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The weekend update

Andrea — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 19:52:56 +0000

hey peeps, i was sitting here trying to decide how much I could squeeze onto Twitter when I realized, DUH, I has a neglected blog. huh.

Anyway. Today was the big craft sale day at the local community club / center that I was heavily involved in. We had a pretty good time, but it is snowing out there to beat the band, so the crowd was disappointing.

I did manage to take a few of my things, but did not sell one item. People did say they were nice, and well made though. some people had no idea what a tea cozy was. Humph.

I remembered I had a lot to do on the club’s website (no link because I’m embarrassed) and since I am not always in the loop of what’s going on, it was difficult for me to even think about updating the site with events. Then I had a brainwave: I was thinking it woudl be a great idea to write a blog post all about how to host a Christmas craft sale, and put it on the blog, but I think I’ll put it on the club site instead. So it can be a handy resource for anyone else, as well as a community hub of information. (and yes, think Google long tail, ad revenue and SEO… blah blah blah… short version is to make the club’s site pull in some money too.)

we rented tables, charged admission and had a draw for a lap blanket, plus sold tickets on two more blankets, and charged for drinks and sandwiches. we made $233+change, with $100 of that being table rentals.

I also bought Emma a pair of hand-knit mittens because we love them, and the colors were horrendously bright and I knew she’s love them because of that. Which she did. Pics to follow. I would have bought more, but I had less than $10 on me.

Sarah had to work today, even though it is stormy out. Actually, she had put in for this weekend off, and in writing, as the bosses told her to do, but they booked her solid instead. She had Wednesday off and her next day off is Thursday. But she’s making a ton of money for college.

We had a special delivery this week. mom said she saw something in staples and had to get it for me, and this guy in a huge truck with a great northern English accent dropped it off. I resisted asking him if he could just ‘ang ’round a bit, maybe for a spot ‘o tea, and I’d just listen to ‘im talk, yeah? Then Ron grabbed the box, signed the slip and hustled him out he door before Emma could hug him again. Ron put the chair together, right on the lunch table, and then we got to argue over who got to sit in it. (I won, just so you know. I’m realigning my back on it now.)

Also, I have been meaning to write a seperate post about the wood pellet shortage here on the eastern seaboard. Yes, although the Maritimes and NE USA, you cannot buy any significant amount of pellets for the wood stove. we ran out a few weeks ago, but it wasn’t a big deal because of unseasonably warm temps. then earlier this week it got cold. we kind of freaked a little until we realized out pellet stove is also able to handle alternate fuels, so Ron took a trip up to the feed store and we’ve been burning CORN. yes, really. Pics to follow.

This relates to the craft sale a bit, because one of the club members who helped out is the previous-previous owner to the house - the woman married to the guy who had the breakdown while working on it. The back wall has been extremely cold and we’ve been trying to figure out why. Ron has a temperature gun, and Sarah’s closet was 2 degrees the other night. We know the side wall is insulated with blown-in cellulose, and there were buckwheat hull remnant. I asked her if she knew if the back wall was insulated and she said she recalled her husband saying how it was full of buckwheat hulls. So I guess they didn’t do that side. Just a few minutes ago, Ron came up to say that on the first floor, under the colder rooms, were areas in the wall we know he cut, like to put in a window, so now we figure there’s whole sections of walls where they let out the buckwheat hull insulation and didn’t replace it. Great! But that would explain it.

now that the sale is over, I think I may even feel like I am chipping away at my to-do list. I have a couple items I was freaking out or worrying over and I decided I just don’t have to energy to do that anymore, so I’m doing the “suck it up and deal, princess” headslap on myself. The other thing is, I’m trying not to do too much actual work this weekend to look after some other household things.

I’m certain I have to fold and put away laundry, as throughout the week, I kept trying to remember to put a load in the washer and then the dryer. They’d get dumped on a chair. Somewhere on Thursday Ron made a show of placing a clean dry basket of clothing at my feet, next to my desk, in the office. Something was said about socks and underwear so I guess I’m folding laundry today.

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Desperate times calls for selective memory

Andrea — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:30:00 +0000

This has been on my calendar for a while.

Emma, as you no doubt are aware, is the hugest Pixar fan ever.She’s been counting down to the Wall-E DVD release for quite a while. Probably since we saw it at the movie theatre. So she has been looking forward to the day she could go to the store and get Mom or Dad to buy it for her as soon as humanly possible.

And, just between you and me and the entire internet, I pre-ordered it from Amazon. Not the single-disk version, not even a 2 disc set, but the THREE DISC SPECIAL EDITION.

Yeah, I plan on videotaping her reaction when she opens it for her birthday. Shhh, don’t tell her.

Did I just say birthday? Why yes, I am a cruel mother making her wait that long. Except the hard part has been keeping it a surprise. At first, I used avoidance.

“Mom! Wall-E comes put on DVD next week!”

“That’s nice honey, what do you want for lunch?”

But as the date drew closer, we had to step up our tactics.

“I’m SO EXCITED!!! WALL-E COMES OUT TOMORROW! Can we get it?”

“We’ll have to wait and see. Did you brush your teeth yet?”

And finally I had to pull out The Big Guns. We coincidentally had to go get groceries on Tuesday, and as we were discussing our driving plans, Emma comes out with this:

“Since we’re getting groceries, and since today Wall-E comes out on DVD, could we buy it? I’m sure the grocery store will have a stand right by the checkout.”

“….. go ask your father… Ron? Can you explain this to her?”

So. Ron spent a good five minutes explaining very carefully that no, we will not be buying Wall-E today at the store. Someone may have purchased it for her as a present already, what with her birthday being a month away and Christmas a week later. So in case she did not receive it on either of those occasions, Daddy then promised to take her shopping for it. *After* Christmas. She had to wait.

I thought she took the news rather well. She was calm, did not appear upset, and said, “Okay, Daddy,” quite plainly.

At the grocery store, we got most of the way through without a mention. But then we had to go by the electronic section and there was the display. It was huge. It *talked*. As we were standing there looking, the voice box in the cardboard wall-E fell out. I had to replace it.

Now we’ve been there a good five minutes and of course they are right at Emma’s eye level. Our conversation was the sort of “yes, that is cool,” and I tried to veer it towards the, “Oh, these are just Blue Ray..” or “Eh, it’s only a one disc movie.. pfft..” to try and downplay it, even while being entranced by the whole thing myself.

But as I was replacing wall-E’s voice box, Emma was holding a movie case.

“I’m gonna put this in the cart now.”

Uh…

“It’s okay, right Mommy?”

Uh…

“Hey, remember what Daddy said?”

More thoughtful looks and some lip-chewing. And then I had to pull out my whole bag of mommy tricks, saying I know how much she loves the movie - remember that part when the ship was tipped and the lady said “Hey Frank? Wanna have kids?” and the kids rolled across the floor to them? - but, you know, her birthday is just around the corner, as well as Christmas, and I’m sure she’ll get some presents she really likes and it’s hard, I know, but she just has to wait.

I held my breath.

“Okay mommy. I can wait.”

Phew. Dodged a bullet there.

I only hope Ron hid the package somewhere *I* can’t find it, before I cave.

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The start of the season

Andrea — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 23:12:52 +0000

I went out today to a craft sale, except when I got there it was nowhere to be found. I could have sworn that’s what the radio said, but there was a pee-wee hokey game instead of craft booths. Hmph.

I am trying to get in a crafty Christmassy mood because next Saturday I have to not only manage the Christmas Craft sale down at the local hall, I have to make sure I have enough of my own stuff to sell there too. right now, I have three tea cozies ready to go. Now, a reasonable person would say something like we have plenty of tables booked to the point that we have to borrow tables from the firemen down the road and I’m sure nobody woudl notice if you didn’t put in a table of your own stuff and you DO have to sort of manage things and oh my, who is working the door even, but you know.. it’s kind of the principle here.

And I have a stack of half-finished cozies and things I should really finish up and sell since it’s taking me forEVER to even think about working on my shops site. Which will happen someday.

The day after Remembrance day it seemed decorations went up everywhere. Oh sure, the stores started putting out Christmas good before Halloween candy was even gone, but now the places are decorated too. is it just me or does this seem early? I know once we get past American thanksgiving it’s pretty much “the holiday season”.

I’m going to try and get some cards out this year too. I swear. Cross my heart. Even scheduled it in there somewhere. I think. I wrote it down anyway. Sorta.

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How Moms can make money online - part 3 - the people who can help you

Andrea — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:06:50 +0000

I’m not going to sit here and type up a big list of famous people online or off, or tell you I “made it” through hard work and a little luck, because… ugh, that’s for feel-good self help books. In some senses, I’m still fumbling around like the rest of you, and I sure don’t feel like I’ve made it, but I DO feel like I am well on my way there.

So how’d I get here? Well, the “duh” answer is Ron, so we’ll go right beyond that. There’s a few people I know online who have given me a virtual butt-kicking, telling me I’m too hard on myself, I expect too much from myself and just lighten up already. I have even had this in real-life, and this morning as I wrote down a massively overwhelming to-do list with 26 broadly-labeled items I have to do before Christmas, JoVE’s voice popped up in my head. And I laughed.

Why? Because a couple of years ago we met up, and as I confided some of our plans (which have bloomed to incredible proportions and possibilities), she told me two important things:

1. Charge more. I’m worth it.
2. Stop expecting to accomplish more in one day than most people try and do in a week.

And when I get too neurotic or angsty or worried or whatever, and I spill my guts all over someone’s email inbox, it’s my friends like Jo who tell me to smarten the heck up and just DO IT already, sheesh. Um. So THANKS!

So list item one for you is your SUPPORT NETWORK. If you have close friends that support you and have been telling you the same things for years, listen to ‘em. They’re smart.

Item two: there’s a whole pile of extremely intelligent, witty, caring and big-hearted women out there in the big online world. I happen to know some of them, and a few are even peripherally aware of my existence. Good thing for you, they have blogs with tons of free advice and things you can do.

Naomi at Itty Biz
Wendy at Sparkplugging
Kelly and Lynnette from Moms Mastermind

If you do nothing else, read Naomi’s blog. If the fact she swears bothers you, get over it for a short while. What she says on her site is worth millions. If you have some time and no money, read every post. You will not regret it. If you have less time and less money, start here.

And lastly, there’s you.

In the middle of last week’s acceptance speech from Obama, I turned to Ron and said, “Maybe now we’ve come to the end of the Age of Entitlement and are heading for the Age of Responsibility.” I have to say, it would be a nice shift.

At the end of the day, there’s you. Sure, there’s other issues you have to deal with, some thing you can’t change immediately, but there’s still a lot of things that YOU can DO. (and yes, I realize that’s quite ironic given I started talking about the size of my to-do list).

Money isn’t going to fall in your lap overnight. But you can start doing one or two small things today to start working towards that. Reading those blogs above (instead of fluff blogs for example) is a good start.

I keep thinking of my friend Lisa. She went though some devastating personal issues a few years ago. Today, she’s part owner in a HUGELY successful corporation. The last time I saw a picture of her, she was positively glowing. Why? Because she got out of bed one day, put on her big girl panties and her arse-kicking boots and made things happen.

So put on a fabulous pair of boots, even if it’s only in your mind, and get out there and make things happen. You can do it. Go forth and be fabulous.

And with that, I have a list to chomp at.

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In case of Zombie attack

Andrea — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:41:39 +0000

The other night, I clicked around the tv and sporadically watch Night of the Living Dead. It was pretty hysterical. Then the next night (or so) I had tv access again and wound up watching almost all of I Am Legend. That was pretty good, not really scary.

But then? Then the next morning, in the foggy half-light of dawn, I was awakened by gunshots. And my first thought was to make sure the zombies could not get in the house.

I hate adrenalin rushes before caffeination.

(Note: the gunshots were from some hunter, presumably near the lake because it echoed very well, who seemed like he had trouble hitting the broad side of a barn.)

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For your general amusement

Andrea — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 21:25:23 +0000

Emma did a little project the other day, with hardly any help. I think Meaghan might have helped a little. Emma had asked me and I had to keep putting her off, then eventually pointed out she really could do a lot of the work herself. (But, hellooooo mama guilt anyway)

Her idea was to take her barbie dolls and do her own version of America’s Next Top Model. She had no prompting for us, and all I really helped with was suggesting how she could set up the backdrop and what to use. (and I actually adjusted it after a small crying jag because it kept falling dooowwwwnnn… OHNOES!)

Anyway. Here’s Lakeville’s Next Top Barbie Model.

This is the group shot. Click through for the rest of the set on the right of the page. I’m on the edge of my chair wondering who will win.

(p.s. She also made runway videos, but I haven’t posted them anywhere. But still. She made ‘em. )

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Where my talents are noticed

Andrea — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 15:55:03 +0000

Yesterday was a big day for our local community club. We planned a Harvest Supper from 4pm to 7pm, and all the food was brought beforehand by club members and volunteers in a sort of pot-luck fashion. this way, one or two members were not stuck cooking a turkey, for instance.

I put myself down on the list to make my Chinese food spread. At first, I was not sure how well it was received. But hey, it was food for the supper.

I started cooking yesterday shortly after lunch. I made fried rice, sweet and sour chicken balls (with the sauce separate) and won ton soup, which I finished off down at the clubhouse so it wouldn’t be soggy or sloshy to move. Ron helped be bring everything down about 20 minutes beforehand.

Some people were already there, waiting to eat! The tables were already set up - I have no idea when that was done, as nobody let me know. The food tables were already full of food, and piles of more food was in the kitchen.

I’m still in that place where I’m floating around trying to sort my place in the scheme of things around here. some of them I haven’t worked with enough to find a comfortable spot. And I really need to be told what you need me to do. Some of it I can guess, but I can’t read minds very well.

Eventually, Sarah and I started to dive right in as more people showed up and the workload increased. I gravitated towards standing behind the serving tables, helping seniors lift lids off crock pots while trying to hold their plates and utensils. I even directed people to certain foods, and explained what was in each pot. I spent quite a bit of time by the tables, and the ladies who were more comfortable running back and forth to the kitchen,or staying in the kitchen washing dishes, prepping the next batch of food to come out, sorted themselves out that way.

At one point out of the corner of my eye, I noticed two other club member standing in the kitchen doorway, look in my direction and talking.

“What?” I hollered.

“Nothing! We’re talking about you, not to you!” they joked back.

“You gonna tell me or am I gonna hear about it next week at the post office?” I can hand it back just as good.

The crowd died down and I made my way over to the lady who had been talking about me. She immediately said, “We’ve found your calling!” Oh? What’s that?

So now I get to be “out front” and deal with the crowd, since I’m apparently a natural. And then they ran me out of the kitchen.

It must have been good, because we raised one pile of money. I brought home one tray of leftover sweets, and a bunch of my dirty dishes. The chicken balls were a big hit with the kids especially (they look like chicken nuggets), and everyone loved my soup.

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Emma and Mom go on a field trip

Andrea — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:33:39 +0000

It’s pouring rain outside. That means I am writing this while offline and hoping at some point here is enough of a lull to hit the “publish” button.

When last we left our intrepid heroine, we were prepping for a field trip to a historical village. Does anyone else have trouble sleeping if they know they have to get up the next day at a certain time? I guess it’s part of my deep-seated fear of being late (which usually turns out fine anyway).

Emma and I got ourselves ready and out the door quite leisurely, and met our homeschooling group in the parking lot of the local mall. We co-ordinated a bit of carpooling, some snack pickup, and then we were all off again. It was just me and Emma in our own car, as unbeknown to her my mother was meeting us there.

After an hour’s drive down the highway, we took the turn off and didn’t see anyway. I went up to the regular gates.. and they were locked. Weird. Met another mom in the parking lot of the tourist information area and eventually we figured out where we had to be. Inside the entrance pavillion, we all met Emma and joy of joys - Emma found another family with two girls her age! They instantly became bestest friends forever, and would also be in our group. This is double-awesome because unlike the Miramichi group we left that had 6 girls all Emma’s age, this group is 80% BOYS in the 2 to 15 range.

I was a bit antsy as I tried to let people know my mom was coming, was not here yet, and oh by the way, Emma’s doesn’t know and we can’t let her overhear. Our group had to get going, so I let the lady at the desk know that one more person would show up and she looks a lot like me.

We had just settled in our historic house and they were starting the presentation when… *knock knock*. I opened the back kitchen door I was leaning against. “Hi Mom,” I said “Way to make an entrance.” When Emma saw her she went, “MAM! I’M SO GLAD YOU’RE HERE!”, swept her up in a big hug, and half the parents went “awwwwwww!”

Mom did a writeup of the actual educational parts. She helped the kids and I sort of wandered around. It was a really good time, and if you ever have the chance to do something like this, even if it seems expensive, it is totally worth it. I’m biased though, as I love this place and would work there if I could. The employees all dress in character and act like the original homeowners.

(I kept saying “Let’s party like it’s 1899. It rocketh.”)

The boys and girls had been separated, as that was what life was like back then, so when they came together to share information, on Emma’s turn told them her finding in what I call her Announcer Voice, and one of the moms leaned over and said she did a really good job at public speaking.

Our group was done first, Mom and Emma were hungry, so we left. Mom was buying lunch, what could I say? The rest of the group was staying there for a picnic lunch, which me missed, so I’m going to have to make sure we go to the next whatever we have, as there’s a few parents I’m getting to know better.

Even if there’s a whole bunch of stuff we don’t agree on.

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Dear America

Andrea — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:02:36 +0000

Thanks.

Now back to work, there’s plenty to be done.

(Side note: I’m exhausted! We stayed up late and then someone phoned us at 8am. I got 6 hours of tossing and turning.)

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Trick or Treat, here’s a kitty

Andrea — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:40:17 +0000

Mom nagged me on the phone today saying I better update, so here ya go. Also, she wants you to know that I’m an awful mother because I got a picture of the Halloween sunset, but NOT a picture of her granddaughter in a princess costume.

To be fair, the sunsets are rarer than Emma in a princess dress. For her costume, all Emma did was root around in the dress-up pile a bit.

It was just her and I roaming the neighbourhood, as Meaghan is far too mature for something so childish, Sarah had to work, and there are no little kids near here. Seriously, we were the only ones out walking. Every so often a minivan would stop at the houses around us, but that was it. Nobody came to our door. (Is okay, more treats for us!)

We went to eight houses and were gone about an hour and half. We went maybe 500 yards. At each house, we had to come in (both of us) and close the door (it was cold, almost freezing), then pick out candy and catch up on the news. About halfway through we came to a house with a dog. Emma is, for reasons unknown to us, terrified of dogs. Any dog. Even chihuahuas. If it barks or wags, it scares her. The first dog they had she hadn’t noticed until she got near the door, so she was pretty wary. The second, someone had let out from a room upstairs and literally came charging in from seemingly nowhere, so she was pretty rattled. (Okay, utterly terrified and screeching.)

The owners felt really bad, so after a bit the lady came over to Emma with a sleeping kitty in her arms. “That better be fake,” I said. It was, and thankfully the BATTERIES to make it purr were worn out as well.

It’s okay there too, because Emma brightened right up and has lugged that thing around ever since. Not sure I’m going to visit them again soon, not because of the dogs, but I’m cautious of what else they might give her to lug home.

On the candy front: we had only purchased one box of small chocolate bars to give out because we knew we would not see a lot of kids. The key to not having a load of candy is not going to a lot of houses. See above where we visited eight places; each one gave out LOTS. Emma still came home with a cloth grocery bag more than half full. A few cans of pop, tons of bags of chips, loads of chocolate and four apples - she has plenty.

YES. We accepted APPLES from people we KNEW.

Anyway.

Today I had to run around a bit so I took Sarah to buy markdown candy for her own stash. Which she proceeded to graph results for after she unpacked them at home. (and took pictures)

At one grocery store, there were some young guys from Jamaica in front of us joking around and flirting with the clerks. A guy they knew was behind us that they were talking to over our heads, and eventually one of the guys said “Feel da rhythm!”

I muttered, “If dancing breaks out, I’m a-taking pictures.” They laughed.

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