When I retired, I thought how nice it would be to be able to spend hours per day doing my bird carving and painting. But the reality is, for most of us carvers who are not doing this full-time, there always seems to be some other thing to be done, whether it is yard work, helping take care of our handicapped daughter, helping my wife with other things, or birds to go watch and trails to explore. Proper time allocation is the answer to this problem. Don't misunderstand me, I don't really becrudge the time spent doing these other things. I am reminded of something I read about successful self-employed carvers needing enough self-displine to apply the seat of their pants to the seat of their chairs in order to get any carving and painting done.
This reminds me of the following sign I saw in someone else's shop. Ain't it the truth?
SHOP HOURS
Open most days about 9 or 10, occasionally as early as 7, but some days as late as 12 or 1.
I also close about 5:30 or occasionally about 4 or 5, but some days or afternoons, I am not here at all.
Lately, I've been here just about all the time, except when I have gone someplace else, but I should be here then, too.
It is a good idea to try to call first!
Now, I am off to carve for a while.