Fun and Frolic With Long-Term Love

[Bluebird]

On Saturday MisterMoonbeam & I went to lunch at Mission BBQ, and then spent time at the Walters Art Museum together in Baltimore. He paid for parking right next to the place, so that was nice! He picked this particular museum because they currently have a medieval cats exhibit! This includes the oldest manuscript that has paw prints on it - a cat walked through the wet ink on more than one occasion!







My favorite painting:


I had been to this museum with PunkRock in the past, but it was like, a decade ago maybe? IDK but it was a while. I enjoyed the experience a lot this time, for sure and will go again! He bought me a cool pair of earrings, and we then went to dinner at a restaurant nearby - it was called TheGrill, and we both agreed it was worth another visit in the future!



MisterMoonbeam got us a hotel room overnight, because that evening we got dressed up and attended a medieval event at the Baltimore Playhouse. I went for more of a village wench vibe.



It was the busiest event I had ever attended there - we had to walk down from the upper parking lot and wait in a long line. Upon entering, YoungNorse yelled my name and came up to say hi. I hadn’t expected to see him! He said he was there with his wife and two other connections, and had scenes planned, but if I had time, he would love to do one with me.

Honestly, this made me feel very uncomfortable. We had one date over a year ago - December 2023 - but we’ve seen each other sporadically at vending events, and he is connected to me through my metamour’s extended polycule. (TheEngineer’s wife dates a female partner of his. I’m not sure if this shared partner was one of the people there. I don’t think so but I could be wrong.)

Anyway, I’m much less attracted to him than I was a couple of years ago! It’s nothing he’s done - I have just moved on with my feelings. He’s a nice young guy but I have no energy for more right now. And a DOM-y sort of dude who wants to get with me most definitely needs to have some back and forth with me about boundaries and such before hooking up at an event. So him jumping to in the initial conversation made me less enamored.

I did end up having some fun times with MisterMoonbeam, but the highlight was watching some “barbarian” wrestling matches. I am very interested in doing this myself in the future - strangers were paired up and wrestled nude or close to nude! After seeing it, I think I will try it next time.

 

[Bluebird]

On my actual birthday, TheEngineer picked me up and we went to Frostburg to do a 10-mile pedal car ride through Tracks & Yaks.



We stopped for brunch at a small coffee shop that we both ended up loving - the vibe was awesome - before starting the adventure.


Initially we were both thinking that 10-miles was a bit much, but the distance wasn’t an issue and we both wanna do one much longer in the future.





The tracks went from Frostburg to Mount Savage. I really, really loved it. The weather was absolutely perfect. Leading up to the time, thunderstorms were forecast but there ended up being zero rain for the two hours we were there. Whew!

Here I am in my picture of the day. I was dressed for the activity:



Oh, and he gifted me a croquet set! I’ve wanted one for like ever!

 

[Bluebird]

On Monday evening, DarkKnight & MisterMoonbeam and my three kiddos (plus LittleMichigan’s partner) went to dinner at Mission BBQ, and then came back to the house for DarkKnight’s homemade carrot cake cupcakes.





I was spoiled rotten.



It was really great to see all of my kids together. It makes me really happy and gives me all the good feels.

That’s all of my birthday celebrations! My mom messaged me but did not call. I messaged back and told her I didn’t have her phone number, but that was the end of that. My nephew called me and we talked about the fact that his mom and his siblings might be moving down here. I told him I wanted him & his husband to move down here! We will see if any of that happens.

Overall it was an amazing birthday. 48 was pretty great!

 

[Bluebird]

Usually on Tuesdays, TheEngineer comes to visit me. Yesterday, instead, MisterMoonbeam dropped me at a Starbucks in Frederick on his way to work. I was there for a couple of hours, working on acorn necklaces and hair clips/pins. Three ladies stopped to tell me they loved my art! I didn’t want to get thrown out for soliciting, so I thanked them. In retrospect I should have given them a business card but I was not prepared.






I was able to do some math and figure out that I needed to order some more of the rainbow acorn lockets, so I did that. I am going to continue to work on both of these items throughout Sept-October during my in-between times, when I have some spare moments. I really love how the mushrooms turned out!

Anyway, after a bit, TheEngineer picked me up and I did some shopping at Michael’s while he had Zoom therapy from his truck. Afterward, we went to Panera and then to the grocery store. Oh, how do I explain this…

On Monday evening I got a call from the local surgical center. I had forgotten - so I am glad they reached out - that I had a colonoscopy scheduled for Wednesday! So Tuesday, I was on a liquid diet with a lot of restrictions. So at Panera for lunch I had chicken noodle soup, but just drank the broth. Then I bought more broth at the store, along with Mango Italian ice and some apple juice.

None of this stuff is diabetes friendly, really, other than the broth. My main concern though was my calorie count! I ended up having my blood sugar yo-yo all day, and I was dizzy because of my lack of energy. Ugh it was a mess! It was worse because the reason I was actually there was so TheEngineer and I could make cement weights for our vending booths together! The bags are 80 lbs, and it was not a super easy task. I mean, the parts of it weren’t difficult, but things were hard because my sugar was spiking and tanking all day long. It worked out though, and I now have 10 weights firming up at his house. I plan to pick them up on Thursday - we have another day planned to work on building me two new Bean displays.



These weights though, once I get them, I need to spray paint them. I’m going to do that on Friday or Saturday, depending on the weather.

The rest of last night was fucking terrible. I had to drink a Prep for the colonoscopy, and it was the worst tasting thing I have ever had to drink, no contest. I cried and dry-heaved. Then I had to drink two full bottles of water within the hour and that part was easier. However, it was supposed to clean me out - and it didn’t.

The internet said wait two hours. It also said for some people it takes 4-5 hours. I drank the Prep at 6 pm, but didn’t start pooping until 2 am! I was up for almost half the night, waiting anxiously. And then when it did start, it wasn’t too horrible - a few nuggets and then some water butt sprays. (TMI but whatever)

Well, at 2:30 am I had to take the second dose of Prep and 2 more bottles of water. I did all that and then had to get up several times for poops - all just the liquid leaving. I guess I am pretty regular because there wasn’t much solid to begin with. Yay?

I had to be at the surgical center for the procedure at 7:30 am, and MisterMoonbeam took the morning off of work to be with me. Here’s what I wore. At the center I had to put on a gown and since then I’ve been in pajamas, so I wore this for like 30 minutes. Lol



I wasn’t too worried about everything - there’s no history of colon cancer in my family (honestly no cancers at all, anywhere!) but I was mildly anxious about being being knocked out. I figured things had gone smoothly with the anesthesia twice last year, so there was no reason to worry about this procedure now, really.

And I was right - the IV went in smoothly and I had no complications. I actually woke up instantly while still in the operating room (I wasn’t having an operation - just a camera in my bum) and the anesthesiologist was like, hey! you’re scheduled to be awake a bit later!! But the procedure was done then and they were getting ready to wheel me into recovery. So I was out of the place and on the way home by 9:30 am!

The scary thing is that they found 3 large polyps that the doctor described as “concerning” and the biggest is over 1 cm in size. She cut them out completely - they were higher up in my colon. I should hear about them within a week as they were all sent out for a biopsy. She did explain that these were in no way associated with the nodules in my thyroid, or my cysts and fibroids that were removed from my abdominal cavity last year. She said she didn’t see any signs of intrusion from the adhesions on the outside of my colon - where my organs/fibroids were stuck to it in one section. She said she didn’t expect to, and didn’t, but she understood that all of that going on made sense why the gyno wanted to schedule me for an actual looky-loo rather than just the mail-in Colo-guard or whatever that’s called. She said they weren’t associated, but I did seem to have a lot happening.

And it’s a good thing. She said for 48, she was very surprised to see these things hanging out. Regardless of the biopsy outcome, she’s putting me down for another colonoscopy in 3 years instead of 5. Obviously if they aren’t benign we will have further issues to discuss, but for now I will be waiting for news from the online charting app. I will probably see the results before she does, but she will call me.

 

[Bluebird]

No biopsy results yet, but photos of my polyps posted and I had a meltdown. Idk - there’s a huge difference from a doctor telling you results were concerning, and then actually SEEING the issue.




These definitely are concerning, holy shit. I was fine, but seeing these was a shock. Up to this point though, I have an excellent track record for growing random things that aren’t actually cancer, so I’m holding it together. I’m actually upset because this kind of fucking nonsense was supposed to be OVER with. 2024 was my year of rest. 2025 is for FOCUS. Ugh. Hopefully I get biopsy results soon.

Yesterday I decided to work in the 10x10’ courtyard I’m creating as part of my booth space for my next show. Check it:



My historical canopy will be shipped to me on Tuesday, and the tent poles will be covered with sage green curtains and flower garlands. I need to make a laminated sign to hang on the bench - I want people to take a pic while wearing one of my flower crowns and then tag me on social media. I will choose a winner and they’ll score a free headpiece. I wanna use this promotion to gain more followers.

Overall though I am happy with how this looks right now!

Oh - I was selected for a show in November I REALLY wanted to get into, so I am excited!

 

[Bluebird]

Here’s my photo of the day for Saturday - I went to Frederick Pagan Pride with MisterMoonbeam. NGL I felt pretty good because at LEAST a dozen people told me they looked my look!



Today I’m wearing my new kaiju monster dress!




I ordered this dress 4 months ago and it was back ordered. So now that it is here, I’m not a 12/14 anymore - I’m a size 10. I can’t return it, as the dress is again on back order until December. Until I can get it altered, I decided to pop on a corset.

I have to take MisterMoonbeam to the airport today and I am missing him already! He’s going to be in Arizona again for the week.

 

[KND]

I very much enjoy seeing your beautiful outfits. Thanks for sharing them

 

[Bluebird]

I received my written biopsy results - 2 polyps were not malignant, and 1 was cancerous. It says the polyp had zero margins, so I believe that means the surgeon got it all out. I’m waiting now to hear from her to be certain all is well.

 

[Bluebird]

I’m currently in Ypsilanti, Michigan - MisterMoonbeam and I arrived here on Thursday for his niece’s wedding. I think we’re having lunch with his parents - we sat with them at breakfast as they are at the same hotel we are staying at. We are leaving tomorrow morning though, since we got tickets for the Ohio Renaissance Faire!

Here’s a photo drop of my pictures of the day over the past week or so:






My next show is in less than a week. I’m making like crazy - I brought laser-cut clips to paint while in Michigan! Here’s a cute headband I made before leaving:

 

[Bluebird]

The wedding in Michigan was nice even though it was Catholic.


MosterMoonbeam’s gray suit didn’t fit him at all and he needed to wear his navy suit instead - which was his newest that he bought to marry me in last year. It was actually big on him as well! He said almost all of his clothes are so we are going to have to get the suit coats altered or replaced.

We had fun at the Ohio Renaissance Faire today, and I was doing personal shopping for a few folks who asked. One awesome thing that happened is that I had posted about the trip and the owner of Damsel in this Dress saw it and said that I should tell the employees at her booth to give MisterMoonbeam a free men’s vest ($350), and THEY DID.

Another good thing that happened is that we went in wearing this:




And then I was like this:


lol I sold the Fabulosity flower crown and Fantastick IMMEDIATELY. I had posted my pics and mentioned that those pieces would be available for sale this weekend at my upcoming show and someone messaged that they lived in Ohio and wanted to buy them now. And then they did. I really needed those pieces in my booth but I wanted the $200 more. Lol

We stopped in Columbus and had dinner and now we’re crashing in a hotel room. I’m tired and wanna be home. I effectively have two days - Tuesday and Wednesday - to prepare for my show and it’s overwhelming. I wanted to have six Fantasticks and Fabulosity combos for sale and I am back down to three. I can’t make thousands of dollars if I don’t have the product made! I’m going to be gluing up tentacle crowns and horns all day Tuesday and then adding flowers like a mad woman!

 

[Bluebird]

My first weekend at this ren faire was mixed. I made my goal for the event, so that was amazing. Sunday there was a terrible windstorm and many vendors had losses, including tents. Ours was okay but I had a few display pieces that had to be replaced. It was extremely stressful and tiring! I’m now focused on making new products the next two days in anticipation of the second weekend! Here are pics of MisterMoonbeam and I from Friday-Sunday.






I have received another large order interest request (15-20 headpieces), this one from a textile creator who wants to pair my flower crowns with her clothing pieces. I need to send her some photos and pricing information, but she is familiar with my work already. I am very excited because this will be a wonderful way to close out the year if we are able to come to an agreement!

I ran numbers this past week and I have earned over $17,000 in revenue since my first show in April. After this weekend’s show and then my last event in November, I should be over $20,000. My goal was to make $1000 a month, so I am happy to have surpassed that! I am still waiting for a meeting with my bookkeeping company, but I am uncertain as to how much profit - if any - I have made this year though. Start up expenses were very high, and then I upgraded my entire set up this month. Almost every dollar I have made was spent on materials or reinvested back into the business. I’m very happy with my progress however!

I also want to write down here that I had an amazing experience with MisterMoonbeam last night. He took me out to Hobby Lobby to buy supplies, and then my business bought us dinner, as we sat and discussed the upcoming show and plans for next year. When we got home, he thoroughly sexed me up and made me feel amazing. He called me beautiful, and gorgeous, and said I was a goddess. For once in my life I truly believed every word a partner was saying to me. This morning I feel blissed out at this realization. Is my therapy working? I don’t know. I do know that I like feeling this way.

 

[KND]

I also want to write down here that I had an amazing experience with MisterMoonbeam last night. He took me out to Hobby Lobby to buy supplies, and then my business bought us dinner, as we sat and discussed the upcoming show and plans for next year. When we got home, he thoroughly sexed me up and made me feel amazing. He called me beautiful, and gorgeous, and said I was a goddess. For once in my life I truly believed every word a partner was saying to me. This morning I feel blissed out at this realization. Is my therapy working? I don’t know. I do know that I like feeling this way.

Reading this made me feel good, and I believe has set my day.

 

[Bluebird]

My last weekend at the Faire was really good. Friday was the worst day for sales all year but then things picked up.




I paid to have my hair braided on Friday and then again on Saturday. I left the Saturday design in for Sunday!

This pic from Saturday was before I had the braids done:



Sunday:



I made $4500ish between both weekends. My booth was EMPTY the second weekend so quick! I’m working hard now to restock before my next show in Tennessee next weekend. This coming Saturday I am going to set up my tent in the yard and try to figure out a layout with just the 10x20 tent. Hopefully the weather cooperates.

 

[Bluebird]

I’ve been unwell the last couple of days. I got out of bed yesterday to pee, and that was about it. I was hoping I’d be recovered but I am still feeling terribly rundown and exhausted. I don’t have the option of staying in bed again today - it’s less than a week from my event in Tennessee!

 

[Bluebird]

I’m a little bit anxious today because I made an order for some custom poker chips last night that cost $130. DarkKnight told me I was being silly, because I spend that on garb without much hesitation. To be fair, he’s right. However, it hits different when it’s for my business!

I was contacted a while ago by an international company who at first I thought was a scammer. Like, why would they reach out to little ol’ me? But it is most definitely not a scam, and now I will be making something like 1,000 flower crowns for an event next summer.

Anyway, I don’t have a signed contract yet. They had never hired someone like me before and they had to make up a new vendor agreement and it’s with their counsel now? I’m waiting to get it, but in the meantime, I have to set up my website and get a few pictures ready for that.

I had 2 meetings earlier this week online/Zoom with the graphic designer who did my logo, and I will be paying her $700 for my website design. It’s another $1500 to get the coding on the website done from a friend in Connecticut. It should all be good by the end of November. Which is perfect, because this company wants to feature my company in their blog in November sometime. Part of that is linking to my site and encouraging pre-orders.

So, one of the flower crown products I am creating has a poker chip attached with “2026” printed in the center. When I had the Teams call with the company, I had made a couple of mockups showing what these would look like and they were all very excited and enthused about this particular thing.

I can use the pic showing the mockup version as a placeholder on the website, but once they link to me, I absolutely need the photo to be accurate. Like right now it’s a mini poker chip with 2026 written in marker. These will be twice the size with flat edges, and 2026 will be in gold and printed on directly. So that was the $130 I spent.

Without a signed contract yet. Gah! If it doesn’t work out, I won’t have anything to use these chips for - it is absolutely just for this particular product. So that is making me anxious because I will have tossed that money into the trash, basically!

I reached out to the company last week to see the status, and my contact was apologetic and said that it might be another week or so because they have another event happening in Canada right now. She also said though, that there is no one else they considered for this project and they all want me and they are just waiting on the lawyer/counsel/attorney to get them the paperwork.

So yeah. This will be all I spend on this for now though. I just want to get the chips now so I can attach them to the product and take some photos for the online store.

Today I am making stuff for my Tennessee show. I’m so very exhausted and achy, but I gotta get moving or so wont have anything to sell there next weekend!

 

[Bluebird]

Today MisterMoonbeam and I put up my 10x20’ tent. I’ve never had it up by itself before - the Tennessee show will be the first time with this size space. I needed to see what it would look like and decide which pieces of furniture and which displays I wanted to use this coming weekend.



I liked how this setup looked - the light green pieces of plywood on the ground denote my shelving units. I was a little nervous about getting everything to fit into the van, but MisterMoonbeam was able to make it happen! It’s about an 8 hour drive to where we need to go on Thursday, and I was not looking forward to renting a UHaul to carry my booth with us! I’m really glad he was able to Tetris everything into the van.

We all did a bunch of laundry today, and I made several items - a smaller crown, a dragon horn headband, 3 floral headbands, 2 antlered headbands and then I glued up the last two crows I had. I will add flowers to those tomorrow.

 

[Bluebird]

My oldest daughter is navigating a poly relationship now. She’s been strictly mono in the past, though she’s monkey-branched tons. Earlier this year she was apparently a unicorn for a poly couple, but broke it off herself when she realized that she liked the woman way more than the dude, and didn’t want to cause drama. (So I have understood, anyway.)

She reconnected with someone in her past and she was super excited to go on a date, at which point he told her he was polyamorous. His other partner is monogamous, and he hasn’t had any other partners since the start of their relationship, which I think was Covid times. I (of course) told her this did not sound great. I taught her some terminology so she could ask some questions about their dynamic, and she borrowed my Kimchi Cuddles comic book and More Than Two. I don’t think she’s opened either though.

She’s now several dates in and NRE is firing for both of them. The mono partner seems to be on board, but I am still trying to tell her to be cautious. Yeah…good luck with that. I am hoping she doesn’t turn into a cowboy; I am hoping she doesn’t get vetoed and cast aside; I’m hoping her partner is not a dirtbag.

Meanwhile, I leave for Tennessee tomorrow. Friday is my two year anniversary with TheEngineer. We’ve got plans to go do some zip lining next Thursday, and then the following Tuesday we booked a session at IFly for indoor skydiving.

 

[Bluebird]

I’m awake early today - I have been for a while! I had an amazing day at my event yesterday, and I had my second-highest grossing day of the year. I sold out of a lot again. I definitely need the time this winter to create inventory so I can keep my booth full throughout the weekend! Today I am going to be removing bookcases and taking down walls to showcase my remaining stuff.

 

[Bluebird]

MisterMoonbeam and I decided to wear our black & purple medallion outfits on Sunday, but I didn’t try mine on. Apparently I have lost some weight, because it absolutely didn’t fit me anymore! Of course I didn’t pack anything else, so I had to soldier through with something that looked not so great. The corset is now in a pile to go get it altered down.



We had last worn these pieces in September 2024. The difference for me is 20 pounds, and I think MisterMoonbeam was 60 pounds!







I made over $2700 total at the two-day show and I am happy with that!

This week has been a whirlwind and I haven’t had time to even unpack my totes and take inventory! I have 19 special custom requests to fill before Thanksgiving, and the corset company I am often wearing paid me for 15-20 headpieces to feature with their products in an upcoming collection. Those are due to be shipped out by Christmas. Thank goodness I don’t have any other shows scheduled this year!

The big international company hasn’t yet sent over a contract, but I heard from them and it’s bogged down in legal. My contact said she feels it should be ready by the first week in December. She said to please not worry - I am the only person they were even considering and this is absolutely happening.

I’m moving forward with my website, and I have two studio upgrade projects going on right now! TheEngineer is helping me by building a 6 foot shadow box to hang on a wall in my studio expansion area, which is going to be segmented and will hold all of my extra leftover flowers and leaves. I’m also emptying out my inventory room to paint a wall and hang curtain rods so I have a place to store the 1,000 flower crowns for my July show with the huge company.

Today I am hoping DarkKnight and MisterMoonbeam will take down our 12 foot skeleton and put up the Christmas tree in our sunroom. I’m trying to keep the house limping along as all my time is sunk into my business. I’m caught up on laundry at least!

DarkKnight and I are going to see a play of Arsenic and Old Lace today. Tomorrow I am going zip lining again with TheEngineer. I am hosting a game night on Monday so I need to clean that room at least before then! On Tuesday TheEngineer and I are going to iFly for indoor skydiving to celebrate our two year anniversary.

 

[Bluebird]

Okay, the play was lovely and I won the door prize raffle! It’s a bottle of Elderberry Wine and some vintage glasses that have the names of poison on them. They’re being delivered today at 10:30. I’m still in bed at the moment so my plan is to get up and get dressed, and then focus on cleaning until that arrives. I am hosting a game night tonight so I’m going to work on the entryway and game room. This weekend the guys did get Skelliot back in the box and the Christmas tree up, so the sunroom needs some sweeping also.

Yesterday my date with TheEngineer was canceled. After we both arrived for zip lining, it was postponed for high wind gusts. We decided to go do some shopping for some specific color flowers I needed, and then while we were out the company called as they ended up closing for the day as conditions did not improve. TheEngineer and I went to lunch, and then I went home. He’s coming over later today and will spend the night, so I am looking forward to that! We have indoor skydiving on the calendar for Tuesday. I did it before with PunkRock like a decade ago or something. It should be fun!

I completed a special request flower crown yesterday and need to mail that out today. I have four fox headbands on my special request list right now, so I am hoping to get those made and also sent outta here this afternoon! I have an Amazon return as well. If I have the time I would like to make a set of demon horns and two bud crowns for my friend - she works for me sometimes in exchange for headpieces and that will bring us back to even when done.

I scheduled an appointment on Wednesday with my bookkeeper. I have a lot to do to prepare for that, but that’s a tomorrow evening issue! If I have a few minutes I could prolly print out the forms for Virginia and Tennessee sales taxes - I can complete those myself, and they’re both currently due. I have been getting auto calls from Pennsylvania asking me to file sales taxes, but my one PA show I canceled, so I don’t have anything to file since I did zero business in that state. I try calling back and get stuck on hour-long queues and no one ever answers. That’s frustrating!