Count Down Begins!

No, not Christmas... not yet.  A big craft show that I signed up a year ago to participate in and am frankly frightened that it is only eleven days away.  This is one of those shows that draws hundreds or thousands of people.  Some years they buy.  Some years they look.  I was doing so well the first half of the year creating items to sell.  Then summer hit with vacation and I must have fallen asleep along the way.  Now it feels like no matter how hard I work, I won't have enough product to sell or variety or the stuff people want to buy.  And it feels like an investment in this show of $75 for this table.  I need to at least sell that and a bit more to make sitting for a day worth while. 

And my nephew Kyle told me that we are all experiencing "hurricane brain".  Since losing a week or more of power and adding to that shock and depression for all the losses so many people suffered in our state and neighboring New York.  Lives, homes, cars, all of it and an extensive amount of recovery needed to rebuild.  Knowing it will never be the same again. 

Back to the show... both of my sisters have tables too.  Ruth is by far probably the most prepared for this.  Janet works too much overtime to feel prepared for it.  And I am in the middle.   Always seem to be (I am the middle child after all). 

I have done a handful of shows over the years.  I don't feel like I know what I am doing yet.  Any advice?  I would love to hear some!


Oh, and in eleven days I will begin the next countdown to Christmas!!!


Peace to you and yours,

Carol

Hurricane Sandy

Well, after 8 days without, our electricity came back on last night.  We had no lights and no heat, but our gas hot water heater provided us with lovely hot showers and water to wash in.  And I was able to cook on our gas stovetop. So, all in all, it was not a terrible experience for us.  Our home was not damaged, unlike so many others during the storm. So much of the Jersey shore and Long Island are so horribly devastated.  School here was closed for an entire week. My nieces' schools on Long Island will not open until next week because the damage was so severe.

Thankfully, my family was all together and safe and happy, just a bit cold at times.  I actually enjoyed the peaceful silence of a house without a furnace running and without TV! And the stars at night!  Wow! Other than when we are camping in the woods, we never get to experience true darkness.  How bright the moon and stars appeared!

Now New Jersey is being hit with a snow storm.  It is night time now and I can't wait to see the yard in the morning light.  All family members are off the road, safely home or at school.  I pray for those who must still travel tonight because the roads are bad.  And I pray for the many thousands who still have no electricity or means to keep warm.

Here's hoping you are safe and warm,

Cynthia