Living With Yarn...

Living The Fariy Tale ~ Chapter One

You know you have been gone too long when you can not remember your blog's password. 

Well, the holidays were so amazing this year just in terms of the downtime.  It has been 7 years since I had a Holiday season all my own.  And - as Marilyn B. pointed out in one of my classes - I was burnt out.  Yeah.  More like a charred, almost petrified clump of...oh...ok enough on that topic.  I loved my time with the kids and David and now I'm back.

Back - sort of.  My classes are off and running.  We had quite a full house this weekend.   But the shop is still just open hours here & there.   Happily my new job is  keeping me  very busy and  I *LOVE* it.

Ahh but  my life and family give me so much blog material I had to get back on the horse.  Why just this week, I ran into the kitchen and headed for the fridge.  Okay, yes,  I was going for a snack.  And, no,  I wasn't actually hungry.  Still, I found myself in the kitchen one hand pulling on the refrigerator door and the other ready to grab just about anything chocolate.

In the midst of my stress induced snack mode, my eyes just happen to look up.  There on the freezer door was this:

 

And of course, I had to ask.   Even though I was alone in the kitchen, I was certain there was at least one or two kids hunkered down on a couch nearby watching some useless cable show. 

"Who put the picture on the freezer door."

Three voices respond.   "DAD."

"And why exactly..." 

 I didn't even get to finish when the 3 in unison replied back," He said if you keep eating the heavenly hash ice cream, when you guys retire he is going to have to trade in his motorcycle for something a little sturdier."

Ouch!  Yeah but before anyone gets all up in arms about David's approach - I admit I have gained back the 20 pounds I lost.  And no one has had to listen to me whine about it more than David.   So I laughed.  It was funny and my reaction was, "Oh your Dad.  Such a Prince.  Gosh I am a lucky woman.  Just living the fairy tale.  Yes  I am."

Then as I closed the refrigerator  and grabbed a rice cake, I realized I am living the fairy tale.   Just like Julia Roberts in one of my favorite movies, "Pretty Woman."   Do you remember it?  Pretty Woman.   It is my ultimate chick flick.   If  Lifetime has a Julia Roberts marathon with Pretty Woman airing  back to back -  well let's just say the kids know where to find me. 

Yep for Pretty Woman I will boldly stand  in front of the TV with my hands stretched outward in  both directions.  The kids will moan in pain.  (One of the advantages to NOT having a flat screen TV the size of a dining room table is you can still block the remote and any chance of a channel change.)    Nothing deters me.    Not even when Liv pointed out my favorite movie's main character is a woman who "dates" for money.  

I can't help it.   I love that scene where  Julia Roberts is  in the fluffy white  hotel bathrobe and  wealthy Mr. Richard Gere asks her what she wants.   And she says, "I want it all.  I want the fairy tale."

The Fairy Tale.  Don't we all want that...The Fairy Tale.  But what does it mean?  Does it mean we want the prince on the white horse?   Or do we just want a enough money to buy a horse?  Do we want clothes from Rodeo Drive?   Or do we just want to be able to fit into petite, expensive clothes you buy on Rodeo Drive?  Do we want the private  jet or do we just want the guy who flies the jet?   WHAT do we want?    Well, I have always wanted  the fairy tale.  And guess what - I believe I got it.

So here I am.  Blogging again.  Stay tuned for Chapter Two and  I will fill you in on my fairy tale.  Who knows - maybe it will help you realize you have  been living your own fairy tale all along.

Phew~ Is It Hot in Here?

Before I forget - we are going to open the shop Saturday, August 28th from 11 AM - 3 PM.    I am working on our September hours, but truthfully, we will probably operate on a part time basis until we get into the later part of September.   Right now my days are focused on plastic yellow folders with  horizontal pockets and brads , geometry calculators (the model that costs as much as it does to feed a family of 4 for a week) and the elusive 2-subject spiral notebook with a red cover .   'Tis the season.  If you haven't read my earlier postings on the back to school time, check out my older post:    Eye-of-the-hurricane

So...August...the dog days of summer.  Hot.  Humid.  I hate the heat consequently  I have cursed my husband who insists air conditioning is a waste of energy in this go green world.   Shoot he won't even let me sleep with a fan - can't hear the birds in the morning and it dries his eyes out.   Oh well, I usually muddle through.  After all,  it is Rochester and we only have 2.5 months of summer so why complain.

Ahhh but I have complained this summer.  Alot.  No air conditioning.  No dishwasher.  Plunging my hands into scalding water on a daily basis to disinfect and properly clean our cutlery.   Hot.  Everything  is  just *HOT*.   I chalked it all up to the season, the weather and our rustic life style choice void of any 20th century cooling technology.  And I might have continued to question my choice  of  fan hating  life partners if it weren't for Izzy.  Out of the mouths of babes - or in this case a 10 year old, came a revelation. 

It was the moment when the world suddenly makes sense.  Not that it is necessarily good sense or news you want but everything clicks and things become clear.   In my case, Isabelle spoke and I just  laughed.   Giggled because sometimes I am so oblivious.  How could I have missed it?   Why didn't I realize...all those signs.   Oh Man - the signs were like great big neon lights flashing above.  And yet I missed them. 

It wasn't until Izzy walked by me in the family room last night.   She walked by while   I was re- positioning myself  directly under  the ceiling fan.  The blades above in super sonic mode with another fan on the floor positioned  directly at my feet. 

 I was chugging Pellegrino water with ice, hair all propped up on my head in a silly little pony tail while typing on my laptop.   Izzy glanced once, then twice, then stood directly in front of me.

"Mom, you need to go to the doctor's."

"What?"

"Something is wrong  with you."

  "Izzy, I am fine."

"No, Mom, you're not."

"Isabelle."

"Mom- its freezing in here. "

"Isabelle, I am just a little warm tonight.  Please leave the fan alone."

"Mom, forget the doctor.  You need to go to the hospital.  It is  COLD in here.  What is wrong with you?"

What is wrong with me.  Wrong?  And in that instant, I knew. 

 It all came together.  NO.  Couldn't be...Why I am just ...I only turned ...50 in June.  Fifty. 

Hot.  Bothered.  Really hot.  Then fine.  Next thing I know I am looking for a freezer door to open. Anyone's freezer, but preferably a side by side where I can stick my entire torso close to the cooling source.  Hey, could it be?   HOT FLASHES!

And as I reached for a frozen paper towel ( I like to make them up ahead of time  in groups of 10),  I  tried to convince Izzy I would be fine.

"Its just ...well...it might be hormones."

"Doesn't sound good, Mom."

"Oh, Izzy - you know about hormones.  Its the same thing  that is helping you grow, get hips and that chest you want so badly..."

"Yeah..."

"Well, you reach a certain age and your hormones kick in again only its almost like they go in reverse."

Reverse.  Huh.  Maybe not the best analogy.  Certainly not the Mom moment I was going for.  From the look on her face, I could tell Izzy was wondering if that meant the chest she was trying so hard to grow would begin to  disappear at age 50.

As I tried to come up with a better  story for her - I started to replay the events of the last month.  How could I have missed this?

There are fans in every room.   We buy Pellegrino water by the case.  Something about the fizz seems to cool me down quicker.  Then there was the other night when I got so mad at David.   No fan.  He tried to tell me if I was perfectly still I could feel the breeze.  Right.  I  stomped my feet all the way to the kitchen, grabbed 2 lunch box ice packs from  the freezer and stuffed those suckers right  down the front of my camisole.   And once I got over the initial shock to my system, they seemed to do the trick.  Relief!  Actually slept like a baby.   Of course, the downside being no one wanted to use the ice packs in their lunch boxes the next day.

Then there was that night last week.   Again- too hot for me.  David woke up around 2:30 AM.   Oh, you know~  it must have been a great dream.  He  whispers my name.   There I am in a 126 degree fog.   Half sleeping,  half dreaming of  the Antarctic.   But I'm a light sleeper and I  heard his voice.  heard it and then in record time, I processed it:  middle of the night, David calling my name, whispering...Oh Heck No!   Immediately, my flight or fight mechanism kicked in.

Yep.  Even in sleep mode,  my mind did the math:  David =  MORE HEAT.   More heat? Yikes.   And the  More Heat was moving closer.   Time to act. This was self preservation in its purest form.  The goal ~ put lots of distance between myself and the heat source.   In other words, MOVE.

Okay, no time to be wishy washy, time to move, time to  ROLL OVER  and fast.  

THUD!   I did it.  I was safe.  Safe and ...sore?  Sore and ...on all fours.   Face flush against the hardwood floor with the clock radio beeping in my left ear.  As I lifted myself up,  David leaned over the side of the bed:

 "Okay - I am taking that as a 'No'."

Too funny how not one of these things seemed to register with me.  But it is happening.  I turned 50 and while all the magazines want me to believe 50 is really the new 30, the truth is 50 is mid-life.  Mid-Life and so far for me that means nature has turned up the heat.  

As I  explained to Izzy that I'd be fine and all this would pass.  I was really focused on just two things:  how quickly can David install air conditioning and when we can  order that  dishwasher?

Hey,  Happy 50th to me~

Who Me? Balanced?

It never fails - I go into the summer months with all kinds of great display ideas, plans for classes, etc.  And then I *blink*.   Okay well maybe its not just the blinking - but the relaxing, the catching up with friends and the heat...whatever the reason, I am behind again.

I can tell you without a doubt we will not re-open that first week of August.   Forget the moving stuff around and re-stocking.  I haven't even picked up or cleaned at the shop in forever.   And - truth be told - I am not willing to give up my Saturdays.  Not just yet.   Izzy and I hung out on Saturday, did nails, went to the movies, got caught in the rain.  I watched her swim with friends most of yesterday and realized she was just 3 years old when I began the shop.   She is  now 10.   This finding balance thing is really quite nice.   The stuff many people probably take for granted are huge deals for me - leisurely grocery shopping at normal hours, eating dinner with my family,  having a 2nd cup of coffee on Saturday morning,  walking the dogs, washing my car, hanging the laundry outside to dry - because I have the time.  Wow, a girl could  get  r-e-a--l-l-y  used to this.  

 But - no worries - we'll be back sometime in August.  We will ease into it, but we will get there.    And I am still planning classes and plotting the new look and layout to the store. 

Speaking of classes - I have some new ones I just posted:

*Pick a Beret.  A new hat class where you can choose your project from a variety of sweet, slouchy beret patterns. 

*The Small Shawl Club.  This is so fantastic.  We are going to meet once a month to knit and talk about small shawls.  Easy,  intermediate, simple or more challenging.  Knit one each month or move at your own pace.  Great way to use up some of that special yarn you have tucked away at home.  Yes for this class - you may use your stash.

*Half Gloves.   Another new offering from Jeanne.  Wonderful way to learn shaping.  Keep your hands warm and fingers free.

Phew!  Lots of new stuff.  And more to come...a few more of my classes and Jeannine's Sweater 101.

Oh, and the Gwennie update:  ultra sound tomorrow.  Fingers crossed.  This is probably another reason the month of July eluded me.   Gate #2 ahead...

Where Are Those Fall Classes?

Just a quick update:  We promised Fall classes would be listed the beginning of July.    We usually have stuff posted by 4th of July weekend.  So - I know...I am behind.

The good news is you haven't missed them.   Having been in "wind down" mode, I just haven't gotten to them yet.   But I will.   We will start to post classes within the week and I'll even get out a newsletter. 

Now the not so great update:   We have had our hands full over the last week with one of our puppies.  Okay - Gwen is 8 years old - not a puppy.    But Shih Tzus live a really long time so she is a puppy to us.   At any rate, she is very ill.   My Gwen.  This  has been a really hard thing.   By the time I was posting my last update we were already getting bad news. 

I miss seeing everyone in the shop and sharing so I will do it here.  And since I know so many of  our customers, friends and blog readers are dog lovers - I know you will understand.  All prayers are welcome.   Actually...needed.

Gwen has developed a blood disease.  The disease is treatable but came out of nowhere.  She is at the Vet's overnight.  Trying to get her well enough to do an ultra sound.  The ultrasound is to locate the tumor she has developed that is either causing the blood disease or is completely unrelated.  (feel like you need a road map?  I know  - its been quite a week.)   Depending on the location, we operate or we do not. 

 If you want to know exactly what to pray for, we are hoping by Saturday her red blood count is back up and then we hope the tumor is on her spleen.  If  it is on her spleen, there's a 50-50 chance it is cancer.  If it is not on her spleen, it is almost 100% certain it is cancer.  (I was thinking today that  we are supposed to pray for strength, guidance and all that but I don't typically ask for much so I am being VERY specific with my prayers. )

We are praying for good news on her blood count Saturday and  an operable tumor on her spleen. We will then roll the 50-50 dice and hope for the best.   It sounds bad and it  is.  I haven't cried this much in a long, long time.  (And believe me I have had plenty of reasons to cry over the past few years)  The upside is that it was all sounding much worse earlier in the week.  We are just not willing to give up on Gwen yet.  There may be a point where we have to but I am not there yet.

So keep Gwennie in your prayers...We are looking for a puppy miracle here.

A Double Digit Summer

 When we announced we were taking time off this summer and closing the shop for the month of July,  many people asked if we were vacationing or going somewhere  exciting.   It's a bit embarrassing to say that simply having my Saturdays at home is a vacation.   I just love it.   I thought it would be - well - harder.  Usually by mid-August I wonder why I never actually mailed that Peace Corps application  and devoted my life to something, anything else.   But this summer,  I honestly see a difference.

The  4th of July  means I've  already had several opportunities to sit in a nice comfy lawn chair and emerge with a popsicle stick or two decorating my behind.  Wet towels, bathing suits, sunblock, skate boards, roller blades,  and scooters all take up residence in the front yard straight through Labor Day.  And the shoes.  What is it with all the shoes and sandals?  Can someone please tell me why during the summer the footwear to feet ratio gets  so seriously out of whack.  Most of the time they are barefoot anyway.  I could never figure that out.

But  this year is different.  Everyone in our house is 10 years of age or older.  Double Digits.  Two are working full time. Yep.  Max is actually working over 40 hours a week.   It is...well..you do the math.  He is 17 years old.  He works more than a 40 hour work week in the sun and heat landscaping.  He eats another 30 hours a week.  Add in shower time, Xbox time, factor in absolute exhaustion from being outside all day, toss in a few hours sleep and what do you get?  20 HOURS.  20 hours.  That is a mere 1200 minutes a week where he has the time & opportunity to introduce himself to yet another uniformed member of our local law enforcement.  Just  1200 minutes a week.

Double Digits also has an effect on hearing & comprehension.  Don't believe me?  Check this out:  the  other day I walked into our laundry room and I smiled.  Yep.  SMILED.   After strategically steering clear of the laundry room for several days, I bravely ventured downstairs.  Izzy followed me and as we turned the corner of the basement family room, I took that very difficult first step.  Then  I heard:

"Oh, Mom, watch out.  Don't tip over the basket.  Those are my delicates. "

I shook my head.  Her delicates?  HER DELICATES.   Was this the right house?  If it was then when did the martians land?   Did they come in peace and what have they done with my family?  Was this not the very same laundry room where just a year ago, in an act of utter self preservation , my husband  wrote "David"  on his basket.  Labeling his whites in a last ditch effort to ensure their safety.  Sure I begged told  them to do their laundry, but I didn't expect them to hear me.   I've grown accustomed to failure.   Let's face it I have absolutley nothing to wear to an awards assembly and so far that  has not been a problem.  So  her delicates?  C'mon!

The kids growing up and pitching in means  weekends at home are even better than expected.  I get to spend time watching the little darlings in the pool:

And, yes, that is our 20 year old playing pirates in the pool with the 10 year old.  :)

Of course, I have lots to do during our time off.  Displays and more displays.  I was going to take a break.  The hot weather  normally makes me steer clear of any and all  knitting needles for fear there might be a strand of wool yarn hanging off the end.   Basically, I *detest* the heat.   But I started knitting this last week:

 

This is the back of the sweetest baby sweater. We purchased a bunch of patterns by a french designer.  The lace edge detail is lovely.  And while I wanted to make one of these for the shop, I am happy to say that this sweater is taken.  It is for my niece's new baby, Maya.  She arrived much earlier than expected so I have to get moving.  Heat or not heat. 

It is really a thrill to knit for a baby.  I love doing baby sweaters for the shop, but what a special thing it is to knit for a baby you know.

So, anyway, back to my double  digit summer.  Just as I was thinking these kids are really coming along.  I get a dose of reality - Hauck children style. 

Liv's car died last month.  She had been saving for an apartment but a new car became a must have.  I felt badly in a way - she had saved and worked hard thinking she would be moving out on her own.  Then the life thing happens and she is buying a car versus dishes for her new apartment. 

Anyway, the other day she was talking all about her new plan:

Liv:  "I love my job.  I love my new car.  And I even have a plan B for the apartment."

Me:  "Oh, really, what is that?"

"Liv: "Well, take a look.  I figured out to have my new car and my own place...Its going to be great."

I followed her to the back door and looked out.  Here is Liv's Plan B:

I just can't wait to see what the rest of the summer brings... 

The Deal Breaker~

This past Sunday, we planted flowers  along our back patio.   It is a little thing, I know.  However, I have not enjoyed this much "home time" in years.    I love it.

Of course, I have to justify all this time away from the shop.  So, I made a deal...with myself.   The I am a relaxed and fun person to be around me  promised  the I own a yarn shop and  need to get ready for Fall me  that we'd get to work on all new displays.    I have even made some progress this week:

 
This is a very simple block patterned baby blanket. 

 I chose Trendsetter's Merino 8.  It is machine washable.  It is 100% merino and it feels lovely.   Don't be fooled by the markers.  The pattern repeat is easy and you really do not need them.    They are a tactical measure on my part.   Inserting notions of this type ensures my summer knitting project is now margarita proof.  

Just picture it ~  Me, my knitting,  and all those summer parties.  I can catch up with friends, trade in my stir stick  for a straw  sip a cool beverage and  never miss a pattern repeat.

My time in the sun has also given me the gift of perspective.  Our beaded scarf class this Spring was so popular.  However, we underestimated the effect of  adding one more variable into the learning equation.  Beads.  Yeah.  Well, I learned not all beads are created equal.  I learned inserting pretty, shiny things slows  e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g down.   And I learned that stepping into a bead store can bring about almost as much trouble as walking into a yarn store.  

Even though I said "no more beads" , a strange thing happened when I visited the bead store last month.  As I stood there scooping up beads for the very last beaded scarf class, I found myself buying extras.  Just in case. 

Then Sunday, I pulled out a skein of Panda Silk and did this:

 
Here is a close up:

Okay - so it is a beaded scarf, but in my defense this pattern is easy.  Predictable actually.   And for whatever reason, that made things seem easier.  Faster.  Or maybe I just went into this project having made peace with my 1.4m crochet hook.   Whatever - a deal is a deal and I am going to have lots of cool things ready for Fall. 

And with "deals" on my mind, I walked into the family room tonight.  Being home more, I actually watch TV, listen to the news.  This evening, I heard the news about Al and Tipper Gore splitting up.  It made me sad.    After being together all those years.   I made the mistake of letting out a sad sigh in front of Liv.

Liv: "What is wrong?"

Me: "Oh, I just am sad about the Gores.  You just wonder why..."

Liv: "I don't know...well, maybe she doesn't believe.

Me: "Believe in marriage?"

Liv: "Heck no.  In global  warming."

Me:  "What?"

Liv:  "Well, Mom, not everyone does.    I mean saving the Polar Bears is big stuff, but  not everyone agrees."

Me:" Liv..."

Liv: "Hey I'm just saying if  Tipper doesn't buy  into the whole global warm up thing.   Well, I gotta believe that would be a deal breaker."

It Takes A Woman~

Ahh... Mother's Day Weekend. 

 My party started last night when the kids began handing out the presents.  They had a *sweet*  little beverage theme going.  Cool hand painted wine glass and glass coasters with pictures of each child from when they were toddlers.  (Loved that!)

This morning it was a basket of relaxation goodies:  candles, journal, chocolates, squooshy polka dot blanket (in honor of my love of all things polka dot)  &  more.  It was so wonderful.  I love gifts that say, "I see you."   And these days, if you  see me, r-e-a-l-l-y  see me you know candles  and a quiet moment would do wonders.  :)

But today I realized its not all about me.  I am reminded of how challenging it is to be a Mom.   And to that extent, Mother's Day is in large part a nod to all women.   How we connect, how we interact, how we support and inspire each other.   You don't have to be a Mom to own a piece of this very special day.  After all if it takes a village to a raise a child then it takes a woman...women  actually to  sustain a mom.

And in my fabulous, hectic, silly, sad, amazing, frustrating, awesome, challenging world I have many women who help sustain me.  Women who hold me up, keep me going, teach me, encourage me, inspire me and reach out with a hug when I need one.   So,  today, I bow to them:  

Grace ~ My personal cheerleader.   My life compass who has guided me through dark days and light.  Always reminding me of who I am and what I am capable of.    The wisest person & at the same time most unconventional thinker I know.  I am blessed to have traveled this life with you as my friend.

Michelle ~ Quite possibly the best Mom I know.   She is smart, grounded in reality and decisive.  Caring and supportive with a rock solid definition of family.  I listen, I watch and I always learn from her.  Always.

Joan & Nancy ~ My comfort zones.    The shop has been the lucky recipient of their time and talents.  For me personally they listen, they ask questions, and they boost me up.   They are also honest and  willing to say it  like it is.   They never hesitate to offer  their experience and their wisdom.  All the while assuring  me everything will be just fine. 

Irene~ Balanced and patient.  She has taken care of our books at the shop and put up with my piles of papers, my "Oh yeah, I guess I entered that wrong..." for years.  Everyone needs someone behind the scenes keeping them on track and looking good.   Thank  goodness I have Irene.

Jeannine & Jeanne ~ One of my goals for the shop from day #1 was to teach people.   To instruct and to create an atmosphere where learning was key.   With Jeanne & Jeannine, I lucked out and found not one but two people who shared this philosophy.  Their skill, their ability to teach and the integrity they bring to the process makes all the difference.

Ruth~ Ruth is my role model when it comes to adversity and strength.  Her humor is  what grabbed me at first.  Probably because I so love to laugh.  However, it was her insight and her outlook that held my attention.   And later it was her ability to use her own life experience to help guide me that has been her greatest gift.

Ida~ My 80-something friend.   I rarely see Ida now that we relocated the shop.   Ida taught me that while everyone looks all nicely put together, no one gets through life without their share of difficulties.   Ida is all about the reality of living.  You are given a life...its good or maybe not so good.  You live it.  Maybe you make some mistakes.  Maybe other people make mistakes.  Its still just your life.  And how are you feeling today?  Well, you say Great.  You say Wonderful  because you have a choice.  And Ida taught me to choose wisely.

Barbara ~ My traveling friend from Maryland.  We met when Barbara was in Rochester tending to her Mom who was hospice.   She instantly brought this sense of calm and understanding to my world.  Her unwavering  faith in life, God and our ability to simply journey on with an open heart has been an inspiration to me.

Theresa H. ~    Again - don't see Theresa as much now that we relocated to Brighton, but I hear she's "Preggers".   And we are so thrilled for her.  Theresa is this whirlwind of light and energy.  The best thing about running into Theresa is her smile.  You instantly feel better when you see it.   And again, she has taught me about  challenges  and moving forward.  All the while smiling that smile...

The Gang - Cheri, Lynn, Amy, Laurie, Dorothy, Connie B. Ellie, Linda Bella Bead, Margi, Kathy Woj, Susie B. , Becky, Linda, Brenda, Jodie, Karen, Donna, Cathy, Debbie, Michelle E. and all the people who have supported the shop, my family and our move to Brighton.    In this world, you gotta have friends.  Each of you have taught me that while the world may give & take at different times, we always have the opportunity to build  & renew friendships.  You  just have to be present to the possibility.

Marsha~ My unexpected friendship.    The woman who may have left this planet but not my heart.  Her gifts of courage and creativity.  Of  strength and hope are with me each and every day.  And whenever I see a yarn I love, recognizing this combination of color and texture is making my heart race, I remember Marsha.   The lady who taught me that bad things are all around us.  Yes they are.  But those things  vanish the moment you hold a lovely skein of peachy orange yarn. 

Happy Mother's Day to you and all the  special women in your life.  Cheers!

The Under the Pillow Trick~

I closed the shop early last evening when the roads looked slick and a bit  intimidating.    I arrived home and  David  had a cozy fire going.  It was nice to be home earlier in the evening.   Plenty of time to do dishes and squeeze in a load or two of laundry.  :)

As I was finishing  up at the kitchen sink, Izzy ran by with a spoon and an armful of cotton balls.   Now, as a parent, you like to give your kids room to grow and be creative.   We love to see them use their imaginations like attaching string to empty coffee cans to try talking  from room to room.  And  the silk place mats that became puppy loin cloths for the first ever shih tzu sumo wrestling match?  Oh well they weren't my favorite anyway.   Yeah, creativity is great.  Just don't let your  guard down.  I have learned over the years that there is creative and then there are curious combinations of things that deserve questioning.

As I watched the cotton ball ~ spoon liaison, I was reminded of past curious combinations that  ended badly.  I have compiled a list to help educate those who may not be as well versed in this area of parenting.  Combinations on this list should make the hair on the back of your neck stand at attention:

1.  Food  paired with non-edible objects.  Example:  Peanut Butter + Comb = someone, somewhere in your house has  bubble gum stuck in their hair.  

2.   Household storage items spending time in non-household places.   Say you find your favorite tupperware container in the garage.  Kitchen items in the basement or the garage are an immediate red flag.  Holes in the lid?  A trail of grass cuttings?   A missing  piece of tupperware has just become the least of your problems.  Lift the lid and pray its only a caterpillar staring back at you.    

3.   Frozen food and sharp, pointy implements missing in action.   When you can not find that jumbo  bag of frozen broccoli and at the same time you are missing the  really sharp sewing needle,   get to the store and stock up on hydrogen peroxide.   Those piercings -  the one where you said absolutely not - well, there are some really cool close-ups of them  already posted on Facebook.   

These things I know to be true.  So, when I see unusual pairings such as  a large, shiny spoon and a  bunch of triple size cotton balls, I investigate.  

I followed  Isabelle as she climbed the stairs two at time up to her room.

First,  she pulled off her bed covers and tossed the pillow to the floor.  She placed the spoon at the head of the bed, covered it in cotton balls and gently placed her pillow on top.   Then she reached for her PJs.  She turned them inside out and put them on.

Me: "Izzy, what are you doing?"

Izzy: "Just getting ready for bed."

Me: "Well, why did you bring a spoon and cotton balls up to your room?"

Izzy: "Oh, that.   My teacher told us if we want a snow day tomorrow, we should put a spoon with cotton balls under our pillow.  Then  we wear our pajamas to bed inside out."

Me: "Why?"

Izzy: "The spoon is supposed to be a shovel and the cotton balls are the snow."

Me:" Why do you wear your PJ's inside out?"

Izzy: "I have NOOOO idea!"  But I WANT a snow day so inside out it is!"

And like most curious combinations, this one worked out better for the kids than it did me:

It's a Snow Day.
 

  

Erma Who?

As many people know, the local D&C newspaper did an article on the shop, our move to Monroe avenue, etc.   It was a nice article and it even mentioned my blog, "People of a certain age might recognize a modern-day Erma Bombeck in the store owner's blogs about the foibles of her family."

Well, I was pretty pleased.  Being compared to Erma, the great one.  And then I had to go and mention the Erma thing  to the kids.   Liv immediately spewed Sunny D out her left nostril when Genevieve yelled out,"Hey ERRRRR-ma Baum Baum."  Izzy just kept saying, "Erma Who?"  and then Max went on to question why anyone would even want to be called "Erma."

But I started to think.  Hey, what if my blog did become a book.  What would it look like...Better yet - What would I call it?

Over the weekend, we were treated to a lovely evening at our friend's house.  We hadn't seen Jim & Joyce in a while so we had to catch them up on all the kid stuff.  I mentioned the blog and a book...and my dilemma as to what Iwould call the darn thing.  Joyce instantly came up with,"My Kids are NOT my Fault."  Good, right?  Well, that's the librarian in her.

So, now I am curious.  If we were to make the blog into a book, what should we call it?  If you have a title, comment here or send me an email: knit@spiritworkknit.com.  I will post all the tiltle ideas and we can vote.  

Erma, who?  I'll show 'em.

With A Little Help From My Friends...

Last night was our very first yarn tasting event in our new location.  How did it go? 

It was lovely.  Fun.  Full of energy...and cupcakes!  

This was a rough week.   I came down with one of those nasty colds.  I like  to call it the Zen Flu.  And I used to almost welcome it.   You feel so lousy all you can think about is now.  Tomorrow has absolutely no relevance.  Suddenly exchanging Izzy's brand new sweat pants that have a rip in the seam has fallen off the Mom radar.   The re-scheduled orthodontist appointment, Genevieve's campaign to pierce her nose on her 15th birthday and that darn insurance bill I thought I paid all start to fade into the background.  With the Zen Flu, it is all about the moment.   You wake up in the morning and decide it is physically possible to  sleep until  Spring.  It  would feel wonderful and the kids have all proven their ability to find the frig on their own.   No worries. 

So, last night was a wonderful way to end my week.   A great evening  spent with our friends.   I  arrived home happy, tired and sneezing.  Liv greeted me at the door.

"How was the yarn tasting?"

"Oh, great, honey.  Really fun."

"Good.  Hey, mom, check it out."

"Check what out."

Liv lifts up her foot.  "Mara and I went for tattoos tonight."

"A Tattoo?  With what money?"

"Oh, she broke up with her boyfriend and sold all his stuff."

"What?"

"Yeah and I got this...It is s-i-c-k."

There I stood exhausted, head pounding and fighting back a coughing fit.

"Is that?"

"Yeah.   Its a black widow spider."

"On your foot."

"Yup.  And if you get up close, it  looks like its walking."

"A black widow.  It is pretty big, isn't it?"

"Well, it's  my empowerment statement.  Do you know about the black widow spider?"

At that point, my pillow was calling  me.  I headed for my room thinking about how that black widow spider is going to look when she is 40 years old.  Then I thought of her wedding, what shoes, what dress...how do we hide the fact that at age 19 she temporarily lost her mind?   A black widow.  A venomous spider.  That looks like its walking down her foot...

Ahhh..thank goodness for the Zen Flu.  As soon as I hit the pillow.  It became all about me.  Me. Sleep.  Spring.