Waiting for the Rush!

My hubby and I went to Wrightsville Beach, NC over Labor Day week.  We had an awesome time!  The weather was perfect and the beach was empty!  I just adore the beach!!!  My family went to some beach every year for vacation when I was growing up.

What amazes me though, is every time I am away from my shop, I receive orders!!!!  I had 6 orders while I was gone this time.  I contacted my fellow Etsians about it and it seems it happens to quite a few of them, also!  We all decided that we need to go away more often!!!

So now I am waiting for what I hope will be the holiday rush!  I know that I was very busy last holiday season and I certainly would like to be again this year.  I am praying that customers will not wait until the last minute to order custom items.  It makes me crazy and stressed to try to make things in time to ship for the holidays!  I don't want to disappoint customers.  I am also hoping that some of my stock will sell this holiday!  It would be wonderful to just put an item in a box and ship it as opposed to having to make an item and then ship it!

So I am waiting and hoping that it is not crazy but busy!!

Deer, Deer and More Deer

One very nice thing about living in the country is seeing all the wild animals come into your back yard.
Lately, there has been quite a few deer that visit very day.  Mostly a doe and her two fawns or two doe and four fawns!  They are so sweet as they frolic and compete over the apples that I throw out for them.

Then a few days ago, I looked out to see a buck, a doe and a fawn all together munching on my lawn!  I was thrilled to see an actual deer family together so I grabbed my camera and got a great shot of the three of them!

Either everyone is rewatching the Harry Potter movies or visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter because in the last month I have had a run on orders for Dobby!  Not complaining, mind you, just wondering what is happening?

This summer has been the perfect summer so far for me.   I just LOVE sunshine and warm weather and  we have had quite a bit of both!  That is saying something when you live in PA!!!!  Although, the last few days have been pretty dreary and rainy but we do need the rain.....so the farmers say!!  But I figure we have had enough....time again for sun and warm!!

It has almost been a year since I last posted here.....A lot has happened in that time as I am sure it does in most people's lives.  I will try to touch on the high points.

My husband and I went to Universal Studios in September.  What a great trip!  I absolutely adored the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!  Hogwarts was awesome!!  As was the Butter Beer.....best thing for a hot day!  I still crave it.....sure wish they would bottle the stuff!!

In October, my granddaughter, Vivian turned a year old.  One of the unfortunate things of living away from your kids and grandkids, is not being there for the important occasions in their lives.  My husband and I try to visit as often as we can, but we miss so much and it is a great sadness for me.

The holiday season was exceptional for my Etsy shop.  I was so thrilled and overwhelmed at the same time.  Also grateful, I don't want to forget grateful!  First for customers discovering my shop and then for their patience as many were willing to wait until after the holidays for their items.  It made me very proud that they liked my work so much that they were willing to wait.  I truly appreciated their understanding.  I even took a week off of work to get caught up with all the orders.

Christmas and New Years was very quiet for us as it is most years, now.   It is not as easy for our daughters to visit during the holiday season with the little ones in tow.  Especially since Santa needs to visit their homes now and they are making their own holiday traditions.  And living in Pa, weather is always a consideration.  However,we can't miss a Christmas without seeing them so we visited our kids the week before Christmas. It was very nice and I enjoyed every minute but it still is not the same as being with them on Christmas morning.

After the holidays, I continued to be busy with my shop.  Catching up with orders placed before Christmas and getting new orders continued to keep my fingers and needles flying.....
January 3rd was my three year Etsy anniversary!

In March, Jenna, Vivian and Jon came home for a short weekend.  It was wonderful to have them home even for the few days.  Those days were filled with visiting great grandparents and playing with our little Vivian.

After many discussions between my husband, Jim and I, about whether we could handle it financially and much soul searching on my part,  I retired in April from my secretarial job at Jedco.  22 yrs.!!  Hard to believe!  It was a great job for me. A small family owned construction company....all guys but really great guys.  It was time to close one door and open another.....

I spend quite a bit more time now on my shop.  I am able to make more new items and do some much needed promotion.  And I am here to say that it is true what retired people say about being so busy......I just don't know where the time goes!  I don't know how I did what I did and still had a job!!!

In May, Steph, Ade and Ryan came for a visit.  It was Mother's Day weekend and Steph's birthday so we were able to spend them together.  Another round of visiting great grandparents and also taking Ade to the Museum in Pittsburgh with lunch at Primanti Bros.  Then Mommy and Daddy wanted a day away for Mommy's birthday, so Grandma and Grandpa took Ade to the mall and a movie.  A great time was had by all!!!

Well, that is pretty much catches up to today 6/21/12.  There are some exciting things to look forward to in the future.
We have a vacation planned for September at Wrightsville Beach, NC.  2 hrs from our kids!!!
My husband and his brother have developed an app for the iPad, Iphone, etc. that is due out in July.  It is a children's game called "Picnic in the Park."  We are hoping that it does well!!  And we have the house back on the market....we WANT to be with our family!!

And I am keeping my fingers crossed that my shop continues to do well.....as I really enjoy creating!

Until next time......