Organic Advertising

Good morning.  I just wanted to update my followers about my "Not So Scary" Pop Up sale.  First, thank goodness the "not so scary" critters stayed in whatever box out there they have made homes in...lol  No customer was scared by them.  

This whole sale, for me, was a test in organic advertising.  When I first started my business out here and had my shop open, I would spend hundreds of dollars on advertising.  The Ringle Harvest Day our 4-H organizes, spends on average $1,500 on advertising.  

An older mentor of mine, told me that "it doesn't cost to advertise it pays to advertise."  A piece of advice that I know to be true.  Now 20 years later, the way you advertise is different.  

I can tell you, that social media is the KEY to reaching new customers and increasing your sales!   In 3 hours, I had like over 100 customers I was really busy.  In fact, my older neighbor, called me and said, "Jacky, is everything o.k. down by you?  I've not seen this many cars on our road at one time ever!"  I told him I was having a "pole building" sale.  He just laughed.  

This morning I wake, rested, relieved and blessed.  I now have a plan to work on getting rid of what is left.  Some will end up in one of my booths, some will end up in the burn pile and others will make their way to a Goodwill soon.   We have snow in the forecast for Friday - the trailers can make it in the building now.  

Keeping busy, working hard has revived creative inspiration in "what I do..."  

Blessings from Ringle, Wiscsonsin.  

Motivational Monday - Cleaning Up My Hoarded Mess

Remember this picture?   When I talked about having a pole building sale?  Well, that is what I have been busy working on.  

Honestly, I posted a date on my business FB page that said on Tuesday, October 28 I would have a sale from 6-9 p.m.  I did that when my building still looked like that.

I did this on purpose to hold myself accountable to making me work on that mess.  I knew I wouldn't get it all ready - as it took YEARS to get like this.  I was overwhelmed with "where do I start?"

I just started in the corner, behind the door and just did it.  I set a goal of "to the second window" and put up a make shift wall to block the back portion.  I have to tell you, I am pleased with the amount I have accomplished. 

I know that I could sell these items at one of my three antique booths - however, I need to make room!  I have had to turn down an exceptional estate buyout, due to lack of room.  I plan to mark these items so that a picker or dealer can still make some profit on them.   What doesn't sell, I will clean up and mark for one of booths.  The rest will make it to the burn pile or Goodwill - I do not want to rebox what I have already gone through.    

Truthfully, to make room for this sale we did fill both the horse trailer and cargo trailer with boxes of smalls....I have no idea what all is in them.  I wanted to get to some of these boxes for this sale, but I am running out of time.  At least the trailers will now fit in the pole building for the winter.

I have NOT wanted to deal with this mess for years.  I LOVE buying and I am lucky to have such a nice building to store items in.  I need to make this space work FOR me not AGAINST me.   

I know many of my Motivational Monday posts are about making me do things I don't want to do.  Maybe I am the only one...but, once I just start, the momentum takes over and "it" motivates me to push on.  

If you have something you have been procreating, just get started.  No progress will be made just thinking about it.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

Motivational Monday - Facebook in Heaven

The other morning, I was sitting at the kitchen table and this thought came to me.....

I wish there was facebook in heaven.  Wouldn't it be nice to read a status from a loved one?   

I posted it as my status.  I thought about this all day.  Truthfully, it brought me to tears several times.  Not tears of sorrow, because I missed my loved ones; rather tears of joy, thinking of what their status' would say.  

"Gold, streets of gold!"
"I saw the stripes - I'm healed!"
"I can walk now!"
"My cancer is gone!"
"Those voices in my head...they are gone...the Devil is defeated!"
"Yes, I did see the nail scars"
"I went trout fishing with Jesus"
"Grandpa and Grandma say 'Hi'"
"I play the banjo in His heavenly band"
"I have a front row seat to your trial....hang on, I can see where He is going with this..."

These and many more, where the status' I was imagining.  This really encouraged me, comforted me and blessed me.  

I don't want to get all philosophical here, let the status' speak for themselves.  So, for this Motivational Monday, encourage yourself in thinking on what your loved one's status would say. 

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin. 

Squirrelly Behavior

I don't know if squirrelly is a word...but, this squirrel was squirrelly...

Yesterday, I went to New London, WI to restock my booth.  When I pulled to the curb, I noticed this squirrel with something silver in his hands.  What did he have?

I tried to get a bit closer....

Whatever it was - he was loving it....

It was a granola bar - I'm sure he thought "I hit the jackpot here..."  It was funny watching him try to figure out how to carry that bar and climb the tree to get away from me.   I decided to leave him alone to eat his granola bar in peace.

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Popplewood 4-H 18th Annual Ringle Harvest Day - Another Year In The Books

What a beautiful day we had!  Awesome weather, junk, art and customers!  Truthfully, I did my booth a bit different this year - selling "smarter, not harder."  I almost sold out!  Back to digging, cleaning and marking more items for my 3 booths.  I thought I would have stuff left and could take a few days off...but, I am happy to sell and keep working.  Thanks to those followers who came out and said "Hi."  I organize this event, so I am pulled so many ways that day....too busy to spend time with each of you....sorry, but I hope you had fun.  Here are a few pictures of my getting ready and my booth.

Now I'm getting ready for a "It's All a Rave - Vintage Pop Up" here at my farm.  I still need to get 2 trailers in my pole building for the winter.  It will be Tuesday, October 28th 6-8 p.m.  I plan to only organically advertise via social media.  So, if you want to find out more about it, go to:  https://www.facebook.com/itsapopup?ref=hl

If you LIKE the page, you will receive updated information.  I'm calling it "It's Not TOO Scary, Pop Up."   

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin. 

Linked to:  http://www.tillysnest.com/2014/10/down-home-blog-hop-number-101-mini.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TillysNest+%28Tilly%27s+Nest%29

My Front Porch

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Motivation Monday - Re-Purpose Projects

This Saturday is the 18th Annual Popplewood 4-H Ringle Harvest Day.  I have been digging, washing and marking items to take.  In the pile I have set aside was this cute crackly mint green stool.  The way it was I might have put $7.50 on it.  I tipped it over and thought how easy it would be to recover the seat.  I had a piece of fabric from the recent estate sale I went to and thought it would look nice, so I used it.  

I left it crackly - I think it turned out nice.  Now I marked it $25.

I also had this table from the estate I bought out in June.  The gentleman used it as a work shop table.  It was ugly.  I took a piece of burlap and stapled it to the top.  I didn't like the staples so I covered it with this roll of brass knobby tape thing - you nail it down - used in upholstery.  Before, I would have marked the table $15, after, because I really like it as a desk....I'm marking it $55.  

So, this Monday - for my motivation - I looked at some items I normally would have just sold cheap - and decided to re-purpose them.  Now, I am pleased with what I accomplished and if they don't sell - I won't mind, because I like them.

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Popplewood 4-H 18th Annual Ringle Harvest Day

It is that time again, Ringle Harvest Day.  Read the history here:  http://dickybirdsnest.blogspot.com/2011/09/ringle-harvest-day.html

Saturday, October 11, 2014 - 9 am - 3 pm

We will have a petting zoo, bouncy house for the kids.

Food booths - Popplewood 4-H, Ringle Fire Dept., Kettle Corn, egg rolls, french fries.

Vendors - a wide variety of vendors with everything from A-Z.  Local artist with hand made one of a kind items.  Local farmers with pumpkins, gourds, apples, honey, BBQ sauce, pickles and other canned goodies.  Antique and flea dealers with great items ranging from primitives, mid-century, fishing, tools, country, windows, doors, shutters, metal signs - too much to list...a "picker's paradise."  Metal signs, jewelry, yard decor - something for everyone.  Our daughter, Justine, will hold photos sessions $25 for 15 minutes with a cute fall vignette.

We all are praying for good weather - at this point - just no snow.....Lord...

I hope some of you come out.  If you do, I will be in the gravel parking lot across the street from the town hall in the corner by the trees....I will have all the "farm punk junk" (thank you Bo Peep for the term her husband came up with to describe this stuff).  

What is "farm punk junk" - I would consider that anything in the original rusty, crusty, galvanized "glory" - old tool boxes, saw blades, hand tools, gadgets, primitive farm tables, wood boxes, hog and chicken feeders - of course, my creepy art will look good in there too....

I have a blog for this event at:  http://ringleharvestday.blogspot.com/

and a facebook page - if you LIKE it - your name will be in the running for 2 $20 cash prizes....https://www.facebook.com/RingleHarvestDayFleaMarket?ref=hl


Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Pear Tart

Pear Tart:

Start out with a pie crust.  Here is a post with my recipe:  http://dickybirdsnest.blogspot.com/2014/09/homemaking-skills-pumpkin-pie-101.html

I poked holes and crimped the edges.  Then sliced up 2 pears and layered them on the crust.

I melted 2 T butter and drizzled over the pears.  I sprinked with several Tablespoons of sugar and grated some nutmeg on top.  Bake in hot oven 400 for 15 minutes till edges are browing - doesn't take too long because pears are very thin. 

You could use any fruit, thinly sliced.  My pie crust recipe makes 4 crusts - so, I see an apple tart in my future....

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.