Back in the Saddle

Do you ever get overwhelmed and think that your time is not your own?

Of course you do!

We have so many opportunities these days for work, for creative endeavours, to volunteer for our favorite organizations, to do things for our families and to go places with them, and these are all good things. Think of how boring life would be without them.

But often we over-commit, or maybe the things that we've committed to overlap for a week or so, putting us in that zone that we all hate; a zone that makes us feel walled in, un-appreciated, and frustrated.

Last week I was in that *Twilight Zone*.  The deadline for Out Standing in Her Field had me scrambling, as did designing and printing cards for The Cracked Pot's open house. I had promo work for NorthSide Farmers Market to wrap up.

The Good News?
All that "stuff" is done.

The Better News?
It all turned out in a good way.

The Best News?
It's all behind me now.

The Scary News?
I now have time to overload my schedule again...LOL

After all, we are creatures of habit. My habit is "feast or famine". What I am hoping for, this week especially, is to be smart enough to take a big "Time Out"  to let my brain cells settle down and line up again. Give 'em a rest so that they can make good decisions.

Here is a pic of my display at Jackie and Casey's store. The"Rest of the Story" is on today's World According to Marcheta blog.







http://marchetagibson.blogspot.com/2013/04/step-1-plunge-right-in.html


Marcheta *what to do?...what to do?....

Country Friends

Today I am participating in the Cracked Pot's Mother's Day Open House, "A Taste of Spring". Yesterday I set up a photography display. So if you are in the area (Galion, Ohio) stop in and see my "Cardshop Cafe" display. The Blue Plate Special is Humor :)


Many thanks to Jackie for the opportunity to showcase my work and to Noel (who is set up with taste samples and her cookbook, Apron Free Cooking) for brainstorming on how to display my card designs. This is what I think friendship is all about: a circle. I introduced Noel to Jackie, which led to the open house which I helped to plan, which led to Noel and Jackie helping me figure out how to display my items.

SWEET!

Mendy is joining us, with taste samples of her naturally raised meats. She is a powerhouse in our parts for networking and promoting "shop local". I've written about her several times, already, but feel that I need to include her part of the Outstanding in Her Field story I wrote for Acres of North Central Ohio because she's a vital part of it.

Marcheta *running in a good circle :)

Mendy, Born to Farm

Mendy Crim Sellman says that she was born to farm. She and her husband, Russ, are the sixth generation to work the Crim family farm in Crawford County.  Mendy explains that she has always loved the farming lifestyle and never had a desire for any other occupation. The Sellmans are grain farmers and also raise naturally fed meat.

Mendy has been instrumental in bringing local farm products to her community. Her first step was to offer part of her land for a community garden. To help sell the bounty of the garden, Mendy then helped to establish two farmers markets. Those successes led to selling their meat at the markets, which let people know that locally, naturally raised meats were available. The meat became so popular that Mendy was able to realize her dream of having an on-site farm store and in 2012 opened The Farmers Wife. The store quickly grew into a “general store” of sorts, offering goods, such as eggs, raised by vendors that Mendy met at the farmers markets, and fresh dairy products from Hartzler’s Dairy in Wooster.

All of those accomplishments could fit into a “proudest moment” category, but Mendy says what fills her most with pride is when she sees her children answering customer’s questions and taking responsibility for the farm.  Emely (and husband Dustan Tate), Jesse, and Elaina are the seventh generation of the Crim family to have a heart for agriculture, embracing the challenges that come with the uncertainties of farm life. Mendy says that the scariest part of farming is when the family goes out during storms to protect the animals. With a legacy like that, no wonder Mendy’s own heart is full of joy and satisfaction that she is fulfilling her life’s purpose by following her passion.

Serving up Inspiration

My friend, Jackie, owns a store in Uptowne Galion. Over the years we've worked together on many events and "Country Gatherings".  In brainstorming for a theme for a Mother's Day open house, we first thought of gardening and flowers, of course. But the theme took a turn of events because the vendors who are setting up are all "foodies".

Except for me.

Noel is setting up with tasting samples from her cookbook, Apron Free Cooking. Mendy is setting up with samples of her naturally raised meats. Jackie carries Tastefully Simple and other upscale food mixes. I suggested that the theme name be changed to "Taste of Spring". Doesn't that sound yummy?


 I just didn't see how my photography was going to fit in, but Jackie still wanted me to be a part of the event. With writing for publications behind me for a while, I turned my attention to what I've wanted to do for a long time. All week I've been busy designing cards...10 new designs in all. Last night I was still in a quandary as to how to set up a display, especially one that fits into the new theme.

Enter Noel and her creativity. I need a way to keep cards separated, but do not like the idea of plastic containers. Noel suggested loaf pans.

Loaf pans!

*B*R*I*L*L*I*A*N*T*

But I don't have any loaf pans.....

:(

A trip to Goodwill netted me one new loaf pan.

Back home, I started digging through my many cupboards of dishes and came up with a few serving bowls, an enamel-ware pan, and a gravy boat.

A Booth Display was Born!

The picture shows my practice set up at home. Of course, the display will look much different at the shop. I know I'll need to add other kitchen-type of containers to accommodate the different sizes and designs of other cards and prints. But at least I feel confident now that my contribution to Taste of Spring will fit in with the theme.

Tomorrow, inspiration is being served up at The Cracked Pot.
Come visit us:)

Marcheta *order up

On Journals and Blue Skies

Do you journal?

Journals do not have to be fancy or complicated, or written in fancy leather bound books. In fact, to me, the best journals are simple, heartfelt pondering.

There are many ways to journal. I have two ways that I record my thoughts and feelings. One is via my favorite hobby; photography. With it, I try to capture emotion in a scene, such as in the picture above. A young woman seems to be consoling a young man. They chose a quiet spot on Lake Michigan to talk over the problem. The lighthouse in the background represents a "guiding light", a reassurance that everything will work out.

My other way to journal is with words, of course. Most of my words are written in inexpensive spiral bound notebooks. Some are in word files on this computer. I came across this particular entry as I was cleaning out files:

Don't You Just Love It When……

1. People are polite? What a great feeling it is when someone holds the door open for you, says 'please' or 'thank-you', or simply gives you a smile that comes out of no where.

 

2. You are polite? What a greater feeling it is to see and feel the reaction of people whom you've held a door open for, said 'please' or 'thank you', or smiled at for no reason what-so-ever, other than you are happy.

 

3. The sky is blue? I am not sure why 'blue' was ever chosen to describe a feeling of being down. 'Grey' seems more appropriate to me. After all, a cloudy, dreary, grey day seems to make people feel tired, grouchy, and even depressed. But as soon as the sun comes out and the sky turns blue, spirits are immediately affected. People stand up taller, chins up, smiles appear, and a relaxed feeling washes away tenseness.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Both of those methods are solitary; recording what I see and how I feel. My newest way to journal is this blog. It is totally different, in that it is social. It includes other people, what they see and how they feel. It is wonderful for me because it lets me get to know people better, and to meet new people, too.

If you do not journal, why not give it a try? It may become the favorite part of your day :)

Marcheta *country recorder

P.S. I haven't forgotten about posting the ravioli making process. It will take more time than I have to devote to it this morning. Stay tuned, I *hope* to have the pictures processed and words written for tomorrow's blog post, so please don't give up on me just yet :)