What's Been Going On Around Here

Just popping in to say THANK YOU for all the super sweet comments everyone left on the past post.  It's so nice to hear from people that are still stopping by here from time to time.  

Have I ever blogged about the fact that we bought the Bread route from the company?  Almost all chip, cookie and bread routes are now independently owned all over the USA.  We had to take out an $80,000 loan, lease a box truck, file for an LLC, tax number, etc.  And when I say "we" I mean "me" because The Breadman doesn't know how to use a computer.  I've tried to show him - but NOPE.  He still needs a PHONE BOOK because he can't GOOGLE.  Anyway, I digress.  Because of his lack of computer skills and bookkeeping skills - I have suddenly become a bookkeeper and a tax person.  We bought the route in April of 2018 and plugged along for a whole year- saved every penny we had so we could pay our taxes and did everything the right way.  He built up the route so it had quite a bit of equity in it in less than a year.  He had made more equity in a year than most routes do in ten years.  Part of that is because the person running it before him did a HORIBLE job.  But part of it is because The Breadman takes care of his customers and built up his sales.  

The company is now restructuring and they bought back his route and he is buying a better route with more money and a lot less stops and driving.  He was able to pay off the route he has now, put a nice down payment on the new route and we are getting a good chunk of cash too.  His new route consists of the Children's Hospital, a Sam's Club and a Walmart and a Walmart Super Center, plus the biggest ChickfilA.  In addition to bread and buns, he also sells Taki chips, BIMBO cakes and Boboli pizza crusts.  So each stop is a lot of stocking in big stores like that.  But, he will only drive about fifteen miles round trip each day and now it is over 100 a day.  

Long time readers will remember the day that he was working for Wonder Bread and they called and said, "Come in, no one had a job anymore."  We went through a rough couple of years with no job, then a route, then working nights loading trucks, to being back on a route.  Buying the business was scary stuff, but it was job security.  And, he is a very HARD good worker and the customers love him.  His current customers are not happy that he is leaving their stores!  I am happy that he is a hard worker.  I try to handle everything here at the house, plus all the paperwork, paying our part time pull person and making sure he has a hot meal so he can go to bed and get up at the ungodly hour of 1:00 AM.  Between all that, the booth, the constant Junk Ranch prep, doctor appointments for me, my Mom and my Dad - I AM TIRED TOO.  :)

Also, this is a new thing for me.  High blood pressure.  Ugh.  Stress and anxiety can do that to a person.  Plus, I love chips.  LOL  Trying to cut back on salt and drink lots of water.

 I have found two happy laces that I like to visit when the anxiety and stress kick in.  Both equally addicting and spendy......The Goodwill Bins and the Casino.  HA!  I alternate between the tow form time to time, either bringing home bags of junk or HOPEFULLY money!

I won a $1920 jackpot in June and a $1600 one in May.  I've found great stuff in the bins for the booth and for the Junk Ranch - both of selling as is and for crafting.  So, I make a little at the casino, then spend a little at the Bins.  Or I lose a little at the casino, so I go to the bins to recoup.  It's all fun.

I found all these safety pin beaded baskets in the bins last week.  I found one, but threw it back. Then I kept finding them, so I bought them all.  They aren't my favorite, but I appreciate the time and work.  People seem to like them, so they are headed to the Junk Ranch and then Instagram if there are any left.

This little one made with metallic beads and beaded flowers is a keeper - it has the loveliest colors and patina.  Maybe I will sell it someday, but for a bit, it's staying here.

Thank you again for all the comments!  I'll try to be back with more bin finds and jackpots!  (One can dream right?) :)