70 degrees

I was such a lovely day today, about 70 degrees and sunny.  Like I said, once January hits, it's spring in San Diego (give or take a few cold, rainy days).  I love San Diego, both my husband and I grew up here (in Encinitas), we went to high school together, we had our first kiss on Moonlight Beach.  We live in a 1930's cottage downtown near Balboa Park.  Our weekends are filled with taking our frenchie to the dog park and me watching my husband surf.  We've entertained options to move elsewhere, like back to the bay area where we went to college, but it doesn't compare.  I wear sandals 360 days of the year, that just doesn't fly anywhere else.  Anyways, I spent the morning in the garden putting together several new arrangements.  I suppose that's why I love succulents, they are San Diego.

just keep growing

I've crossed my t's and dotted my i's.  I received my California sellers permit and business license.  I've started submitting applications to several farmers markets around the city.  I've been gardening like crazy getting my inventory up to the task.  It's like applying for a job, trying to prove my worth to my employer (the market manager) showing him its beneficial to have my succulents in vintage arrangements and biodegradable pots at his market.  I couldn't feel more prepared or excited.  

 some new clippings from my mama plants ready to be on their own

It was a cold and rainy weekend.  No complaints, January in San Diego is practically spring, and I hope there will be snow in the mountains for our trip this weekend.  I spent Saturday block printing a stamp of my logo, mostly out of boredom, but I can see the potential in stamping canvas bags and paper sacks.

long beach antique market

We went and saw some friends in Orange County today, and decided to take advantage of the once a month Long Beach Antique Market.  I've never been before, but having been to similar ones I knew to expect some really great stuff at a premium.  It's not the type of flea market where you can buy a new pair of sunglasses and a bag of oranges (like Kobey's).  The vendors are true collectors, they bring the best of the best and charge for it.  The pros-so many wonderful things, furniture, knick knacks, salvalged architectural details, spotless quilts and linens, and so on for what felt like miles.  Unfortunately, there were cons-it was crowded, the vendors were often distracted chatting with other vendors, so that asking for prices usually involved waving like a maniac or standing awkwardly close to them not wanting to interrupt.  Most were unwilling to haggle and made terrible faces at you when you said "How about $8?" instead of $10, not entirely unreasonable.  Still, the sea of vintage goods was dizzying and magnificent. 

I picked up a few things, but surprisingly nothing special.  It was so odd to be surrounded by wonderful stuff and not even see one item that I would have seriously shelled out for.  I ended up with a wire milk crate, a couple metal card drawers, an old salt can, and a wooden D (after 6 months I finally got my last name officially changed).  I'm happy with my finds, but I think I will stick to sifting through the junk at garage sales and swap meets.

kobey's swap meet

We spent the morning at Kobey's swap meet, the local flea market at the Sports Arena, it's the biggest one in the area and is quite eclectic.  It's mostly a mix of new stuff, garage sale/junky stuff, and those few vendors who have a consistant mix of good old stuff.  Unfortunately the people with the good stuff tend to be more expensive, but I value their collections and they are the best to talk to about the history of brilliant objects (like glass bulbs of water meant to be thrown on out of control fires, so cool).  While my husband roots around the vinyl records, I love to sift through the junk looking for anything that piques my interest, which lately has been anything I can stick a succulent into. 

 some random lovelies I picked up for my succulents

It seems as if every time I go to the flea market (which is almost every weekend) I pick up something amazing.  Something that I do not need...at all...not even in the slightest.  This week it's an old school hanging scoop scale used for who knows what.  I'm obsessed and one of these days when I have the place for it, it will be my fruit bowl...someday.  Sigh.  I talked the man down considerably and that always leaves me with a sense of satisfaction and makes me bond with the junk even more.  Again I sigh, where will I put it all?

our curious frenchie, Pickett  

so succulent

Aside from a wonderful husband, my wedding provided me the perfect business oppurtunity, growing succulents.  These juicy little plants have always been a favorite of mine.  They are the quintessential San Diego plant and are insanely low maintenance.  After the wedding, I was left with about 20 centerpieces all that had grown from small clippings into pots brimming with plants looking for more room.  I started propagating the succulents and what was once about 100 small plants has turned into nearly a thousand, all born from my happy day.  I love to garden, I could pull weeds and dig all day, but after several sad attempts at gardening vegetables, I have found my calling in succulents.  

I have another obsession, vintage stuff.  Basically junk I find at good ol' Kobey's Swap Meet.  In particular, old household items that at one point might have served a woman good in the kitchen or laundry room (I just picked up an amazing wooden ironing board, for no good reason other than awesomeness).  I am fascinated by the history of mundane objects.  

One of my new years resolutions is to focus my hoarding and random purchases into my succulent business.  To narrow my flea market finds into "vessels" that can hold succulent arrangements.  I have to think "is this good for the company?"  I could easily buy furniture and junk all with the intentions of repainting and repurposing, but there is only so much room in our house and garage and my husband has an equally bad habit of collecting surfboards. 

 my useless collection of jam jars soon to be terrariums

these guys scream for artichoke-y succulent blooms

My goal, hopefully within a month or so, is to sell my succulents, both on their own and in my crafty arrangements, at the local farmers market (and eventually kits on Etsy).  I've got the ball rolling, so here's hoping I start off the new year as an entrepreneur!

happy new year

We spent new years eve camping in the Anza-Borrego desert.  What better way to ring in the new year than in the pure isolation of the desert.  We parked the car, hiked in a little ways, and set up camp in the middle of nowhere.  I love the desert, it's quiet, it's rugged, it's simple.

 

An afternoon hike, followed by potato-garlic soup, crusty bread and red wine for dinner.  We played a game of scrabble in the quiet of the night by the warmth of the fire.  We were asleep long before midnight, but getting up early to see the sunrise over a new year was exhilarating.

  

We got home a little bit ago.  I will probably stare at the camping stuff piled up next to the Christmas stuff for the next couple weeks, but no big deal. I've got a pot of black eyed peas on the stove for dinner to bring us luck in the new year.  It's always a little sad to see the holidays end, but after a lovely weekend, this year is already looking up.