Tips on Tuesday - Drying

 Tips on Tuesday - Drying 

I have always been one to gather, tie and hang all kinds of "weeds" and flowers.  When my girls were little and I started my adventure into my little cottage business, I was still living in "town."  I would load them up in their carseats and hit the country roads looking for farms and junk for sale along with interesting things in the ditches to pick and dry.  Each time, I would return to my parent's house and ask my them "what is this?"  My dad knew all kinds of things about trees, plants and flowers.   I miss all of that!  Such a blessing and fun time of my life.

So, as I look out the window and see that the snow has now covered the recently melted yard, I thought of my dried bundles and it made me smile.  If for no other reason than to lift your spirits in the middle of winter, dry something.

1.  If you see it, like it, pick it.  Make sure to shake off your bundles before you put them into your vehicle....I've brought home huge spiders.   

2.  After you bring your bundles home and you are unsure of what they are, look them up.  There are plenty of apps now for your phone that you could do "that" before you pick.   As you identify them, tie a tag on the bundle so you can identify later.

3.  It's garden planning time now, order seeds of the varieties you like.  Plan ahead for those you would like to dry.  Herbs are perfect for drying and I use them all winter.  

4.  Find a clean, well ventilated area to dry your bundles.  When you hang them, give enough space between the bundles so that they do not touch each other.  Hang them until dry.

5.  If you are doing herbs, once dried you could remove leaf from stems and place in a labled jar.  I truthfully, leave little bundles hanging in my pantry.  Do they get a bit dusty, I'm sure they do, but I still use them.  I also try to use them, before that.  I have used tissue paper to lightly wrap over top of bundle.  

I also like to use all of something, I don't like to waste things.  I also like to make something out of nothing even free.  I enjoy foraging in nature for these little gifts.  

I hope you think about some of these little tips and try your hand at drying something this year.  If you alread do this, leave a comment on what types of things you dry.  Thanks.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

Tale of 2 Ladies

Life is such a lesson.  I have always been one who will look at the events, stages, loss, love, the whole gamut, of another and glean from their experiences.  I also go through my day thinking on little inspirational blog posts to share with you my follower.

This month, my business, Town Hall Trinkets, LLC, has the pleasure of working with 2 very different ladies, at about the same stage in life, on the same path to downsizing.  I have spent several days at each home, working, sharing and listening (gleaning) from each.  

This all had my thinking about the stages it takes us to get to this stage of life.  I happen to think it is like, the 5 stages of grief/loss.  It is very true in downsizing as well.  

The 5 Stages to Downsizing.

1.  Denial - "I can still stay in my own home, I've lived here 45 years and nothing 'bad' has happened to me.  Why do I have to leave now?"

2.  Anger - "My children are upset that I have 'too much' stuff to get rid of and they are going to get a dumpster."

3.  Bargaining - "Well, if I keep this, I will rid of that" or "I think this will fit in my bathroom under the window, I have to measure it yet."  

4.  Depression - "I just can't believe I have to leave all my treasures, my yard, my neighbors" or "I cried for 2 hours after you left, I don't want to get rid of my things."

5.  Acceptance - "Well, I guess I will move to an apartment" and the best one "I know someone in the same apartment building, we go to church together, we will have fun."  

I've heard some of these and more over the past 30 years of working with people parting with their treasures.  

The tale of these two ladies is somewhere in the stages I listed above.  One is getting rid of her whole collection, while another is getting rid of other things to be able to keep her collection.   Neither is right or wrong, just showing the difference in the process.  

One is totally "hands on" with me each step of the way, talking about each piece of her collection, giving me a detail account of "it's" history.  She asked, "am I helping you?" and I said "you are, but you are really helping yourself."  I went on to tell her, that when I teach my class, "What to Keep, What to Sell and What to Donate" I share that what you are doing right here, "saying good bye" to these things, is the best thing you can do for yourself in your process of letting go."  

The other is busy washing, wrapping, packing her collection, while she lets us alone to work on the rest of what she isn't taking to her new "home."  Truthfully, I wouldn't be able to part with her collection either, she did "let go" of a few pieces.  She is a bit farther along in this process and excited to have a new "built in" space do display her colletion.  

Each of these 2 ladies are facing a new stage, they each have shared wonderful memories of their family life in their homes, their husband's good character (that was so refreshing to hear women "lift up their husbands" rather than "tear them down") and little life lessons that I will take with me.  

As I look at these 2 ladies, I am also preparing my heart for this stage of my life.  I'm a hoarder so I need a decade or two..ahahaha....to "prepare" all of that.   Anyway, I have enjoyed my time with each.  

If you would like, I will have each of these on my Town Hall Trinkets Online Estate Sales  as follows:

March 20 beginning at 9:30 am (about 115 lots)

March 27 beginning at 9:30 am (over 300 lots)

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Dream Small

 You don't often hear to dream small.  It's always "dream big" and there is nothing "wrong with having them, but don't miss the little things on your way to bigger dreams."

As I work, I usually have the radio playing in the background, not that I listen, really.  But, yesterday, there was a line in this song that interested me.  So I looked it up on Youtube, here is the link:  Dream Small - 3 Heath Brothers (Josh Wilson wrote it).  

"Dream small, don't buy the lie you've got to do it all, just let Jesus use you were you are, one day at a time.  Live well, loving God and others as yourself, find little ways where only you can help with his great love"

I don't believe in coincidences, as you know.  I do believe in little messages that are for us if we are open to receiving.  I recently had a dream about children that I have worked with in 4H and the dream showed me them as productive adults - truthfully, they all are.  I woke thinking that I, in a small way, had a role to play in their life.  Not that any accomplishment they achieved was a reflection on me.  It just had my thinking about how little thing add up.  

When I moved to the farm, I had "big dreams" of (lots of stuff truthfully).  Most of those, I was unable to achieve.  What we did accomplish here, were day by day little steps toward our goals.  These little steps, insignificant as it may seem to me/us, had an impact on others.  

Yesterday, I met a new client that I was hired to help liquidate a Micky Mouse Collection.  As we walked around her home, she showed me this cute little shelf, she said..."hey, I got that from the Ringle flea market, oh I love that one, it's my favorite."  I said, "did you know that started at my farm 25 years ago, I set up that event."  She couldn't believe it.   I could...no one knows it...and that's ok...I do.  In fact, I have found joy in it.  What kind of light would I have if it only shone on me and my accomplishments?  

And then, now this song....I'm receiving it as a message to me on multiple levels.  Don't think that the little things you do for yourself and others don't add up, they do.  Sure, "big picture" time or goals, have them!  But, build your foundation on the small things it takes to get there.  Don't miss this!  The blessing comes in the little steps. 

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Monday, March 1, 2021

 Oh I LOVE when a month starts on a Monday.  It's silly, I know, but it makes me WANT to start a new project, stick to my calendar, start something new....it's a "this is it sign."  Teehee

With the sound of the wind this morning as I lay in bed, I would say March started like a LION, however the temperatures are going to be in the 30-40's  this week!  It won't matter, lion or lamb, I still live in Wisconsin and have seen 24" of snow in 24 hours in mid April.   I wouldn't change it.  

March is National Craft Month

I noticed that many of you that I follow seem to be like busy little bees, crafting, baking, making, creating and I love reading all of your blogs.  I think maybe there is some underlaying movement in going forward .... it's been a year.... I know, I'm ready to do some of what I "use to do."  With that said, I also am ready to NOT do some of the things I "use to do too."  

I have my final 2 physical therapy sessions this week.  I'm a repeat offender as I keep "hurting" myself.  However, this time I did get some really good tips on things to do at home.   I started with chiropractic care and feel both have helped me.  I won't ever have my strong 40 year old body back, but that's o.k. my 54 year old body is wiser and knows her limits.  

I would also like to thank you for all the comments and views last month.  I had numbers like the "good ol' days."  Like I did predict in the beginning of the year, I feel people want "meat and potatoes" and not "junk food" in their social media needs.  If you don't know what this means, go back and check out this post: Cultivating at my Core - Last Word on This  

O.k. I'm ready to begin a new month!  Today, I am off to PT, Chiro, dentist .... I will be in "town" for hours.  I am packing a lunch as not to be tempted with fast food.  I am also meeting a potential new client.   They are downsizing to move to an assisted living.  She tells me they have 1000's of pieces in a Disney collection.  We will see what it is.  

Have a great Monday.  Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.