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!!

Yes, Mom I am still alive!

It is a lively Sunday afternoon at the yarn shop.  We have 7 friends gathered around the table knitting and chatting.  Kim is helping Charlotte put the finishing touches on her toddler's blanket.  Jean is working on the "Mystery Shawl by Steven West" using Madeline tosh Light ( a yarn we are working on ordering!!!   YUMMY YARN!   Nancy is knitting a sock with Scarlet Fleece Sock yarn in pinks and greens and choosing buttons for her Sublime cardigan.  Kim is paging through the new fall issue of Vogue Knitting Magazine while Elaine is starting a summer shell out of Misty.  (we have a sample on the wall at the shop --really cute!!)  Adrienne is working on her second pair of socks.  Conversation is lively ranging from "out of control teens"  (lots of opinions about this!!) to healthy eating which has led to a conversation about celebs with MS  and some advice from Dr Oz.   This conversation is interupted frequently with comments about knitting projects currently on needles and plans for future projects as well as suggestions for ordering lunch!  

Big Boy Toys

Baby Riley is now starting to toddle and was clearly enthused with all of his birthday gifts but most especially his Kawasaki four wheeler (motorized).  His cousins (Selena and Addy are pictured)  were quick to remind Sabrina that he needs to wear his helmet. 

There is just something not right about riding a Kawasaki with a diaper, but he was very cute and really excited when he managed to push the "GO" button.  Uncle John already has plans to show Dave how to put up a safety net of some type so Riley doesn't make the trip down the long steep driveway unsupervised!  Aunt Lisa feels better about the safety of the baby swing in the front yard!  

Shortly after the gift opening the party started to disband when the birthday boy needed another nap to recover from the excitement of opening all of his birthday gifts. 

Family Time

This photo is my "baby brother", Grampa to my little Riley.  We sat (with Mom) to watch Sabrina and her sweet Riley open his birthday gifts and reminisced about the days when our kids celebrated first birthdays.  He is the first great grand child and there was much discussion about who will give Grammy the next great grandchild. 

Abby was not at the party to vote that her brother should have that honor since she is in no hurry to settle down.  She is really loving her life in NYC!   Noah admits he would like LOTS of KIDS but has girlfriend Amber is quick to tell him that there are other things that need to happen before they have kids.  Maybe a wedding in the future?  We all hope so!

John's girls, Sara and Karen were also at the party.  Karen is a recent college grad and newly single and she has been quite vocal about the fact that she is "never going to spawn!"  Her sister did point out that Karen is the grandchild most likely to kidnap a baby, which  brought on a funny story about the time she almost didn't give back someone's small child.  Absent from the discussion was Sabrina's brother Travis who was at the party with his new girlfriend who did look very comfortable holding Riley!!  I think he has my vote for producing the next baby!! 

Fun in the city

We have a lot of birthdays in my family in July and August and three of them on the same day  --July 16.  My mother and sister are here from Florida to celebrate Riley's first birthday which is also my mom's birthday.  To celebrate Mom's birthday Tracy, Mom and I traveled by train to NYC to see my daughter Abby,  show "Grammy" her apartment in Brooklyn and introduce her to Abby's boyfriend Peter.  It was a day full of travel,  at least 10 hours sitting in a car, train or subway!  We had lunch in Soho at a cute restaurant, The Antique Garage and a brief visit to PURL SOHO.  Tracy and both bought Medelinetosh sock yarn.  New York is a great city to visit, but I wouldn'd want to live there!!