Our Thanksgiving day was chilly, but we got to get outside the day before.
And I was very thankful for a pretty day in November.
In Kansas, you just never know what the day’s weather will bring.
So when you get a good one, you should celebrate it!
Especially if you are surrounded by loved ones (and dogs) who love to be outdoors too.
| | |
|
I hope you are having a day full of gratitude and blessings.
And a tummy full of pie!
| | |
|
This is the after from my mini redo. I had the cottage halls decked and thought I was done, but decided this area wasn’t quite what I wanted it to be.
This is the before. Cute stuff, but for my home, there might have been a tad too much red. And it’s was too busy with lots of small things lined up.
So I fetched this hunk of gorgeous-ness from the studio, glittered up some elves, and moved a few of the guys to another location.
This cabinet was a gift from a Peep, and it is such a lovely piece. It was just what I needed to take away the cluttery feeling of so many tiny figurines together.
The glue is still wet on this fella’s rhinestone buttons. Aren’t these sprites sweet in silver and gold glitter?
I used cream chalk paint over the high gloss red glaze, and sprinkled glitter or mica onto the paint before it dried.
The red felt pants on the other gnomes had a wash of white paint over the bright fabric to made it look pink as it dried.
I had debated whether or not to mess with this, since all the decorating was done, but decided that I’d enjoy it more if I made a few little changes.
And I do!
| | |
|
Kansas scenery might not have a reputation for being very interesting, but I find it pretty. When the prairie fires are lit, it becomes striking. But I rarely see that, so I was happy to catch a field at the dog park being cleared.
Our local dog park was pretty nice as is, but it is now getting a makeover. I’ve excitedly watched the process and look forward to the summer’s blooms. We tried something similar by our bee hives, but skipped a couple of steps, including the burn. For a few months after tilling and planting wildflower seeds, it looked so-so, but nothing like I’d hoped. And soon, the weeds and grass took back over.
Plus, I got systemic poison ivy from all of that horrid vine in the air from the field being tilled. Ugh.
Our house is right on I70, so I’d be nervous about doing a burn off. With that smoke rolling through the sky, visibility on the turnpike could get bad.
So, I’ll enjoy the native plants at the dog park, since it doesn’t look like we will be getting a field of them at the cottage.
With so much smoke around while the fields were being burnt, my asthma was acting up, so we didn’t watch the fiery show for long. Instead, we headed down to the Kaw River at the backside of the dog run.
Molly enjoyed the change of pace. But she loves everything. That happy girl doesn’t care where we take her, she is just glad to be there.
Dorothy was glad to go too.
There are many times when I wish I lived by the beach or in the mountains, places where there is always a beautiful place to explore.
But honestly? I’m pretty happy right here. Beauty can be found just about anywhere if you look for it.
| | |
|
My friends have spaces at Good Juju, in the Old West Bottoms, and some times I get very jealous.
The years that I spent immersed in the junking world and selling painted furniture represent some of my favorite times.
The estate sales!
Auctions!
Getting up early every weekend so I never missed a garage sale, and filling my van so full that I had to make a pit stop to unload in my garage and go back for more!
I loved the redos, the styling and arranging, the treasure hunts, even the sanding!
I loved every second of it all!
It has been ages since I moved onto selling smaller items online, or having a Birdsong shopping experience set up in my garage instead of renting booth space . And honestly, I love doing those too.
But I haven’t had workshops or even managed my online Boutique since 2019. So, when Beth and Angie invite me to hang out on Good Juju work days, I am happy to go in and soak up the atmosphere.
They know I miss the junker’s life and always encourage me to join in.
Beth even gives me a few areas in her booth that I can arrange however I like.
It’s always a wonderful day, with a picnic, lots of interesting things to unpack and set up, and laughs with friends.
Plus, I get to wander around the empty mall and explore some of the other luscious displays.
It’s even better at the holidays and puts me in a festive mood.
Why don’t I get a booth? Or update my shop? Or host another Birdsong?
I’m just kinda- eh, right now, I guess.
Between my husband retiring, losing my son, a knee surgery that was more stressful than expected and well, COVID, and quarentine, family issues, and travels, I just haven’t built up enough gumption to get back into working again.
I would not say I am depressed, though of course I will be forever sad about Ryan.
I can’t imagine not falling apart inside when something strikes out of the blue to bring on that “oh my god, he is gone” feeling as if it is all just now happening. The pain that sometimes dims but at others returns and with a vengeance.
But I also don’t have an ongoing, overall depression. I’m just sad and mourning.
I miss him.
So, I accept every invitation from friends, and invite people to get togethers myself. I paint, I embroider, I do things for myself, for others, and for my home. I write in my journal (blog) and putz around the studio, I bake, spend time with Sugarwings, walk with my husband and dogs, and travel.
I’m just not ready to go back to work yet. Even if I miss the hustley, bustley fun and the treasures.
A day helping at Good Juju makes me feel like I am still part of that world, and not getting too rusty with my junker skills. Will I go back to buying, collecting, selling, and then buying, buying, buying, and collecting with a bit more selling, again?
I’d like to think so.
In the meantime, I am lucky to have friends that include me. And that I can take my time until I am ready to face working again. I am still stockpiling goods for my Boutique, and will eventually have a clearance sale there to clean up before restocking. I have kept it open and and also lucky that I sell enough past online tutorials to pay all of my blog and website fees, so that I don’t feel pressure to shut them down.
And if a good day of good junkin is just what you need too? There is a bonus day for Good Juju to be open for the holidays, this Saturday. I highly recommend a shopping trip there (and to the other cool shops in the area on first Fridays each month).
| | |
|
On an earlier post I showed this shirt in progress and said I didn’t have a finish of it completed. But then, I saw this one and realized I was sorta wrong. There is more to the design, with leaves and embellishments on the other side of the shirt too. But at least I did have a picture of this flower finished.
| | |
|
