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                                                                                                                  December 2011

Wow. Another year has zipped by and with it another Christmas season. We are pleased to tell everyone that it was a really good month and the best overall year since 2005. Had we done $1000 more we would have even beat 2005. So, we are feeling good about the prospects for 2012 as it seems the economy is making small but encouraging steps toward recovery. It seems that our customer base is feeling more confident and willing to spend money again. The staff here is starting to recover from the Christmas fatigue. Despite the fact that we truly enjoy the Christmas season we do get to the point of being a little tired of hearing Christmas carols hour after hour. We can have our staff Christmas party now that we have the time and energy to actually enjoy it.

The December consignment checks this month is the highest total since the Gallery has been open.  We were amazed when we saw the size of the checks for some artists. We sold a very broad selection of what we had in stock this year. One trend noticed was that people tended to buy lower cost items. We sold fewer larger price items than in Christmas’s past but as I said above the total sales were up.

Judy is spending a lot of time this month doing strategic planning for 2012. One of the things we want to do more of in 2012 is special shows and exhibitions. Now that she is back in the Gallery full time we will be doing more social events that will raise the profile of the Gallery.

Life on the farm is, of course, in the slow lane for the Winter. Ducks just eat and complain and don’t lay any eggs during cold weather. The chickens are still laying eggs well because of the warm winter we have had here so far. No problems with predators lately. The chickens seem to be really liking the warmer weather. I did some insulating this Fall to the chicken house and it definitely seems warmer when I go inside on cold mornings. I am still concerned that the bees will have eaten up their food before Spring comes. I will be watching to feed them as soon as the weather starts to warm in March.

My son Tom has been busy working on our big roofing project. He was gone out of town most of the Summer and Fall so we are behind on that project. It is looking good now and we can move on to some interior projects that have been on hold until the roof was covered better. I am certainly glad the weather has been warm since we just got the woodstove hooked back up last week. It was beginning to get a little cold some mornings with no heat except in the bedrooms. I am anxious for Spring so I can finish several things that were almost done when it got too cold for me to work outside. I don’t tolerate cold very well so I have to wait until it warms up again to do the outside work.

The gallery is looking a little bare now that the Christmas decorations are gone. Take a look at your checks and see if you need to bring in more art for us. We are starting inventory this week and will want to put out fresh merchandise as soon as we finish. We expect a strong 2012 and want to be ready for an early Spring and lots of people to be coming through the door.

Stay warm and safe on the roads on the icy days that are yet to come

Judi                Cecil             Kevin           Kristen                 Rose