Catching up again...business, baking and a little stitching

Post # 491-494 and 6 more days until the giveaway drawing.

If you haven't entered yet, I posted the information on the left hand side and "click" on the link, which will take you to the right post to enter your comment for the upcoming drawing.

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Post #491 -  Weekend RecapThe weekend went well for me, at home with Robert (older son), and DH & Matthew (younger son) down in LA. I worked in the store on Saturday and got Robert around for his hockey activities on Sunday.

Down in LA, DH & Matthew had a great time. Matthew played well in all three of his hockey games - scored a goal in all three games...but unfortunately, the team lost 2 games and tied 1. But the scores were all very close. Aside from hockey, they just had a great time being together, which as I said in the last post it has been a long time since DH has stepped away from the store and travelled for a hockey weekend with either of the boys. It was funny, though, when Matthew listed the few times that he "missed his mommy".

The first time was just during the games for there was no one cheering from the stands. In fact, he said, the stands were silent (that is sad). The second time he missed me was when they went to the Olive Garden for dinner...mommy wasn't there to cut his speghitti noodles. This issue, I have to say is very sad, for he is 12.5 years old and it is time for him to cut his own noodles...don't you think? :)

Post #492 - The Business
In the wonderful comments on my last "catch up" post, Kaye asked "What sort of store do you own?" My husband and I own 2 Edible Arrangement franchise stores - the business that creates fruit arrangements that look like flower arrangements and boxes of chocolate dipped fruit (like strawberries, bananas, oranges, pineapple, and apples). Below is one of the popular arrangements this week as we gear up for Thanksgiving.

It looks like we will be cutting out a lot of pineapple leaves and dipping them in chocolate over the next few days. As well as, making a lot of cinamon chocolate apple wedges.

Today, tomorrow and Thanksgiving I will be working up at our 2nd store location while DH holds down the 1st location. Before anyone asks..."yes" DH and I are working Thanksgiving Day. We give all our employees the day off and we work the store from 8-12 for pick ups only (normally we deliver, but on holidays such as this when we give all our employees the day off we just do "pick up" only). When the last pick up is gone, we each will lock up the doors and meet at home...where we will enjoy our Thanksgiving meal!

Post #493 - Thanksgiving Baking
Yesterday, as I was driving around doing errands (for I had the day off from both Part Time job and working in a store) I realized that if I don't get my Thanksgiving shopping done or get the pumpkin pies made I won't have any other chance this week. So after running the car to get it's overdue oil change, I hit the grocery store and gathered up all the Thanksgiving necessities - Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, green beans, etc. It is going to be a small T-giving this year as Robert (my older son) will be away for a hockey tournament.

Anyway...once home and the groceries unpacked I started immediately on my pie crust...do you make your own pie crust or do you purchase "already" made? I have always made my own. It has been a tradition in my household to use homemade pie dough. Back when I was a little girl, it was tradition for my great-grandmother to make the dough and the pumpkin pies. I still remember walking downstairs to the kitchen mid-morning and hearing her curse the dough - "Damn dough, it is too sticky!" or "Damn dough, it keeps breaking a part and the pies are going to look ugly!" After a few "damns" you would soon hear my uncle or my mother in the next room saying - "LaLa's making her pies now, best to stay out of the kitchen." My dough recipe comes from the Bylery's cook book (Bylery's is a grocery store in Minnesota) and is simply Crisco, flour, egg, vinegar and a little water.

Once the dough is made, rolled out and fitted to the pan...next is the pumpkin pie filling. I have my great-grandmother LaLa's recipe; however, since I don't eat the pie I follow my husband's mother's recipe. LaLa's had a lot of eggs in hers, plus spices & the pumpkin pie filling - which comes out almost like a custard. DH's family's recipe calls for Kyro syrup, only 3 eggs, evaporated milk, pumpkin pie filling and spices.  So, here is the pie...

Behind the pie are loaves of Strawberry bread, which I also baked yesterday. In our stores, when we prep the strawberries, we toss aside the smaller "unacceptable" ones which usually end up coming home with me. Some of the strawberries I grind up and make into smoothies...however, because we are coming up to long hours at the store, I decided to whip up some strawberry bread to take in and share with our wonderful employees. I made 2 batches of the bread - one that has only strawberries and one that has strawberries and a little bit of crushed Almonds. If interested in trying something new, here is the recipe for Strawberry Bread:

STRAWBERRY BREAD - from Food to Go Cookbook

3 cups flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

2 tsp. cinnamon

2 cups sugar

4 eggs, well beaten

1-1/4 cup oil

2 (10oz) pkgs frozen strawberries, thawed...I used fresh & chopped them up

1-1/4 cup chopped pecans (optional)...I used some almonds in one batch

1/4 cup strawberry jam

Mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and sugar (I also added a little vanilla and ginger to my recipe, just to give it a little extra lovin'). Add eggs, oil, stawberries, pecans and jam. Blend. Pour batter into 2 well greased 5x9-inch loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

ENJOY!

Post #494 - a little stitching

So over the weekend, while in the rinks on Sunday I did get in a few stitches on my Family Sampler. Since it has been a long time since I posted a photo, I decided to show you my status...but I must apologize for the photo - I grabbed the camera, but it appears that the batteries were stolen out of it by some teenage boys for their computer mouses; so I was left with my phone camera. Here is a status phone photo:

It is dark, but I hope that you can see that I am almost finished with the Clay Pot flower buds that go around the border...there are 2-1/2 more to stitch on the left hand side and then there are 3 more corners to fill in. I did one of the corners the other day to see what it looked like, but decided that I wanted to finish the flower buds first before filling in the corners. I don't know why I decided that - guess it was just a factor of trying to keep the focus on using the color Clay Pot.

Well that should bring us all up to date on things here. I hope that your week is going well. Until next time, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often

Lisa

Post #472 - 37 days until my blogoversary - 148 followers to day :)

To enter my 3-100-500 giveaway, please visit this post and leave a comment.

I am up and going on this still dark Saturday morning. Thank you all for the nice comments about Lisa V's Ornament and I am glad that you enjoyed the quotes I posted as well. I signed up for the http://www.livinglifefully.com/ newsletter a long time ago and receive daily inspirational quotes and things. Sometimes they "hit" a note and sometimes they don't. The ones that do, I tend to put them in places - like my little notebook or on my blog - so that I can refer to them when I need a little pick-me-up or something to think about.

Yesterday was my day off from my part-time job, however I went into *Store #1* to help with the morning production which was complete by 10:30am. After which, I came home and went out for a nice 6 mile run followed by a date with the couch to begin the ornament for Conny - the last recipient in the Ornament Swap group. I found a fun little design that has a lot of bright colors and is a nice little side project...so, yes I have put Family Sampler down for a little bit so I can work on the ornament. Sitting and stitching made for some great "me" time...but it did have to end because I needed to run out and get the grocery shopping done before the boys came home.

Last night, since we didn't have any hockey, we torched up the grill and tossed on some chicken breasts and burgers. Add in some green beans, some black bean/corn/mango salsa, and fruit and you have a great healthy family meal. With opportunities like this few and far apart, anytime I can get us all to sit down and eat something that wasn't heated up in the microwave before running out the door, it is priceless!!!

What are your weekend plans? Well, I have to go back into *Store #1* today as I am filling in for one of our employees who needed the day off while DH is going up to *Store #2* to check in with them up there. The boys, who are without hockey activities this weekend, will be catching up on sleep as well as trying to get ahead on homework. This evening we will come up with some sort of family activity...unless I am just to pooped to move or the ornament project calls my name.

I hope that you have a great Saturday! Until next time remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

Happiness...

Post #463 - 51 days until blogoversary - 87 followers and counting...

Tomorrow I will announce the 3(year) - 500(post) - 100(follower) blogoversary give-a-way.

Stay Tuned!

Up and going early on a Saturday morning, for it is going to be a busy day and I am grateful to have gotten up out of bed early and on the stationary bike. Getting in a good spin before starting out the day tends to start me off in a good mood...then it is just up to me to continue the feeling.

DH and I will be swapping roles this weekend...I will be manning the stores, making sure that everything is running smoothly, while he will be playing Hockey Taxi. Robert (older son) has a morning practice and Matthew (younger son) has 2 games today...tomorrow they both have games. It will be nice to take a break from the hockey craziness for a day or two...allows me to appreciate it and not just tolerate it.

The foundation of happiness is mindfulness.

The basic condition for being happy is our consciousness of being happy.

If we are not aware that we are happy, we are not really happy.

When we have a toothache, we know that not having a toothache is a wonderful thing. But when we do not have a toothache, we are still not happy.

A non-toothache is very pleasant.

There are so many things that are enjoyable, but when we don’t practice mindfulness, we don’t appreciate them.

When we practice mindfulness, we come to cherish these things and we learn how to protect them.

By taking good care of the present moment, we take good care of the future.

Working for peace in the future is to work for peace in the present moment.

 ~Thich Nhat Hanh

Last night I stitched the last corner of the Family Sampler Pea Pod vine of the border. Now I just need to finish the right hand-side...to meet up where I began...which shouldn't take too long, and then I will snap a status photo to show you. It will be nice to have this part completed.

Who are the happiest people on earth?

A craftsman or artist whistling over a job well done.

A little child building sand castles.

A mother, after a busy day, bathing her baby.

A doctor who has finished a difficult and dangerous operation, and saved a human life.

Happiness lies in a constructive job well done.

Get your happiness out of your work or you will never know what happiness is.

~Elbert Hubbard

Last night, neither of the boys had hockey so we were able to have a quiet night at home. DH did need to make a delivery of a last minute order "over the hill" (that is the term we use for any order that has to be delivered over the Dublin hill into the Oakland area) and took Robert with him so that they could stop at one of their favorite burger joints called Jerry's Beefburgers. Matthew and I enjoyed food at home. They did get home around 6:15pm, so the "boys" played a computer game together while I stitched. It was so nice to be home together.

Well my friends, I hope that you find some Happiness in your Saturday, as well as the rest of the weekend. I hope that you will join me tomorrow when I announce what the give-a-way will be. Until then, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

A weekend update and something to read & think about

I am up this morning and on the stationary bike, ready to update my blog while spinning & sweating. I love being able to multi-task :) It has been over a week since I have forced myself out of bed to get on this silly thing and it was a struggle; but the bike finally won the battle this morning even though it will be just an hour spin. Yet, the way things are going an hour on the bike is better than nothing.

Anyway...time to catch ya up on some of the goings on around here...

The weekend's activities...
Both Saturday and Sunday I worked in Store #1 (Saturday DH had to work up at store #2 and Sunday he enjoyed going to Robert's hockey game in the morning, but did come to store #1 around noon). Last weekend was a wedding we were making favors and arrangements for - this was the first time since DH & I purchased the business that we ever did anything to this level. While we have created large fruit arrangements for receptions, this wedding "job" had a lot of componets to it and DH & an employee did go and deliver it all in the van and helped to set up. Here is what we created for the wedding:

The Favors - Table Assignments

The bride and the groom decided they wanted to tie name tags onto our favor boxes - tags had guest's name and their table assignment...

And inside the box...

Chocolate covered strawberries - either a groom in a tux or a bride in a wedding dress

The Dessert Table

The bride and groom wanted to add some healthy alternatives to their dessert table and this is what they ordered from us

Banquet Size Delicious Party arrangment

Sweet Indulgence Platters - includes chocolate covered strawberries: dark chocolate, white chocolate, some dipped in coconut and some in crushed almonds; chocolate covered apples and chocolate dipped oranges

When everything was set up on the dessert table, this is what it looked like. While most of the arrangements we produce are ordered as gifts, which we do deliver and see the excitement on the recipient's face...DH was excited about seeing all the things we produced for this wedding set up in the reception hall...I am glad that they took photos of the set up, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to see it.

So working at the store pretty much dominated the weekend once again. However I did manage to put the finishing touches on the ornament for Lisa V's Ornament Swap. It really turned out nice, I think. Now I just need to make sure and get photos before I set it on its long journey to Australia.

Before I go, I wanted to share you something that my mother forwarded me. Normally, I don't care for all those forwarded email messages - those change emails - and normally I don't read them. But I read this one and instead of forwarding it to other friends and family via email, I thought I would post it on my blog. Giving you something to read and think about as well as allowing me to save it in the archives.

It's not what you gather...it is what you scatter!

I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes... I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily appraising a basket of freshly picked green peas.

I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.

Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr.. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.

'Hello Barry, how are you today?'

'H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure look good.'

'They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?'

'Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time.'

'Good. Anything I can help you with?'

'No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas.'

'Would you like to take some home?' asked Mr. Miller.

'No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with.'

'Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?'

'All I got's my prize marble here.'

'Is that right? Let me see it', said Miller.

'Here 'tis. She's a dandy.'

'I can see that. Hmm mmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?' the store owner asked.

'Not zackley but almost.'

'Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble'. Mr. Miller told the boy.

'Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.'

Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said, 'There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.'

I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.

Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died.. They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.

Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts...all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket.

Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one; each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.

Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.

'Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about..They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size....they came to pay their debt.'

'We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,' she confided, 'but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho ..'

With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.

The Moral:
We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.

Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles ~ A fresh pot of coffee you didn't make yourself...

An unexpected phone call from an old friend..... Green stoplights on your way to work....

The fastest line at the grocery store....

A good sing-along song on the radio...

Your keys found right where you left them.

Send this to the people you'll never forget. I just did...

If you don't send it to anyone, it means you are in way too much of a hurry to even notice the ordinary miracles when they occur.

IT'S NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER THAT TELLS WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU HAVE LIVED!

Until next time...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

Still here, just very busy!

Just thought I would check in while I had the opportunity! Life as a business owner with 2 locations to manage is a bit overwhelming for DH and I, especially as we are still trying to get the right people in place in store #2. While we have always been grateful for the wonderful people we "inherited" when we took over store #1, we are even more grateful now. It is hard to find hard working, responsible people sometimes. But I have faith that it will work out, it might take a little time - but I know it will all work out. 

Aside from the business stuff...I have been balancing all the hockey clinics; making sure that the boys get down to the rink and back, either by a carpool or me driving them. Only one more week of the evening clinic - but since we are 2-1/2 weeks away from tryouts, I am sure that other clinics and skating opportunities will pop up.

Even with all this running around, I have made sometime to sit and stitch. The pineapple is all stitched - I am just working on backstitching it. It didn't get done as soon as I had hoped, for the lady whom I am making this for has been back in town for over a week. But I am sure that she will understand. As soon as I finish the backstitching, I will post a photo.

Well, that is about it my friends. Thank you for sticking with me! Until next time, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!
Lisa

November 25...Happy Thanksgiving!

Good morning - today is the Thanksgiving holiday for us in the US. Yesterday I made my pumpkin pies (a request from DH...his mother's recipe of course) and made the dough for "Grandma's rolls" (a request from Robert...another recipe of my mother-in-laws...and one that I have never been able to master. Mine never come out as good as hers, be every Thanksgiving DH & Robert request them to be made).

This morning...around 1am, I was wide awake and decided that it might be more productive if I got out of bed - instead of laying there looking at the dark ceiling - and finish prepping the rolls which had risen for 6 hours. I rolled the dough out, coated it with butter, cut out triangles, rolled them up like crescents and set them out to rise some more before they are put in the oven later today. Maybe this year they will taste "as good as Mother's" :) I also decided to prep the turkey - coating that with a butter, onion, carrot, orange rind and spice mixture (I just made it up as I went). Once Tom was back in the refrigerator and the kitchen was sanitized (don't want anyone to come down with food poisoning over the holidays), I went back to bed.

Back in bed, I found DH was also up and thinking about our business. Yesterday after all of Wednesday's fruit bouquet orders were produced and delivered, the staff and I started prepping and producing all the bouquets which were pre-ordered for pick up for Thanksgiving (we are open 8-12 today for pick up only...no employees are coming in...it will just be me, DH, Robert and Matthew working in the store). Once all the fruit bouquets were created, wrapped and tagged for pick up, we came up with a large amount of extra dipped fruit - apples, cinnimon apples, strawberries and bananas. It was bothersome that there was so many extras as they will not be good after today.  So, the more we talked, we decided that we would pick out the best of the best and box them up in the dipped fruit boxes and sell to walk in customers.The rest that aren't pretty enough to sell, we would create a sample tray for customers to try while they are waiting for us to bring out their arrangement.

Well, now...with all these ideas churing in our head, do you think that we could really go to sleep? If you said: "No" you are correct. So, what does a business-owner do when they have a good idea? They act upon it. Quickly we jumped out of bed, threw on some clothes and ran to our store (btw...it was 3:30am). Once there, we created about 8 boxes of dipped fruit and loaded up the sample tray so that we were ready for the first pick ups, which are at 8am...only 2.5 hours from now.

And what am I doing "now" you ask...well, getting in my Thanksgiving exercise of course. DH and I got home around 4:45am...he went back to bed and I got on the stationary bike, which I am doing as I post this post on my blog.

I know...I am a little crazy...I will find time to get some rest later today.

In the meantime...here are thoughts to keep in mind on Thankgiving Day as well as everyday of the year!

Have a great day - Thank you for visiting! Lisa

Deciding to be grateful for our situation, our experiences, our unique perspective, quickly changes our outlook on everything that did happen, on everything that is happening now, and on everyone we meet. Accepting that we are in charge of whatever kind of day we will have forces us to accept responsibility for our joy, which can always be ours, or our unhappiness. And being grateful feels so good. Gratitude is an attitude, and I can feel it whenever I want.~Unattributed


The art of thanksgiving is thanksliving. It is gratitude in action. It is applying Albert Schweitzer's philosophy: "In gratitude for your own good fortune you must render in return some sacrifice of your life for other life." It is thanking God for the gift of life by living it triumphantly. It is thanking God for your talents and abilities by accepting them as obligations to be invested for the common good. It is thanking God for happiness by striving to make others happy. It is thanking God for beauty by helping to make the world more beautiful. It is thanking God for inspiration by trying to be an inspiration for others. It is thanking God for health and strength by the care and reverence you show your body. It is thanking God for each new day by living it to the fullest. It is adding to your prayers of thanksgiving, acts of thanksliving. ~Wilfred A Peterson

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow ~ Melody Beatti

November 15

It is Monday. The start of a new week; one that is going to be a crazy - busy one...but what weeks aren't? DH is home now, all the training for *The Business* is complete, except for the in-store trainer visit which starts today. A corporate trainer, who is in town from Atlanta, will be in the store all week to make sure that DH understands how to run the business. He actually got in town yesterday and came by the store to meet DH. DH's impression...he will be nothing to worry about. Which is good, because we found out on Saturday when the previous owner came into the store, our 2nd driver quit. Down to one driver going into the holiday season isn't ideal - we can make it work, taking on the extra deliveries ourselves, but DH & I really need to start focusing on the behind the scenes tasks: budgeting the money, ordering supplies, prepping staff and supplies for the holidays, working on the marketing and promotions...and hopefully going out and talking with some different businesses to create corporate accounts. We will get things done and organized, but we are transistioning into this new life - so all the tasks, when incorporated into our personal daily life seems very overwhelming.

DH already left for work, so I will continue with what has become my daily routine - of getting the boys up for school and then taking each of them to their respective school before the school bell rings...then getting myself into my job, too.

I spent most of yesterday afternoon prepping for Robert's trip to Medicine Hat Canada for the 38th annual Medicine Hat Hockey Hounds Bantam (U14) tournament. They leave on Wednesday night and return on Sunday evening. This will be the first trip Robert will be going without DH or I...DH has to stay back here with *The Business* and I will be going to Phoenix with Matthew for his hockey tournament over this coming weekend. As team manager of Robert's team, I have been making sure that I have all the information needed in the travel binder, which I will give to one of the other parents going on the trip. The Medicine Hat stuff is just about completely organized, just need to figure out the group check in process for the flight on Wednesday...then all my responsibilities for that trip will be pretty much concluded; until they come back :)

Well, I will not bore you all any more...time to sign off for the day. I hope your Monday is rich with love and laughter! Lisa

November 13...and 14th (oops)

Ugh, trying to blog everyday is difficult! Yesterday I was up at 4:30, got only 1 hour of exercising in before I decided I rather sit and stitch. I am at the point where the Family Sampler calls my name - and the call of stitching seems to be much louder than spinning on the bike. So between the hour of early morning stitching and an hour at the rink in the evening, here is where my Family Sampler is now:

The tree has leaves and the flowers have their yellow center

It is coming a long slowly, but surely. I will finish the floral on the right-hand side of the house before planting the tree and flowers on the left-side. Soon my house will be surrounded by the beauty of nature - grass where the boys can play and trees they can climb or sit in the shade to read. Flowers to be enjoyed and picked for quick Mother's Day presents or for a centerpiece for a nice family meal. Now that I have my next stitching steps mapped out, I will make some time today to sit-n-stitch.

However, that probably will not be until a little later this afternoon. Just like yesterday, DH and I will go into *The Business* and help prep the fruit for Sunday fruit bouquet deliveries. There is one employee who comes in on Sunday, as it typically isn't busy - but DH & I want to continue our learning process of *The Business* so that when those very, very busy holidays come up (Valentines and Mother's Day) we can step in where needed. Yesterday, DH and I stood side by side prepping the melon wedges - cut the melon, scoop out the seeds, cut in wedges, peel off the skin and then skewer them for the arrangements. It was fun working side by side with DH, while talking with the 3 women working and getting to know them. We are at that point where we want to establish ourselves as "the boss" but not in an aggressive, threatening way. So we have just "jumped" right in to the "production", as it is called, which also includes cleaning and sanitizing all the utensils & trays. It was a lot of fun...I even got an opportunity to insert some of the cantaloupe and honeydew in several arrangements that were going out that day.

Once the majority of the production was done - which is close to 10am - DH took me home because I needed to get the boys around and head to the rink. Robert's team had a "controlled" scrimmage against a 19U girls team ("controlled" means that they cannot hit - which is always a bummer according to Robert - and it also means that the coaches are playing referees. They will stop the action so that they can create situations that each team is working on). After the 75 minute ice time, Robert had an hour of off-ice conditioning with the fitness coach. During all of this...Matthew and I sat in the restaurant that overlooks the rinks. Here, he worked on his home work packets he received to do over the weekend while eating lunch I fixed him at home (I know, strange to be taking in a homemade lunch into a restaurant...but since we have to watch our nickles & dimes right now this is one of the best ways...and probably the most nutritious). This is when I took out my stitching, which is always a good way to make the time pass at the rink.

Anyway...Sunday is here now...I am up, a little later than I would have liked, but on the bike non-the-less to get in a little workout. DH and I will go in again to *The Business* and continue getting comfortable with all the different tasks to be done. He is the one who will be doing the majority of the running it (payroll, ordering, taxes, hiring, firing, etc) and I will step in where needed when I can. Today is the last day that the previous owner will have a key to the store and today is also when the corporate training will arrive for the week of in-store training. It is going to be a crazy week!

Well, my friend, I will end this post with this thought on positive thinking:

Although many of us probably didn't get a thorough education in

the value of a positive attitude,

we can teach ourselves. Simply by making a decision to look for

the good, happy and beautiful in all things

and all people, you will have completed the first and most imporant step in learning

to accentuate the positive.

~Sue Patton Thoele

Accenturate the positive today; while remembering to also:

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

November 12...It is Friday! Thank goodness!!

We have made it to Friday and the week's journey to this day was much better than it was last week. Things seems to go much smoother, maybe because I just felt better about handling the "craziness" here then I did last week. Anyway, off to an early start to the day - which is a positive way to begin as I am getting my morning biking out of the way before anything else starts...I need to get in a good sweat!

As promised, here is a photo post of the status of Family Sampler:

With the roof complete (but still, not all the white shutters on the house...I will get to that soon), I started to plant the garden on the right handside of my house...the grass, some flowers and the tree. Did you know that it takes a tree about 3 years to firmly establish its roots? And it is around that third year that it has one of its largest growth spirts...at least that is what my grandmother always told me; I haven't googled it to find out if she was correct...not sure if I really want to, for there is something about "grandma advice" that should be assumed corrected and left at that. Anyway, I think since we have entered our 7th year here in California, still living in the house we purchased in 2003 (which is the longest that DH and I have lived at the same residence since we met - over 25 years ago)...and now purchased *The Business*, I feel that our roots are burrowing deeper into the California soil; that we have really started to grow into the community that we've established here. It is like, I have given myself permission, after 7 years of living here, to call it "home" and to feel like we can "settle down". It is a good feeling.

Tonight DH comes back from the East Coast, where he has been training for *The Business* at the franchisor corporate office. While I know that he is ready to be home...done with training and ready to get into the store and make it our own, it sounded like there were some good things that came out of the corporate training. Most of the information was Business 101 lessons, which he & I have experienced while working in the party goods industry and other retail businesses. But it is always good to have some refresher courses as well as learn the expectations of the franchisor! Which will prove useful, because after 2 weeks of training outside the store, next week a trainer comes into the store to work side-by-side with DH - so he will have to follow some of the procedures as set by the franchisor. I am sure that he will do fine, but will probably look forward to him being gone and, again, just making *The Business* ours.

Well, my friends, I leave you with this thought and question:

"To affect the quality of the day--that is the highest of the arts." ~ Henry David Thoreau

We are the sculptors of our day. We can mold it creatively into a wonderful masterpiece. We control the amount of moisture we mix into our clay. We pound it, shape it, stroke it, love it. Others can offer suggestions, and we gain new perspectives from their advice, but it is finally our own creation. our knife may occasionally slip, or our mixture of earth may be too dry. Any great artist suffers temporary setbacks. Besides, imperfections in art make it all the more interesting!

How creative can you be in your life today?

(from the book Today's Gift by Anonymous. copyright 1985, 1991)

Knowing most of you - I am sure that you will be very creative in your life today!

Take care my friends and remember:

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often!

Lisa

November 6

It is Saturday and today I feel a little more "normal". DH got home last night and it is nice for him to be back, even if it is for a day and a half (he leaves tomorrow morning for the East Coast). This morning he and I got up and went over to *The Business* and helped to prep the fruit. I worked with a couple of the employees and learned how to dip strawberries in chocolate, bananas in white & dark chocolate and apples in chocolate. The I helped to create a bouquet. It was fun to finally to do some hands-on work in *The Business*.

I got back home around 10am to get Robert around for off-ice conditioning, which he got a ride to the rink and I was able to stay at home with Matthew, who has been under the weather. Poor kid was up last night coughing and sniffling. Seems that he has caught one of those colds going around. While at home I found a little time to take a nap (that was sweet!).

That is about all for Saturday activities...just nice not to have a lot of things to do. Maybe I will take some time at get my stitching out while watching the NHL Sharks game this evening.

Hope your Saturday is going well. Until tomorrow, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often,

Lisa

November 2

Thank you for the comments and the well wishes left yesterday. One post-Halloween memory I want to share with you, which surfaced as I read Natasha's comment about walking around the neighborhood looking at Halloween decor...before we lived in California, we lived in Minnesota. DH and I worked for my family's company, which was a competitor of Party City. My position was Public Relations/Marketing/Advertising...and I was the Party Planner Expert who would be interviewed on the local tv talk shows explaining and showing how to throw a party with a budget. One of the things that I would have fun doing is decorating my house up for Halloween...complete with the gravestones in the front yard, the skeltons dancing around a caldron, ghosts in the trees and the fog machine going. Several times one of the local tv crews would come to my house a week before halloween and we would do several segment from there (yes, I did that remote reporting from my house with the ear piece in my ear, answering questions from the reporters who were back at the studio). It was definitely a fun chapter of my life...doesn't life seem to have chapters like that? Anyway...thank you Natasha, for allowing that memory escape from the depths of my mind! :)

Yesterday morning, before the boys even got up, I went over to *The Business*. It was fun to use the key and let myself in, for now it is feeling a little more like it is really ours. I didn't stay very long, for with the boys off of school there were things that I wanted to do with them, but I did stay long enough to meet the remaining employees (the ones who weren't there on Saturday when DH and I went over to introduce ourselves). The previous owner took me through some of his daily routines, basically prepping for when the 1st shift came in to do the prepping and creating of the fruit bouquets. When the staff came in, watching them prep the fruit was like watching a well choregraphed dance. Within an hour fruit was cut, fruit was dipped, and baskets were ready to be assembled. I was able to see the magic of how one was created before I had to leave to take Robert to his ortho appointment. We are very fortunate to be taking over a very well run business!

The ortho was quick, so as we made our way home we got a few mundane errands ran - gas for the car and groceries for the house (boy do we go through milk in this house hold...I just purchased 4 gallons on Friday and we were down to our last one on Sunday evening-maybe we should have bought a dairy farm). For the rest of the day, I just hung with the boys at home until it was time to drive down to the rink.

Both boys had practice tonight down in San Jose...but due to the timing of their practices it was a late night. Robert's practice started at 5:30/ended at 6:45 and was at the HP Pavilion, which is where the NHL Sharks place. Since our club has an affiliation with the organization, each of the Jr. Shark teams get some ice time there to practice on during the season with the BIG Sharks are traveling.

Robert (the orange jersey in the middle) leading stretching exercises

While Robert was on the ice, Matthew and I sat in the stands to watch. Matthew ate his dinner, which we packed up from home, while I got in some cross stitching. It was just enough time to get the roof finished on the house of Family Sampler...

From a far, the roof looks good...but if you were to look close up, not all of the X's are laying straight, especially the lighter brownish color of the roof. On one hand it give the roof a texture look, but then there is a part of me that feels disappointed. I was too lazy to get out my laying tool, but tried a few techniques to keep it smooth...but I guess it just doesn't look "perfect". I know, I know, perfect is in the eye of the beholder and I should just let it go and move on...which is what I will be doing.

Anyway...after Robert got off the ice, Matthew & I packed up our stuff - we left HP Pavilion as soon as Robert came out of the dressing room and headed down to the SharksIce facility where the boys normally practice - and where Matthew had his team practice from 7:45-9pm. While he was on the ice, Robert and I worked out in the fitness room that overlooks the particular rink that Matthew's team was practicing on. You couldn't ask for a better set up...doing a 60 minute walk/jog on the treadmill while watching your kid's hockey practice! It made the rest of the evening go pretty fast and before you knew it we were pulling into our garage around 10pm...and after a quick unpaking of the hockey bags and showering the boys and I were in bed by 10:45pm.

It was a good day - and DH sounded like he had a good day down in SoCal at his in-store training...but I think that he might have been jealous that I was the first one in "our" store and not him. But as soon as he returns from training, with all of his skills and knowledge of *The Business*, he will be in that store a lot!

Today...the agenda says: "Back to school for the boys and back to work for me, with hockey practice in the evening for Matthew only". So, until tomorrow...

Take care and remember...
Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often!

Lisa

November 1...welcome November

Wow, it is hard to believe that November 1st has arrived. That means:

1. there are only 2 months left of this year - yikes!
2. that means that the holiday season is upon us; although I think that Michaels and Target have had Christmas stuff out well before the Halloween was put out.
3. that means my 2 year blog-o-versity is coming up (that is what the little number on the left handside of my blog represents) at the end of the month
4. that means my 43rd birthday the beginning of the month (Nov. 3rd to be exact). It also means that my father's birthday is also coming up - for I was born on his 25th birthday.
5. it means that I need to finish planning for Robert's team's trip to Medicine Hat, Canada for the upcoming tournament and my own planning for Matthew's & my travel to Phoenix, AZ for his tournament
6. it means that I definitely need to package up Angela's ornament and get it in the mail
7. it means that we are now "officially" owners of *The Business* (which is an Edible Arrangements franchise, but will be referred to as *The Business*)

DH left last night for SoCal (Southern California) for a week of in-store training. Before he took off, we did go into the store over the weekend to meet the some of the employees as well as do a walk-through with the previous owner, signing off on the inventory he and his employees took. While DH is at training, the previous owner will be working in the store to make sure that business continues; however I will be stopping by periodically so that I can learn some of what he does during the day in his/our store - learning what a "daily routine is". Today, since the boys don't have school because of a teacher's work day and I took the day off, I am going over there early this morning to work with the previous owner to get accounts and systems transferred over to us. Hopefully that process doesn't take too long, for I do have to get Robert over to an Ortho appointment mid-morning.

Last night, Halloween night, the boys and I fired up the grill and cooked some burgers & sausages (they enjoyed those while I had a salad)...and then we basically hung out at the house - vegging out. The boys opened the door and passed out candy to the few trick-or-treaters that we get (some local real estate ladies host a costume parade and party at a park up the hill from us, so when it comes time to trick-or-treat many of the kids/parents stay on the hill and go around to those houses - thus, we don't see too many people at the bottom of the hill). We turned on Forrest Gump to watch - while I stitched on the Family Sampler and the boys played a computer game. Nice and quiet evening.

Well, that is about all for now. I am hoping to have the roof of the Family Sampler complete so that I can post a photo of it tomorrow.

Take care and remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

Friday's night off...a good start to the weekend

With no hockey practice to run to last night, we actually sat down as a family last night and watched "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!". It is funny, how around the holidays, I tend to crave some of the comforts of my childhood...like sitting down and watching the good ol' Charlie Brown holiday shows. I remember when it was a big event in my childhood household, we would be able to eat dinner in front of the TV (remember those old TV dinners in the aluminum tray?) and watch Snoopy and all the Peanuts gang. Remember the Dolly Madison commercials that were shown (last night it was pre-Christmas commercials for Toys R Us...at least it was a break from all the election commercials!!!)

Speaking of feeling nostalgic, I found the box of old photos of me that my grandmother sent me as she has been trying to clean out her drawers of old photos...

Me at the age of 2. My family had this tradition of taking formal photos at the age of 2...and my sisters & I all wore this dress. My younger sister, who had a daughter, continued the tradition and had her photo taken in the dress at the age of 2 (although I think that photo was done in color :) ).

Ok...this was totally off the topic...ooops...

Back to the topic of Friday afternoon/evening...I was hoping to do some stitching on Family Sampler during Charlie Brown, but chose to lay my head down and just enjoy the show with my family. However, yesterday afternoon I took the opportunity to put the finishing touches on the ornament I stitched for Angela for the Ornament Swap. I know that I haven't posted anything about this in a long time, as I finished stitching it back in September and boy, am I glad that I got it stitched back then...don't think that I would have had the time or the energy to get it done if I waited! Now that it has been finished, I can get it off to Angela so that she has it before the holiday really set in. When she receive it, I will post a snap of what I stitched & finished for her!

Saturday is starting off cloudy, cool and rainy. DH took Robert down to the rink for his 6:30am practice. Had to wake up around 4:30 to get breakfast around for them before they left. Also, took the opportunity to fold laundry and get it ready for the boys to put away their clean clothing...as well as jumped on the stationary bike to get my spin in while catching up on facebook, my emails and blogging. Later today, DH and I go over to *The Business* to be introduced to the employees. The previous owner will be making the annoucement this afternoon that he has sold the business and we will be there to be introduced and answer any questions they have. Tomorrow we will walk through the store front with the previous owner and take an inventory of everything in there - for on November 1, it is officially ours. DH leaves tomorrow evening for his first week of in-store training down in Southern California and then he will fly out to the Corporate office on the east coast for the 2nd week of his training. After all these weeks of work to get the deal made, the time is here for the real work!

Well, enough rambling. Take care, my friend, and remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the waters...

Today was my Halloween Party at work and I entered into the Pumpkin Carving contest. Under the gun to find a design to carve or theme to recreate, DH "googled" pumpkin carving contest designs and we came across the idea of creating fish out of pumpkins. With only one pumpkin in the house to use - the personal watermelon came in handy.There were 9 enteries in the contest...mine came in 2nd and so did 2 others (it was a 3 way tie for 2nd place :) ).

Tonight DH and the boys are down at the rink. Robert (older son) has team photos and then ice practice afterwards...Matthew (younger son) just has off-ice training with his team.  So I am home enjoying some "me" time. My "me" time is dwendling - starting Monday, when DH goes to train for *The Business*, driving the boys to school and to hockey practice will become my responsibilty again. It has been nice to have him around the last 5 months to help out and/or do most of the transporting of the boys to their activities. But it will be nice to have him working again.

Well, I did put a few stitches in my Family Sampler, but not enough to "show and tell". I am hoping to allow myself to sit and stitch this evening before all the boys come back home.

Take care and remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often!

Lisa

It is the weekend...remembering my happy place

Well, we are this ---|              |--- much closer to being business owners. Some of the big pieces of paper work got signed and sent off to their respective places on Thursday, only thing left to do is to "officially" close on it, which happens early next week and then it becomes officially "ours" on November 1. It is getting very exciting.

It will be nice to have the purchase completed and start learning the business - the daily operations. DH will be the one who will work it full-time, so he will be the one who will go to training (one week in Southern Cal and one week on the east coast at the corporate headquarters). I am definitely looking forward to being in the store, to help out and to work on the marketing side of it...however, I am also keeping my current job because I really enjoy being there (it is something that I feel is mine and I enjoy all the people I work with!). So, while it sounds like things are settling down...they really won't feel that way until the week of Thanksgiving - when the business is ours and DH is done travelling; when Robert (older son) had gone and come home from the Medicine Hat Hockey Tournament; and when Matthew (younger son) & I return from Phoenix from his hockey tournament...that will all happen around November 22 :)

Well my family from Minnesota (my parents and sisters) are taunting me with their current travels to Lutsen, MN. Lutsen, MN is a ski resort which is located about 50 miles south of the Canadian border on Lake Superior. Back in the late 1970s, when my family moved from Kansas to Minnesota, the household was filled with stress...Dad needed to move us for a job, but mom wasn't really happy about moving (they did work through their differences and built a stronger marriage by doing so), I started going through and struggled with adolescence at that time; my younger sisters also dealt with the move in their own way. But as per a recommendation from a friend,  to "get away from it all", we started driving up north to a small ski resort in Lutsen in Mid-October.

Back in the late 70's and early 80's, Lutsen consisted of the ski lodge and a few cabins, which were situated right on the shores of Lake Superior. The only restaurants around was the one at the lodge or the pizza place at Aspen Lodge, which was 10 miles back down the road. The cabins had a kitchen, family room (no reception for tv or radio back then) and, depending on the kind of cabin you got, it either had a couple of bedrooms or a bedroom and a loft (that is where we, girls, liked to stay and hide out). We would travel up there in mid-October, when we would have a school break - we would leave Wednesday afternoon and stay until Sunday mid-morning. Kids at school always asked me: "Why do you go to Lutsen in the fall? There is no snow to ski on. What do you do?"

What did we do? We read, we listened to my father's music (classical and new age composer George Winston)...my sisters & I would play school, play house or come up with other ways to entertain ourselves...we played family board games...I wrote poetry and stories...we talked, we discussed, we bonded as a family. We also found gorgeous places to hike - Gooseberry Falls, Superior Hiking Trail, to name a few. We explored little cities, like Grand Marais, (about a 45 minute drive north from Lutsen, had a little doughnut hole store - they only made cinnamon doughnut holes. If you didn't get there before 11, you were out of luck).

This was our haven...it is my "happy place"

A view of Lake Superior from our favorite cabin I-6

.

Well, over the year, just like every thing - it grew and developed. The last time we were there was the weekend of my parent's wedding anniversary several years ago. There are shops, restaurants, houses...the roads have been widened, trees cut down, our quiet nature walks have become official parks...it has totally taken on a new character. The little, quiet heaven of a place only exists in my mind...in my memory.

Well, as I said my family, who are up there as I type this, have been taunting me. They are all staying in one of the cabins we requested year after year...and my sister found one of the journals that the cabin owner leaves out for guests to sign and found this entry:

My entry from the Lutsen I-6 cabin journal from when my family and I stayed there in October 1983. 

I guess you can say that I have "officially" left my mark on this world :) (well, I probably have in more ways than one).

Well, enough of my "memory walk"...back to reality. This weekend we have a hockey weekend on tap. Robert's team is play a league weekend here in San Jose. They already placed 2 games yesterday - lost 1 and won 1. They have 2 more today and one on Sunday. Other than hockey, I am looking forward to catching up on a few things...sitting and stitching being one of those things on my list.

So, my blog friends, I bid you a good weekend. Take care and remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

The foundation & the roof-surrounds us like a good hug

With the foundation complete and 3 windows left to put the white trim on, I decided to get a start on the roof before the winter rains begin. As crazy as things are right now, it was nice to take the time last night - turn on the NHL Sharks hockey game (even though they aren't playing very well) and loose myself as I stitched the dark brown shingles of my house. Each little pull of the thread seemed to relase some of the stress I have been holding on to over the last few days. Each cross of the "X" seemed to remind me that with the love of my family, we can get through whatever we face...as long as we face it together.

I know that I am getting a little overly...oh, what is the right word...dramatic, maybe? Well, aside from all the stress that organizing my older son's, Robert's, hockey team's airline travels to Canada and back home for next month (that is all done and worked out perfectly in the end)...we are getting ready for the finalization of all the closing paperwork and the closing costs of purchasing this business. And, it is coming in a little more than we anticipated, which might leave things tight for a while. Just like planning the hockey travels, I am sure that things will work out :)

And speaking of  the hockey front, we do have some good news...some news that this proud hockey mom can brag about. Both boys' teams announced Captains and Assistant Captians this week...and...drum roll please....

Robert is an Assistant Captain of his Bantam AAA Hockey Team

Matthew is the Captain of his PeeWee AAA Hockey Team

Pretty excited and proud of my two boys - nice to have their hard work, discipline, respectfulness, dedication to the sport and to developing themselves recognized. So, now we have to get an "A" to apply to Robert's hockey jerseys and a "C" to apply to Matthew's.

Well, have a great Wednesday...this is the one day of the week where we don't have any evening activities and can enjoy some family time...even if it is just being together while the boys do their homework.

Take care, my blog friends, and remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

OMG...what a week!

Was it really just last Sunday night that I got back from the St. Louis trip? Was it really Monday that I went back to work, the kids back to school and the last time that I posted? It has just been crazy around here...just when I thought that I could come home from a hockey and family reunion weekend and just catch up, the damn opens and there is more work to deal with...

But before I whine about all the craziness, first I want to thank you for the wonderful comments regarding my trip to St. Louis. Yes, my grandmother is 92 and my mother is young too. Good genes perhaps? Or maybe because my grandmother keeps active and has a very good social lifestyle...and  maybe because my mother exercises 7 days aweek, eats healthy, takes her vitamins and keeps a positive attitude. Well, whatever it is - there were no typos! Those were photos of my grandmother and my mother!

Also, as promised, here is the status of my Family Sampler.

I have just about finished the foundation of my house...just one more row on top and then I will add the roof. Building the foundation of a household/family - love, caring, respect, support, honesty, etc - is important. It is what holds you up during times of sorrow, uncertainty...times of stress. Every marriage and every family has its hills and valleys. I know that in my and DH's marriage (it will be 20 years next April...and we started dating the first week of our freshman year in college...so I have been with this guy for 25 years...more than 1/2 my lifetime) we have experienced both ups and downs - but our love, support & respect for one another keeps us going - - - - which is a good thing because it has kept us plugging away during our crazy week!

Ok...the week...take a deep breathe.

Cleansing breath in...and let it out.

Cleansing breath in....and let it out.

We are 2 weeks away from owning our own business, which DH has been working hard on getting all the forms filled out; information filed with the different departments of different levels of government; meeting with lawyers, CPAs, brokers; (deep breath in...and let out) dealing with setting up business checking accounts and other accounts, etc. And as co-owner, I have been helping him out where I can...in between working outside the house, doing laundry, feeding the kids, preping for hockey practices, etc.

Crazy ain't it?!?!?!

And then on top of that...on the hockey related side of life...Robert's team has been accepted into the Medicine Hat Hockey Hounds 38th Annual Bantam Tournament which is next month. Because of the travel logistics, the fact that many of the boys travel w/o parents and they will be crossing the Canadian border it is important to make reservations for the whole group to travel up there, together, and then make it back home. This is what I was working on yesterday all afternoon - it took longer due to the flight that we wanted to get onto coming back home was full. I have arranged for the team to get up to Calgary/Medicine Hat, but still struggling with the details to get them back home. Oh, I know I am dumping on you...and I know that it will all work out...but right now my head is still spinning from trying to get it all organized (challenges of a team manager :)) Thank you for listening!

Well, I will let you go and end this crazy post. I hope that you all had a good week and that your weekend is filled with laughter, fun and love.

Take care and remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa