Deer Mountain Wood Art

In keeping with a theme that will hopefully help me keep up with my daily blogging, as well as organize my posts into something that readers can choose which days they are most interested in 'tuning in for', I've decided to base my blog on the days of the week poem, "Monday's Child", A Mother Goose Nursery Rhyme, and hope you'll enjoy the change!
I'm also going to be moving my blog to another platform, "WordPress", so that I have different options for posting and making use of the other goodies that are included so that the blog will be more fun and 'user-friendly' =D

It's been a while since I posted last - In the middle of trying to wrap my schedule around Deer Mountain Creations/Wood Art, working at home doing 'customer service', and home life, I wrenched my back and have been quite laid-up! :( Still suffering, but desperately trying to return to some semblance of living, I decided to go ahead and try to create Friday's post for you so that you won't forget me! lol
As I am still learning the skill of brevity, I'm sure this will remain my usual length, with multiple 'timeouts' for moving and relaxing my poor out-of-sync muscles...

So, "Friday's Child is Loving and Giving" seems to be appropriate to my way of trying to live, and I think it's a good re-introduction to my blog posts. Let's see what I can share with you that will help you in some way -

Maybe you're feeling a little frustrated by the overwhelming amount of layoffs and business closing/downsizing that we as Americans have been subject to lately?
Have you thought of trying to 'work at home'?
I know that in the recent past I've posted some offerings by companies that are finding the '@home worker' to be more cost-effective for their businesses or just flat out more convenient in terms of training and retention - either way, it's quickly becoming a phenomenon!

For the @home worker, it's the ease of finding hours in your day that can accommodate your child's soccer practice, or flexibility of working the late, LATE, or early, EARLY shift to accommodate the mother of under-school-aged children.
A lot of us, in these hard, nearly-critical, times just have to have a second, third, or even fourth job just to put bread on the table and gas in the car! Personally, I'm a hard-to-place disabled worker that can no longer support my family on the meager SDI I receive and hate being a burden to the country in general!
However you're facing your next 'career', the fact remains; there are more, highly-qualified, job seekers out there, and a true shortage of good-paying jobs. Now is when humility and patience can really be an asset to the unemployed worker!
If you're out in the 'real world', as I refer to it, then you are faced with hanging up your college degree and flipping burgers at McD's or scrubbing toilets for the local Park Service. But even with a 'home-based' job you're facing difficulties and disappointments, hence, the humility!

My first two days at West@home left me bawling like a baby! The first was a very perverted man who thought it fun to taunt me, with details of what he wanted to do to me, while I was taking his order. The second, one I also consider perverted, thought it was fun to take up my time asking questions about a product only to say at the last, "I'm sorry, I don't want to order anything. I just called to 'meet' you..." Boy, that one hit me wrong!lol But that's what I get for taking 10pm to 2am shifts! You learn fast in this business!!
Also, while it's never happened in my 'real world' experiences, I've already been 'reprimanded' twice for failing to take information properly - I was trying to save critically fragile sales and hurry the call for the customer so they didn't end up angry. It was my fault on both and I totally deserved the call-on-the-carpet, it was just painful is all... I've always prided myself on being a good employee and considerate and caring customer service professional, so when I failed at doing this, it crushed me...
Anyway, all jobs have their shortfalls and disappointments, but if you're hurting for cash and need a job, I believe that the 'telephone professional' career is definitely becoming the way to circumvent the 'real world' job shortage while allowing people to work and contribute that might not otherwise been able(like myself).
Below is a VERY small list of legitimate 'work@home' companies. I've been honored to be accepted for employment by 98% of the companies I applied to. I think, that in itself, proves that there is a large market opening up that can offer something for everyone.
Okay, I started to put the list here, but in searching for web addresses I found this blogger who'd already put up a beautiful, and seemingly, pretty complete list - check out her blog list here! Source: "Real WAH Jobs" - nice site with a LOT of great information! =D
Some of them offer full-time, others part-time. There's temporary and permanent positions. Some schedule you based on your hours of availability while others completely let you choose when you want/need to work. One of the problems with scheduling yourself, though, is that you might find it hard, amongst thousands of other workers, to actually grab enough hours to support yourself or your families. But like I said, everything has it's good and bad, and this, being the only way I can work right now, it's the perfect solution for me :)
Whatever you choose to do, in what seems to be one of the worst economies we've faced for a long time, I wish you luck and happiness! It may seem bleak right now, but it's always darkest before the dawn - who knows, maybe our new president can pull us out of this crisis, but I am a little dubious on the belief that the efforts of one person can make such a huge change - I pray for him though, as well as us all!!
That's it, for now, on the loving part of this Friday's post - now for the giving... I hope you enjoy!



Thanks for "stopping by the shop!"
Freida

I was so shocked to see that I've not posted anything since Jan 01!! Wow, time sure flies - wished I could've said it was from 'having fun'! lol

A little bit after Xmas I found myself landing 3 jobs for work@home companies!? I ended up taking just one so far; it seems to be all I can handle and still do my woodworking - but I'm so grateful that I get to try to be more productive and a better care-taker for my family!

I'm the one you talk to when you call about the infomercials you see all day and night. It could be a fun job if it weren't for all of the required 'upsells' that they make you read to the customer! After about the 7th offer, I usually end up with a frustrated and disgruntled person - it's definitely a skill to be able to do this job! lol Just a note; please be gentle with us! :) Just say "no" twice and we'll process your order and shut up! lol
It has caused me to get a little behind on everything while I attempt to work out a compatible schedule, but I'm starting to come to the surface for a much-needed breath of air! I'm only making minimum wage, but hope it picks up soon as I learn the ropes better...

Have had a few strange things happen that caused me to have flash backs of 2008; one of which was a good friend died suddenly from a heart attack. He was only 58 and he'd told his buddy the day before that he was having pains, but thought it was just something he ate... the next day he was found under the car he'd been working on, passed on... he'd been there for quite a while and it appears that he didn't suffer, but we're all still in shock over it. It definitely has caused Roger to look at himself and try to do better to stay here for his little boy! We're all walking a little softer these days.

Seems like I never have good news, but I do have one that is REALLY awesome! My nephew, Randy, and his wife Claudia, just had a beautiful little boy and my sis is a very proud, first-time, grandma!!! Our mom is there also, so they have all of the generations that are left to celebrate this amazing blessing =D Here's a pic of mr. 'Gonzo' on his first birthday -

Ain't he CUTE!!! {{{sigh}}} Hurry up boys and give ME one!!!!!! LOL

What a great way to bring in the new year, and I couldn't be prouder of Claudia for going thru a very trying labor - it was worth it wasn't it!!?! I bet you're already planning your next!lol =D Love is a great pain mitigator!! lol

So, you see, I'm not all downer and darkness! lol

I'm working on custom orders right now but I'm hoping to get some new things in the shop soon! When I finally get this one project done I'll be sure to post it here first :)

The boys are in school, Ryan's back in college, and Roger's in Aspen working on new construction with Jim, so it's pretty quiet - I took the day off the phones so that I can get one of my orders done but thought I'd drop a quick post to let you know I'm still kickin'! :)

Oh, and how could I forget!!?!? My little cockatiels have proven themselves and are sitting on four beautiful little eggs! (Roger was sure that they must be gay!? hah!) Petey didn't have any trouble with binding and Cherry is a very proud and protective papa and loving husband :) Even though it's cemented that Petey will never be my bird (she's taken up hissing at me now!), like Roo was, it's a beautiful thing and I surely hope that all will come out okay. Although they are young, they seem to know exactly what to do? It's so funny to hear Petey rolling the eggs around in her box - I call it 'bowling for babies'! teehee
In a couple of weeks we should know if I'm to be a new avian grandma and I'm prepared to take over if necessary - wish us luck on this one! =0) I will post pics soon - if they ever get out of the box at the same time!! lol

I hope everyone is well and happy - it's time for a New Year "Happy Post" and hope you all enjoy the picture of my new great-nephew! =D

Thanks for "stopping by the shop!"
Freida

I am so happy tonight =D Xmas is done and I squeaked by another year!lol I honestly did not get to do any shopping until last night and, man, it was hectic and frustrating, yet, I pulled it off again and all my little men are happy campers tonight! Whew!! Thank goodness I received a check yesterday and it all just fell into place!
I managed, just barely, to finish up the last two of the local orders I had out there and got them delivered and then, off to town with Austin (we had a "date"!).
I found out, once more, that that little guy has a LOT on his mind!lol I was certain that he would sleep on the long trip home, as I'm sure he was just exhausted from all the fun we had!, but no, he found the strength to carry on and keep me working on answers to his many questions and ideas! =D
He's such a great guy, and I was so proud of him as he struggled to maintain the fact that he was shopping for others, not himself, and I knew there was so much he saw that he wanted!! What a wonderful little trip - we even got to have a nice lunch at his favorite restaurant, "Big Daddy's" and he was so gentlemanly as he reached his little hand out to mine to help me out of the car and how he insisted on sitting next to me in the booth, instead of across from me! It was fun getting him to myself for this special occasion =D
We got home rather late, and I was so tired. The older boys started working on the ready-to-cook pizzas I'd brought home and Tyler and I plotted how we would get everything wrapped and still grab a few hours of sleep before Santa's bounty would be discovered - I think I did manage a few hours, but I was ready when morning came.
Austin did have a slight melt-down this morning as everyone put off the unwrapping for a hot cup of coffee and wake up time! I told him just a few minutes and it ended up more like 30 and you can bet he was beside himself when we finally got to it!lol Poor guy!
It's really funny, but I've always maintained that clothes were not something you get for Xmas because they're a necessity and as such it's something one has to get their children all year - but being broke and needing this type of thing, I broke down and purchased a few articles of much needed threads - they were very happy with what I gave them and Austin wore his new warmly-lined hoodie all day! Yay! I guess there's always a first time for everything!?!
I think we all made out like bandits though and I feel very blessed that I'm loved so much that my babies would work so hard to spend their own money on me and actually desire to see my happy face more than their own! It's very special to see them grow up and find out how they will handle such things - I couldn't be prouder =D
It seemed that everything everyone got was just what they needed, nothing more, nothing less - so well ends another Holiday and I'm glad it went well...
So, mostly I just want to wish you all a peaceful Xmas night and that you stay safe and warm for New Years =D Let's start 2009 off right!!
{{{hugs}}} and much love to all of my friends and family :)
Freida

Well, it's sure been a week - everything happens around here at the same time.
I was helping Jim Monday with arrangements for Mary, which seemed somewhat easier being on this side this time. Jim did well, and I was proud of him. The funeral director lady was a little too pragmatic for me, but I tried to keep Jim busy through her mantra about bodies and dates of arrivals etc... it was weird.
When we went back to Jim's he showed us a book that Mary had written in 1989; Hortense and Gertrude. I have heard that title before and found myself quite intrigued to find out she had several more volumes of children's stories she'd written. He might let me publish them and I'm easily thrilled by the idea of carrying on her legacy! :) I wish I could do something about her home - the walls are covered in beautiful eagles she's painted and little kitschy stuff everywhere - very eclectic but warm and homey - a style that is very close to the very core of me! What a creative and talented soul she was!! Maybe something good will come of all of this?
I had planned the next day to go see Denita. It started snowing but I found myself still happy about the journey to see my friend. I realized that she may not even know I was there, but still I would be by her side for a little while.
It continued to get colder and the snow deeper, but whatever - I can usually do what I put my mind to, so what's a little snow!?
The next morning I awoke to around 9" of fresh frozen snow - the wind was picking up and I was beginning to seriously wonder about my decision. I heard the phone ring, but I was rushing around getting orders ready to post, so I didn't realize that anything important was going on until Roger's words stopped me in my tracks, "Denita died last night". He was so monotone that I thought I may have misunderstood so I kept standing there waiting for him to clarify his statement. I hadn't heard wrong though. sigh... He had told Vivian that I was out working and would call her later. I guess he was hoping that by his telling me that it would be easier to take. In a way it may have appeared so, but in truth it just made it seem more surreal. I didn't cry really, and haven't until tonight.
We had a Christmas concert to go to tonight - running down the mountain on icy winding roads is enough to keep me distracted from the dreaded dark of night! When we got to the concert though and all of the unknown faces greeted me, the reality of this loss kind of hit me right between the eyes. After all of these years I didn't see more than 3 or 4 people, besides teachers and faculty, that I actually recognized?
It's not like Denita would've been there - her kids graduated with mine pretty much - but it dawned on me that all of the people that made this a community for me in the past were gone. Whether they've died, moved on, or just had kids that grew out of the school doesn't really matter, they're gone just the same. Blah, what a crappy feeling - I need to find my smile tonite. My face feels like I've had a bad dose of Botox! :(
Anyway, Kay kind of brought everything in perspective the other day when she said to not feel bad for her, we're the ones that are left to feel the loss and she won't be in pain anymore. I could tell that that was how she really felt and wasn't just trying to cheer me up. She was so silly about it all that it just really made me look at death in a whole different way - I sure do love that woman! :]
So with that, even though even the local doggies seem to be passing away from obscure diseases and I have only a handful of friends left, I vow to carry on - no more dark posts, no more will the stale pall of death and loss overshadow me! I will do as Kay has bid; live with everything you have, enjoy every moment, and pass from this world knowing you've left something behind that's worthy of remembering you by!
Done and done - now, I'm going to go be with my babies and new puppy and breathe in the air that carries the hope that only holidays like Christmas can give - life doesn't stand still for anyone, and it is our choice what we do with what we have....
Blessings,
Freida

I have been trying hard today to get it together - just haven't felt like much of anything at all! I even went out and planed a board for a project thinking maybe I just needed to get something going and I'd be alright. {sigh} Nothing's working - I know I'm getting LittleMan's strep - when I was in my teens I came down with it every 6 months like clockwork and I don't take being sick well - for me, it's a weakness that I can't allow myself :( Besides that, what mother is truly every allowed to get sick!?!? Laying in bed all day, getting waited on!?! hah! like that would happen!!lol


ANYWAY, I just heard from a friend of ours and I had to relay my happiness and a story of true love - the kind you don't see anymore.

My hubby works for a man named Jim. His wife, MaryLou, is a stoic, and stern woman of Native American descent, whom I've never had the courage to try and get to know. I have waved at her here and there, but never 'officially' met her.

I made her a NFL Steeler's Helmet a while back as Jim said that was her favorite team, and he gave it to her as a present from me - and even though she said she didn't know what she's "...going to do with that...", Jim said he's caught her on occasion "petting" it (everything I make is extremely silky to touch - my trademark of sorts) along with other things I've made them - lots of eagles! - but will put it down the minute he comes into the room!lol I think that's cute :) It was great that Jim told me this, as I worry unless I know the recipient likes what I've made them!lol

But anyway, she had a stroke many years ago that's left her unable to smile really, or talk clearly, or be out of a wheelchair and my husband is often called to look in on her. Every time they are out working on a job somewhere, Jim calls Mary 20 times or more a day to check on her - or takes her with him if he's going to be gone long. Every once in a while she'll knock the phone off the receiver or fall out of her chair and he freaks out until he can get home to see if she's okay. I couldn't understand their relationship though, as my hubby will tell me, " She wanted a big screen t.v. and Jim went and bought her a 70" t.v. and she doesn't like it" or before she'd had her stroke, things like, "He bought her this really fancy car that cost an arm and a leg and she hated it - it's sat in the garage ever since"... things like that. So maybe you can see why I am in awe of this relationship - Jim is one of those guys that you just don't find anywhere - and she's supposedly cheated on him and everything else during their many years together(according to her son) and treats him like crap. There's got to be more to it than that though, I tell myself. There's nobody that good - that loving - that unselfish...! I don't know if I'll ever know for sure?
Anyway, the other month she had another stroke. She's been in and out of surgery, in and out of a coma, on death's door for over a month and a half. Jim's been there, every minute, by her side - grieving and crying over her. I don't think he's even eaten more than a sandwich a week. He and Roger went to work one day and they made it half a day and then Jim was off, driving the 40+ miles to be by her side. He almost went crazy trying to get out of that job! I've talked to him on several occasions during this and am just floored by the fact that if something happens to her, he's gone - there's no doubt in my mind! So I pray for her, for him. They let him go into ICU for 20 minutes of every hour, and he's not missed one except the day he tried to work. The doctors have told him to go home, "she doesn't know you're here" and I'm sure he is exhausted! But he stays. Today, he made me cry.

He says he went in her room and went towards the bed to be by her and she reached up and grabbed his shirt, pulled him down and hugged him, patted his back and said, "maybe just 5 more minutes..." He called crying, she's not spoke this whole time - she even had to have a trac put in last week cuz she couldn't breath. But she still managed to speak to him through all of this today and I'm beside myself in joy. I don't even know the woman, but I am sitting here bawling like a baby on the phone with him!?! I love this man and what he is to her - it's so uplifting in such a dismal world! Even today I heard that two people I never thought would be apart after over 25 years are going their separate ways! I hate divorce, it's too easy! I'm with a man 20 years my senior, who doesn't offer me much - but we are together, and we have a miracle of a child - God wants us to be together - I don't know why, but He does! I've thought many times of escape over the years - regret filling every pore of my being, but I toughed it out and will until 'death do us part' - Divorce should NOT be easy!! We are friends now, but if I had let my emotions rule me then I would have missed out on a lot! Be patient with each other, be kind. Life's too short! I'm hoping that Mary truly will be 'on the mend' but I can't help thinking that the old adage, "a bulb burns brightest before it goes out" and how this might apply to Mary. She's in such bad shape, but I will never try to out-guess what God might have in store for any of us and she just might pull through it!?
Do you have what it takes to be this loving, faithful, and devoted - do I? I don't know, but I think I have met someone who does!
{{{hugs}}}
Freida


Thanks for "stopping by the shop!"

I am having such a good day! Everything is going well - I finally figured out how to finish a piece I've been working on for so long, took another order, and have two more in the wings! It just feels like nothing can dent my happy today =D
I decided to brush off the sawdust and take a coffee break and I found this little email that stated my blog had been accepted by "Blogged"! I wasn't sure that I'd get that email, being such a puny contributor to the blogosphere and not only did I get accepted but they rated me a 6.6! I'm just in heaven :-) and it's all because you have shown me the love! Thank you!! I feel like I won an Emmy and should give an acceptance speech! lol I know, I know... it's not that big a deal, but wow, I sure feel happy! =>
Anyway, coffee break's over - just thought I'd share and in doing so, bring a little sunshine to your webworld =D
Thanks for "stopping by the shop!"
Freida
oh, and if you have time it sure would be great if you'd give a rating for my blog! I'll bake you cookies!!?!

Well, my son didn't want to hear it, so I thought I'd tell you! lol Sometimes a mother's advice can be received with less enthusiasm than a snowstorm, but I was compelled to tell my son what he was doing wrong in his relationship... I know this is supposed to be about business, but my passion for wood is no greater than my passion for my children, there's just no separation between 'church and state', even in my blog.
My oldest told me this morning that he was going down to talk to his gf about the problems that were brewing.
1. he told her that she could have all of the male friends she wants as long as he gets to meet them before she is allowed to hang out with them - OUCH!! Doesn't that sound a little possessive???
First of all, never, and I mean NEVER! tell anyone who they can hang around with!! If I were her, I would've ran screaming from him... he says, "she tells me who I can hang out with, so I can do the same..." NO, you can't!
It's wrong, but normal, for her to tell you that, but you'll never get anywhere telling a woman that! lol It may be double standard, but heck, guys hang out with chicks because they want to do something with them - it's not usually the case for the female sex. I just happen to get along better with guys, but I don't want to sleep with them!?!
Secondly, he snuck into her MySpace account and found out she wasn't talking so nicely about him - well, do I have to say this? lol If you're looking, then you already know what's going on, but that's like looking in her diary! If he goes down and tells her, "I hacked into your MySpace account..." then he will surely come home a single guy once more! I don't know why girls complain about their men to others, and make things up, but they do :0( Shame on her, but SHAME on YOU for looking!!!
My poor baby is about to head to college in a few days and already the fort is crumbling - we told him so, but you can't tell the young anything - they know it all! How can a long distance relationship like this survive a school full of college girls?!? He's only human. My thought is that they are in this shape now because they know that it's not going to work out and for some reason we all need to be mad at each other to separate - it just unfortunately normal and I hate to see him hurt. He always gets hurt and he's such a good man. He never speaks ill of her about anything, but it's not in a woman's nature to be the same loyal companion... Sorry guys.
Anyway, just had to get that off my chest - he's going to his love pyre and I feel like he's earned it for his 'attempt at ownership' of a cat-like creature. Men are dogs, but women are cats... you get where I'm going on that! lol
Thanks for "stopping by the shop" uh, I mean "as the stomach churns"
Freida