BSM: Best Shot Monday 5-10-10

Okay, I know - I'm a day late.  But I think this photo is worth the wait ... I hope you enjoy it as much as I am enjoying it.

Ready?   So here it is:

These are the Mother's Day flowers that I received from some of the kids / grandkids on Sunday.  Aren't they luscious?

So there is my first BEST SHOT MONDAY image in I don't know how long ...

--  Princess Magpie

Update on MAGPIE'S ART NEST

I thank you all for your patience, your support, and your encouragement over the last 6 weeks ... it was a couple of weeks before St. Patrick's Day when I first "hatched" the idea for MAGPIE'S ART NEST, and since then, I have looked at residential properties with the business in mind.  I do admit that looking at properties without an investor is premature, however, in the name of research, it makes sense to me.   

In working up a Business Plan, I found it far easier to work the numbers when I had a specific property in mind - because it allowed me to project based on actual classroom space/s.   Now that my "ideal" property sold ... for far less than the original asking price, I might add ... {okay, YES, I am still 'CREST'-fallen about it, I admit ...} ... now that it's sold, it's a challenge for me to "work up projected income" based on ... an unknown variable such as the premises themselves.

But I persevere, and I remain vigilant and hopeful.   The actual "ideal property" is still out there ... I just have to find it.

Of course, as one of our grandchildren said to me just yesterday, "wow, Oma, you're really serious about this business arent' you ?!"    {out of the mouths of babes ...}  She went on to say "it sounds like the ship's about to leave and Papa's still on the dock" -- again, 'out of the mouths of babes'.   No truer words have (lately) been spoken !!!   Mark's not "on board" with my business vision ... I'd say "yet", but I am not so sure he ever will be.

And still -- I remain optimistic.

Obviously it's going to take a partner - an investor for the real estate, and possibly a business partner.

Meanwhile, I do thank you for your support and encouragement and enthusiasm.

I wish I had more to "report" at this time, so with that in mind, I'd better get back to some numbers-crunching.

Your --

Princess Magpie

images from Google search ... "magpie" and "stone cottage".

The stone cottage is from http://www.serenitystonecottage.com/ in Heath, Massachusetts ... it's a wonderful-looking vacation rental that I happened upon while googling "stone cottages". 

Here's a little more about Serenity Stone Cottage: The Serenity Stone Cottage is tucked into five private acres of meadow, pond, and forest in the historic town of Heath, Massachusetts (population 805) in the Berkshires. Located just off the scenic Mohawk Trail, this hidden treasure was built in 1933 and eventually became a summer home to renowned theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, author of the Serenity Prayer. The Serenity Prayer (in its original version) was written at the stone cottage, and first preached by Mr. Niebuhr in the Heath Union Church in 1943. This all-season cottage has been lovingly maintained to reflect its original warmth, charm, and unique sense of peace and quiet.


The exterior design of the cottage is European in style, with a beautiful stone façade, cedar shakes, balcony porches, a hidden stone stairway, and a courtyard garden. All-around windows look out from the main living room to a cedar grove, a field of wildflowers, a small (seasonal) pond, and the woods beyond. The cottage is surprisingly spacious (approximately 1500 square feet on three levels) and there are skylights throughout.