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Friday, November 30, 2007

Evel Knievel


Well, this just makes me so sad for some reason. I grew up watching this man any and every chance I got. Back when television was one channel and there was little I was allowed to see, my parents let me stay up past my bedtime to watch his stunts when they aired. It was always a huge event for me. I remember that I was given tickets to see his Snake River Canyon jump from my mom as a surprise gift. I could not have been more excited! I was going to see my hero!! You can't imagine my confusion when it turned out to be tickets to the local events center and it was closed circuit television. I thought it was real. This was as close to "live television" as we had back then, and it was on a big screen. That event, no matter how it ended, was still amazing. Later, when I was about 14, I got to go to see where this took place and was even more impressed if that was possible.

That was what I loved about him. No matter how it ended he always tried again. I loved his tenacity...and his caped costume. To a girl who swayed "tom boy" (and did some pretty hairy stuff on a purple banana seat bicycle beating every boy in the neighborhood!) he was quite something.....made me swoon a little too! May he rest in peace and out of aches and pains!!

"It's my Birthday and I'll knit if I want to, knit what I want to..."

Who sang that song? It's an oldie I know, but it was humming in my head as I cast on for my Kathryn Alexander hat. Another project that I have no business starting because I have promised myself "No New Projects!!" until something else gets finished....primarily Jeanne's sock. But it was my birthday! I got to do what I wanted right?

I know all you moms out there must be like me. Most things pass by with hardly a notice. I am very low key about things like this. Birthdays, Mot
her's Day (blech!), Valentines, not so much into it I gotta say. In fact my sister and I have a promise (and a gift of freedom) to each other that we won't go nuts with holidays and such. If we see something that the other one would love, we just go for it. No waiting and stuffing it into the back of a closet to be held for some "occasion"...where I inevitably forget it's there anyway...blah, blah, blah. I will just add that this does not apply to the kids. Of course they don't miss out, but the adults in our family sort of have this arrangement.

So you can imagine my surprise when I woke up to this!



Knowing that I would head to the bathroom first thing, my honey bunny had a beautiful vase of flowers and card waiting for me. He had left for work but still surprised me with this before he went away.


Then I came out into the living room and found that my kids, a.k.a. "birthday elves", had done THIS:




I was laughing so hard as they told of their middle of the night adventure, trying to be quiet, problems with tape, and hoping I didn't wake up with my chronic insomnia episodes and discover them. Balloons covered the floor everywhere you looked and the dogs didn't know what to make of it all. My daughter told me how her room had been stuffed with them the day before and she hoped I wo
uld not come in and discover it all.

I was treated to a wonderful breakfast made by my kids and the funniest cards you could ever read. I received emails and phone calls all day long and I have to say it was the best birthday I have had in ages.... Getting old felt really special this time around!


I can't leave out the Jimmy Beans group. Allie came in with the gorgeous flowers that could not have been more perfect for my vase. Can you see the red barn house on the vase? How did she know that the Lily is my favorite flower? She is Allie, and she knows everything...that's how!!

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Team Jimmy Beans Rocks!



So, I just have to say what an amazing bunch we all are. I not only get to work in a
little shop that is a bit of heaven on earth, but we all like each other to boot! We have the greatest bosses, and the whole thing is too much fun. It is funny because we are just a little yarn shop with the greatest dreams. We have amazing customers in store and online. We all work very hard to fill orders, serve our customers and help each other. We really are a "TEAM" in the best way, but I like to think we are friends too...

For those who know, and those who don't, we went to Sonoma recently. This was Jimmys way of spoiling us rotten yet again. Besides all the other ways that she takes care of us, this was an over the top experience that I will remember for ages.We began by piling into a van and pulling out our knitting! We were chauffured the whole time and that in itself is a treat. Stops along the way were bead stores, lunch in the square and puttering around downtown Sonoma, including another *gasp!* yarn shop. What can we say? We love to knit and we love yarn so we dove in!

Then off to Santa Rosa where we stayed in a lovely place. The view was beautiful, the beds were cozy (down blankets and feather beds!!) and the company divine. We spent the first part of the evening chatting around an open fire sipping Pinot Noir. More surprises were in store because we were taken off to a nice dinner in downtown Santa Rosa....and shocking! Out came the knitting!!


I am sure we were a sight to see, but fortunately they gave us a somewhat private area in the restaurant. After the delicious meal we went back to our hotel and slept like babies!

The next day the fun just continued. We all had a leisurely morning and ate breakfast as we felt lead. We all ended up gathering at the patio area again for a beautiful time of chatting and knitting...duh!
















Off in the van again to more wine tasting and enjoying the most beautiful scenery. I
used to live in this area and so it was a lot of fun to see places again and also noticed how much things have changed. Lots of wonderful memories....hopefully I didn't bore everyone with my stories!





We toured the wine caves at one winery, looked at art in another, and gift ideas in ALL of them. The last stop was at the "sparkling wine" vineyard for a delicious plate of cheeses and fruit, toasting each other and the Zanders for a wonderful weekend!

Thanks again, it was awesome!!!


Lost in Revelry, I mean Ravelry :-)


Wow! In a word that is it!


I found this site ages ago but you have no idea how cool it is until you actually get "in there". I was confused by the whole invite thing and just scrapped it. Then it kept popping up in conversation so I tried again, and again, .....and again after signing up that is. I think they made that "Antsy" button just for me!

So here is where I say I was overwhelmed. I did not know where to begin so I just sort of looked. Then the reality of logging all that stuff. Taking and loading pictures. Admitting to yourself just how much yarn you have aquired and just how many unfinished things you have going all over the place. I like to joke that the reason I work in a yarn shop is to support my "habit" and that I am not a hardship to my family. I like to joke that I don't make any money. It is no joke. If I want to save any money I need to quit my job. I wonder if I can afford to work.

Just joking!!