Look What Nancy Made....

My friend Nancy made this shawl for me for Christmas! It is so lovely. It is a round shawl. It will work well in my new house as it is a little chilly in the evenings.

I am working on decorating the house for the Holidays. It is so much fun decorating a new house. This is a peek at my Victorian Christmas theme.

I have decided to start a little service company called "Christmas Elf". It's a Personal Assistant business. I will address Christmas Cards, make a portfolio of your addresses in a booklet, wrap presents, run errands, shop, make dinner reservations, etc. I put it on Craig's list. We'll see what response I get. If you know of anyone who needs two extra hands this Holiday Season just email me and we'll get started.

Keep knitting - only about 25 days left.

Happy Thanksgiving 2007

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

I have so much to be thankful for this year. A new chapter, new grandchild; now five all together. Healthy, happy children, all doing well this year.

Thankful I have some time to myself to get ready for the Holidays this year. Great friends who love to Knit and Read, eat and drink.

Have a lovely day today.

Antiquing

Wow! I'm in Antique Heaven around here. I love having all these cute shops at my doorstep. Mustard Moon, A Quilt Shop, Antique Shop all in downtown Carver. Then we have Chaska. Linda's Cellar, A Consignment shop and gift shop/ice cream parlor. I'm looking for lace for my Victorian Christmas idea and I found some at the Antique Shop in Carver.

Had a great time at Bungee Group today. About six of us arrived about 2:00 PM. One of my previous employees, Joanne came into have coffee so we were able to catch up a little. Laura came with her daughter, Audrey, who has missed visiting me at the shop on Fridays. She's adorbable and very well behaved. Nancy, Jeanne, Julie, Josie and Ann were all there. It was so relaxing to visit and try to knit ( I have trouble concentrating in a group setting).

It snowed a few big flakes but mostly rained today. Next Bungee is Dec. 8th, Sat and Sat the 15th for anyone who would like to sit and knit, please join us.

Went shopping with Ellie to find some pretty ribbon to sew on her jeans. Josh and Ellie found the PEZ dispensers as soon as we walked through the door. They were carrying them while we shopped and Surprise, Surprise, Josh's broke open. I carried it for awhile but he wanted to carry the candy package, which he carried behind his back and suddenly that was open too. He thought he was very clever but knew he was wrong for opening it. The impatience of a 3 year old. Ellie, being two, still was able to contain herself and not open the package. Another exciting shopping adventure with the grandchildren.

Hopefully this Tuesday evening we will gather a group in Chaska at the Dunn Bros. Laura and I and are hoping for a few others will join us. We will meet at 5:30 pm and get some knittin' done.

Working Feaverishly

I'm working feaverishly on the house these days. I have a Victorian Christmas Tree envisioned so it has inspired me to keep moving.

The office is coming along. Tomorrow I get internet and phone hooked up in there. I'm going to really enjoy this room when it is completed.

The new microwave is installed. Notice the unpainted portion on the left side. I do not have paint to match so I think I will make a message board to fit that space. Nicole suggested this and I think it could work, along with a place for keys.

I'm really missing my customers this week. We're meeting at Betsy's Back Porch this afternoon for some knitting. I have to decide which project to bring along. I'll probably bring Ellis's navy blue sweater, I'm half way done with the back. Deadline is Thanksgiving. I have to pay attention to the pattern and I'm not so good at that when I'm visiting with friends.

Callie(the dog) is looking in the window at me as I type this. She sits on the front porch and every two minutes puts her feet on the ledge so I can be sure to see her out there in the cold. I have this Comcast guy working in here right now and she doesn't like men so I put her outside. Unfortunately she can see in each of my windows at this house so she knows exactly where I am at all times. A little spooky! A large 10 pt. Buck walked through the yard this week. Callie was not in the yard but I wonder what she would do? There are bound to be more coming this way.

Must run - meeting Nicole at Joanne Fabrics to get some ribbon. Nicole is working on something very cute and I'll keep it a secret until it's done. But you'll all want one!!!

Keep knitting - You still have time to get those projects done before Christmas.

The old Vent

The old vent hood was taken out as well as the cupboard. The cupboard was rebuilt but a little shorter to accomodate the new microwave which I ordered from Sears today. A Maytag in almond.

The office is painted and the floors are washed, still cleaning up and moving things in from the garage. It's been a tough week of trying to get all the stuff from the shop into the garage and then into this house. Nancy helped a great deal as well as Catherine. We made at least 5 loads to Carver this month.

Two metal cabinets from the shop did not fit in the basement but the four bookshelves did. I used the metal cabinets in the garage instead. There has been alot of hauling. I'm getting very tired of this moving stuff.

Logan's baptism was Sunday at Pax Christi in Eden Prairie. It was lovely and the luncheon was great.

Logan's Baptisimal blanket was done Saturday night. I'll get a photo of him in it. He looked like an angel in his gown. I'm up to the arm holes with Ellie's Navy blue sweater. It's going to be a tight squeeze to get it done by next week.

I have alot of books and patterns for sale from the closing of the shop - I'm photographing them and will sell them 40% off on Ebay.

I love this house. I have so many windows and the sun just pours in here in the morning. Every direction I look is a beautiful view. I have no neighbors close to my house so I don't look in anyone's windows or the side of their house. I'm just hoping to get settled before Christmas.!

Just a few weeks away. Thoughts of making things for the people I love is getting less likely as each day passes. I have felted about 10 sweaters and now need to decide what to do with them.

I have found a cute B & B out here and I think we can use their space for a knitting or spinning event. Days are flying so I'm not sure if we can get it together before the Dec. 25th Event? CHRISTMAS!!!!

CLOSED

We had Bungee Group today at Betsy's and a few people said they thought there would be a blog about closing the shop, which I had intended to do but was too tired last week. Closing was bitter sweet. I will miss the customers the most, I hope most of you will come to Betsy's Back Porch two Saturdays a month - Next one November 18- Sunday. I will post these on my website which I will continue to have active for a while.

I'm glad Needlework Unlimited in going in there with their NU Outlet. She will do well in that spot and for the knitters it will continue to be a destination. She will continue to carry Procion and Cushing dyes, as well.

With the help of a few people I finally closed the shop and cleaned it out on the 31st. It was alot of work and I managed to fill the garage with stuff. I have some yarn and alot of books left that I will try to sell on Ebay. Now I just want to get set up in my basement.

I am looking forward to finding a new job close to home and spending more time with the Grandchildren on the weekends. Maybe I'll even get some knitting done.

Thank you to all my great friends and customers that supported me through the closing and the past 7 years. I really appreciated your support. Retail is a tough business and I just couldn't see continuing once I had moved to Carver. Keep in touch.