Check that title again...It's Thursday all day and to be quite honest, that's about all I've got. And peonies.  My peonies finally, and I mean finally, decided to open up...and it truly was all in their own time.  Sometimes, alright...most of the time, things can't be rushed, they have their own timeline.  And if 2020 has taught me anything, it is that we must be in the here and now, get real comfortable with being in the moment amid uncertainty and ever-changing circumstances that despite how much we hope and wish and pray, have their own timeline that they are operating under. 

Some of this is just nature, a course of action playing out and other times it is our inability to shut it down...both the internal and external reactions we have to situations.  The biggest thing I have noted this year is the volume of opinions blasting freely on social media, in person, and in print.  And by volume I mean the expression of, amount of, level at which they are announced and carried out, and sometimes the lunacy of that all wrapped together in a not so neat package. 
We may not have control over the length of time something takes, the ability of others and ourselves to change and transform, or the speed at which peonies bloom, but we do have control over our reactions and how deeply we allow ourselves to feel them.  Take in this full quote by Marcus Aurelius, but read this line carefully...'There is never a need to get worked up or to trouble your soul about things you can't control.'
Peonies won't bloom any faster accompanied by my opinion that they should. Nor will anyone be any more kind, approach a problem with any more intelligence, or the world hasten the effect of the certain circumstances we are in all while experiencing a rainstorm of my opinions.  So instead of feeling the weight of that storm, I am going to focus on the things I know, those things I can control.  I'll continue to practice kindness, pretend I have lots of patience waiting for peonies to bloom, and rest in the knowledge that all day today is Thursday... at least until midnight. ​
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Stay...In The Moment

Many of you know we have offered Intro to Furniture Painting classes plus a variety of specialty classes and studio time over the last few years.  It is so amazing to see all your work, the things you have accomplished, and the projects you have tackled! If social distancing weren't a thing right now, we would be high five-ing each and every one of you!  But because of this time we are living in, we have instead been fielding oh-so-many questions via social media over the last few months while we have been unable to host these classes and events.
After all, you still have projects, and some of you more time now to complete them. We hear you, we are here for you...and we will continue to guide you along in your painting journey whenever you start,  wherever you want to land, and however you want to finish.

With that said, let us know...WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN A FACEBOOK LIVE Q&A SESSION ON ALL THINGS PAINT, ALL THINGS FURNITURE, ALL (or hopefully most) OF YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED?
We know this isn't our typical blog post of all things lovely, all things that are going on, and maybe a sprinkle of encouragement...but this is a way we can support and challenge many of you to finish up those items you just got stuck on, don't know how to begin, or maybe need a little bit of a confidence boost to dive on into. So head to Facebook, our Instagram account, or heck, even send us a little email and let us know!
We'll decide on the time and date later, so no need to worry about that. We'll also decide on who will hold the camera as well...any takers for that thankless job?  Must be willing to keep me from laughing, distract me from saying 'UMMM' every other word, and help me stay on track. Cue me asking my hubs to take on this assignment!  So chime in, share your thoughts, or better yet, all your questions!

Stay...In The Moment,

In case you were popping by for some encouragement...I'll be sprinkling these words with a lot of new favorite quotes based on all the doors that have closed, the windows that have opened, and the new normal that continues to present itself on a daily basis. Know that you are valued, there is a place for you, and that while things may continue to shift you will land, and hopefully it will be in the place you were always intended to be. 

I learned a lot about myself while at home with my people, and was quickly reminded that I need to get back to the things that matter, not just in the interim, but to stay from now on. I have a tendency to be a YES person...a person that struggles with the consequences of saying no. letting someone down, or the inability to help. 

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So if you are feeling less than,
uncentered, wobbly and unbalanced..
hear me when I say this, YOU ARE VALUED. 
It is okay to close some doors, let go,
and accept yourself...and when you do that,
you will be in a better place to accept
all the good things.  The joy will be easier to find,
and those around you will naturally benefit
​from the value you place on yourself.

​Never in a million years, or at least those that I have been blessed enough to grace this earth, would I have thought that my topic of conversation would be what I am doing as a small business owner to follow guidelines set forth to do my part to keep everyone safe and healthy during a viral pandemic.  Now that’s a run-on sentence for the record books.  But, here we are….here I am…and that is what I am writing about. So, if you are local and you plan on popping by the brick & mortar to visit the shop, below is a list of what you can expect. And, if you still plan on shopping online or continue to let us know you saw something in our Instagram stories and cannot live without it, you can either plan to pick it up or request complimentary local delivery.  We will meet you where you are in the current climate and your current comfort zone. If you are heading to us, here are some changes…
 

1. Our hours will be posted each week and may vary as we get back to our full schedule. This will allow for more time to clean and restock areas. These will be updated on Facebook first, so that’s a great resource.
2. Greater walkways…We have restyled and shifted everything in the shop to allow for better traffic flow and easy exits out of an area.  
3. We have placed a handy self-checkout with an easy step by step process, so you can help yourself, package all your items, and keep distance.  
4. We will have hand sanitizers in place for your use, and we ask that you use them.
5. We will have signs posted that will say…Please Wear a Mask, Please Keep 6ft Apart, and Please Practice Kindness.  There are many facets to re-opening that small businesses have had to contend with from seasonal shifts, to government guidelines, to insurance regulations…bear with us as we navigate these to serve you better.
6. Please plan to pay with a card, it just makes things a bit easier for us right now. 
7. Please note that we are unable to open our dressing room right now and accept any returns.  We are operating on the policy of all sales are final because we know you will love your items. 
8. Please be mindful of only handling merchandise you plan to purchase; this makes cleaning easier and all of our customers feel comfortable. 

 
These may change over time, and I sure hope they will because like many of you, I miss normal.  I have seen many boat and storm analogies running rampant in memes and on social media rants.  We truly believe that all boats look different, and therefore how we proceed through the same storm, the trajectory of our path, and the way in which we dock may be different. This current boat that we are in as a small business is oddly shaped, its sails look wonky, and its rudder is a little off. But we are determined to keep afloat, be lifted when the water is high, and allow you to climb aboard when you choose to do so. For those of you that have messaged, commented, ordered, and supported, our gratitude cannot be measured…thank you, we look forward to seeing you in the shop. 

Stay well...and In The Moment,