Not a good beginning.....

Well, a bad beginning is a good ending...at least that is what my mother always said, and I'm sure hoping that is true. My 4 year old grandson spent a week in the hospital with something no one seems to be able to diagnose. We thought he had some sort of flu, as everyone else had already caught it from him and we thought it was just circling back around....however, he never got better, had a high temperature and a swollen tongue and his head hurt. He wouldn't eat because his tongue hurt and he just wasn't getting any better and after 2 visits to his doctor with no decline in his temperature which was around 103-105...it was decided to take him to the emergency room. So we were all on high alert and taking over Izzie duty (the almost 2 year old) who wanted no parts of any of us....of course. Thankfully for 2 days he went to daycare, but that was only 2 days so Sara was put on duty while I opened the shop. Back to Solomon...apparently he had 3 of the 5 symptoms for Kawasaki disease ( never heard of this before) so that's what they treated him for. Of course Solomon was scared to death, couldn't sleep in the hospital since the friggin machines went off everytime he moved...and if he got some sleep they woke him up to take his temperature...oh, my it wasn't pretty. He rallied and then his temp spiked again, so they put his medication back up to a higher dose and finally sent him home with a "if the temperature goes back up rush back." He was thrilled to have all tubes disconnected and to come back home, where he is being watched like a hawk. Mary must take him in for EKG's on a regular basis, but aside from that he should be able to return to play and school. And as long as Mary has his heart checked regularly we're hoping and praying this is behind us. Other than that....things are pretty normal. I've had a few issues I was dying to tell you about because this is really a public service. Right before Christmas I made the mistake of ordering yarn bowls from Cats Paws Pottery and while that wasn't the mistake, having them shipped by USPS was the mistake. As you know I use the Post Office all the time and have had very few issues, but then most of my shipments don't contain breakable objects. The potter has a place in Chincoteague, but I didn't know that so I had her ship them. Actually this started December 2nd. They arrived through the Post Office and when I opened the carton 4 out of the 6 bowls were broken. Normally anything like this would be handed off to one of the girls, but since Sara had the nerve to go to Jamaica for 10 days and leave me to handle this kind of crap. I figured I could handle this....oh, God, what made me think that. MaryLou had sent me the insurance slip so I hauled the double carton (she had packed them with bubble wrap and popcorn in one box and then put that box in a bigger box filled with popcorn), to the Post Office, stood in line and when it was my turn the gentlemen said, "Oh you need to mail that?" To which I said, "no I need someone to inspect this as there is breakage! And he said, "is it liquid?" Like what the hell difference does that make...but I remained a lady (and believe me it wasn't easy) and I informed him that it arrived with 4 out of 6 bowls broken. He then asks, "was it insured?" I mean he really didn't want to deal with this I was starting to notice, but I remained calm and stated that it was and I had all the information. By now 5 minutes had passed and then he says, "Well, I'm afraid the news isn't good for you. We don't do inspections here.... you have to take it to the other branch" (which is on about 70th street...I was standing in the 6th street branch). Then he informed me that there was only 1 person who inspected, but she is not in every day so I should call them and ask when she will be there. So I hauled the box back out and decided to just leave it in the car until I was able to connect with the inspector. The next day I was going to go Christmas shopping with Mary in Salisbury. She was running late so I decided with 20 minutes to spare I'd run up to the uptown Post Office and see what I could find out. So I go into that office...left the carton in the car....and announced to that clerk that I needed the postal inspector. He asked why....like why would anyone need the inspector...and I explained the problem and after asking a few more stupid questions...do you have proof of insurance....etc., he informed me that the woman who inspects the packages is out and won't be back until after the holidays as she's had an operation. (and we wonder why things are going downhill at the post office). Apparently while there is only one person in Ocean City that is capable of inspecting a box, you also have a time limit to put in the claim. This was just not going well for me, but did I give up...hell no....I kept it up. I asked for forms or whatever would have to be filled out so I could be ahead of the game. But apparently he was never given the key to the forms box...So he went in the back to speak with "Chuck" who apparently held the position at one time but no more. He came back and said I'd have to wait 15 minutes as Chuck was speaking with the carriers and Chuck was the only one who could download the forms. (my this must be the most important job in the post office...) So I told him I'd have to come back as I would be late for my very important appointment (he didn't have to know the truth). So we're in Salisbury trying to shop with Izzy since Brian wasn't feeling well and couldn't take care of him. So I knew it would be a short day and after spending 5 hours shopping I ran over to the Post Office in Salisbury to try this once again. I go into the clerk (there were actually 3 in there) and lay on the counter and started my tale of woe. I explained that this was my 3rd post office in 2 days and I needed help with inspecting a package. To which this angel of mercy said, "Oh honey, you just do that yourself on line." I looked like a deer in headlights as I said, "are you serious...I've been in 2 other post offices and they never told me that. So I haul the carton back home, go online, where I entered the information from the insurance slip, downloaded pictures of the broken bowls, and in 2 weeks I had the money. Now, while that was almost too easy...I have to say, when you pay for insurance for something....if they break 4 out of 6, I do think there should be some reimbursement on the breakage as far as the insurance goes. After all, it costs with shipping and postage around 18 dollars....for 6 bowls. Since there were 2 bowls delivered I think they should have paid back a percentage of the postage and insurance, don't you? Well, they didn't, but MaryLou and I decided that we would both be better off if she just drives them over the next time she's in Chincoteague. But the 2 bowls we got are pretty and Sara is already using one as she knits, and loves it...so it's a win here. When my postal carrier Mike came into the shop don't think he didn't hear about my issue though. While he sympathied with me he said, "Sally, that he didn't know that behind the counter tells you that we have had nothing break before so that's a good average." I told him I didn't give a damn and he was to take a message back to the clerks on 6th street for me...which he did so if you have to declare breakage there now at least they know what the hell to do with it. Good luck to us all!Christmas was the usual hubbub for me. Without Sara here for most of the time before Christmas I was just going nuts. She is on altar duty with me in December so that left me alone, plus shopping alone except when Mary helped out a couple of times, and the shop...well it's just to much for me to be honest. Especially with my feet issues, etc. I'm pooped in just a couple of hours...but I was determined, used the internet as much as possible and somehow got things done. My sister was coming down with my niece so that was pressure. She has managed to screw up 2 Thanksgivings and 2010's Christmas so I wasn't really up for another mess, so I was dreading the visit especially since she was bringing a gentlemen friend (she's in the middle of a very nasty divorce) and my niece was bringing her boyfriend. My sister is like having a tornado around and when she twirls back out you are left wondering how you survived. But this year, with a gentlemen friend in tow, she arrived early evening Christmas Eve and left 1 hour later for the casino. We didn't lay eyes on her again until dinner time Christmas Day and she left right after dinner....it was the best Christmas I've had with her in years. Since I had 14 people for dinner this year there was so much noise and confusion...dinner and opening of gifts, I barely had time for anyone. In the middle of things Sara and Mary delivered their gift to me....a new sofa with the end sections which recline all the way back and it's electric so it's really easy to move. Wonderful. That was only one gift, they showered me with all kinds of wonderful things. I had a wonderful Christmas....all my family, plenty of food, and on the 26th a day of rest. I did experience my usual trauma on Christmas day while preparing the dinner. Since Izzy is allergic to glutin and dairy I decided to do 2 turkeys as I love a turkey basted with butter and I still stuff my turkeys. So Izzy's turkey was basted with veg.oil and his had no stuffing, which the 2nd turkey had everything. I was determined to get things done myself and on time this year so I started a couple of days in advance. I made the New York Cheesecake and the Dulce de Leche cheesecake along with the Chocolate Pecan pie 2 days ahead of time, as well as my pickled beets and peaches. I actually made the pickled peaches so far in advance I kept eating them and had to do a second batch, still done in advance. I did the coleslaw dressing a day ahead and got my yeast bread made and made into cinnamon rolls a day ahead. Oh, yes I was large and in charge. After the stuffed turkey had been in about an hour I went to baste it it looked finished. So I called Sara and said, "I think I have an issue with the oven. The top oven seems fine, but the bottom oven is going to burn my turkey." She said, "Mom, what temperature do you have the oven on?" I said, "don't be an idiot, I look it up every year since I can't seem to remember from one year to the next and I set it to 450 degrees." She said, "Mom, I'll be right down...you have that oven too high." I pull out the cookbook and low and behold I had read the wrong temperature (obviously)...so I immediately turned down the oven and foiled the turkey and prayed. Izzie's turkey seemed fine and not overdone, which I can't explain, but thank you Jesus! And I have to say, everyone said both turkeys were good so I guess it worked out fine. Anyway, it was a wonderful day with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes (with both butter and cream cheese...yummo), picked beets, picked peaches (another yummo), sauerkraut, my mother's special cinnamon yeast rolls, cranberry muffins, brussel sprouts au gratin, a new asparagus/puff pasty dish that was yummo and will be served at one of the events and new this year, frozen applesauce (I use to love this as a child and my grandchildren loved it so much it was one of the only things Solomon would eat while he's been sick). And for the first time in years, well perhaps ever, I stitched like a maniac and made many of my gifts. It was a source of great pride for me. As I finished each one I was so busy patting myself on the back I could barely get anything else done. I absolutely loved giving them to those I stitched for. I wish I could stitch for everyone...it really was fun. I finally stitched the Sampler Doll for Renee. She thought she was getting it for her birthday in June, but I didn't get the doll torso ordered in time. In fact I have to say, I was late again and didn't order it until the first of November and was informed that once again I probably waited too long. So I started working on another piece for Renee and was moving right along when the company called and said they were shipping out the doll torso. So I stopped working on the sampler and started on the sampler doll and it went together. If you are thinking of stitching this I have to tell you, the people I ordered the torso from were wonderful. They have a web site and you can go and pick out which torso you want and they will paint the dress, head piece, whatever, the color to match the DMC you are using. They did a wonderful job. www.brierrose.com. Good prices and great job and delivered in wonderful packaging. It was a wonderful stitch.

I had a problem understanding the directions for putting it together, but in the end realized it was just a stand up like so many others I had done so I stopped stressing over that and just finished it my way. I loved it and hated to part with it, but knew Renee would love her also. I then stitched the over one on 40 ct. gauze "Be Merry" once of the Erica Michaels designs. I just love stitching these gauze pieces. They are so much easier than stitching on 40 ct. linen and so cute. Anyway I stitched it for our Pat Weker who works for the shop. She doesn't really enjoy all the needlework hanging around her house (she stitches all over ones beautifully so I don't understand it, but love the fact that she stitches for me)...anyway, I decided to stitch her an ornament for her tree because she does have handmade ornaments out every Christmas. I opened her gift before she opened the gift from me so I was astonished and really amused to see that she stitched the same thing for me only framed it. I couldn't wait to see her expression when she opened the box with her

ornament in it. This was a first for me. No one has ev

ery given me the same thing I gave them in stitching. It's given us both a chuckle for weeks. I used metallic wrapped wire to make the hanger so it would look glitzy....loved the finished product....and I show the back so you can see I've learned to put the info on the back. Lots of fun....I'll try to write more tomorrow as I have more pictures but my back is killing me as I'm all bent over doing this.

The weather has taken a turn for the worse....

Well, we've been having early summer weather...temps in the high 60's early 70's and sun just shining bright, but I got up this morning hearing rain and it's so gloomy out you just know summer is over. But that's O.K., I won't complain as the holidays approach we want it to be cooler...I could do without the ring, but again, 70 on Tuesday and Wednesday....thank you Jesus, enough said. We are gearing up for the Thanksgiving weekend....not only for the day off and a holiday of eating (my favorite kind), but also to see some of you in the shop again. Thanksgiving is a huge weekend in Ocean City with many coming down for the holiday. So if you are coming down, come on in and say hi. Sara and I, perhaps Mary as well, will be manning the counters. I'll also be the one trying to figure out how to construct some items as well. While I have spent the last few weeks stitching for Christmas, I still have to put everything together...ugh...not my strong suit. But I'm going into it with a positive attitude since I have plenty of time to do and I'll pray for the best. Brian stopped by the office and taught me a few more tricks on my Mac so perhaps in another year I'll actually be able to use it as well as I use my HP. (Stranger things have happened). Finished another project last night and perhaps sooner rather than later I'll be able to show you some of the stuff I've been working on. Right now however, I've got to get stuff put together, and framed. But I'm going into the Christmas Holidays with several projects almost completed and I've very optimistic at this point that I'm in good shape. Been working on the apartment....2nd guest room almost completely picked up...which I usually do about 1 day before Christmas so I'm feeling good. I also did the pickled peaches and pickled beets which has graced our holiday tables since I was a child. So I carry on the tradition...the only problem is I love them so much I start eating them the day after I've made them which means right before the holiday I have to make more. Oh, Crap...I've been hacked so now all kinds of crap is showing up in my e-mail. Damn...so now I feel I must apologize to all who have received e-mails thinking they were from me and open it up to find porn...yes, porn....I could just die. I'm so very sorry to all who have opened up these e-mails. Rainbow Gallery called to say his wife had the same thing happen a couple of months ago and I should now put my name and a non hacked message in the subject line...so for a while I will be doing that. Of course I've contacted AOL, and I've changed passwords, etc...which is tragic for me as I can't remember what the hell I'm doing so I know I'll never remember another password. But we must do what we must do. And for those who hack...shame on you! I don't know what joy you get in doing this but leave me the hell alone. I'm too old and too stupid to fix any of this. Well, I hope your day goes better than mine has. Have a great evening of stitching and I'll talk to you later.

It's a slow process.....

O.K., I don't blog for months and now I'm posting 2 in one day....it's all about the pictures I want to get up. Even with the "Mac for Dummies" that Vernon got me I couldn't figure out the error message after 2 pictures were uploaded so I published that blog and started a new one in order to get all the pictures up. Since I wanted to show some of the getups the girls wore to the C.A. Wells event, I decided not to give up on it, but to start another post. Who says computers can beat me....not I...I'm determined folks to get things in hand...so stay with me while I fight with the Mac. The first picture is Phyllis Yurack with her witch's hat and a lovely lace web cape...and that's Stasi Buhrman in the background who didn't feel the need to dress up. The next picture is Kathie Renard in the back with her Devil's horns on and the blurry mask wearer is Jackie Janovsky. The next picture is our Kay Fletcher wearing her feathery mask and I have to tell you those masks were really something. They didn't stay on long though, but they certainly dressed up the occasion. The final picture is Debbie Liming who wore a witch's hat all weekend along with her lace cape, and halloween earrings, well all jewelry was Halloween. And Debbie, who celebrates her birthday at this event every year keep in costume all weekend, even when we went out for her birthday dinner. Yes, a proud moment for us all as we sat looking perfectly normal with a woman dressed in her Halloween get up. Well, who's to say what is normal. The C.A. weekend is a time for stitching together, catching up and doing whatever we like. While some wereworking on Christmas gifts, it was hard for others as the people we need to stitch for were sitting there. So Jennifer Humpfries, who you see standing in the picture to the left of Kathie...devils horns...Renard, and I decided that we would work on our Betsy Morgan Toy Chest project. We didn't complete it but we know what we're doing and that's important. Stasi brought her completed Betsy Morgan toy chest so we had it to use all weekend...thanks Stasi...and if push comes to shove I can always ask Paola for help as she too finished hers on her own. And when I expressed concern about putting one of the pieces together, Paola offered to help or to do it for me. Yes, I'm on team Paola now. But I'm going to try to do it myself, after all it's all about learning, or is it? The rest of the weekend was spent talking and eating, both of which I excel in.

Christmas...I'm heading into it at full speed. I'm been stitching like a maniac and I've actually finished a record 6 gifts stitched....with another one just days away from being finished and I've had so much fun doing it. I'm also getting the last of the boxes unloaded, after about 5 years, of my stuff moved from the old place...another Go Team Go! That means that once I get the guest room straightened out this year...I never have to do it again. I can't believe it. The boys room is already back to winter status as I've put away all my summer clothes, however, I'm afraid my sewing room took a hit as it became the drop off point for all my bags of stuff this summer, but I'm slowly going through it and getting things put away.

Why is it I think every year I'll never let the crap build up again, and then it happens? Anyway, I'm a work in progress and so is my living space. As for the shop....well, Renee and Pat have been busy getting displays up and moving things around. They have done such a wonderful job....thanks ladies I appreciate all the hard work. And it's a good thing they did it because you know me....while I may want to help...I just am not moved to do it. And Sara...well she has Jamaica on the brain. She and Vernon and Michael are leaving for Jamaica the first part of December. So she's trying to get ahead on Christmas shopping etc., and so I don't want to ask her to help with anything. Knit and Bitch starts again today...hopefully someone will show up. I forgot about it in my enthusiasm about posting on the Mac and instead of bringing my knitting I brought my Mac machine. Perhaps someone here will be able to give me some instruction. The weather is so beautiful out today...in the high 60's, sunny and gorgeous...we could sit on the rockers on the porch and knit away....except that Vernon in his enthusiasm to close up the hotel has already put them in the lobby. So now we have to work around the chairs...which I'm willing to do as it is easier than fitting tables into Salty Yarns. We need a classroom over there....ummm, now where can I find that room? Well, I've exhausted myself and my Mac knowledge for today so I shall post my 2nd blog of the day. Have a great day and I'll talk with you soon.

Fall arrived and so have I..............

Yes, I apologize for the length of time between now and my last blog...no excuse except that I'm old, yes, I'm really feeling my age this year. I don't know what's different except that I am aging, only now it feels like I'm doing it at warp speed. Plus the amazing things going wrong with me, starting with the shingles which appeared in the spring, and the visit to the doctor's for that which meant going for blood tests which revealed the sugar spike and while I was dealing with that came the bronchitis and then the coupe de gras...plantar fascitis. Of course, over the course of the spring and summer I got the sugar under control, in fact I'm doing amazingly we

ll with that and the shingles, well that for me was just a couple of weeks of pain, and the bronchitis, well that lasted a tad longer than I would have liked, the hacking went on for a couple of months as did the exhaustion that came from it...but just as I was bouncing back from that the plantar fascitis hit and that lasted all summer. But I went to the doctors in September and now I have that under control so now I'm a ticking time bomb waiting for the next thing to go wrong. But in the meantime....all events are over so it's time for a recap, as well as resting up for the holidays which are right around the corner. At the end of September the Delaware Valley Sampler Guild had a retreat here and those stitchers are always a fun group. About 22 of the stitchers arrived on different days, a few always arrive early to get a jump start on the fun, and to get first pick at new stuff in the shop. These ladies do some amazing projects. Theresa Baird who you will hear more about as she has designed a sampler specifically for Salty Yarns, brought her collection of amazing projects designed and executed by her. She stitches on 40 count only (at least that's all I've seen) which is amazing enough to me, but the detail she gets. Mercy, it has to be seen to be believed. But all the ladies were working on amazing projects. There is no more fun that seeing what others are working on and getting new ideas through their inspiration. We had a week in between the Delaware Guild and the Stitchers Jamboree. While the attendance was down a little this year, we still had around 44 stitchers in attendance and three wonderful teachers. Amy Bruecken from Amy Bruecken designed a fall piece with a black crow sitting on a pumpkin and used the new copper wrapped thread from DMC to make tendrils around the stem. Many of the stitchers hadn't seen these fibers used so it was an education as well as a wonderful example of what to do with that fiber. I'd used it once before on the Sarah Elliott box of Greg's. We used it as fencing in a field, but I was unsure how to start and stop it. So this was invaluable to me. I like the dimension of the tendrils and the way Amy showed to incorporate the leaves on it. Needless to say, several people loved it as we sold out of the fiber during the weekend. Elizabeth Talledo illustrated the blanket stitch on a wool case stitchers had to assemble and included a couple of smalls for her piece which had the theme, "Day of the Dead". And Barbara Jackson showed the stitchers how to make a strawberry with her sampler strawberry. Several of the stitchers finished their wool case during the weekend, and I saw many of the strawberries being worked on. Phyllis Yurack was here for C.A. Well

s Memorial Weekend and she was well on her way to finishing Amy Bruecken's piece. So I would say the weekend was a success, thanks to the stitchers who came and enjoyed themselves, especially those who flew such a long distance, like Paola Botti who flew in from Luxembourg and the stitchers from California, Lara Skaggs, Pam Thompson and Kim Bowman. Jenny Berens who flew in from Kentucky and who realized she knew us from having attended the Moss Creek Retreat with her a few years ago...isn't it a small world? And then Barbara Nunez who informed me she was at the same retreat...and I didn't even realize that last year when Barbara was here. And 2011 we had our first male stitcher join us. I think he started off just wanting to be here with his significant other (I told him he could only come if he took classes), but joined in with the various stitching groups in the lobby and fit right in. He took home supplies to make a name tag for his next event. Go Ken! He was a delight to all the women here. Not only was he good looking but he had a wonderful spirit, and a desire to soak in all the knowledge regarding stitching that he could. He initially was taught years ago by his mother so he had done needlework years ago. We hope he joins us again, as well as Susan, his main reason to be here. And thanks also to Sara for all her cooking and goodies, and the designers who flew in and mingled with the stitchers. Thanks to everyone for another great Jamboree, and to all the gifts everyone brought. Cynthia Radley always brings treats and this year she brought a trio of delicious cookies which were gobbled up over the course of the weekend. And then she and Crystal Symansky gifts Sara and I both gift cards to our favorite spots...Sunset Grille save me a seat! Thanks Girls. Paola Botti flew over with her husband at the end of September, toured a few days and then stopped here for us to meet Lorenzo. Unfortunately we had the coldest weather we had since last winter while Lorenzo was with us. But he flew out 2 days after arriving and Stasi Buhrman picked Paola up at the airport and Paola spent several days with her and returned to us the Sunday before Jamboree weekend. We had our usual good times. Paola is an expert at finishing her smalls and we were amazed by the projects she brought to show us. She inspired all of us with her beautiful pieces. And both Sara and I were blessed to received 2 of her smalls, along with several other gifts. I'm putting my gift on the web site and you just have to see it. I will treasure it always. I should of taken a photo of Sara's but forgot. But it's a 15 sides biscornu that is amazing. Then Kim Bowman, Pam Thompson, and Lara Skaggs brought us things from their region. They brought a bag of Jelly Bellies (Sara's personal favorite), Ghirardelli Chocolates (well do you even have to wonder who's going to eat these) and the freshest garlic swag ever. I swear I've never seen such fresh garlic before in my life, big fat bulbs with their paper skins tight around them. I swear the garlic I usually find looks like it's shrunk inside the skin which is loose and falling off. You just know it's been sitting in the store a while. But this was fresh. Sara and I fought a little over it...I got some but Sara who is the garlic queen, got the most of it. That girl does love her garlic. And Ellen Sweeney who struggles every year to find me a new piece of my Polish ware went in a different direction this year and brought me oodles of lottery scratch offs from New York. We were both hoping I'd scratch off a winner, but alas, I had no luck but sure had fun trying. Thanks everyone for making our weekend so much fun. Sara and I have almost as much fun as the stitchers do. The weather was cooler this Jamboree but still beautiful and sunny which allowed stitchers to sit outside on the rockers and stitch while enjoying the sun and surf. We love the sun shining for this event just so we can sit outside. We had a week to

regroup and then the final event of the year...C.A. Wells Memorial Weekend event. As you may remember, this event came about when C.A. Wells cancelled at the last minute as we weren't her time. While the ladies still wanted to get together anyway, and we did, this has become such a fun annual event this year we decided we should thank C.A. Wells. We wouldn't have had this much fun if she had come so be insulting us she has provided us with a great event that we all look forward to every year. Sara decorated the hotel lobby for Halloween, and just about everyone brings a goodie bag so there are goodie bags galore for each person. Not only do the bags contain candy, but Stasi Buhrman made miniature cupcakes which were yummo, Stacy Stinson's contained a ceramic Halloween Cupcake with a candle inside (so cute), and Jennifer Humphries' contained a ceramic pumpkin votive. But every ones contained candy and some had notepads, tissues, nail files, hand sanitizer, etc. Fun, fun, fun. And as with all our events food plays a huge part. Stacy Stinson brought the cutest bread shaped like a spider which she hollowed out and put in some of her yummy dip (which she lovingly made). She also brought a delicious salad which Sara tried to gobble up by herself, and a dessert bar which was excellent. Jennifer Humphries brought cupcakes which I personally enjoyed (my sugar is still good) and I brought my usual Leek and Potato soup, strawberry pretzel salad, cheesecake and my famous chocolate dipped cookies. Jackie Janovsky brought her caramel pop corn, which I love, love love but apparently so did others ..darn it I was hoping to take that home. Sara made her pumpkin curry soup and her Chicken Caesar salad sandwiches which everyone loved. And this year, Sara made Bloody Marys which were enjoy especially by myself, Debbie Liming and Kay Fletcher and also made a green grog which was also enjoyed by ...well the same people. It's so decadent to drink around noon isn't it. I like to think of it as healthy since the Bloody Mary's usually have olives or celery in it and it is tomato based....yes that was the healthy part of my weekend. After that it went to hell in a hand basket. I ate enough chocolate candy to bury a normal person, and yet my sugar was still in the normal range. Unfortunately my weight has slowly risen again...so now I must get back on track...and with the holidays approaching. What the hell was I thinking. The weather didn't exactly cooperate....we had a north easter' on Saturday, but since we're stitchers we didn't really care and we were staying in anyway. We were amazed at the snow totals we were hearing from others as we got nothing but rain, and on Sunday it was gorgeous and back to sunny. But I know many were without electricity (that may have bummed us out but ours didn't go out so hurray!) Anyway, I'm getting back to a normal routine...working in the shop and the office, hiding from salesmen and watching enough reality shows to make a normal person go mad. But I'm also stitching like crazy. I'm determined to get some stitching done for Christmas and so far I've finished 2 pieces to take to the framer (whoppee...I'm done my part). I've also finished 2 pieces which I need to put together (ooops..this could be a train wreck)...but it's exciting to think I could actually stitch most of my gifts this year. A first for me...which makes it really exciting. I'm a stitching fool at night as I have no one who needs my attention...yes, I'm still living alone and loving it.

Good Ridance to Irene...........

The sun is shining, and it's become a beautiful day here in Ocean City. Last night we listened to the wind howling, rain pelting the hotel, but it was like a bad northeaster'...not a hurricane. The tides were high but didn't come over the sea wall, and this morning there isn't as much sand on the boardwalk as is usually the case. So aside from guttering and shingles blowing off, we made out well. Unfortunately the mayor, idiot that he is, allowed business owners and property owners back into town this morning starting at 9:00 (this isn't the stupid part), but is allowing the tourists back in starting at noon. Why is that stupid? Well, they bussed all the foreign students out of town on Thursday leaving us with no help starting on Thursday and will not be bringing them back from Baltimore (where they have been in shelters) until Monday. So meanwhile, we have tenants who have already called and are coming in today, since the town will be open for business at noon, and we have no way to get all the units ready for them. Nor will restaurants be able to open with no employees, so thank you Rick Meehan. Keep in mind we now also have to get all the preparation we did, reversed, so storm windows have to be taken down and that is always a little bit of a struggle as they are screwed in and heavy, and all the other things that we've put in storerooms has to be taken out and put back where it goes, and all the apartments have to have their porch furniture taken back out and put in place and we have a limited crew here. So right now Sara and Mary are tackling the cleaning of apartments, and Anna and Toot, two of our housekeepers from Snow Hill, have been called and while they are not thrilled (thinking they were off until tomorrow) they are on their way to assist. All the men are outside trying to reverse the preparations and because I threw my back out getting something out of my suitcase on Saturday morning I'm manning the phones. Salty Yarns remains closed until tomorrow, and I'm O.K. with that. Anyway, we're all in good shape, relatively, I could stand to lose a few pounds, but Irene really isn't responsible for my weight, and aside from that we came through with flying colors, as far as we know. I'm sure we will have some leaks due to shingles being blown off, but nothing that can't be fixed. And as always after a storm it's gorgeous out. We did get a few pictures and Andre who stayed here with us did reports every couple of hours from the front porch during the actual storm which he then put on you tube. This was Andres first time in Ocean City, he lives in Baltimore. He came to help us out this summer and while one would think he'd be leary of a hurricane, he simply couldn't wait to get out into it. So if you have a chance, you can listen to his reporting on you tube. I hope everyone who saw the storm pass their way did as well as we did and we'll be talking to you soon. I'll get our pictures up on the blog as soon as possible.

Saturday Morning...things are looking up

Last night was uneventful...Lee's wife and daughter (from Malibu's next door) came over and we played games while Solomon camped out in an apartment and Izzie, well it was business as usual for him, running around and getting attention. Poor Vernon was so exhausted from boarding up that he went to take a nap early in the evening and we never saw him again. But this morning he says he woke up around 1:30 a.m. and went back to bed 1 hour later and he and I were both first to wake up and are now sitting here doing our thing. The good news is Irene is downgraded and is now a category 1 hurricane, which is frankly what it was suppose to be when it came by our shore anyway, but you just never know. The bad news...it's still a huge storm and so we will be sitting here in the rain with wind gusts for almost 24 hours. But we'll take that and be thrilled that's all we're getting. The worst part for us is we have to entertain Solomon, Izzie and Michael for the next 24 hours inside. I'm not Sara will make it through this without plenty of alcohol involved....but you know I'll keep you posted on that! It's such a shame that everyone had to leave so early because Friday was gorgeous here. The sun shone, the beach was empty and the water was even calm. So it was really a perfect beach day. And last night the kids were able to stay outside and skateboard on the boardwalk, ride bikes,etc., which is not allowed in the summer. In fact skateboarding on the boardwalk is never allowed, so this was such a treat for the kids. I will say the police were vigilant and rode up and down the boardwalk all evening. And the best news...no looters at the Lankford. And I don't expect any with the rain outside so I think "ole sparky" is going to sit dormant once again. The only threat we've had is Izzie's diaper and even that wasn't so bad. But today...well it's raining here and it's what we will be looking at all day. At this point there isn't much wind, but the ocean is churning up. The waves have not started lapping at the sea wall though so that's good. We all know that will be happening as soon as the gusts are here and then we will have the sand being blown onto the boardwalk so there will definitely be clean up going on as soon as this is over, but hopefully it won't be that much to do and the boardwalk isn't our responsiblity so we don't care how much sand ends up there. We will have enough to do just undoing all the preparations Vernon made. He got all front windows boarded up, signs down, etc. Our lobby looks like winter, signs were taken down and sitting here, some of the tools used yesterday sitting here, screen doors removed and sitting here...and that's the worst thing....now we have to get it all back up to get open again. We also have enough water bottles sitting here to take care of our thirst for a month, but better to have too many supplies as not enough. Well, I'm going to get some stitching done. Yes sir, this is a snow day for me and that means I don't get out of my P.J.'s and I stitch until Solomon gets up and comes down for me to play with him. Michael sleep in my room last night, poor thing has been clinging to Sara, Vernon or myself for the past 24 hours. While he wouldn't say it, he was scared to death of this whole thing. I'm sure it didn't help that I couldn't stop watching the weather channel, however, last night while we played games with the kids I did turn it off to try to calm Michael's nerves. Now that I know it's downgraded I think I can live with it off today. So today the Lankford Hotel becomes Sally's funhouse....as we concentrate on keeping children occupied. They are going to be playing hide and seek throughout the building and for the first time they get to run the halls and slam the doors. Hopefully they will also take naps! I know I'm going to take one.....but first ... stitching. Have a great dry day and you know I'll keep you posted. And for Rich, Staci's husband, I'm going to try to get some pictures.

Update #2....and all is not as bad as it was...

First thanks to all of you who are following this and offering your prayers and well wishes and also to Carolyn who offered us a room at her house...we thank you but our conditions aren't as bad as we originally were told so I'm feeling more optimistic... Renee called to check on us and she and Greenie are hunkered down on 6th street and staying. When they came by her house to get next of kin information they didn't say a word about electic or water being shut off so Greenie has gotten to the bottom of this as we all felt it was illegal to just shut off utilities like that. Now we are being told that the secondary water pumps are being shut down but the main water pump will still be on and the electric from 1st street south is being shut off since the lines are all underground, but that is it. Now I'm thrilled they haven't buried ours...so we are feeling a lot better about our circumstances. There are quite a few of us staying who have businesses for a very good reason...with the town officials ordering everyone out....we have become targets of the unscrupulous whose only intent is to loot from the empty properties. We're old school down here and we will not allow that to happen. So I know that Lee at Malibus is camping out for the duration there, and the owner of the Green Turtle up at the north end has 2 people sleeping in the bar to protect his investment. We are becoming like the wild west down here. Meanwhile I may actually be able to use Vernon's taser, or Old Sparky as he likes to call it, and Renee and Greenie are armed and ready as well. So if looters show up they better make sure they are picking on empty properties because I won't hesitate to spark them up and throw them into the storm. Yes, I'll be kicking butt and taking names. Hopefully "irene" won't be kicking my butt. I've already had my first accident. Sara brought up the computers from down stairs and put them in the lobby where I promptly fell over them to the floor as all the workers were in the lobby getting their lunch. The good news....they said I went down very gracefully. The bad news...getting up was a red hot mess....and my knees are still killing me from the experience. But I lived through it and hopefully that is the last unpleasant experience I am going to have this weekend. The hotel is finally empty except for you know who, but the police did go up and spoke with them and the kids tell me he is loading his car, so by 5:00 it should be just us chickens here. Mary and Brian had decided to go, when we thought we wouldn't have electric and we're now trying to locate a place (Brian thought the Great Wolf Lodge in Pennsylvania would be a good waiting out place but they are full so we're back to the drawing board). After calling Mary who was home packing just in case, she's informed me that Solomon wants a night of camping out in the lobby so I think Brian is being voted off the island alone. We'll see how this turns out. It's like playing Survivor down here...groups forming, people teaming up...oh, this could get ugly people. But you know I'll keep you posted. I will say this...it's eerie here...no one on the boardwalk and the beach is closed. They've worked for 2 days clearing the beach of all objects like the beach stand boxes and trash cans. The only thing you see are the life guards sitting on our porch to make sure no one goes over the sea wall. And there is an air of anticipation here....humid and every once in a while a breeze. The water is calm as it ever is and you just know it nots going to stay that way. Yes, folks we know the storm is coming but we just don't know when, and we don't know what the winds are going to be like. I only hope at some point I can sit down and stitch without feeling like I should be watching kids or cooking or blogging. This is like a snow day....only we're actually having to do a whole lot of work to prepare. And they've called off the first day of school...so Michael is thrilled and when Solomon finds out he is going to be so upset as Monday was his first official school day and he can't wait. Well, I've got to go get busy looking busy...I'll keep you posted.