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.  

 

Another Little Gem

As I said in a previous post, I really came up with some good quotes about myself recently.  I quickly wrote them down because sometimes the things you say first, fastest is often the most honest and true.  With that, I share this today:

 "It's not a loss, it's a lesson"

That was said about pretty much everything I tried with my greenhouse "experiments" and some of my gardening.  However, I find myself quoting that to me about other things as well.  It is true, life hands us lessons every day.  Some we excel at and others, well, not so much.  But, don't let that get you down about it, look at the loss/fail as a lesson.  "Well, I know not to do that again."  Or, ever the optimist that I am, switch it in your mind.  "Well, next time I will try it this way."  

Honestly, I don't know why some of my favorite people get "stuck" in the loss.  Live with the regret of the loss.  Trust you me, if I dwelt on all that, all my losses, I wouldn't leave my recliner.  Oh, I have been there, I sometimes want to revisit, but I know that loss....and I make myself get up....those losses made lessons.  I guess I share these things in blog posts, my words, as a way to try and help others.  

So, the next time you feel you have "failed" at something, take the lesson from the experience and gain from it.  I know, I am a 7 Enneagram and we are masters at this....."giving everything a positive spin"

And, alot of what is said about 7 above is so true of me.  I will digress to a previous quote I said in an earlier post this week:  "My life is one uncompleted project" and "it's in the Master's hands."  Fight on my friends, we have many lessons to learn.

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Harvesting Herbs

 Well, that was a wonderful growing season.  I did my best to "cultivate" my harvest, including these herbs.  

Did you know, herbs will keep in a glass of water in your refrigerator or salad crisp drawer for weeks.  I did this last year and had herbs until well after Thanksgiving.  I used my sage for the turkey and other herbs for the dressing.  So, I did this again this year.

Preparing herbs is so much easier when you use scissors.  I washed and cut off the woody stems.  

I had a really good onion harvest too, only the little ones are very "spicy/sharp/onionie" and would add great flavor to stock.  So I decided to make bone broth bags of herbs and onions for the freezer.  I do make bone broth often and now I will have these to toss in for flavor.  

When I started I knew I wanted to make some herb butter.  Super easy to make and you could do so many different flavors.  I know adding to steaks is a favorite, but even baked potato, chicken breasts, warm bread, popcorn, pasta, it just makes whatever you use it on "special."

I used the sciccors to cut up the herbs into tiny pieces and I added it to the soft butter and mixed it up.  There is no doing it wrong, really, you can't go wrong with butter and herbs. 

                                       

Roll it between and in parchment paper.  I added some parsley leaves for decoration.

Put the butter in a cold safe container and into the freezer.  You can cut off small sections when you want too.  

I hope you give some of these ideas a try.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

I Do Declare

 I mentioned in yesterday's post that last week I was really "clicking" with the flippant quotes.   I've started writing these down for various uses (wink, wink).  Today's share is this:

"I'm not going to make my life more difficult, just because you made yours."  

Now, I honestly, don't remember, you can even ask Al, because I asked him this morning, why did I say this?  What was it about? Oh, don't get me wrong, I have a plethora of examples from the past week....ahahaha.  I don't mind "helping" people, that's what I do.  What I do mind is an urgent cry for help, expecting me to jump up and do something.  I use to, do this, as a people pleaser.  However, I'm trying not to and this quote helps.  I remember saying it, writing it down and thinking....YES, I do declare, this is my new battle cry.  

I've actually been letting "things" marinate before I take an action.  Just because people find me accessible doesn't mean I need to be so accessible.  Ahaha that's a new quote.  I wrote it down.

I don't know if you, my reader, gained anything from this post other than Dicky Bird is getting snarky in her old age.   Please...birds don't snark they poop on you....just be happy I don't do that!  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Squash Corn Cakes

 Squash corn cakes, I made this recipe up myself.  I need to use up some self rising flour, but probably could replace with any flour and add baking powder.  

1/4 C cornmeal

1/4 C self rising flour 

1/4 C squash puree

1 egg

1 T raw honey

1/4 C 1% milk (could use skim)

1 t cinnamon.  

The squash puree is really easy to make.  Cut your squash in half or at least uniform sizes, turn upsidedown on a pan, roast @350  until fork tender (45 min.).  Let cool, scoop out, puree.  This is unseasoned so could use in savory or sweet recipes.

Mix all ingredients together and pour into a prepared pan.  I didn't use oil, rather just cooking spray.  Yielded 8 cakes all for 306 calories/39 per cake.  

I really enjoyed these!  I hope you give them a try.

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Motivational Monday - The Trifecta

 Good Motivational Monday Morning.  I am so excited - today, for me, is a trifecta!  It's a new month, the 1st day of the month and it falls on a Monday.  Oh boy, nothing makes me want to start something new, start over, set a plan, make a list, check things off, than that.  It just "hits" my numbers OCD jackpot!  

Seriously, I told one of my friends Saturday "I'm so excited for Monday, it's my trifecta."  Teehee, o.k., so now, what am I going to do with it?  I feel so unprepared....story of my life....

I have to first say, that last week, I came up with some awesome quotes, 5 in fact.  I plan to do blog posts about them.  So, here we go with one of them.  

It was in reference to an appointment I had with a potential client.  She had me over to look at items she wanted to sell.  She gave me a tour of their newly built retirement home and it was amazing.  She is an avid quilter and crafter and her room was a dream!  She said something very close to this to me, "now that I'm not working, I spend my days quilting."  I asked her if I could take some pictures to share with my friend Renee, who is also a quilter.  When I left the appointment, I sent Renee some photos and repeated the client's quote.  Renee said something like, "and I have projects I started years ago I haven't finished."  And there you have it....the point in which I said..."Well, my life is one huge, 'uncompleted' project" (I know uncomplete is really incomplete, but it I didn't say it that way)

(Just look at how organized the fabric is!)  

So, as quickly as I said that to Renee, I also added - "well actually, all of our life's are an incomplete project and in the master's hands.  It just seems other's are better at the complete part than me."  So, with that quote and statement in mind, I motivate myself to move forward, this trifecta of a Monday.  

Yes, almost everything I start, I struggle to complete.  I have no idea why.  I enjoy dreaming, planning, getting started, and working on the project and or process, it's just I fall short with the ending.  Maybe that's it, I don't want the fun to end.  That can't be it, as the incomplete causes anxiety at 3 am.  Maybe I have too many projects going.  That is probably part of it.  It doesn't even matter the "why" I just need to worry about the "do" part of it.  

I won't tell you what is on my list, as I've made that mistake before.  I ended up regreting my saying and felt bad when I didn't complete it.  My cook book, 52 weeks of cookies ring a bell?  How bout this one, 10 lessons from my mama hen?  I could go on here....but, just know, I'm working on myself and my list.  I hope the trifecta motivates you as well.  We have a clean slate kinda day and month.  Let's take advantage of it.  Good luck!  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.