Busy, Busy, Busy

Remember when you were younger?  I know for some of us it takes longer to remember this!  Summer seemed to last forever.  What happened to those days?

I was talking to a friend about the summer today.  We were talking about canning, gardening, getting things done... Then we started discussing how fast summer is going and how we will be back to homeschooling before we know it!  I almost cried.  We have been trying really hard to enjoy our summer this year, yet it's flying by.  We went to Skyline and enjoyed the beautiful view.  We have fished, swam, cooked out... Still, we haven't even come close to doing everything we planned.  What is going on with time?

Are we all just overbooking ourselves?  I mean technology is supposed to make life easier.  Maybe it's just making us burn out faster.  I feel like I have been battling bugs in my garden for months when in reality it's just been about 2 weeks steady.  Has technology changed our view of time?  I really don't know the answer.  Somehow, though, we have got to slow down!

How about you?  How is your summer going?  Is your schedule crazy busy as well?  Would love to hear your thoughts.  I'll leave you with a picture from Skyline Drive.  I love the mountains.

Skyline Drive  July 2012

The Heat Is ON!

Wow, so after we all begged and pleaded this winter for it to come to an end, Summer is here!  Boy, is Summer here!  As I write this blog, it is almost 100 degrees outside.  It's been in the 90's for the last week.  On top of that, people have been out of power over the last week due to a tremendous storm that came through the area!  So of course we hear all these warnings about excessive heat and so forth, but really, what did we used to do when we had heat like this?

I don't ever remember looking up the weather when I was a kid.  In the summer we just played!  If it was really hot, we went to the pool.  I do remember in the heat of the day being in the house sometimes, but not all the time!  What has happened?  I guess I've gotten used to a/c.  I know I'm a lot bigger than I was then.  The thing is now we have "breathable" fabrics, sports drinks, central air everywhere, etc.  Are we all maybe just pampered?

People are talking about the work ethic in our country and the lack of it.  Well, maybe it starts with the play ethic.  If we came in and out of the house when I was a kid, we were yelled out.  Something about air conditioning the world, blah, blah, blah... stay in or out blah, blah, blah...  Anyway, you did not want the latter to happen.  Stay in?!  Never!  That meant soap operas with grandma or possibly A NAP!  No way were you going to stay in!  So we were out and playing.  Yeah, maybe sometimes in the shade.  Yeah, sometimes just cards while we all sat on a blanket and talked, but we were out.  We played softball, kick the can, hide and seek... you name it.  You know what?  We survived.  We had fun.  We also learned to tune our ears to the distinct sound of the ice cream truck bell and then chased after it, in the heat! 

I just took a ride around our town to drop off something.  I saw 2 kids riding bikes.  Play ethic needs to be back in effect!

Just a reminder of what comes in winter

Is It Worth It?

I'm really not sure how to approach this subject, but I'm going to try my best.  I'm not trying to put folks down, but I'm trying to understand the mindset people have.  In the past couple weeks I have had customers rave about my store, but in the same sentence tell me they are going to Walmart to purchase something we carry because it's "cheaper".  One told me they had been looking all over for a lure and I had it.  In almost the same breath said they would go to Walmart to buy something else.  Another wanted a product, but I wasn't open.  They purchased at Walmart only to be unhappy with it.

Let me clarify that I am not against big corporations.  I love capitalism.  I also love the mom and pop shop.  I love that you can go to a fishing store in any community, ask what is biting, and you'll get a great answer.  I will admit I am not the most punctual person.  I have been known to open late.  Let me apologize now to anyone who has had to wait for me.  Despite my time faults, I also have stayed open late for customers.  I have delivered items to customer's homes for them.  I'm not saying this to brag about myself.  I'm saying this to show you the difference between the big box store and a local small business.

You see, we are here because we love what we do.  We put money into the local economy because we live in the neighborhood.  Most of the time you will find small business owners are quite informed on the products they sell.  If I don't know about something a customer asks, I will try to find out.  If you need something we don't have in stock, we have the flexibility to order it for you.  Most big box stores order once, months in advance.  Once they are out of a product, it's gone.  We are not working by the hour.  Unlike most associates at the box stores, we have a vested interest in our business doing well.

Pic courtesy of K. McDonald.  Property of Woods Sporting Goods

I try to carry products I know my customers use.  Some stores may have multiple isles of fishing products, but how many of them are effective?  Are you looking for an older black powder product?  Many times I have them because I know I have customers that use the product.  There are some products I order in bulk to keep the prices down for my customers.  Try counting out a bulk package of hooks and repacking it into 5 hooks per bag by hand.  You get stuck a few times!  You see, I know many of my customers and I know some have been laid off from work or had their hours cut back.  I want them to have a good product for a great price.  So I will get my fingers pricked a few times, to help keep the prices down.

My final appeal to local shopping today is this- gas is currently over $3 a gallon.  How much money are you really saving to go 30 miles out of your way to buy an item that is maybe 15 cents more at the local store?  For years, my husband has been telling me to put a sign at the store that has the price of gas each week and the mileage to the nearest box store for all the folks that say "I think it's cheaper at ________."  I might just start doing it.