{ Happy Thanksgiving }

This lovely painting hangs over our fireplace in the Fall and then moves to the dining room for rest of the year. It was painted by Estelle, Ruth's Mom. She claims it is "just a painting" but all of her children swear it is of their Auntie who lived atop a mountain in Maine with no running water. Whoever she is, this picture represents family to us. So on a day when we will be with our Island Family and not our "real" family, "Auntie in Maine", as we like to call her, will keep watch over us and see that we are loved and well fed. Happy Thanksgiving to you all. May blessings abound for you and your loved ones.

{ Thanks, Jess! }

Ruth and I just had a great meal with our fabulous friends, Jess and JP. Just to rub it in, Jess is the executive chef at Hedgebrook. Pumpkin curry soup, salad and rice pile with lemon curd and whip cream. SO YUMMY!

{ Missing My Mentor }

When my life is busiest and the most stressful (like the last couple of months) I find myself wishing I had my mentor by my side. My mother was an amazing woman. She was already a young single mom before she met dad and had me. She could have been a statisic but instead, she learned a business beginning at the receptionist's desk only to become the part owner of her own firm 20 years later. When she sold her ownership, she kept working part time, ironically as a bookkeeper. She shared with me a few years before she passed that she never liked being her own boss, the pressure was too much when other's livlihoods depended on her decisions, she preferred just going to work and doing excellent work.

As I struggle with whether or not to grow my business, to perhaps, hire in some very part time help and take on more work, I weigh my mother's thoughts carefully. It seems this year is full of lessons about juggling and balancing for me and I need to decide which turn my life will take soon. Do I build something bigger or do I streamline what is here and stay focused? I'm straddled on the teeter totter at the moment waiting for a sign, a voice. Were my mother here (and really she is), she would say to weigh all sides, make sure I can afford whichever decision I make and then trust my gut. But today is one of those days, I wish my Mom were here just to tell me what to do. This whole, grown up big girl thing is highly over-rated, really.

{ Save Yourselves! Shop Local! }

So, last week on our little island in the Pacific Northwest our largest private employer, with no notice, laid off 200+ workers and closed its doors. The community was breathless, the company owners feel terrible, and for a community this size, this is a major economic event that will have long lasting effects. So as you might imagine, the community is abuzz with "support our merchants". And I couldn't agree more. I will forgo the ferry trips to the mainland this year and try to spend as many holiday dollars in the little shops around town instead of the large box stores. But we are also part of a larger community, here and other locales online. We have created bonds with other shopkeepers and e-tailers and those merchants need our support as well. As the holiday flurry begins for us as shoppers, try to strike the balance between supporting your local brick and mortars and supporting your online communities. Be thoughtful in your purchases and know that with a little effort, every penny spent will impact your ALL of your communities.

{ One Butt Cheek }

This is a shameless plug for a dear friend, Amber Kizer, who has just penned a new book, "One Butt Cheek" which is the first in a series. It's a great book, written by an amazing woman and you should read it. Want to peek? Go to www.onebuttcheek.com or www.amberkizer.com. And no sharing copies, go buy your own! A girl has to eat, ya know!

{ Sometimes Inspiration Comes From Within }

"You are on the verge of something bigger than your imagination can now conjure. Take each step as it comes, and know that your path will grow and yield as you need it to, because you command your destiny like no one else."

I wrote this to a friend who was struggling with a painful decision, but one that had the power to change her life for the better back in 2006. Another friend was kind enough to save it and send this back to me when I needed it. Today I printed this and have put it up in my office as a reminder to follow my own advice. But another dear friend may find it helpful in the days to come. (Teemie, are you reading this?)

{ An Anniversary }

OK, so the post below was the "cover post"...the one I had ready in case this one got too hard to do. Today was a notable day...the first year anniversary to this life as a full time bookkeeper. The anniversary of a day that was wrought with emotion. Oh, I had been bookkeeping part time for a few years before going full time but one year ago today I turned the key of my retail business over to my dear friend, Tina, and walked away from a business I had grown and loved for five years. You see, 2006 was a really hard year personally. My mother died quickly of too long undetected ovarian cancer and too say it took my breath away is an understatement. It took the wind out of my sails - and my retail shop took a lot of energy. It was (and still is) the kind of place the community congregates for connection and celebration, so my lack of energy was hard to hide. Tina stepped up at a time when I had to step back. We've lovingly and jokingly call it an open adoption...two mothers who love the same child but only one who can look after it day in and day out. Many have asked me if I miss it or regret it. My answer is true and absolute...no. No, because it was time to let go, time to grow something new and to hold on would have meant the end of my little shop. So today is a notable day... Happy Anniversary to us, Tina!