January 9, 2020
A unique service Ollie’s Upholstery provides our restaurant owners is the option to have us perform the removal and recover of benches, chairs, stools, etc. onsite and after business hours. This allows the restaurant to operate normally and avoid the inconvenience of reduced seating. We refer to these jobs as “overnighters” as they typically begin around midnight and conclude an hour or two before sunrise.
Last Sunday we began a large job at one of our favorite Vietnamese locations. Vidal had already mentally prepared me that this project would require at least four nightly trips. When we receive jobs of this size we usually acquire the assistance of our friend and amazing furniture builder, Laughing Joe. If you ever have the privilege of meeting Joe and hearing his belly-laugh you will understand how he earned his nickname. His laughter is so full of joy, loaded in volume, and genuine; one can’t help but feel his happiness or silliness. He has a tremendous ability to look at a job, count the total pieces of furniture needing recovering, calculate the amount of material available, and perform mental math to determine how the material will be measured and cut to create the least amount of waste. Therefore, our assembly line of responsibilities is as follows; Laughing Joe measures and cuts material, I unstaple and remove old coverings, and Vidal completes the transformation by recovering each piece. It sounds simple enough; the process however is a bit more time consuming.
My angst when we do these types of jobs is our safety. I often feel like a fish in a large bowl. It’s dark out, lights glow inside, large windows allow for vivid views of us in an otherwise empty business; I feel like we are perfect targets. I was especially sensitive to our surroundings Sunday night after our neighbors experienced a theft of one of their vehicles that very morning. That is a “Lessons Learned” story of it’s own I’ll share later.
Vidal has taught us to be vigilant but not allow our fear to get the best of us. I was trying my best to follow that advice and learned a valuable lesson in the process. I periodically scanned the parking lot as we worked and noticed a vehicle passing quite slowly and come to a stop just outside the area where we were working. Granted the restaurant has outdoor lighting that would rival any business on the Las Vegas strip. I felt a tinge of nervousness and began forming assumptions in my mind. So I did what I do best; reverted to silent prayer. The vehicle moved along after a short time and relief settled in. Around 4 am another vehicle arrived, parked with purpose, and a man emerged and walked directly to one of the windows right next to us. I took a quick breath, held it, and watched as he straightened a chair and table. He appeared to be talking to himself and was performing karate moves in the air and on the sign post. We watched as he proceeded to walk around the parking lot. We quickly realized he was collecting the trash and sweeping the parking lot. The following night he returned at the same time. Our neighbor who had joined us for this project quickly gave him the nickname “Bruce Lee”. We talked about what his life must be like, why he behaved the way he did, and decided perhaps his odd behavior was also a defense mechanism to keep himself safe as he worked in a huge, empty parking lot. On our third night as we loaded up our tools into the truck he walked over to us. He had a huge smile and said, “I’ve been watching y’all work; you’re doing a great job. Do y’all work on cars?” We gave him our thanks for the compliment and Vidal and Laughing Joe proceeded to engage in small talk with him. We learned he is a martial arts instructor, troubled youth counselor, and property manager for the strip mall where we’re working. Wow, talking about being wrong about my assumptions formed by just watching someone. While I believe we all form immediate assessments of people around us to maintain situational awareness, we must also remember we are only witnessing a snippet of that person’s life story. It is always advisable to listen to your gut feelings, God instilled that sense in us for a purpose. However, we must strive to remember that everyone we meet, including ourselves, tend to guard our hearts, experiences, and vulnerabilities from the world in general. I was humbled to say the least. Let’s be cautious as we live our daily lives but never cease to be humble and kind. Be blessed y’all!
February 19, 2018
Last Sunday began a series of cascading events that would unfold over a seven-day period. I can’t recall when I’ve learned so much in one week. Perhaps, it’s simply because I allowed myself the time to focus and reflect on each event instead of just experiencing it.
Sunday afternoon we enjoyed a late lunch at a local diner owned by an Ollie’s Upholstery repeat customer. We were there to pick up eight benches he needed recovered. Being that it is a small establishment open only for breakfast and lunch, he simply cannot afford to be without his furniture during business hours. Loaded truck and full bellies, we headed home to get to work; we would be returning early morning. Started pulling staples around 4pm; stapled last bit of vinyl at 4am. Sleep for an hour before delivery needs to be made or muscle through and sleep later? My admiration to those of you who work 12’s/doubles/second jobs to provide for yourselves and those you love. My greatest gratitude to Vidal, Elias, and Key.
Monday and Tuesday were wonky as sleep deprivation and doctors appointments won out and workouts took a back seat. I realized what a creature of habit I am. My brain convinced me since I missed two days of classes, all of my strength and endurance gains were lost. It’s silly of course, but I had to argue with myself on Wednesday to get back in rhythm. Kudos to those of you who make no excuses and stay the course on your fitness journey even when hiccups detour your day.
Wednesday was also the beginning of Lent. I have a strong desire to make this journey a meaningful one. I want it to be a pilgrimage of soul searching and mindful discovery. We have been discussing undertaking the Camino de Santiago in 2019 (https://caminoways.com/camino-de-santiago) which is where this thought process began. Knowing it will be a test of endurance I have begun reading all I can to prepare. I want to be physically fit for the journey; spiritually fit for the pilgrimage. That was it….strength of mind, body, and soul. Training in these three areas require one to spend one on one time with books, exercise equipment, and in His word. Solitary activities building strength in quietness and trust. I was led to Isaiah 30:15. I found my Lenten focus in my daily devotional.
Thursday and Friday were spent cleaning, packing, and preparing for our trip home to south Texas. These trips have always been very special to us. Twenty-eight years of eight to nine-hour drive times do not diminish the love and memories that have become the tapestry of our lives. They have, however, become more poignant. It is not lost on us that coming home to see our parents includes a stop to memorialize my mom, dad, and father-in-law. Our hearts will always be a bit heavy; our time with my mother-in-law soothes the ache. Love your parents as Christ loves us.
Saturday and Sunday we are on the road. We used to tackle the almost 400-mile trip from Mesquite to Mathis in one day; not any more. No schedule and an abundance of time has its perks. Work hard, live simply, serve others, and most importantly, honor Him. Be blessed y’all!
February 1, 2018
When you stumble upon a BYOB restaurant – a Burmese one at that – and they don’t have a bottle opener or wine glasses, what do you do? You improvise, of course!
Remember those “quirks come with perks” I wrote about a few days ago? We were back at work delivering freshly upholstered benches to a local fast food restaurant. On Wine Wednesday, no less. A simple ritual started six years ago when we were deep in the midst of care giving my dad. It was a time when we could not leave my dad alone and we didn’t have respite care available. So we improvised.
On Wednesday nights after my dad was safely tucked in bed; Vidal and I would make a cheese and fruit platter, open a bottle of wine, and watch Cops, Longmire, or Blue Bloods. It was our time to regroup and reconnect. It strengthened our marriage, made us better parents, but most importantly, it helped us be the best of what my dad deserved.
Little did we know, we would still be indulging Wine Wednesday but with added adventure. Now the joy is discovering new to us restaurants and food from other cultures/regions/styles different from our own.
Tonight, all of these scenarios seemed to collide into what turned out to be another great adventure. An upholstery job completed, another restaurant discovered, and Vidal using his uncanny ingenuity. When the waiter can’t find a wine bottle opener and you have your tool bag in the truck; what do you do? You improvise.
Take a Dewalt drill, a 3-inch screw, and a pair of pliers; pop the cork on that bottle; pour that Aldi purchased wine into plastic glasses; and enjoy a new dining experience. It’s all a matter of perspective. 😊💕🥂
Continue making the moments count and be blessed y’all!
December 22, 2017
Sewing 1) to join or attach 2) to make, repair, etc., by such means. 3) to enclose or secure 4) to close (a hole, wound, etc.) by means of stitches.
In the next four days we will celebrate our wedding anniversary, Christmas Eve, the birth of our Savior, and Vidal’s birthday. As I prepared my heart for these milestones my mind began to untangle threads of memories. Strands of joy, laughter, and gratitude, entwined with heartache, tears and grief.
Vidal and I share our wedding date with my mom and dad; or rather, we joined theirs to ours – forever bonded.
As the tapestry of remembrances weaved in my heart, a tiny stitch tore through my resolve and spilled onto my face. One recollection after another held gently by each teardrop.
The fabric of my life began because two people wove their love together. I will honor their handiwork to the best of my ability.
I loved them deeply, miss them greatly, and forever blessed I am their daughter.
I stitched this memory pillow cover with one of dad’s shirts. I also found the dress my mom wore for their wedding reception and that project is next.
Do not be afraid to honor your loved ones with your tears; they are the strings that bind. Be blessed y’all!
December 5, 2017
Lest anyone think this business http://olliesupholstery.com runs without snags, broken needles, or mismatched thread, I share the following (read confess, here) story.
Over the years preparing for adventures or trips home for the holidays has been a methodical process for me. The motorhome has a designated spot in the backyard so we have access to it all the time. This has spoiled me as I generally allow up to a week or more to pack clothing, fill the pantry, stock the refrigerator, and pack necessary gear.
During this time I also deep clean the house. I have a quirky thing about not dealing with clutter well. Our home may not always be dust or crumb free but “everything has a home and a home for everything.” Yes, it can drive my family nutty. 🙂
Vidal has been working on the complete restoration of an antique car since early November. This job has turned things a bit upside down around here. The car could not be left in our open driveway so we had to move the motorhome to alternate storage. Inconvenience #1.
My understanding of Thanksgiving preparation was that the car owner would be taking his car home while we were gone to ensure its safety but I would only have two days to pack. Inconvenience #2.
Last minute decision to move said car into our garage for storage while we are gone. Wait, what? We haven’t parked a vehicle in our garage in over 20 years. Half of the area is a work table and Vidal’s industrial sewing machine. The other half is equipment, tables, tools, etc used for upholstery work. Where is everything going to be moved? Silence…followed by a sheepish glance….then a small sound which I swear when it left his lips sounded like “inside.” Inconvenience now turned into Aggravation #3.
I somehow managed not to say a word, let out a very annoyed sigh, and walked away. Who am I and why am I not standing my ground? I was arguing the merits of my case to God but wasn’t convincing him I was right. But the house is super clean and tidy….you won’t be here to see the clutter. But Andie is coming home in December I don’t want her room full of stuff….so it will go in another room.
But what if Elias decides to come visit while Andie is here…..well then it will go in the guest room.
But…but….it’s only temporary and besides, how do you think income is being made for these adventures?
Clearly, I was not winning.
I stewed silently as I continued loading things up. At one point Vidal and I passed in the kitchen and he slyly mentioned that he knew it was stressful to pack under these conditions so I didn’t need to worry about packing his things. So, I didn’t.
We finally get underway and we aren’t even a block away when that sheepish look returns and a coy tone of voice forms the question, “What did you pack for me?”
Aggravation #4.
“Umm, you clearly stated I didn’t have to pack for you.” And his quick and trusting response? “I’m not even going to worry about it, I know you always take care of me.” Aggravation desolving to Guilt very quickly turning to Panic #5.
About an hour or so down the road the dogs already need a break. We stop and as soon as Vidal goes into grab a snack I open the back slide and slowly open the door to his side of the closet……it’s full! I breathe a huge sigh of relief as I recall we spent much of the summer on the road and I hadn’t unpacked his closet. Panic now turned Relief #6.
A nudge of humility rose in me and I had to admit that I allowed my annoyance to make me behave in a selfish way. As I confessed this to Vidal he smiled then said, “Well now that the garage is half empty maybe we can renovate it after I’m finished with that car.”
Lesson Learned #7
Something good may come out of all this after all just like God promises. If not the renovation, at the very least, to try to not sweat the small stuff. Be blessed y’all!
March 16, 2017
Many years ago Vidal worked alongside a fellow police officer whose skill set included automotive upholstery. Vidal’s natural curiosity and background in auto body repair gave him an instant desire to learn something new. A few years later, an industrial sewing machine began the conversion of our garage into a working shop and so it began. We now find ourselves traveling to work sites and combining those trips with side adventures. We’re off to Canton and Crockett with our two mascots. You never know where your talents will take you or how long the journey will be. Enjoy each step because it contains a lesson. When you get to where you know you are right where you’re meant to be, it won’t seem like work at all. Be open to adventure and let that spark of nervousness propel you to your next blessing.
November 4, 2013
Ollie’s Upholstery (http://olliesupholstery.com) meeting a 10am deadline for tomorrow. What a blessing for a father to pass on his skills and knowledge to his son.
November 19, 2016
Going wherever the jobs take us. Ollie’s Upholstery is mobile this weekend. I say bring on retirement and we do this full time. Travel plus work, sounds good to me. 🙂 Have a blessed day y’all!
November 10, 2017
We are doing a bit of paperwork organization this afternoon and stumbled upon a bit of nostalgia.
Twenty-four years ago today, a wide-eyed 29-year-old with a mischievous grin, hopeful heart, and can-do attitude invested in a sewing machine he knew little about and owned even fewer skills in its operation.
With his dad’s words of wisdom, “Son, if human hands made what you see before you; you can learn the skills to do it also”, ringing in his ears; he set out to learn the art of upholstery.
Needles were broken, leather was double punched, “measure twice, cut once” wasn’t always followed, redos were grudgingly required, excessive material was ordered, staples were inserted in hands and fingers instead of cloth, and a dozen other mishaps have occurred along the way. However, learning has not ceased. Each person we have met and has assisted us in the shop over the years has shared their knowledge and skills that make many tasks easier or faster to complete. Our primary focus is restaurant furniture but vintage chairs & automobiles, custom boat seats & covers, heavy duty tractors and a custom deer blind cover (that was interesting) have expanded and often tested abilities.
Each stitch has provided growth and provision and continues to bless us daily.
Vidal’s work ethic and determination allowed me to be a stay-at-home mom, caretaker to my parents, and now wife. His values were witnessed, instilled in, even if grudgingly on some days, and now practiced by Elias and Andie. All because the spark of curiosity was lit on that day.
Don’t underestimate yourself; let that spark in your heart light a new skill set. God has given each of us gifts, go open yours and be blessed y’all!
August 25, 2017
There are a few fast food restaurants we do work for that we refer to as “drive in/drive out”. They are located in areas that require us to dial up our senses and keep our heads on a swivel. The time spent picking up or dropping off benches is kept to a bare minimum.
On occasion, the amount of work needed to be completed requires the job be done onsite as it would be impossible for the establishment to be without a majority of their seating.
Two nights ago, we had a combination of the above. When work has to be done on-site we work within the business’ slowest time frame and/or day of the week. This particular one, as is most often the case, was after 8 pm.
I wasn’t looking forward to this job as I always feel unsettled at this location. I tried to convince Vidal that if we got up really early…..that conversation fell flat almost immediately. 🙂 I shared my concerns with a couple of people and was assured prayers would be lifted.
Truck loaded we headed to Ft. Worth to “get this done and over with” as Vidal kept reminding me. Upon arrival there were few customers and the atmosphere was calm and quiet. A complete contrast to every other visit we’ve made here. We set up all our equipment in a small, out of the way area in the playland and got to work. The next four hours passed without incident. We felt a sense of peace and calm that allowed us to work quickly and efficiently.
On our drive home we were discussing how our experience had turned out completely the opposite for what we had prepared ourselves. Prayers, faith, and trust in Him in the midst of a messy day. His peace was and is sufficient. John 14:27 – be blessed y’all!
February 19, 2018
Last Sunday began a series of cascading events that would unfold over a seven-day period. I can’t recall when I’ve learned so much in one week. Perhaps, it’s simply because I allowed myself the time to focus and reflect on each event instead of just experiencing it.
Sunday afternoon we enjoyed a late lunch at a local diner owned by an Ollie’s Upholstery repeat customer. We were there to pick up eight benches he needed recovered. Being that it is a small establishment open only for breakfast and lunch, he simply cannot afford to be without his furniture during business hours. Loaded truck and full bellies, we headed home to get to work; we would be returning early morning. Started pulling staples around 4 pm; stapled last bit of vinyl at 4 am. Sleep for an hour before delivery needs to be made or muscle through and sleep later? My admiration to those of you who work 12’s/doubles/second jobs to provide for yourselves and those you love. My greatest gratitude to Vidal, our son, and son-in-law.
Monday and Tuesday were wonky as sleep deprivation and doctors appointments won out and workouts took a back seat. I realized what a creature of habit I am. My brain convinced me since I missed two days of classes, all of my strength and endurance gains were lost. It’s silly of course, but I had to argue with myself on Wednesday to get back in rhythm. Kudos to those of you who make no excuses and stay the course on your fitness journey even when hiccups detour your day.
Wednesday was also the beginning of Lent. I have a strong desire to make this journey a meaningful one. I want it to be a pilgrimage of soul searching and mindful discovery. We have been discussing undertaking the Camino de Santiago in 2019 (https://caminoways.com/camino-de-santiago) which is where this thought process began. Knowing it will be a test of endurance I have begun reading all I can to prepare. I want to be physically fit for the journey; spiritually fit for the pilgrimage. That was it….strength of mind, body, and soul. Training in these three areas require one to spend one on one time with books, exercise equipment, and in His word. Solitary activities building strength in quietness and trust. I was led to Isaiah 30:15. I found my Lenten focus in my daily devotional.
Thursday and Friday were spent cleaning, packing, and preparing for our trip home to south Texas. These trips have always been very special to us. Twenty-eight years of eight to nine-hour drive times do not diminish the love and memories that have become the tapestry of our lives. They have, however, become more poignant. It is not lost on us that coming home to see our parents includes a stop to memorialize my mom, dad, and father-in-law. Our hearts will always be a bit heavy; our time with my mother-in-law soothes the ache. Love your parents as Christ loves us.
Saturday and Sunday we are on the road. We used to tackle the almost 400-mile trip from Mesquite to Mathis in one day; not any more. No schedule and an abundance of time has its perks. Work hard, live simply, serve others, and most importantly, honor Him. Be blessed y’all!
I have always considered Ollie’s Upholstery a family business; given that the children and I have contributed our talents in one way or another to assist in its success. Truth be told, Vidal is the heartbeat of the operation and we acknowledge and appreciate it. Elias has been the greatest contributor as he learned the entire process of breaking down pieces, making patterns, sewing all types of stitches, repairing springs and stake wire, assembling, and installation. Andrea and I have pulled more staples than we can count, made and cut patterns, and my specialty, clean the garage when the organized chaos threatens to overtake us. However, there is one area I have put the brakes on for no other reason that I can confess than willful pride and that is learning to sew.
Two threads, joining two pieces of material, directed by one person, to create something beautiful. And yet, I came up with every plausible reason to not learn – willful pride.
The single, most essential skill used in the shop; yet I refused to learn – willful pride.
Having the gift to learn but refusing to utilize it – willful pride.
I had to start somewhere; we all do. I began to pray for the desire to learn, to find joy in sacrificing my wants (or more appropriately lack of) for Vidal’s needs, and ultimately begin to chip away at this willful pride.
Baby steps, as God has His hands full molding me BUT we have new patio pillows! Slightly crooked sew lines, mix matched threads, and a joyful heart. Could be the start of something wonderful. Be blessed y’all!
It is not lost on me what a blessing Ollie’s Upholstery has been to us. Fifteen years ago Vidal took on the challenge of using a newly acquired skill set and turn it into an additional source of income for our family. Vidal always told the kids and I, “As long as I have these two (and he would lift his arms and show us his hands) and I’m able; we will never starve.”
We never could have imagined what God had planned for this venture, the lessons it has taught, and the adventures it has provided. As with all things there have been great days and there have been long, hard ones. Unusual requests, crazy hours, and interesting work sites have all been part of the experience. Last night as we were completing a job, I noticed Vidal texting. I curiously asked, “What’s up?” He replied, “I’ll tell you in a little while if I get any responses from the kids.” Now, all that response did was make me even more intrigued. When he finally showed me the photo he sent to them and the message that went with it; I found it hysterical. “The house fell on the Wicked Witch. “🤷♀️
I have to find joy in all places/things, right? Don’t forget to laugh at yourself every now and then and be blessed y’all!
Because @ www.olliesupholstery.com you “gotta do what you gotta do” to get the job done. We’ve crawled under, climbed over, and squeezed into lots of places to remove pieces that need to be upholstered. Bits of food, grime, and other unidentifiable grit usually cover our hair and clothing. It doesn’t compare to what we have found under some fast food restaurant benches. 🤤 In their defense, however; it’s not an area easily accessible to cleaning.
We are much the same. In our daily lives we crawl through, over and under many experiences. Evidence of same is revealed in our thoughts, words, deeds, and emotional responses. Are we doing what is necessary to wash off the grit and present ourselves blameless? “Do what you gotta do” and be blessed y’all!
Oh, the irony.
I was rather bummed and have reminded Vidal repeatedly of my disappointment in having lost the battle of him working the State Fair this year. There are a couple of reasons; first, we had to shorten our latest road trip to return home on time for opening day and secondly, an out-of- state bucket list festival is also held in October.
As we made our way back to Texas at the end of September from Utah, we drove through New Mexico. As we were passing through Albuquerque Vidal says, “Oh, look, they’re getting ready for the Balloon Festival.”
I reply, “Yes, I can see that.”
He: “It’s too bad we’ll miss it again this year.” (smirk on his face)
Me: “Yes, I’m sure you are.” (rolling my eyes)
He: “Maybe next year”
Me: “Uh huh”
…..and so it went. The daily banter continues as I see others post photos of the Festival and send them to him with captions like “This could be our view.” while he responds with “That’s why I’m working this gig.” Or “Did you know we’re missing this or that event because “The Fair?” and I receive a dry reply of “Maybe next year.”
In the midst of all this we’ve also received three upholstery jobs that have required overnight excursions to complete on- site installations along with several smaller orders. Needless to say, our sleep schedule is a bit upside down. It’s funny how getting out of one’s normal morning, workout, sleeping, eating and/or task routine can disturb the body and mind. We become comfortable in the normalcy. The rhythm we’ve created for our lives is reassuring and provides stability. When it’s shaken, tossed around, or changed it can create a bit of havoc.
As I was reflecting on my daily reading yesterday afternoon (normally done in the morning) I realized how my focus on not being able to attend this one event with Vidal was clouding my mind from seeking an alternative solution. I began to expand that thought process to other situations in my life. How have I handled worry concerns over my children, health issues, spiritual growth, finances? Have I stopped, taken a deep breath, reevaluated, prayed over, listened, trusted, and changed plans or mindset?
Then, as if on cue, I received the photo below. I had to laugh; the two entities providing the means for our adventures perfectly depicted in one spontaneously captured picture. Therein lay the blessings in the irritant I’ve named the State Fair.
So next year, girls’ road trip to Albuquerque with our daughter and daughter-in-love, perhaps?
Find your blessing in today’s irritant and be blessed y’all!
Lessons Learned When... 