Spring into ...

Spring is here somewhere besides on a calendar. We expect 1 to 3 inches of snow late today into Saturday. I was talking with a woman who has a sister in the "north of England" who told her she was out in the garden and it was so nice she didn't need a jacket! Weather is getting topsy turvy.

Hope in the next 4 weeks it clears up to a nice spring as we start our road trip west to Monterey.
I've thrown out any expectations of getting to a destination by a certain time or even day. Constraints now are when we leave and we get back. Luckily we all have 2 full weeks vacation time. I keep finding more and more scenic drives, bypasses, sites etc that I'd like to see and we have to stop in Vegas.

Despite the soaring gas prices we are GOING!. May cut into our motel budget and we downscale but, oh well. Carpe Diem!

EBay goes on hold as well as any other antiques business. I hope this could be a "busman's" holiday but I may not have time to shop--oh no, is that blasphemy?

When will it stop?

End of February and yet another 4" plus snow dump. I'm beginning to realize why many people just hate this month. The last several Februaries have been better weather and sunshine-- the lack of sunshine always another complaint I've heard about the month. I always associated lack of sun to November with cold rainy days.
Gee it's snowing even harder/heavier right now!
I've been able to track of sales at the antique mall with every snowstorm. Absolutely nothing on that day and also sometimes the next--depends on when the roads clear.
Thinking when should I call it quits with the delusion of an antique dealer? 2007 wound up with a loss of just under $500 not so bad, but total sales were under $5000.
What's a real business look like? yeah it's only part-time and I'm learning every week and getting perhaps a better eye to what might sell. I started ebay to sell off some of the lesser items. Jan and Feb have been better there. But then new fees and in spring increase in postage bites in. Anyone tried other online auction sites? or part of a group sales like Rubylane?
Can't wait til April 18. Perhaps Paul Reveve started his famous ride that night, well I get to knock off a lifetime goal of driving across country to CALIFORNIA. Getting my road trip cds in order and stocking up on junk food!

ROAD TRIP OF A LIFETIME

I'm trying to finalize plans for trip west to Monterey CA. I keep getting sidetracked with other interesting places to see or scenic drives.

Anyone seen the Chalk Pyramid in Kansa? Acoma Pueblo, Santa Cruz area natural bridge and redwood state park?

I see there's a large Brass Armadillo antique Mall in Kansas City that will be a stop!
How are prices in Gallup New Mexico. Antiques in Las Vegas?

most interesting drive from Barstow to Monterey area?

How about a BBQ place in Memphis TN?

Winter can be gone any day now I just want to hit the road and ear junk food switching radio stations!

Road Trip Plans

My California road trip is scheduled for the last 2 weeks of April. Driving from chicago area to denver, down to santa Fe across to Az and Grand Canyon then up to Vegas and finally across to
Monterey CA. Any pros and cons about driving I-80, I-70 or the northern route?
What are some great free or low cost sites to visits? Any great diners or BBQ?
Most important ANTIQUE Malls or multi-dealer shops that are a must stop for great variety?
May try to drive a few remaining parts of Route 66
Any advice would be appreciated so I can plan for a variety or routes, stops or side diversions.
We're trying this on nearly a shoestring realizing gas will be a fortune but it has been a lifelong dream to drive across country. I've been south and east and now head West. Who knows maybe Alaska can be another long trip for retirement!

Happy New Year and new attitudes!

New Year and new goals rather than resolutions.

The point is to be positive and do something if only baby steps.
So here are my goals/plans:

Continue eBay sales
Drive to California and back--planned for April
Increase sales at antique booth
Attend auctions at new sources
Stay in my own frame of mind and not swayed by others
Keep it short and hopefully achievable!

Winter has never been a favorite time of year, I much prefer sunshine and warm temps about 65 to 80! Now if I won the lottery, look out Florida or another warm weather state, here I come!

Let's make 2008 great and do what we love as well as what we have to do, perhaps they can become one and the same!

What a let down!

I purchased a Wedgwood red jasper ware Xmas ornament on eBay and was surprised to find that it was made in China!

Last weekend at an outlet mall I visited the Waterford/Wedgwood store and they had neatly covered the made in china sticker on the box with their "discounted" price sticker.

What has the world come to? Now I don't trust if Waterford is still made in Ireland.

How can a brand keep their reputation if they outsource work out of the country?
Has anyone visited the actual store in England at the factory and seen items that were made in China?
Maybe it's only stuff shipped to the US like the toys with harmful elements versus what the Chinese buy. I'm not bashing China, only the companies that are outsourcing to save money while their employees or former employees have less and less job opportunity.

Perhaps all artists should be free agents and use eBay as their marketplace to make a name for artisan goods actually made in the country of residence.

I buy what I like rather than by brand as many high end brands are offering items that look no better or hold up no better than a less expensive item.

Even the "stores" on eBay selling the designer items through keeping up the real deal versus any knockoffs aren't divulging where the item is actually made. Is an Hermes scarf really worth over $400 based on name recognition. Maybe owning a one of a kind is tres importante and a business has to make money from the richest--if so then why move down the ladder to an online
auction site for NEW goods?

I'm just not a shopper/buyer.

Where have all the flowers gone?

Fall may be here on the calendar, but Mother Nature has been good to us so far. Only 2 days where the nip of fall was in the air. My new yellow rosebush that hasn't bloomed since June has pushed out a final bloom! A new blue flowering plant or weed has shown up in an area that usually has orange lilies.

At work we had an open house and 2 great flower arrangements could be found. Yes that is owl as the planter.

The blue vase is a new version of the older, heavier "McCoy"? style.

After vacation I haven't had the chance to get to an auction.

There is at least one great next Friday and one on the 29th looks good. Sales have been steady in September and October, still not where I'd like to be but a small profit after rent.