I went to the Geneva Holiday Craft Fair this weekend to sell my jewelry. The craft fair was held at the Community Center and the vendors had tables in a huge gym. There was a nice crowd and I was standing by my table when a couple came up. The woman was drawn to a pink necklace and reminded her husband how she loved the color pink. I waited for the man to reach for his wallet but he didn’t

“Geez, guy,” I thought to myself. “Can’t you cough up $32 bucks to make your wife happy?”
Alas, they moved on and I was left with my dark thoughts. But overall, the day went well for me and I sold quite a few necklaces as well as art prints. Just before the sale ended, the man who wouldn’t buy his wife a necklace came back.  His wife wasn’t with him.

​“I’d like to get this,” he said, picking up the pink necklace. Then he went on to say how he loved the city of Geneva and that it was so great to see so many creative people in one place. I wrapped up his necklace and handed it to him. And then the man shook my hand!
So what humble pie lesson did I learn from all this? Don’t be so quick to judge someone, because a surprise might be right around the corner to upset your apple cart!

,Two weeks ago I️ overhauled my bedroom. I️ wanted a sanctuary where I️ could relax and read. What I️ had instead was a cluttered storage bin. It was filled with canvases at every stage of painting. A lot were brand new, some were half painted and others had a few background layers. I️ put the culprits in closets, on shelves, and in my catch-all room. Ah, I️ could breathe again!

I️ wanted things that I️ love in the room. I️ love original paintings by other artists and, though I️ don’t have very many, I️ found the perfect piece to go on the little dresser by my bed. I️ put my kindle there too.

Across from the bed is a bookcase that my husband made me when we were dating. My favorite things line the top shelf. There’s a black and white photo of my mother in her 20’s - high cheek bones, deep set eyes, soft hair to her shoulders - a classic beauty. Two funny, little ceramic men stand next to her. A friend gave them to me many years ago. I️ don’t know why I️ like them so much but I️ do. Then there is the glass piano at the other end. I️ fell in love with it in a shop. Unbeknownst to me, my husband went back to buy it for my birthday.

​On my dresser sits my mom’s old jewelry box and a beautiful, little, perfume bottle that my sister gave to me. The picture of Jesus with the little children was in my bedroom when I️ was a little girl. It’s one of the few things I️ have from my early childhood.