Wishing you all out there a very Happy Thanksgiving! Bob and I have so very much to be thankful for this year. We experienced a terrible summer in business this year that others have experienced far longer than we did, but the good Lord, our 
family, friends and especially our client friends helped to turn the tide and so we end the year on a positive note. I am also grateful for the many business blogs, newsletters and video newsletters that helped to direct and refocus the business. Not only were they uplifting but they helped me to keep the faith in knowing we are headed in the right direction with exciting things on the horizon for 2013.
With Black Friday on the doorstep, I would also like to mention that the Buy Small…Buy Local Day sponsored by the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) is this Saturday, November 24th. The charm of Christmas will be found in the cool little shops in your historic districts…the great bike and board shop off the beaten path…an extremely unique liquor store (Brindley’s comes to mind) as well as any of your favorite artists (possibly Jane Crick?), photographers, artisans, authors or craftsmen. They can provide you with very unique and sometimes one-of-a-kind holiday gifts. The little people of business like these people are what keeps the economy chugging along in spite of what’s going on in the rest of the world. I remember as I was closing out my gallery and having the end of business sale so many people stopped in saying they had always meant to stop and never did. If you are saying that about a local business that you drive by on a regular basis or know of one off the beaten path….stop in and spend some of your holiday dollars with them. You won’t regret it!
Jane Crick Painting in Paradise 