Six Months!

Home now for 6 months....let's see....
Started my accessories line, Nan's Nook, have been involved in 2 shows, with more to come.
Started blog page and FB page for Nan's Nook
Built and have opened a garden stand for Hourglass Fields, selling our organic plants/produce and eggs
Started a FB for Hourglass Fields
Working on updating the Anderson St. Soap & Nutrition Co. website, with pics and more listings
Preparing for Benson Mule Days in September, DH says that I need to come up with something along the 'mule' theme!
Met with TWC-Media...about advertising...commercial, on-demand video, online ads...biting the bullet and making the move to grow the business!
Oldest granddaughter turned 4 this past weekend.
Youngest granddaughter is being a redhead in ever sense!  LOL!
Grandson is plugging along in the middle and having a blast with both an older sister and a younger sister!
They are probably making the move to ND sometime early next summer, maybe by that time we'll have a motor home and can visit for an extended time!
well, off to the craft studio for some more work!

4 months already!

I can't believe it, it's already been 4 months being home.  let's see...for some history....took the month of November to just relax and get used to being home.  Then the end of November we found a place to rent a booth for our Anderson St. Soap & Nutrition products.  Unique Boutiques & Marketplace in Clayton...there are 70+ vendors within one huge space...all different, all 'unique'...LOL!  anyway, had a good December there, and managed to make money, although not as much in January, and we'll find our for February tomorrow.
UB&M also sponsors 2 craft fairs a year, so I'm going to have my first craft fair with my sewing and knitting items.  been working like gangbusters on several items, and trying to figure out exactly how much to make/take/prepare to sell! 
 With the Grace of God and dominion over the weather, the craft fair should have great success.  and the 'afterwards'...i'm looking at some sort of shopping cart on Facebook and a 'department' within our Anderson St. Soap webstore!
and the property at Cleveland School...we are making into a nursery/plant sales...we have the property on the market, but no need to not do something with it in the meantime!
Oh, had a 'sweet' surprise from my previous job...rec'd a packet in the mail in December...I was eligible for a 'small'.....very small retirement, that I could start drawing on right away!  and continue until the Lord takes me from this world!...It's a blessing that was a complete surprise!  not much, but it's is better than nothing!
The chickens are now fully grown...and laying 18 to 20 eggs everyday!  know any good recipes that use lots of eggs!????....help!
oh, just thought about it also..guess I could go ahead and set up a FB page for Nan's Nook....and see where we go from there!
enough for now, need to get back to sewing!....

8 more working days!

I have 8 more working days at my 'public' job, then it's home to start the new life, the new path, the new direction....Etsy here I come!  been gettting the studio space set up and compiling a list of what I would like to put in the etsy shop.  Since I enjoy doing several aspects of arts & crafts, I think I'll put in a variety, with some seasonal stuff and once sales get started, I'll follow the desires of my customers. I look forward to seeing how a long prayed for opportunity takes shape.  As long as we keep our eyes on the ultimate priority, we will have a bright future.  As we wait upon the Lord, when we move according to his plans for us, we will have prosperity and our strength in Him, from Him will continue to grow.
Have been working on a tentative schedule for my new life...journaling, exercising, creative time, household and all important, a deeper, more studying of the Bible, the mainstay of my life.  As D says, it may take a few weeks to settle into a 'work from home' life..will probably work harder, but enjoy it more, and will find a pace that's right for me.  It's fantastic to have such a loving and supportive husband at this stage of my journey.  My first husband (rip) was a good man and supported me, but it never seemed to work out for me to have this opportunity.  and now with a second chance at love, and a husband that has already been through some of the same journey, knows how to really support me and help me see the opportunity that was already there, just under the surface.
Enough for now...getting excited...so much mulling over in the head/heart, it's hard to concentrate on one thing for very long..
PTL until next time
Nan

down to the last 15 working days at the 'public' job.  the days are rolling by faster and faster!  The excitement growing more and more.  Now I'll have more time to figure out this blogging stuff and start posting pictures and such!  have a few things in the works for an Etsy store...be nice to possibly make alittle $ for all the things that I'm always working on and giving away!  a couple names for the biz are rolling around in the head...now to decide, must select one that will last through any changes in the 'store format' that may occur.  Started working on getting my daily journal set up.  I will start this on my first day of my new life...will start the day with Bible reading, exercise, journaling.  I am following the journal plan of Lil Blue Boo...a fantastic way to get kickstarted into journaling, if you've never done it!  I have been making a daily diary in my daily prayer (conversation with God) notebook...so by the time I'm 'home'...there will be 38 days of 'how-to' pages to work on...LBB is only putting them M-F...but I'll be working on the wknds also..woo-hoo!
Have a couple ideas mulling around about some paintings for the house....we haven't sold our house yet, after the 'Southport/Leland' episode, we have prayed about it and decided that Patience is a Virtue and that one Should Wait on God...so that's what we are doing....'waiting on God'...
who knows, maybe the 'angry delivery' of Go Back to JoCo...from the lips of S were a more blunt way of God telling us to go home!  OK...we're home!  now to wait!  ok, back to subject---painting, so now that the house is remodeled and 'ready for viewing' by removing all the personal stuff, I'll put in some new 'personal' stuff...in the form of paintings.
enough for now, as I am at 'work' and is getting on to being lunchtime!
cya.....

The Last Month

It's my last month of work at my 'outside of the home' job.  Then it will be on to a new journey.  This last month will be a cleaning out period...of both the work desk and the studio space at home.  Work desk in preparation for leaving a clean slate for the next worker, the studio space in preparation for beginning a new career.  a Stay-at-Home Artist...hmm, saha...say ha!  That's it, HA for finally to have the opportunity to being a life I have only dreamed about since a youth.  and if I go back to my beginnings, I would say an artist in the form of pencil/watercolor/oils/acrylic....with a fallback of sewing, knitting/crochet, beadwork.  It was as a child in church that I drew.  I remember the family that sat behind us in church, the Smith.  I don't know what Mr. Smith did for a living, but I remember every Sunday receiving a pad of paper and a pencil from him, with which I would draw all during the service...I was ages 6 to 10...I guess the 'rents didn't mind or care as long as we (bro and I) were quiet.  I was asked to draw the posters for special services at the church, so I feel led that I should really pursue that.  Life with E&S got in the way...as the Bible state, Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it (Pro. 22:6)...E&S didn't understand the concept of Train...I think they misunderstood it to mean...Control.  as long as S had control then all was good with the world.  Now here it is 40 years later, and I've come into the awareness of the true situation with E&S and know that I have moved on.  Now is the time for me to find out who/what I am all able.  To listen to my own voice in matters of my life...and so far, the the love and support of my husband, I haven't been wrong.  Honor your parents and I've done that, and ready to move on, they are to live with the consequences of their actions, just as I will.  I have forgiven and asked for forgiveness, now to the next step.  Cleaning out the house and the studio have been therapeutic in the resolution of moving on...dumping the old, adopt the new, experience life and love from a fresh perspective!
Tonights chores...color this hair...one more time! maybe!  LOL!, an hour in the studio, an hour on the computer and then the rest of the night checking out The Voice!
till later
N

new update....with little to no sales for the last 2 months at the new 'brick & mortar' store, we have made the decision to close the store.  We've gone through our 'seed' money and now is the time to stop the flow, sine nothing is coming back in.  the store should at least maintain itself..cover rent/utilities/payroll...if not, must regroup...rethink!  had an inquiry from a potential wholesale customer, so if this is where the Lord opens the door, we'll be walking through. 
I'm down to 6 weeks left on the 'public' job..then it's off and running into the unknown world of building a business with my 'artistic' endeavors and 'craft' talents.  now to decide which ecommerce to base it in....volusion, big cartel, open cart...

Let's Try This Again!

we'll try this again!  alot has changed since the first of the year.  Losing public job due to merger with another company.  our work group has 5, counting me, to leave.  the first is leaving this week and then I leave the end of October with the rest to other every couple months.  with the 'lay-off' pending, we are selling our house and making a move to Southport, NC.  Closer to water for DH, his pontoon and his love of fishing.  Closer to the 'beachy' way of life for me! 
New move calls for new life.  getting rid of the old and starting off fresh.  Went through the craft studio and came up with loads of yarn to donate.  When I say loads, it was actually 15 large kitchen sized garbage bags!  and I was fortunate to find a fantastic home for it.  I thought about craigslist and placing an ad--'free for the asking'...when I opened craigslist, I felt the need to check in the 'wanted' column.  Pay dirt...there is a group of ladies in the Cary area that make blankets for the sick...crocheted afghans and crocheted edging on fleece blankets.  They rely solely on the donations of others their yarn stash.  Hopefully my donation will help them for awhile.  I feel blessed knowing how the yarn will be used.
the past 7 months have been a growing/learning experience for me and DH.  we made our decision for the move and discovered the condition of my parents'.  after 6 months of hard work and then having the backfire in our faces and be thrown out at the hands of the law.  maybe one day i'll write the long version, but the end result...I have been able to come to terms with my childhood and movedpast the heartache and gained my voice.  I have now walked away from the situation and can put head to pillow without losing any sleep...Praise the Lord!
More later...
N

New Year's Resolution...pul-eeze!

It's now into the second week of the new year and I'm just getting around to making a post.  no resolutions, but maybe some goals for the new year.  learn how to do alittle more on this blog, like insert a pic...or even just do more posting. 
Let's update the current activities....
House Remodel: 
Done: Master Bedroom, Guestroom, 2nd Guestroom, Dance Floor area, Living Room (except new flooring, Pantry, Laundry/sewing room
To Do:  Finish up on-suite, hall bath, dining room, kitchen.
Attic:  a task since there is 17+ years of stuff to go through.  but following the adage:  not seen/touched/smelt/felt...then it's obviously not needed...except those sentimental things up there for storage...son's baseball cards, old books/records...but the rest...gotta go!
Self Improvement:
Dance/exercise more often
Clean out closet....if I can't wear it right now, then it's gone.  New Theory:  When I get back in that smaller size, I want new clothes.  old clothes/old ways/old memories....time to go for the new!
Business/Job:
waiting on 'merger' news as to when I may actually 'volunteer to leave' and start new life/business in new house/new town
Artistic Endeavors:
knitting more now that winter is here...learning to sew.  currently knitting slippers for self.  Sewing several items for the grandkids.  Bibs, snuggies, growth charts
back again later!
N

now it's goodness gracious grannies! another year!

You know I have got to get better with the postings but life sometimes gets in the way! As it did in my case! no excuses, just fact! Let's go down memory lane and get updated! Since last September/October.....
We acquired a boar and a sow...a boy and girl pig. Once they reached maturity, we tried to go the 'make more piggies' route. No babies yet, fingers crossed for the next few weeks, but 'mama' doesn't appear to be preggers, but she is very large, so it could be hidden. Mr. Pig, topped out at 495 pounds, went to market, to market this past Monday, so he'll be in somebody else's pen or freezer soon. as for Mrs. Piggie, she'll either have babes in the next few weeks, or be gracing our table/freezer in Dec/Jan.
The chickens are still hanging in there, having had 3 hatchings this past summer, we sold off 25+ hens/roosters, so others are now enjoying farm fresh eggs and natural meat!
The garden area has been reduced, as we grow way too much for ourselves, much less our neighbors/friends!
the remodel on the house is continuing...with our dance floor complete and in use! the living room painted and the pantry is being built. next will be the bathrooms and kitchen last!
now for the big news....We've decided to make a move and really start OUR lives anew, in a new house, a new town...and to reopen our store.
Southport, NC is the happening place for us. More on that to come.
I should start to learn more about posting and get some pictures posted! Is there a book called...Blogging for anybody! LOL!
hopefully the next post won't be long in coming!

Good Gravy! Has It Been a Year!

wow! What a year it has been! Let's see, news of the kids. my granddaughter is now 16 months old with a little brother on the way. Due to arrive in this world on January 10th.
Home news! We started out with creating a working co-op for gardening, but during the process, our life has taken a turn in a different direction. The co-op is now just a teaching opportunity for David to work with anyone who wants to learn to garden and become self-sufficient. This has allowed him time to work on the house, back yard, and gardens.
We were approached by a local vineyard, Hinnant Vineyards, to create a skin care line incorporating their grape extract, Resveratrol. Done and now waiting for the Hinnant's to work out a business plan.
in the meantime, we have been working with a great group of guys, with a new venture. BioDiesel Fuels....recycling used oils from restaurants into fuel for running vehicles! too exciting! just getting that started with loads of promise.
I have stated to friends with David being home every day, I come home to something new every day. Both of us are natured such that we have several projects going at one time...you know how it is...depending on the circumstances, is how you choose which one to work on. anyway, the kitchen has new cabinets added, a gas stove, a second dishwasher...along with relocating the pantry temporarily to the dining room. Cleaned out half of the 2-car garage...and now constructing a laundry room in that half of the garage. David has the first of 2 walls built....the former laundry room will become a HUGE pantry! Like I said, it's always something going on.
the chicks....we can't forget the chicks....we started in the spring with 3 hatchings....all the Hens have been introduced to the group...and the Roosters were culled out and given away. we now have 50+ hens and 4 roosters. plenty of eggs....sometimes too many. But, with cooler temperatures coming, and we are all natural...natural grain, no artificial lighting, the egg production will drop off...
Put up loads of jelly this summer...strawberry, cherry, blueberry, grape and blackberry.
David put up veggie soap, tomato sauce, salsa, pickles-dill & sweet.
All with produce from OUR garden!
I'm doing more sewing and playing with some pattern creation...
Favorite baking....Homemade cinnamon rolls...the envy of Cinnabon! LOL!
We just celebrated our second wedding anniversary!....with the purchase of a Golf Car...LOL. It's amazing how nice it is just take a quick trip up to the mailbox...instead of taking the car! it is a 1/2 mile round trip to mailbox and back....and David can zip around the garden, loaded with garden tools/supplies and not have to walk several trips back and forth to the shed! now he's not quite as tired at the end of the day!
I've been following several blogs...and once I get in the habit of blogging, I'll tag them...once I do that, I'll probably amaze myself with the variety of content! LOL!
see you sooner than the last time!

Time to Make Time

David and I are working on creating a school for learning the crafts of yesterday, organic gardening...and reopening his store. The spring/summer have been a very busy time for us. After working a public job, looking at a computer all day, I haven't really been wanting to look at another one at night..but alas, one must make sacrifices! :)
We set up a blog as an outlet for his nutritional knowledge. We named it Life Force 60...hopefully between the two of us, we'll put alot of helpful info out there. I know that my health has made tremendous strides to being the best I can be. I am eating healthier..and you know it doesn't take anymore of my time to do it right than it does to do it wrong..just have to make the committment!
Anyway, I'll probably be setting up another blog, for putting all my crafting ideas on...
and once we get the school establised and the store reopened, there will be plenty of stuff to talk about.
see ya soon.....

Wow....it has been some time

Just goes to show how you can get wrapped up in the things around you and not take time to post. Between the holidays, the chickens, remodeling the house...and working a full time job, looking at a computer in the evening is the furthest thing from your mind. Anyway, for an update. The remodel of our bedroom was started around the holidays...removal of carpet, building a new wall within the room, to enlarge the existing closet and add another closet. Very nice to have 2 closests...one for hanging clothes, one for folding clothes! The only furniture in the bedroom is minimal...bed, easy chair, small writing desk/chair, new flat screen tv hanging on the wall...and we're done! We put hardwood flooring down, painted the ceiling/walls, put up crown molding. God, our Father, knew what he was doing when He put David in my path! I don't believe there isn't anything that he can't do.....and the little he can't, I can! LOL....you know, knit, crochet...the small crafty stuff. With the advent of my first grandchild, he is learning to knit, so he can have a hand in the first afghan I'm working on for her. It's the Friendship Blanket from the 'last minute gifts' book. Very Grownup colors....gold/rust/purple/cream/brown....
of course there are the obligatory bibs, booties, bonnets.....this child won't be lacking in anything to wear!
The chicks are no longer chicks. they are now full-fledged Chickens! We started them on laying mash last week. We should be getting eggs soon. Probably more than we can or want to eat! but that's okay.....I'm planning on renewing my 'pysanky' talents! and now I won't have to buy eggs to do it!
We have started getting visits from the local deer at night, so we've put up an electrica fence to see if it will be a deterent for them. We have put in a small orchard of fruit trees, and we certainly don't need the deer to eat the new buds come spring time!
well, enough rambling for now....once i figure out how to post pics...then you can see the chicks...the garden...the craft village....all coming soon to a screen near you!

Always something to do

Between baby chicks, building a craft village, working a full-time job--and a part time-home job with new husband, and remodeling the house, there is always something to do. My new husband and I are working on one room at the time, converting a house that I shared with my first husband for 20 years, until his death....into OUR house. The Lord definitely favored me with a man that has a background in home construction, and is working to upkeep, upgrade, repair and remodel everyday. Just finished putting new & improved gutters on part of the house. There is a 12/12 hip roof, alot of wated can pour off it when there is a big storm! David is an organic gardener, with an acre in garden, we can go through some water. With the new gutter, we are also putting rain barrels in place. Once I get them painted. I am a certified One-Stroke instructor, but have never painted 'professionally' since acquiring my certificate. Looking forward to getting in some practice on 4+ rain barrels, and then maybe starting up a small class!
David and I are alike in that we have several projects going on at one time, gets boring to work on one thing at a time. Example....I'm knitting on: (1)tobaggon hat for David (2) afghan for grandchild expected in the spring, (3) lacy front tie wrap sweater for myself. Each item is a different weight yarn and different size needles, so fingers get a change up with each one. other projects....painting..cause you have to wait for stuff to dry/cure...Our living room windows has 3 transoms over them, working on some Gallery Glass images to put on them. that stuff takes 24+ hours to dry...and working on small jewelry projects. David is working on the chicken coop, finishing up the craft village, landscaping, gardening, refurbishing the pond....Whew!, is a lot, kinda daunting when you see it written! yikes......but you know, between the two of us and the help of the Lord, we'll get it all done!

For some background

I have been a knitter/crocheting for over 40 years. (ouch!, hurts to say that out loud!) Took up painting a few years ago. My new husband is all about nature/organics and is working to create a 'back to the basics' school on our property. Developing plots for organic gardening and teaching gardening techniques for the informed and uninformed. For my role, we are developing a 'craft village' for me to start teaching the basics of knitting and crocheting. I also will be planning classes for Pysanky eggs and painting using the 'Donna Dewberry One-Stroke' painting technique.
I have several friends all over the country, and they are the ones that talked me into blogging as a means of keeping up with each other versuses the extremely long emails that we tend to send out!
for those of you out there....here's the latest:
the craft village is coming along...the buildings are in place, set up is complete, and I'm working on getting everything organized.
The garden is growing this years winter crop....broccoli, collards, cabbage..and a few tomato plants are in the cold frame. Can you imagine?...fresh, vine ripe tomatoes in winter!
The lab is up and running, still working on the organization end of it. oh, yeah,...my husband is a nutritional scientist with his own lab. Our business is a soap and nutrition company, will has the best products you can put on your body.
We just got our first set of baby chicks! They are now 2 weeks old...getting bigger everyday! Starting to feather out, should be ready to be moved to their final permanent home in the next 2 weeks. and wow..this spring!....fresh eggs! for eating and pysanky crafts! and poop for the compost pile!
as for myself, I'm working on a couple of knitting projects at the same time! Worsted weight yarn, making a baby afghan for my first grandchild, expected to make an appearance sometime in May....
and Lace weight yarn, making a wrap sweater for myself...using the Sabine pattern from cocoknits.com store. hopefully it will work up quickly so I can wear it out on our Date Night.
My husband and I are huge fans of the southern dance known as 'the shag'. we have been taking lessons and enjoy going out dancing at least a week...great exercise!
till later....