A bit of this and that

This morning, I’ve been creating bookmarks for a book I hope to launch next week.  I have a lot of work to do to prepare for that, but I’m really just super excited to finally be able to hold this book in my hands.  It’s one I wrote fairly quickly and easily, but then I wanted to illustrate it myself.  This took a long time. A LONG time. It was well worth it, though, because I really love this book.  Lenny the Last Lightning bug is about my baby girl playing with a summer friend.  I will be talking about it a lot, so I won’t go into detail now, only that I am excited to finally have it ready for publishing, printing, and release!

I am inspired at this moment by this gorgeous writing desk I bought this week.  It was in the back room of an old building that stands in the back of a parking lot, behind an antique shop.  It was dusty, stained, and dirty, but absolutely beautiful.  The price tag on this desk made my eyes swim.  It was more than three times what I could afford.  The owner was very patient, and even though he knew my price range, he showed me all those lovely pieces and tried to help me find things priced for me. There was not much that I could afford, or that would work for my needs.  As I was about to leave, I asked if he minded if I took a look in that back room one more time.

I eyed an overly ornate desk, something the king of England might have used, and the price was a kingly price.  Out of curiosity, I asked, “How much would that one be, you know, for when I’m a rich and famous author and come back to buy it?” To my surprise, he said he would let it go for half of what it was listed for! (Now this was still about three times what I could afford, but it let me know he would deal!)  I lingered, I hovered, I studied this lovely piece with a leather top and cabriole legs. I noticed dings and nicks, and the lovely flowery detail on the middle drawer.  I asked, what could you do on this one?”  Well, he hemmed and hawed and pulled it away so he could see the back (which was really beautiful) and finally quoted me a price just over half the sticker price.  This was still a ways away from what I could do.  I recalled what my husband had said our very max budget for this venture would be, and I traced my fingers along the desk, trying to decide if it was worth squeezing out to the tip top of my budget.

I offered a price.  Ohh the owner did not like it.  His brow furrowed, he squinted, he traced over the piece as I had done, he again looked at the back and all the sides, and even bent down to look underneath and pulled out the drawers.  Then he stood back, fist curled under his chin, and said, “I’ll do it.”

VICTORY!! I could not imagine a more lovely desk, and my husband was, to my surprise, completely fine with spending the money. (What a blessing to have a man like him). It now sits in front of my office window, overlooking the street, my neighbor’s horses, and the trees beyond.  A mad hatter hat sits on the corner, next to a picture of our Wonderland wedding.  These are here for inspiration.  I’m surrounded by insipiration this morning, and realize I am rambling.

Blessings and magic to you today!