New pictures

My threat from last summer

This was from a post last year:

Mike and I have a plan to host a big party next summer and hang lights from the trees in jars...have gazebos, mexican hats on the tables with pots full of fresh vegetables and flowers. and make things like:

Smoked Lemon-Chipotle Chicken
Tomatillo Sauce
Lemon Chill with Raspberry Sauce
Margaritas

There will be swings in the trees..pretty tables..music...kids running everywhere.  Who wants to come?

WELL, it has rained so much and there are so many blood sucking mosquitoes I'm waiting until fall before this unfolds. 

Blue Moon Emporium

We are taking Blue Moon on the Road. For the next few months I'm going to do some craft shows with Blue Moon.  First one will be in Appleton, WI the annual Octoberfest (in September), October I'll be in Neenah and the Helping Hands Craft Show in Neenah, WI, and then off to Oshkosh, WI for Handmade for the Holidays.  I'm excited.  Hope any of you local blog fans will come and check out these great venues.

I know more clearly....

Some people never find their niche in life, I think I know which direction I need to go, the clearer it gets the better I feel.  Thank you Heavenly Father. 

June 2010...should be epic

A little more than a week from now, my family and I will return to my homeland, to say that I'm excited is understated.  In my mind about 6 months ago I imagined myself 25 lbs lighter with buff arms and no gut.  Did I ever say that I had my feet firmly planted on the ground?  Well, all the pressure I put on myself made me eat more, so if any of my dear friends read that and see me in a week or so, be easy on me, I really had good intentions and I am sliding over 50 now, and  THAT  IS NOT AN EXCUSE! Hopefully, people will just be happy to see me, no matter what size.

It is amazing, once again since the weather is warmer we are all happier, go figure! The yard is green, the garden is planted, there are little animals everywhere.  At times like this I always think to myself, Wisconsin is pretty cool! Really nice people, nice downtown area where I work, a supportive community that buys my stuff.  I see more people all the time that wear either Maple Marie jewelry or some of my unique pieces.  I have two big events planned for summer and fall.  Life is good.


Last week my friend Steve Carter invited Mike and I to join him in Chicago for a cool event for people who are trying to get their small business off the ground. The first day was kind of a "did we do the right thing by coming?" and then Sunday the barn doors flew open with information and hope for Mike and I.  It's really basic stuff that I've heard over and over again, but it was what Mike and I wanted and needed to hear.  I'm going to make a prophetic statement here,  by 2012 Mike and I will have conquered a big dragon/monster/troll in our lives and I'm so impatient and curious to see how this turns out. Stay Tuned.

Back to June in Orange County, JULIA IS GETTING MARRIED TO TIM! Have you ever been invited to an event that you really were kind of dragging your feet to go to, well, this is NOT the one...I love Julia and Tim and Deena and Tom and Dan and Melissa and oh well, everyone!  I've got a new dress that will cover most of my trouble spots and I plan on having a great time! Isabel and Sam and Mike and I are not only going to a beautiful wedding we are going on our first vacation in 4 years out of Wisconsin together.

This was my Mother's Day meal prepared by Sam, Shells with Alfredo sauce, Hot Dog Octopus and Fish Crackers...it doesn't get any better that this.

My Mother's Day Present

Annual Blog Hiatus

I now understand why I quit blogging between Christmas and Spring.  Survival - to stay alive and to not depress any of you readers.  There is really nothing to tell you except "it's cold", "we're depressed", "I'm busy".  So from now on I'm going to be like some of the cities in Northern Wisconsin and close for the winter.

Well, it's Spring and I'm open for business, to tell you about the tales of  Wisconsin, raising my kids, being married, running my small business and working at the coolest art studio.  My part time job working at the Fire reminds me of my ministry in CA, I spend my time helping people to make art, encouraging them, making it fun. The down side is a lot of hard work but I don't mind it, it makes me feel good to leave the Fire at night and all is well, the kilns are loaded the tables and brushes are clean and I've mopped the floor.  The best part is having people come and pick up their art and they love it and most times they say how much fun they had and how relaxing it was and how much they connected with friends and family.  

Starting my business was a bit scary, but I've had the best friends helping me with ideas, planning, etc. My friends Brad and Nicole Knapp have been instrumental in me branching out, Thanks you guys! A whole host of other people helped too! I don't know how some people try to start their own business alone. What started out as a fun idea is turning out quite well. The idea came after getting a few emails from attorneys warning me if I didn't quit using other people's art I would get sued.  So I thought, I know someone who makes the cutest art and we could make really cute things (enter Emily Reetz).  I now have 5 shops that carry Blue Moon pendants and I sell a lot at The Fire.  I had to put my sewing of owls on the back burner.  I was working a bit too hard between sewing and glass. 

The best part of having my own business is I got an iTouch, he he. I love it! I'm a techo nerd/destroyer I love being connected with all my friends in CA. I love playing WORDS, downloading apps that the kids play.

Isabel is going to be 12 next week! Wow, she has grown up so much. Sam is 10 and is about 3 inches taller than her and wears shoes as big as Mike.  Sam got a new bike this last weekend and it's our goal for the summer to take long bike rides in the country (well, it's my goal).

 We are all looking forward to a trip to CA in early June for a wedding of one of our dearest friends! I think about it most days, Mike may have to leave me there and just come and visit me!

We still haven't found a church, last weekend we went to one that was very similar to CBC, Isabel felt very much at home.  We will probably go back for her, Sam fell asleep.

I'm attaching a few pictures to give you a slice of life. Oh yeah, it's suppose to snow tomorrow :(.

In the mood

Yesterday was Christmasy...it started with obligations at school and then moved on into a great adventure.  I have heard for a while about a Hughes Homemade Chocolate Shop in Oshkosh, WI for a few years. It's in a residential neighborhood in the basement of a house. My family and my friend Audra and her daughter Anneka went for a drive to Oshkosh it's really like stepping back in time, it was almost dark and very cold but we found the house.  They shuffled us to the side door to go down to the basement to this tiny cramped basement with a huge furnace and vents all over the place and a little counter with tons of boxes of chocolate.  We bought our chocolate not knowing what it tastes like but judging by the long line of people and the cars coming and going, it must be good.

We were not disappointed, I think my favorites are peanut clusters and toffee..yum.

We headed to a park in Oshkosh that hosts a drive thru light show. The drive was about a mile long and included live reindeer.  Oshkosh is a funny town, kind of hip  but the majority is a throwback to years gone by.  I want to go back and spend a little more time there.

To top off the day we went to North High School's Christmas program.  I was determined to go to this.  Last year Isabel's school was invited to sing with them at the Lawrence University Chapel (beautiful old building).  I cried through the whole thing, it was so amazing.

So this year I knew I had to go, and we dragged a very tired Audra and Anneka along.  It didn't disappoint, it was so spiritual without being overt.  Sometimes I find that God speaks to me most in situations that are covert in their attempt at spiritual (ie. public school, old movies, interactions with customers at The Fire ) but again I was in tears.  I wonder why I am more apt to be aware of  God's touch in a production like that; and then I judge a religious organizations flat out (most of the time) boring attempt of telling of a story.  I almost feel like I'm a part of something secret that everyone knows about but won't say.  It's a magical feeling.

Anyways, I know God knew what was going on and I'm sure He was pretty darn proud.  Not to mention the kids were talented and I'll leave the intentions of everyones heart in God's hands.  It was brilliant!

The rest of the season will be easy.

Small Business Owner

Wow! December can really be a challenge, the good thing is; new opportunities reveal themselves all the time.  I have three craft/home shows in the next few days, I started a business account, got a seller's permit, make things like a fiend and totally neglect my duties as a house cleaner and cook and nurturer.  It's only for a season so I don't take it to heart.

It is time to take another big step with my business I need a website, etsy and facebook are great for getting news out to my closest buddies, but it's time for the world to see what's goin' on in a basement in Appleton, WI. I want to get an iPhone and use this new gadget that I saw online this morning created by the guy who started Twitter, it is a credit card scanner you plug into your iPhone and it sends receipts to the customers email..I LOVE IT!  Only one problem no iPhone.  Oh well, who knows what lies ahead!

Dungeons and Dragons...cont'd

Saturday after Thanksgiving, tons of boxes in the living room.  I think I am actually doing all the decorating the rest of the time I'm trying to get the other 3 sloths in the house to at least look a bit interested.  Sam actually opened the boxes last night and pulled almost everything out and 'decorated'. I was tempted to leave it the way he did it..Nutcrackers everywhere in no certain order, stockings hung, and the musical snowmen that sing and play the piano with the batteries inserted playing loud.  It was perfect for him, those are the things he loves.  There was not a nativity in sight - I'm getting worried about my kids.

For those of you who were wondering.. Mike and I decided to let Sam play Dungeons and Dragons, he made his character on Friday and is very excited.  Today he rode his scooter over to his uncle's house to play his first day of the game.  I told him he couldn't tell the kids at school that he was playing for fear their parents wouldn't let Sam play with them anymore.  Oh brother, what a drama.  Uncle Erik promised it would be as brainy and non-nerd creating as possible. 

Tomorrow we will clean it out of him and make him go to church and stay a really long time.  If it were only that easy to insert your idea of God in your children or anyone for that matter, I know how much I love God and understand that way he works in my life.  So hard to show someone else, I think sometimes you just need to shut-up.

This is what Sam said to me a few months back..."Mom, you have really messed me up about God"  So, I've decided to take a different tactic...that of praying for him.

Ok God it's up to you...I give!