A Sunday Morning in the Ripper House

So, as I finish cooking and all of the boys come to the table. They are served and everyone is ooohhing and aaahhing about how good it looks... {And yes, that photo is mine, my french toast, YUM!} Anyway, Michael stops and says, "Wait, we should take a picture. You can blog about it." So my oldest son Seth, sits not so patiently as Michael snaps a few shots, I take the camera from him and snap another. Seth says, "Are you done? Can I eat it now?" We laugh. This is a usual Sunday morning in the Ripper house. After my divorce and having joint custody (my ex husband is the primary residential parent) of my three oldest, I have learned to appreciate the mundane. I love to cook for them. French toast, chocolate chip pancakes, whatever they want. A task I used to consider a chore is now a joy. The things you take for granted...

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Sitting in a Parking Lot

I am sitting in a parking lot typing this blog entry. It is only 10:25 in the morning. Michael and I met a notary earlier to sign the lease on the studio and gallery. Michael went to work (it is his last week working in the gallery in NC). Quinn and I drove to the county offices because not only do we need to file a business license with the city, which I did in November, but we also have to file a business license with the county. After filing with the county, Quinn and I drove back, stopping at apartment for a diaper change. We loaded back into the car to go back before the notary to sell a piece of property. That is where I am now. Sitting in the parking lot while he naps in the car, waiting to meet the buyer and exchange the deed for a cashier's check. After that, I have to drive to downtown Kingsport to meet Cindy Saadeh, to exchange the lease agreements and give her deposit and lease payment. AND after that (busy day, huh?), I have to go to the insurance agency to write a check for our business property insurance... Then, I will be running Quinn home to meet the sitter, so I can go to work my 3-11 shift. Whew!

I am sharing some pictures that were actually taken LAST weekend of the studio/gallery and the loft. We had three youngest with us when we walked through. As you can see, the boys were being quite silly.

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Blog Organization

I pride myself in being very detail oriented. I am a planner. My husband says I am obsessive. But he loves me anyway! We are opposites, complimenting each other. So, it is time to ORGANIZE this blog. Now, in organizing, I will allow for flexibility. I will blog about whatever I am inspired to blog about. I mean, that is what blogging is all about, right? But to help with blogging ideas and maybe to work ahead a bit, I will attempt to follow this schedule:

Monday: Weekly update studio/gallery/loft

Tuesday: personal/family post

Wednesday: Etsy feature

Thursday: Photography feature

Friday: New product info

Saturday: Something I learned this week...

Sunday: Something I am grateful for...

So, being that it is Sunday, I am grateful for... A hard working husband. My husband has MANY very admirable traits. But with my grateful posts, I want to be VERY specific. Today, he, Seth (I am thankful for him too, but that is another post), and our neighbor friend, Patrick, spent the day moving equipment to its final destination, well, almost its final destination. But if I get too far into that, I will be getting into tomorrow's post. :) Michael is very hard working, and even when he is "off" of work, he is active. I love it. I love him. I appreciate all he does for me and our family.

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BRIGHT

I have got to take a moment to blog about a fellow Etsian that I have been a recent customer of. She follows my blog, I follow hers. And I am always looking for new things to blog about, why not blog about fellow bloggers? Okay, I am rambling...

Caroline is also a fellow Etsian, mother, and the list could go on. From the perspective of a customer, I can say I was/am still completely satisfied with her products. She was GREAT to work with. I loved the items in her shop, but wanted custom colors. I had a lot of fun working with her and am ECSTATIC about the final outcome. The designs are meticulous, unique, fun. I can't say enough GOOD things about her, her communication skills, and the TALENT!

Learn more about Caroline from her blog brightcaroline. And visit her Etsy shop bright. Below are pictures of our Quinn in bright's creations. Needless to say, I will be buying more. I just love my little "q" :)

Oh, and Caroline, the new Blogger/Google widget freaks me out too.

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