Happy Birthday Dad~

 Wish you all were still here.. . 

My dad would have turned 104 years old today, if he were alive!

He's been gone over 20 years now. My mom followed just a year and a half later. The first to go was my oldest sister; she passed over 30 years ago, and my youngest brother passed just a week before my birthday last month. My family is almost all gone. 

There are only 3 of us left! My 2 oldest brothers and myself; The baby of the bunch. My oldest brother turns 71 on the 24th and my other older brother turns 70 on December 12th. Being the youngest, I'm feeling like I may end up being the last man standing. I must admit, it's a bit of a lonely feeling sometimes. 

Sucks getting older in some ways. You start losing the ones you love. 

I got word today that my youngest brother's ashes have finally been given to the family and they are with my oldest brother now. We are still waiting for the coroner's report to find out the cause of death. There is a suspicion and investigation of murder... so it's been hard to get into the "Holiday Season".

Grief is a process..  One must allow themselves time ~ regardless of how long it takes other folks. We all handle our emotions in our own ways. 

I tend to clean, sort and go through 'stuff' that's needed done for a long time. Somehow the sense of accomplishment, gives me some sort of contentment. With that said... I feel for the garbage man lately! 

It's late and there is still a lot to do before this weekends' event. So I shall say good night for now...

Blessed by God

Life's good @ the Bright side of the Barn

Thanks for stopping by

Until next time, Stay Safe and Happy Trails.

Endorsements ~

 Greetings and Salutations!

Happy Autumn ~ October is here! and the chill is on! Amazing how quickly temperatures dropped! 

So - what do you think of the new 'backdrop' for Autumn.? We are available for 'Family or Individual' portrait sessions! If anyone is wanting to get pictures for Thanksgiving.

I've spent a lot of time lately looking at computer screens, printers and products; I didn't even realize how early it's getting dark out now too. I've also been getting up really early and getting started on the work, so I can be available during the day for appointments. I've noticed the morning chill. My horse is even starting to get her 'fuzzy coat', getting ready for winter.

Seems winters have been hitting us much harder lately. The last few years we've had snow, and freezing cold, wet temperatures. A lot of deliveries have been delayed; store shelves have gotten pretty barren, with some products not coming back at all. With that in mind, I've wanted to build up the product base, so I wouldn't have to worry about delays in orders as the holiday season gets started and things get busy everywhere!  So, I've been ordering all the 'blanks' for products that I suspect we will need between now and Christmas. 

Speaking of Holidays - Can you believe 'Fred Meyer' has Christmas trees and decorations out already? How sad is that - really. I absolutely hate how they are rushing and pushing the holidays into nothing more than a consumer buying frenzie - month after month. 

We need to PROTEST, boycott, DO whatever it takes - To STOP THIS SHIT.

DON'T DECORATE OR BUY ANY DECORATIONS

FOR ANY GIVEN HOLIDAY UNTIL NO MORE THAN 4 WEEKS BEFOREHAND.    

 {Presents are a year round buying expenditure & exception} 

Give us back our TIME to ENJOY EACH HOLIDAY, in it's own TIME. 

We need to 'savor' the 'magic'!

Right now, we should be embracing the 'ghosts and goblins' and getting ready with big bowls of 'candy'! I miss the days of homemade 'popcorn balls' and 'carmel apples' and all the other delicious goodies we would get to bring home.

Do you want to capture that special costume this year? We have openings still in October ~ and I love the new HALLOWEEN 'backdrop'! and yes, that is my Sylvester getting in there doing a 'photo bomb', hey, at least he's mostly black, so he goes with the motif.

Now let's talk about the Holiday ~ SHOPPING 

I've always been a 'catalog' shopper. As a child it was the 'Sears Christmas Catalog' that all of us kids would look forward to and drool over! As a mom with 4 kids in tow, Sears and JC Penney Catalogs and ordering over the phone, was my method of 'saving time' and my 'sanity'. I didn't have to worry about hauling all the kids to the stores after school or rushing during the day while they were at school. PLUS, when it came to 'presents' I could get special 'brown bag' wrapping so no one would know what was inside. Credit cards were always welcome too.

Now with 'technology' and the 'internet' and of course 'Amazon'... I do most of my shopping online. I absolutely love that I can 'grocery shop' online. I save so much money when I DON'T GO TO THE STORE.  {I have a personal goal of NOT spending money at least 1 day a week}. Not one penny! With the groceries I can stick to my list and my budget. I can rearrange and take things off if the numbers are getting higher than I want.... rather than walking around and putting things back on the shelves. 

Now ~ I'm 59 and I have a few ailments. Doctor calls them disabilities. Walking can be painful on my foot and hips. Standing hurts my lower back. Carrying things, lifting them in and out of the car, then hauling them up the stairs... It creates a lot of pain for me. 

Pain I can avoid by ordering online and waiting for deliveries. 

So let's talk my FAVORITE SHOPS. As someone that has worked in Retail and Customer Service for over 30 years and as a mystery shopper and Customer Service evaluator ~ GOOD Customer Service is important to me. These stores got it going on!  Every once in a while there is a glitch in an order, And my stores, have always done a wonderful job of making it right. 

Explore and Enjoy ~

• JC Penney - Clothes
• The Gap - Clothes
• Old Navy - Clothes
• Modlily - Clothes
• Skechers - Shoes
• Safeway - Groceries
• Smith Brothers -Fresh milk, dairy and produce  {use my name - Melinda O'Hara in the 'how did you hear about us to receive $25.00 credit in your new account.}
• Tupperware - Jessica Rick
• Purlisse - Beauty and MakeUp {Best thing you can do for your face!}
• ColorStreet - Nail Art (Support my local Stylist, She's awesome ~ Jennifer Fitzgerald.
• Scentsy - Oil Warmers {All proceeds support the SugarShack Baby Horse rescue!!}
• Partylite - Candles { I earn 10% of sales which is donated to my local humane society}
• VistaPrint - All my custom Business imprinting and banners.
• Amazon - All the Business product blanks, event and office equipment  PLUS.....

Imagine all the gas I'm saving too!

When I do go shopping in person, I like to shop local at small business & attend local events and shop amongst the vendors. I like original and unique things. The outlet mall is probably the only 'big store' type place I like to shop at. Truth be told, it's probably because I'm already there all day at least one to two days a month, so it's convenient and a way to pass the slow time. I even do my Costco shopping online! rather than in person.

How do you like to shop? What is your favorite store? and why?

Blessed by God

Life's good @ the Bright side of the Barn

Thanks for Stopping by

Until next time, Stay Safe and Happy Trails.