Author Photo?

 

I think I should write a book. This photo reminds me of the back cover photograph on so many books. 

Maybe in a few years….  Smile. 

Hang On!

 

It’s cold here.  And misting. Spring’s tease was real.

Tomorrow they are calling for 69 degrees and severe thunderstorms. What are you going to do? Hang on, I guess! It’s a real changeable end to March.

I’m still losing hair post Covid. Like half of it is gone. Hoping I’m nearing the end of the great shed. Thankfully I started with a lot so with a hair product that adds body it’s not too noticeable.  It’s just unnerving to see it visibly getting shorter and thinner. A friend sitting near me in church did laugh as she compared me to Pigpen in Charlie Brown for leaving a trail of hair wherever I go. Again, what are you going to do?  Hang on!  This too shall pass….and I’m here to experience it, so there’s that.

Candle orders are going strong. It’s keeping me busy in the evenings. Thank goodness for the ability to just walk downstairs and go to work. And it smells good too! 

Have a delightful day!  If your circumstances call for it…Hang on!!  Hold tight to someone else if they need it. We’ve got this.  The world may be crazy but our foundation can be solid as a rock! Set your feet on that sure foundation. 

Hats & Personas

 Some of us wear hats well. 

Some of us do not.

Merryn does.

She was always putting a basket or purse on her head like a hat so Chelsea found this one for her. 

She will turn 2 next month.  She’s so stinking smart. Taking after her smart older brother, I would say. 

He is apparently on his way to 

becoming a financial guru. 

The Only Constant

 

The only constant is 

Change.

From a crazy winter storm 

To a Spring like week. 

Life keeps us on our toes.

This weekend our daylight shifted

By one hour 

Toward evening. 

Made hubby so happy!

Our world is undergoing

Significant change.

War hurts.

The change I seek is a 

New heart.

One that seeks His will first.

Not mine.

This sounds so cliche.

But it’s a constant struggle.

“Change my heart, Oh God.

Make it ever true.

Change my heart, oh God.

May I be like You!”

Eddie Espinoza

Chelsea’s New Business

 It’s not that she doesn’t have enough to do with being a wife and mother, partner in a family business with daily responsibilities.  Nope!  But her creative spirit drives her to bake.  And through this she discovered a love of cookie decorating. 

Chadd has been taking her baked goods to work with him just as Warren always did before she was married.  But lately she has made more than even they can consume. So she is going commercial. We got her licenses on Friday and she is in the process of getting her kitchen certified. A delightful lady in our town with a commercial kitchen has offered use of it until Chelsea’s is ready.  How is that for support?? 

It’s awesome to see our children find their passion. What we thought would be a hobby is turning into more.  Quickly.

You can find her on Facebook at:

Darcey helped create the logo. That makes me so happy too.  Seeing our kids create together. 

Snow Day

 March in Pennsylvania is the most predictably unpredictable.  On Wednesday our shop door was open with temps in the high 60’s. Today temps will go from the 40’s this morning into the 20’s by late afternoon. With 3-5 inches of snow and high winds expected we have declared it a snow day. 

Snow Days on Saturdays are a special kind of torture for retail. But we will make the very most of it.

I happen to have an order for 144 chocolate candles to fill. The jars are scheduled to be delivered today.  So it looks like I will spend this afternoon, at least, pouring the best smelling chocolate candles. 

Before temps drop below freezing I hope to get to the grocery store to fill our very empty fridge. I have to depend on Warren for that one since my car decided to try to shed a tire…once again. I have a front tire with a death wish.  This is the third time it has loosened itself only this time it sheared three of the bolts off. Sigh.

Warren’s car is standard and I was supposed to learn to drive it a long time ago…..that hasn’t happened.

Yesterday was our 33rd Anniversary. As we both had long, busy days at work we met up at The Waffle House at 9pm to celebrate. It was our very first time at our local Waffle House.  But we knew it would be open and were fairly certain there would be no wait.  Both were true. And that’s really about all I can say about it.  Other than that they have a very modern juke box that I was tempted to play….but resisted. 

Sight & Sound’s latest production, David, opens to the public today.  We went to the Friends & Family Premiere Thursday evening.  It was soooo good. As always this night is tension filled for Warren and so I feel that with him.  I’ll absorb more the next time. I came away with several impressions. First, this show is technically and artistically modern.  While the costuming and story are very true to the text the music and visual effects are 2022.

There is one scene where David has some fun on his harp that draws the audience in as well.  That scene ends too soon. It was so much fun!

I’ll not say too much more because surprises are fun.  But I highly doubt you would be disappointed should you go. It’s an adventure. 

What I wore to the show. The day before I went shopping in our clothing boutique. This was taken the morning of and I figured out the timer on my phone for the first time. I was super self conscious as I kept setting it and posing in various locations outside.  I kept waiting for a neighbor to pop out and ask what I was doing. But if anyone noticed they haven’t said so. :-)

Have a great day! 

Talented Ladies

Our daughter in law, Emily, is crazy talented with planters. She is the artist behind ours.  Coming up soon is  a switch to Spring. I’ve seen what’s going in and I’m so excited! 

 At some point soon Emily hopes to offer this service to other local businesses.  She’s an entrepreneur in process.

Chelsea has found a new creative outlet.  Gorgeous cookies!  Every day she practices a new skill, or three. Orders are beginning to come in and we are excited to see where this leads. Not that she has nothing to do as a mom and shop owner. But this girl is so much like me….she loves to learn!

 Our other daughter in law, Darcey, has had her new business for about a year now.  She makes amazing macrame, whisk brooms, and now, stickers.  We are so proud to see Darcey being intentional about using the gifts God has given her. @withinwonderscurios  

We are pleased to carry many of Darcey’s creations at the shop.

Being surrounded by creative people pushes me to keep improving as well.  I’m currently waiting on a shipment of new candle jars and fragrances. While I may still be focused on the same two businesses I’m always on a quest to make them better.  Our shop has never looked as good as it does right now and much of that credit also goes to Chelsea.  She’s simply amazing at display/merchandising.

Yesterday was Women in Business day. I missed it.  But it’s never wrong to celebrate the strong women in our lives.