What a day!

Gosh - Time flies.  Has it really been 14 years since I opened The Garden Gate - and 2 years for The Alfresco Art Center?

I know it has, but when you say it out loud it's only then, it starts to sink in.

Today was a great day not just for my business but for my hometown.

Fox 2 News "In You Neighborhood" was airing live from Granite City.

It gives you a warm and fuzzy feeling when you see other people appreciating something that's near and dear to you.

Unfortunately not all of the great businesses in our community could be highlighted in this segment, as one of the crew said "There's so much here we could air 10 hours!"

So to the eclectic mix of business that make our community what is... a big thank you!

I'm thrilled I can be a small part of it!

We're off to see the Wizard!

For Christmas two of my friends made arrangements to take me to see The Wizard of Oz "live" this evening at the Fabulous Fox theater!  I'm so excited!  Anyone who really knows me knows that "it" is my very favorite - all time - with out question favorite movie.  I will never grow too old for it.
My office at the Art Center is decorated with the memorabilia that I've collected over the years. AND... in my neighborhood we have a pre-halloween party and of course its' theme is... The Wizard of Oz.  I say the party is for the little kids but maybe it's an excuse so I can have a big themed party at my age!  And speaking of age if I weren't almost 52 I'd be tempted to take my ruby red slippers down from the shelf in my office and follow the yellow brick road tonight, but I won't do that to my friends.  So, as I spend some much needed time with firends watching a live performace of this classic,  I'll be reminded that - dreams really do come true -  Thanks Diane and Brandon!!!

Enough already!

Rain Rain go away!
I know April showers bring May flowers but this is ridiculous! 
I used to be one of those people who would stay on the front porch and watch the storms come through.  Now I grab the dog and high tail it to the basement saying prayers all the way!

In my neighborhood we've had so much wind damage over the last several years that I think our name should be tornado alley!

So, do I still love having the windows open and hearing the gentle tapping of a spring shower, and the way everything smells after the rain - YES!

And is the Wizard of Oz my favorite movie - YES!

But do I enjoy feeling like the characters in the movie -  NO!

So - be gone  gray skies, wind and rain and bring on the bright technicolor as if we have landed in Oz!

Wrapping things up!

I've been wrapping things up... both figuratively and literally!

Like on Christmas Eve - "wrapping up" meant just that... I was in a panic trying to gets my gifts wrapped.  Nothing like waiting till the last minute!

And now, today- the day after Christmas, here at the tea room we're wrapping up loose ends getting ready for end of the year stuff.

When I look back on the year, both at the tea room and art center, it has been quite a year!  Handling the day to day operations at both places I sometimes forget all that's really happened in just 12 short months.  I usually only seem to focus on what "still" has to be done instead of how much "has" been done. 

If next year is like this year, it should be (as kid president says) an awesome year!  (If you don't know who kid president is...google him!)

I'm going to make a conscious effort to slow down next year.  I want to enjoy the ride a little more. 

And stress... some things I can control and something things I can't - so I am definitely putting together a game plan to recognize and reduce that!  So if anyone brings unnecessary stress next year you just may hear a quote from my favorite movie.  As Glenda says.. "Be gone!  You have no power here!"

Oh, and one more thing before I wrap this up... "Sometimes you just have to say no" and that's OK!

So as I wrap up this year, I just want to say...THANKS!

Thanks to everyone, and you know who you are, for seeing me through my latest adventure, for having faith, and always believing in me.

That's a wrap!

Merry Christmas

Just a tad longer and I'm finished.  Today is cookie day. I'm putting ribbons on the last of the trays. Saturday night was the final performance of our  2013 season with a holiday production of It's a Wonderful Life at The Alfresco Art Center.  What a year it's been!  So many wonderful things have happened. 

I must admit I'm ready for the holiday and year to be over.  The hustle and bustle has worn me to a thread.  Between running the business, producing a show. Time has flown by!

decorating the tea room and the art center I don't have time or the inclination to decorate my home.  The only Christmas decor at my house is my dog Daisy in her holiday sweater. 

Now... I don't want to sound like Scrooge - bah humbug and everything  but I'm soooooo ready for Christmas day.  To most that's the busiest day but for me that's my day of rest.  My Christmas is Christmas Eve with my parents and siblings and theirs kids.  After our celebration I'm on lock down.  I stay home and just relax.  That's the greatest gift for me.  No phones, no deadlines, no nothing- just munchies and great movies.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Never say Never!

We've all heard it..." never say never", but we've all done it.  For example I said "I'll never wear crocs those are the ugliest shoes ever".  Wrong!  I wore them for almost a year straight!  I had them in every color and style. It was pathetic.
Or - "I am NEVER" watching Duck Dynasty - as you can imagine I did!  It was one of those nights when I couldn't sleep.  As always, I started flipping through the channels. I stopped and saw some of the funniest stuff! I literally laughed out loud and thought what is this?  So I hit the info button and wouldn't you know it - It was Duck Dynasty! Before I knew I was popping popcorn and getting something to drink at 2 in the morning!  Really?  A normal person would have watched a few minutes and gone to back to sleep. Not me! I watched episode after episode knowing full well that my day begins at 6 am!  Now I'm not someone who has to rush home to see a show BUT if I can't sleep I seem to suffer from the late channel surfing sickness.You would think that I would just turn off the TV, but after all of these years I still have to sleep with the TV on (that's another story)
And after all of these years - I've come to the conclusion that for me, saying "I'll never" is part of a cruel cosmic curse.  So... I'll never say "I'll never" again!  Geez - see what I mean?
  
      

The perfect manicure

Have you ever noticed how some women's nails look perfect all of the time?  Polish never chipped, nails the perfect length, well -  I am not one of those people.

By hands are always in water or dirt or some other something that makes by hands look like a laborers hands.

Oh don't get be wrong I would love to have nice looking hands, I've tried!

Sometimes when I have nothing to do on a weekend night I try and do all of those girlie things.

Such as....
Color my own hair (sometimes it turns out and sometimes not so much)
Color my eyebrows (I know the box says not to do that but...)
Bleach my upper lip (What do you mean not everyone has to do that!)

And what's with that one course hair that grows from your chin that has probably been there all week and you just noticed it - oh great!

Now the nails.  I pick the color, pop in a CD or DVD ( I have to have white noise)  Even now as I write this I have the documentary of Walt Disney playing in the upper right hand corner of my computer screen - I love the split screen!

Now I'm ready - oh wait I better get my magnifying glasses - Lord knows I need those.

So after everything is finished my forehead is stained from the dye, my lip is red from the bleach, and I have polish about an 1/8th of and inch around my nails. 

As long as I don't have my magnifying glasses on it looks like the perfect manicure - besides the excess polish eventually comes off in the shower.

Well, that's my beauty regiment or lack there of for the next 4 weeks!