~Dawn~

Good Morning! It's dawn here in Ohio. The sun hasn't come up yet. The orders are stacked and ready to be filled....a brand new day is on the horizon!

Lots got done this weekend because Katie and her sister Fannie spent the day with us on Saturday. They arrived here early.....surprising us with a warm-from-the-oven apple pie and just-made apple sauce! They were up way before dawn to accomplish all that in their Amish kitchen! You haven't lived til you've tasted home-made Amish baked goods! I think I'll invite the girls to join me for baking Christmas cookies this year! What fun!!

Tom surprised his dad by arriving after lunch to help him with the remainder of the leaves in the yard. Five acres of trees make for a whole lotta raking!! Bless you, Tom~xoxoxoxoxox You have no idea how much your dad and I appreciated it. We know you have your OWN huge yard to care for!!

It took Fannie 7 hours to clean the house. Yup. It was dusty and really needed attention. And Katie and I worked on orders. I have 2 overflowing bins to take to the PO this morning. My new stack is piled and ready with labels already on envelopes, thank you notes written.....just waiting for me.

The family will be here Thursday for Thanksgiving. I'm hoping elves arrive on Wednesday to help start the pies, sweet potatoes, etc, or I fear they'll never get done!

Coffee in hand.....Rosie and I are ready to start the day. It will be a long one. But....we're used to it....saying prayers of thanksgiving to the Lord who has bestowed all this on us...for us. Thank you, Lord.

Have a beautiful Thanksgiving Week Monday wherever you are in this world. Remember to say prayers of thanksgiving for all the blessings in your life~

~Just A Shower Later.....~

I've been up all nite. With a migraine. I finally gave up trying to sleep and stumbled downstairs around 5am.....Rosie in tow....and headed out the front door with her. It had snowed. She looked at me as if to say, "Hey! I'm a 4 lb. little poodle. You really expect me to walk around in this stuff. Without boots or a coat? Really?". I was in no mood for those cute looks. She tinkled, I picked her up...and headed to the kitchen. Oh no. No coffee made. Jim is in NJ on business....so made a cup of instant coffee, took 2 Excedrin Migraine...again...and headed to the computer. This wasn't a day to have a hundred new emails and orders. sigh. The 'good news, bad news' of the Christmas Rush!

I printed off the orders that came in overnite...and headed to the shower, figuring I'd get dressed and ready for the day...fully intending to go feed mom lunch at the nursing home. Well...that's what I THOUGHT I'd do. One shower's-worth-of-time later: 55 more email orders! Looks like Mom, the PO and my stop at Starbucks is going to have to wait. For now....it's time for 2 more Excedrin! And some of Santa's Elves!

~Monday Blessings~

Goooood Morning. Monday again....and BOY do I have lots of Blessings to be thankful for:

~For my husband. I've known him forever....but learn new things about him every day. He's selfless, giving, loving, and just the BEST human being I know!

~For my life. It's very full. Very busy. And very very blessed.

~For my business. What other job could I possibly have where I not only do what I LOVE, but can do it at 5 am, midnite, or 3 am.....all in my cuddly 'jamas?

~For my kids and grandkids. They're all the best....and I get to see them all in 10 days!!

~For Mom's caretakers at GV: They're all angels. Every single one of them.

~For Rosie, who's with me in the studio no matter what time it is. It's her favorite place to be!

~For coffee. And Excedrin Migraine!!

Off to the studio. Don't forget we're still offering FREE SHIPPING on our WEBSITE....NOT on Etsy..... using code FSN at checkout til the end of the month~

Happy Monday, wherever you are in this great big beautiful world~

~Uh Oh: Friday Already?~

You know you're really busy when you wake up and think, "Uh Oh! It's Friday already?". Seems like my customers started their Christmas shopping early this year! I'm looking at never-ending orders....lots of coffee.....and not a whole lot of sleep for the next couple of weeks. Now I'm not complaining. Orders are blessings, and I LOVE to be busy, but sometimes it comes with hurricane-force winds!! How do I keep up with it all?

1. Start the day with prayer and thanksgiving to God for all His blessings.

2. Surround myself with talented helpers.

3. I have fabulous family and friends who understand why I'm not as available during this busy season.

4. Plan healthy meals to avoid having to call Jim to pick up take-out food. This week: Meat Loaf and Mashed Potatoes, Lentil Soup, and on the stove right now: Mom's Italian Wedding Soup. yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

4. I keep taking my vitamins....and praying that they work!

5. Got my flu shot AND a pneumonia shot after getting so sick last winter.

6. I've made sure I'm very stocked up on silver sheets, birthstones, charms, etc. so I don't run out mid-season.

7. I cuddle with Rosie. She is SUCH good company in the studio, makes me very happy, and calms me down whenever I feel overwhelmed.

Rosie just reminded me that Christmas is only 43 days away, and we need to get off the computer and back to the studio. Ciao....and Happy Friday~

~Meet Rosie: Our New Blog Dog~

I didn't last long without a dog. Nope. It was way too quiet here at RoseCreekCottage. As much as I love my work...it just wasn't as much fun with no little furry 4-pawed companions following me around. So......last Friday, Jim surprised me with Rosie: the best birthday present I can ever remember getting! She melted my heart as soon as I picked her up, and she nuzzled into my neck. I absolutely love her....and I can tell you that the feeling is mutual!!

She's 3 years old.....and belonged to our dog groomer. She bred Rosie twice, but says that Rosie is very 'needy': she craves attention and affection 24/7. She has a very busy grooming business, and couldn't give her the attention she needs. She knew that since I work at home, Rosie and I would be a match-made-in-heaven. She's a smart lady!

Rosie is a tiny toy poodle: she weighs 4 lbs. She had me wrapped around her little paw from the get-go...and now she's working on Jim! She sleeps right next to me with her little face on the edge of my pillow. She stays there all nite. Doesn't move. If I open my eyes in the middle of the nite....there she is with her brown puppy-dog eyes staring back at me. I'm in heaven!!

Rosie was trained to sit in her little round doggy bed on counters, etc....so she has a spot on the table right next to my workbench in the studio. The pounding and drilling doesn't bother her one bit: she snores away!!

She's a good 'traveler'. We've visited every pet store in town...the bank....nursing home.....she rides in a little doggy carrier tote I found on Amazon. It looks just like a purse, and if I say, "Rosie, hide"...she burrows down inside it....peaking out its mesh sides. She's an absolute doll!

Both residents and staff at the mom's nursing home are in love with her. They marvel at her teeny size. She curls up on my lap when I feed mom lunch. Mom smiles at her and told Uncle Joe, "She's so so small".

So......life goes on here at RoseCreekCottage. And it's finally starting to feel like normal again!!