Spring Remodel

Our "back room" at the shop had become a bit of a mess.  Lots of sale yarns and a basic table for classes, piling new yarn and just piles of stuff.  

Easter weekend I painted this space a pale gray,  got rid of lots of junk and rearranged.  The photo above shows part of a seating area and a "baby corner."  I gathered shop samples and my favorite "baby yarns." We now have Dale of Norway yarns ( a wool cotton blend and a washable wool) and Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino (washable blend of merino wool, cashmere ) and Eco Baby (organic cotton).  These are all sport weight.  

Spring News

Hello Knitters!  I apologize for the long break from blogging.  I was busy with lots of stuff, just life.  Daughters getting married, running a business, enjoying time with my family.  and then I couldn't get back into the blog.  As in I was locked out.  Really locked out.  Thank you to those who nudged and encouraged me to continue posting here.  Now, on to some knitting!

The photo above shows our W.I.P.'s. (work in progress) for our "Kate Shopping Shawl" Knit-Along.  We meet on Wednesday evenings and work on this project as well as others.  It is a fun, lively group and the shawl is gorgeous though slow-moving.  Most of the group is using fingering or lace weight yarn on size 1 or 1.5 needles.  They think I am joking that we will be meeting to finish this project in 2017!  There is still time to start your own Kate shawl.  The pattern is available for sale on Ravelry. 

Happy Knitting!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas! I have just returned from a short visit to my parents in Naples Florida. weather was super mostly warm and sunny and we crammed LOtS of stuff into a 5 day trip. We arrived Christmas day in time for dinner @ 7pm. I generally visit alone but this trip I
Was joined by my husband, John and daughter Abby. we enjoyed a terrific holiday meal and then exchanged gifts. My sister Tracy lives nearby so I spent a lot of time with her, too.

Monday morning after water aerobics (during which I sat in the sun w my knitting) we ventured out for some post holiday shopping. shopping. The day after Christmas. Someone needed to exchange something. Someone who does not enjoy wearing matching pajamas. Pajamas that match ones worn by mom, aunt, and grandmother. Mine are red and white stripes. Tracy,s are red with kitties. Grammys are blue stripes. VERY CUTE, but I am not allowed to post the very cute photos. Very cute photos of grown women in matching PJ's. just use your imagination.

Tuesday Tracy and I drove to Tampa to visit 3 yarn shops and YES I did buy yarn. I did my best to support some local yarn shops! after another wonderful meal we all went downtown to see the Christmas lights and decorations.

Wednesday Tracy drove John and I to Corkscrew Swamp, a local sanctuary. John enjoys spending time outdoors and enjoyed 2 hours of looking at birds, bugs, plants,etc. we did not see any adult gators this trip but enjoyed watching 6 baby alligators cavorting in the swamp. I think we saw more heron & egrets along the road returning to Naples.

Thursday morning we flew to Atlanta and home to York. Tomorrow will be busy with laundry and grocery shopping before returning to work on Saturday.

Happy holidays!

Happy Holidays!

And the Earth Moved

We have lots of pretty new yarns.  Pictured above are some of the new Mountain Colors Yarns.  Lots of pretty colors!   We are waiting for a big shipment from Skacel:  opus, Nimbus, Urban Silk, Trekking Sock Yarn!!  

Luckily nothing was damaged in the "local Earthquake" felt in Central PA on Tuesday.   My family has a theory about the cause of the "tremors" on the East coast.  Less than hour before the earth moved our Sara received a proposal.   While vacationing in Hatteras her boyfriend Chris presented her with a ring and asked her to marry him.  We are all very excited and when Sara called me she was still processing everything.   John and I are gearing up to be "parents of the bride."   When I asked Sara if she had any ideas about the wedding she said,"  I don't want to wear shoes,  and i can wear a tiara, and Karen can bake me a chocolate cake."  It will be an adventure!!

turning over a new leaf

Several weeks ago I decided to "turn over a new leaf".   I am frequently told that I am "too nice."  I usually laugh and think to myself "one can never be too nice.  Wouldn't it be a much better world if everyone were nice?   I don't think of this as a fault.  i have always taken pride in the fact that I am a "nice " person.  My mother always said, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."  I used to think she created the phrase but as a young mom I heard it on the Disney movie Bambi.  Even if she didn't originate the phrase I thought it was a good idea.  I taught my children to be" nice."  I helped my students learn to be "nice."

This summer it has come up at the yarn shop a couple of times.  I was told by customers and employees that I was "too nice."   I have spent some time thinking about this.  Sometimes others take advantage of my  "niceness."   I am always surprise when someone is unkind to me or does something "not nice."   This is especially true when i feel like I have gone out of my way to do something kind or helpful for them.  A couple of weeks ago I stated that I was going to "turn over a new leaf" and be "bitchy."  I'm not sure I ever used that word out loud before and certainly never thought of acting that way.  Think about it.  Think of women you know who are powerful, assertive,  strong and successful.  they didn't get that way by being "nice."  Do you think Martha Stewart is "nice."   Not so much.  

It's hard to totally change one's personality and I am basically just a nice person.  I have had some "bitchy" moments in recent weeks.  My idea of "Bitchy" is probably other women's way of being assertive or in control at work.  My son, Noah would probably say I was "bitchy" as a mom.  He once said to me "You use up all you nice at school with other people and then you are grouchy at home."  I am sure I was just being Mom and trying to get him to do his homework or chores.  My husband has probably been the recipient  of lots of "bitchy" at home.   To be honest "Honey can you please put your dishes in the dishwasher" does not work as well as a stern"  "John George get in here and clear off the table, NOW!"   He laughs, but he does it!   Sorry mom, sometimes it doesn't work to be nice!!