A New Byrd in the Nest

There’s a new Byrd in our nest over at James Farmer Incorporated! Stacey Leigh Byrd has flown back home to Perrydise after an internship in the Big Apple. What is the next step after working in New York for almost a year? Why working at James Farmer Inc of course!

One of the many things I love about living and working in a small town is how information is garnered. One day, I was chatting with Mrs. Penny at the bank, asking her how her daughter, Stacey, was enjoying New York. Mrs. Penny informed me that Stacey’s internship was coming to a close and she would probably be returning home soon. I started thinking (a dangerous pastime) and scheming more so. Well, lo and behold, if I did not run into Stacey one day later in downtown Perrydise – right smack on Carroll Street and in front of JFI’s international HQ!

I said “Stacey, what are you doing home?” fully aware that Mrs. Penny had informed me of Stacey’s impending return. Stacey innocently replied that her internship had come to an end and she wanted to be back down South. She said she was “currently looking for a job…” Well, an interview and quick hiring later, Stacey joined the JFI team!

As members of Team JFI, we all wear many hats. Sami is my personal assistant and handles all my speaking and book signing engagements and helps on design installs. Laura Lyn is my office manager and my boss really, and helps on design installs. Jason gets the window treatments and paintings hung as well as finds the best grapevine for wrapping the storefront in the material when needed and of course helps on design installs. Stacey in now on staff a la JFI as my in house marketing guru and PR gal, as well as store manager, and helps with design installs. As you see, it is all hands on deck for install days!

I wanted to formally welcome this Byrd into the nest on the blog! She flocked in this summer and has proven herself quite capable of all the tasks at hand. Thank you Stacey for joining the team – we are all glad you’re on board! As my marketing and PR maven, she would want y’all to follow me and the shop on Instagram @jamestfarmer as well as James Farmer on Facebook and @allthingsfarmer on Twitter.  Tweet tweet tweet… literally for this Byrd!

Sunsets

Sunsets have always moved me almost to tears. As the sun sets upon 2013, I wish all the best for y'all this new year. Recharging body and soul are vital, and I find the mountains and gulf both invigorating.

I wrote this poem this past summer while vacationing at Seagrove, and as the last drops of light slipped beneath the glassy Gulf this New Year's Eve, I felt it only apropos to read it again and toast to 2013. The year brought amazing highs and depths of lows I've never known, but the sun kept setting each day and rose shortly thereafter.

New dawns, new days, New Years... May they all be happy.

It changes every second,
It's liquid more than light.
Colors, tints and hues and shades
Melt before in pure delight.

What hues they are I cannot tell,
But cast and caught beneath its spell, I gaze with wonder, with awe and zeal.

Thus another day has dawned
and thus another day has set,
and I pray for no regret,
That in hope this day has found me wholly true and wholly blessed,
simply for I lived to see it set.

This day no more shall mark my brow
Nor rouse my heart to beat anew
For the sin or good my soul allowed,

For beneath the sinking, silky sky, I am renewed and must ask why?
Why did I receive the glory
of seeing the heavens declare Your story?

Of mastering the art of time and place, and feel the glow upon my face
I am but man who's day has set,
A son who's sun has ended nigh,
But garnered a promise from on high, that when I wake, with mercies anew, the lights of heaven will still be true.

Sun come set and crown each day,
With feasts of color and awesome sway,
For when we see you vanish beyond the shore, we are reminded that once more,

You'll crest the coming dawn with shades
that words are too afraid
To capture wholly or truly tell
And remind us again
for why we're made,

To glorify and praise
the One who let the sun rise
and in balance made the sun set.