We actually left Lafayette yesterday and arrived in Natchitoches last night. I enjoyed the scenery but I didn’t get any pictures. I still don’t have any pictures because Mark and I have been getting ready for the class we’re going to take here starting tomorrow morning. Continue reading
One of my readers today asked me if this business that Mark is preparing for will be one where we stay put or where we move about. My mom also asked that a week or so ago, so I guess there might be others wondering as well. Here is what I wrote in response: Continue reading
Mark and I continued today to check off things on our “to do” lists. I did a lot of backlogged paperwork today, along with renewing memberships and taking care of various things that are coming due soon. Continue reading
We knew when we got up this morning that it was going to be a busy day, but it was even busier than we originally thought it was going to be. Continue reading
This morning I was sitting at the table checking e-mails while Mark went to the VA for a fasting blood draw. All the blinds were closed. As I was sitting here I became aware that the chain link fence next to the RV was rattling, so I opened the blinds to see what was happening. What was happening was that the fence company was taking the fence away. I called our boss and he said he was aware of that and they would be bringing a trailer out this afternoon to pick up everything that belongs to Holiday Hills Christmas Trees. Continue reading
It was Christmas Eve and Bob Cratchett sat huddled over a candle flame trying to warm his hands. Scrooge heard his lack of work, counting money and writing figures, and told him to get back to work. Bob said, “Please, Sir, may I take off a little early tonight? It is Christmas Eve, after all.” Continue reading
It was in the mid-70’s today. Mark and I have let our employees go with a handshake and their final pay. There are so few customers coming in now that we can handle it ourselves. We’re down to our last thirty one Christmas trees as of tonight, and we spent a lot of today beginning the tear down process while remaining open for business. We are so-ooo looking forward to this job ending!
We got slammed last weekend (Black Friday through Cyber Monday) to the point where I was wondering if I could do this. At least half the trees we had set up disappeared. We had a couple employees knocking them out as fast as they could, but unfortunately they were setting them up crooked. Mark finally took over cutting and drilling and setting up trees, along with flocking. There was no way he could catch up by himself. Continue reading
Our first delivery on Wednesday was eighty three Nobles. Wednesday we had three workers, one of whom was a very experienced person. He quit the next day because we couldn’t pay him what he wanted. Thursday we had three workers, one of whom was a young man with a lot of tattoos. The next day he didn’t show up. Friday we had three people. One was a Christian man who doesn’t drive and doesn’t have his own phone. He said he’d call this morning to see if we got our second delivery. Continue reading
Posts may be a little fewer and farther between until the first of the year. We’ve been very busy. Even when we’re done working and come in for the night, there’s still all the bookwork to be done. The most experienced of our helpers quit after the first day because we couldn’t pay him what he wanted to earn. We’ve hired more employees. They seem to be very good workers, if not as skilled. I’ve already sold my first tree, and we aren’t even officially open yet!