Home Sweet Home

Well, we've been trying to get our house ready to put up for sale! It is an exciting time for me, as I planned to live in this "starter" home for about three years before moving on. Well, nearly fourteen years later, here we are...

I must admit, after 14 years in one house, inhabited by a major pack rat (me) who has raised little pack rats (also me)--getting things cleared out is a major challenge. ESPECIALLY when you are a pack rat, and it is hard to get rid of stuff. And your little pack rats are biting at your heels, not wanting you to get rid of any of THEIR stuff, either.

We are also making improvements that we would have enjoyed living with (like carpeting the room with the old tiles--previously mentioned in this blog--it looks so good now... I would have enjoyed that room looking like that!! And a future date of getting the bathtub reglazed!)... but that is also a challege for those of us that are home-improvement-challenged. And a bit financially strapped as well.

Despite those challenges (a word I keep using, but it fits!!)--it feels like a very good time, not an easy time, but like dreams coming together.

Funny, too--how those dreams have changed over the past decade-plus-four. I don't yearn for a gorgeous, large, new home anymore. With a giant yard in a fancy suburb. We are looking for a very modestly sized ranch (and I mean modest!) in a nice little neighborhood. A yard big enough for a swing set and a place to plant tomatoes. My husband wants unpainted molding (his pet peeve in this house!). I want to be near to school, and to have a dinette space. A driveway instead of an alley. A rec room in the basement--or room for one. Trees. Or tree. A picture window. Most importantly--and maybe this is where I've become older and wiser--my little family cozied up with me. A place to call home, where I plan to stay. A place where my kids will grow up and bring their spouses back for dinner. A place where I will have my grandkids open their Christmas presents. I guess the difference this time, this many years later, is what I am looking for. Last time, at the young age of 24 I was looking for a house. This time I am looking for a home.

Back In the Saddle

Well, I have spent most of the past two days getting back into the groove of things with my shops. I have listed many new items in both my ArtFire and Etsy shops--besides finishing the items, there is taking the pictures, editing the pictures and listing the items. It can be quite a process as many of you etsians know! I feel such relief to at least have my Valentine pieces out there! I have a number of other pieces ready to photograph and list as well... but one step at a time.

One change is that I pulled my ball chain from my shops. It is at a point where my fine customers have helped me pay for some of my bulk purchase by sharing it with me (thank you!), but I want some left for ME! :-) I don't feel that I want to make that big investment again. I have yet to be "in the black" with my supply purchases vs. sales, especially after my big ball chain investment! Sad but true!

And doing this means my house is a disaster! Can't seem to focus on both at the same time. Either my house looks decent and my shops are neglected, or my shops are updated and my house is out of control! *sigh* If someone has a magic balancing act to teach me, I would be so grateful!

I took some time of from my shops, I was feeling discouraged and overwhelmed--I really am having issues with balancing my "work" and home life. Plus post holiday, perhaps?? But I felt some renewed vigor and enthusiasm for what I do today!

So I guess I am back in the saddle!