Wordless Wednesday - Christmas 2021

 

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

Motivational Monday - Size Doesn't Matter

 O.k. now that I have your attention...ahahha

One of the lovely things of being a 55 year old woman, is all the perks that come with this stage of life, NOT!   Like waking up at 3:30 am nightly...laying there....

So this morning at 3:30 am, on my return from the bathroom (that's another perk), I lay down on the couch.  My mind was restless thinking on ALL THE things that I need to do.  I was thinking about what I could post for a Motivational Monday.  If you were to see my living room, tubs of decorations to put on a tree not yet cut or up, furniture pushed to the side to make room, extra things to hide, empty boxes waiting to be filled with what is currently in and on the furniture...."who are you kidding, Dicky Bird!  Where is your motivation?" I am not qualified to motivate anyone to do anything, including myself.  So, if you are looking for one of those types of posts, you better stop reading.  My motivational posts are more like trying to "inspire."  

I then thought about my kitchen.  I was cooking and baking this weekend and looked at my tiny space.

It's very small....but, I've enjoyed cooking some hearty, tasty things in my little corner.  I come from a long line of women who have fed generations of family and prepared them in spaces no bigger than their arm's length.

I've taken hundreds of blog photos here.  I shared a photo of an apple coffee cake I made this weekend on Instagram.  A friend posted "I feel so inadequate."  I said something like, "NO, don't say that!  Social media makes us all feel that way!"  It's true, it does!  My intention was not to have her feel that way, I was just sharing my cake.  As I can't take responsiblity for her feeling her own feels...I can tell her, I've been there too!

In perusing social media, I see all the beautiful kitchens.  I'm sure those influencers don't want followers to feel inadequate either.  However, my old farmhouse kitchen is filled with antique cupboards, filled with antique and vintage treasures, doors and windows.  The little corner I create in, is small and it doesn't matter.  I make it work.  Honestly, you don't need a big kitchen if you can actually cook...ahahha...stop it Dicky Bird!  My kitchen is "working class" and some of those others, well, maybe for show....

So, let's motivate ourselves to think about what we can do, with what we have, rather than focus on what we don't or can't.  We will find more joy that way!  Let's remind ourselves, "size doesn't matter if you know what to do with it" - stop!  You may not know this about me, as a Christian woman, I tend to have a saucy sense of humor, but that's what makes me loveable.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Farmhouse Friday - December 10

Happy Farmhouse Friday!

Where did the week go?  I didn't get too much done at my farmhouse this week.  I did have a minor Mohs surgery for some skin cancer.  In the past 14 months, I've had 2 Mohs surgical procedures.  A chunk of my ear and now by cheek.  I would highly encourage you to wear your sunscreen!  This one wansn't as painful as my ear....that was awful.  

I met with my Wizard of Oz client and returned unsold items to her before they leave for Florida.  She was very pleased with what sold and would like me to sell more items when they return in May.  It was a niche' market, but we did sell some! 

I started back with my 12 Days of Christmas for my followers on facebook.  I also, do this for my daughters.  Anna took her gifts home Monday when she left here.  I was thinking it was going to be hard for her to wait till Monday when the 12 days start...ahahah....I guess only 1 was opened.   Her boss asked her about the 12 Days of gifts this year, I guess it's a hit!  

This is the road to Justine's house.  I was happy I felt good enough to have my "Lauren Day," Grandma Faye switched days with me.  She loves cheese and I brought a spreadable cheese and crackers for our snack.  As I made a cracker and cheese for her I said "it may be a bit sharp for you" just as she was about to take a bite.  She looked at it...hmmm...."no I don't want it" and then it hit me "sharp has other meanings."  "No, it's not sharp as in glass, it's sharp like tangy, try it...." she takes a bite and says "yum, that's not too sharp for me!"  She is always giving me things to laugh about!  I don't care....but, she says...."you don't care your chubby, right?" I almost peed......"no, Gramma Bird likes herself, chubby and all"...."ya, you're a cute chubby" - stop, I can't even!  Being with her is the highlight of my week!

Weather forcast has our getting 6-12" of snow this afternoon through Saturday.  I have an appointment at 10, glad it's early.  Maybe I'll come home and do some Christmas decorating.  Have a great Friday!  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

 

Motivational Monday/Tuesday - I'm not Pefect

 I wanted to share this post last week, but I forgot on Monday.  So, I waited until this week...oops...but, it is so much more fitting today.  I had something happen last week that makes this post even more meaningful to me. 

Every Sunday, at our church, someone will have a Bible reading and little message.  The inspiration for this post came from one my nephew, Josh, did.  The quote that stuck with me was "connection over perfection."  My mind went right to my business.  

As a self-employed woman, entrepreneur if you will, I have literally stuggled to be seen on any social media platform.  Sad thing is, I try REALLY, really hard too!  I will admit, I am a bit OCD with counting and numbers, so this probably bothers me more than some of you.  I've even had people try to shame me into thinking I was too obsessed with the numbers.  That may be true.  Also, I have been doing so many things over the past 30 some years, and no one knows about it.  I try to and have made great strides in not letting it bother me as much, but .... I'm human.  

For the past few years, I've had some fun on my business facebook page by hosting 12 Days of Christmas.  I find 12 little things that I feel my followers would like and offer them as a giveaway.  That word...giveaway...I can NOT say it anymore on social media.  I'm even afraid that I mentioned it on here.  Sharing that word on Instagram as an instastory with mention of my business name, got my page hacked!  It was awful!  All I kept thinking was, "why me, I don't even have that many LIKES on my page, pick someone bigger."  I struggle with navigating my way through all of the ins and outs of posting as it is, then to get hacked!  Facebook was NO help in resolving this issue either!  Google did delte the 2 tinyurl links that were part of the hacking.  I'm thankful for the support of my customers, by telling and helping me.  "Connection over Perfection!"  This experience motivated me to be more aware of cyber security and truly appreciate all those who do follow and LIKE my page!  I actually know most of them!  

So, how is this motivating to you?  Well, first, no one is perfect!  So, if you're waiting for that, stop.  Second, it is more important to connect with people over having the "perfect (fill in the blank)."  Especially now, during the holidays.  Sure, I've seen some impressive posts - impressive decor - impressive baked goods - impressive outdoor experiences....but, is all that real?  Even Wonder Woman would have a hard time doing "it all!"

My motivation to you would be, stop!  Rather think about how you will connect with others.  I'm a fine one to talk, because I like all my burners going...3-4 kettles boiling at once.  So, I'm trying to motivate myself as well.  I know that blogging is fun, I don't do it for a living, so I don't "need" to do all that and keep up with new content on all my social media sites.  So, I want to work smarter not harder and focus on connecting with my followers.  "Connection over perfection" is what grows a business and that's the truth, I know that!

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Shop Small Saturday - Town Hall Trinkets, LLC

Today is Shop Small Saturday and I thought I would share a bit about myself and my business for new and old followers.

I grew up in a family of "pickers" and have very early memories of digging in old houses and such.  This has always been something that was part of my life.  

However, a whole new oportunity opened up to me when I started working with Kathy Marquardt.  Her husband was an auctioneer.  When she learned that I was into "picking" she asked if I wanted to work their sales on the weekends - yes please!  I met others in the "business" and soon was buying out estates as well.  

We bought our farm in 1994.  In 1995 I hosted my first "barn" sale.  Let me tell you, it wasn't a "thing" back then.  Nor, did we have social media to document all the cool things we did.  My friend Lisa had a barn too and we did a sale at her place and mine.  When we first did this, we heard "ewww, you're having a sale in the barn?!?"  Yes...the barn....we would say, "not by the animals, it's clean."  We did the fall one (now Ringle Harvest Day) here at our farm and the Christmas one at Lisa's.  

Al stick built me a 16' x 60' building that is my shop/studio/storage.  I hosted a monthly themed sale here for several years.  I did stop doing that, due to my daughter's and parent's health issues, they needed me more.  So much has happened since that time.  I've changed, evolved, reinvented myself, started blogging, gave in to getting facebook, stared several side hussles, went to auctioneering school - it's been a crazy ride.  

Fast forward to today....I often think people know this stuff about me, but I recently realized that fewer people know it than I thought...that is why I'm writing this post.  

Welcome to my page (whatever one connected you here)!  I appreciate your following along.  My name is Jacky Luetschwager aka Dicky Bird (my nick name since birth).  I am 55 and I've been married to Al since 1988.  We have 2 daughters, Justine (Josh) and Anna (Jon) and 1 granddaughter, Lauren.   This is my blog, Dicky Bird's Nest, where I share little things about my life.  My business name is Town Hall Trinkets, LLC (Town Hall Trinkets, LLC)  I do estate consulting, conduct estate sales and sell in a group that is part of my facebook page (Town Hall Trinkets Online Estate Sales).  I also started and still organize our annual community event (Ringle Harvest Day).  I host other "pop up" events (It's All a Rave, Vintage Pop Up Sales).  I teach classes on a wide range of subjects on (The Hobby Farm).  Yes, I know, no one told me when I started on social media that you should only have one page....but, all of the different areas of what I do make sense to me.  Feel free to LIKE and follow along.

I was thinking the other day how much I love doing this, but I have to "clip my wings" and maybe just "scratch" around here at my own farm instead of trying to "fly the coop" and "roost" at all the other events around the state....this bird is feeling old....Oh, I forgot, I'm also a chicken lady....

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

From the Mouth of

 I still enjoy being a general leader of Popplewood 4H group even though my children are grown and gone.  This week at our meeting for the attendance roll call, each member was to answer with something they were thankful for.  I was so blessed to hear each of their answers.

What touched me to tears, because it is a part of my life now, was the adopted member's answers.  From those, all of them, their answer was: "home, family, pets" and it just hit me that even the simplest; and I don't even want to use that word, even basic needs, doesn't fit for the impact these words had on those particular children.  I was thinking of their lives before. 

When, the club secretary posed that question, I was thinking of what my answer would be....I'm too ashamed to say now.....I am thankful for what it was I was thinking, but I'm even more thankful for "home, family, pets" and that I was reminded of that by from the mouth of....

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

 

Motivational Monday - aMUSEment

 I am doing a little play on the word; aMUSEment.  First, I need amusement and fun to keep me motivated.  Second, muse - I am so inspired with the creative staging, reels, stories of creative influencers that I came up with some "fun" last week to motivate me.

I procrastinated, yet again, my getting ready for the anique show.  I have plenty of inventory, however, I didn't really get started with the old stuff until Monday.  I know, I know, I'm such a motivational faker at times.  I can do "this" for others, as a job, but I'm the toughest client I know....ahahah

Each day I tried to do several stores on my instagram page that I shared to facebook.  The little groupings, thinking about how to stage them and the funnies I would post about them, really inspired me to "dig" and think about what I wanted to bring.  That "fun" motivated me to keep working - I did nonstop all week, right up until I left to the show to set up.  Here are a few of the little things I did; 

I added little songs, funny things I thought up and I made sure to stage my business card in some of them.

The whole time, and it does take time to do this, that I was thinking up these little "stories" for advertising purposes, I was telling myself, "you shouldn't even waste your time doing this, just keep marking, no one sees your posts anyway."  You know all the things a person could say to unmotivate themselves.

Well, I have to tell you that - now you all know I have a saying..."there's fine line in sayin' and braggin'"  I don't like to even share things like I am about to say, because it sounds like braggin' - it is NOT my intention.  My intention here is to motivate you to not listen to the negative thoughts, let fun motivate you, keep doing and plugging away at what you do, try something new, be inspired by other creative people, infuluencers, if you will.  So, before the show even began, I had a few dealers come to me and say "wow, Jacky, you did a great job promoting your items for this sale, thanks for sharing all that."  Then, when the doors opened, I was hit with customers who were going from one table to the next, grabbing things and I said something like "oh, that is a"...then I heard it...."I know, I saw your stories and came just for these things."  Even the not antique little things we set up "DIY-Semi-Vintage" was a hit!  We sold alot of that and I did say, "those aren't antiques, the are just for fun."  EVERYONE said, "oh, I know they aren't, I just wanted them for....."   So, thanks everyone for the support.

If you are unmotivated to do something you "have" to, think of a way of making it fun.  It really helped me and it was also profitable, as I sold 90% of what was in those little "stories."  Now, if I could just find a fun way to stick to my Noom...ahaha.

Blessing from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Tempting Offer

 I received a tempting "job" offer this week.  It would be quite the gig had I been a little closer to retirement.  I would really like to do something like it one day, but not today.  When I told my girls about it, Anna said, "I want that gig!"  

I see my longevity, physically doing what I do, ending sooner than I would like.  I could always be like my mentor, Kathy, and hire someone like me as my "legs."  However, truthfully, I don't see doing what I do, being a viable job.  Any and everyone is picking, staging, selling and to a greater audience, than what was available when I began.  I'm truthfully, an old dog and I like the tricks I know.   I saw a very good TikTok that I did share with my great-niece, because she "gets me" and my "plight" in the business.  I so wanted to share it, but I thought it best not to.  I'll just know it's true of me and be happy with that.  See, 7's can do that too...ahahah....wait, I still had to share that I knew something that I wanted to share....help!

Back to the offer, the reason for this post.  I did use my quote, "just because people find you accessible, doesn't mean you have to be accessible" even as flattering as the offer was.  I need to keep plugging away at Town Hall Trinkets, LLC which is my first choice for a "job."  

This upcoming weekend, November 13 & 14, is the Wausau "Park" Antique Show.  Lisa and I have about 2 days available before Thursday to work together to get it all done.  

Have a great weekend!

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Farmhouse Friday - Early November

I've been in my kitchen most of the week.  When I've not been here, I've been outside.  I am working on some recipes to share.  I don't know why I've never thought of flavored biscuits before.  Where have these been all my life?  

                                               (Gingerbread Biscuits)

                                     (Apple Cider and Squash Biscuits)

I was talking to Anna on the phone and said "we don't buy bread, that way, we won't eat it" and she quickly said "ummm, haven't you been making biscuits all week?"  Touche' my child, touche'!  

I also taught a "painting with wool" class at UWSP Marathon County campus.  I love when students are excited about their projects and needle felting.

This was my sample.

Here is a sample of some of their projects.

The rest of the week, I was taking advantage of the weather and working outside.  Look who came to visit....

This is a zoomed in picture that I sent to Al at work.  Hope he sticks around until opening day.  

I started cleaning out my greenhouse.  I have some little friends who have been eating my sunflower heads....ugh!  I also found some little friends stuck in a spider web and the swallow tail didn't make it out.  I will remember them in a still life.

I had this ivy in a hanging basket, it's still living through a few frosts, so I potted it up to bring in the house.  I used stems/stalks from the sunflowers for the sticks to hold it up. 

This weekend will be busy.  Jon and Anna are coming up because it's Lauren's dedication at their church.  It is also Justine's 30th and Al's 55th birthdays.  I can't believe I became a mom 30 years ago!  My girls may differ in opinion, but I think it is the one thing I did the best job on.  I really threw myself into every aspect of it, involved in all the ways I could and I enjoyed every minute of it.  

I am enjoying my time with Lauren now too.  She is 4 and she is so interested in creating things and cooking.  I took a few samples of my biscuits yesterday.  We did a little walk and pretended like we were lost so we dropped little pieces of biscuit for a trail.  She said "I think I will just eat mine and Gramma Bird, you can drop pieces of yours.....ahahha!"  Then she says, "you make the best biscuits ever" - oh, I know, she doesn't know Red Lobster biscuits yet, but, I'll take the compliment!  One more little thing about her, she is such an encourager.  On our walk, there is a huge rock that she likes to climb.  I am not physically able to, or so I thought.  She says "the more you try the more better you'll get good at it" (LOVE) so, I made myself do it.  Oh she cheered!  

O.k, now I have to clean my house....

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.