Taming Murphy’s Law

Murphy was mischievous, but he didn’t win.

Life throws many curve balls, and this week, life’s name was Murphy. My friend on today’s porch is making certain that Murphy doesn’t get out of control. It is nice to have friends. Welcome.

This week’s image has three hidden hearts. Can you find them?

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Happy Sunday! I’m so glad that you’re taking a little time from your Columbus Day weekend and spending it with me.  I have a visitor here with me on the front porch, but there’s still plenty of room for you…so grab a blanket, set yourself down, and pick up that cup of pumpkin spice latte.

This seems like the perfect moment to share a little shout-out to friends and family. Here is a big happy birthday to my father, my brother, my cousins, my mother (I’m sure that’s a big celebration in heaven), and my friend from Texas. If that is not enough to celebrate, this month also celebrates my brother’s and my parents’ wedding anniversaries.  Studio work became very personal this week.

I have been making greeting cards for some time now. Most of them are digitally created graphic designs for the card front. The desire to make hand-assembled cards has been present since I opened my first Etsy shop back in 2014. That same year, however, brought many changes to our lives. Taking on the role of caregiver for my mother became the work of my heart. Throughout that time, I didn’t stop making cards, and I also have some pleasant memories attached to that craft.

After Mom’s surgery, she didn’t get out very much. I have one especially fond memory of a simple outing to the grocery store. I stayed in the car with my mom, while my father and sister went inside to get our groceries. During that time we had a pleasant brainstorming session. We planned card front designs and crafted verses for inside the cards. Call me sentimental, but I still have those scraps of paper and the beautiful memories attached to that moment.  This memory has become an evergreen discovery moment. Some of the simplest moments in life hold pieces of the greatest treasures.

🍀 Printer Shenanigans

Speaking of simple moments, I can assure you that choosing my new printer for the studio did not turn out to be a simple moment. Those of you who have been following know that a color laser printer was on the horizon. For the last few weeks, I had been waiting for Amazon Prime Days to make the purchase.  The research was completed, or so I thought, and the model was chosen. Now I was just waiting, or at least hoping for, a price drop. As I mentioned in another post, I have been saving for this piece of equipment, and one way or another, I was going to make the purchase. The day arrived, there was no price drop, and my gut, which has often proved itself to be smarter than my brain, started to ask new questions.

My first question was more like a prayer. It sounded something like, “God, am I making the right decision?” The printer was sitting in my cart, but I just couldn’t click purchase. My next “call” to heaven was, “Jesus please help me to make the right decision.” I waited for the next hour that a price drop was supposed to happen, and still nothing changed. After taking care of my household and caregiving responsibilities, I sat down and began a deeper dive into my research for this printer.

The first step was to read every review. The printer’s 3.9 rating bothered me as I always try to purchase something with at least 4.5 stars. Having had success with this brand’s printers in the past, I realize that nostalgia had been directing me to this product. Reading what others had experienced with this printer was very helpful.

Five-star reviews were left by individuals completing very simple tasks. Those who were experiencing problems were asking the printer to perform more demanding tasks. 

To save time, I utilized Copilot to dig deeper into this printer’s specifications. At first, Copilot was trying to convince me that it was just pre-purchase jitters. Intuition told me that it was more. More specific questions regarding the weight of paper that this particular printer can duplex revealed an important fact. This machine was not good enough for my studio work. It is not a bad printer, but you need to know its limitations. This was not the printer for me, and I thank God for guiding me. The new search was about to begin…or so I thought.

While growing up, the expression, “Murphy’s Law” was quite popular. Basically it can be summarized with the concept that if anything can go wrong it will. Well, Murphy must’ve been sitting near my shoulder. Just as I began the new search, I received the message from Copilot that I had reached my daily limit.

Working with AI isn’t all that much different than working with any other tool. If my screwdriver breaks, I grab another screwdriver. That’s what I did—I jumped over to ChatGPT. 

ChatGPT came back with three choices, ordered those three choices by most useful, and then narrowed it down to two of those choices. I continued to ask questions, and ChatGPT continued gathering information. One choice became the clear winner. Once I had the name and model, the search began for the best place to purchase this printer.

My new printer of choice was listed on Amazon, but was not fulfilled by Amazon. ChatGPT checked the sellers ratings for me and found a dismal 1.9 stars out of five on Trust Pilot. That made me question the three year warranty as I learned the hard way that an item must be sold by an authorized retailer in order for the warranty to be present. I learned this via the school of hard knocks when I purchased an air-conditioning unit from a closeout store. Buyer beware, closeout stores do not carry the warranty.

I was not making the purchase from Amazon and that unknown reseller. Around 8 o’clock that night, I found the same unit at Staples. It was going to be free shipping, but I was being assessed a $12.75 fee due to it being a heavy item. It was still a significant savings from its non-sale price as well as from the price of the first unit that I was seeking to purchase. Within 24 hours, Murphy’s Law struck again.

I don’t know why I torture myself, but I guess it’s just an insatiable need to know.  The next day,  I typed that exact model name in the Amazon search box and…the listing now popped up several times with Amazon as the fulfilling agent. Go figure. I could’ve had it for the same price that I paid without the fee for the weight. You can’t win them all…or maybe you can.

Two days later, I excitedly awaited the delivery of my new printer. By mid-afternoon, I heard a vehicle in my driveway. Quickly taking a peek out my window, I saw the FedEx truck as it was backing out of my long driveway. Opening the front door, my excitement quickly turned to frustration. The driver left the box sitting in the grass halfway down my driveway.

I expected it to be a challenge to get that heavy box from my front porch to my studio, but I didn’t expect needing to move it from such a great distance. With my trusty hand-truck and bungee cords, the unit was strapped on, and the journey commenced. Step one was completed.

There are three brick steps to the top of my porch. I struggled with the first, then the second, but that last step just wasn’t happening. I could lift it as high as the edge but not past. It was time to use another tool…my cell phone.

My nephew arrived quickly, and together we made steady and safe progress. The printer is now in its proper place, and it is producing some stunning prints.  Before I even tested the printer, I sent an email to Staples along with a photograph of where the delivery was left. I mentioned having to pay the fee for its weight and then having to move it a far greater distance to get the printer into my home. Staples apologized and refunded the fee for the item’s weight. Now, it was time to test the printer. 

This week’s newsletter subscribers have been treated to the front cover of The Dawn of Evergreen Valley – Bernie’s story. Unless the world stops spinning, the official first copy of the first Evergreen Valley story will be completed this week. Fingers crossed, and Murphy safely locked in his closet, the duplex printing will make this job an efficient task. A 100% handmade boutique book is on the horizon. 

Also on the horizon are two new puppies!  They are running through the valley and are anxious to meet you. Misty and Oscar are on the way, and Oscar is moving his little legs as fast as he can to keep up with Misty. Don’t forget to grab this week’s puzzle piece that features both of these lovable canines.

After opening your treasure chest for the new puzzle piece, turn the next page in your magical book so you can download your newest story card. Misty and Oscar would love for you to stay and play with them.

The world of Evergreen Yuletide and Evergreen Valley is blossoming by the week.  There are so many projects in the works, and plans to be set in motion, but right now, Bernie’s story is at the top of the list. Once the book has successfully been printed, it will pave the path for future stories… yes, there are more stories outlined in the studio. For now, it is time for me to say so long.

Be sure to visit Inspiration Gallery as well. I’ve decided the gallery will now hold your completed coloring pages — whether they’re colored by you, your child, or another generation of your family. If the page comes from your Secret Garden, you’re welcome to share your finished gift here, adding your touch to the gallery’s growing collection.

📧 Stay in Touch and Claim Your Gifts

Do you have a need for a special product that you cannot find anywhere? My studio awaits your request! You can always send me an email at: paula@evergreenyuletide.com

⛲️ Newsletter and Your Garden Gifts

By signing up to receive my weekly newsletter, if you so choose, you will be given the password that opens Your Secret Garden. You can always access the garden by clicking on the golden key at the bottom of this post. Within that garden, you will find every gift that has been given since the inception of this blog. Nothing ever leaves—it is ready when you are.

Gently tapping the below images brings you to your treasure chest and magical book. The newest button takes you to Inspiration Gallery—a great place to view the work of your Creative Kindred Spirits. Don’t forget, you can always email me a photograph of something you’ve created with one of my products, or send in a colored coloring book page that was shared with you in the garden. I would love to feature it in the gallery.

🌞 Closing Reflection

As always, thank you for sharing your time with me and all of our friends from the valley. This world is growing and every one of you is a special part of that world. I hope to see you again next week, but until then…

Have a wonderful Sunday and a phenomenal week. Maybe we will still have front porch weather next week, but if not, you are always welcome to share company by my fireplace.

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PS – Don’t forget to look for the hidden hearts in this week’s blog illustration.  The front porch really does have a heart!

PPS – I did fashion some pages for an autumn junk journal, but those projects are too time consuming. Maybe there will be some Evergreen Valley folios – family style – in the future, but for now this type of item is off the studio craft table.