Simply XSBaggage

Mystery Mail

The other day I went out to the mailbox to pick up the day's mail. This magazine page package was in amongst our mail. It was addressed to me.

Yep, that square package made from magazines came to me all the way from Costa Rica. This is the strangest looking package I have ever received, and I don't mind saying, I was a little afraid to open it.

I mean, really, who sends packages like that other than kidnappers demanding a ransom? After contemplating a few minutes over whether or not I should open it, I got brave and cut it open.

Inside were my new business cards that I recently ordered from a new supplier. The new cards are wonderful, but I kind of want to write to the seller and say, 'What's the deal with the strange packaging?!'

Was I right to be apprehensive, or am I just a big chicken?

Ice Storm

Boy, we've had some wacky weather here in the Pacific Northwest lately. Up until about a week and a half ago, it was almost starting to feel like we were going to bypass winter and just head on into spring. Then we got hit with some snow. Not a lot of snow where we live, just enough to let us know that winter was, in fact, here. And then, in the middle of this last week, an ice storm blew in. An ice storm like I have never seen before!

It was 29 degrees and raining, so every raindrop that fell, instantly turned to ice. Encasing everything in a frozen cast.

It was beautiful. And eery. It wasn't long before we started hearing pops and bangs throughout the valley that we live in, as branches and limbs of trees succumbed to the weight.

Unfortunately, it also wasn't long before our power went out as branches and trees fell into power lines. Before long there were about 250,000 homes and businesses without electricity in the counties surrounding us. And the freezing rain continued for almost 24 hours, making it dangerous and impossible for utility crews to start fixing it.

When our power finally came on last night I was jumping for joy! Today we're back to our typical Northwest winter weather: 40 degrees and raining.

One big, long ice storm sure can make you appreciate Washington rain!

Snowpocalypse

The Pacific Northwest just experienced one of the heaviest snow storms in years. We live in a valley north of Seattle and didn't get hit quite as hard as some of the surrounding areas. We got enough snow last night to make everything outside beautiful, but not so much that we couldn't get out of our driveway.

One of my favorite things to do since moving to Orting last year, is to take our dogs on a walk along the river. It's one of their favorite things too. Right behind getting dog bones.

This is Spencer. He especially loves dog bones.

And this is Tanner. He mostly likes sleeping and the occasional dog walk. Oh, and he'll never pass up a good dog bone.

This trail is along the Carbon River and we walk the dogs here all year long.

Today we saw an eagle in the top of a tree across the river from us.

I took these photos with my phone so it's a little hard to see him, but he's that dark speck in the top of the tree. As we went back down the trail he flew over us.

The weatherman says it's supposed to start raining tomorrow so our snow will soon be gone. And that's okay with me. I'm thankful that we were able to get out and enjoy it today.

The Holiday Shows Begin

I've been participating in Art/Craft Fairs on the Olympic Peninsula for the last five years. Over that time I've been so blessed to meet some amazing people. I've made friends with other vendors, and have always looked forward to seeing them at the shows that we all participate in.

 

After moving to Orting last year, I made the decision to cut back on the shows that I would do in the Port Angeles/Sequim area. Partly because of the cost of travelling, and partly because I really don't like being away from my new home any more than I have to. I love our little life here!

 

But, I do miss the face-to-face interactions with friends, customers, and other vendors. I decided that I would slowly get back into selling at shows if I could find some local ones. I participated in the Sumner Arts Festival over the summer, and was happy to meet a few people there. After living in Port Angeles all of my life, it's been difficult to put myself out there, and especially so since I work from home. So, going to shows is a great opportunity for me to not only show my products to new customers, but also to meet people and make some new (local) friends.

Which is what I did this past weekend. I met Cindy at the Sumner Arts Festival, and she invited me to participate in the Kent Senior Center Holiday Craft Market, which she manages. Here's Cindy in front of my booth space:

This show does an excellent job of keeping everything organized, taking care of their participating vendors, and making shopping easy for everyone. Here are a few of the things that I loved about doing this show:

>Each shopper is given a shopping bag to put their purchases in.

>There is no entry fee for shoppers.

>Each shopper is given a flyer with event information and a list of all the vendors.

>Live Christmas music throughout the weekend.

>Free beverages for customers (donation suggested but not required.)

>They had a nice lunch menu and tables and chairs to sit and eat at.

For vendors, they offered these perks:

>Tables and chairs are provided at no cost to vendors.

>Friendly, helpful volunteers.

>It was a large, modern facility with room for lots of vendors.

>Lots and lots of parking available for customers.

>Bus loads of shoppers arrived throughout each day. (I heard from one of the shoppers that they had Mimosas on the bus! I want to be on that one!)

>Fresh, warm scones and jam were delivered to each vendor each day! My favorite part!!

>Bottled water delivered to each vendor each day.

>A reminder on the entrance door to set our clocks back for Daylight Savings Time that night. (These people thought of everything!)

I love a show that treats people so well! Thank you Cindy and to all of your crew there at the Kent Senior Center! It was a fun weekend!

Well, my next event will be in Silverdale at the Kitsap Holiday Gift and Food Fair. (November 18,19, & 20.) This will be my third year at this show, and I am really looking forward to seeing new faces as well as familiar faces. It's a great weekend to really get in to the Christmas spirit and start your shopping if you haven't already! I hope you'll come and see me! If you mention that you read my blog, I'll give you a 20% discount on anything you purchase from my booth that weekend. How's that for incentive? I hope to see you there!

Happy Halloween!

It occurred to me this morning that it's not only Halloween today, but that means it's also the last day of October! How can that be?

It's been such a busy month for us. We've spent just about all of our days off this month going to Port Angeles (a 2 1/2 hour drive, one way) to clean and move all of my belongings from my home there, to our home in Orting. No small project! We have some great renters that will be ready to move into my little house by mid-November, though, and I am grateful that I can feel comfortable with who will be living there.

Just up the highway from our home there are two great farms that really do it up big for Halloween. My Grandsons were here visiting and it was the perfect opportunity to go have some fun!

Not sure what Miles was showing me here...

My Son, Daughter-in-law, and Grandsons. This was taken after we spent 1,354 hours lost in the corn maze. My Son had to break out his GPS to get us out of it. Fun times!

Love these two little 'pun-kin heads'!

Spooner Farms is a super place for Fall entertainment for kids and adults!

Autumn in the Orting Valley

The Autumn colors are at their best right now, here in Washington. I catch myself staring out at these trees in awe of the vibrant colors.

 

 

 

We are truly blessed to live in an area of such beauty!

Welcoming Fall

We had such a late summer here in the Paciific Northwest that I almost hate to see it go. August and September brought us the warmest weather of the year. Here in the Orting Valley, the late summer crops are just at their peak. My favorite late summer crop is CORN! Just up the highway from our home is a small country farm where you can buy home-grown corn. It's 'Self Serve' here, just leave your money in the bucket.

Just a little country farm at the end of a dirt road.

Pick out your fresh-picked ears, husk them, leave your payment in the bucket.

And if you need pumpkins or squash, you can get those too!

There is nothing better than fresh corn for dinner!

"Faith is taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase." Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

Photo Credit: by Smithsonian Institution

Gadget Keepers for those of us that can't do without our Gadgets

Do you have a 'smart phone'? I have to say, I was very late to the game in even getting a cell phone. Almost all of my friends and family had a cell phone way before I did. I didn't really like the idea of being 'attached' to a phone. Boy, have things changed! Last year I received a 'Droid' smart phone from my son and daughter-in-law, and at the time had no idea how useful it would be!

What I have found, being a small business owner who does a lot of my business online, it is so handy and almost necessary, to keep connected to my business and customers. The ONLY problem I had when I switched to the smart phone was the size of it. I could no longer carry it in my jeans pocket. So it would get put down and then when it rang I would be scrambling to find it. (This could be an age thing...)

So, what does a person who loves to design and sew products do? mmm hmmm I created a solution!

I started selling the Gadget Keepers at shows and online just before Christmas, and they were a hit! With the swivel clip, you can attach these to your purse, belt loop, shopping cart, stroller, etc.

Definitely a product designed out of necessity, I attach mine to my belt loop each day as I work in my studio. They have a front slip pocket so you can tuck your I.D., money, ear buds, or whatever in there for safe keeping.

New Year, New Focus

Hello 2011...

I have to say I am happy to leave 2010 behind and start a new year. The last year was marked by having to make some very difficult decisions, which meant unavoidable big changes in my life. In the midst of that I was just trying to get through each day absorbing the changes in my life and dealing with the sadness that accompanied it.

'What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.' --- Ralph Waldo Emerson

But 2010 was also a year of being blessed with support, love, and encouraging words from friends, family and loved ones, and it meant the world to me!

This will be another year of changes, but I am determined to have them be GREAT changes! I've already been making plans for what some of those changes will be. Some will be personal, some will be business related.

After reading Kim Klassen's post about choosing a 'Word of the Year' and 'stating your intentions', I knew this is what I needed to do. I was inspired to do her little exercise to come up with my word for the year. I encourage you all to do it too, as it can be enlighting and motivating.

So, my word for the year will be:

FOCUS

Focus on taking care of myself, eating better and exercising more.

Focus on having a future plan for my business.

Focus on the creative ideas that swirl through my head, put them in writing, and narrow down which of those ideas are best for me and my business.

Focus on getting my products in more stores.

Focus on scheduling time with family and loved ones.

Focus on having more fun.

Focus on being grateful for how God has blessed me - every day.

Those are just some of the ideas I have for 2011. I'm sure my list will evolve and change as the year goes on, but this is a good start.

How about you? Do you have a Word of the Year? I'd love to hear what it is and why you chose it!