Reflections of katlupe

Friday, November 11, 2011

How I Improved My eBay Auctions

One of my recent auctions on eBay!

I have been having some success on my eBay auctions lately. I read a free eBook called "7 Deadliest eBay Sins" and it has improved my listings immensely. I thought I knew it all! But no, the author in this book really explained it in simple, easy language for me. Of course, he has videos on his site and I have to get up between 2:00 AM and 7:00 AM to view them. Now it seems that my auctions are doing better.

Another one! Antique nails!

My auctions have been selling and I am using the 50 Free listings that eBay allows. It helps me make some extra money and we can all use some of that, right? I really have no complaints at all selling there. The fees aren't that bad no matter what rumors you hear. It costs way more to have your own site! Plus you may not get that much traffic to it. Where eBay has the traffic. Can't argue with that. I still tweet my eBay auctions. But it just takes that one person looking for something you are selling to get a sale. You never know.

Close up shots are essential!

Some of the key changes I have made in my listings are:

Free Shipping! Everyone likes this. Even if their items cost more as long as they don't have to pay for shipping.
Refunds available! This too, will make a buyer more comfortable with shopping with you. I give them 14 days to return the item. 7 days does not seem like enough time to me.
Communication! As soon as I know my auction has been sold and paid for, I send a friendly email thanking the buyer for it. Then when I ship it, I send another email with their Delivery Confirmation number with a personal message.
After it has shipped, I leave the buyer their feedback.
Better photos! I created an area in my house that is like a small studio for my eBay photos. What a difference that has made! Especially for the small items, like jewelry.
Read the eBay discussion boards. Lurk. Just read and let it sink it. That is what I do.
Research whatever it is you plan to sell. I study, study and study some more. It helps to know your market.
I designed a nice template to make the listings look more professional. I plan on buying one of my own soon.
I explain in detail the payments, the shipping and the refund policy.
I designed a nice about me page to explain who I am. I am a real live person!

There you have it. Maybe some of these ideas are not new to some of you. But I have looked at many listings on eBay that barely even tell you what the item is, let alone what their policies are. Well, off to work on some new photos and auctions. Have a good day!

Monday, November 07, 2011

Family Blending

My grandmother and my mother!

Family. According to Wikipedia:

"In human context, a family (from Latin: familia) is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children. Extended from the human "family unit" by biological-cultural affinity, marriage, economy, culture, tradition, honour, and friendship are concepts of family that are physical and metaphorical, or that grow increasingly inclusive extending to community, village, city, region, nationhood, global village and humanism. A family group consisting of a father, mother and their children is called a nuclear family. This term can be contrasted with an extended family."

So according to this definition, there is no mention of love or fondness for each other. There is not a word of liking each other or sharing the same beliefs or concerns. Growing up in the same house with the same parents does not make any guarantee that brothers and sisters will be close or even love each other. Not necessarily alike, but maybe at least care about each other, and be to nice to each other. Not say hurtful things to or about them.

My grandmother, uncles, aunts & cousins!

I am the first one on front row!

It is not just my family that has had issues. More families have trouble getting along than you know. I think it is really common. If your family gets along and loves each other when the children grow up.......then thank your lucky stars! I have talked to so many people complaining about their families. Now the holidays are coming up, and people start worrying about those holiday dinners spent with family members who don't get along with others.

Why do people say things that hurt others without even thinking about the other person's feelings? Doesn't anyone care anymore? Are people that selfish nowadays? No wonder so many people move across the country, or the world, without a second thought! They are probably glad to get away.

One person in a family can create this situation. One person's jealousy of others. Or one person marries into a family and changes that family forever. Instead of joining the family and being a part of it, the person drives a wedge into a family. It is never the same after that. Sometimes it causes the family member who marries that person to change too. One of my husband's favorite sayings is, "You are your environment." That is so true!

My mother holding my son in 1970!

I think what may happen is that each person carries the baggage of their family. Then they marry and their baggage.........beliefs, thoughts, hang ups, does not blend into the family they have married into. So it starts a disruption. It becomes bigger as the years go by. If the family has many new people who have married into their family, it has a snowball effect over the years.

Pretty soon it becomes one family against the other within one whole family. So how can they get along? Is it ever possible? You can get along with some of the members and not others. My conclusion is to tolerate those members at weddings and funerals. Don't go to their family dinners or celebrations. Don't invite them to your home or holidays. Distance yourself from them. Why? Life is too short to spend time worrying about those snide remarks. Life is too short to ruin your family holidays and celebrations. In the long run, it is their lost. Those years apart away from the members of your family can never be brought back. Sad.

Sunday, November 06, 2011

Seasons Of Nature

Living surrounded by nature, makes you so aware of what is going on day to day. Whether it a soft breeze, a cold rain or sunshine, you are constantly aware of the weather. Reading a weather report in the newspaper or hearing it on a radio is not the same. Many times our weather is completely different from the predicted reports. Sometimes not as bad, many times it is worse. We are in a snow belt across NY state, and often nobody in our area has snow, except for us. But sometimes, they are having a drought and we have rain!

I love looking at trees! They are not all alike, anymore, than all humans are alike. Each tree has special characteristics. I can sit and look at trees for hours. They give off an air of peacefulness and serenity. Not only do they change colors, but they change over the years in other ways. Their bark or their shape changes. Sometimes a critter will come along and chew on it, or rub on it, and change the surface of the bark forever. Our lives change pretty much the same way. Little things happen that affect our lives, scratching the surface, so it is never the same either.

At this time of the year, we are gearing up for the snow and cold that will be coming very soon. Then the trees will take on another whole different look. The state forest is beautiful in each season of the year. I can't choose one over the other. Sometimes the stillness of the winter just touches me so much, even though for us, the winter is tough with a lot of work. The change of the seasons always gives you something new to look forward to.

Life has been busy this week for me, and that is what makes me appreciate the beauty of nature. The change of the seasons, and the affect of it on all that surrounds us. Even us!

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Stone Piles In The Forest

A Stone Or Rock Pile

I have been reading some other blogs recently about the "stone piles" that are on various areas of the state forest. We were fortunate to have a couple here. I can't tell you much about them. Various reasons they were built are mentioned in discussions about them. I guess I don't really care why they were built. I just like them. For whatever reason they were built, they remain.

The Other One

The two we have here are pretty close together. Since it has been so wet here, we seem to have a lot of that green moss all over the rocks. I have seen stone piles in the state forest and some spots around here, that are not like our piles at all. So maybe different styles, represent different reasons for them being built. I know our house was built in 1850, so not sure if the stone piles were already here or not.

Walking through the forest...........

We also have old foundations in our area, as this was once a populated community. Old roads have gone into disuse. My husband and our dog have hiked all through these woods around us. He has ridden his horse in areas that knew better days. Old farms that have been gone for a very long time. The only signs besides the crumbling foundations, are the old lilacs and roses, still budding each year.

Not far from each other

Researching the history of our area has proved to be one of my favorite hobbies. I love trying to find the history of my home and the area around us. There are signs of a civilization that has since disappeared. Discovering the old watering troughs along these state forest roads, has been a source of enjoyment too. One is not far from us, in fact walking distance. Nobody even sees them or knows they are there, I think.

Rocks are various sizes

Most of the farms in our area, have sold their stone fences. It is a shame when they do that. I love the look of them. And the history! The men who toiled in the fields building those fences. I wonder about those men. Like the man who built my house. I think about him often and wonder about his life. He was a part of this community that is all gone now. Our house being the only one left. How does one house out of a whole community survive, and the others have all disappeared?

Friday, October 28, 2011

Light Snowfall Last Night

Our first snowfall!

We got up this morning to a white lawn. It wasn't bad, but one of our truck doors was frozen shut. So my husband had to work on it to get it thawed. We had to go to town to run some errands. We like to get an early start.......in and out, before the stores are crowded.

Our backyard covered with that white stuff!

I knew it would make Nikita, our dog happy to see the snow this morning. Though she usually likes it deeper than this. At least it brightened her day, to know more snow will be on the way soon. She made her rounds in the yard checking out what critter had visited during the night. Mostly, a stray cat that I put food out for because he seems to live here. He is not our cat. He doesn't seem to want to know us up close. Of course, he does watch the house a lot from a distance. Hobo is his friend and hangs out with him. I wonder what she has told him about us?

On Our Way To Town!

Our drive to town takes us through a few miles of state forest land. It was a beautiful drive this morning. The sun was shining and it was bright. But then when we got out of the state forest, started up Tyner Hill, this is what was at the top......what a difference!

Foggy in Oxford this morning!

Oxford was very dismal this morning! Only six miles from our house........but what a contrast it was. I was glad to get our errands done and be on the way back. I know many people, even after coming to our homestead, think we live really remote and secluded. But we are only six miles from Oxford. About the same from McDonough. Nine miles from Smithville Flats, and ten miles from Greene. Norwich, which is a small city is about thirteen miles away. Binghamton and Oneonta, which are in opposite directions from each other are both about 35 miles or so from us. I'd say we are centrally located.

Almost home!

Even so, we order much of our supplies online these days. Using Alice, Netrition, Swanson's and of course, Amazon. It has made our household run so much more smoothly by shopping that way. Has cut our driving down a lot and now it seems that we hardly ever run out of things. One thing I really like about shopping that way is that we always find exactly what we want and do not have to go from store to store looking for something. So our errand time is cut in half. I like that.

Have a wonderful fall week-end!

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Next Gardening Season Plans

Butternuts Stored!

As I take stock of our pantry for the winter, I see big holes in areas of my prepping. There are many items that need to be stocked up more. My goal is to strive for at least two years worth of food and supplies. Once you have that stocked, your monthly budget would be for just replacing what you have used that month. Or putting that money aside to save for bulk buying in six months or so. But do not use that money for anything else no matter what!

Green Hubbard Squash

I took a look at my garden and saw the space I wasted on too many winter squash type plants. They don't really produce a lot for each plant. It is easier for me to purchase them from local market gardens. Our garden is small and when one plant takes up a lot of space and produces only one or two squash, then it is time to evaluate that plant. I am not talking about all winter squash. The butternuts I grow always produce plenty.

Boothbys Blonde Cucumber

The cucumbers, yellow summer squash and zucchini take up extra space as they spread out. They produce a lot of food, so I don't mind how much space they want. I was very happy with my Boothbys Blonde cucumber and will be planting more of them next year. The squash, I can't say enough good things about that. I managed to can 73 quarts and it will be giving us something to eat in the winter.

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