No Pain, No Gain

With the start of any new business venture comes growing pains but also excitement. It's business as usual at my existing stores. I'm adding a new, independent retail  venue. Gulp.

Planning a new store takes time. What I wouldn't give to hire an uber tech savvy guru to do it for me, but without the budget for that, I'm doing it myself. I'm doing everything on my own, as always

Over twenty years ago, I learned how to use computers. I was really enthusiastic about it, taking courses and data entry temp jobs to aquire knowledge and experience. Being a self-employed artist, I did my artwork when I wasn't working on the computer.
In time, I learned to write code, construct websites and more.

Each time I learned tough new tasks, it stressed me to the moon and back. Being nervous to the max and having little emotional support, I went at it head-on. It drove me nuts for awhile until it became easier and more fun with practise.

So now, I'm learning newer, better ways to run my business. Ways to make it run more efficiently and be completely automated. I have my previous knowledge as a solid foundation, but there is much more to learn. It's all about keeping up with the times, staying competitive and growing my brand among the big boys...large and small retailers who have bigger budgets and staff to help them. My staff, so to speak, are three sleepy white cats.

So, once again, I throw myself, kicking and (virtually) screaming, into my work. Tackling one issue at a time. My businesses are my "babies". They take nurturing, growing and coddling. When times change, for example when the economy is struggling, it takes more work. But when all is well, I just concentrate on the fun part (drawing new artwork) and let my stores run themselves.

So, despite a low budget, bundle of nerves deep down and cats as "staff", all is fine. I've done this growth thing before and I'm doing it again. Things worth doing don't come easy, but are worth the hard work in the end. I got this.

Getting Ready to Garden

It feels SO good to be gardening again!  It's almost safe enough to plant tender flowers (annuals), but not quite. But I am into perennials mostly, like my mom. Last weekend we all went to our favorite greenhouse, Lowe's in Bainbridge. We were like kids in a candy store!

There was a decent plant sale going on, "Buy two, get one free". So, I got purple primroses  that look like roses,  alpine poppies and some cornflower blue and white columbine. Mom and dad got a bunch of gorgeous perennials, from a variegated euphoria to a large pink penstemon, and topsoil. We walked around, just enjoying the colors and textures of the leaves and flowers. Greenhouses are so relaxing to me. I'm glad dad went with us, he loves it, too, even if he doesn't garden anymore.

So now, mom is busy in her gardens, which are already colorful. I have been weeding and planting, along with some spring cleaning in the house. It feels good to see the yard alive with birds returning from warmer climates, an occasional butterfly or bees, and other signs of life. Well, except the rat who I found digging in one of my gardens. A few sprinkles of cayenne pepper powder around the plants he was digging up, and he hasn't been back since. Hehe. I'm sure he's long gone elsewhere by now.

The cats are plastered to the windows, excitedly watching all birds. Sometimes I hear a "hiss" or two, and I know they are getting annoyed with whoever got the best birdwatching spot. Beau loves the rainbows cast off by a faceted crystal sphere I have hanging in a window. I touch it, making the little rainbows dance all over,  and he dances, hops and pounces on them Not bad for a fourteen year old cat :)

It's December but Feels Like April

The holiday season is here and my garden flowers are blooming. The weather is unseasonably warm and my irises sent up buds, one rose bush has a bud on it, and the perennial bachelor's buttons are flowering! This weather is great.

Yesterday I got a call from a producer for America's Funniest Videos. They liked the video I sent them, of Farrah messing with the mini Christmas tree, and it will air on their show this Sunday evening! And, they're sending me a tshirt. So, I told friends and family, and will record it on my phone this weekend. Pretty cool.

As for me, I've been self studying skills for growing my business. It's complicated but I get it, and feel pretty confident as I go along. And my office is becoming more efficient, as I move furniture and make the space more comfortable. I practically live in it so it needs to be relaxing and easy to find things (more storage is the answer to most of its issues).

Mom and dad are enjoying their holidays, between shopping, making sure dad's health is on track (it is) and caring for their cats. They love their house and property, it is gorgeous and big! We see turkeys in the big meadow from time to time. Their friends call their property "The McFann Metroparks"..perfect for this nature loving family!

<a href="http://www.zazzle.com/christmas+gifts?rf=238441954547012598&CMPN=ban_holiday_gifts_2015" rel="nofollow"><img src="//asset.zcache.com/assets/graphics/z4/uniquePages/banners/Christmas_Plus_Gifts/Z_Christmas_Gifts_300x250.jpg" alt="Holiday Gifts" /></a>

Late Summer

It's late Summer and I'm busy doing artwork for my stores, working in  gardens and trying to keep my lawn watered since it gets crispy without much rain!

Mom and dad have settled into their new house, and mom is busy with her gardens. With all its acres of land, she - and I - can garden as much as we want. I spread my gardening between my home and theirs. My garden at their house is huge, in the middle of a giant meadow, and is covered from four years' worth of rampant weed growth. It reminds me of the book, "The Secret Garden". Once the tall weeds are out, it will will be necessary to hire someone to rototill it. I plan to grow many kinds of perennials, and bring it back to the grand Victorian garden it once was.

There are fruit tree groves and big raspberry and black raspberry patches on the property. How wonderful that is for us! Raspberry season was amazing. Endless berries, free of pesticides, better than any that can be bought. And good for us, too! Mom made her berry recipes, I made mine, until we were too tired to do any more. Apple season is here now, so we'll be using every apple recipe imaginable for that. We love this wholesome, country life, surrounded by this private park or arboretum that they have.

My parents' cats love their barn, where they can freely come and go as they please. I got them a large cat tree, dad and I put it together and they use it.

The cats love to follow us around or snooze under bushes or hidden in the gardens. They pop out quickly when dad comes to feed them, so cute!

Mom, dad and I are getting along much better now, which is a relief to me. Mom has an Amish cleaning lady now, so she isn't focused on controlling me now. Thank God. I am so glad. All I've ever wanted was a harmonious family. So far, so good.

My business is doing just fine. I draw some but spend more and more time learning to grow it..and it is growing. The bigger it gets, the more there is to do. It's a passion so that doesn't bother me at all. Christmas season is approaching, so I'm getting myself ready for it.