sure I was really alone, animals excluded.

I planted my black Merrells on the dirt ground trying to find a patch of some sort of greenery. I placed my arms along my side and just closed my eyes. I focused: this is me, this is my being, these are my feet on this ground. Nothing is changing, this can't be taken away from me and I can't be harmed as long as I hold firm and have a weapon close by. So I just went over those general thoughts. For about 10 minutes I just was there in my being and you know the chant.

Eventually I stopped, saw a "special" rock and started to fill my truck a little. Of coarse I heard a couple of gunshots, remembered an episode of some true life creepy story that happened on the Appalachian Trail and got in the truck. Soon after, the BF came sauntering down with his equipment and we were through for the day.

Did I feel better? Did it give me the epiphany of a lifetime? Do I know the secret of life? Not really, but for that day, I felt safe in my head, in my skin, in my environment. Of coarse as soon as I hit reception, the informational portal dinged away with everything and everyone I was missing.

The Man Child Wins

I am writing this over the coarse of several days. This week has been a wash-financially, emotionally ethically and I can go on. I went into Monday hoping for our election to just be over and we move on as a nation. This has been a frightening time. I come from a place of being a mother, a woman, someone who their whole life has lived with people of lifestyle differences. Someone who believes color, belief, background, etc... are inconsequential in determining their worth. What mattered is what you say, what you do and what do you bring to our societal/global table.

I have my own personal passions as far as women's reproductive rights, education and lifestyle freedoms. As issues and proposals have come and passed, I have been proud that people at all levels have been able to receive an education, a marriage, a life scripted by oneself, not dictated by others. In contrast, I am not a "fag hag" (which incidentally I think is a derogatory term), a hippie liberal or really an anything goes no matter what the results. I am more the be who you are but you do have a responsibility to your community, country and planet on the whole. Freedom with a touch of conformity. Sounds confusing and needs more explanation perhaps.

I am fifty, I am a different fifty. I am a product of German parents and a family who survived two world wars in Germany. It safe to assume we aren't Jewish and further we actually had to work under and for the Nazi regime. My grandmother, my hero, my mentor, managed to create a life in a time where having one is questionable. Her life after that struggle was one of adventure, freedom with thoughtfulness and living purposely in an ever changing world. That is inspiring to me.

I am also a girl that at 16 decided that living in a deplorable violent condition wasn't logical and picked up and left. I have made mistakes choosing partners, I have had children early and I have approached life with a half full attitude. Not always successful but always with heart. I have taught my boys that although I have faults (and you can have them and embrace them), you always see the best in all types of people and lifestyles. Sounds so politically correct, but really I have been this all my life. Because be sure, there are things that I do not subscribe to in that PC climate.

So here I am, I came away from this election mortified. Mortified because the worst of human nature, the underbelly, was revered and rewarded. I don't know how to wrap my mind around that and explain it to my youngest. He had the unique experience of being online with friends all over the world going back and forth about how it all works as the elections were in progress. We are not really looked upon as doing the right thing at the moment. Of coarse we were up late or early in this case.

So the stooper of Wednesday is a reality, I had to boil it down, get a grip. 99% of my friends didn't vote for the man child. They may have done one of several things. I get it. Don't have a problem with that. I don't have a problem with a Republican in office, I am feel safe with that whether I agree or not. Of coarse any other choice was good. But I realized my hang up is not the Republican portion of it. It is him directly. He scares me, he is the reason I am mourning, not conservatism, not the slimy hanger-ons of Christy, Guilianni, Carson etc...just him.

So I have gotten to Friday, haven't really done much. The minimum and a little more. I have the luxury to do so at the moment. But I do have to get functional and move through the weekend with some productivity. When you are creative thinking personality, when you have a soul, when you are a mom, when you a half full kind a gal- you absorb people and events around you. It is a blessing and at the same time a hinderance. I can pin point it, I can see it taking over and I can remove myself from a situation and/or individual because usually everything is right in the world. But the broader umbrella is exactly what is the issue this time.

Voila! here we are, I need to make the shift, realize my friends, family and everything I love is the thing that will pull me through. Just even reading my friends posts has been probably the biggest help. They are so passionate, thoughtful, intelligent and bring so much to the table. That is the silver lining. Then the community that I work and socialize in has brought yet another dimension. This is all my safety net. I finally emerged from the cocoon of my house to sitting outside at my work table. Feeling hopeful, feeling calm and praying those who are not on my same page are considerate as I am. And shit Leonard Cohen had to fucking die too.

Kitschy lights, mailboxes and truck grills

Sunday morning on a daylight savings weekend. This morning I had read on someone's Instagram that it is swell to gain an hour but not swell if your shop has 100 clocks that are wrong now. You will spend an hour just setting them. 

The weekend can be an interesting time. One minute you think you have oodles of things that can be accomplished and then suddenly, bam!! It is Sunday afternoon and you wondered where the time went. Saturday always starts out with gang busters, early rise, early chores, early gathering and then jet out to possibly find that something special with a friend. We were on our way to Palmdale by nine to Antique Asylum. Generally, I do not shop on the weekends but this time around it made the most sense logistically. 

It was slim pickens, I bought two mailboxes, a Petri dish and a small Asian kitschy lamp. Our time at the Asylum was really not very productive, too busy and the staff at the counter was not only rude but  almost made $85 mistake and when I pointed it out, she got uglier. By then my card was run through and I was highly annoyed. So hopefully she refunded things appropriately, but it is the task of follow up. Makes me eager to drive 45 minutes.

                               

After our Asylum experience, my gal pal, Alexis and I went north to procure Sushi. She had the challenge of high stars, low dollar signs and on our way towards the next destination. The challenge was met and we went to Miso Sushi in Lancaster. For a strip mall place, it surely met all the criteria for a pleasant experience. There was an effort in decor, cleanings and good customer service. If I was out that way and needed a sushi fix, I would return. 

After we made our way to Antiques @ the Barn in Lancaster on Avenue I. I bought one thing, a large International Harvester truck grill. One thing-which is unusual for me. Purchase was a biggie but very cool. Great patina and great size. 

It was a great culmination to the shopping day. Sometimes less is more perhaps. 

Finding that Something

My day starts four am each morning, whether the weekend or weekday. Sometimes earlier sometimes a few minutes later. Coffee brewing, activity in the kitchen, laundry spinning, dishes done, our day is full of activity. But this is the activity of mundane living that I try to get out of the way early as possible. Once that bit is done, I move on.

Being self-employed has its challenges. I neither have benefits or retirement but at the same time I don't have to follow a regiment. I think what comes to mind is that I also have the burden of all that can come up in a day, which might not have any involvement in my work. This is a blessing but also plain old sucks. When others complain about their steady jobs with benefits, I always remark that my employer she is such a b**ch. That normally silences people, they think about it and then they laugh.

For instance Saturday, Chris G went off to connect with his hunting buddy and I got up to start my usual household chores. But I actually didn't do that first today. I worked on the computer and watched a 1944 Ray Milland film, "The Uninvited". It was a nice break from my normal schedule. I have seen this flick before but it is one I love watching more then once.

So my day is off to a start but quickly dwindles as I move through it. Can't get rid of things fast enough, not making money fast enough. It sucks. So I work on smaller projects to kind of move them out from under. I am not always self-motivated but I was very motivated in getting rid of the black widow in the gray shed.

So uneventfully my day ends and then we are on to Sunday. I woke up at 3:30 in the am this time. Washed dishes from the night before, did laundry, walked the dogs around the block, ironed, did more laundry, fed everyone outside and finally over to a friends to hang out with her dogs while they are gone. All by 7:3 am. I am full, stacked, ready to face the day. At least that is what I think. I make a couple sets of curtains for the travel trailer to keep the sun out and tidy certain things around the yard.
 
Then I am zonked, nap time. It seems the rest of the day becomes a blur. One big incredible blur. I do do dinner, I did go to Daisys to help take curtains down, but a blur. The boys showed up from their outing and I went home. Monday is the same and today is Tuesday.

I have found that I do have to get things organized either for a show or to unload. Possible yard sale for Saturday might happen. But maybe not. So I have been just clearing out items from the shop I was in and going through the motions of purging. It just isn't happening fast enough. I am impatient me thinks.

So I have to find the balance of doing a lot and work through a plan for the rest of the day. My friend Amy Flanzbaum in college would make these lists that were a book mark of that day. I loved how it was written big and concise. She keep it simple. I just watched a promo for a planner that just is too huggy feelly for my work and tastes. I can't even remember what it was and I watched five minutes of heartfelt reasons this couple developed it. I guess that works for them.

I pulled a new coffee mug out to toast the new morning on Wednesday and to start a new week. Of coarse it is the middle of the week but I never have a day off anyway so I can make up when my week starts. So I think I found the something, I just talked my way to being more productive. Joy

My Time in Lone Pine, Hey that Rhymes

I am going to recount my fabulous trip to Lone Pine. I wanted to go since last year but when my friend Daisy booked our room, I got cold feet but followed through anyhow. I had listed the 1001 things I had to do and what if something at home went wrong, etc... My way of talking myself out of any earned fun. 
                            

What's in Lone Pine? The Lone Pine Film Festival naturally. This year it was an emphasis on Western Film directors. One of the highlights for me was to meet Joel McCrea's grandson, pick up his book signed. Thee other highlights that Ben Menkiewiscz from TCM was going to be there facilitating discussions after the evening films at the high school. So after a quick morning run to Walmart, bank, car wash in Bakersfield, I came home and got packed to be ready for the afternoon pickup. I was driving but we were taking Daisys vehicle.

Lone Pine from Frazier Park is about 2.5 hours. It is the 5 to 138 to 14 to something else maybe to the 395. Some of the highlights are the fatal motorcycle accident on 138, airplane graveyard, Jawbone Canyon, Red Rock and the occasional roadkill. There is always roadkill. Got there in no time and stayed at a major chain on the outskirts of the town center. I did my Hotel Impossible inspection and was satisfied with the conditions and hospitality. What I discovered is that Daisys husband is a known entity in these parts and her name was immediately recognized. Working in nearby Olancha made Lone Pine a place to frequent and he was referenced as the guy with the suspenders. 

This town is hopping with activity from Thursday to the close of the festival on Sunday. We unpacked and drove into town to retrieve our festival passes. Set up at a Lions Club, we got our info and we were off. Dinner and a movie was the course of action. the movie was a silent accompanied by a live player. "Three Bad Men?" Was the flick, directed by John Ford with George O'Brien. It was humorous and entertaining. After, the panel consisted of John Fords grandson, Ben Mankiewicz and William Wellman Jr. Remedy entertaining and I was so engaged that the horrible high school auditorium seats didn't even bother me. At 11:30 we rolled into bed and couldn't wait for the next day. 

This particular motel had a full on breakfast spread so we managed to save our pennies for other fun things. Showered and we were off. At the local park was a 15 vender art/crafts market. Upon arriving Daisy and I were immediately drawn in by the display of metal welded artworks out of salvage. Some kinetic and some not. I purchased one fairly quickly and Daisy contemplated another. We walked around quickly and then made our way to the Film Museum out of which we had booked a bus tour for one o'clock. 
                          

We walked around the museum, totally engaged by the fabulous displays and decided our partners would have loved this. I took numerous pictures of some of the oddities about western film like foreign posters of standard films, advertising notions, etc... That's my thing the odd stuff generally. By twelve thirty we were ready in line to get on our bus. At this point I should add, I was by far one of the youngest participants at this function outside of Ben
Mankiewicz.                  
                                  

Our driver was this cute older fella that immediately engaged us in discussion as we waited for our tour guide. Bus was out of Apple Valley, which I am very familiar with. He mentioned being entertained by early cowboy flicks and demonstrated how he would swing out his six shooters when he was a little guy. Warm and friendly, it added a very calm aura over our day. Our guide came and we boarded the bus. Daisy and I sat behind someone who apparently had befriended Autry in 1946 and worked with him until Autry passed away. Again older fella from Bakersfield and ran a radio show for 40 years. Just all added to the fabric of day. 

Tour guide was a gal whose father had written the quintessential guide to movie locations of westerns in the Lone Pine area. The tour was called the North South and we were on our way. Everything stemmed back to the 1920's forward. We stopped at many locations where they had set up small info kiosks to show the film shot juxtaposed against the current landscape. 3 hours and we were exhausted. At one point out of the blue several Cowboys road up in full garb. Not part of the tour but fun effect anyhow.   

 

We completed our tour, left feeling fulfilled, returned and went to eat. Another great meal in a hospitable town~love it. All day Daisy plexed on the sculpture at the park she wanted and when we finally got done we picked hers up as well. We were exhausted, touring, eating, shopping, it all was exhausting. So we shimmied back to our room and took a little rest before seeing that evenings flick. 

"The Three Godfathers", was on the agenda with John Wayne and Harry Carey Jr. Big landscapes John Ford film. After the same panel got together and we were in for a treat of a discussion again. It really didn't occur to us how late these things ran since we were so transfixed on the discussion. At 11:30 again we rolled into bed for our last night. 

Early morning we got our eats out the way and went back to the museum to pick up a few trinkets and bid our farewell to Lone Pine. I purchased a senior membership for Daisy and Don, got my McCrea book and we were off. Let me mention there was numerous things to do and see since Thursday but we were just getting our feet wet and planning our next years trip. Daisy already booked it. 

                                             
     Home was quick and I found that I really don't know where the time went. We stopped to pick up some homemade jerky for the boys near Olancha and then high tailed it. Daisy mentioned she wanted to go to Antiques at the Barn in Lancaster so I planned on our exit at "I" street but got off at "G" which was a great mistake. On this street we encountered the musical street, which played as we drove over. It was a nice surprise and one of only three in the world.      

                                 

We stopped at the "Barn", I bought a few things and we went home to Daisys because the boys had actually gone out hunting together and I could get a ride from Chris back. We unloaded are metal works, hung out waiting for them, fed the horse, looked at all the stuff piled in the stable that can be utilized and called it a day when they rolled up. 

Do I want to go back? Hell ya! But like Daisy, I want Chris to go with and even Wes. One of the things Mankiewicz mentioned was that in the sea of movie viewers it consisted of gray and bald, except me of coarse. I thought how greatful my love of film has started from the moment I could dance and be like Gene Kelly to today. It let me go away when all things bad were let loose in our family. Wesley, I find, watches old films on a regular basis and has his favorites. Definitely something to cultivate. "Ben! We are bringing a youngum!"


                                               my sculpture

Industrial, salvage, upcycling and oh yeah urban farmer?

Transformation is always a great high and and an uncertain low. The high is change and the process that takes us there and the low is we are leaving something of us behind. As I have gone from mom to stuudent to educator to dealer to this new mish mash of a title, I discovered that the high and low are very congruent at times. So I sit over breakfast wondering how did I get here and what's next.

It evolved from personal stylings on the sideline of my life, to here I am now with a vast array of interests, duties and loves. In the mornings I complete reading the current issues of Dwell, Elle Decor, Atomic Ranch, Modern and Urban Farmer and some vintage collecting mags, I realized how varied my world has become. On the other hand, maybe we as individuals have become varied as a whole. Especially when we can "goggle" just about anything. (Which I love, btw)

I also don't think it is just me who has come to this. The cover of this mag kind of sums up some of the connections. What is in our food for pets, water rights and IKEA hack for hydroponic farms. With a hip approach and fun play on words. Not your typical mag for sure. Might I add the Beekman Boys of Sharon Springs, NY gave a complementary subscription to original customers. So now I am hooked. But I also am hooked on high end art and design, then I go to the next thing that random piece of salvage and how can I incorporate it in my existence. Do I have room for another antique foundry mold? Do I have time to set up the chicken coop that came from England this week or moving the 57 travel trailer? Where does it start and stop?

Well, it doesn't need to, me thinks. But what I can not grasp is that I don't have the time to absorb all my loves of living. Conventionally, I should be on a task to completion and then next task. I don't operate that way though. I start a task, start another, another, another and then circle back to the first task. It seems to work that way for me. Conventionality makes more sense and probably more constructive, but for me it is a turn off. 

For example, my list for the day is new trailer tires go on, trailer gets moved to property, set up new chicken coop, tear down old chicken coop, move some inventory, move some of our veg garden to green house, pack some inventory for November show, make list of ornaments that needs to be made this month. Possibly going to transfer site and possibly not. Work out menu for the week, work out dinner, clean, organize. Did I mention that the fact it is a weekend doesn't matter?

Cut herbs to dry and then layout master plan for growing net year. Drive out to Lockwood to collect rocks for landscape and come home unload and lay them. 

Not much in a weekend considering that it is always that way and I do get up at 4 am to start. So how to fit in all of the above is just the way of an eclectic life. Love it.

Daily Dribble Determined

The daily is not one of meanderings of what is in the works but how we are getting there. So how are we getting there? Well the process is the underlying foundation. Is it in bits, straight into it or do I ignore the steps and focus on the whole? Well the last is not in line with goal so it has to be the bits. The bits of thinking, planning, staging, etc...  essentially the process, my favorite thing.
So as I sit here, physically in the female dumps, I work out what to do as soon as light crests over the hill.
This week in a morning frenzy of feeding, walking and meeting the needs of our flock, I discovered that I have to take care of the huge butcher scale from Toledo. Porcelain over cast iron, always heavy heavy heavy with a brass scoop base for putting items in.

So I spent the better part of my morning cleaning the years of storage off this baby. Getting it from the tailgate from my truck to the studio was another adventure. an adventures in muscles and not mine alone. But it is a fabulous decor piece and really can fit in any home, industrial, farm, barn, Victorian or like mine....eclectic. 

I did acquire this week a couple of maybe a hundred tops to feeders that have moved on. They have several things that could happen to be a couple things if you wanted them to be.

Along with some chain from the same barn, it could be fashioned into birdfeeders, planters or sconces for lighting. I will opt for planters since chain already included. There are a many number of things that can be acquired from my source but they are in the vain of barn, farm, industrial, raw goodness. So the process for this is one that you first clean them up and then drill holes, voila planters. No real big mysteries. Just execution. 

Upon my arrival in bringing a check and acquiring the above items, the owner bestowed a green giant size padle with succulents streaming from it. An idea I thought, great, love it. No it was not only an idea but given to me as a gift. I promptly displayed it on a trellis by my front door giving it a play of honor. The execution of it was not only perfect for the upcycling minded, but the care and thought in giving me something I would treasure is wonderful. She got me:) 

Post Everything, regrouping,

Monday morning September 26 and I am regrouping. With a long list of project culminations and those still needing to be finished, I want to redirect my focus. Part of it is that I would like to have pop-up event in November, weather permitting. The other is that holiday planning for inventory is also looming. But what also looms is this inventory I am not quite sure what to do with.

Do I have a yard sale, do I just donate it? what to do. Some have migrated to Alices, but I have to move things on. In addition, I want to make some changes in then house. Bring the bed frame I bought in May in and rug. Move Omi's sewing machine into shed and rearrange kitchen items. It is all big stuff but since this week is about staying home waiting for deliveries and making adjustments when deliveries occur, this is a week to do this. Most importantly the house needs a cleaning. too many things including cleaning were put on a back burner.
So this morning as I was printing an inventory for the Lees and cutting a check, I am determined to clear some projects I know I will never do and make some changes as to hove we have things arranged. The new chicken coop making its way here is a in my mind a huge catalyst for streamlining our lives. We have all these environmental hurdles that really do not have to exist.

On top of everything the chuck wagon pantry is coming to live here!! But then I sigh when one of my clients / friends made me this garden with an upcycled retired large ladle from the boy scout camp.

Fall festival recovery and angiograms

So we had a fairly successful festival with totals about 2500.  The fact I could set up on Friday with Bill and Wesley made it very convenient. We got to our venue early but met with Sandy and Stan across from the park at the Trader Joe parking lot. Sandy was sporting the usual mile high look in the back of her truck. Stan was driving the Bronco. Bonnie showed and then her daughter Heather. Wes thought the whole thing was interesting how everyone seemed to know each other. Like one big love fest. 

This was our mess for about the first two hours and then we managed to organize it. Thank goodness with Wesley he could do a lot of the back and forth to the truck. It was a win win situation. It is always fun to organize the chaos and then leave knowing everything is in place when you leave. 

About 5:00 pm we were done. 

 

 So we were off and running with hundreds of people in our midst. Constant flow of New Berry residents came pouring in to buy our wares. Credit card, credit card, credit card. Continuous flow. The feeders that I got from Lois and Gary Lee were a hit. I had 5 small ones of my own and then 30 larger. I came home with 7, we were known to have the cheapest deal on feeders.

When we were all said and done, Bill and I were exhausted and we were ready for home.         

Two hours of packing and we got everything possible in our trucks. Stan and Sandee, our neighbors in crime finished and were sitting wondering and lamenting why we do this. Especially Stan. I decided I learned two things, no giant items and limit how much stuff from others. We got home and then it was time to sack out for the evening.

Early the next morning I got up bright and early, walked the dogs. I unloaded the truck, washed it and moved on in my day. Got all my finances in order, made invoices for all involved, wrote checks. It was a long weekend and I was happy to just hang at home but instead we went to Don and Daisys to do some gun thing and help them move a stove into porch. Came home and he we just passed out.

 Monday morning bright and early Chris had an angiogram. Left home at 4 am to be ready for procedure at 6 am. It was a long process and although I thought I could run errands, it really wasn't the case. You were told not to be far since there might be decision I might need to make, etc... So I was strung out till 10:30 with that sort of excuse and then even longer in recovery. Room was filthy, roommate was crazy and we were ready to walk. By two we were finally allowed to leave. Nothing wrong with Chris and we have to just reconcile that he is healthy :)

Tired and ready for a nap we staggered in. Didn't stir  til the evening, but found the weekend coupled with the procedure just made for a long stint. Found new energy by Tuesday and we drove out the Lee Ranch.

Metal and metal accessories

On Saturday and Sunday I volunteered at our local Museums rummage sale. Upon doing so I came across a friend who I didn't realize had a plethora of metal and metal accessories. That Tuesday I drove out to Lockwood Valley to the Lee Ranch. I was amazed at the sheer vastness of the buildings and metal used in housing the turkey farm. So I tried to negotiate a deal with Farm Girls, which is in the works. This is out of my league but stands the chance I being something fun and lucrative. We will see, since including this, I have too many other things in the works.

Squash v Squash

This year we have had the slowest growing garden ever. When we harvaest it is a huge deal and we have been trying to make it a fabulous experience. So it appears ours big growers are squash, melons, tomatoes. In contrast, corn found a way to grow but really didn't provide much outside of visual drama and something for the chicken to munch on.

Our melon in its sling about a week ago. Today it has done a color change. 

 

It has managed to grow exponentially but at the same time acquired some sort of blemish. As our garden moves into a different phase, my focused moves to working on the show in a couple of weeks. 

Too hot to handle....

So when we are experiencing more then the typical heat for our mountain community, you have to stay in and work on your inventory. Picked up a small 8 x 10 mid century oil painting. Signed McKee. It is an awesome little pic. Almost kept this one. 

 

Then I acquired this great MCM Mosaic that is about 24 inches tall. Nice tight patterning of the mosaics and fun theme. I own three of these types of mosaics and would never part from them. This is valued somewhere between 250 to 300. This was an awesome find.

I did find a good deal on these children's books, one being for me. Guess which one. 1938 Children on the Map, 1930's Bird Stories for Little People, 1973 Shape of Me by Seuss, 1960's Pooh in Latin and finally 1950 Gene Autry Adventure book.

A little kitsch by Howard Holt roosters and some souvenir totem shakers. Not huge money makers but I am a sucker for cute small stuff. 

Then we picked up a vintage sparkletts bottle with a Hollywood phone number on the bottom that had the two letters followed with a dash and then a few numbers. The tackle box, American made but I loved the swirl in the plastic. Needs a little work inside which seems minimal.

A large four foot stencil of numbers that would be amazing in a kids room on an accent wall. Those are some finds, some highlights some eh, just fun. When you stuck inside it all comes down to getting your pictures done, measuring, descriptions and an all over listing frenzy.

Aloha Hat People

I really should wear a hat when I am working outside. As you can see did get quite red from the day before. Since it has been unbearably hot and we are at 5000 feet it makes for a bad weather cocktail to survive. Getting things done means getting out there at 5:30 am work till 9 and then move to indoor work. By 5:30 pm you can go back outside but by then you have other obligations.

So Chris' garden in this horrible weather is doing pretty good. He was disillusioned and then things started to come together. Really growing here is so sketchy so anything is a good thing.Next year we have to start earlier!!

My ridge cap on the studio is complete as well and we should be expecting a solar light delivered soon. I have to finish painting and landscaping the front of the studio. This would include a path. So tomorrow I will be wearing the hat or suffer. :)

Yoga Army Dudes

So I purchased this display of green army guys doing yoga. Totally a frivolous buy, but they brought a smile to my face. With so much negativity going on due to election, fire, stupidity etc.. I seem to need some relief. 

So for a few dollars I got this crazy group of guys and they come with a display case. I am sure I will get a weird look from my family and here I am trying to save no make money. 

I am a buyer not seller today.

In the cornfield...

Yesterday was Christophers birthday and we were having our regular on the fly contractor over. So the goal for them was get the fencing 

completed and they did. At the end, it was a labor of love and although

We got the fencing for free it cost us about $120 to have someone build it with Chris. Which wasn't bad, but in my mind we would do the whole thing for sweat. That' s alright. Now it is complete with swinging entrance and the whole nine yards. 

As for me the shed is an exploration in painting. 

I have never done such a complicated endeavor inside and out. Usually it is an outside surface and I am mindlessly going through the motions. But it is an inside out entire. 

Complete with my array of Ruassian Sage in my Greek olive baskets. We sat on the kids bear picnic table with our contractor and perused the completion of so many projects. 

So today is Sunday and while I will be off the hill delivering furniture with a friend in disgusting Bakersfield, Chris can finally enjoy his handiwork.