MORE Progress...

Today, I went to Annapolis. Walking from the parking garage to the courthouse on Church Circle reminded me of why I like this area so much... Brick sidewalks and tour guides walking around in costume give you the feeling of less hectic times.

The licensing division clerks were very helpful; entering all the information for my business license took only minutes. When we were finished, I was given a sheet of paper with instructions to go to the Department of Taxation and Assessments. I checked in there at 11:01 and checked out at 11:04. I went back to the licensing department with all my I's dotted and T's crossed; the clerk finished my processing and was patient while her supervisor looked over her shoulder to check her work. She handed me my business license with a smile of satisfaction. "You look like you may be new at this", I said. "It's my first one", she replied. "Mine too", I responded. I wished them a good day and left the courthouse walking on a cloud with license in hand. I am in business! WISH ME LUCK!

PROGRESS!

I feel remiss in my duties to keep everyone up to date on my "adventure"! Boo is home from school and I have been working very hard to keep my ducklings in line and move them forward.

Since my last post, my Pennsylvania-based scouts have determined that another party has designs on the little house on Muddy Creek Road and claims to have negotiated a lease; apparently, to open a consignment shop! It is a small world after all...

I have located another space. This one is in a "strip" of other commercial businesses including a burger joint, a dentists' office and a coffee/gift shop. It is also closer to home (if that was, indeed, possible). It has possibilities of future expansion and has good karma (more on that later). I gave the agent a deposit on the property yesterday and am in the process of negotiating a lease. They tell me I can start painting any day now! Red is coming down tomorrow to help me with layout plans and colors. She's the BEST!

I have also FINALLY decided on a software package and have dropped my computer off at the "techie shop" (local) to have it reformatted and given a memory boost. The people at Verizon and Comcast are sparring over my account (I wish) and the electricity supplier wants my firs-born as a deposit. Never mind I have been paying my bill on time for decades! This is a business.

On a more uplifting note, I went to an auction on Saturday. Noon til 6:30 then 7 til 9:30. I had an amazing time. It was intriguing to see the interest in each item and the personalities of the people who shall become my peers in this adventure. I came home with some ordinary things and some that were not so. One of the items I purchased in a $1.00 box turned out to be quite collectible. Thanks to the gentleman who knew his stuff and told me after I got it! I had information that I was able to share with others as well, and felt it was time well spent!

In all, it has been a very productive week. I hope to have a signed lease in a few days and keys to my own store. I have a separate blog to promote the shop and give customers information regarding consignments and store policies. I hope that all my cheerleaders will take a look and let me know what they see and suggestions for changes! After all, it takes a village (or, in this case, a team).

My Hometown

One of the biggest advantages to being (hopefully, temporarily) unemployed is having the ability to fully experience my community. Deale, for those of you who have not been here, is really more a village than a town. Nearly all the businesses are locally owned and there are only few franchises such as 7-Eleven and Subway. We have our own public library, a post office, several banks and some nice cafe’s and restaurants; no fancy cuisine, but good basic food. Charter fishing and the boating industry in general, are the reason that a lot of people come to Deale. On the weekends, the parade of charter boats files down the creek navigating the narrow channel to the Chesapeake Bay. The water is not deep and more than once, we have passed a boater “grounded” in the shallows just a few feet from the channel markers. We have water all around us and it is bustling with activity at this time of year.

This aerial photo shows Deale bordered by creeks and the Chesapeake Bay. Farmland and fields cover the inland hillsides.

I have been riding my bike several times a week. Today I rode up the hill, away from Deale, and explored the winding roads that are lined with farms and simple frame houses. A good 10 mile ride by the time I got home, and I was ready to take a little break!

Our backyard is an “oasis” as a friend of mine commented recently. Bordered by very large trees, our neighbor has a great old barnwood shed with a rusty roof that creates a backdrop for the view out back. The shed, so it seems, is the home of another community of sorts. Woodchucks. Plural. We have had a woodchuck visit our yard every year around this time. I had been fearful that our garage floor would collapse from the tunnels underneath and I convinced my long-suffering partner to try to help me eradicate the creature. Well, we’ve been here 16 years and so has Chuckie. Well maybe Chuckie or Chuckie Jr.. How long is the lifespan of a woodchuck? Today, I was introduced to Chuckie’s family. I hope it was the WHOLE family but, probably not. I watched from inside as two smaller chuckies came out from the hole by the compost pile to enjoy a meal of the mulberries that fall from the tree behind the garage and a third smaller chuck was peering out of the tunnel under the garage! I’m sure they have probably been enjoying the vacant splendor of our backyard all these years while we’ve been at work! Later, as I was explaining all of this to hubby, we looked out to discover that a fifth family member had joined the party. Mulberry dessert at the house behind the shed! I tried to get a picture of the whole family, but the kids were a little shy...

Lest you think I have just been spending my time idly watching woodchucks and going on cross-country bike rides, I applied for my LLC yesterday and am working through the maze of software demo programs to find the right program to use at Second Wind Consignments. I’ve talked with bankers, insurance agents, bookkeepers and attorneys. No, I haven’t committed to a location. I’m sure it will happen when the time is right. Maybe I haven’t found the perfect one yet! Maybe tomorrow....

One Man's Trash

Saturday is treasure hunting day. Yard sales, moving sales and heavenly trash sales (at the church up the road) are all good placed to find inventory for the shop. We don’t really go with specific items in mind but to see what may present itself. ​

Among my favorites are the goblins ($1), the wasp trap ($.50), and the framed Klimt poster (free). 

I’m still working on my ebay training! I have actually sold every item that I listed! The dollar profits have not been great but the experience has been invaluable! 

Wanted: Seedlings

I’m not sure of the species, but if you happen to run across a tree that looks like this, please let me know right away! I could use a few!

A good friend is cheaper than therapy. ~Author Unknown

Yesterday was my day to run errands in town. I’d love to stay in sleepy little Deale, but as of yet, Trader Joe’s does not deliver! There’s something to be said about stocking up...4 pounds of walnuts, 3 pounds of almonds, 2 quarts of olive oil, a pound of feta cheese, the list goes on. It's 20 miles to get to the nearest TJ’s but definitely worth the drive.

On my way in to town, I stopped to see my BFF. She and I have been friends for almost 20 years. We have worked and spent many travel days together, and shared hotel rooms for days on end. One of my favorite stories of her childhood has to do with a pair of red cowboy boots that she loved so much, she wore them constantly until she could no longer fit into them. The picture is priceless! It’s one of the things I love so much about her; she shares her whole self. I feel like I’ve known her all my life. Another sister. How lucky can a girl get? Her "blog name" will be Red. ​

I had intended to stop for only a few minutes. It was a gorgeous day; warm, starting to get just a little humid, but so nice to be outside. Red was working in her garden when I arrived. She took a break and we sat on the deck to talk for a bit. As things go with a BFF, we talk about everything. She has been so supportive of my new business venture and, having owned her own business years ago, seems to know just what to say to help me work through some of the details that are weighing me down. I always feel just a little lighter after our visits!

A few minutes almost always turns into more when Red and I are together. An hour later, I left her house and completed my errands for the day. TJ’s was crowded (as usual) and the bank was not (as usual). I drove back to “South County” and assessed what was left of my day.

I have been putting a lot of time and energy into developing my business plan and it is almost complete. Parts that remain incomplete are those which require numbers. How does one estimate the success of a dream? It is an awful lot like raising children. You read all the books, follow all the rules, and then one day, they deviate from the plan. Good or not. Come to think of it, I guess raising kids is good practice for starting a a business! I hope to have the same luck this time around.