A Busy Season and Some Change

This Year has been a busy year for me. I have been participating in our town's Farm Market every Saturday. My book sales were pretty good at the beginning of summer, but I wanted to offer something other then my book. It took me a few tries and several recipes and crafts to find my perfect niche, but I finally managed to pick some winners. I started making home made granola,  mini loaves of quick breads (zucchini, banana, and pumpkin) as well as mini tarts (apple, pumpkin, raspberry. peach, lemon, and strawberry).

I have enjoyed these Saturdays mingling with the community and other vendors who have come to seem like an extended sort of family, but I must admit all the baking is quite tiring. I have also been attending practice at my local library for the Mystery Dinner Theater I am going to be participating in. I always wanted to attend one of those events and never imagined I would one day be one of the players. I also continue to be in charge of the children's display case which is a very fun and creative outlet.

And then of course, school started. Not only am I  now getting my daughter ready every morning and making sure she does her homework every evening, but I am also the room mother and the person in charge of the Christmas Snack Bar that is held every year for the wonderful staff. Add to the mix the fact that third grade seems to have some kind of event or two every month. So far we have had a walk-a-thon, and we are getting ready to go to the Bird Sanctuary.

Now the Farm Market has ended (Yesterday was the final day), and I am getting ready for the craft fair season. I have Barbie quilts and pillows ready, homemade granola, and of course copies of Fern Valley. With Christmas just around the corner, I have thrown some shopping into the mix, scouring all the clearance sales that occurred this summer. I managed to hit a super fantastic clearance at Target where I snagged enough good deals to take care of my daughter for Christmas, her January Birthday, and all the birthdays for the girls in her class.

Unexpectedly we had some change at our home as well. The kind of good change that makes you just want to smile and thank the good Lord above. My husband received a job transfer from second shift to first shift. Now he can eat dinner with us and see our daughter for more then just three weekends a month. Although a most wonderful blessing, our new schedule and eating habits are taking a bit of time to which to adjust.

And lest I forget, I have been participating in the Intuit Big Game Contest. The prize is a Superbowl commercial. I realize it's a lofty goal to win something as spectacular as a Superbowl commercial, but I figure with a little hard work on my part, I have the same chance as everyone else. So if you have a moment to spare out of your schedule (which I am sure is as busy as mine), please stop by and look at my video and vote for me and help me make it to round three.

Signing off for now with wishes for a bright and beautiful day!

The Busy Season...

Once again we are headed into that wonderful, beautiful, and completely busy season which starts with the approach of autumn and lasts til the end of the year. There is the beginning of the school year where both adults and children alike have to adjust to getting up early, a new schedule, and going to bed early. For me, it also means I have to start scheduling my time to fit in all the holiday party preparations, field trips, and teacher projects I am involved in as the second grade room mother.

Besides my school projects, I will also have the inevitable leaves to rake along with family holiday preparations, the children's display case I am in charge of at the library, my weekly co-blog, the upcoming Kentucky Book Fair, and four craft fairs. Not to mention a school walk-a-thon,  an Ohio Mom Blogger's meeting, a couple of birthdays, Black Friday, Christmas shopping, and a January birthday to plan for my daughter. And believe me when I say it will take me from now until January to plan the party especially if it involves painting cardboard scenery!

Oh, and did I mention that I am repainting my kitchen cupboards and my outdoor shed? Like I said, the start of the busy season. The funny thing is, that I love to be busy and have things penciled in my schedule book. Don't get me wrong, I like to relax as much as the next person; but sometimes it's nice to be busy and feel like you are getting a lot accomplished.

And sometimes I even manage to fit in a fun project like the basic illustration project I am working on while my daughter is at school. Normally I just write material and I don't illustrate because I sadly lack the natural drawing talent, but recently I participated in a live session with famed author Jarret J. Krosoczka. He made illustrating look so easy (I certainly can attest to the fact that it is not) that I thought I would give it a try. I never would have guessed that you should sketch your rough draft in a blue colored pencil because it won't show up when you scan the finished product; and since I don't have the talent to use Indian ink like Jarret to outline the final product, I just use a black sharpie. Then I whiz it off to my paint program and color it in.Granted my illustrations are pretty basic and still need some work, but they are pretty exciting to make.

So what is going to keep you busy this season?

Signing off for now with wishes for a bright and beautiful day!