In a funk

I have been in a crazy negative funk lately. And it's SO not my style. I'm getting overwhelmed - too much to do, too little time, too little help. I'm sure that I'll get back on top, but right now I am just not myself.

I know some people are picking up on it. Especially those close to me. But what I honestly need right now is a bit of down time. I need to be left alone for awhile. So I can get my junk in order - get stuff DONE.

I need to focus. To write a to-do list. To delegate what can be delegated.

My only problem is I hate asking for help. Especially of my family - who should be helping without being asked. (sigh). .I know this is not a new problem. It exists in every family. Still sucks.

So enough whining. I am off to finish a to-do list and try to get focused for tomorrow. I got the house back in order this afternoon, and I am very happy about that. Tomorrow it's café work. LOTS of café work. Cuz there is lots to do.

Out of BALANCE!

I will be the first to admit that my life is horribly out of balance right now...

There are multiple days a week that I am putting in 14+ hours at the café.

But it is my dream.
I am living my dream.

And while it is a lot of work, I am loving (almost) every minute of it. I get to cook for people, make them happy. I have a ridiculous circle of loyal customers - that I love dearly - and look forward to seeing every day. I am literally living my dream. Not many people can say that.

I am ridiculously Blessed.

 

But it is a lot of work. :)

And I've completely thrown my life balance out of whack, and am just now trying to make a few lists of what needs to be done to get that balance back in check. You know the saying....the first step is admitting you have a problem. ;)

In my out-of-balance existence I do miss some very important parts of my life.

• I miss reading. BC (before the café) I read multiple books a month.... and I miss taking time to read.
•  
• I miss writing, blogging.
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• I missed working in my gardens. (Hopefully they will forgive me come spring!)
•  
• I missed crafting/scrapbooking.
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• I miss my yarn

It appears that I've given up the creative side of my brain (aside from the cooking creativity I get to do now), and I think it's time I start giving it some priority. My brain needs to rest. 

So there you have it. I here vow to work harder at working less and doing a few of these things that I love so dearly.

All while living that dream. Cuz that rocks.

Such a long time~

Oh my goodness it's been a long time~ so sorry!

On May 1st, we opened the gathering place, our cafe and coffee shop, and it's doing very well. We have been SO busy! Crazy fun, lots of work, but I absolutely love being there. I love the customers. I love the cooking. I just love it. It truly is a dream come true.

The first two weeks were chaos. I was at the store 16 hours a day. I was constantly trying to catch up. But we've gotten better, I'm more prepared, and we're starting to even out. I open the cafe almost every morning at 5:30, but many days like today - I can come home around 7 for a few hours, to relax, do housework, paperwork, etc.

This morning we are burying my dad.... He died months ago, and the funeral was 2 months ago, but we were unable to bury him due to rain. So today is the day. Final closure. Weird. At 44 I have no parents. But in all honesty, with dad's dimentia, I lost both when mom died 8 years ago. He was never the same. But today it's final. And it's hard to think of.

So when I got home from the cafe this morning, I took a walk through my (albeit weedy) gardens, enjoying the flowers I've received from friends, those I got from my mom, and those we've planted in their honor. With a good cup of coffee, the birds chirping...it was a beautiful way to start the day (over!).

I've not deserted you all. I will get back to blogging. I am sad that I've not blogged these last six weeks, as it's been a crazy ride. A ride I've only just begun. Thanks for hanging with me. :)

the beginning of a new journey...

Less than one month ago, we began a new journey, putting an offer in on the local cafe. That offer was accepted, and thus began the process that lead up to today.

The last three weeks have been full of meetings, setting up accounts, trying recipes, buying furniture, working with contractors, writing menus, and trying to remember to breathe. I have never done anything like this, and have gone through so many levels of emotion. Excited, scared, anxious, and hopeful, all at the same time.

Owning a cafe/coffee shop has been a dream of mine for most of my adult life... My husband and I have talked about many times. But the time wasn't right. Until now.

So today we get the keys! In less than 2 hours I will have the keys to my next journey.

I am an emotional mixed puddle of emotions. So much to do, but so much to look forward to.

And I have to give credit to the crazy amount of support we are receiving in this adventure. I cannot believe the outreaching of best wishes and support, from family, friends, and neighbors. Everywhere we go, we are met by people who are shaking our hands, and telling us they are looking forward to the new cafe.

We have a list of people coming to help as we freshen the place up, re-doing stools, painting, renovating. We have a dozen people due a the cafe at 3 today, all willing to give their time and support.

So as I sit here, taking in this last quiet moment before we load the truck and car with our supplies to head down, I am thinking of so many things - of my mom and dad, guiding me from above, cheering me on - of the amazing community we live in that has gathered around us to help us on this journey - of the current owner and staff, so incredibly helpful - of all of the unbelievable friends that have helped us with furniture, labor, and support - and lastly, of my amazing family, as without them, I would be nothing.

So here we go! Time for a new, amazing, crazy adventure - in this journey I call my life. On May 1st, I will open the doors of the gathering place, a true dream come true. Hope you all are ready for a crazy ride!

I hope you can come join us for a cup of coffee and meal sometime!

It's time

A year ago, I was published in a magazine answering a question about fear.

In the April 2013 issue of Oprah magazine, the question posed was "What would you do if you had no fear?". And my answer:

"I would open a coffee shop in our little

town. I work part-time and on the side

I do a lot of baking and cooking for

friends. I'd create a place that's eclectic,

warm, and inviting, where I could add a

little sunshine to someone's day"

About a month after this was published, I received a message via facebook from a complete stranger:

 

"Please don't be alarmed... I'm just an Oprah 

magazine reader. I could almost feel a calm 

over me as I imagined being in your coffee shop 

that u would open if you had no fears. 

I have a strong feeling that u will be successful! Good luck!"

Needless to say, I was surprised at the message. And that message never left my heart. I wondered if God had moved her to write that to let me know not to give up. That the time hadn't come yet, but it would. 

The cafe in our town has been up for sale a few times in the 20 years I've lived here. And each time, my husband and I have the discussion, but it's never an honest discussion, it's just a "what if". For whatever reason, it never felt right. 

A few years ago, I left the business world. After almost 20 years in management, I put my family and life first, and quit. Not knowing what my future plans were, we threw caution to the wind, trusting that God would put us in the right direction. I have been substitute teaching part-time, and spending a lot of time working at our church and cooking and baking for friends. And it's been an amazing 3 years, but I've felt out of sorts these last six months. Not knowing why, I found myself short-tempered, and unsettled. 

Two weeks ago, I received a text from my husband that there was an opportunity with the local cafe again. And when I asked him if I should call, he gave me the green light. 

Fast forward to yesterday. After multiple meetings with the owner, and our financial advisor, we have an accepted offer signed for the cafe, the down payment is waiting in our bank account, a logo is in progress, and I'm working on menus. It's a crazy thing. 

For some reason, my husband and I felt different this time. The time is right. I'm ready. Ready to have something to dig into. Something to be passionate about. And we cannot be more excited. 

Sure, it's scary. Scary as heck. But we both feel this is right. 

So it is all power forward, as I work with suppliers, menus, creative artists, etc., preparing for a May 1st opening. We will have 3 days to re-decorate, and get things changed over. I won't be able to completely remodel from head to toe. That will come later. For now, it's time to update the menu a little, adding my touch, change the feel and decor of the place, and hope for the best. 

I am hoping that the gathering place will become a destination for friends and family to gather, and to linger over a wonderful meal and coffee. To share stories, laugh, and love life. 

So welcome to the gathering place, to my kitchen, and my heart! 

https://www.facebook.com/thegatheringplacepittsvillewi

taking another step...

Tonight I am taking yet another step in my new journey. Soon, very soon, I will be able to let everyone know. But for now, I simply thank you.

thank you for the kind thoughts
 the support
  the prayers

Without the amazing people I am surrounded with in this life, I would not be who I am today.

My small town life.

People often ask me about living in a town of 800 people, in the center of a rural area. And honestly, having lived in towns from 15,000 to 400,000, I will say at first I didn't think I'd like it. And I continued to commute to a job in a larger town, where I spent much of my free time, for over 15 years. I didn't embrace the small town life at all.

shame on me

Over the last three years, spending the majority of my days and nights in this beautiful little town, I've more than embraced life in a small town.

i love it

Yesterday afternoon my husband and I took a long afternoon walk, noting the spring thaw, the flowers coming up, and progress in our little town of that post-winter wake-up that occurs every spring. The snow thawing, water running, grass beginning to turn green... it's a beautiful rebirth.

I had errands to run today, the first day of spring break at school, and decided to take advantage of the 50 degree weather and head out on foot to take care of my business. All totalled I was only gone for 40 minutes. In that 40 minutes, I returned a book to the library, bought stamps at the post office, picked up the week's groceries at the mercantile, bought my peat pellets to start my seedlings from the hardware store, and met and chatted with the new neighbor who just moved in a couple of houses down.

40 minutes

all on foot (love the health benefit of that)

saving on my carbon footprint, chatting with friends, neighbors, and towns people, and doing my heart good with the walk and fresh air

I couldn't do this when I lived in a metro area. Honestly from where my apartment was, there wasn't ANYTHING I could safely walk to.

So I love love love my life in this small town. I love the people, the friendships, walking everywhere, and feeling like I am living amongst a family of 800 people.