Well, you can tell summer is here....

As anyone who has been in Ocean City in early June knows we are beseiged by June Bugs (high school seniors who don't have the sense God gave a billy goat), so by this time, the end of June, we are exhausted from having to put up with their nonsense...even those of us who won't rent to them have to put up with their crap...but this week most of them have gone back under the rock they crawled out from and we are now dealing with normal people...well, perhaps normal isn't the correct word either. I'm seeing many of my regulars who are on vacation and so I'm thrilled to see stitchers here. Vernon, on the other hand, saw something this week that set him back a bit. He was going up to the house to lay down for his every night siesta so he can work the late shift. He goes up after dinner so it's still light out, around 6:30 - 7:00 p.m. He comes around the building and standing stark naked, yes... nude.... people, taking a shower at the outdoor shower we have for tenants to wash off the sand from the beach was a Mexican adult male as if nothing was unusual. Vernon said, "Hey, put your clothes on and get the hell off the property." That would indicate to the normal person that perhaps they were doing something wrong. But this guy, of course could barely speak or understand English and couldn't figure out what the problem was. Vernon tried explaining that we have families on this property and no one wants to see his "junk" and in this country we don't strip down outside in front of God and the world to take showers, especially when you aren't suppose to be on the property in the first place. He had driven in to town with his family for the day and apparently wanted to take a shower before going home. Honestly people....does this only happen in Ocean City or are the Mexicans taking showers in your yard too? And this wasn't even a holiday weekend when we usually have to watch out for this kind of thing. I'm certainly getting too old to put up with this kind of nonsense. Well, I'm a bit tired this week so I don't know if I can take much more anyway. Mary's step daughter, Ana-age 6, is down for a couple of weeks and she and Solomon (who is usually in daycare) have been at the hotel everyday. Now for those grandmothers who don't get to see their grandchildren everyday I know this sounds like heaven, however...I do get to see my grandchildren everyday and so I have a slightly different take on having them in the office with me. They love to "help" me! I get to work and the first thing I encounter are Solomon and Ana and the first words out of their mouth each morning is "Can I help you work today." Mary and Brian have tried saying I'm not feeling well and they should leave me alone, but when they ask if I feel sick what am I going to do, lie? Well no I'm not. I've tried giving them little jobs and while Solomon does my check stamping quite well, apparently Ana wasn't paying attention and I got the hell out of Dodge only to return to find that she had stamped them wrong. (I just dropped the deposit off at the bank with a smile and told them I'd pick it up later.) I'm sure they think it's time for the girls to relieve me of duty as they probably think I stamped the darn checks myself. Anyway, yesterday I gave up and said, "Let's do something today. Nana's going to do something with you away from the hotel." I was thinking the amusement park but Mary informed me the parks don't open until late in the afternoon. So Coco's Palace was mentioned. I had no idea what that was but I figured it beat having them hanging on me in the office so we got them in the car and I headed to Salisbury with Ana talking a steady stream the entire way. Good news was...with the air conditioning running and the radio on I couldn't hear half of what she said. So 40 minutes later I pulled into Coco's Palace which is a kid's paradise of bouncy houses. So I paid and off they went and I sat at the table and read someone's travel magazine. Unfortunately all they had to eat was trash at Coco's, but at that point I didn't give a damn...I was sitting in air conditioning and all I had to do was smile periodically in their direction, get them crap to eat and hand them dollars for the air hockey table. 3 1/2 hours later they had eaten enough crap to kill a normal kid and I had loaded them with sugar and I had to get back for work so we loaded up and were heading home. Aside from answering the same question a 100 times, "Did the ice cream man come yet," while we were there (They wanted Sponge Bob ice cream pops and the Palace was out of them but told them the ice cream man was due there anytime....someone should have told the ice cream man that). But trust me we had enough junk we really didn't need anything else and they took something else in the end anyway so it wasn't like they didn't get any ice cream. So I delivered them to Mary and Brian full of junk food and sugar. Yes, I did my job and I did it well. So today I arrive and we're eating lunch and Solomon turns to Mary and says, "Mommy, I think Nana's taking us to the rides today." Mary looks at me and says,"Oh, Mom I'm so sorry..you don't have to do that..I'll take them." "No I said, I'll take them...what time does the park open?" Thank God it didn't open until 3:00 so I said, "Well, that won't give us any time because I have to be at work at 4:00, so I'll take you to Walmart and you can get some new toys." I really do need medical attention people, this was the dumbest idea I ever had. No...wait a minute..telling them we'd stop for ice cream was without a doubt the dumbest. After about 1 1/2 hours in Walmart we emerge with toys in hand and I thought..."well that wasn't so bad...the kids were pretty good...Ana was a little annoying at times but we got through it. So we stop for ice cream on what is the hottest day of the year and Ana gets her double scoop in a cone (against my better judgement) and Solomon announces he doesn't want any. I was going to let them eat the ice cream in the car on the way home, but seeing how it was melting I decided we'd sit there and eat it. Honestly Ana took one little lick at a time...it was unbearable to watch and it was dripping all over hells green acre. My frustration was growing and I finally said, "Ana, you have got to eat that faster because you are now wearing most of it as it's melted all over you." She informed me she can't eat it fast because she gets brain freeze, and then began eating slower if that is even possible. By now I was having a melt down and Solomon announced he wanted ice cream. So I got his in a cup and he started to pout and announced he wanted a cone. So back to the window I went...at this point the girl behind the counter was looking at me like perhaps she should call for medical attention for me. I got a cone and put the ice cream in the cup in the cone and Solomon decides he doesn't want it. By now my melt down is almost complete and there is Ana with ice cream on her legs, her nose, her shirt, her skirt and all over her hands and mouth, but still taking little tiny licks of the melting mess. Poor Solomon was about to melt so I told him to get in the car and then told Ana she couldn't get in the car until she finished eating and she better hurry up because I was about done. I had had it...and she perhaps sensed my mood and announced she was done. I poured water over any area of her body that I thought might touch my car seats and finally arrived home. I took one look at Mary and told her to remind me of this day the next time I thought it was a good idea to take them shopping at Walmart. But with their new toys they were happy for the rest of the afternoon (what little there was left of it) and I had an hour to sit at my desk and shuffle papers by myself. Yes the plan worked...well perhaps not as I had envisioned but at least I had some alone time. And then it was off to Salty Yarns...ahhh, air conditioned bliss. We got our new Leigh Designs hand painted needlepoint canvases in. While they are indeed beautiful...perhaps it would help next time if I checked out the price. When I realized the larger ones would sell for close to $300 I looked at Renee and said, "What the hell was I thinking." I'm now envisioning where I want to put these at my house as I'm sure I'll be stitching them for me. I really do need a keeper people. I should not be allowed at the Nashville Market on my own...wait a minute...Sara was there. I tried blaming her for the Leigh Designs, but she reminded me that she bought the exact same canvases 2 years in a row from her (she didn't realize we didn't sell them the first year) so in Nashville she said she wasn't even going into Leigh's with me. Ooops...I guess I'm at fault and can't find anyone to blame. I hate it when that happens. Well, the rain has stopped and people are coming in so I'll end here. I hope your day went better than mine. Have a great evening.

The sun has been shining...the temps are cool...it's a good day in the neighborhood

Despite yelling and screaming high school seniors, life is pretty good at this point in Salty Yarns, and Ocean City. I've gone 3 weeks without having a major medical issue....I've lost 15 pounds in the last 2 months....my diabetes is under control and the levels have dropped drastically so much so that I don't have to go back to the doctor's for 3 months now (that's dropped from every 3 days, to once a week, to every 2 weeks) so I'm thrilled. In fact if I can get my ACL # down 2 more points I'll no longer be a type 2 diabetic....yeah for my team! Of course I have to now maintain the course, plus drop more poundage, but I'm on the right track...yeah!!! I'm also fitting in clothes I haven't worn in a while so I've got a whole new wardrobe. Things in town are noisy and the high school seniors are no less annoying, but we're half way through it and we still haven't maimed any of them, although Vernon did spray one who was peeing on the property, but that didn't threaten the kids life....just got him a little wet which seemed O.K., since he was getting our property wet. This morning it is deadly quiet since all the little assholes are now asleep after yelling and screaming the entire night. Lord, help us that these are the future of the United States. We are in serious trouble here, although with what our current representatives are doing I have to wonder if it could be any worse. Honestly, it's an embarrassment to us that we are represented in Washington by these complete jackasses. Well, I can tell you now, they don't represent me or my opinion...does that mean I don't have to pay taxes? That would be sweet, but from the notices on my desk from IRS I don't think that's possible. I don't know why I spend my time filling out and filing forms since they are constantly writing and threatening me if I don't send them duplicates of things I've already sent them. And my taxes pay these people? Well, don't get me started on that. I'm not pleased to report that the people in town obviously didn't read my tips on dressing last year as they are making the same mistakes. So before coming to Ocean City do yourself a favor. Check your clothes...and remember...just because you can fit in it doesn't mean you should wear it. Also ladies, if you are in your 40's, I dare say 30's or above....don't wear your daughter's clothes. Again, just because you can fit in it doesn't mean it's appropriate. There is no one sadder than a 40 year old woman dressing in a teenager's outfit. You look silly...I wouldn't lie to you. Dress appropriately. And really, don't ask too much of spandex. A woman walked by the other day in a spandex skirt and really people...it was stretched so tightly I thought it would explode. And it rode up...because it was so tight....her cheeks were threatening to make an appearance (and I don't mean on her face). I was embarrassed for her and wondered why her friends didn't mention to her that she should donate that skirt to the nearest trashcan. That's another thing...give your friends a test to see if they will tell you when you look silly in an outfit. If they don't think you do or perfer you to look stupid so they look better...get new friends. Women need to be honest with each other. If your skirt is tucked in your underwear...we need to let each other know not let that woman walk outside to be humiliated. Now I have to say, last year a woman came in with bird crap dripping down her back, and I mean major bird crap. It must have been from a condor...I've never seen so much on one person. Anyway, after I noticed it I thought I should tell her, and yet, I couldn't find the right words so that she wouldn't be humiliated. I'm embarrassed that I let her go outside where others would be making fun of her. However, should she come in again this year...well I'm pulling her aside and handing her a paper towel. I'd want someone to do it for me, so now I'm going to do it for others. I won't however, tell you if you are dressing inappropriately. Then you will hear me just making noises and shaking my head while rolling my eyes. If you come in and see me doing this, check your outfit to make sure it isn't you I'm doing it to. While this crowd is definitely not "Salty Yarns" people, we've had a few old friends stop in while in town and they are always good to see again. With our move of yarns we've had a good response to our new and improved yarn department. And the girls in the shop are knitting up a storm. Even Renee who swore Crochet was her thing...hasn't crocheted a thing in over a year...she's a knitting fool. We also have 2 college girls who knit on staff part time and it's always great to see young people taking up the habit. I've been stitching up a storm as birthdays for others are flying by. I'm determined to stitch for others since everyone is always so wonderful to me stitching me gifts, etc. I've really enjoyed it even though June is a pressure month with Candi, Renee and Connie all celebrating this month. Candi had a double celebration as John finally asked her to marry him. Yes, our Candi is now engaged and he gave her a beautiful ring. We're all so excited. So I stitched the new Shepherd's Bush, Hold Hope, (Candi's favorite company) design for the beautiful box it's suppose to be put in and presented that to her along with a Pandora charm for her Trollbead bracelet. I stitched it thinking it would represent her holding hope for an engagement ring, so when I found out she got it before her birthday I decided instead of stitching the words Hold Hope I'd put the date and both their names on it so it would be a memory of their engagement. I loved stitching it (as I always do Shepherd's Bush designs) and the white box that goes with the design was so easy to use...putting the design in it. Usually I struggle with finishing but this was a no brainer even I managed to do. Winning project. Now I'm struggling with Renee's birthday gift. It's a good thing I have a couple of weeks almost to complete it. I'll need every day of it. Now that I'm feeling well, and I'm getting back to a normal routine I'm working on the catalog on the web site and I'll get more pictures to you. I still have to show you what Renee, Pat, Stasi Burhman and Debbie stitched for my birthday...beautiful. But in the meantime, I have to get to the bank before things start bouncing. So I'll just say have a great day....hope it's sunny and bright where you live. I hope you find plenty of time to stitch today.

Oops....I made a boo boo

Call me delusional, or just plain stupid, but in the last blog I thanked Sandy Grignon and Tracy Doverspike for my "Fun Girl" goblet...oops, it should have been Thank You to Tracy Doverspike and Pat Podziomek for the painting and the goblet. I am so sorry Pat, please blame it on my age and my inability to do 2 things at the same time. I was closing out the retreat files and at the same time trying to thank everyone....clearly I'm too old for this. But it doesn't make the gift any less meaningful to me. And my orange juice still tastes great in the glass so I thank you Pat and Tracy once again for a great remembrance of spring retreat. I hope the rest of you are staying cool and dry in this unbearable heat. We were hovering around 90 today and that's just too hot for me. I'm staying cool though by never leaving the air conditioning. I've stayed at the hotel since I got sick so I really am only outside for a few seconds as I run to my room. But tomorrow night I start my night shift in Salty Yarns and I am planning to return home since the boys replaced my air conditioner and I should be cool and dry there. So if you are in town, stop on by...I'll be sitting behind the counter stitching or playing on the computer, or perhaps even ordering more stuff...you know I love to do that.

Good Golly, What's Next?

Well, my intentions have gone to hell in a breadbasket yet once again, but I really do have a great excuse. As many of you know, this winter/spring has been my road to hell with medical issues. Now let me preface this with while I am obese, yes I've always admitted it, I've had a pretty smooth ride up until now. No major problems due to my fat issue. However, time is no longer on my side and this year I've had to start dealing with the crap of it! When I thought I had a sciatic nerve problem and ended up at the emergency room, it turned out the sciatic nerve problem was shingles taking a wild ride on my sciatic nerve. Luckily for me, a couple of weeks on the old pain killers and I was fine. However, since I didn't believe the doctor's at the medical center (nothing hurt to the touch) I went to my doctor who hadn't seen me since 2009. Therefore he wanted to know how my blood sugar was doing, etc., so I went in for blood tests. I knew this was going to be bad news as it was around Easter and I had finished off a bag of Chocolate covered peanut butter eggs. Well, the news was so bad I thought they were going to put me in the hospital, however, I promised to be good, go back on my meds and go back to his office every 3 days. Now when Spring Retreat hit I was doing alright...my numbers had come down...we weren't singing the Alleluia chorous yet, but we were on the way. I lost a few pounds and while that is a thimble of water out of the ocean it was a good sign. Shiela and Trudy gave me lots of info on diet and diabetic stuff while at the Spring Retreat and I knew I was going to beat this thing. Spring Retreat was such fun, but a flurry of activity and by the end I was a little run down and no longer the fun girl, regardless of the beautiful wine glass hand painted by Tracy Doverspike and Sandy Grignon who welcomed me into their "Fun Girl" group by presenting me with the goblet. You know, my diet soda tastes so much better in that glass! Anyway, that event was followed in 2 weeks by the Delaware Guild Retreat. By then I thought I was coming down with a cold (do you see where I'm going with this?), so I started taking my trusty NyQuil capsules. After 2 nights of popping those and feeling no better I thought I had perhaps the flu of some kind. Monday, May 30th, thank God we had someone who could take my schedule in the gift shop and I went home to lay on the sofa and veg out. Meanwhile Lauren Sauer's class was looming and I wasn't quite done (My goal of finishing last February definitely didn't happen) and I thought I'd take a nap, work on the class piece and pop more NyQuil. However, by Monday night I was contemplating a trip to the emergency room. The problem was I left my car at the hotel due to parking issues over a holiday weekend and I left my phone at the hotel. So as I laying on the sofa thinking, "oops, I'm too sick to walk back to the hotel, and no phone (I gave up my line land when Verizon accidently shut it off instead of my internet when I asked them disconnect it since their service was lousy) to call anyone for help...I'm apparently up the creek without a paddle." By Tuesday morning I knew I was in serious trouble and crawled out to the porch at 8:30 a.m. and flung my body into my new Mother's Day chair and just laid there waiting for Mary to come down the steps to work. I thankfully heard her door open and here she came with the children. One look at me and she knew there was a problem so my saying,"Mary I need help" really didn't have to be said. So everyone sprung into action and Sara was here quickly with my car to take me to my doctor who had been alerted that I was on my way. Needless to say I got right in and apparently it wasn't a cold but Bronchitis. I was thrilled we had put a name to it and thought, O.K., a little medication and I'm on my way. I moved into the hotel so Sara wouldn't have to run back and forth between my place and the hotel taking care of me and after a couple of days I was able to work on my class piece but Sara had gotten behind and she couldn't work on hers. So now I felt I had to get both finished...oh my! Working together Sara and I were able to attend the class and work on finishing our "Glastonbury Garden" and it was a delight. However, I'm hacking my way through the day which is not only annoying to me but anyone who is around me (can you imagine being in a class with someone hacking away). By the end of the day I'm exhausted from it and have been going to bed early and I've been told I'm not going to be done with the hacking for some time to come, so now I'm depressed about that. But optimistic that I'll eventually get over it. And the good news...on the Monday I came home from work to lay on the sofa I really didn't feel well enough to eat (that tells you how sick I was) and I was actually too sick to take on liquids as well which meant I also went off all my meds because I couldn't get them down. I didn't take on food or liquids for 2 days and in doing that managed to lose 10 pounds. So now I'm down about 30 or so pounds from January and that is a good thing. So anyway, that's whats going on down here. As I said we had Lauren's class this past weekend. Dana came down from New Jersey to join us and she really added some new fun to the group. Thanks Dana for taking the time...we love ya! The usual group was here, Debbie, Stacy, Bernadette, Beverlie, Jennifer, Linda, Candi, Sara and this year I joined the group. If you want a fabulous project...take this class. We learned so many new techniques and it was really not that hard and we came away with our dimensional pockets stitched together, our pin cube finished and one flat pocket attached. The class was easy going, Lauren helped everyone so no one fell behind and it was a joy to do. I cannot wait to get it finished. Debbie remained here after everyone else went home and she worked on hers all night. It's fun because Lauren is still here and sits with us in the lobby on Sunday nights each year and continues to help you do your finishing. I was in such pathetic shape by the end of each class Lauren took pity and would finish stitching whatever piece I happened to be working on. But this class comes very highly recommended. But make sure you take the class where it's going to be a pre-stitch because that way you are well on your way to having a finished piece before the class is over. Today we go back to normal as all classes and retreats are over until August. Sara and I are on our way to Michael's graduation today from 4th grade (who's brilliant idea was it to hold a 2 hour graduation from 4th grade?) I'm telling you this is a true act of grandmother love because I don't want to sit through 10 minutes of this, let alone 2 hours. I'm never going to get over this. When I was in school they ended school with the teachers giving you the "bum rush" out of the room yelling "Have a great summer!...here's your reading list...your teacher next year will be Mrs. !@!@$ and we were out the door. I have to say what 4th grader wouldn't prefer that as opposed to sitting for 2 hours. And then he doesn't get to come home...the ceremony is at 9:30 a.m. and he still has to finish out the day at school. Apparently they are partying the day away. And then...he still has school on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday! Can you believe this? They have a different party every day. I'm telling you this is insane. I realize you have to be in school so many days a year, but to party...people...let the little people go home and go on the beach or where ever. I really can't say enough on this issue. It is the dumbest thing I've ever heard of. I don't think Michael should have to participate, however, Sara has asked that I keep out of it so while I've expressed my opinion to anyone to will listen, I've tried to refrain from saying anything to Michael. He seems to be thrilled they are partying each day. So What the hell do I know? As for me...well, I'm going to be hacking through the event and praying they ask me to leave for the health of everyone in the room. (perhaps that was God's plan for me after all!) Have a great week people and in case you are in town....we are going on summer hours on Friday and I will be sitting in the shop at night from 4-9:45)

It's definitely summer................

Yes folks, summer has come to town...well, at least the people, perhaps not the weather exactly, although while many of you are experiencing rain, we are high and dry and hot during the day and cool at night. The town is full of car folks and the engines can be heard far into the night hours, but we don't care, we love our car people and appreciate the money they bring to town. Salty Yarns is experiencing a busy weekend with the Delaware Sampler Guild's retreat here at the hotel. Teresa Baird brought her pieces, which she designed and stitched on 40 count and you really have to see them to believe them. Gorgeous!!! I don't know how she comes up with her designs...unbelievable. Anyway, it's a fun group and since they put up with me, well needless to say I love them all! When they had their first retreat here I would just go plop down in the middle of them and talk. Sara had to keep calling me and asking me to come to the office where she kept giving me a stern talking too about my not being a member and how I need to stop bothering them. Try as I may, I just couldn't. Everytime I went into the lobby I'd stop and start talking to them again. Finally, probably in self defense they just made me an honorary member. So now Sara can't say a word when I go sit and talk. And they inspire me with the gorgeous pieces they are working on, well, Heather spent Friday night sewing badges on her daughter's girl scout uniform so I wasn't so inspired by that stitching, however, she inspired me as a mother. Is our job ever done...even at a retreat we're still working for the kids. I'll talk more on the retreat, but I started off by saying it's summer and I mean that because of the things people have said, and done here. First, Sara work up a couple of weeks ago to find a stranger sitting on their bed in the middle of the night. Of course as she was aware of a figure on the bed and knew the shadow was too big to be her son, Michael, she was a bit startled. Vernon of course, slept through it, but Sara woke him up and they marched the young man out of their room and out of the house. The next morning they found his hat and shirt in Michael's room. Fortunately Michael had fallen asleep on the sofa in the living room and thank God they just left him there for the night. Meanwhile, this becomes more unbelievable when you realize that the person had to walk up 4 flights of stairs. My parents (it use to be their apartment) never locked the door as no one in their right mind would walk those stairs. There is an private elevator which you have to have a key to use so no one can get upstairs on that except family. But the other door...well, mountain goats aside, no one would climb the stairs, or so we thought...O.K., now we have to lock that door. Apparently, from the clothes he left behind, he was a university student from Penna. and lost his way. He didn't threaten Sara and Vernon, in fact when Sara woke Vernon up he kept saying, "I don't want any trouble Mr Vernon" but anyway, here we go...another summer and more weirdness. And the shop hasn't been spared to say the least. In Sea Trader we are purging a couple of lines and have put them on sale. One line is 40% off...and a woman came in yesterday and starting telling me how much she's always wanted one of these bracelets and she went on and on. She looked at the 40% off sale sign and turns to me and asks, "Is this a good deal?" It took a couple of seconds as I tried to find the proper response without insulting her, and finally said, "Well, when I see something that's 40% off the retail price I generally feel it's a good deal." And after 2 hours of going over and over and over and over each piece, and constantly saying, "I'll bet you'll be glad to see me go" she finally left with 4 pieces! She was exhausting. Then we had a gentlemen rush into Salty Yarns and ask if we had "cribbage boards." Renee and I just looked at each other and I said "no, sir we don't" and he announced we should look into that and get some so when he comes back next year he'd be able to get one. We're a yarn store jackass...chances are that's not going to happen, is what we were thinking, but all he saw was us smiling and waiting until he was clear of the door and then said it. I looked at Renee and said, "Well, the summer fun has begun." Shop news: Jackie DuPlessis' class in August is now on the web site under products so go and check that out. We are anxious to get the numbers for who is interested as Jackie's is a pre-stitch and she wants to get the kits out to the stitchers. So if you think you might be interested take a look at the info and let us know. And finally, I want to thank all the stitchers who came to the Spring Retreat. We were overwhelmed with people as 71 showed up and a few of them without reservations. This created havoc with goodie bags etc., as I order those in advance according to the numbers we have at that time. But we were able to pull it together and in spite of the overcrowding we had a good time. Everyone was most cooperative. Several of the larger groups stayed in their apartments and had mini retreats with their groups so that the smaller groups would have the chairs in the lobby and the aux. room. Regardless of the amount of people, dinner went off with no complaints about crowding...of course we moved the bar out to the front porch since weather was permitting and that helped get people out of the lobby. Anyway, thanks to everyone for coming...and special thanks to Jody King for her baked goods. She never disappoints and her skills in the kitchen were evident in her honey cake and sweet potato pound cake, both of which were gobbled up by stitchers. Kay Owens brought Sara and I sour dough bread which we've enjoyed each year...thanks Kay. Nelsa Knight and Janie and Sandy Singley all brought wine...and you know how Sara loves wine, so thanks Ladies. And Becky Gutin reading about my sugar problems (well I don't think I have a sugar problem, however, my doctor has informed me I have a serious problem so now I'm off sugar...damn) brought me a bag full of sugar free Tastecakes. And I have to tell you folks, they are good. Obviously not the sweet sweet cakes but they are moist and the artificial sweeteners satisfy your sweet tooth. I've been enjoying them since. I've also managed to portion control them...kudos to me. Unfortunately, while I was able to show self control with the Taste cake I lost all control with the cashew clusters given to me by Trudy Edwards and Shiela Fitzhugh. Shiela Fitzhugh is a diabetic so she was giving all kinds of useful information regarding snack foods. I did really well to begin with...each day allowing myself only 5. My mistake was taking the bag home. One night I felt I needed that little something and instead of just taking a few out, brought the bag to the sofa.....well I think we all know the end result of that. But I thought, O.K., I'll get back on that diabetic train tomorrow and I've learned my lesson, plus I'm out of Cashew clusters so that won't happen again. However, yesterday Karen delivered 2 more bags from Trudy...oh, oh..self control, I have to exhibit self control. I've decided to leave them in my office where I show more restraint (possibly because Sara and Mary are watching me)....the only problem with that is they know where the clusters are and I've caught them eating them. But they don't dare take them while I'm sitting here watching them so I'm sure I'll get plenty. Thanks to Becky, Trudy, and Shiela....I'm like a man...the way to my heart is through my stomach. Well, payroll is calling my name, so I've got to run. I promise I'll do better....updating that is. Have a great weekend.

Betsy Morgan Class a wonderful experience....

We had our first class of 2011, Betsy Morgan's "Toy Chest", which began with the arrival of the first stitchers on Wednesday, one of which, Paola traveled all the way from Luxenburg. She was such a wonderful addition to our fold and we had such a wonderful time getting to know her. She not only arrived a few days early to explore Ocean City a little, but she stayed a couple of days after the class so we were able to take her to some real hot spots, Michaels and Serendipty Quilt Shop. Debbie Liming, Phyllis Yurack, Staci Buhrman, Sara and I decided to take Paola to Serendipity as it is the Moda fabric quilting shop in our area and it's fabulous. (That's Phyllis on the left, Paola, Staci, and Debbie) For the non-sewing stitcher (of which I'm one, although I do dabble) Moda is the fabric designed by Blackbird Designs and I use it all the time to finish smalls, the Black Bird stockings (which I still haven't completed) and anything else I can use it on...love it! Anyway, we had a wonderful day with the finale at Michaels. Apparently, Luxemburg has no Michaels so Paola and I spent about one hour in there searching for bargains, beads, anything to use on our stitching. It was a wonderful day filled with shopping and friends. Tuesday we said good-bye to everyone so it was a sad day for us. That meant we also had to go back to work. But I have to tell you, everyone who attended the Betsy Morgan class had a wonderful class experience. First of all, Betsy Morgan...a great teacher(shown here) who gives you complete instructions...written down as part of the kit....pictures of the process as you complete each piece of the Toy Chest...and we completed one piece of the set, which becomes the Thimble holder and we learned every technique we will use putting the many parts of this project together. Everyone finished one piece, not just a few of us, including our token male, Greg McCord. We're so proud of him. It was his first experience being in a class, and aside from his tardiness in arriving, he did beautifully. Kudos to our Greg. So while the entire Toy Chest isn't finished, we are on the way. (the rest of the pictures were taken in the lobby while the class was taking place) I think everyone agreed that the weekend was a success. If you haven't had a chance to take a Betsy Morgan class....take one. The teaching is excellent. She was patient with the students, as I said her directions are complete and written down so you don't have to remember anything, and so complete we barely made any notations. She also gives you plenty of everything. You get extra fabric, extra finishing materials (beads, fibers, etc.) and brought extra of everything so while you practiced a technique you didn't even have to use the supplies in your kit. Unbelievable. I highly recommend Betsy to everyone. As with all our teachers she was also there and willing to help even when the class was over. She was so popular with the students that a couple of the students approached her after class while I was in the shop to ask if she would come back and teach two other classes on the same weekend (apparently some wanted one piece while others wanted a different piece.) So when I returned to the hotel lobby they announced that she was coming back as soon as we told her a date. So while we had planned to bring her back to teach her latest piece, the casket, in 2012...we are now bringing her back in 2011 to teach 2 more classes, as well. You can take one or both classes that weekend, which we are still trying to fit into our schedule. Our C.A. Wells Memorial Weekend has been discussed, but it isn't carved in stone, we will let you know at a later date as soon as we figure it out, which should come in the next 3 weeks as soon as we get through the Spring Retreat. Right now we are getting things ready for Spring Retreat.....the boys are painting, the rooms are ready, Sara is getting her grocery list together and I'm ordering from the companies like I have good sense. I'm battling the diabetes thing which is my own fault since I was diagnosed having type 2 a couple of years ago and while I paid attention to begin with...well, I let things slip. Then when I was having the pain shooting down my leg and went to the doctors, they had me take blood tests which showed my sugar had risen drastically since they last saw me. Apparently I was a candidate for a stroke at my levels so now I'm being watched like a hawk but not only by the doctors but Sara. I have to say my peeps have stood firmly behind me...Greg and Renee both delivered Easter Baskets on Sunday filled with sugar free candies (and you know they are really pretty good.) So I can't thank everyone for their concern, and the goodies I've received. While the shingles were nothing in my case (which created the pain as they traveled down my nerve) and I'm so grateful they were mild. My father had shingles on his head and he felt pain if you even entered the room where he was, so believe me when they told me I had shingles I said, "No Way" there is no part of my body which I can't touch, I saw no rash, blisters or anything. I thought I had a pinched nerve somehow. But not only the hospital, but my personal physician informed me that while my case was very mild, I did indeed have them. After taking pain meds for the pain, and the anti-virals, I never had the pain again. But of course the diabetes has taken the focus off anything else. This time I'm not doing as well getting it under control...so I feel "off" all the time. My physician is on me constantly, getting my numbers every few days at first and now weekly. Changing my medication each week...honestly it's almost too much for me. For the last week I just haven't felt well, can't put my finger on it, but there's something not just right...but I'm not concerned...too many people watching me. I am concerned enough that I am taking my tests 3 times a day, watching my carb count...giving up so much of my bread...but not all, no sugar at all that I can tell, so I said good-bye to all candy, except sugar free (and how much of that can you eat when it has a gaseous affect on you). I ate yogurt only for days because I couldn't figure out what to eat...but finally I'm back on the protein thing. Anyway, I'm determined to figure this out and get me back on track to feeling great, O.K. with my body great isn't an option, but feeling normal for me. Now Shop Talk, we've run out of room once again....the knitting side is growing by leaps and bounds. I'm afraid Pat and I have run amuck ordering yarns...O.K., Pat was hesitant so perhaps I ran amuck, but how do you decide. Of course after seeing my credit card maxed out a couple of times, and the lack of room I've made some critical decisions...we're moving the yarns. This was in discussion all winter with Pat, and this week, of course after we're open again 7 days a week, I've decided to move the yarns to a different area of the shop to give it more room to grow, a little. This will create havoc since we're open every day and the guys are going to have to tear down shelving, etc. so we can move the stuff, but I've already warned them (I just hate it when they roll their eyes at me), and Pat is ready and willing to come in on her days off to help to hopefully we can get this done before the retreat. (that's what I'm hoping anyway) This has also given me a reason to start deleting some lines. Unfortunately, I've only chosen lines in Sea Trader to delete so far, (how can I decide which companies in the needlework industry to delete when I love it so much). And of course, we are bringing in canvaswork into the needlework side...you see, I don't seem to be helping the problem at all....although I am considering deleting crewel and stamped cross stitch...will that help? (Since those areas are so small I doubt it but it shows I'm trying). We've finally managed to get to spring weather down here or up here depending on where you live. Temperatures are in the mid 60's to 70's. We're now thinking air conditioning instead of heat, so that's a step in the right direction. I'm hoping this continues for Spring Retreat. For the Betsy Morgan class Saturday was a nightmare with not only rain, but wind driven rain. The racket from things blowing was deafening, but then Sunday it was sunny and bright so the stitchers could travel home in good weather. A wonderfully productive weekend. Our local group decided we would work on the Toy Chest at home getting the stitching done, but would then get together for finishing. It's always easier if you have others to help, and we were going to work on it first at Spring Retreat. However, since I still haven't finished my pre-stitch on Lauren Sauer's class (here in June), I've yet to work on the Toy Chest, so I'll be playing catch up. Hopefully I won't get too far behind, because I'm determined to have this piece finished in 2011. I'm tired of all my class pieces either up on the shelves languishing or stuffed in a bag waiting. No more I say...these have to be completed in the same year they were taught (at least that's my story in April...this may change by December...it's always nice to have a goal). Well, I'll try to be more current with my blog, but it's becoming harder and harder when I'm not feeling quite right...but again, I'm determined to get my life back on track so stay tuned. Have a great day!

Today's a Great Day!!!! at least for now!

Yes, I am feeling fine, the meds are taking care of all pain, and I got a few hours of stitching in before going to work, so my day started out really well. And the sun was shining and the temps are moderate...oh, my spring is here folks. So I went to work with a smile on my face and a determination to get things done! Now that was a lost cause. I wanted to get some things cleared off my desk (the shop is still closed 3 days a week so I work in the office) but today Vernon and John decided to get some extra pieces of office furniture put in the office, where they did not fit so I spent the day clearing out spaces, cleaning it up for the cabinet only to find that the cabinet wouldn't work there. Back to the drawing board. We decided to stick it in Salty Yarn's storeroom so I went over there and moved all the crap that was in the space it could go in only to find that the boys decided to bring the cabinet in the back door, not through the front. Of course I had thrown all the crap in front of the back door and made a path from the front. So then I had to remove all the stuff and put it in the other room as it was easier for the boys to go through the back door now, than for them to lug it around to the front which at that point would have involved more stairs. I then went back over to the office only to find that they had disabled the internet connection when they took the original shelving out...which of course they then had to go retrieve it and put it back in since the cabinet wasn't going in there. So I didn't get a damn thing accomplished today except I cleaned the floor under the shelving which is now back in place so no one even knows it's been done. Personal satisfaction? I think Not! Since I've been out for over a week there's a lot to be done, especially with our Betsy Morgan class coming up in 10 days....oh, the excitement is mounting. I've been goodie bag shopping and hopefully will get this done in time (it's always questionable) and then I have 2 weeks before Spring Retreat...good God, no time people...I have no more time. Anyway, I found the darn camera so now I can show you some of the pictures I've taken ... The first picture is "Summer" by The Cross Eyed Cricket. I just can't wait to start on Spring, Winter and Autumn. I haven't quite figured out the frame yet, which is why I'm showing it to you unframed, but I'll be taking it to the framer soon and we will figure something out. The second picture is the Lizzie Kate "special edition" kit, "Peeps". This is the one Debbie Liming decided to stitch over one so that meant I had to do the same thing. Mine doesn't show the turkey work grass we decided to put in the basket....but I'm taking mine apart and adding it because it's so much cuter. Of course because of the size we weren't able to add the Jabco egg button which came with the kit, but I love it anyway. Since we carry the tin necklaces I was able to finish this in an hour....whoppee! You will see a trend here....I'm enjoying anything it takes one night to finish....yes and I'm not ashamed to admit it. The next picture shows my knitted bunny egg covers that take one night to knit. Aren't they cute....finally I've finished something that wasn't a scarf or a hat. These came from the Debbie Bliss, "The Knitter's Year which has fabulous projects inside. I've picked out a couple more projects from it and hopefully I'll find them as easy to knit as my "bunny heads". Fun, fun, fun, people...we're having fun. And the next picture is Debbie working on one of her projects (it took 2 weeks to get it on the website..she's back home stitching now) and Sara working on her latest pin cushion, Jabco's Snowman. She did this one start to finish in about 4 hours. We are carrying several of these pincushions as we love them all. They come with the buttons and pins you see adorning him. Cute, cute, cute. And they make wonderful gifts. I'm hoping this one will become my Christmas gift....hint, Sara, hint. That's Debbie's hand holding the Jabco Strawberry pincushion. She finished that in one sitting as well. Renee and Pat each did one while working in the shop one day. Love it!!!! The next picture shows the Fern Ridge "Spell Box" Debbie stitched. The box contains the spell book and a voodoo doll along with the pins. We all love Halloween and this is just the cutest kit. Comes with everything. I think there is one thing not finished so it's not shown, but I couldn't resist showing you Debbie's progress so far. She loves to stitch multiple projects and then sits down and finishes them all at once so everytime she comes down she's got plenty of show and tell. The last picture is a Shepherd's Bush pincushion (I think). I can't remember which kit it was, so I'm sorry but I wanted you to see it anyway. Lot's of finishes...I'm hoping she inspires me to finish some of my projects. I've had the rose cottage stitched to put on one of the Impie, Bea and Hattie pouches from the time the pouches came into the shop. It was suppose to be a sampler, however, we sold out of the pouches and so now it's just a treasure f

or me. I hope the pouch fairy shows up to put it together. And that explains a lot of what's in my finish box...what's in yours? Oh, I almost forgot to tell you what

came in the other day. You may remember my talking about the canvas work we're bringing in. Well, some has arrived and it's absolutely adorable. I really thought I'd never go back to needlepoint at all, but I've already got mine picked out and so does Sara. And I get to use the new Evertite Stretcher Bars....I've got goosebumps I tell you. Anyway, Beth Jernigan's group decided they wanted to stitch two of the Libby Sturdy canvases and when I saw them I decided we had to have the Beach Santa's, among others. They come with directions to tell you which stitches to use where. I've pulled the Summer Santa shown with the life saver and Sara is stitching the Paradise Santa. They some outlined on 18 ct. canvas and come with the stitching directions. When you are using a variety of stitches on needlepoint canvas they will stitch up quicker. Plus they are using all sorts of specialty threads, which we will also be carrying. Renee pulled one of the Nancy's Needle canvas pieces, and she hasn't seen these because I know she'll pull one of these too. Too many projects and not enough days in the week. Anyway, I've got to get back to stitching so I'll talk again tomorrow. Have a great night!