We're Baaack!

This past week has been a totally unique experience for me, and there is lots to tell you, but I am catching up on everything.

The shop will be open tomorrow, Sept 8, but be prepared for a bit of chaos. Rich, the amazing floor cleaner guy, came and polished my floor. In order to do that we cleared anything that moved into the back room. The shop looks tidy, but all the interesting stuff is put away. Mary is back in the morning to help.

See you soon.

Where did she go!?

We are literally in the middle of no where Saskatchewan. My son is working on a Combine Harvest Crew. He is cutting wheat just west of Estevan Saskatchewan.

Last night my husband and I found him in the biggest wheat field I have ever seen. The crew is cutting today in a field that is 600 acres, then moving to another 500 acres later. My husband took off like a flash at the opportunity to ride with his boy. I sat in the car and knit. Wendy came with supper for the boys, she has been feeding my boy since June. George, one of the combine drivers, invited me to ride with him for a bit. The ride went on and we got farther away from the car, the sun set and now its dark and we are even farther from the car. Finally the two way radio said, 'Could you drop my mom off with the cart driver, Dad thinks they should get going.' Chris the cart driver turns up and they move the grain from the combine onto the cart and I hop into the tractor cab for the drive back to the car. As I get in I realize that he has just finished a cigarette and I am 'allergic' to the smoke. I make a quick excuse to get out and then think 'well its a beautiful night in the middle of no where' and I start heading towards the car, about 1/2 kilometer. Of course at this point everyone else panics. "Where did she go?...we lost your Mom!!' Orders were sent to send the service truck out to look for me. They find me, but really I was quite enjoying this trek in the middle of this big space.

So here I am in the middle of no where...having a blast.

See you soon

Decisions, Decisions

We are getting ready to go, cleaned up the house so that Dog Sitter won't be completely grossed out by the 'state' of this busy household. (Plus it would be nice to come back to a clean home.) I haven't even begun to pack but my main concern right now is 'What am I going to knit?!" I will need something for the plane ride, its only a 2 hour flight, but that's great knitting time and I will need the distraction of something challenging. There will be knitting in the car for the 3 to 6 hours we will be driving on the Prairies, if you have been out there, one field of wheat looks like every other one. Then there is extra knitting in case I finish something...what to take?

I have narrowed it down to one pair of socks, Regia Stretch

another Ruffles and ridges shawl, this time out of Mirasol Project Chirapa...

I could bring the top down baby sweater I am doing as a sample for a possible class, or the work socks I have been making out of Briggs and Little Dura Sport. Then there is the Manos Silk and Merino wool that keeps calling me....or maybe I should do something with my personal stash...what to do?

So many decisions, so little time.

Remember the Shop is closed This week, September 1st - 5th, only 5 days...

Three days and counting!

After over a year of working full time, here and at my previous job I am taking time off. My husband and I off on a real a holiday without children.

Our Son (the Boy) is heading towards Saskatchewan on his big adventure and we have booked a few days to see him. (We will have to find him first!) The endless list of things to do before we go is slowly getting checked off. We found people to stay with the dog, watch the shop (but it will be closed!) , mind the cows.

If you are in the top half of my mailing list, you already know about my 'Customer Appreciation' Event. Today (Thursday) and tomorrow the shop will be open until 8 pm. This will give you time to see me before I close for the next week. Plus you will receive at least 10% off any purchases with some things being up to 50% off.

Thursday and Friday the shop is open 10 am to 8 pm
Saturday regular 10 - 5 hours.

Remember the Shop is closed from September 1st - September 7th. Regular hours resume September 8th. (Tuesday - Saturday 10 - 5 )

22 on the 23rd

Today 'the Girl' turns 22. Its hard to believe where the time has gone. She was 'home' for a few hours to visit for her Birthday. Home is in the middle of a soybean field right now and so there is not much to do. After a quick 'Birthday Supper' she left to go visit friends and now is heading back to Work/school and we won't see her again until October.

"The Girl' walked at 11 months, ran at 12 and climbed at 13. An independent child who's first complete phrase was 'I do it myself!'. I would often say when we were out that 'she picked out her own clothes this morning!' She was and still is 'all girl'; loves jewellery, shoes, bags and shopping. (thus the name Magpie for some of her creations!)

During the summer she worked 2 jobs to help put herself through school (with help from us). Still trying at 22 to figure out her 'purpose' she continues to do remarkable things.

Its amazing how I can remember that day so clearly, like it was yesterday. Right about now I held this first baby of mine, terrified about the future with this new life. Some days have been more challenging than others but I have to admit she has added much joy to our lives.

She has only one fault: she refuses to learn how to knit! Imagine!

Happy Birthday Kid!

When Yarn has a purpose!

A few weeks ago my talented and patient husband created some 'peg' racks for hanging hanks of yarn. Ever since then they have been waiting for a special shipment.


In the meantime they held anything that I wasn't quite sure where it belonged.


Today a box came filled with this lovely yarn with purpose. Manos del Uruquay are now full members of the WFTO, the World Fair Trade Organization. I received a small shipment of some of the beautiful yarns and some patterns. I have always been a supporter of the small independent businesses that do good for their local communities. This is a great way to support a group of rural women who are using their local resources to create a beautiful product and a reliable source of income for their families.

Come a see the lovely colourways...now to figure out where to put all that 'random' stuff.

Sock Summit

I opened my email this morning and Clara Parkes has a great review of the 'Sock Summit'. If you follow all the links it will take a while to read, but worth the time. But be warned I don't (yet) have any of the sock yarns noted..maybe someday.

According to someone there are 50 million knitters in North America, 2 times the number of Golfers.

Knitting! It's a good thing!