Opinions and feelings......

A lot of art marketing workshops and books I have read; stressed the importance of not mixing business with personal life on your blog.  But my life and art are so tightly entwined I can't help it.  It's just the way it is.  I don't know why I wanted to make a note of that here.  Maybe it's because my balance has been off lately.  Where there is no time for business and no time for family.  There seems to be a missing part of the equation and I think procrastination and defeat have to do with it.  There are so many things on my to do list I get inundated just looking at it.  I have been getting some things done, but they are just menial little things.  Not the big life dreams I have been carrying around for so long.  Scheduling has always been difficult for me.  I feel so defeated when things get in the way of it.  So now I have a why bother mentality.

How do you balance your personal life with business to make it all happen?  Any secrets you would be willing to share?  How do you feel about having a blog for business and family?  Should people keep separate blogs?

Hope you all have a magnificent weekend!!!

All that glitters is not gold......

This is the little precious that almost cost my granny her life.  I fell in love with this clip when I saw it.  Out of the whole estate sale this was the only thing that caught my eye.  I asked how much it was knowing that I didn't have enough; I only had $2.00 on me.  So when the gentleman said $3.00 I figured it was meant to be.  Chris and Granny were standing right next to me,  I looked at Granny and said, "Stay right here!" I ran to the car to scour the seat cushions.  I looked everywhere for change.  Why is it when you don't need it's there, and when you do it's not.  I did manage to find $.50.  When I resurfaced Granny and Chris were by the car.  I ran passed Granny and told her, "Go ahead and get in on this side" (the side away from the street) and ran off in hopes the man would take $2.50 instead.

The next thing I know Chris is yelling all the way across the yard," That piece of garbage is worth more than your grandma's life!"  What, is he talking about?  The man just looked at me and was like "Yeah, just take it."  I felt so bad.  I am still not absolutely sure of what all happened.  But from what I gather is that when I walked away instead of getting in on the side she was already on, she walked into the street without looking while a car was coming and Chris couldn't get out of the car fast enough to stop her.  It caused major drama. Since Granny has dementia we have to watch her carefully. Somehow Chris thought it was all my fault, and I was pissed because going to a couple garage sales is my only time out in the week and he was right there.  And I did say, "Stay Here!" in the first place.  Needless to say she wasn't hit and I still got a treasure and $.50 cheaper the original price. 

Does any one know what it is?  Or seen something similar?  It has sharp hooks on the clip so I don't think it could be a scarf or blouse pin.  I was thinking maybe a money clip but then again the hooks are so sharp.

 I am leaving you all with a quick and easy recipe you can use with a variety of summer fruits.

Cut plum, peach, nectarine, etc. in half taking the seed out.  Put halves in a baking dish, sprinkle with brown sugar and place a little dab of butter in each center.  Place under the broiler and let the sugar brown and caramelize.  Making sure not to let them burn.  Once done place a dollop of ice cream on the top with another little sprinkle of brown sugar.

Yeah, it's almost the weekend.

Linking up to:

A Saturday Drive

Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time.  Go for a drive to Gilroy and look around, maybe make it to San Juan Batista to go see the mission.  Who would we take Kiah, Granny, or (gasp!) Kiah and Granny.  Kiah whined and complained, "But mom I don't want to go!  Why do you always make me go to different cities!"  Okay.  I guess he wouldn't like it anyways.  The last time we went antique shopping he kept bugging me for vintage comics, so much so I couldn't even hear myself think and Grandma would enjoy it, she used to help out at an antique store back in the day.

As we started on our way I remembered that my favorite thrift store was having a $1.00 sale.  I convinced Chris to stop for a quick second. I found some really cute embroidered linens.  A tatted table runner that was $15 marked down to $1.  The find that I got really excited about was a Dennison Centennial Rose napkin set that has never been opened.  It would be perfect for someone who is throwing a vintage themed party.  Or a party for someone who was born or married in 1964.  It seemed to be the start of a perfect day.

The drive to Gilroy was gorgeous, everything was so green.  I wanted to pull over somewhere so I could take some pics, but no such luck.We waited and waited while Chris got some arrows for his bow.  That took forever it seemed.  Finally we able to take a stroll and find some antique shops.  I love looking at the old masonry buildings in the downtown area.  They have so much character.  Unfortunately a lot of the buildings here are falling apart and some even have "Enter at your own risk!" posted. 

We walked into the first store and the trouble began.  First Granny nearly sat down in a 200 year old chair, the seat was barely threads.  Thankfully I caught her in time.  I spot this really cool painting which I notice has a Whistler signature.  I'm thinking to myself, Dang! I think I heard that name on Antiques Roadshow. Then hear glass being jumbled around........Grandma!  No!  She's picking up and messing around with everything.  Where the heck is Chris, I mean, come-on, I watched Grandma while you were getting your arrows, now it's my turn.  But no, he is no where to be found.  By this time I think she wanted to punish me for telling her what to do.  So she started farting.  Not just one or two, it was over and over again.  "Grandma do you need to go to the bathroom?"  "No"  "Are you sure?"  "Yes, I will tell you when I need to go."  I find this pile of really cool illustrations and get all excited because they are on sale.  " I need to go to the bathroom" ; "Okay, let's go."  We make our way to the front of the store and I start to ask the clerk if she has a bathroom.  Then Grandma chimes in, "I don't have to go anymore"  What the heck!  I start my way to the back of the store again and Chris starts to hurry me.  "I am hungry, let's go!'  You have got to be kidding me.  I mean, come on, when is it going to my turn to have some fun and be able to look around?  I guess I am shit out of luck.  I mention to Chris that I like the painting in the front of the store, the lady at the front who must have had super sonic hearing ( I wonder how many of Grandma's farts she heard ) says, " Oh you mean the one painting with the lady in the wooden frame?"  "Yes." "I'll let you have it for 50% off."  "Okay!"  When I got to the counter she already had it wrapped and everything.  Which kinda bugged because I wanted to have a closer look at it, but oh well it was only $7.50 and I didn't have to pay sales tax because I paid cash.  When I got out of the store I opened it up and it was a print covered in a bunch of shellac to look like paint strokes.  If I wanted to return it I probably could have, but she didn't give me a receipt. I am sure she just wanted of get rid of the eyesore, and I was distracted enough to want to purchase it. 

Chris, trying to lift my spirits, stopped by another antique store, but as soon as we walked in Grandma started her farting again, so I just gave up on the whole idea.  We ate dinner as I sulked and then we made our way home.  I just love family outings.