Pinterest and the eBay Seller

As an education Specialist, I am always trying to help my students in becoming successful eBay sellers. A few weeks ago eBay announced some changes to their user agreement.  

One thing that will impact sellers is that eBay wrote not all listings will appear at any given time.  It is unclear exactly what that means, but to me it means I must help myself by doing self promotion of all my treasures that are for sale on the eBay site.  Just like the blog I wrote on bumping - Pinterest is a big part of my daily tasks. I really believe none of us can rely solely on eBay to bring visitors to our eBay stores.

Assuming one belongs to Pinterest and knows their way around here are a few hints that I think have helped me and others to make more sales

** Keep in mind, first and foremost, Pinterest is a social site and you do not want to blast your followers with ads of your product;
** Having said that tho', 1 listing for every 5 other kind of pins is OK;
** I like to spread out my postings through the day, not all eyes are looking at the same time;
** There is one board called "eBay - Today's New Listings". Every day I post brand new listings that went live yesterday; 
** Many times I have been surfing the main board and have seen an image of something I have waiting to be listed.  I pin it to a special board called "eBay for Research". Then I can go back later and get more details when I am ready to list that item;
** I belong to several groups on Facebook and there are postings all the time of things folks found that sold for more than one would expect.  I pin those items to a private (secret) board called "BOLO" = Be on the Lookout! (I share that list with the members of my Meetup Group at every meeting);
** When pinning, anything, make sure you add some keywords in the description.  Anyone can search for those keywords right on Pinterest. The Search Engines are looking at them too; 
** The boards - I have ones just for listings by subject but other folks have them by color, style, season, holiday or whatever. And my product boards are mixed in amongst the recipes, travel, holidays, etc.  boards;
** Arrange the boards for eye appeal.  I have mine sorted in alphabetical order (for the most part) so I can find them.  My group boards are separate at the bottom and boards I want alot of attention on, are 1st.

** This is just a start to make Pinterest a resource for promoting listings.  I do have a group on Facebook to talk about Pinterest and to help stay updated. 

Please visit my boards and if we are not friends please follow me and I will follow back.  Thanks.

HerbsCraftsGifts.com

Email for student info Herbscraftsgifts@gmail.com

Pumpkin Should have been 100 Pound-er!

 The middle pumpkin should have been a record breaker.  LOL

Last year we planted seeds for huge 100#pumpkins and not one sprouted.  This year we did not plant any and one volunteer came up all by itself in late July.

After all the rain in Aug. and Sept. there was only one that developed and is over 20 pounds.

  If it had started earlier we think it would have had a better chance of being a big one.

The stem is what is so interesting about this guy.  It would have been big enough to support a huge one.  Notice Gene's finger next to it.

A little mousey or squirrel started nibbling on it so we harvested alittle early.

Besides saving the seeds for next year, do we carve it, use it for a decoration or cook it!!??

Roasted Tomato Pizza (Pasta) Sauce

 Roasted Tomato Pizza (Pasta) Sauce

Another recipe I found on Pinterest.  After it cooled my son tasted it and said, don't want this to sound not nice but it tastes --- and I said commercial! He said yes, it was that good, well rounded and rich. Recipe is at the bottom of photos so it can be copied & pasted in it's entirety.

4 pounds Plum tomatoes halved

Mixed with the herbs and other ingredients

After they have been roasted.

Next was to process them in a food mill.

The finish product, which we then canned in a water bath.  This made 3 pints. 

 

Roasted Tomato Pizza (Pasta) Sauce

Some of the ingredients seem odd but when all added together you can not tell they are there.

• 4 pounds Roma tomatoes, or other ripe tomato (if using other tomatoes de-seed and try to get rid of as much excess liquid.)
• ½ cup diced onions
• 3-4 anchovy filets from a can (optional)
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon fresh oregano minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh basil minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh mint minced
• ¼ teaspoon hot pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon dry marjoram
• 1 teaspoon salt 

To add after roasting - 

• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 6-ounce can tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons agave nectar (honey may be substituted)
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon melted butter
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Cut each Roma tomato in half the long way. If using other tomato types, remove core and discard. Then cut them in half from top to bottom.
3. In a large bowl place tomato halves, diced onion, anchovy filets, garlic, oregano, basil, mint, pepper flakes, marjoram, salt and oil. Toss to combine then pour out onto a sheet pan. Arrange tomato halves cut side up and roast uncovered for one hour. Remove from oven, flip tomatoes and roast for 30 more minutes.
4. (Note: different tomato varieties have different water content. The above step should be monitored. You are looking for a good deal of the water content to evaporate but not burn the tomatoes)
5. Using a food mill, process the cooked tomatoes and all liquid through the mill, discarding seeds and skin left in the mill.
6. To the pureed tomatoes, add the remaining ingredients - tomato paste, agave nectar, onion powder, butter and Parmesan cheese. Stir to combine and adjust seasoning. Use on your favorite pizza or can for later use.

Turkey Wing Whisk Broom

 We found this in my Mom's house and had no idea what it was until we went to list in on eBay.  Well I take that back, I knew it was a whisk broom but that is all.  Turns out it is a Turkey Wing Whisk broom.  
 
This one has a tag that says Lucern, so I assume it was made in Switzerland. 

They are made by taking all the straw and bunching it together to make the handle. Then letting it flare at the other end  This one is tied with red nylon string with a plastic cap on the end. 

In my research I found out that Ben Franklin used this style broom to help promote his vision that the Turkey be the National Symbol. 

Never know what we will learn in our research for eBay.  LOL 

Pine Tree Stump as a Planter

View from our front window looking out at where our 60 year old, 70' Colorado Blue Spruce once stood.

Back in June I wrote how we hollowed out a pine tree stump and made planter.  Now 3 months later the flowers are growing and blooming.

 

White Cosmos, pink Zinnias

Morning Glories, Marigolds

Thistle

 

Trumpet Vine climbing, bright green is Sweet Potato

Drainage hose under morning glory vine

Mums, Geraniums, decorative grass and Sweet Potato vine

We remember 9-11-01 12 years later

On this 12th anniversary of this most horrible event, Sept. 11, 2001, I wonder how many are functioning and saying it is put behind us, but the fears from the moments and days immediately following that tragedy are not far below the surface for so many of us?

We were living in Franklin Square and I guess about 20 miles or so from ground zero (line of sight) and watching a morning show, when it turned to a news alert.  When we went out of the house there was the smoke to the west.  Within an hour or two we heard sirens of emergency vehicles on the main road 1 block from our house. The sirens were constant for hours so we went to go see what was happening.  There were emergency vehicles coming in from eastern Long Island (more than 60 miles away) to be staged at Belmont race track. Fire trucks, fire chief cars, ambulances and rescue equipment, etc. We knew what happened, but were so afraid of what they were not telling us.  Was there more?

Belmont Horse Race Track is just over the border from Queens, NY (about 3 miles from our house). Since all fire and rescue vehicles from Queens and Brooklyn were in the city at ground zero, the other equipment was being staged in the parking lot to be dispatched to local emergencies if or when they were needed.

As days went by we heard stories of survivors.  One such story was while I was having my nails done by a lady who told me her husband worked on the top floor.  He pushed himself into the elevator before the building collapsed.  When he got to the bottom, the doors of the building were being closed not to let anyone onto the subway - and yet again he forced his way out and had to pull the doors of the subway car open to get onto the last train out of that station.  

Everyone on his floor was lost and he was suffering with "why was I spared"?  So not only did the families of those who were killed suffer so are the survivors and their families.  

7 members of our church - St. Catherine of Sienna Catholic Church were lost.  The actual church only holds 400 so for the funerals, audio speakers were set up in the school auditorium and many speakers outside on the street. The inside of the buildings and outside on the street was packed with over a thousand folks in all sorts of uniforms - fire - police- military and regular folks, like us, just there to pay our respects.  

2 firetrucks with their high ladders extended formed a point from which a huge American flag flew.  When the casket was carried from the church it was placed on the back of the fire truck for it's trip to the cemetery.  We were told that traffic stopped all along the way as the truck passed.  

After everyone came out of the church, the NYC Police helicopters flew over with the missing man formation.  There were 2 trumpeters  echoing each other, playing taps.

We were at all 7 funerals and Mayor Guilanni and the police chief was at each and every one.  Even now writing this it brings back tears to my eyes!!!



Another thing I need to share too - Some folks went into an dollar store in our small town and the owners/staff/family were all cheering  - celebrating while they were watching the replay.  I don't mean to judge all dollar store owners, but just sayin' that one group was happy!!

And so on the anniversary of the day that impacted our lives we need to remember a few things - one the fear of the unknown and what would or could happen next - if anything. Our kids think we are over exaggerating being cautious / aware, but on the other hand - why not?  What does it hurt to be prepared?

And lets also remember those few days/ weeks afterward and how we were all united as one people suffering for all the lives lost, the damage to families and our nation. No matter what event we went to - everyone stood and sang God Bless America with pride and conviction.  And of all that has been said and will be said that is a very profound memory to come away with. 

Lastly but really foremost our prayers go to the families directed impacted by this tragic event, not only in NY but all over this country. 

 

How to Self Promote eBay Listings

I have been asked to describe the different ways we promote our eBay listings  Many think we pay enough to eBay and they should be doing it for us.  Let me do an analogy that I have used several times. 

Imagine the largest shopping mall near your home.  There is probably an anchor store in it.  Around the holidays the mall will advertise the mall, the anchor store will advertise themselves, and every little business is there hoping to benefit from their advertising. I am that little store in the corner and I want to stand in the hallway waving at folks who are there in the mall already.  So it is with eBay, too.  I don't want to be the little store off in a corner just waiting for someone to drop by.  I want to go out and try to snag folks to visit me. 

Ways to do that - 

• A blog such as this one - see the top right corner - there is a link to my eBay store. Blogger (a Google product) is easy, WordPress (for the more computer savvy).  Write about anything that you can think of.  It is more important to get keywords.  A few ideas - a local restaurant; things and scenery from your town/city; hobbies; cooking hints. I found I had better luck (and better use of my time) just writing without researching the subject and am huge-ly surprised on the subjects that get searched on Google resulting on hits for the blog! ;
• Bumping - not sure how much they help but the more exposure I can get for my listings the better. Click link for my blog on what bumping is;
• Pinterest - A social media site where we do post listings on various boards, but be careful 2 ads for every 8 social posts.  Don't sell to your followers.  Build your followers based on your interests. Facebook Pinterest Addict group;
• Same thing goes for Facebook Shares.  Friends & family don't want to see your listings so be selective what you choose to share - same formula applies - 2 ads for 8 social posts on your wall;
• Twitter - same (sorta) as Pinterest - a social media site we also need to be careful not to spam
• Facebook groups - I own a closed group where you can share 2 listings every day.  There are several others too but mine is alittle different because we all click on the listing giving it a click up in eBay search and then can share on a social media site too. We approve all requests for membership to keep out the spammers and have to see something in the profile that tells us the potential member is involved with eBay. 
• Facebook seller group - I have another closed group for sellers to help each other brainstorm, problem solve and just be the water cooler where we can chat about our business.  Closed just means anyone can see who belongs but can not see the posts. There are many different groups each offering something alittle different from the other ones;
• And last is not really a way to self promote but very important for all eBay sellers - join a Meetup.com near you or attend an eBay event at least 1 time a year.  

Another hint is to have the .com for your eBay name or store and the .net for the blog. Then have that URL point to your listings or store.  When you want to share your eBay info you just have to give name.com or for blog - name.net.  

State Farm Refused to Renew our Homeowners Insurance.

We have been customers of State Farm for a very long time and have had automatic withdrawal, so were never late with a payment.  

Gene started with them when he was 19 and is 66 now - that is 53 years.  I started with them in 1962 until 1998 when I met Gene and that is 32 years.  So combined we have been insured by State Farm for 75 years. That is alot of premiums for house, cars, RV, trailers besides extra riders for stuff.  Like really - how dare them!!!

Hail in our back yard!

                             
We were notified they would not renew our homeowners policy due to renew on June10th.  

Our history with them here in Colorado has been :-
2011 - A fence repair because a huge branch fell and destroyed the vinyl fence. Pay out = less than $2000.
2012 - after a horrible hail storm in June we had to have the roof replaced = $6500.
and last (this is the clincher) in 2010 we thought there was roof damage.  Adjustor came out, no roof problem and they did not pay anything, BUT that is considered a claim.  

3 claims in 8 years = Cancelled.  Does not matter how long and loyal we have been. 

There were 350 homes that burned plus who knows how many damaged last year because of the Waldo Canyon Fire, so a comment was made they are looking to cancel folks in Colorado Springs because of all the Fire claims. Our agent said clients are dropping like flies and taking all policies with them.

No matter what their reasoning, it sucks.  So be on notice.  If you have State Farm insurance - don't make any claims or you too can get launched like we did.

But when a door closes another opens and we now have a fantastic agent, with American Family Insurance with more coverage for less money each month. 

Spiral Lace Sun Visors = No Headaches

  "No Headache Sun Visors" use a spiral lace to secure it to the head.  No clamps to put pressure on the skull. 

Kittens! Perfect for RV'ers, travelers and everyone else because they store absolutely flat and weigh next to nothing.

Chile Peppers - Most are washable on the top rack of the dishwasher (just remove before the dry cycle!)

Fuchsia Glitzy - Alot of ladies like this for cruise wear , at the pool or the country club. 

Firefighter. Some photos show the lace which is color co-ordinated to the fabric.

Ruffled Iris.  Perfect for the gardener. They are made with two holes on each side so the lace can be re-threaded to the back so it doesn't stick out.  But I like to leave one just in the one hole so if it gets windy, I can pull it alittle snugger!  

Volleyball / Beach Volleyball.  For players and fans.

All these visors and many more can be seen in our eBay Store.  

Thanks for visiting and if you liked this blog please leave a comment.  Thanks.

Gene's Knee Replacement Surgery 4/10/13

Gene had his 3rd knee surgery done finally.  The right knee was replaced in 2000 and the glue did not stick so it was redone in 2008. We knew the left one was going to have to be done eventually.  Well eventually arrived this year. 

Because of an accident Gene has had over 20 orthopedic surgeries in the last 20 years.  We trusted Dr. Jepson but it does not hurt to be safe!!

The morning after surgery at, Penrose Main Hospital, he was up and walking and getting good range of motion.  He decided he did not want to use the continuous motion machine this time.  It seems he did better and got results faster. 

He was home 2 days after surgery.  This is the 1st morning home packing items for eBay.  We moved his  "shipping department" upstairs to the kitchen table until he was able to go down the stairs again.

Complete Home Healthcare sent an Occupational therapy gal, a nurse and a Physical therapy coach several times - Dr. Jay (last name??) .  The 1st PT guy - Tom - hurt Gene really bad.  He pushed down on his leg to straighten it and pulled a muscle in the back of his knee.  Poor thing was in agony for a full week.  Dr Jay was fantastic and after only 3 weeks Gene was at 120° extension and -2° flex.  The therapist couldn't believe it.  Dr. Jay said he never saw anybody do so well, so fast.  Yay Gene!!

Gene in the garden 7 weeks after surgery.  Before he would have never been able to bend that left knee like that. 

He is doing very well now 8 weeks after surgery that we have to remind ourselves that he will still have some stiffness and swelling, but overall he is doing things he wasn't able to do before. 

If you enjoyed this blog, please leave a comment.  Thanks.