Almost there

I figure if I can put this business together, I can do anything!


It definitely is a steep learning curve, starting off with what I thought was a reasonable amount of internet and web 2.0 knowledge. Now I have a much wider understanding of it, and am just glad it's not me building the site - way too much scripting and algorithms for me! I am so grateful I found the group in India who are building the site as they "got" what we are trying to do, right from the beginning.


So that has been going along very well, now we are waiting for the nutritional calculator to be incorporated and then once that is done, I can move the site to our hosting people, upload all the images and copy and go live. Then I have to be ready for the flood of orders, because I know Annie is going to tweet the heck out of it and so are her friends. This is the ultimate viral marketing site. 


But besides the site, there has been all the other stuff, like ordering and pricing! The pricing was not easy and thank goodness for Ryan and his excel spreadsheets and formulas! But I think we have it nailed down now. And then it's all the ancillary stuff for the gift baskets, packaging, shipping - I had no idea what went into all this. And then came what I thought would be the fun stuff -- ordering, but I have been agonizing over it. I thought spending someone else's money would be great, but it is scary - what if I make mistakes etc? And then there's the book keeping - quickbooks online - another program to learn.


And chasing down things that are still needed from the attorneys - but Annie is on that and hopefully we will have the legal stuff from them soon. If not, the site can't go live as our merchant account couldn't be active.


So it has been one step forward, two steps back but now it seems that we are making steady progress. The main BIG order arrives tomorrow morning between 6-7 in a 57-foot (17m) big rig that is going to have to turn around in the field down the road and then back up to the house, unload the pallet of 1000 lbs nuts with his fork lift and hopefully not get stuck in any mud! It will still be dark but I plan on taking pictures!

Since I put up my weather station a month ago, we have had 11 inches of freezing rain! We are not impressed!

Deadlines...

So today is supposedly the first deadline for the site but we are just a bit behind, which is ok, as the other stuff, like business entity, bank account etc is still in limbo, waiting for filing papers etc. I just hope we don't miss the Christmas season! 


This really is quite a learning experience, and quite daunting at times. Every time I turn around it seems there is something else that needs to be done, or bought or applied for. But once I have been through the whole process, from inception to shipping the first bag, I think I will be able to handle any internet startup business like this. It really is amazing what is required! 


You think OK, I need a bank account, and a merchant account. Then you think, well it needs to be secure so register for verisign ($$$) and oh, what about a gateway? More $$$. Then what about liability insurance, Ryan asked? Hmm, hadn't thought of that one! And on the strictly practical side of things, like the packing, what do I need? Not having actually packed a bag of nuts, I have to imagine what it takes from start to finish, so from the time the bulk goods arrive (inventory) to the time they are shipped, (inventory again) what does it take? I think I have been through the process a million times in my head and have a good idea, but until I actually do it, which I can't until the funds are set up so I can buy the scales, boxes, bags etc, the ideas are going to have to remain in my head.


On the other side, the garage is almost ready, a little more painting and weatherstripping around the garage door, and it will be ready. That has been a huge project, and I am really grateful Susan came down to help last weekend to get the main stuff done. Otherwise I would still have a huge amount to do.


We have had some lovely weather but that ended last night with a howling gale and torrential downpours. The kitties are not impressed, sitting in the sunroom door, watching the rain. MY weather station is working well, but I think I will eventually have to mount the anemometer on the dock piling as I don't think it is getting the full force of the wind where it is. It will take some doing, and I have to think about how to mount it as the piling is a bit punky at the top. It might have to wait until spring, but we'll see. Maybe I don't want to know how hard the wind is actually blowing!


On day six of the latest round of antibiotics and it has not been a good week. They make me nauseous and I haven't been sleeping that well. And I really notice how not enough sleep affects my entire outlook! So I will be glad when this round is over and I get back to normal. 


Oh, and here's the link to the little fun thing I am doing, The Goodwill Apparel Challenge

Nobody said painting was glamorous!

So after what feels like weeks, the garage was ready to paint - or at least as ready as it was every going to be! I had taken EVERYTHING out, right down to the last nut and bolt, found places to store stuff and tossed or given away everything else. The walls and shelves and work benches were dusted; I removed and vacuumed up piles of sanding dust - a combination of wood and fiberglass and epoxy - nasty! 


Then when I looked at the concrete floor, I realized there was no way I could run a mop over it - it was too lumpy, decorated all over with hardened resin! So two afternoons later, spent tapping away at each blob, the floor is smooth enough that it won't rip a mop to shreds.


As I am doing this all on the cheap, all I had to buy were rollers and brushes - oh, and a coverall!


This morning, bright and early - actually brighter and earlier than anticipated (daylight savings - or is it standard time - started today) I opened the mystery paint cans to see what color was going to be "Color of the Day." The first one looked fairly mild, sort of off white - until it went on the walls and then it was my least fav of all - beige! It is dreary around here enough in the winter that I certainly don't need drab walls. Next! Good old plain white won out. 


By the time I was ready to go, Susan was on her way down to help. Only really good friends offer to help paint garages! She is a Super Good Friend! So between the two of us, taking turns rolling and brushing, we managed to capture the left over dust for posterity, along with several spiders who didn't run away fast enough. I'd say we got 90-percent of it done, and I will finish off tomorrow. The heater is going in there now, so hopefully the paint will kick as it was not too warm out there.


After our efforts, we sat out on the deck in the glorious sun, soaking it up, watching cormorants fish and kingfishers dive and chatter. Today is so still and pretty, it makes me think how lucky I really am to have a wonderful spot like this.


But as Susan paraphrased the old saying," When it is good, it is very, very good, but when it's bad, it's horrid."

Autumn

Although today is cloudy, it's not raining and it quite mild so went for a long walk on the beach, on our sand island that is accessible at very low tides.
The dredging is being done so took a quick pix of that with my cell and then further along, the trees are still  wonderful colors so here you go.

Weekend

It was a fun weekend. Nothing extraordinary, just good.


On Saturday, I decided to go to the Farmers Market. It's been ages since I went, so called Susan and we met there. The produce looked wonderful, lots of squash and late summer veges. The market has been extended to mid-December, but it really isn't a lot of fun to go when it is cold, windy and raining! And it must be hell for the vendors, too. But Saturday was a pretty day, not too cold and no wind. Then we went to the little hole-in-the-wall coffee shop and sat and watched people. I don't know why, but people in Port Townsend try to outdo themselves, looking and dressing weird! Some are just bizarre and I wonder what on earth they are thinking! Very individual!!!


Yesterday, the weather had turned nasty again (I saw the barometer dropping on my newly-installed weather system!) but Susan and I had planned a jaunt into Silverdale to the huge new thrift shop. The drive there was beautiful, trees of every autumn hue along the highway and in the town, giving it some personality. Silverdale is such a blah place, so the trees really perked it up. It is built around a mall - in fact Susan says it's just one big strip mall! You can find just about everything you need, but it really isn't a destination other than to get necessities. After finding some treasures at the store, we had a really nice lunch at Red Robin - enormous hamburgers - and mine is still with me this morning.


It is absolutely pouring today so no walks. But I did start yoga-pilates. I have a dvd so started this morning. Pilates is deceptively gentle and I know will be stiff tomorrow! But not getting out to walk is not good, so figured I better figure out something else to do.


The site is coming along well, the logo is almost there and the business side of things is supposed to be set up by the end of the week, so then I can order supplies like bags, labels etc. 


Today I will finish up the garage and have it ready to paint. Something I have been putting off but need to do soon so the paint can off gas before I have to be in there a lot.

Mission Accomplished

It may not be the prettiest weather station installation, but it's done and it works! I do have to get a compass and adjust the anemometer vein correctly. I guessed and lined it up with the TV satellite dish! I think I will most likely get a taller mast but I used what was around here so...

So now I can look at the panel in the house and get even more depressed! It's wireless so the main control is in the house and I think I can hook it up to the internet and have my own official weather station. But not sure if it works with a mac so have to check that out and if it does, you will be able to commiserate during the winter and envy me in the summer!

Winter is here

Damn, and I thought summer would last forever! I really can't complain as we have had the most beautiful summer and really, even the autumn is wonderful. Of course the news media is making a huge thing of three days of rain, which we needed. But you would think we were having floods or something equally as drastic. Driving around is gorgeous - the trees are all turning and with the autumn light, they glow. 
I have almost completed mounting the weather station that I gave Chris two years ago that has been sitting in the cupboard. It is out on the deck railing; I need to figure out the anemometer today. Some jury rigging required, but I think I have all the bits needed now. But the rest of the instruments are working. It's wireless so the main control is in the house and shows rainfall, barometric pressure, temperature and humidity, and when the anemometer is hooked up, wind speed and direction. Plus forecast! And I think I can create my own weather station on the internet. Now I just need an outdoor web cam, so when I am miserable about the snow, sleet and ice, you can see what it really looks like! When it is all set up I will post a pix.
I had to go to Tacoma yesterday and went to my favorite shop - which I didn't know was so close (hour and 15) away. Trader Joes! And it is a new store, big and bright with all the wonderful natural foods. Great cheeses, great prices! And of course, Two Buck Chuck wine, but it is actually Three Buck Chuck here in Washington!
The site is coming along well, I have had my nose in spreadsheets, working on pricing. Fortunately, Ryan has set up the formulae to do that but it is a lot of data entry and I go buggy looking at numbers for long periods! Not my favorite thing to do, but part of the deal. The garage is empty and now I must really clean it to get rid of any residue dust and then I am going to rent a paint sprayer and spray the whole thing which, if there is any dust left, will encapsulate it into a non-skid finish! The actual company should be official in the next few days, then I will be able to open the bank account, order labels, etc. So it is pretty exciting. I really like the site design, but Ryan wasn't thrilled with the logo so we will be seeing some options tomorrow. 
It is interesting working with India. The Project Manager is extremely well spoken, and responsive to all my requests. Time differences can be challenging; they are 12 hours ahead so there is not a lot of overlap, but so far it is working well. They just had a long weekend - Diwali - and he was surprised I knew what it is. 
I woke up way early today - 4:30 - even the kitties weren't that anxious to go out! Dark and cold, but the heater works wonderfully, and I am getting a quarter cord of wood for emergencies.