Necessities Mercantile

06/17/2026

Over the last year I had the privilege to participate and challenge myself with the Ottumwa Leadership Academy. What a phenomenal experience it has been and now it’s seems I’m left to consider, what’s next? Where do I go from here?
My heart in undertaking this course was to learn how to grow our community in Eldon. What can we learn from what others are doing and bring that to our home town? I believe we are seeing the beginnings of the spark it takes to really get our community growing. More businesses are coming to town and more events are happening…..it’s exciting!! I once told someone I felt Eldon could be like a Hallmark movie. He looked at me with disbelief or maybe just uncertainty and said, in a low voice, “Really?” And left it there.
Eldon maybe small, but we have a big heart. When we host events; people show up. Friends, families and people who want to be a part of the excitement. The heart of support and generosity we share together is, to me, the foundation we are building on.
Before Eric and I opened Necessities, I had a different “tag line” for the business. But it has left my memory because from the very beginning it has always been “For Community”. And that’s enough said.

Other than Thank you to Eric Livingston, Kathy Graves and Victor Streeby who carried the day each time I was out to attend class. Truly couldn’t have done it without your support and dedication to “the cause”.

06/16/2026

Just a reminder we will be closed this entire week…./OH NO!/…. We will miss catching up with you and sharing our usual friendly conversation. I wish you knew the joy you add to my life when ya’all walk through the door to Necessities. Here we are, together, building community and I just love it!!

Eric and I are heading to Quantico Virginia, where our life as a military couple began. It was our first duty station as a married couple and now we are going to see our son graduate The Basic School for officer training. Both Eric and Gavin were assigned to Bravo Company, 32 years apart. (A little family trivia there) Gavin will be graduating in the top 10% of his class. We are very proud of his efforts but even more so, it’s most rewarding to watch him live out the dream he has had for his life since 3rd grade. To go to the Naval Academy, become a Marine, and to be stationed in Japan. Which is where he will be heading soon.

Thank you for understanding as we take this time to celebrate.

06/13/2026

The upcoming event for the Network . If you are a local small business, this is for you. Come join the conversation and discover a supportive group you belong in.
This next meeting we will learn about our “exit strategy” and what we should be doing to get there.

Exit planning isn't about selling your business tomorrow. 📆 It's about giving yourself options today. 💪 Strong operations and tight finances give you more time, more profit, and more freedom right now. If you've put everything into your business, you deserve to get everything out of it. Come build your blueprint with us. 🔨

See you at Necessities Mercantile in Eldon on Tuesday, June 23rd, at 6 pm for this fantastic informational meeting for business owners.

06/11/2026

Eric and I will be traveling next week to see our son graduating a Marine Training School in Virginia. Necessities will be closed the ENTIRE WEEK!!
However we will be back, ready to go, looking forward to seeing and serving you on Wednesday June 24th!!

06/10/2026

Just a reminder that I’m sitting Eric out with a pot of coffee for Coffee & Conversation today @8:30/8:40 (depending on when chores are done at the farm). Let’s talk about “Gothic Days” and the historical gothic times. Bring your conversation because Eric doesn’t know it all!! But he tells it good.

06/03/2026

I have stickers if anyone wants some🥴 I joked one to many times with my friend Roger who owns a graphic design/ print shop (with his fabulous sister Sherry😉) and now I’ve become a sticker. When some of my baking comes out a bit darker than I want to put out for display, often I gift Roger samples from “The Burnt Bakery”.
And now….here it is for everyone to see.

😂 Poor Wendi never stood a chance.

Ol’ Rog-Cat is at it again…

Sweet Wendi gets busy baking cookies for the mercantile and every now and then a batch stays in the oven a minute longer than she intended.

Now before anyone starts talking, they aren’t burnt by any means. In fact, they’re usually pretty darn good. But Wendi has standards higher than a giraffe’s eyebrows and refuses to sell them.

Her mistake?

She handed a few to Roger and wrote “The Burnt Bakery” on the package.

And just like that, she set herself up to be immortalized in cartoon form. 🤣

Around here, no good deed goes unpunished and no funny nickname goes unnoticed.

So if you stop by Necessities Mercantile and hear Roger asking where the latest shipment from The Burnt Bakery is, just know Wendi created that monster herself.

🍪❤️

The cookies are delicious. The nickname is permanent. 😆

06/02/2026

The saga of the upper story renovation continues. How it’s looking now and a little hint of what’s to come. Things are moving along rather quickly and at times I feel the pressure of putting it all together. But bringing the vision to life is only part of the satisfaction. Knowing that the work you see here is what will structurally stabilize the building for many, many years, even decades to come. And when our season one day comes to an end; it’s our hope that we will have a building with stories and charm to pass along to another person with equal passion for the building and Eldon itself. For Community.

06/01/2026

UPDATE on Coffee and Conversation. I misunderstood Eric’s schedule and he will not be available this Wednesday. So we are moving the date to the following Wednesday, June 10th. Just in time for Gothic Days!
Sorry for any confusion but I hope you’ll plan to sit around the table with Eric on the 10th because I really enjoy seeing Eric get a taste of the retirement he was hoping to have and it’s entertaining hearing how he tells history.