Having a Collectibles Booth Does Keep Me Busy

Working makes time fly. I have been doing a lot of getting things ready and then putting them into my booths at Village Antiques Mall in Fort Langley. 

For those of you who have booths in Collectible malls, like Granny Sue  who often shares the work she does to prepare stock for her booths, it is an ongoing process.

Keep safe my friends.

Hugs

Joy

Mid July - Garden, Work, Small Projects

Daily life keeps me busy - just getting things done that have to be done.

I added 3 garden photos plus 3 images shared from the Graphics Fairy's collection - and put them in my booths at Village Antiques Mall.

Groceries - ok, we are now familiar with that. I have added another store since I am going to the mall 5 times a week now - Lee's in Fort Langley - It has been my grocery store for 25 years and I had really missed the people who work there (like old friends now) as well as knowing what they carry and where they shelve things. Shopping is different because of Covid-19 and we all follow the rules - masks, hand sanitizing, distance and we do not touch items we are not buying, dawdle or visit - just say hi - how are things going and... finished and gone. We bag our groceries, respectfully stay behind the cashiers shields and be as cheerful as possible without overdoing it.

Garden - rains a lot on coastal BC this summer so I haven't had to water. Peas and carrots and blueberries are picked every two or three days.  Strawberries are just a few little treats as are the raspberries. A few tomatoes have set their yellow flowers. Pink roses share their beauty and the daisy and zinnia have started to bloom. Forecast is a week of sunshine so I will be watering.

Mall stuff - writing stock up and putting in mall 5 days a week - I continue with my 9:10 to 9:50 routine for arriving and leaving my booths - before customers arrive, wear a mask, sanitize my hands before, during and after working.

Home stuff - I feel slow and low on energy and tired - I realize I am not eating many vegetables or fruit or protein - it has been more like chocolate stuff, cereal, coffee, bread and jam and pasta stuff. That likely is part of my problem so I have begun to focus on eating fruit, started eating raw and steamed vegetables, working on protein. I just don't want to cook anything for myself. I do fine cooking meals for the boys because they are basically eating the same meals every day and routine makes things simpler.

Evenings when everyone has settled down I perk up and do get things like run the dishwasher, counters wiped, load of laundry running, garbage collected, get a few small chores done.

I never catch up on things that should be done and it is very rare to keep up the jobs I used to consider 'need to be done' as I did before March 17, 2020 when our Province/Country began to shut things down and we slowly learned another way of getting through each day, each week, each problem or issue or worry or ... 

Thank you Dr. Bonnie Henry the Specialist Health Officer and Health Minister Dix and Premier Horgan for insuring the Phases of what activities are safe to resume and for accurate daily updates on the Covid-19 pandemic in our Province.

Keep Safe

Hugs

Joy

Saying Goodbye to Rick Watson Today

This time in history has changed all of us.  There has been more sorrow added today.

 Dear Blogging Friend Rick Watson passed suddenly today - heart attack.  Such a wonderful person, Rick will be sorely missed. 

Prayers for Rick and his beloved wife Jilda and all of his many beloved extended family and friends.

Rick has shared his life stories and photos on his blog and through his music. You leave an empty space in our hearts Rick. Thank you for showing us the world through your heart, music, photos and writings.

Joy

To A Dear Blogging Friend

A dear blogging friend from Parksville wrote her final post. 

She has cancer that was diagnosed last week. She wrote: ... pancreatic cancer.  There will be an emergency surgery to remove my gall bladder and a spot on my pancreas but in all likelihood they will then determine how much time I've got.  I am taking this healthcare fight private.

I am praying for her. Her posts have been treasures over the years - as she shared how to live within one's income, to save, to plan, to think carefully through their plans, to be careful and to enjoy each day to its fullest, to love and support her family. 

Hugs and Love and Prayers.

Joy

Round Up - June 2020

Gave myself the gift of time this month. I read my friends' posts, check out Instagram to see how family and friends are and then get to work. 

Village Antiques Mall opened up June 1st after 2 1/2 months of being closed (Covid) and I have worked many hours to get stock ready and into my booths there. 

The Mall followed the spacing, number, hand cleaning and masks rules, the direction to walk and the divided space for coming in and checking out.  30 people were allowed at any one time to shop. I haven't cleaned or dusted this month at my booth but I have added some great stock.

Gardening at home? Well, since it has rained a few days each week I didn't have to water. I also did not weed. DGS mowed the lawn two (or was it three times) this month and did a bit of weed-eating. I can see what needs to be done but I have not had the energy/time to take care of more than the basics.

Mostly I kept up the laundry, dishwasher and tidying, did meals, grocery shopping twice a week - with a list, quickly, wearing a mask and washing hands/cleaning hands before and after shopping and as soon as I got home. Washed fruit and vegetables.

Taxes were filed on time (with the extension thank goodness in place).

I have been writing up stock daily, packing and taking it over to my booths, arriving 9 am each morning and leaving for home at 9:55 before customers come into the Village Antiques Mall. I wear a mask when anyone is within sight. 

I tie all necessary shopping to after the stocking, Some days I am exhausted. Hand sanitize or wash multiple times each day, especially when leaving one place to head for another and repeat. Keep hand sanitizer in the car and use it frequently - when getting in, leaving, getting back in and repeat.

I suspect I am like many who have so much work that must be done, work that should be done and little energy/time left for much else. I notice I rest more in the afternoon, stay awake too late at night, wake up several times each night and feel tired most of the time.

I have been re-reading favourite books, sometimes listen to music, sometimes tell my brain that I will NOT think about what CAN happen if COVID starts the 2nd go round. 

My job is to follow the safety rules - keep distance, wear a mask, wash my hands and stay home if not feeling well. I also will not gather in small groups period. Keeping my family safe. Keep safe. 

Thanks, always, for visiting.

Keep safe.

Hugs

Joy

Week 11 Staying at Home Journal

May 23 - 29

My favourite roses

The 11th week of staying-at- home in BC. We are a very fortunate province - Dr. Bonnie Henry has kept us up with every statistic plus how people are doing, in a kind and factual way every day and she and Minister of Health Dix have been clear and concise in sharing the daily current information and answering the phone-in questions right after their updates regarding the Covid -19  pandemic as it has moved through our province. Distancing has been so essential. Staying at home has been so essential. Washing hands has been so essential. Do not touch your face. Wearing a non-medical mask when in public is strongly suggested, knowing that some cannot. The Federal updates are constantly shared, updated, current.

May 23 - Saturday

Slow start to the day - and finally I decided to weed and put the strawberry plants out.  There is a lot of tiding up needed around the raised beds but I decided it was not a priority for me.

I suspect they were very grateful to spread their roots.

May 24 - Sunday

A day like so many others, taking care of household business. Feeling tired. Stayed home. 

May 25 - Monday

Paper work and writing up stock took most of the day - it had to be done. Regular household jobs

May 26 - Tuesday

Seriously, more paperwork and finished it except for the final check which I will do in the morning.

May 27 - Wednesday

Today I took that paperwork to the person who does our filing. I thought I would feel relieved but I just felt tired and somewhat teary. 

I did pick up some groceries and a tart - very tart lemon, very old style. Nice. Also bought 2 more masks. The white one is easiest to wear for an extended time - it has no inside folded seam to rub the bridge of my nose, just a fold over and serger edge and then top stitching.

Wrote up stock off and on the rest of the day. Everything is packed and ready to go to VAM in the morning.

Did meals, laundry, dishwasher, the usual jobs.

May 28 - Thursday

Headed over to Village Antiques Mall with the bags and boxes of stock I am putting in today. The mall is opening to customers on June 1st. I have my hand cleaner, white mask, planned for a quick stocking and then leave short morning. Did talk to the mall owner to get caught up on what the changes will be (yes, from a distance). 

One picture to share after adding stock

The front of the store, changes:

A long framed plexiglass is attached in place in front of the cashier counter, a table that provides correct distance from the counter is set up for purchases to be placed, it is clearly set up where customers will wait on the specified distance while their choices are written up and wrapped. Staff have masks, face protection if they choose, hand cleaner and will be wiping down surfaces between customers. There is hand cleaner on the table for the customers (as well as an area outside the store for hand cleaning). Washrooms are closed (I noticed this in the grocery store across the street as well, so I am guessing this is a safety measure).

Back home:

Planted the rest of my vegetables this afternoon, hand watered twice. I think they are very relieved to be in the soil. The peas are blooming and a few peas have begun. The carrots are showing their orange so I covered them with more soil. I suspect I put the lettuce in too late.

May 29 - Friday

I had planned to go over to the mall and add more stock today but I could NOT find my florist wire (needed to attach an A to a B type idea).

Watered the small garden, did household stuff. The cherry tree is attracting racoons in the dark - last night after midnight I heard their 'cheeping' sound for quite some time.

Other than that, I did the usual home care work, meals, dishwasher, laundry and read a few chapters.

I also made myself a 'whatever is left in the fridge' supper - delicious. Added crushed tostitos, salsa, sour cream and stirred a few more times before serving (yes there were leftovers for tomorrow).

Thank you Dear Friends for visiting today.

Be Kind

Be Calm

Keep safe

Hugs

Joy