Zawsted

I have not been taking good care of my health during this last couple of weeks.

My water intake and my food intake has been minimal. I haven't put enough nutrients in my body to support the hours that I'm working and I'm feeling very tired.

Self inflicted.

At least I recognise my mistake and am taking steps to remedy the situation. It'll take a few days, but I'll focus properly and get myself back on track.

I was up early this morning and arrived at the markets a little after 8am where I found my jewellery lady and picked up my three new freshwater pearl bracelets.

Then I got a little carried away. In the short time before I had to open The Happy Abode, and because everyone was up for a chat, I only got to visit two stalls, but I bought up big at both of the stalls and bought lots of jewellery - because I don't have enough of that already *insert sarcastic tone here*

At five to nine, I gasped as I realised how much time had passed and I needed to be somewhere else! So I pedalled as fast as my little legs could go (into a strong head wind!) and made it with a minute to spare.

I thought I would be able to close the door for five minutes and go buy my morning coffee, but the customers arrived early so I had to wait almost 30 minutes before I had a chance to do that.

As soon as I returned with my coffee, customers came thick and fast!

Adoring Husband arrived with my broth at about 10am but it was after 10.30 before I could stop to thank him and say good morning because the shop was full and busy. I think there were about a dozen people in the shop at one point, which was a bit intimidating for me serving all by myself. But I managed perfectly well.

It was busy until about midday and the final hour of the day was quiet enough for me to tidy up a few loose ends, but I was so tired by close of business, I didn't do any of the things that I'd planned, like vacuuming and tidying up the training room which is full of packaging and the carpet is a disaster.

Adoring Husband and I are going to erect one of the signs on the fence tomorrow (Sunday) so I'll take the opportunity to make the shop more presentable then ... even though I'd rather do this ... 

AH helped me close the shop and we did some grocery shopping before heading home.

I chopped up the fruit - watermelon and pineapple - that I'd bought to make slushies on Sunday, bagged them and put them in the freezer.

Watermelon, pineapple, lime and mint slushies. Yum.

Then it was time to sit down, put my feet up and relax for the afternoon.

Dinner was salted, maple chicken thighs with sweet potato mash and stuffed zucchini. Pretty quick and easy. 

It's only 8pm but I think I'm going to get some sleep now. I may watch some of the Sharks vs Roosters game before I go, but I won't last long.

I hope you all have a lovely Sunday.

Nite all.

Ending The Week

What a game!!

The first final between Melbourne Storm and South Sydney Rabbitohs was an absolute blinder tonight and was decided by just one point. Melbourne won 29 - 28. I'm happy to say that I tipped Melbourne, as did Adoring Husband, which puts him two points behind the leader of the tipping comp!

Anything could happen!

It was a beautiful Spring day which brought lots of people out and about and made for a nice steady day at the shop. There is a big 70th birthday coming up for someone in town (I have no idea who) and a number of customers came into the shop looking for a gift for that special person.

AH and I spent the afternoon trying to package up a big Cintiq editing screen to send safely in the mail on Monday. It was a tough job and luckily there was lots of cardboard, foam and bubble wrap at the shop to assist us in this task. Fingers crossed that we've done a good job.

The local markets are on in town tomorrow and I need to go there before I open the shop to pick up some jewellery that I commissioned a lady at last month's markets to make for me. She sent me a text today to advise that my order is ready.

It was a lucky night for everyone at the club with lots of raffle wins for our table and a win for me on the pokies.

Now I need to get some sleep.

Nite all.  

Beeby Ducks!!

You have to say the word 'Beeby' in a very high pitched squealy voice.

Beeby duckies!!!!

I was riding home from work this afternoon when I happened across this gorgeous little family of ducks on somebody's front lawn.

So I quickly rode home, dumped my work bags, picked up my camera bag and hightailed it back to where I saw them.

Apparently there were originally nine ducklings (according to the man in the house whose yard they were accommodating), but today there were only eight.

It was a great day in the shop and here is the framed Tawny Frogmouth photo that I sold to a very happy customer.

It looks so good, I want the same sized photo framed and hanging on my wall at home.

My flights and accommodation have been paid for the wedding that I'm photographing on Melbourne Cup weekend, so I'm all set for that one.

The owner of Cenzoni came to the shop today. A very young, tall and solid Indian man with whom I shared an animated conversation about Muslims. He was so interesting and I wish he'd had longer to spend here because I could easily have chatted all afternoon! He was a very nice young man.

It's almost 10pm and I need to sleep now.

Nite all.

I Told You So!!

I sold another photo today!

Go me!

This one ...

... I've sold two of that photo in the last week, so I've printed three more and will have one of them framed. The one I sold today was framed.

Today, I had a giant Tawny Frogmouth photo framed for a customer, which Adoring Husband will pick up for me tomorrow ...

It's my most popular photo to date.

I'm happy to have sold four photos this week. That's pretty cool.

I dropped twenty one photos off at the framers to be framed with mat board, one of them will have a proper frame as well. It's time to switch the photos that have been in the shop for too long

It's all happening in the world of photography!

It was another slow day in the shop. Only two paying customers all day, but they spent very freely, so sales were good.

The weather was wet and windy, which is probably what kept people away.

The Gypsy was in house so we started the day with meditation. Her first appointment was at 9am and her second appointment postponed, so we spent a LOT of time chatting/discussing/analysing as we do.

The new signage for the shop arrived, so now it's time to get them where the world can see them.

The sales rep for Cenzoni phoned to make an appointment for tomorrow so that he can show the new range of leather goods - that should be exciting.

We had a fabulous night at trivia tonight and came in around 4th or 5th. It's always a lot of fun with some snorting laughter and The Blonde Bombshell returned to our table tonight, for the first time since the car accident about 6 months ago. It was good to have her back!

Now it's just about to tick over to midnight and I have to work tomorrow, so I'd best get some sleep.

Nite all.

Out of Sorts

I felt 'out of sorts' from the second that I opened my eyes this morning.

I didn't want to feel that way, so I tried a few different things to snap myself out of it.

I did some deep breathing exercises.

I guzzled some cool water.

I listened to some uplifting music.

I had a shower.

I consumed my morning hot lemon and chicken broth.

I cuddled my psychotic dogs.

I decided to wear bright colours to work.

I thought of all the things for which I feel grateful.

I remembered that it was coffee morning with the girls.

I couldn't snap out of it.

When I got to the shop to buy my morning coffee, somebody asked me how I was and I screwed up my nose and told them "I'm feeling very 'out of sorts' today and I don't know why!" She replied "Well, we all have days like that sometimes. Don't worry too much about it."

That actually helped.

I've been feeling so happy and vibrant lately, I guess I was due for a less than vibrant day. So I stopped worrying about it and just accepted it.

Morning tea with the girls was great and helped lift me somewhat.

A customer picked up and paid for her photos that she had paid a deposit on last week.

A large order of stock arrived (and we all know how much I love it when new stock arrives!), so I spent the afternoon checking the invoice, pricing and figuring out where to display it.

I had to tidy up all of the packaging and prepare for meditation in the morning + it's bin night, so I emptied all of the bins in the shop and filled our sulo to the brim before wheeling it out to the footpath.

I visited the butcher to buy meat for dinner, but got a bit carried away and bought meat for the next four days!

It was about 4pm when I arrived home and I was STILL feeling somewhat out of sorts.

I made dinner of leftovers for Adoring Husband, served with a salad.

It's now 7.30pm and I'm seriously considering a very early night to bed.

I hope that my mood has improved by morning and that tomorrow I'm not feeling so out of sorts.

Nite all.

Hello? Hello?

Hellooooooo?

Is there anybody out there?????

I left the shop three times today to see what was happening on our street.

All of the shops at our end of the street were closed - they've all decided to close on Mondays now - although I think the hairdressing salon is open for a few hours, I'm not sure.

Four of the five shops at the other end were open.

Needless to say it was VERY quiet in The Happy Abode today.

The Gypsy only had one appointment booked, so we spent a lot of time chatting and analysing each other. I love our conversations. They always lead us in the strangest directions and we almost always learn something new about ourselves and each other.

I found my jewellery-making tools and had a brief attempt at weaving some wires, but I didn't get any extended period of free time to focus on the job at hand, so I brought it home to try again, but I'm not in the mood tonight. I'll leave it all at home and wait for the right time - my psyche has to be in just the right place for creativity!

For lunch I mashed up an avocado and added red onion, lemon and salt, then dipped, what the package claimed to be GF, seaweed rice crackers. It was delicious until about 20 minutes later when I had that familiar uncomfortable sickening feeling of gluten intolerance.

Even though the package stated 'gluten free', the ingredients list clearly had 'wheat' listed!

How can they do that?

I've emailed the company. We'll see what happens.

The weather was looking ominous as I rode home this afternoon and there were a couple of cold wet plops on my arms as I rode along, but nothing more than that.

The psychotic dogs were uneasy and a bit whiny this evening and as I walked into the back yard, I could hear the rumble of thunder in the distance, so I was expecting a bit of a storm. Nothing eventuated, but there is some wet weather forecast for this week, so hopefully we'll get some much needed rain.

I recruited my first participant for the next photography workshop today - hopefully the first of many, but not too many. I like my workshops small and intimate.

It's almost 9pm and I think I might climb into bed and do some meditating before sleep.

Nite all.

Secret Sunday

I only did two things outside of the bedroom today.

I made my breakfast to take back to bed with me and I did my washing.

While in bed, I listened to some of an audible book.

Worked on 'the second coming' of the business course that I began earlier this year.

The rest of my day was a secret, so I can't tell you anything!

I can tell you about dinner - I was feeling incredibly lazy, so I put butter, olive oil and crushed garlic on the bottom of a pan. Lay boneless thigh fillets skin side up in the pan. Ground some pink salt over the top of the skin, poured pure maple syrup over the top of the skin and then shoved the pan in a 180C oven for 40 minutes.

I made a guacamole by mashing 2 avocados, squeezing lemon juice into it, grinding pink salt and then adding finely chopped spring onions.

For an added ten minutes, I put the oven on full heat, which crisped up and browned the skin on the chicken.

So, chicken with guacamole as a side, followed by boysenberry ice-cream with strawberries.

Oh and I raided my jewellery making paraphernalia and am going to attempt to decoratively wire a gemstone. I would have started it today, but my tools are at the shop, so depending on how busy it is tomorrow, I might try to start it while I'm at work.

I've watched a few instructional youtube videos and I think I can do it.

Adoring Husband and I watched our respective teams win their final round games of the season. The finals begin next week and both our teams will be fighting to remain in the running for the grand final.

AH is still right up there in second place for the footy tipping competition.

I guess I should now head to bed and get a good night's sleep in preparation for a big record breaking week at The Happy Abode.

Welcome to Monday!

Nite all.