I did the ebay thing last Christmas too, so I understand, a little, how crazy it can be for us toy sellers this time of year. So when I receive fun feedback, I want to share. I just received the funniest feedback I've ever received in my young-ish ebay life. I quote:

"Theres a Gold Mine in them there hills!! Check this seller out...DINOMITE!!"

This buyer wanted me to disassemble a boxed set of "weency-tiny" babies, diapers, various accessories, and a changing table and send only the little stuff, not the table. So as to save shipping, perhaps, or maybe her kids have the changing table and lost everything else. So I did it, strange as it sounded. And she left me that hilarious feedback.

I'm thinking that the Gold Mine is in a buyer like that!  Merry Christmas everyone!

Sunny Bob Boy

I just got a toungue in cheek reprimand for not blogging since September on my xanga. So I directed them here, and realized that, uh, I haven't really been on here either! But I've got new stuff coming, so I wanted to tell you about it!

We're in Winona right now; at the site of the terrible August floods. WOW. You can still drive around and see the damage. Little idyllic trout streams I visited as a child are no longer there; they've just up and moved themselves. Like they just got a hankering to go somewhere else. And there are streams in places where I don't remember any. Mom said it was like a war zone. Sirens blaring all day, Blackhawk helicopters flying overhead, trains silenced. Weird.

So I'm here with my mom in the Mississippi River Valley, and suddenly realized that she, as an experienced Minnesota artisan, makes gorgeous baskets. Baskets for magazines and for quilting and cat toys and crackers and wine bottles and herbs from the garden and even for cd's in your livingroom. Seagrass baskets and sweetgrass baskets and herringbone flat reed baskets. They're hanging and sitting everywhere. And I remembered....somewhere in the recesses of my mind.....I sell on ebay. Watch for Karousel baskets soon!

AND, we spent the weekend in Rochester with great friends. Another similar revelation. My friend Karen has this incredible talent for making jewelry like you've never seen. Gorgeous. Again, I remembered that I sell on ebay.....watch for karmai designs coming soon!

So amidst the clothing and toys, we're adding these beauties. And I've silenced the "why haven't you blogged?" question. And my brain is racking with ideas...

Have a great day!

Michelle with Sunny Bob Boy

www.xanga.com/philandmichelle

www.giftofsam.com

http://www.amazon.com/shops/dustmanandwife

Ok, I've heard horror stories of people who leave terrible feedback on ebay when the seller has done everything possible to make their experience a good one. But every contact I've had on ebay has been great! Who knew there were such nice people out there? One lady, I'll call A., emailed with a question on some baby stuff, and we started emailing back and forth. She liked my blog.

And everyone knows that if you tell an aspiring writer that you like her blog you've got a friend for life.

Another lady bought a lot of 3 Bob the Builder dolls from me. Funny story. We packed those guys up and sent them off and a week later they arrive at our house. OUR house?!?! Apparently, you're not supposed to send stuff through the mail with batteries in them. So picture this: mailman working overtime in a hot stuffy mailroom, he's ready to go home, sick of the sight of packages, and suddenly he hears, "CAN WE FIX IT? YES WE CAN!!!!!"

Just a little too much enthusiasm for the tired mailman, I'm thinking.

So I emailed the gal and told her the story, something along the lines of "Bob indiscreetly began talking to the mailman, made the mailman angry, and got shipped back." She laughed so hard that all was forgiven that it took a week longer to get her package.

See? Nice people!

Here's another funny story. Has nothing to do with ebay. Last night at our large group meeting, two of our guys were bantering up front with the mikes. John was giving Eric crap about the bruise above his eye from running into a clothesline, and Eric said, "Yeah? I know someone who ran into a brick wall! So, which, in your opinion, is worse? Running into a clothesline that you didn't see or running into a brick wall?"

What???!?!?

Then John said this and had the entire room in stitches: "Hey, in my defense, I totally didn't see that brick wall!!"

I love these people.

Have a lovely day!

Michelle with Sunny Bob Boy

www.xanga.com/philandmichelle

www.giftofsam.com

http://www.amazon.com/shops/dustmanandwife

Well, hey.

Today was not a day to list anything in my store or pack anything to ship or plan any menus for tomorrow or make sure any bills were paid. 

Today was a day to curl up in my scruffy chair, drink oceans of coffee (decaf, sorry) and tea with milk, and read a good-for-nothing novel. I only say that, really, because I have a guilt complex that if I'm not working, then I'm lazy.  So since resting=not working=lazy. 

But we all know this is not true.

So I indulged in a day of reading. Sigh. It's been wonderful.

I'm reading "Scarlett" - the sequel to "Gone With the Wind."  Ok, I know, it borders on a romance novel, but I loved Gone With the Wind and had to know if she ever got him back. Spoiler warning: she does. And it's pretty interesting how.

This is what I like about this novel that never really made it on any great lists.  Scarlett, the ever selfish, self-indulgent, stubborn, shallow, southern-belle, actually changes. She grows into something different than what she was. She learns to love, really love, and not just herself.

I read it about ten years ago and now am reading it again, so don't judge me too harshly if I come back in a few weeks and negate all this and say, ah, sorry, I had forgotten, she's really still a selfish shallow belle.  But I remember liking it for those reasons, and I think I still will.

Change the subject. Flash back to yesterday. I was listing this gorgeous men's vintage US Navy sailors outfit. I mean, it was beautiful. You can see it in my store, it hasn't sold yet. And I got to thinking - who was the guy who wore this? What did he see? When did he serve? Did he have a sweetheart he wrote home to? Was it during a war? Was he on a ship? If anyone can look at the listing and tell me anything about that suit, I would appreciate it. It was kind of an awe-inspiring experience examining it and measuring it and listing it. It even had a name inside.  Maybe I should google the name. Hmmmmmm

It all reminds me of my searching recently for the WWII nurse who took care of my grandfather after he was shot in France in 1944. I have some letters she wrote to my grandmother. I found her in a book, I found her picture, I found her online....and I found her obituary. Two years ago- golldarnit- two years ago she died. Why couldn't my curiosity have piqued before that? So I guess vintage uniforms have a bit of romance and charm for me.

So... I think that's all for today. I may go back to Scarlett and make more tea with milk. My kids are all happy, my husband and middle child are on a horseback ride, youngest is watching cartoons, oldest is daydreaming in her room. My time is my own.....take advantage of it, something is saying.

Enjoy your lazy day!