Getting Ready for Christmas

I wanted to take time to write again since it's been awhile. I am well rested and not near as frazzled as my last post. I am on my break from school for the next 2 weeks- hooray! I had an extremely busy week last week trying to finish up last minute things at work, and on top of that I got a new kitten for our sons and took care of him for 2 days. It was a lot of fun, but busy.
I spent all day Saturday catching up my books for the business, and I'm excited about how it's growing. My Christmas gift this year will be a new computer to be used for the business. This will eliminate some frustrating times between Hubby & I too. When I need to print labels, update inventory, order supplies or just spend hours on the blog it won't be a problem. Just kidding. I have to admit I'm the computer hog in our household.
I have alot of work ahead the next two weeks because I plan to paint our office and reorganize the closets. I hate to admit I'm a packrat, and things tend to just collect. The only time I can take on major projects like this is during my holiday break.
I am all ready for Christmas now. My parents are coming in tomorrow night and will be here for the rest of the week. We will spend time with my mother-in-law too. This year we are doing a "redneck" gift exchange. We did this 2 yrs ago, and it was hilarious. We each buy 10 items that cost $1 each and wrap them in newspaper. Each person chooses 10 things, each taking turns picking one at a time. Then we all open them and all try to barter our gifts at the same time. It is the funniest thing and can get a little crazy. We have also bought real gifts for each other - of course all of my family members will be getting candles :) For the exchange, I try to buy things that are useful like scissors, batteries, highlighters, chocolate covered cherries, thin mints, etc. The Dollar Tree is an excellent place to shop.
I am also looking forward to having fun with friends next week and have made some plans already. If I don't post again before Christmas, Merry Christmas everyone and check back for what's new in 2009! We are planning a totally new line of the business. More on that later.


Deanna

Holiday Craziness

I haven't had a chance to post anything the last two weeks because I had two craft show weekends right after Thanksgiving. Sales have picked up in the stores too, so I have been busy making candles some evenings. I truly don't know if I am coming or going these days. Wednesday is the normal day I meet with my parents at the school, but because it was pouring down rain and I work in a portable building I had to switch days. We met yesterday instead. That totally messed me up because I had visits scheduled and had to rearrange my schedule. I was so confused yesterday and actually overbooked my visits. Another example of my forgetfulness or confusion happened this morning. I had the feeling I was forgetting something (you ever do that?). I get to the end of my street and realize I didn't have my purse or cell phone in the car. They were both on the counter, so I was a few minutes late for work. My phone is my lifeline, can't live without that because I had lots and lots of errands to run today. I enjoyed lunch with a coworker that runs the First Start program at Longwood Elementary, and we did a little shopping together too.
I will have some time off soon though. The past few days I have been getting packages ready to be mailed to family and working on my Christmas cards. Those all went out yesterday and today - hooray. Tonight I am finally setting up the Christmas tree and decorating the house. The only Christmas shopping left is for my sons. I hope to actually schedule an appointment with my hairdresser one day next week :) I'm way overdue.
That's about all the news for now. Looking forward to some down time very soon!

Deanna

Our Mini Vacation

First of all I want to say Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! We made it home from Tennessee on Tuesday night. The pictures on my last post don't compare to seeing the mountains with your own eyes. It was very cold, 27 degrees when we got there on Friday night. The highs were in the mid 40's. The cabin we rented was beautiful.

We enjoyed the hot tub every day, and it was quite an experience to have part of your body emerged in steaming hot water while you could still see your breath above. We were staying between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge and visited both places during our stay. We ate at the Brass Lantern in Gatlinburg, a restaurant we remembered from our honeymoon 23 yrs ago. We walked through the shops and went to the Ripley's Aquarium.

We had a nice relaxing time. We didn't get to see it snow, and Lee didn't see any deer or bears. It was great just being away and out of our normal routine. We left Gatlinburg on Monday and went to Dunlap for a night. We got up Tuesday morning and drove up the mountain to see our land. Here are some pics of the drive up Cagle Mountain, and a picture of our land.

I slept most of the way home on Tuesday. I am thankful that we had the chance to get away for a few days. It brings to mind the verse.....come apart and rest for awhile. Now I feel refreshed and ready to handle my busy schedule for the next month. I wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving today!

Deanna

Wordless Wednesday

View from our back porch and the view from the drive to our cabin.

More pics and update to come.

Off to Gatlinburg

I just wanted to drop a quick note and ask for prayer for safety on our trip and a nice relaxing time. It's supposed to snow there in the morning, but we won't arrive early enough to see it (it will probably melt during the day). Lee would like to see a bear and deer (not like the little ones here in Florida), and I'd like to see snow. Pray that God gives us these little blessings and a nice refreshing time! I'll post pictures when I return.

Deanna

I'm at the Ivy Leaf Tea Parlor!

I am so excited about all of the good things happening with my business. A special friend,(http://ellenaydesigns.com/) talked to the owner at the Ivy leaf about my candles. She was planning to order candles for the holidays anyway and wanted to meet me and see what I have. I met with her on Tuesday, and she ordered candles for her tea shop and the flower shop on Hwy.85. I am so excited! The shop is beautiful, and I feel honored to be in there.

I had a cup of French Creme Brulee tea while I was there and had to buy some and get all the accessories to go along with it. I have always been a huge coffee advocate, but now I have a new addiction to tea. It is so good!

I have been very busy the past few days getting my stock up for Hometown Christmas. I have to work Monday & Tuesday night on candles, but then I can enjoy the rest of the week. We leave Friday morning for Gatlinburg! I'll post pictures and updates when I get back.

more.....it's a small world

I forgot to share some really neat news on my post last night. While in Navarre, a customer came up to me and asked if my last name was Cagle. I said no and explained the story of why I named the business Cagle Creations, and that it's actually after the mountain in Dunlap, TN where our land is and how since we were not able to actually move to Tennessee last year, we decided to bring the mountain to us - therefore Cagle Creations was born. She smiled as I told this story and then informed me that she is a Cagle and all of her decendants still live on Cagle Mountain, and they have a huge family reunion every summer. I was literally speechless and told her that I am so happy to meet her, and that I love that little town and will move there some day. It is literally a hidden paradise, sort of an old version of what Gatlinburg may have been like before touched by the tourist industry. Anyway I decided to take the time to include some pictures of this sweet town, so you can see why we love it so much.

The picture above is from a scenic outlook of Dunlap just outside of town going towards Chattanooga on Hwy.111. If you look closely toward the left of the center of the picture where two mountains sort of overlap, you will see Cagle Mountain to the right of the one in front of it.

The Cookie Jar Cafe is the best place to eat (in my opinion) just outside of town. It is located on the Johnson's family farm. They have country cooking and an awesome view from the front porch of the restaurant as you can see below. Dunlap finally got a Walmart last January. Now the locals don't have to drive across the mountain to shop in Soddy Daisy. It sits below Fredonia Mountain.

Dunlap is known for it's annual bluegrass festival each June. Some people travel a long way to come to this and take part. It is located at the old Coke Ovens Park. There's a museum there telling about the history of the town, and the landscape there is beautiful. There is no alcohol allowed, so it's a fun family event. People camp there and play music for two days. This past June a college student from the local area was doing a project and actually interviewed me & my Mom and got some footage of my Dad playing his guitar along with some locals. My parents travel to the town to meet us there and have fell in love with it too.

I just had to share a little bit of this town that I've grown to love. As you can tell, I am in my Tennessee mode since we are heading that way in just over a week. I hope you enjoyed a little history behind the naming of Cagle Creations.