Goodbye Comfort Zone

As some of you already know, I recently became unemployed for the first time since 2011, so Robbie and I have begun content creating. (He’s more part of the content, and I, the creator.)

In May 2024, we became Rob & Teresa in Appalachia.

I’m not a pro at it. Heck, I’m not even great at it yet—especially the videography part. Interestingly, I lack in the promo part, too. This is odd, because for the past 4 years, this is what I’ve done—either teaching marketing or doing it; however, I’ve never done it for myself.

Honestly, it feels odd.

But if I want our endeavor to grow, I’m gonna hafta.

Wow, This Takes Time

Content creation can be monetized (I’m hoping that ours will supplement my staying at home and being available for Britni 100% of the time), but for it to start earning money, we need subscribers, followers, likes, comments, watch hours, etc. For instance, on YouTube, we need 1,000 subscribers and 4000 valid public watch hours in the last 12 months. Yes, that’s a lot. But not impossible.

Content creation takes time. First, you have to get the video (which, for us, happens after weeks of planning to get to the place where the videos are shot—we have to coordinate Britni’s care with my parents and Baxter’s stay at the resort). I get home with at least a few hours of raw (unedited) content. This is when the real work starts.

Did you know that on average, editing takes about 1 to 1.5 hours per minute of video. My most recent fifteen-minute video on Cool Cruisin’ Nights took about 30 hours to edit. Now, the more I do it, the better and quicker I’ll get, but even professionals would have taken about 15 to 22 hours to edit it. I worked during the early hours of the morning before Britni woke up, and a couple times had some creativity left in me at night after she went to bed to eke out a few more edits. Video editing requires—for me, at least—an unbroken stream of thought. Big chunks. Four or five hour stretches. I’m more of a “morning & earlier in the day” creative person anyway.

None of this is said with resentment or disdain. I love doing this. I’m just sharing what the editing part involves. Mad props to those content creators who are making a living from it—you are definitely earning it! Other places I can monetize are my blog and through my Amazon Associate store. When you order from an Amazon link I post, I earn a small commission on eligible purchases.

Doing What I Love

In 2019, I finally earned my BS in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations, Persuasion, and Advocacy from ODU (go, Monarchs!) I’m tapping into that degree now…. using what I went to school for…and looking at every avenue for potential income supplements.

When I love something, I want to share it with everyone–I get passionate about it. Whether it’s

Cooking

Great shopping finds

Fishing

Gardening

Advocating for individuals who have exceptional needs

Music

Cars

Appalachia

Our beloved West Virginia

Our amazing Queen Britni…

And doing it—sharing & promoting—takes a bit more fancy footwork for us than your average folk. Besides Robbie & me, my Mom & Dad are Britni’s only caregivers, and they live an hour away. Britni doesn’t travel well without them with us, so when we make our short trips, she stays with them. For a two-night getaway, we must first ensure they’re available to care for her, then make sure there’s availability for Baxter to stay at Goin’ to the Dogs Pet Resort, then check for accommodations at our destination. As newbies, our outgo is more than our income because we have to spend money to get the content, from which we’ll eventually see a return (you see how I’m thinking positively?).

Makes Me Nervous!

Put $ out to bring $ in? This is way outside of my comfort zone.

But I’m 53.

It’s time.

Plus, the higher the risk, the greater the reward.

And since I’m already out of that comfort zone, I figured I’d go ahead and ask.

Would you like to show your support, and do it at zero cost to you? All it takes is a click or two. A tap on a screen. Perhaps a comment and a thumbs up (I’m not forcing a “like”, but those are much preferred over the ol’ thumbs down). And shares. When you share, it helps us reach people we never would otherwise.

Here’s How

Helping with our YouTube channel is easy. Subscribe, like, comment…and when you set notifications to all, you’ll get an email letting you know when we posted another video. (You can see how to do it here.) The time watched, too, is counted, which goes toward our being eligible for the YouTube Partner Program. Like I said, 4000 watch hours and 1000 subscribers in 12 months is a lot, but it’s not impossible.

Facebook—like the page, like and comment on posts, share on your page. Instagram—leave us a comment, hit that heart.

Just engage.

When you do, it shows these platforms we’re relevant, and they’ll keep pushing our content out there for more people to see. Your engagement doesn’t happen in a silo…it creates a ripple effect. And it is much appreciated. Not only does it help us, we love hearing from you! We love learning what others’ likes and opinions are just as much as we love sharing ours.

If you’re trying to get your business, or your content out there for the masses, feel free to share this information with your audience. Let them know how important these small, quick, and free actions are to you. Things that are too simple often seem like they don’t matter.

But they do.

And for each of you who has read through to this part, and subscribed, liked, shared, and/or commented, we are eternally grateful.

Robbie, Britni, and I thank you!

My Favorite Place in the House!

My Space!

This year brought with it a career change. You may have already seen on my site here that Robbie and I are venturing out into content creation as “Rob and Teresa in Appalachia,” replete with a YouTube channel, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Content creators have lots of equipment (more than I ever realized!), and said equipment needs space to be used and stored.

So.

I had a corner in our bedroom that needed something done with it. We had a new closet built some years ago, and it created this cute “cubby hole” right by a window that sat blank, unused, and undecorated. Matter of fact, it was a catch-all while I was cleaning out closets and dressers and bookshelves…

The job change was my motivation.

I Love Color

The area is only 50 inches wide, and 40.5 inches deep. I needed scaled down versions of a desk, chair, and lamp, and I wanted it to feel fresh, bright, and inspire creativity. I started with the paint. Twenty-nine ounces of paint took care of both walls—HGTV Home by Sherwin Williams is the brand, Parsley Sprig is the color, and I got it in a satin finish. Even though it says one coat perfection, I went ahead & used all of it and put two coats on.

And Light

I found a small, white desk with fabric drawers that fits perfectly in my new office space. It was very easy to put together, too, and I love that it has ribbon lights under the upper shelf. I can change the colors, the brightness, set it to different modes. The drawers hold all of my zip drives, memory cards, charging cords, wireless microphones, mini-tripods, and selfie lights–with room to spare! I hang my gimbal on the side of the desk on one of the two hooks. My larger tripods (not in the photos) can be stored in neatly, propped up in the corner in their cases.

Comfortable Seating & Sounds

For my chair I needed something comfortable, armless, and I wanted white, and this one did not disappoint! It was extremely simple to put together, it swivels, rolls, and the height is adjustable. With the furniture bought, I began placing the accessories/necessities.

Though I’m “tucked away”, so to speak, away from our common living area, I wanted a keyboard that is nearly silent—none of that annoying clickety-clacking. This one has a good feel/response, a rubber keyboard cover, which I leave on while using it, and has an accompanying mouse (it’s also nearly silent). Both are charged via USB, and the charge lasts for months.

The floor lamp fits in with my retro-style and is not overwhelming. For creature comforts, I have a handheld, rechargeable fan that fits nicely on the shelf (and is amazing for this fifty-something’s hot flashes!) And since I’m an audiophile, as well as a Bose junkie, I have the Bose Soundlink Flex, and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones. Sometimes earbuds are irritating and uncomfortable–these headphones are soft as butter. I was blown away by the sound quality, too, whether it’s a phone conversation or music. 10/10 for me.

In all, the desk, chair, lamp, and paint totaled less than $400.

Let’s Add Some Whimsy

Finishing touches included plants, a clock, serotonin and dopamine molecules & West Virginia’s area code cut out of wood and painted a high-gloss navy, and the Lasso of Truth hanging on one of the hooks on the side of the desk. Because. Wonder Woman.

I love getting inspiration from other workspaces. If you have an area you’ve transformed, send a photo! You can email it to robandteresa.wv@gmail.com In a future blog post, I’ll be sharing readers’ transformations—perhaps yours will inspire someone! Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, and subscribe to our YouTube, too. We’re just getting started but are looking forward to sharing our adventures. And now that I have an awesome creativity corner, the work won’t really be work.

Thanks for reading. Until next time!

We. Aren’t. Cat. People.

The power that cats have is surprising. I’ve discovered that no one owns a cat. Cats own them!

We are not cat people.

At least, that’s what we’ve said for more than a decade.

But somehow…we always seem to have members of the feline family claim us. We’ve cared for 18 strays since 2009—fed them, had them neutered/spayed, found them homes. We never bring any in to live because, well, we are not cat people.

However.

Our most recent pounce of cats was a litter of five from a momma we called “Loretta.” She was definitely feral—we’d seen her in the neighborhood for a couple years, could never catch her, she stayed a safe distance from us, then one day…. she came waddling to our back yard, belly hanging low while she sniffed for food. We knew what that meant.

Her coat was dull and her eyes matte-looking. No shine anywhere. She was malnourished. Pitiful. Even though I’m not a cat person, I began setting out cans of salmon, tuna, sardines, and kitten food. I caught her eating only at night, when she’d emerge from the woods behind us and eat like someone was going to take it from her. This went on a week or two then we didn’t see her for a month. I wondered if she’d been hit by a car, taken in by someone, or had chosen another house to frequent for her meals.

But then, from my laundry room window one sunny spring day, I see Loretta emerging from the woods…with five kittens in tow. I immediately thought, “Oooh, no.”

Keep in mind, we’d been taking care of The Jerk (a.k.a. “Wally”) for almost a year. Black Bombay who gladly ate the food we gave him while despising our very presence. We’d put his food out on the wall (hence the name) and he’d come hiss at us, then eat. He was a butthead. We didn’t need another cat, much less five of them—or six if Loretta hung around.

So it begins.

Those babies were helpless. Tiny. Mewing. And adorable. The closest I could get was 10 yards, but I watched them intently through Robbie’s binoculars. I supplied their food & water daily for about three weeks, watched them grow, and noticed Loretta staying to the side…a “hmph” look on her face, combined with a “I will cut you if you get any closer” glare. I made sure they never went without. No animal will be hungry if I have anything to do with it. Even cats.

But one day, they weren’t there anymore. I went out there, yelled for them, and saw no activity. I fretted. Worried a coyote had gotten them, or they’d been run over, or…or….

For three days I continued their feeding routine—food was eaten nightly, but I assumed it was a raccoon or our possum Edgar XV (again, another post) that had enjoyed the meal. On the fourth day, as I walked back to the house from their eat-on-feet delivery, I noticed activity by the butterfly bush at the garage. There they were, little orange, white, and grey balls of fluff, Loretta sitting on the wall watching them. She was bringing them to us because she trusted us. Or at least that’s what I told myself.

But dang. A litter. And we’re not cat people.

They took up residence in our garage, and I’ll admit, we made for a cushy experience. Except for Loretta, we had them all trapped, neutered/spayed, and released (thank you, Sarah & Twin County Humane Society!) Loretta was just too elusive, and I hate we couldn’t get her, too, bless her heart.

Fast forward about nine months. The three orange tabbies had long since left/disappeared/found a home. Mr. Big Stuff and Blanca remain, along with Wally and Mr. Higgins (he’s a Ragamuffin and deserves his own post). I should add that Mr. Big Stuff is now Byg Stuph because we discovered she’s a girl and wanted to give her a fancy-dancy name.

She earned her name because she was the first who would approach us. The first to come out of the garage. The first to eat when food was placed out. I said, “Well, isn’t he a Mr. Big Stuff?” (cue Heavy D!…..I digress).

Her personality has developed and become very evident. She. Loves. Attention. And lovin’s & scrubbin’s. She also loves popcorn and fighting with Blanca. They fight like, well, siblings (Blanca can hold her own and I have photos to prove it. If interested, let me know in the comments).

Anyway.

The door was open last night and in she came–jumped on the couch with me and started rooting around for a comfy spot. I let her do what she was wanting to do just so I could see what she was wanting to do. She sat beside me awkwardly for about five minutes until she stepped up on my lap, curled up, and snoozed. Her motor was going 90% of the time. She was warm and rumbly. I decided to leave her be.

Byg Stuph the Lover

I started getting cold & asked Robbie if he thought she’d be disturbed if he put a blanket over me.

She wasn’t.

Her purrs emanated a Roush-like quality, and I found myself adjusting my breathing with hers. She snuggled…warmed my lap…and purrrrrred. I started to relax with her.

cat lying beside woman — Easing her way in….

Over the course of 90 minutes, Byg Stuph napped like she’d probably never napped before. I could run my thumb over her nose, hold her paw in my hand, play with her toes, and she continued to snooze. I never thought cats did this. I never considered them snuggle bugs. But here she was, relishing it all, belly-to-belly with me, and it hit me that she knew I could be trusted–my thick, Mac & Bob’s sweatshirt adding to her comfort. Not only that, she liked my company.

cat sleeping — Every breath was a purr….

Pretty huge stinkin’ feat for a cat.

And for me.

Her sister Blanca crouched at the open door, watching the whole time. Delusions of grandeur overtook and I imagined both of them, snuggled and purring on me. They’re a bonded pair (of course) and I so want her to experience the same affection her sister receives. I called for her, but she gave me the cat-finger and turned her butt toward me.

One step at a time.

Had it not been bedtime and I had to get up from the couch, I think Byg Stuph would have stayed there until morning. We have a thing, she & I (Blanca & I will, too—I promise). If Loretta ever visits again, I want to tell her I am honored that she trusted us with her babies. We gotcha, Loretta. Your babies are safe, warm, fixed, inoculated, and loved with us…even though we’re not cat people.

Thank you, sweetheart. We hope that you’ve found a safe place of your own. Byg Stuph & Blanca will be sure to have a long, cushy life together, and we’ll forever mention you as “that momma” who gave them to us.

*Looking for a way to keep kitties warm without worrying about electricity? This microwavable warming disk works great, and the heat lasts through most of a night. https://amzn.to/490bcUv

As an Amazon Associate I earn commission from qualifying purchases.

All About The Details–I Get It Honest

I awaken and smell coffee. Ahh…the joys of spending the night at my parents’ house. I roll out of bed and head to the kitchen. Not only is coffee freshly-brewed, but my mug is filled with hot water so that when I pour that first cup of joe, it doesn’t cool quickly from being poured into a cold cup. A solid night’s sleep. Hot coffee. A breakfast spread that rivals any famous buffet-style restaurant. Mom and her attention to detail.

Having been reared by “the hostess with the mostest” as she’s been called, I guess it’s no surprise that I welcome guests in my home. As a matter of fact, I love having overnight guests, especially when I have a few days to plan. If you’re staying at my house overnight, there are a few things you can expect when you go to bed (again, provided I’ve had a couple days to prepare!)

My Details

A bed with freshly-washed sheets and blankets. Oh, how I love to make a bed! I start with an excellent quality set of sheets—600+ thread count, and they have to be 100% cotton. The top sheet is put on thread-side up so when it’s folded down, the print and/or the decorative piping is seen. The corners must be mitered, too. If the sheets are wrinkled, I’ll iron them. Ok, I ironed them—one time. Now I immediately retrieve them from the dryer so wrinkles can’t set in, and if there are a couple, I’ll simply iron the top part of the flat sheet (the part that’s seen when folded down.)

Extra pillows. If you don’t have new pillows for your guests, now is the time to purchase some. They’re fairly inexpensive depending on where you buy them, and if they’re used only for guests, they won’t wear as quickly.

Extra blankets. Even in the summer, extra blankets are sometimes necessary for guests. They could be cold-natured, or the air conditioner may have it particularly cool in the bedroom. Better to have something and not need it than need something and not have it. Wash them, fold them neatly, and let your guests know where they can be found.

Nightlights. Obvious reasons here. A middle-of-the-night visit to the restroom or the kitchen for water shouldn’t be risky. Light their way.

Guest towels and washcloths. I have a couple sets just for guests. They’re washed, towels are folded in thirds, then placed on the table in the guest room. (On any given day, my linen closet could look like a mini-tornado went through it. Providing towels & washcloths upon arrival generally eliminates the possibility of their witnessing the aftermath.)

Travel-sized amenities. Shampoo, body wash, toothpaste, lotion, deodorants (men’s and women’s,) and a couple full-sized toothbrushes are in a basket on the nightstand.

Room-darkening curtains. This is especially important if the window(s) is east/southeast facing. (If they prefer to be awakened by the morning sun, they can keep the curtains open, of course.)

In the morning, after a (hopefully) restful night’s sleep, I’ll prepare breakfast, which is my favorite meal to fix. After all, it always includes coffee and usually includes bacon. What’s not to love? I’ll ask the guests the night before what their preferences are, then cook accordingly in the morning. Gravy, biscuits, eggs, sausage, bacon, baked cheese grits, hash browns, and blueberry waffles are some of my specialties. When the guests sit down to eat, there are a few things they can expect.

Preferences & Offerings

If they’ve chosen waffles, they’re going to have real butter and hot syrup. The thought of pouring cold syrup on margarine-laden waffles horrifies me. If I won’t eat it, I don’t expect my guests to, either.

Should biscuits & gravy be their preference, I’ll make homemade gravy and <gasp> frozen biscuits. I used to make homemade biscuits because the canned ones were just, well, not palatable to me. With homemade, it took about 45 minutes and there was flour all over the counter top. When I discovered Pillsbury’s frozen biscuits I never looked back. They’re the closest thing to homemade one can buy! (The only gripe I have is their packaging—I wish they came in a zipper-seal bag. You’ll have to use your own freezer bags if you buy them.) And since I’m a native West Virginian, if gravy is served, there will be apple butter on the table, too.

Thick-cut bacon. I’ve discovered that anything not specified “thick-cut” is in fact “see through” and shrivels up to nothing. Unless it’s Neese’s brand. See next preference.

Neese’s sausage. Full disclosure here—I’m a texture eater. I used to never eat sausage because I would always bite into gristle <fullbodyshiver>. That is, until I tried Neese’s. I’ve been using it for about 20 years and not once have I ever eaten their sausage and bitten into gristle. I recommend it to everyone. They are a family owned business with a small-ish delivery area, but they can ship to anywhere in the United States. Yes, it’s that good. http://www.neesesausage.com/ *

Orange juice in frosted glasses. I’m quite particular when it comes to my OJ. It cannot be “orange drink”, it cannot have pulp, and it has to be frosty cold. I know some prefer pulp—I just never buy it that way (texture thing again.) I buy the brand whose oranges all come from the USA.

Coffee. I drink mine strong and black, but when we have guests, I make sure to have creamer (not powdered) and artificial sweetener in addition to sugar. I love serving it in my grandmother’s china, too. There’s something about seeing her cups & saucers on my table that makes me wax nostalgic & feel all homey & warm.

And finally, a pepper grinder on the table. Freshly-ground is the way to go if you like pepper. I love it on eggs, hash browns, gravy, grits…well, pretty much everything.

This isn’t an exhaustive list of the details I’m particular about, nor am I able to do this with every houseguest. But when I have time to plan, this is what I enjoy offering. I’ve witnessed my Mom’s gift of hospitality. All of my life I’ve seen her go above and beyond to make sure anyone and everyone who comes through her door feels welcomed and loved. Perhaps hospitality is a gift—and I inherited it. Perhaps it is a skill—and I learned it. All I know is I’m thankful I had (and still have) such a great example in my Mom.

Now, if I could just cook like she does…

*I received no compensation for sharing this link.