STOP!

One month from today my kids go back to school.

I'm not ready!

Summer just started.

They're growing up too fast.

My oldest (13) left for Boy Scout summer camp this morning. He never looked back.

My youngest, (almost 11) won't hold my hand in public anymore.

This mama's heart breaks over the passage of time.

A week ago I turned 48.

I look in the mirror and hardly recognize the face staring back at me.

It scares me how fast time is going.

I want it to stop. I want to hold my babies and know our future is ahead of us, that we have all the time in the world to chase fireflies, do belly flops at the pool, and to skip down the street hand in hand.

But time doesn't stand still.

My oldest is so strong, independent, confident and comfortable in his skin.

My youngest is hilarious, adorable, scary smart. The President of his school's student government for God's sake!

My role in their lives is changing.

My husband, their father, is their parent of choice these days.

Who does that make me?

What does that leave me?

What place will I have in their lives when they are gone?

I feel them slipping away............

And I am afraid.

Boom Chuka Luka!

Well if you've ever been to a Cub Scout camp then you may be familiar with the "Boom Chuka Luka" cheer all scouters know! Wish me luck tomorrow because my whole family will be starting an all week day camp and I'm my ten year old's den leader for the week!

The kids love it! BB's, archery, crafts, fishing, science, nature and scout skills! It doesn't get any better than that for the kids!

Wish me luck!

Testosterone and Fireworks

I don't think one exists without the other.

Think about it, how many of you went out and bought fireworks for the family to set off on the 4th of July? I didn't, and none of my female friends did, but all of the men I know did!

Now, don't get me wrong, I love fireworks. There's nothing better than sitting out on a beautiful July evening, with the family and some good friends watching a professional fireworks show. What I'm not too crazy about is a bunch of husbands, setting off fireworks in the backyard!

Moms tend to be a little (okay, way, more) cautious than dads. If I had my way, my kids would be a good 50 yards away from the person who is lighting the cherry bombs, bottle rockets, M-80's, and such. But that doesn't happen in my house. My husband thinks the kids (future men, which means future fireworks purchasers) are perfectly safe just behind his shoulder, watching, learning life's pyrotechnic lessons.
He thinks I'm a "little crazy" when it comes to worrying that one of them will get hurt.

My 10 year old, told me "Not to worry. We're men. We know what we're doing!"
Yea, right.
Well excuse me for not being comforted by the proclamation of a boy eight years away from being old enough to legally purchase fireworks!

So, as my friend Laurie and I tried to steer the kids away from the fireworks our husbands were eagerly setting off, it dawned on me.
If there's testosterone involved, there's going to be fireworks.
I might as well get used to it and just pray that no one gets hurt.
It's what men do.
(And fortunately, no one did get hurt!)


(Photo Courtesy of Mrs. Gemstone. www.flickr.com)

Is Chivalry Dead?

I've had a slow leak in one of my tires for a week or so.

Yesterday I drove to my neighborhood service station to fill it up with air. I pulled up to the air pump, hopped out of the car and got busy taking off the cap and checking the tire's pressure.

That's when I noticed the station's three technicians standing there.

Watching me.

Not one of them offered to help.

They're automobile technicians!

I go to that gas station all of the time!

Sure, I can fill a tire myself, but they work there! I expected one of them, just one, to offer to help.

It surprised me.

It made me sad to think chivalry is dead.

It made me go home and have a conversation with my two sons.

Another life lesson to teach. Another opportunity to teach my boys what would have been the kind, helpful thing to do for a woman.

The chivalrous thing to do.

I hope they listened to me.

Time will tell.

A Note About Friends

Today was the second day of my first Chartreuse and Co., barn sale. My partner, Molly, and I are having a great time and are thrilled at the response we've gotten from shoppers to the merchandise we've stocked our space with. I have to admit after two full days, and one to go, it's starting to look cleaned out! (And I'm starting to feel wiped out!!!)

As you know, I've been kicking open all kinds of new doors in my life and in the process I'm starting to see who my true friends are.

My family and I live 325 miles from our nearest relatives. It's not always easy being so far from "home". Many of you know what I mean. We no longer live in the same town as our closest relatives due to military moves, job opportunities, etc. And in the absence of family, you learn to count on friends for support, guidance, and as role models for our children when their aunts, uncles and grandparents live elsewhere.

I'm lucky because I have some very good friends. True friends. The kind of friends who drive two hours in torrential rain to support your dream. The kind of friends who call to wish you luck on a new venture. Friends who even though they can't make it, tell me they're thinking of me. Friends who ask questions, show genuine interest, and share in my joy.

I also find it amazing that I've developed new friendships through this blog with women who share the same dreams. I've been lucky enough to meet a couple of them, like Cassie and LuLu, in person. (In fact, both of them drove great distances to come to the sale this weekend!) We're there to support each other, nudge each other out of our comfort zones and cheer each other from the sidelines.

To the friends who have supported me, (new, old and bloggers) I thank you.
You're the best!

Busy, Busy, Busy

Molly and I worked hard today filling in our space at Chartreuse and Co., in anticipation of this weekend's monthly barn sale.

Here's a sneak peek of some of what we're offering!

At Last

Today is the first day of the kids' summer vacation.

We started it off just right.

Nothing but pool time and frozen icees.

It doesn't get any better than that.

(Oh, and don't even think I actually got in the pool! It's way too early in the season to subject little children to a chubby, pasty white suburban housewife in a swim-mini!)

JUST B - HOME, ART, LIFE

As you know, my friend Molly and I have started a new venture at Chartreuse and Co., in Buckeystown, Maryland. We'll be selling vintage finds, furniture, repurposed pieces, architectural salvage, and Molly's fabulous jewelry and original and graphically produced art.

We're now known as:


JUST B
HOME, ART, LIFE

as in
Just B….
Authentic
Beautiful
Gracious
Happy
Thankful
Etc.

Tell me what you think of our new name!

A New Venture

A couple of posts ago I wrote about a new door that was opening to me and I wasn't sure if I should go through it or close it and walk away.

Like most women I know I have the usual responsibilities: wife, mother, volunteer, job, etc. Plus with two boys, ages 13 and 10, and a airline pilot/military reservist husband who is not often home, I have a pretty full plate! So, piling on something else seemed a little daunting!

If you've been reading this blog for awhile then you already know about the barn sale I joined a few months ago. It was a dream come true for me and I absolutely love everything about it. The only problem is we only have shows twice a year. I had so much fun with the first two I did, I didn't want to stop. I really love doing The Barn Show and can't wait for the next one, but that won't be until October.

So in the meantime, a door cracked open. A really fabulous chartreuse colored door as a matter of fact! And guess what? I opened the door and stepped inside!

My friend Molly and I just signed on to be dealers at Chartreuse and Co.. It's a really cool, old dairy barn, that's been in the owner's family since 1942. The cows are long gone and the barn is now home to a monthly tag sale the third weekend of every month. I first stumbled on the barn in January and absolutely fell in love with what Virginia, the owner, and the rest of the dealers were creating there every month. It truly is amazing!

So in addition to the twice yearly barn shows I'll still be doing, I'll also be living out my dream on a monthly basis in an entirely different location, about an hour's drive from my home.

My plate definitely just got fuller, but I figure if I'm doing something I love, it will all work out. Besides, clean houses, balanced meals, and weedless gardens are really over-rated.

Don't you think?

The Luckett's Spring Market

I went to the spring market at Luckett's Store, in Virginia yesterday with a couple of my friends and we had a great time.

Check out the objects of my desire:

Opening Doors

Life is funny.

It has it's own schedule.

I didn't walk through a new door for a really long time.

And now I'm cracking open another one, taking a peek inside.

Should I close it, walk quietly away, or burst through to the other side?

How do you decide?

A Thank You

I woke up this morning bright and early so I could take my sons, a Boy Scout and a Cub Scout, to our local Veteran's Cemetery. We joined a couple of hundred other scouts and their families to honor the men and women who served our country to ensure our freedom. My friend, Brian, a Vietnam War veteran, and his son, Adam, also a scout, joined us in placing American flags on the headstones of the 16,000 veterans laid to rest there.

It was an honor to pay tribute to them in a small way. This weekend and everyday I thank them for their service.

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

John McRae
1872 - 1918

In Flanders Fields was written during World War I by Lt. Colonel John McRae on May 3, 1915, after he witnessed the death of his friend, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, only 22 years old, the day before.

Counting My Blessings

It's the morning of The Barn Show's one day sale and I'm already in tears. I woke up this morning and read an e-mail from a friend concerning our friendship that made me cry. Big fat, sobbing tears! But not the kind that are caused by bad news or profound grief. Joyful tears.

The kind of tears that come from that deep place in your soul where the joy is so strong and alive it's just busting to get out. How blessed I am to to have a loving supportive family, friends who care about me, a strong faith to sustain me and the knowledge that I am truly "living the dream". And I am so thankful.

We're Having a One Day Barn Show!

Fellow barn girl, Pam, and I were out bright and early Friday morning searching for inventory for the next barn show. We also met up with my friend Molly (Have you checked out Molly's Etsy shop yet?)

We had a great day and found lots of treasures. The best part is they'll all be available at the barn, this Wednesday, May 20th! So, fill up the gas tank, book your flight, do whatever you have to do to get to our one day sale this Wednesday!

Time for a Field Trip!

Two of my favorite places to shop for vintage furniture, antiques and repurposed pieces are holding their monthly sales this weekend. So, I'm heading out bright and early Friday morning to see what I can find.

My first stop will be in Buckeystown, Maryland to see Virginia of Chartreuse and Company and the other dealers she has in her fabulous barn and three outbuildings. The first time I walked through the green door and into her barn (in photo) I was just in awe because the space is fabulous! I also had the chance to hang out with Virginia, the owner, and Robin, one of her dealers at my favorite weekly auction last week on Maryland's eastern shore. So I can't wait to see what they have in store for their customers this month.

On Saturday morning, I'll be getting up even earlier than Friday morning to drive about an hour south to The Vintage Source, which also happens to be LuLu's favorite place to shop. Michelle, Joy, Cathy and Sheryl offer furniture, mirrors, slip covered chairs, funky pieces, etc., for the home. They're also having a flea market this weekend so it should be a great day of shopping!

Another shot of Chartreuse and Company's barn: