Why I Have Been an Absentee Blogger

First of all, I apologize to those of you who have written and asked about me and to those new followers who've sent me such complimentary messages about my blog and decorating.   Thank you for your kind words.

I have spent days trying to conjure up some motivation to post about everything going on with me right now.  I must have a dozen drafts saved in my unpublished posts working up to this one. And so, leaving all of those posts in the draft bin,  here I am writing what I intend to be a short explanation with a few details about why I've not posted anything for a few weeks. 

For a variety of reasons, we are moving to another house and closing down the shop I opened to the public only six months ago.  Both decisions came about quickly. I have mixed feelings.  I will continue with my online transferware business and with my blog, but will not be importing furniture or have a store front, at least for the time being.  The majority of my business is done online so there really are no loss of sales, but it is still somewhat sad to close down the shop after putting so much work into it without really giving it enough time to get it going.

We looked and looked for another house.  After finding one great house and making the call to say we'd take it, the leasing agent told Shawn he had just leased it an hour or so before!  Being on a very tight schedule, we spent a few more days feverishly searching for another home.  It got to the point where we were willing to take about anything we could find that would accommodate our family space wise for the next year or two. We even went as far as taking out a house wanted for lease ad.   I found another home that would suit our needs, met with the leasing agent and then fell for the line that "oh, once a deposit is made on the home it will be taken off the market so that noone else can lease it".  I wrote a check for the deposit and was assured that we'd get together in the morning to sign the lease. Morning came and went, and so did afternoon.  We called the agent several times over the next few days and finally received a return call four days later, only to be told that someone else offered $100 more per month on the house.  I think it's fair to say that we were used as a negotiating tool for a higher rent.

Our search for a house continued but with needing to be out of the house we are currently in by yesterday, April 1, our options were scant.  We were barely able to get our move out date pushed to April 15th.  We decided that we'd put some things in a storage unit and rent a 3 bedroom apartment for six months.  On our way out to look at a couple of apartments we'd called on I had vaguely remembered seeing a 'for lease' sign not far from where we live now.  We drove to the neighborhood and though we never found the sign I thought I'd seen, we did wind up driving around and thinking of how certain aspects of the area we were seeing reminded us of the neighborhood we lived in while in Colorado.  As we were turning to head back out of the subdivision, we both noticed a 'for lease' sign on a house.  We pulled up to the front of it and simultaneously commented that it looked too small for our large family, but then decided it would probably be larger still than an apartment and so called the phone number on the sign.  We learned that the house had just come up for lease that day and that the door was left unlocked so we were able to go on in and take a look.  We took one step inside and after gasping a few times for air because it smelled as bad as anything either of us had ever smelled before, and looked very reminiscent of a house off of Hoarders, we absolutely loved it!  We both have the ability to see past major filth and neglect.   Shawn called the agent back and she said they would put in brand new floors throughout, allow us to decorate it any way we wanted, pay for paint that I would get to choose and so on.  Two days later we met and signed the lease.  She had her flooring guy there the day after we verbally committed to leasing the house. The floors are almost finished and we can begin moving in any time. 

Often, I find it difficult  to decide how much of myself I want to put out 'there' for virtually anyone to read about.   One secret I've been keeping for several months now, and that has weighed greatly on the decision for us to move and close my shop is that my husband had an opportunity to get into the restaurant business.    As I have more time to write about it and share more information about this, I will. This 'opportunity' seems to have taken over our lives lately.  And, honestly I have mixed feelings about it too.  Shawn is working a minimum of 70 hours a week away from home.  All four of our boys are working with their Dad, two of them as full time employees.   I have tried juggling my time between my online business, some custom design work, weekend liquidation sales on the furniture and a WHOLE lot of packing and sorting.  I'm up to my eyeballs in boxes and packing materials both at home and at the shop.  Both places are in such disarray right now.

Well, my post isn't as short as I'd anticipated.  I'm sorry.  I just really felt I needed to let some of you know just a little of what's been happening here.  I have also been with no washing machine for three days...which is almost unbearable!  

If you made it through this post then bless you for taking the time to read it! Please check out this giveaway to my English Transferware  shop on Etsy that Kim is hosting over at Savvy Southern Style.  Thank you Kim!




Comments

  1. Oh goodness, your life really has been turned upside down and inside out these past few weeks!! Sorry to hear that you had such a nightmare experience with the leasing, but glad that you found something that will work for your family, at least temporarily. Sad to hear that your cute little shop is closing. I LOVED the pictures you posted from it. Best of luck with the exciting new restaurant venture!! I hope you will tell us more about that when you have the time. PS- If you lived near me you could just come over and use my washing machine.

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  2. Thanks so much for sharing Nancy. With so much going on, please know you are only one person so just do the best you can each day. Wish I lived close so that I could help...I'll be praying for you!
    Blessings Sweetie!
    Cindy

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  3. Bless your heart! That is overwhelming.
    I'm happy you did find a place.
    My son thinks he wants to own a restaurant...
    it is so consuming I know.

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  4. Wow! You do have a lot going on! I would have never thought it would be so hard to find a house to lease in Tulsa. But come to think of it last time some friends of mine were trying to lease a house...they had people actually run to the door to see if before them even though they had an appointment with the owner and the couple who ended up leasing did not. It's hard when you have lots of changes all at once...believe me I know. I was excited today to see your giveaway over on Savvy Southern Style. I've enjoyed looking at all your beautiful transferware and dreaming. How exciting that you finally found the perfect house. Good luck with the restaurant!

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  5. Good luck, Nancy. I will keep you and your family in my thoughts. I enjoy your blog so much.

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  6. Nancy!!
    So good to read your post... lot's of changes for you and your family... thanks for sharing.. I was wondering where you were!!

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  7. Sending hugs and best wishes for the success of the restaurant. Hopefully, in the near future, things will slow down a bit.
    Beckie in Brentwood, TN

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  8. Wow, it sounds like your life is crazy at the moment. I found you through Kim's blog and I wish you all the best as you and your family venture off into a new direction. I lead a crazy life too, much of which I leave off of my blog, so I can relate, but sometimes putting yourself out there allows others to help you through the crazy times!

    Best of luck and thank you for the giveaway!

    Kat :)

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  9. Life is full of ups and downs & often throws you curve balls...you either duck or get hit...I have learned that God does not allow you to bear more than you can carry...the load may get heavy, but girl, you get stronger! I dont even know you, but your story touched my heart. Life is crazy! Life is often unfair! But Life is good living in the USA with freedoms many will never have or can even dream of...May your load get lighter (and washed...thought you needed a little humor)...thanx for sharing and I love your Etsy site...already signed up for the giveaway. Tiff at The Cranky Queen

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  10. Isn't God so creative when we finally sit back and allow him to be. He probably made that house smell so that no one else would look at it. He knew that a house that allowed you to add your talented eye and touch would give you the opportunity to look forward and not back. It's so much nicer to look forward. We did a Bible study on stress one time...it's a little Serendipity Series book. At the end, we filled out a survey of different things that we'd each done or experienced in the past 12 months...some were good and some were hard/sad/bad. Turned out it didn't matter because all of the above can be stress makers. One of the Garden Friends looked at her list and said, "I think that I'm supposed to be dead." I'm going to be away next week...don't know if I'll be able to post or not...but I'll be looking for updates from you. I can hardly wait to see pics of your new home...with your special talents, it's going to be a jewel. Thanks for trusting us with your journey. Cherry Kay

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  11. Nancy, I missed your beautiful tablescapes and I am glad to see you back. Sorry you have had a tough time and I hope you have much happiness in your new home.
    Hugs,
    Sherry

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  12. Thank you for sharing this piece of your life on your blog. Thankful you have found a place to call home. Hope a washing machine/dryer is in your near future, I know how maddening it can be without them (as well as very time consuming going out to do the laundry). So many changes so quickly. Take care of your health.
    - Joy

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  13. Nancy, I'm sorry you have had to close your shop. I really enjoyed visiting you and all your beautiful transferware. I know life can give some unexpected surprises. I was diagnosed with cancer in February and have just started chemo. I'll just have to shop your online store. I wish you and your family the best with all the changes. Hope your husband has great success with his business venture. Let me know what the name and location is so I can visit when I can travel to Tulsa. Pam

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  14. Nancy,
    Best of luck to you and your family. New beginnings are often full of a lot of blessings. Hoping you are settled soon.
    Sherry

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  15. Oh, how I have missed you, I knew something had to be up......so sorry for all the turmoil in your life right now and thank you for sharing and trusting us. If I were closer, I'd be there in a minute to help and would do your laundry!!! I have family in the restaurant business and it can eat away at your life. So sorry about your beautiful shop, you worked so hard...that's okay, another oppertunity will come along and it will be better than the last.....take care of yourself....hugs...Cleo

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  16. Bless your heart, Nancy. I'm so glad to know that things have worked out for the good. Take your time to get settled and organized.
    big hugs,
    Debra

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  17. WOW!!! Life can be that crazy some times and it all seems to come at you full force! I hope you will be able to calm down in the next few weeks but I completely get moving as being a never ending process ;) I'm still not settled and now have to get my things from my mom's as she too is moving by the end of the month. No time to breath and all you do in down time is sleep. I hope you really love your new place and can enjoy it completely soon!
    Hugs, Lisa

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  18. Oh Nancy, I am so sorry for all the stress that you have gone trhough but I know everything will work out in the end. Good luck!...Christine

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  19. Oh Nancy moving is stressfull at the best of times without a business to worry about. Ive just sold my house & due to move in May but Im not going far just in with partner for now so hopefully fairly straight forward know house to purchase right now & still near work 7 my sons school. I wish you all the best

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  20. Dear Nancy, I'm so sorry that things didn't go as smoothly as you had wished, but I'm so relieved for you and your dear family that you have found the 'right' house and will soon be settled again. Things will work out okay for you all. Take care of yourselves.
    Hugs
    Rose H

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  21. You've been busy! Wishing you all the best with these changes and new adventures Nancy! Take care:@)

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  22. I have been wondering about you Nancy and was going to write you and then I see this post. How distressing, I really feel for you and Shawn and the kids. It is a rough stretch of road right now. I will say prayers for extra strength to get you through. You are a special mom and wife and they all need you to create a home for them, and I can see you are taking on the task and will do it well. Home is where the family is. I am sad that you had to give up the storefront, as I know what work you put into it. The restaurant business is a tough one, and I wish all success on that front. Your Shawn is not afraid of hard work! I wish I could come out and give you a big hug and help you paint your new house!! xxoo

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  23. Good luck on the new venture. I know you will make the new home just as perfect as the one you have now. I will keep you in prayer. Your giveaway is stunning. Hugs, Marty

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  24. Thank you for sharing this part of your life with us. Just know that a lot of us have been in uncertain situations in our lives and definitely understand. I do know that God works miracles and will provide for you both physically and spiritually. Glad you're back and hope you have a great week ahead. Take care.
    Babs

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  25. Bless your heart, Nancy...you sure have a full plate at the moment, but I know everything will work out for you.
    I recognize the Tonquin pattern in the picture!

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  26. Oh I hope you enjoy your new place. Moving is such hard work...my hubby hints of it, and I am in a tizzy. Good luck!!

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  27. Hi Nancy~ I have been missing your posts too! Gosh, it sounds like you have a lot on your plate right now. Wish we lived closer, I would come help you pack up and move. Hope things settle down for you and your family soon and you are back to feeling like you. Sending hugs your way- Courtney

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  28. Oh Kim, good for you at sharing something so personal.I have no idea what Faith you are,or even what you believe.Just remember there are little old ladies out here that would love to support you in prayer.Take advantage of us,thats one of our jobs.If you get overwhelmed there are others of us that will hold you up in prayer.In Christ,Denise

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  29. Hi Nancy,
    My sister just went throught the same ordeal with leasing a house! I cannot believe the dishonesty out there! Especially, in hard times like this. I'm so sorry that you had to go through this too.
    And I have been an owner of a restaurant before. And it is SO time consuming. My 2 youngest children were at home at the time and we lived and breathed that place. Because of my health we had to sell but that kind of business is not for the faint at heart. It is very hard work and a lot of dedication. With a lot of sacrificing of other things. Which for me were more important. I don't regret the experience one bit but it was an eye opening, educational episode in my life that I don't care to encounter again.
    Praying for you and your family.
    Hugs,
    Sonya
    P.S. I am thankful that you are not closing your etsy shop. I love looking at all your beautiful dishes...and hoping I can afford to start purchasing soon. Blessings~

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  30. What an awful lot on your (pardon the pun...) plate. Good luck with all of the packing, and it does sound as it if it will all work out in the end -- best wishes to you and your family for as smooth a transition as possible! And good luck in all your new family ventures.

    Becky at Farm School

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  31. Hi Nancy,
    You certainly have a lot going on right now. I am glad you found a home for you and your family that you will soon be settled right into.
    I hope all goes well for you now.

    Take care,
    Carolyn

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  32. So glad you are back! So sorry your life has had some challenges for you!! I am sorry you closed your business after only such a short time. Things will get better, they always do.

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  33. Nancy,

    Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to update your fans!! We all love you posts and would surely hate it if you closed your blog! I hate to hear you are closing your lovely shop..I so hoped I would get a visit in this summer! The restaurant business sounds so exciting..I know it's tons of work..my sons have worked in restaurants and it's a demanding line of work! Hope you get your rest and get through the move with minimal stress..if that's possible..moving is always stressful to me! Take care of yourself..sending prayers your way!! Miss Bloomers

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  34. Best of luck as you start a new chapter in your life.

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  35. Good luck with all the new things happening in the family! Good luck with the new house too!

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  36. Nancy, I am so sorry things have gotten difficult for you and your family. I will be praying that everything will come together quickly.

    Tess

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  37. Good to see you back, Nancy, and to know that all is well.
    You've a lot on your plate right now, good luck with the house move, it sounds right (when the cleaning is done, that is!)
    Take it easy as you can.

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  38. Oh, my! You must be over the top on that life stressor meter! Love your blog!

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  39. Girl, it's incredible that you are among the living with all that is on your plate! Keep your chin up and know that we are praying for you every single day. I'm proud of you for sharing. It always amazes me how it helps us all feel like we're not so alone. So many kind words from those who follow your blog. I know it was hard for you to close your shop. You have handled it with the greatest of class. Things will work out. I love you so much. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help!

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  40. Nancy, I am so glad that you found something! Wow! Lots going on in your life. I like it that your sons and husband can work together, but life sounds hectic. I have no doubt that you can transform that home into a haven for your family. I am sorry about your shop as I have seen pics of it and you did such a great job. Good luck in your new ventures. Joni

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  41. Oh my goodness!!!! You have had quite a wild ride! I hope that all goes well for you now...good luck with your house renovations and the packing and unpacking...yikes!!
    Blessings to you my dear,
    Jaybird

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  42. Nancy, it's always something in our lives. I'm glad you found a house that you're happy with. No doubt you will transform it into a gorgeous home for your family. Even with all this uncertainty and stress in your life you took time to mail the precious little cow creamer to me. You are amazing!
    Hope all goes smoothly for you, and I wish Shawn much success with his new venture. Congratulations! And again, thank you for your thoughtfulness. ~ Sarah

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  43. Gosh, Nancy, I'm glad you all finally found a place to settle - how disconcerting! Keep us in the loop :), blessings--I hope your family of men don't work too hard.

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  44. How amazing that you found that house and they were so willing to let you make the changes you needed. Happy for you!

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  45. Wow! I thought I had a lot of things going on with us wanting to move and all. I'm so happy you found a house that you like and I'm sure they're very happy to have you all living there and taking good care of it. Best of luck to your family with the restaurant!

    Manuela

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  46. I for one thank you for your lengthy post. You've been missed. I so well understand the struggle of what to put out there for everyone to read and know. But the truth is we develop these on line relationships and care about our blogging friends. Thank you for filling us in.

    Wow, you have a lot on your plate. Not knowing where you're going to live has to be one of the most unsettling of things. It sounds like you've found a good spot for the next journey in your life. Thankfully, most dirt and filth can be cleaned away. Your magical touches will have the place looking so special and loved in no time, I'm sure. You've got to take some before shots!

    Good luck with this whole restaurant concept. Such a hard business. Lucky to have your children in the business with you.But I am soooo sadened to hear that you are closing your shop. I so enjoyed seeing your shots and what you had developed.

    Lots of decisions and choices. I'll say a prayer for you. Take some comfort in knowing that your online friends care about you and your family. Once you get settled, looking forward to seeing and learning more about your new journey.

    - The Tablescaper

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