Housekeeping . . .

** updated again - the "j" is sold!! Thanks guys!

** updated - the "S" is sold! Still have a "J" - any takers!?!?!


It's 3:30 in the morning. My day has officially started. ?? Not that I intended it to - I fell asleep in a chair downstairs in the living room. I've been doing that a lot lately. Since we got rid of the tv, it is so quiet and peaceful in that room. And well, it is just easy to relax for a minute to only wake up 5 hours later! Funny thing is that Lonnie {normally} is asleep in the chair beside me! His snoring usually wakes me.

Poor thing went back to work for his old employer. So not only does he work his full-time day job, but a second, part-time job. When our insurance decided not to cover the kids speech therapy {although it is clear that they both have severe speech delays,} we both got scared as to how we were going to pay for it. Since he left his last job due to active orders, he can easily go back at the same pay rate. It really was our only option and was stupid if we didn't. Things have somewhat worked out for the speech and our therapist is actually volunteering her time! {She loves our kids THAT much?!} She works it in when she comes over for Hudson's feeding therapy. BUT we do finally have someone in our town that just started accepting our "crappy" federally funded Tricare insurance. So, somehow I'm going to see how we can adjust the schedule AGAIN to work in that 4+ hours a week since that will actually mean we have to leave the house for those appointments. And we decided that it was in the best interest of the family if Lonnie kept the second job. We need to pay off a couple of things and start saving more money. So far we have done just that! And the burden it has lifted is huge!

The kids and I will also be involved in the RIP program in our area starting next month. I'll explain later {I'm sure} about what this is if you are in the dark. But it too will take up 5 to 6+ hours a week {for the next 6 to 8 months.} This will be the first time I'm pushing something into our evening hours. BUT it's finally come down to the fact that I have NO MORE time to give during the working hours of the day. And if I wasn't so desperate, I totally would not be doing this.

I live in my van.

Saying all this, I wanted to let you guys know some things . . . .

• I will only be accepting Christmas orders through this week. THAT means that Saturday {August 22} is the last day you can place an order and expect it before Christmas. If we have already talked but you have not "officially" put in your order {probably because you are waiting on info from me?} You are safe - I've got you on the list - so no worries from you guys.
• I will NOT be creating a Halloween or Christmas piece this year. I hate that, I really do - but I'm still trying to catch up from last years orders!!!!
• Speaking of last years orders - I set a number that I would do of each of those sets. The number has been met - I will no longer take any orders for either set.
• I currently have over 70 orders. If you placed an order within the past couple of days, don't expect it a couple of days from now. I don't mean that to sound mean {I swear,} I've just been dying to say that - haha!
• I have an "S" or a "J" that are for sale . . . . $35 for each plus shipping. I made these for displays. Nothing is wrong with either. They are both wrapped and ready to go. Each is an 8x10, but the canvas is only 3/4" deep {not my usual 1 1/2".} Both are the exact same colors as the "hudson" painting that you will find a super close up of on the site under "funny bones."

I also want to ask you all to keep in mind that I'm a mom first. And although I seem to work all the time, my time constraints are different each week. And each day is a surprise as too how many hours I'll have to squeeze in for work. My kids take precedence over all business related "stuff" and I know that it is impossible to find the balance between the 2. I've tried and I've failed miserably. I'm so honored to have some exceptional people in my life that are currently trying to help me. One person in particular is catching up on all my paper work and other business related stuff. This is a legit business that pays taxes, licenses, etc and I try to keep up on copyrights and invoicing. None of that is the part I like but I have no choice in the time consuming, busy work. I've needed to give that to someone for a long time. And chances are if you have been waiting on art for a while, that stuff has been taking up more time than painting has!

I've said it before {so this is going to sound rhetorical} but I never dreamed small words would be where it is. I thought that maybe by the time Em was in school, that I might have a couple of orders a week . . . . haha! I have you all to thank. Thanks so much for the all the work you have given me, for all the people you have sent my way and just for reading my blog. As I've thought long and hard as to what to do with the business, I've been thankful for all of you out there.

and by the way - I'm out of ink in my printer. If you are waiting on a shipment it might be tomorrow before those go out! And I've got a "few" emails to answer from yesterday! It might be later today before I get to you guys!