95

If I live to be 95 that means that I have yet to live half of my life. I wondered, today, what the second half of my existence holds for me. At 95 will I be living on my own ...walking with the aid of a walker, living off a meager pension or the riches of some good investments. Will I be the life of the retirement home organizing Polka Fun Nights or will I have lost so many of my marbles that I will be the pathetic and lonely old lady sitting in my wheelchair playing with the peas on my dinner plate and talking to someone who isn't there.

Today, while in the store, we heard some ruckus outside. I got up from behind the counter and went to have a look. An old man had fallen ...losing his balance when his walker got caught on the uneven sidewalk in front of the store next to me which happened to be closed at the time. He had used his left hand to steady his balance but went down anyway. He cut his hand pretty badly right under is baby finger down into the palm of his hand. Two gentlemen helped him up and we were able to get him into my store and comfortable while Kelly fetched some cold compresses for the bleeding and called 911. I wasn't sure if he had hurt himself any place else and I didn't think I could get him into my truck to take him to the hospital.

Tom is 95 years old. He was dressed in his jeans but was wearing a shirt and tie with a nice scarf around his neck. And he was a cheeky fellow. He had lost his wife 25 years earlier and had a niece and a nephew who lived in our town.

The paramedics came and fixed him up enough to get him to the hospital. Before they left I was able to get enough information to decipher where his niece worked. I gave her a call to let her know what was happening. She called me when she arrived at the hospital where she found him already stitched up and ready to go home. I offered to drive his walker over to where he lived and they met me out front. Tom clearly has all his marbles. And his wit. And a loving family. Just a little wobbly in the knees.

I hope he lives out the rest of his life just the way he is.

DeeeeLish

Back in November - a month after I reopened my store - we had an open house ladies night. I emailed all my past customers and the new ones that had left their email address on entry forms we were using for a grand prize draw and invited them all to come down and enjoy refreshments and great discounts. As word got around to the other little boutiques and stores in the immediate area that I was hosting this little event, others joined in and had their customer appreciation nights/open houses also. There were a few of us in the same block so it was great for the invited guests to stroll from store to store.

It was a crazy night ...so many people. I had a couple of friends working the room ...I couldn't get away from behind the till. We served these fabulous mini cupcakes freshly made by the best cupcakery in town along with coffee and Baileys. It was a really enjoyable night.

Really Real Reality

Luna Tuna Head

The reality is that I have been busy painting furniture and getting December's receipts, sales and bookkeeping done. I had a busy sales week which was a little unexpected but very welcomed. I have also been ordering product and looking for new lines to carry. All the spring trade shows are happening all through January and into February. I wanted to go the Toronto show this year but ...well ... (come closer) ...I am afraid to fly (we're going down, we're going down). I haven't always been afraid to fly. I have enjoyed flying to a few tropical destinations in my life but the older I get the more fear I experience. Or is it anxiety? Does fear bring on anxiety or does anxiety bring on fear?

I used to live in the suburbs of Vancouver and as a result getting anywhere usually involved a bridge. Or two. High bridges. Long bridges. I remember the first time I felt fear/anxiety driving over a bridge. It was in the middle of the night and I was approaching the Port Mann Bridge heading eastbound. The bridge was under construction and from a distance I could see the flashing lights and the barrels, delineaters and cones that redirect traffic. There was really no one else on the road at the time - wasn't like it was full-on rush hour - but my heart started to speed up the closer I got and as the lane narrowed. By the time I was on that bridge it was all I could do to keep going. I wanted to drive off the bridge instead of over it. My breathing got heavy and I felt dizzy. As the end of the bridge became visible I started to calm down and by the time I was off ...I felt fine. I am afraid that is how I will react to flying because the thought of flying and the thought of driving over a bridge gives me the same queazy feeling.

I think it is the height of the bridge and being in the air that is what triggers my fear and/or anxiety. I like my feet planted on the ground. I hope I can get over this fear because there are so many places I want to go. Costa Rica, Australia, France ...Italy. Falling to ones death allows time to be scared. That is really what my fear is. Being scared just before death.

On a lighter note ...I had a great hair day!

Before and After

I had great intentions to come into the store on Sunday and take some semi-before pictures of a few pieces of furniture that I had already prepped and applied a coat of primer. I recently purchased a Nikon D60 and I have been eager to learn how to use it. I have been playing with it at home - taking pictures of the cats using the 55 - 200 zoom lens, one of the two lenses it came with. I got to the store, opened my camera bag, unloaded my gear and promptly began to change the zoom lens to the normal one. I picked up the camera and the strap caught the corner of the table ...effectively making the camera slip from my hand and crash to floor. I have used this camera what ...maybe 4 times? I cried. Afraid to pick it up. The zoom lens had broken away from the camera body and I could clearly see 2 thin pieces of black casing lying on the floor next to the camera. I tried to reattach the lens to the camera and it wouldn't stay on. Those 2 small, thin pieces of plastic broke from the locking mechanism rendering the lens useless. I cried some more. Yelled a few expletives involving the letter F. Was the camera okay? I cried again ...please let the camera be okay. I attached the other lens and through a bleary tear soaked eye snapped a picture or two.


The camera body is okay, nary a scratch. The zoom lens will cost about $200 to replace and the cost of repair if even an option would cost that or better. Apparently there is no warranty for stupidity ...and if there is ...I didn't buy it.


So I did get a few pictures and of course left the camera at home with the pictures now living on my laptop at home. I think I just cried again.


So since I am here at work and I have a bunch of pictures on this computer I will share a few.

Earrings by Designer Kelly Sweet

Necklace by Designer Kelly Sweet

Art Panel by Papya "Rose" Love Who You Are

A lucky woman got this dressing mirror for Christmas

This is a picture is of my friend Kathy and it was taken by her husband Will. We did a photo shoot at my store in early December to capture some interesting shots of not only my store but of the jewelry that I sell. The jewelry is designed and created by my friend Kelly who works with me at my store on Mondays and Tuesdays. She gets a little space in the store to sell her jewelry and I don't take a commission and she works 2 days a week and I don't pay her. We have had this arrangement for a few years and it works so well. It allows me 3 days to paint furniture, run business errands and on the rare occasion - take a day off.

Today is a painting day. I have a lot of stuff in the paint room that I am working on. For a long time I haven't taken before and after pictures but I am going to start again since I have this new fancy camera and it was purchased with the intention of taking better pictures that are suitable for print as well as the internet. I have already started the projects in the paint room with just the first coat of primer but I am going to try and get some shots anyway.

Hope you are enjoying your day or have some great Sunday plans.

Dinner!

I wasn't expecting a busy day today at the store. I could tell just by the parking lot next to the building my store is in that many of the office people downtown were still on holidays. I even allowed myself to open 30 minutes later than usual (something I am loathe to do any other day) but as soon as I flipped my sign I had a customer and they kept on coming for the better part of the day. So that made me happy. I even got some painting done in the paint room. I am down to only one piece of furniture on deck to take the place if one on the floor should sell. I like to have at least 2 or 3.

I left for home late and on my way home made a mental inventory of what's inside my fridge. Tonight it is baby green salad - I make my own dressing fresh - and some pan fried shrimp.

If you like the look of the salad here is how I make it.

Good handful of baby greens out of the big pre-washed pack.
3 mini cucumbers sliced. One of them is actually for snacking while I am cooking.
4 Campara tomatoes quartered. Again one of them is for snacking.
A fresh grind of sea salt and coarse pepper - lots and lots of pepper.
Just before serving I squeeze 2 quarter slices of lime over the greens and a good drizzle of olive oil.
Grate some fresh Parmesan cheese.
Toss and serve.

I always use my wood salad bowl for preparation.

What are you having for dinner?

My Sweet Peas

Princess Sophie
Shelter Rescued in Spring 1997
Almost 12

Luna
Shelter Rescued by my Mom in 2006
Adopted by me in September 2007
Almost 3

These are my Sweet Peas.

Sophie has been with me for almost 12 years and if she could talk ...man we would have some reflective conversations together. And she could also maybe explain the big stick up her butt. She can whip up a look of utter dissatisfaction for simply breathing too loud in her presence. She is my girl and I love her to bits ...but most times from a distance lest I draw back a bloody stump.

Luna on the other hand is my cuddle monkey. She was rescued from a shelter where my mom volunteered. She was one of many feral strays that came in that day and she was tiny and scared. Although my mom wished she could take in every single animal that needed a home in this entire world she also had to consider the 2 senior cats she already had. That plus she was also getting older and didn't want an animal that would surely outlive her. But this little one spoke to her heart and before she knew it she was rocking this scared, very tiny little pure white kitten in her arms whispering, "don't you worry little one ...you have a new mommy now". That is how Luna came into my moms life. She cared for her for almost 2 years before she died. I fell in love with her when I had to leave my life here and move to Vancouver to deal with my Moms estate and some legal issues that had come up. She is the living bridge to my mom and I know she is very happy I took her with me for my own.