The Wild just couldn't weather 'perfect storm'

I have mentioned the bookstore on the square, The Wild, in this space several times. It is a place I feel a deep connection with, as I was there at the beginning. My husband Rob and I helped to start the store together with Jane and Ernie Mills. In the planning stages, I was the leader of the so called ‘Board Meetings’, keeping those goofballs on task with my running ‘to do’ lists as they threw back Barley Island Dirty Helens and went off on irrelevant tangents. Though we parted ways with the Mills later on, we are friends and have seen the good it has done in this community since 2005.


The Wild is for sale. If no buyer is found by February’s end, the store will close. I recently sat down with Jane to discuss her decision to make The Wild available for sale. She referred to the Perfect Storm of circumstances that lead to the decision. She cited price wars over books among big chain stores like Wal-Mart and Target, increased competition with Hamilton Town Center and Amazon, lack of support for the Square from city government, a slow economy, corporate pay cuts for Ernie, and staggering out-of-pocket heath care costs.

The store (www.gotothewild.com) has always been profitable and could have taken on half of these circumstances, but not all, thus leading to the decision to sell or close. This would be an amazing opportunity for someone looking to have a meaningful, creative store with loyal customers. Thank you, Jane, Ernie and Fritz Mills, for your many contributions to this community. We love you.

3/50 project easy way to save the independents

I found this website recently and was completely intrigued by the oh so simple concept that is doable and makes so much sense. Ready? Here it is:
What three independently owned businesses would you miss if they disappeared? Stop in. Say hello. Pick up something that makes you smile. Your purchases are what keeps those businesses around.
If half of the employed population spent $50 each month in locally owned independent businesses, it would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue. Imagine the positive impact if ¾ of the employed population did that.

That's the 3/50 plan.
When I started thinking about this, I realized that this project encompasses so many businesses, not just retail. Businesses such as: movie theaters, restaurants, coffee shops, hair salons, barbers, grocery (though there aren’t any independents around here, sadly) and health food stores, car washes, and more. Basically, as long as they’re independent (ie, not a chain) and brick and mortar, they count. When you look at it that way, a conscious decision to funnel $50 a month away from chains and into your local businesses and how many ways you can do this, it’s easy to see how it can make a huge impact for them.

I am going to commit to doing this project, will you? If you can’t do $50, how about $25? There would be large holes in our downtown and throughout Noblesville if these businesses closed up shop. They work hard and need our support. I want to say a great big thank you to each and every one of them for their dedication and commitment. And a plug for myself—if you’d like a ‘shop indie’ magnet, see my shop at http://www.cachet.etsy.com/.

Recycling bins are a godsend to mother earth

Do you recycle? Please say yes, and if not, make a commitment to start this year. It could not be easier with the gray recycling bins provided to Noblesville residents by Republic. I admit that I’m an avid (some might say rabid) recycler, so much so that I will save disposable cups and pieces of paper in my purse/diaper bag/van/pockets until I can throw them in the recycling bin. I twitch when I see something that could be recycled head to the landfill.
I did some checking at Republic’s website (www.indywaste.com) to see what they will recycle, so here we go:
• Plastic bags (Yes! Just throw them in. And bring your reusable bags when you go shopping)
• Newspaper delivery bags
• Newspaper and inserts
• Magazines and Phone books
• Soft cover books
• Office and School Papers
• Cardboard
• Boxboard (food boxes)
• Brown paper bags
• Aluminum Cans and Foil
• Tin and Steel Cans (rinse and put lids in cans )
• Glass Jars and Bottles (rinse – labels are ok )
• All plastic marked 1 through 7 ( Must be empty )

I checked on the plastics 1-7, since many communities only recycle 1-2, if they recycle at all, and Republic recycles all (with the exception of #6 styrofoam).
The recycling schedule is every other week on the same day as trash pickup. This can get confusing, as we have trouble remembering if it’s an on or off week, but we gauge the fullness of the bin and/or whether our neighbors have theirs out, figuring that they are probably more on top of things than we are. Hopefully you will consistently fill up the recycling bin and have a trash bin so empty it echoes. Say yes to working toward treading more lightly on Mother Earth.

Creating the life I want

(In this article I referenced a book in a sentence that was cut in the paper, I guess due to being over my word count, oops.  The book is Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes and it's one of my favorites.  That's where the term 'wild woman' comes from.)

I will be authentic. I will be true to my feelings and unique perspective on the world. I will make my voice heard, mostly by whispering, shouting when necessary. I will break through taboos of mainstream thought and collective consciousness. I will question. I will wait for answers. I will take time, unapologetically, for me. To light incense and candles and whisper prayers to the Creator. To move to music that moves me deeply.

I will listen to my intuition. I will spend time dreaming, then set to work to manifest those dreams into reality.
I will take long walks and think. I will be still and just be. I will paint a picture and not judge the end result, just enjoy the process and the joy of creating. I will check out more books by intriguing authors (and collect more fines on my library card). I will write in my own books, underlining passages and scribbling in margins. Through books, I will continue to discover my own unique voice.

I will be a wild woman, a woman who has her own passions and who is creating her own personal revolution. I will feel and love deeply. I will connect with other wild women and we will laugh and learn and lift each other up. I will constantly do my life over—if I’m not happy with something in my life, I will work to find solutions and create the life I want.

I will reflect on the past year—triumphs, risks taken, and unfinished business (to see a New Year Questionnaire, see my blog). I will create my new year on paper and on purpose, and I will become more of who I really am this year and this new decade. I will be authentic. May you be, too.

Krista Bocko lives in ‘Old Town’ Noblesville and loves to read in the middle of the night when all is quiet. Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes is a favorite book. She can be reached via her blog at http://www.cachetwrites.blogspot.com/.

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New Year Questionnaire
(I got this from a friend, I don't know who to credit)
Completing and Remembering the Past Year:


What was your biggest triumph this year?

What was the smartest decision you made this year?

What one word sums up and best describes your 2009 experience?

What was the greatest lesson you learned in 2009?

What was the most loving service you performed in 2009?

What is your biggest piece of unfinished business in 2009?

What are you most happy about completing in 2009?

Who were the three people that had the greatest impact on your life in 2009?

What was the biggest risk you took in 2009?

What was the biggest surprise in 2009?

What important relationship improved the most in 2009?

What compliment would you liked to have received in 2009?

What compliment would you most liked to have given in 2009?

What else do you need to do or say to be complete with 2009?



Creating 2010:

What would you like to be your biggest triumph in 2010?

What advice would you like to give yourself in 2010?

What is the major effort you are planning to improve your financial results in 2010?

What would you be most happy about completing in 2010?

What major indulgence are you willing to experience in 2010?

What would you most like to change about yourself in 2010?

What are you looking forward to learning in 2010?

What do you think your biggest risk will be in 2010?

What about your work are you most committed to changing and improving in 2010?

What is one undeveloped talent you are willing to explore in 2010?

What brings you the most joy and how are you going to do or have more of that in 2010?

Who or what, other than yourself, are you most committed to loving and serving in 2010?

Learning to be a parent by the book

I’m learning to parent. One day my oldest, upon seeing my library book on parenting, had an epiphany that I had never done this parenting gig before and exclaimed “you mean…I’m an experiment?!” Yes, indeed. I’m trying to relate to my children a little bit better, to be aware of their emotions, be empathetic, and internalize guidelines for navigating through their days while keeping my sanity intact.


So here are a couple of tips I’ve gleaned:

• When you want your child to do something, tell them they may (whatever it is). For example, “You may pick up your blocks now, and then you may have a snack.” Speak what you want them to do. Children desire to cooperate and need clear directions.

• If they need help getting all the blocks picked up, offer to help. This does a couple things: 1) it helps prevent them from getting frustrated and it gets the job done and 2) you’re modeling what you want them to do (besides pick up the blocks)—which is to help others.

• Children want to be autonomous. Allow them that by making a safe environment where everything within their reach can be played with. Let them dress themselves, pour their own drink, fix a snack.

• Speaking of dressing themselves, try not to control this too much. Much of parenting is letting go of our own expectations and control. Autonomy is a good thing, I try not to squelch it. I’m over caring if my child wears a striped shirt, a flowery skirt, and her pink boots. I think it looks darn cute, actually.

• Get down at eye level with your child. This goes a long way toward working together with your child. It connects you and allows you both to give each other your full attention.

Krista Bocko is living and learning in Noblesville and striving to be a better parent (chocolate helps). See her blog at www.cachetwrites.blogspot.com to comment.

No TV or phones? Yes, kids, that's the way it used to be

In November my daughter and I went to a local craft show on a whim. Just as we were on the way out, we walked past a few more tables. I nearly missed the small table with the books on it, then the woman stopped me and invited me to take a look. I was drawn to the titles, one of which is the title of this article. People that know me know I am enamored with old homes and aprons and vintage Pyrex and the like, so I’m always thrilled to listen to stories from people that lived in earlier times. The author, Laura Konger Nicodemus, grew up on a 30 acre farm in the 1930’s near Churubusco, a small town north of Fort Wayne
It had always been Laura’s dream to paint a picture of the daily lifestyle of a child growing up on a farm, and the text and the illustrations in these four books is delightful and informative. Children are fascinated to learn that there wasn’t always electricity, TV, phones, and she ‘shares the feeling of freedom from the visits to the outhouse in the middle of the winter cold and the summer rains’ when indoor plumbing was installed.

I bought the set of four books and Laura autographed them. I am excited to read them with my children and open up their minds to how children their age used to live, compared to the relative life of luxury they live today. These books are a great classroom resource for elementary teachers also. Visit www.tcswoodentoys.com or The Wild at 884 Logan St. to purchase ($20 for the set of four). I’m also hosting a Christmas giveaway on my blog, an autographed set of these four books! Tell me something special you remember about your grandparent(s) or parent(s). The winner will be announced Dec. 25th.

Merry Christmas!

Thank you for playing along!  Be sure to sign in or post your email when you leave your comment so I'll have a way to reach you!  Pass this on, too.  Good Luck!

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And the winner is....Kristen (Emlynsmommy)!  Thanks again for these great memories and Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!  And welcome to Noblesville, Michael.  :)

Be a kid again and create with family or on your own

Children have an innate need to create and the gift of creativity. So do adults, whether we recognize it or not. My family does lots of creating—rarely is our table free of some sort of project in the works. Children are wonderful and open artists. I love watching their progression from stick figure drawings that can’t really be distinguished to more sophisticated recognizable animals, and their excitement over any new form of media they discover, whether it be different paints, watercolor crayons, making cut-out Christmas cookies, or building a fairy house out of found natural materials.

Last week I was at my parents house and my mother had a large basket full of pottery that we had made in art. I looked through it, pretty sure that there wasn’t any of mine left in there, since I’m the oldest and it was probably long gone. There was one, a little pinch pot, and it was painted greenish-gray. It was pretty homely really. But I looked at it and thought about the times my art projects were judged and how the joy of creating was taken from me. If I could talk to myself back then, I would have looked at the little girl that made that pinch pot and found something good to say about it to her. So what if it wasn’t cute, she had made it and because of that, it was special.

Do you have childhood experiences like that too? Remember that we all need to create, in whatever form it takes (there are many!), and honor that. There are a wealth of ideas out there to get you started. As a new year approaches, commit to making space in your life to create and experience the joy of making something, too, either with children or on your own.


Krista Bocko lives in ‘Old Town’ Noblesville with her husband and four children. She strives to encourage creativity and enjoys documenting their creative adventures. She can be reached via her blog at www.cachetwrites.blogspot.com.