Hello All, I hope today finds you with warm beautiful weather as it is here in my neck of the woods. Beautiful Blue skies, warm with a gentle breeze. Simply Heaven.
Today you find me at work. Hubby is out back teaching his very first class from our store! I'm excited to say that business has picked up and I think we will beat last month.... but God has taught us to not become cocky or too confident, because she will teach us quickly to not get too comfortable. We'll have wonderful days for most of the week, but barely anything on one day... we have given up on trying to predict or say why this happens.... we are being taught patience and to go with the flow. But all in all, on the business front we are doing well. The store is not supporting us yet, but I think it will within the next few months.
On the homefront, I'm back into attempting to grow something in my garden. I am taking advantage of the long days and getting out back as soon as we get home. Even when I'm tired, it seems to calm me to get out there and play in the dirt. The quiet, singing of birds is so soothing. I got a "cleaning checklist" off pinterest this past week and have used it.... let me tell you what a lifesaver! It makes everything go by simply and complete. Adding in all those little chores that tend to be forgotten... like organizing the fridge or wiping out the inside of the fridge. (at least in my house they tend to be forgotten!)
I have taken out all the lettuce. It had become over grown and bitter. I'm happy to say that I still have carrots, onions, garlic and one wee little fennel growing....oh! and spring onions! I had forgotten that I had even put those seeds out. Also, there is one wee little tomato plant coming through! I also have some red raspberries on the bush, but they aren't ready to pick yet. I just hope I get to them before the birds do! I put out some Lima bean seeds and some "queen squash" seeds.... they reminded me of acorn squash. We'll see how they do. Fingers crossed. When it gets cooler I'm going to do lettuce, peas and possibly broccoli for fall. Maybe even try beans again.
I've decided that I'm spending so much time watching tv or on the internet that I need to get back to my world that I enjoy. A simple life. Yes, I own my own business with my hubby and it takes a lot of my time... but I do have the capability of doing things here in the slow times. Instead of surfing the net, I can read books or read blogs that inspire me. I feel better already. I will take some pictures of my pathetic little plot so you can watch my progress.... I'm not giving up my dream.
On the financial front, we are still hanging in there. We have enough money to finish June and money for July, but August is still sketchy. We are hoping for a good paycheck at the end of this month to help with August. But as it stands now, we only have $300 for August.
Hubby and I talked about the possibility of selling a guitar or dropping internet and our land line. We are dropping our disc through Netflix, we don't have cable. We'll see. Honestly, I wouldn't mind if we got rid of the internet or land line phone. But my hubby and son, well, lets say they wouldn't like it to put it lightly! :) Ok guys.... thanks for walking this journey with me.... I will put pictures up soon...
Very Simply Yours,
Homemaker Kim
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
First check and summer fun
Hello All! I'm home today finishing up some much needed cleaning and lawn care. Hopefully the internet won't tank out on me this time!
Anyhoo, I hope all of you are doing well and enjoying the weather. It is officially summer here in my neck of the woods, but with the temp. only reaching the low 70's today, it feels like spring!
So lets get going.... so much to tell!
On the financial front.... we got our first paycheck from our business! Not enough to cover our home expenses yet, but we're getting there. We are still working our budget to the max. We budget every dime and are looking for summer fun on the cheap this year. SUPER cheap if at all possible. A couple days ago I took my son to the local museum and we had a great time. It has an awesome civil war exhibit with an interactive game type exhibit which my geeky game playing son loved! It has all sorts of fun hands on activities and exhibits for kids, but interesting things for adults as well. Also, they have beautiful gardens to walk through (and run through if you are an energetic 10 year old!) It was Sunday afternoon, so we practically had the whole place to ourselves! The best part was that the whole adventure was FREE! I asked for a membership to the museum for christmas this past year and my sweet mama got it for me.... this means for one year, we can go anytime and not pay a thing.... this includes myself, hubby and little guy! I totally recommend this if you have a museum that does this in your area. The rest of the summer we'll take advantage of free movie times at the theatre, smores out in the back yard, playing in the creek and "camping" out in the back yard..... The one thing I need to find a deal on is the water park my son REALLY wants to go to..... at $7 a person it doesn't sound so bad, but since we're the crazy, self employed, not sure when we're getting our next paycheck kinda family, we need a discount.... we'll see what we can find.
On the home front, I'm still trying to figure out a good balanced way to run a household and a business. I tried doing a chore when I got home in the evenings, but honestly, I was so tired from working 9+ hrs a day the last thing I wanted to do is more work. Hubby and I are still searching for what works so that we are both happy. So, truth be told, if you come to my house, you will most likely find dishes in the sink waiting for their turn in the dishwasher, laundry that needs to be washed and bathrooms that need to be cleaned. It's not horrible, but it's not pretty either.
On the garden front, the bigger lettuce plants are becoming bitter, so we are using the younger sweeter ones... but they only have a bit more time till they will be done as well. Carrots are still plugging along and I have one itty bitty basil and just one itty bitty fennel that are doing well. I have some berries on my blackberry bush that are ripening, garlic is plugging along and some onions are managing to stay alive. We have had a good bit of rain... so I think that's good. I think I may put some beans out and see what happens.... if I have time. My sweet neighbor noticed that our yard was getting away from us with the grand opening of the store and all, so he came to mow it for us while we were at work. Part of me was relieved to see it done, but part of me was embarrassed to not have done it myself. Oh well, it was a blessing. I still need to do a small patch in the back and some trim work, but that's no big deal.
On the business front, we are doing pretty well. We had a really slow week, then a better one and now we're getting back to the full steam we were having. Things are looking good this week so far.
Thanks for hanging in there with me guys! Have a great day!
Anyhoo, I hope all of you are doing well and enjoying the weather. It is officially summer here in my neck of the woods, but with the temp. only reaching the low 70's today, it feels like spring!
So lets get going.... so much to tell!
On the financial front.... we got our first paycheck from our business! Not enough to cover our home expenses yet, but we're getting there. We are still working our budget to the max. We budget every dime and are looking for summer fun on the cheap this year. SUPER cheap if at all possible. A couple days ago I took my son to the local museum and we had a great time. It has an awesome civil war exhibit with an interactive game type exhibit which my geeky game playing son loved! It has all sorts of fun hands on activities and exhibits for kids, but interesting things for adults as well. Also, they have beautiful gardens to walk through (and run through if you are an energetic 10 year old!) It was Sunday afternoon, so we practically had the whole place to ourselves! The best part was that the whole adventure was FREE! I asked for a membership to the museum for christmas this past year and my sweet mama got it for me.... this means for one year, we can go anytime and not pay a thing.... this includes myself, hubby and little guy! I totally recommend this if you have a museum that does this in your area. The rest of the summer we'll take advantage of free movie times at the theatre, smores out in the back yard, playing in the creek and "camping" out in the back yard..... The one thing I need to find a deal on is the water park my son REALLY wants to go to..... at $7 a person it doesn't sound so bad, but since we're the crazy, self employed, not sure when we're getting our next paycheck kinda family, we need a discount.... we'll see what we can find.
On the home front, I'm still trying to figure out a good balanced way to run a household and a business. I tried doing a chore when I got home in the evenings, but honestly, I was so tired from working 9+ hrs a day the last thing I wanted to do is more work. Hubby and I are still searching for what works so that we are both happy. So, truth be told, if you come to my house, you will most likely find dishes in the sink waiting for their turn in the dishwasher, laundry that needs to be washed and bathrooms that need to be cleaned. It's not horrible, but it's not pretty either.
On the garden front, the bigger lettuce plants are becoming bitter, so we are using the younger sweeter ones... but they only have a bit more time till they will be done as well. Carrots are still plugging along and I have one itty bitty basil and just one itty bitty fennel that are doing well. I have some berries on my blackberry bush that are ripening, garlic is plugging along and some onions are managing to stay alive. We have had a good bit of rain... so I think that's good. I think I may put some beans out and see what happens.... if I have time. My sweet neighbor noticed that our yard was getting away from us with the grand opening of the store and all, so he came to mow it for us while we were at work. Part of me was relieved to see it done, but part of me was embarrassed to not have done it myself. Oh well, it was a blessing. I still need to do a small patch in the back and some trim work, but that's no big deal.
On the business front, we are doing pretty well. We had a really slow week, then a better one and now we're getting back to the full steam we were having. Things are looking good this week so far.
Thanks for hanging in there with me guys! Have a great day!
Monday, June 4, 2012
Darn Internet!
Ok guys.... so I did another post, the internet tanked and I lost it all! I will re-write it another day. For now, know this.... we are pluggin' along and even earned a paycheck and we are doing a summer of fun, but on the majorly cheap!
Until the re-write friends!
Until the re-write friends!
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Torn Between Two Worlds.....
Hello Everybody,
You're finding me at work today. We are in a slow time of the day and I use this time to catch up or slow down, whatever I'm needing that day. I am lucky to have our store in a place that has completely untouched land out back, so if I need to reconnect to my inner soul, I can just stroll out there and take a look around. I can take a break from the fluorescent lights and cash registers. I can go out there and just breathe. Looking around, hearing the birds sing and watch them play reminds me who and what I'm connected too.
I know that I wrote not too long ago that I'm relaxing into my new season in my life.... and..... I have to admit, I'm struggling right now. I'm trying to strike a balance, so that I'm living the life I want. I was moving along quite well until I went out back one evening to grab some lettuce from our little garden. I enjoyed that little moment so much! There I was, squatting in front of the raised bed, choosing and clipping. Walking all of maybe 50 feet to get food for our dinner. It really stuck with me.
Ever since then I've been brainstorming how I can add just a bit of my "former" life into my new one. Well, add it in without making myself crazy. I love canning and preparing a meal. Especially a meal that primarily came from my back yard. This week you would find me pouring over my blogs about sustainable living..... Urban homestead.... Homestead Acres....Small Measures.....Cage Free Family..... these folks are just so inspiring. They give me that feeling like Liz Lemon in 30 Rock.... " I want to go to there"...... tending my garden, baking my bread, putting up food for winter, feeding my family really good whole foods.
I feel like a kid that's watching all the other kids play outside, while I'm stuck inside looking out the window with my nose pressed on the glass.
I recently read an article from Married with Luggage about how you can live your dream life. I particularly enjoyed the article about how you have to make time to do steps to get your dream. I am currently keeping track of what I do with my time for one week as suggested in the article. I'm hoping I find that I waste too much time on TV or something and can develop a plan to fill this need within me.
Wish me luck friends!
Monday, May 28, 2012
Happy Memorial Day!
Every time I watch one of those videos where the soldier gets to come home to family, a child or a pet, I always tear up. I am just amazed at the sacrifice these brave people are willing give to serve our country. Thank you so much veterans and people still in service for all that you have done and have given up. You are forever in our hearts.
Take a moment today in between bites of hot dogs and burgers to remember the reason we celebrate.
Have a great day everybody.
Until next time friends....
Take a moment today in between bites of hot dogs and burgers to remember the reason we celebrate.
Have a great day everybody.
Until next time friends....
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Nearly Broken....
Hello All,
I hope your days have been full of happiness and fun! Today you find me at work. I'm here alone today. Hubby needed a day off.... I insisted that he take the day. We didn't realize it, but this past week we figured up the hours we keep here at the shop and he works an avg of 60 hrs a week, I work an avg of 55 a week ( I take half a day once a week just for laundry and cleaning at home) .... that would explain why we have been so worn out lately. We had always heard that the biggest problem with self employed people and ultimate failure in the business, is that people become so focused on the business, working every waking hour that they become burnt out. Thus, making them less effective. It definitely has happened to me... you would find me crying outside the store this past week wondering why we aren't as busy as we should be and how are we going to make it financially through the summer. I felt nearly broken. It didn't help that my monthly visitor helped exaggerate my emotions and made me feel even more helpless.
We were doing great and we did pretty well last week, but it seems that after a huge festival we attended that we now have LESS customers... which makes both hubby and I scratch our heads. We've got to stick it out.... We've got to get through what ever funk we have found ourselves in... We are doing everything we can to advertise and get the word out.... I guess it just takes time.
Home wise, we are doing ok. We cleaned up the garden area a couple days ago and I was excited to see that there are carrots and 1 little basil plant, along with the lettuce and spinach that has managed to stay alive. I'm toying with the idea of putting some peas and dill out. I know I don't have a lot of time, but I believe these plants may work since they are easy to grow.
We're still working on breaking up with our old bank and getting everything settled with the new bank. For some reason, Target wouldn't take my check and then my bank card wouldn't work today. I checked my bank after the Target incident and they said "they've had problems with Target before and it's on their end".... gee... thanks... now my bank card didn't work... another visit to the bank on Monday.
On the kitty front... I have new tenants in my bushes out front. The little pregnant calico I had been feeding moved them there, so I have 5 playful pretty feral little kids in my front garden. We decided to just let them be... they are too feral to take to the shelter, they would be euthanized right away for being "unadoptable". There is lots more drama to this story.... I will fill you in next time...
Keep your fingers crossed for us that we get through this funk and find the other side!
Until next time friends....
I hope your days have been full of happiness and fun! Today you find me at work. I'm here alone today. Hubby needed a day off.... I insisted that he take the day. We didn't realize it, but this past week we figured up the hours we keep here at the shop and he works an avg of 60 hrs a week, I work an avg of 55 a week ( I take half a day once a week just for laundry and cleaning at home) .... that would explain why we have been so worn out lately. We had always heard that the biggest problem with self employed people and ultimate failure in the business, is that people become so focused on the business, working every waking hour that they become burnt out. Thus, making them less effective. It definitely has happened to me... you would find me crying outside the store this past week wondering why we aren't as busy as we should be and how are we going to make it financially through the summer. I felt nearly broken. It didn't help that my monthly visitor helped exaggerate my emotions and made me feel even more helpless.
We were doing great and we did pretty well last week, but it seems that after a huge festival we attended that we now have LESS customers... which makes both hubby and I scratch our heads. We've got to stick it out.... We've got to get through what ever funk we have found ourselves in... We are doing everything we can to advertise and get the word out.... I guess it just takes time.
Home wise, we are doing ok. We cleaned up the garden area a couple days ago and I was excited to see that there are carrots and 1 little basil plant, along with the lettuce and spinach that has managed to stay alive. I'm toying with the idea of putting some peas and dill out. I know I don't have a lot of time, but I believe these plants may work since they are easy to grow.
We're still working on breaking up with our old bank and getting everything settled with the new bank. For some reason, Target wouldn't take my check and then my bank card wouldn't work today. I checked my bank after the Target incident and they said "they've had problems with Target before and it's on their end".... gee... thanks... now my bank card didn't work... another visit to the bank on Monday.
On the kitty front... I have new tenants in my bushes out front. The little pregnant calico I had been feeding moved them there, so I have 5 playful pretty feral little kids in my front garden. We decided to just let them be... they are too feral to take to the shelter, they would be euthanized right away for being "unadoptable". There is lots more drama to this story.... I will fill you in next time...
Keep your fingers crossed for us that we get through this funk and find the other side!
Until next time friends....
Friday, May 11, 2012
Giving up and accepting the season....
Hi All,
Today you're finding me frantically trying to get my house clean. The schedule I had made for myself is going ok, but honestly, the last thing I want to do is housework when I get home. Luckily, hubby doesn't get too upset when I need to stay home for awhile to get things back in order.
I had a bit of a breakdown a couple weeks ago. I was shopping for groceries and desperately trying to stay within our budget yet feed my family healthy foods. I don't know what came over me, I've gone over budget before, but this time, I had a really hard time. There I was bagging my groceries with tears streaming down my cheeks. I cried the whole way home and thankfully I was ok by the time I got home. The next morning, I went out to the garden to see what was going on. I hadn't been out in a couple days since we were so busy and it had been rainy. What I found was so sad. I had lost the couple of bean plants that were showing promise. My onions are pretty much ka-put. The only things that are growing is the lettuce and weeds. I looked around my little garden and felt like such a failure.
Tears came again. But, I had to choke them back. I needed to go to work and tend to our business.
After talking to hubby about my frustration, (through tears, God love him, he always knows exactly what to say)... he helped me realize that I just need to let the garden go this year, or I just need to re-do my "vision" of the garden. I don't see myself having a lot of time on my hands for years to come, so I think for this year I'll just enjoy that lettuce, garlic and a couple little dismal onions. I need to redesign my garden to be a perennial garden. I just don't have the time in this season of my life to do all the things I used to .
Am I disappointed? A little. But do I feel like a failure now? No. There is a season for everything. I can either accept my season that I'm in, or I can drive myself insane trying to do everything.
Where ever you are in your life, accept and enjoy it. If you don't like what's going on, take steps to change it. Take it easy on yourself.
Do you feel like you need to keep up even though your season clearly says you just can't?
Until next time friends.....
Today you're finding me frantically trying to get my house clean. The schedule I had made for myself is going ok, but honestly, the last thing I want to do is housework when I get home. Luckily, hubby doesn't get too upset when I need to stay home for awhile to get things back in order.
I had a bit of a breakdown a couple weeks ago. I was shopping for groceries and desperately trying to stay within our budget yet feed my family healthy foods. I don't know what came over me, I've gone over budget before, but this time, I had a really hard time. There I was bagging my groceries with tears streaming down my cheeks. I cried the whole way home and thankfully I was ok by the time I got home. The next morning, I went out to the garden to see what was going on. I hadn't been out in a couple days since we were so busy and it had been rainy. What I found was so sad. I had lost the couple of bean plants that were showing promise. My onions are pretty much ka-put. The only things that are growing is the lettuce and weeds. I looked around my little garden and felt like such a failure.
Tears came again. But, I had to choke them back. I needed to go to work and tend to our business.
After talking to hubby about my frustration, (through tears, God love him, he always knows exactly what to say)... he helped me realize that I just need to let the garden go this year, or I just need to re-do my "vision" of the garden. I don't see myself having a lot of time on my hands for years to come, so I think for this year I'll just enjoy that lettuce, garlic and a couple little dismal onions. I need to redesign my garden to be a perennial garden. I just don't have the time in this season of my life to do all the things I used to .
Am I disappointed? A little. But do I feel like a failure now? No. There is a season for everything. I can either accept my season that I'm in, or I can drive myself insane trying to do everything.
Where ever you are in your life, accept and enjoy it. If you don't like what's going on, take steps to change it. Take it easy on yourself.
Do you feel like you need to keep up even though your season clearly says you just can't?
Until next time friends.....
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