Holidays are Coming - Gift Giving Needs Planning

It just amazes me with the figures of what people spend on Halloween for costumes, candy, decorations. In an economy that has many people so desperate to meet their bills it just seems that such spending is a waste. I guess that goes along with my dislike for the holiday in general.

Looking toward Christmas - the time of giving. I have heard much talk from families about how they are downscaling their spending and making this holiday more of a family activity focus on giving to others, doing things in the community for those less fortunate. I think this is great! Why haven't we been doing that for years? That is the spirit of the holiday.

I say this but at the same time I have an eBay store and am trying to sell! I do think some spending will still go on but it might be simpler items, creative items, useful items. Check out my eBay store at Comfy Cottage Conservation I have craft kits for the kids, art supply boxes, an easel with storage, marble runs and pinball marble runs for the kids. The ecology side has bat houses - looking toward mosquito control next year. Also, I'm carrying the Worm Factory a very clean way to let red wigglers do your composting for you in a self contained unit that can sit right in your kitchen or utility room with no odor. Back to the basics I'm soon to list some rag rugs - sometimes called Swedish woven rugs. Those rugs that last for ever and have used previously used fabric for the materials.

Looking ahead - I'll be looking at giving ideas that don't cost but are from the heart.

It's a Contest - Burda Sewing Machines

I came across this fun contest for October through November. Great creative minds will all take part to Pimp Out their Sewing Machines.

The prize isn't high but bragging rights would be lots of fun!

Burda is trying to see how their Sewers are dreaming and want you to take part. The link to the Burda website with all the how-to directions is: http://www.burdastyle.com/blog/show/689

You can see other fun sewing stuff on my Squidoo lens http://www.burdastyle.com/blog/show/689

Excitement! Challenges! Goals! Dreams!

This is an exciting day for me but really should be a no-brainer. I'm headed to the classroom to teach - something I am excited about but nervous in doing. It has been many years since I stood in front of a classroom - and it has changed. Why am I nervous? Technology.

I'll be using a powerpoint presentation, on a projected screen and have students on computers that are live on the internet! The last class I taught on computers was simple applications on Apple IIe's that we had to tear down every night and store in a locked cabinet! Times have changed. My children then in 1st and 2nd grade were in those classes. Now they are my support system for the computer at 25 and 26! They love telling people I was their first computer teacher. Even then it was a stretch - I'm a trained secondary teacher in Home and Consumer Science I believe they now call it - Home Economics when I was in school. In many ways this is still in my field.

Consumers need to be observant, evaluate, and analyze before they purchase or use something. I am still passionate about being good consumers but more so now in "Going Green" we should evaluate if we need to use it, have something we can re-use to keep out of the landfill, share by giving an item to someone who needs it, or recycle it.

Back to my day! Wish me luck - this eBaygrandma is going to TEACH! "The Basics of Selling on eBay!"

I'm a Giant Squid!!

What an accomplishment! I worked hard, tried to do my best, and I made it.

Now you may ask, what is a Giant Squid?

Squidoo is a platform that lets anyone be a writer and webdesigner - in a little way. It is way to get your message to the people - about you loves, hates, business, products, hobbies, families, favorite recipes and the list goes on. Fun to read - you may even learn something on the way.

A select group of lensmasters are selected for the quality of their lenses and for having at least 50 great lenses! That is the goal I achieved.

I think the best part about Squidoo is their generousity. Did I mention it is all Free to you? Income can be made on Squidoo and it is shared. Each lensmaster gets a bit from the ads on the pages, Squidoo takes thier cut to run the site, and they give to Charity right off the top. This past month saw them give $80,000 to various approved charities. I'll talk about that in an upcoming post.

Check out my lenses on my Me, My Lensography

Can't Control Time - Better Document.

The last two weeks have been pretty much wiped from my planner - one case of bronchitis and I was out! Well - there might have been some other radiation treatments mixed in to add variety. I can't believe it has been over 2 weeks since I had visited the blog.

Many years ago I was introduced to the "Franklin Covey" system by a very well organized Real Estate Broker. That has meant a world to me in the years since. Even though I am not in a day to day job schedule, I have things to do, to get done on a schedule and that are important. The Franklin system gets you organized with important information at your fingertips (sure you have to update once in a while) and has it together for you.

Part of this is keeping a record of what you have done on that day - not just what you plan to do. You keep notes of what happened in a meeting, how you will follow through on the project or conversation and the next step. This can, as in my case lately, translate into medical information and doctor instructions. If I had used my Planner more completely two weeks ago I would have had a better understanding of some medicine I am on that I really hadn't paid much attention too at instruction - found out yesterday.

The powerful point is record keeping - I came to the point I needed to apply to SS Disability this past spring. My off work time was in and although I kept hoping the cancer was gone it isn't and I'm still fighting. When I applied I was told it would be up to 5 months until I received an answer. To fill out the papers I had gone through my past planner pages for 2 1/2 years to document my appointments, tests, time at work, trips to doctors and all. I was approved for disability within 3 weeks and money in the bank. Record keeping - it's worth it.

Memories - Photographes - What are they for?

The idea behind a camera is to record memories, facts, information. When they were first used only by professionals a picture was a big deal. Well thought out and usually if it was of people they looked like mug shots! As we finally got cameras down so that the general public could afford them we have actually come a long way quickly.

This all came about because I was asked about the first item I bought or sold on eBay. I finally realized the first memory I had of an eBay purchase was my 1999 F350 dually! Not a small purchase by any means. You know I can't locate a picture of it. I drove that truck over 150,000 miles delivering recreational vehicles. I have a few pictures of damaged trailers and this strange sign in Wisconsin that I took while waiting for them to "check in" the camper. The business had misspelled their sign!

Do we really remember to take pictures of the things that mean the most to us? Now that cameras are so inexpensive to have, so easy to use, are we careful to record what we should. When traveling I have trained myself to take a photo when you first see an item or you will forget that it is really different. That is training from years ago - nearly 40 when I went on an exchange program and I had very good training. That was a camera - a single lens reflex camera with external flash and I learned to use a light meter. I do have a great record of that trip on slides and in my journal.

Last Christmas my Grandson got his first camera - at the age of 4. He had always been fascinated with cameras so Mom got him a child friendly digital that puts out quite a good picture. We do talk about composition a bit but he usually does his own thing. The fantastic thing is that I have pictures or myself, my daughter has some of herself on different site online that he has taken. I have a great portrait of his little sister, Mom and Me. Professional quality. Hope he doesn't loose the interest.

How Old is Too Old?

In this day and age of always wanting new things there is a group of collectors out there who are really beating the bushes to find OLD Engines.

What is the value? They bring old engines to life that have been sitting in the weeds, the back of a barn, or in a ditch for maybe decades or even a century. There probably is a machine that can do the same job a bit more efficiently but not with the direct function and to the point of operation. These old engines were usually made with one thing in mind and brought much modernization to this world - yes world. We often think in terms of the United States but many of the best engines were crafted in Canada, Germany, Australia, and other countries.

Collectors appreciate the craftmanship and ingenuity of these old timers. Parts were often handmade. But the amazing thing to me - each engine is identified with a serial number. It can be traced to no the origin and time that the engine was built. Do you think in 100 years anyone will care about the mass produced replacable 'stuff' we put out now?