And after a long delay...

Glad to be back to my blog. The shop has continued to change and grow through the year, bringing in a little more garden and floral...redesigning some of the shop areas.  Jewelry has sold so well, I have expanded the jewelry display area. Between the specialty line of necklaces and earrings from the Czech Republic, to the glitz and bling from my new vendor, there is a lot to choose from, and the prices are right. Hope you will stop in and enjoy!

The Excitement

      We are all still in the 'bustling about' stage of Christmas, lots of last minute shopping going on.  We are so pleased to be able to send our customers out with their gifts in lovely decorated gift bags.  Women sigh with relief at not having to buy wrapping and trimmings, do the wrapping and trimming, while moving onto the cooking, cleaning and last minute errands.  Can't help but smile at the men's reactions to the pretty done-up gift bags...a mixture of relief and this knowing 'She' is going to be impressed with the gift and the gift bag!
     And right around the corner is the time when the bustling is done.  Done.  No more time or energy to do whatever else is left on the ubiquitous list...
     The Peace of Christmas does settle in at last. The reason we do all that we do comes into focus.  Now its time to stop, look around and drink it in, breathe.
     Breathe. And be thankful.

Walking, not running, behind!

Like almost everyone else, the to-do list is growing.  Having won some hard-earned ground in actually slowing down, I am resisting the 'hit the ground running' temptation.  There are right now about 6 boxes calling out to me to be opened, priced and displayed....and this is a gift shop so that's what we do!

But I played with my grandchildren today... and if I sell a little bit less because I am one day late putting all this delightful inventory out...so be it.  Those little faces and hearts full of enthusiasm will remain in my soul long after the cool stuff is sold, a day late... but really, right on time.

Thanks giving. Joy giving.

Not intended to be the feast of the Starting Gate...all of us chomping at the bit for the opening of Let the Games Begin!  Rather, let any of us who can, just take a step back - just for the one day, at least.  Lets give ourselves the gift of a good 'pause'.  Bask in the joy of having family; if not family, some good friends...and remember to look beyond these blessings to Him, and give thanks. 

Tis the Season...

As a shop owner, I have never been ready - the way I hope to be ready - for The Christmas Shopping Season.  Since I just LOVE Christmas, I do keep it more on the fun side than the anxiety-ridden side of things.  This means I have to let some things slide.

'Erring' on the side of keeping family first, people first, things-of-the-soul first.  My mom (how I miss her...) always told me that nobody has it all or does it all...unless something is out of balance in their lives.  I am a bit older, I hope wiser, and I do affirm her truth. 

So I may not have covered all the bases in the THINGS we would love to have on the shelves in the shop.  But our ladies are coming in, oooo-ing and ahhhh-ing at the loveliness of the shop and the little treasures sitting on the shelves...waiting to be someone's very special gift...of course, at M Therese Gift Shop, wrapped so prettily in one of our signature gift bags - ready for the giving.

Seasons

Tolkien had names for more seasons than our usual four.  And doesn't it seem like different climates and societies deserve their own seasons reflecting that?  Maybe some do. 

While home with younger children (that are now grown and some of them home with their younger children) we would make up our own seasons. This transitioning time between the last of the leaves falling and the first snow that doesn't really seem like Autumn or Winter. We'd change our season's name at will.  And even though there are no little ones at home, I am still making up my own seasons!

This year, it seems to me to be a "Settling."  Cool enough to enjoy lighting a candle and having a hot cup of tea. Time to turn out the potted plants and set pumpkins and mums on the porch again.

 Around our part of the country we all know the snow soon will fall, the cold winds will blow and we'll be bundling up before venturing outside, some of us for the daily trip out to the wood pile.  Almost all of the trees are bare now...getting ready for their Winter rest.  This in-between season we are savoring - knowing the winter chill will be upon us.

Maybe I should rename it again - the "Savoring!"

Up North

I thought this would be all about my shop because I have so much to chat about the goings on here.  And I will.  However, after my weekend, I have to blog on in a different vein...

You have to live in Wisconsin to understand 'Up North'...its all relative.  If you drive up from Chicago, once you are just a bit past Milwaukee, you start to feel 'Up North'.  If you live in Milwaukee, you will probably be driving close to the Dells before you get that feeling.  Being settled in Beaver Dam many years now, its not until I'm a tad past Steven's Point - the air is clearer, the trees change - there are more pine and beech, less maple and oak.

Maybe its being just the necessary distance away from life's details...wherever those details reside.  We ended up in Boulder Junction.  One of the quieter burgs up there...one of the prettiest. Can't help but smile.

Next time, Jennifer