Chat Thread

[#1]

Here you go. Private and all.

[TheYarningCompany]

Hi, all!

I tried writing yesterday (and had a nice, long post written) but I kept getting an error message when I hit "reply".  So annoying. 

Mary Alice - your Olivia sounds adorable! So full of life! We've had three snowfalls already, which is an awful lot for this early in the season.  However, the sun's been out the past two days and that's melting the snow pretty quickly.  

Sue Ellen - I'm sorry to hear you've had so many hospital stays, but am glad that you're back!  I'm with Debra - here's to a great 2020 for you!

Lisa - CONGRATULATIONS on being #1!  That's amazing and you deserve it! 

Debra - it looks like you've been staying busy from what you share in Instagram!  That's great that you saw Violet - what a little ray of sunshine, huh? 

I've sold two items in the past 3 days here on Etsy, which feels great, and I've been regularly selling patterns.  I'm hoping this keeps up!  I'd love to sell more of the ready-to-ship items I have here at home!

Biggest news here is that my sister is 40 weeks and 4 days pregnant.  We're all SO ready for this baby to arrive!  :)

[HowCuteAreYou]

Hi Ladies ~

Lauren- I hope the baby has arrived by the time you see this!  Good luck to your sister and congrats to your growing family!  Love your stuff on instagram.

I've been keeping a bit busy making some new things but nothing special.  I just like to keep an instagram presence because it does bring in a few views to my shop.  The photos that get the most views are the ones of my dogs!  Crochet, not so much.  Some days I would love to sell my puppy!!  She's the cutest little thing but OMG can she get nutty.  Still not housebroken and not sure that will ever even happen.  I have the door to my backyard open all the time, she sees Jimmy going outsite to do his business, she will walk on the grass for a minute and then come and do her business on my patio or a rug in the house.  She is most likely my last puppy!!  Next time it's a cat.  

I met a woman last month who got an adult grayhound from the prison training system.  The prison takes in grayhounds when they are done racing and trains them with up to 29 commands and completely housebreaks them.  She was able to get this gorgeous dog for $500.00 and it was so perfectly behaved.  I was also told by my sister that her veterinarian does the same thing.  The vet will keep the dogs for a year, they are well taken care of and loved while being used for their blood to make eye serums for other dogs.  They are not caged but kept as pets.  At the end of one year they are adopted out.  All these great options for a full grown NOT PUPPY dog.  

I'm pretty sure that Scarlett will be a wonderful companion dog, she's super sweet and sleeps next to my all night.  It's just the poop, pee and zoomies that are a bit much for an old lady!!

Lisa ~ Congrats on the success of your book!  Are you on instagram?  I was going to post a photo of the book with a link back to your account but I can always do that with a link to your shop.  I have quite a few crocheters who are followers.

Your dad is a handful, I understand.  My folks are doing ok.  They are waiting for an apt to open up at the complex where they want to live.  My mom has some restrictions, only first floor and for my dad it has to be near the dining room since he can't walk far.  They don't want assisted but independent living.  I think they should go to assisted but they don't want that level yet.  So, nothing is opening up for them.  I checked another place out that is in my neighborhood, which would be perfect but it's more money than they want to spend.  I think they should just do it and stop worrying about the money.  I think they want to leave their "kids" money in the end but we're all ok, no one needs it so they should just go to the best place they can.  

Yay to the large order, boo to forgetting when it was due. It's actually almost scarf weather here.  Thank goodness my dogs pooped quickly last night on their walk because it was in the 50's and I am so not prepared.  I have to go to my scarf drawer and pull out my poodle scarf you I got from you!  

 I've been a bit busy this past week.  I had 6 orders in one day, probably the most I've had in quite awhile.  I've already reached my month goal so that's good!  After this Thursday I won't be shipping again till December 1st.  I'm not shutting down as I usually do, I want to experiment and see how it goes over Thanksgiving.   

Sue Ellen ~ I was glad to see your shop is back up and running!!  Good luck and I hope you get some holidays sales.  This holiday is going to be rough but I am keeping busy and that's another reason I am keeping my shop open.  Too much time to think and I get into a funk.  I'm trying my best to keep it together,  put on my game face and just do what I have to do.  

This week I have some fun things planned.  Wednesday my girlfriends and I are going to Miami Beach to Joe's Stone Crab and then window shopping on Lincoln Road which is also on the beach.  Then Saturday my daughter and I are heading up to Satellite Beach for Violet's 2nd birthday party.  Next week my kids will all be here for Thanksgiving and I will have a full house.  So, with the help of tequilla, friends, family and crochet I am keeping busy and almost sane.

Mary Alice ~ Have you decorated yet for Christmas?  I see a lot of Christmas lights have already been up in my area since Halloween.  What the heck is going on?!  That's like 3 months of Christmas!!  I'm probably going to just put out an animated Christams box that I bought for Neal years ago and the lighted wreaths on the door.  We bought those last year because Neal didn't want to do the Christmas tree and I didn't argue.  I'm a traditionalist and Christmas things don't make an appearance in my house till the day after Thanksgiving and are immediately removed on New Years Day.  

Have a great week ladies!

[KnitAndCrochetPalace]

Thank you Lauren.  I am going to go slow and do what I can.

Debra, Yes, I did get my shop opened but I can't seem to make the "rearrange" work so it doesn't look the best by any means.  I think something is wrong with my computer.

Have a good day everyone.

[HowCuteAreYou]

Hi Sue Ellen ~ I saw your shop is back up so that's great. Yesterday I was having issues with bulk editing.  I had wanted to remove a whole paragraph and was not able to do so.  I had to separate online chats with Etsy and they couldn't help me.  I was supposed to receive an email from them but still haven't received it.  I was finally able to remove the paragraph but only a line at a time.  What a pain!  Not sure if there is an edit bug or not.  Etsy wanted me to clear my cache and work in another browser which I did not want to do but I gave Chrome a try instead of Safari.  I wasn't clearing my cache. It was no better in Chrome.  

You can contact Etsy Chat if you are still having an issue with rearranging your shop.  

Busy week ahead and I hope everyone has a good weekend.

[TheYarningCompany]

Hi, all! 

Just need a spot to vent a little.  My sister's been in labor since this morning, was given Pitocin around 1:45 this afternoon, and there's still no baby.  (It's almost 7 p.m. here now.) I'm going a little crazy waiting and certainly won't sleep until I hear the good news!  All this waiting is making me very thankful that I had c-sections with all three of mine.  ;) . If this baby waits till past midnight to come, it'll share a birthday with my dad, which would be kind of fun, but I'm not wishing that on my sister!  

I sold two Chemex cozies in the past week, and have had three people contact me asking if there's an option for the 8-cup Chemex, so we might be buying another Chemex just so that I can write a pattern.  And then we can make more coffee at once, I guess.  That wouldn't be a bad thing! 

I hope you're all doing well!  Lisa, your scarf book has been showing up on my Instagram feed - Annie's must be promoting it!  

Okay...off to keep my hands busy until I get a phone call.  Hopefully I'll be sharing good news very soon!

[TheYarningCompany]

Okay - good news arrived!

Ivy Luella Ash was born last night shortly after 8.  She weighs 8 lbs., 11 oz., is 20 inches long, has a head full of dark hair, and is the spitting image of my Elizabeth.  Their birth day pictures could be of twins!  

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

[KnitAndCrochetPalace]

Congratulations on the new arrival, Lauren.

[TheYarningCompany]

Thanks, Sue Ellen!

[mzbellz]

Congratulations Lauren:  Glad baby and Mommy are doing well.  Congrats on the sales also.

Have a great week.  

[HowCuteAreYou]

Good moring ~

Lauren ~ Congratulations on the birth of your niece.  Such a cute name!  How wonderful that you get to see your daughter's baby face again.  Hope your sister is doing well.  That's quite a large baby!!

Wishing everyone a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving!  

[KnitAndCrochetPalace]

Where is everyone?  Did you eat to much turkey and you are still miserable???  Hope each of you had a good holiday with your families. Debra I hope you are doing okay.  Personally, I will be glad when January gets here.  

The weather here is a little above normal so no snow or ice problems at this point.  If any of you had to travel for the holiday,  I hope you didn't have any dangerous weather issues.

Well back to bed for me......I slept only about an hour last night.

Have a good day everyone.

[mzbellz]

Good morning everyone.

Hope you're all doing ok.  It's been snowing here since yesterday afternoon, and will not stop until Tuesday morning.  We're expecting between 12-18 inches.  First big snow fall of the year.   daughter and son-in-law, along with my granddaughter put up the Christmas tree, and decorated the house.  Really looks nice.  My grandson is home for the Thanksgiving holiday. (hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving)  He might be here for a few more days with all the snow were getting,plus his school is about 2 hrs away and I know they will probably get more snow that us.  

My daughter is hoping school will be closed tomorrow as she has a huge test to take.  If she doesn't pass she can't continue with her nursing.  So hopefully she will pass.  She's been up till 2 in the morning studying, and she will be studying all day today.  

I've been busy crocheting.  Made a corner to corner scrapghan size is 45x42 I still have a lot of scrap yarn left over so I've been looking for small projects to use it up.  I found a cup cozy made in a celtic weave stitch  which i will do.  and a mitten and hat ornament you can put on the Christmas tree.  The pattern is made by Jayda in Stitches, and the cup cozy is made by bonnie bay crochet.

Talk again soon.

[TheYarningCompany]

Hi, all!  It really has been quiet on here.  Everyone really must be busy!

I've gotten a bit of snuggle time in with sweet baby Ivy, although there's never really enough of that, is there? 

We had a really nice Thanksgiving, although Abigail was sick, so she missed out on Ivy's baptism last Wednesday evening and all the Thanksgiving festivities.  Michael and I switched off staying home with her and being with the other two at our friends' house for Thanksgiving, but Abigail's a champ, and made the best of being home by pulling out every board game she wanted to play.  She and I did two games of Clue, two games of Blokus, and one game of The Quest for El Dorado.  She's our gaming girl!

I finished my first ever sweater for myself this week!  I tested a pattern for another crocheter, and wanted to make the long-sleeve version of the sweater, but of course I chose the one color of yarn that Hobby Lobby discontinued mid-sweater-making.  *sigh* So it's short-sleeved instead.  But I figure I can wear a long-sleeved t-shirt under it and still make it work this winter.  :) 

My other news here is that I started a job today.  Eek!  I'm officially the 4th grade aide at one of our local elementary schools.  Today went well, but I'm sure I'll be tired by the end of the week.  I applied kind of on a whim a couple of weeks ago, and was offered the job within a week.  The hours are 9:45-3, M-F, so I can still drop off and pick up my kids at their school.  I realized it had been almost 14 years since my last job interview.  Craziness!

Off to finish boxing up an Etsy order. My teacher mugs have been selling well this past week.  Parents are shopping for Christmas!  :) 

Wishing you all a great start to December!  Mary Alice, your projects sound amazing, as always! Stay safe and warm in all that snow!

[HowCuteAreYou]

Hi Ladies ~

Sorry to be MIA.  Mary Alice and Sue Ellen ~ I hope you two are doing ok with the crazy winter snow storm.  Snow days were always good days as a kid, not sure how that works as an adult when you are stuck in the house.  

My son from NYC was in for the weekend and left last night. His flight was delayed two hours but at least he got home.  I saw on the news that so man flights were cancelled and people are stranded in the airports.  

Sue Ellen ~ How are you feeling?  So glad to see you back on the chat.  I'm doing ok.  Thanksgiving was tough, cried and had a mini meltdown but thank goodness for family, my kids and my granddaughter.  They kept me going and for the most part in good spirits.  

Mary Alice ~ Did you daughter get to take her nursing exam?  Hope she did well. If she fails the first test can she retake it after a certain amout of time?  Is she nursing now?

 I bet with the snow and Christmas decorations that your house is quite charming.    I put out just a few decorations for Christmas.   I was so proud of myself when I was able to set up the lighted deer on my front lawn and hook it up to a timer. I also put up some lighted wreaths on the door and put out my Mr. Christmas animated music box.  Violet loved alI the decorations so much.

I had 18 for Thanksgiving.   So MUCH food!!  We ate it for 3 days and now I don't care to see turkey again till next Thanksgiving!  Best part was all my kids were home for the first time in ages.  Just loved being with them.  I had a full house for 5 days and by last night I was a zombie but it was good.  

We are getting a bit of the northern weather and will be in the 40's tonight.  Yay to sweater and boot weather!  

Lisa ~ Hope you're doing well and enjoyed Thanksgiving.  I thought of your little granddaughters today when Violet asked her mommy if she could get a haircut with rainbows in her hair.  I think my son and dil think I put that idea in her head but that was all Violet!  She's quite the character.  She turned 2 on November 19th and has quite the imagination.  She came up to me yesterday and said,"I'm on an expedition." I asked to where and she replied, "To Pooh's house, it's very far away and I can't see it".  She cracks me up.

Lauren ~ How's the baby doing?  Hope your sister is well.  Did you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family?

I have a new pattern for a baby hat from Lakeside Loops that I want to try.  It is made with the double stitch which is bascially a single crochet 2 together kind of stitch.  It makes a very uniformed almost knit like look.  As soon as I get the correct bulky yarn I will try and work it up.  I used a yarn tonight that was too bulky and the brim looked all wanky.

My shop has been slow but kind of steady which is perfect for me.  I didn't close shop over the holiday as I normally would but rather put up a notice that items purchased last week would ship this week.  I got a few orders which was good.  The way we are able to bulk edit the listings and the shipping times is really great.  It use to be such a pain before we had those options.  

Have a good evening ladies!

[hooknsaw]

I can't believe how quickly time flies!  We had a great Thanksgiving on Saturday the 23rd!  We host early so that the kids can visit and enjoy the day without having to rush out to attend in-laws or other obligations.  Don smoked a perfect prime rib, I only made potatoes and the kids brought all of the side dishes!  Actual Thanksgiving morning we woke up to 7 inches of snow and stayed in!

Debra, I can't imagine how difficult holidays will be.  I'm glad you had all of your kids together at the same time.  That only happens every few years for me and it is special.  My oldest 2 are living in the area and we get to see each other fairly often, but my youngest lives several hours away and is not as flexible.  How sweet Violet must be!  My granddaughters are the highlight of any occasion we have!  My son and dil are hosting a grandpas day on the 15th and I'm looking forward to spoiling Don and my dils Dad!

Mary Alice, I saw the news and NY was getting hammered with snow!  That was the same storm that dumped on NM but it just gained traction as it headed east!  Did your daughter get to take her test?  Congrats to her for pursuing the education! Is Olivia looking forward to Christmas vacation?

Lauren, congratulations on being a new Auntie!  And the new job!  Wishing you and your family well!!!

Sue Ellen, I hope you are feeling as well as you can be!  

Life has been crazy, Don has had a lot of follow up appts with VA.  We meet with the eye surgeon next week.  Our shop has been busy and now we are hitting the customer service time of year with the "where is my order" and people trying to custom order last minute.

I had a customer this evening message me that she had not received her refund (on an order that was cancelled and refunded 3 weeks ago).  Took me 20 minutes to figure out how to contact etsy to look into the transaction and cancellation.  

Have a great weekend everyone!

[KnitAndCrochetPalace]

I had a long post written and lost it twice so I will try again tomorrow.  Hope everyone is doing fine.

[mzbellz]

Good morning everyone.

I'm just posting a bit as I'm busy.  Like Sue Ellen I wrote a long paragraph, and poof it was gone, so I'm not going to repeat that again.  It's very annoying when that happens.

Lisa: I know you're busy busy busy so I'll wish you a Merry Christmas to you and your family.  How is the sales on the book doing.  I have so many different things I want to crochet. I'm doing a cute baby sweater outfit now, plus I'm making a headband for my friend who likes what I have in my Zibbet shop. Hope Don is doing well, as well as your father.  How is Addy?  Olivia is looking forward to Christmas, she's been counting down the days since the beginning of November.  We took out our Elf on the Shelf, so every morning when she wakes up she looks for him.  It's funny the places my daughter places him.  One day she put him in a wire box that's filled with ornaments and said he was in Elf Jail.  Then my son-in-law wrote a note pretending to be the Elf.  His name is Stampy.  Saying he was in Elf jail and he doesn't know when he will get out.  Then when my granddaughter was sick with the flu throwing up and pooping, my daughter sat him on a paper plate, and put a roll of toilet paper in his hand, and had little pieces of chocolate by his butt squished to make it look like he was sick too.   I think she took  a picture of it too.   It was funny.

Debra: Hope all is well with you.  Happy to hear you had a nice Thanksgiving with your family all around.  Especially getting to see Violet made your day. Didn't your sister have another baby?  Was it a boy?  Or am I thinking of someone else.  I know Lauren's sister had a baby.  

The weather here is freezing 17 degrees.  The cats go out in this weather.  I don't know how they can stay out.  We have 3 male cats.  They are a pain in the butt.  Especially at night.  The moon was so bright last night it lite my whole room up.  It was amazing.  I thought of that movie with Cher and Nicholas Cage Moonstruck. Bella Luna.  That was a great movie.

Well, that's it for now.  If we don't chat before Christmas.  I hope you all have a healthy and happy one.

[HowCuteAreYou]

Hi Ladies ~

Hope everyone is doing well.  Sounds like you are all very busy, always a good thing.

Lauren~ I think we must have posted at the same time when you mentioned your daughter was sick.  Hope she's all better. Ivy must be adorable.  Isn't the smell of a new baby the absolute best?  They need to bottle it.  We have a new baby coming this weekend to visit. My daughter's step daughter had a baby in October and this will be there first visit from NYC.  The baby, Raya Belle, was only 4 somthing at birth and is now just about the size of a big newborn.  I would have been so scared to hold a baby that tiny.  

Congrats on the job!  I have to hand it to you, three kids and a job is not easy.  But, the hours are the same as your kids school so that is perfect.  I'm sure you will enjoy being out and about and being productive.  

Lisa~ Hope all of Don's appts. go well.  My son, dil, her sister and Violet will be back here on Thursday to celebrate my dad's 98th b/day.  My brother is also coming in from California so it's something to definitely look forward to.

The holidays are proving to be tough but I knew they would be.  I put up just a few of our holiday decorations.  I can't bear to look at all of the ornaments for the tree, each one seemed so special and full of memories, so no tree this year. Just pushing through and dealing, it's literally one moment at a time. But, I'm patting myself on the back because I'm doing it.  

My girlfriends and I are doing Happy Hour at a really nice restaurant on Wednesday so I'm looking forward to that.  They are great and keep planning things for me to look forward to.  

Let us know how Grandpa's Day went.  Sounds like a fun day.

Glad you shop is busy.  I love your scarves.  Still haven't had a chance to work on your pattern book but it's in the queue of projects. I closed my shop on the 9th.  I had a busy week with orders, yay, but I already saw the handwriting on the wall.  I had a customer contact me that her package which she was expecting on Wednesday for her reveal wasn't scheduled to be delivered till Thursday.  I politely told her that she placed her order on Saturday and had she let me know that she needed it by Wednesday I would have suggested upgrading to USPS Express or at the least priority.  I told her she could return the order only if the packages were upopened and I would give her a full refund.  Haven't heard back.  I offer free shipping and it amazes me how many customers want their package by a certain date but won't pay for upgraded shipping.  So, I'm done till January!!  

I am working on some things for my new grandson due in February.  Made pants, hats, booties and a teething ring.  My son requested an aviator hat with goggles for the baby's first photos.  Can't wait to start on it.  

Mary Alice ~ I never had the elf on the shelf for my kids, did you?  The toilet paper, squished chocolate is hysterical.  Hope Olivia is better.  

It was cold here one night and I let my dogs out in the fenced in area instead of walking them.  I have no idea how cats can roam around in the cold.  My dogs were running back in the house and neither one of them would poop.

I love the movie Moonstruck.  Yep the moon has been super big the last few nights.  I've been binge watching amazon and netflix since my sons hooked it up for me.  I finished Mrs. Maisel in two nights and the Kominsky method in another 2 nights.  I also watched the Irishman this weekend.  Loved it!  Side note...Anthony Provenzano, one of the real life characters in the movie,  lived on the street behind my house in Hallandale, Fl.  It's nothing like they show in the movie nor was it on a giant bay of water.  It was on the intracoastal and a nice house but no mansion.  We had the same number address on a the next street over and my dad was always worried they would hit our house thinking it was his. Our whole neighborhood was mafia.   My folks had no idea when we moved there.  We had a cute little house and they just thought it was a nice little neighborhood.   The draw for the mob was the race track, which we could see from our street, and the quiet area which gave them cover.  We had no problems, the area was pretty safe.  You'd have to be an idiot to rob someone's house in that neighborhood.

Sue Ellen ~ I am so nervous I am going to hit the wrong key and everything I just typed will go away.  Hope you're doing well!!

Off to the grocery store.  We got a new one in the area with a coffee bar and hot prepared meals.  I hate cooking for just me and tend to eat cereal for dinner or kids food like pp&j.  So hot meals that are ready to go is such a plus!  

Have a good weekend stay well ladies!

[HowCuteAreYou]

Hi Ladies ~

Wishing everyone a very Merry Chirstmas and a happy, healthy New Year.  Busy week here.  My dad was in the hospital from Sunday through Wednesday with infections along with heart and kidney issues.  He was released just in time for us to celebrate his 98th b/day on friday.  Family had come in town special for his b/day so it was a little miracle that he was released.  Everything was stabilized and now he has to follow up with his own dr.

Enjoy your families, friends and the holiday.  Love to you all!!

[mzbellz]

Hello Everyone.

Merry Christmas and Happy and healthy New Year to all.

Debra: So sorry to hear about your Dad, but glad he was released in time for his birthday. Hope it was super.

Nothing special here, just wanted to wish everyone a happy holiday.  

Lisa, Lauren and Sue Ellen.  Hope all is well with you .

Love and Best wishes.

[hooknsaw]

Want to wish you all a very blessed and Merry Christmas!   

[mzbellz]

Good Afternoon Everyone.

Just stopping by to say Hope you all have a Happy New Year. Happiness, Health and Wealth to all.

[hooknsaw]

Wishing everyone a better 2020!  My son mentioned "last year was bumpy" and figurative glasses raised to a better new year!  So relevant with so many of us.  Debra, you have been in my thoughts and I hope you are well.  Love and hugs to you!  Is your Dad doing okay?  My Dad has some issues and thankfully my nephew has been able to get him to Dr. appointments as Don is having major dental issues and under the weather and I came down with a bronchial infection and have been down for the past 10 days.  I'm feeling okay, just get short of breath easier than usual.

Did Violet have a good Christmas?  The highlight of my December was Christmas Eve with Izzy and Addy!  The girls were so much fun, just a joy to be with.  It amazes me that they want for nothing and appreciate everything.

Mary Alice, did Olivia have a great Christmas?  So fun with the young ones!  Happiness and health and wealth to you too!

Lauren, I hope you and your family had a wonderful Holiday!  How exciting with a new baby in the family!

Just wanted to pop in and say Hi!  I hope you all have a great weekend and get to chat soon!

[HowCuteAreYou]

Good Morning Ladies ~

Wishing you and your families a happy and healthy new year.  Toasting you all with my figurative glass.  To your health! 

Lisa ~ I hope you are on the mend.  I know this time of year can be challenging with your bronchial issues, get better soon. Sending good thoughts to Don on his dental work.  My brother just had a whole bunch of teeth pulled and he thought it was going to be a breeze, not so much!  Not only was he in pain from the procedure and the temporary teeth but the antibiotics really messed up his stomach.  All this after he had the shingles over Thanksgiving along with the flu.  Getting better now, thank goodness.  Do you have anyone to help you when you are down?  So not good.

How's your dad doing?  Mine is doing ok, knock wood.  We are trying feverishly to get my folks into independent living.  My mom has pretty specific demands on where the apt can be located in the bldg and the floor plan has to be to her liking so it's tough getting them in.  But, they really need to go.  Taking care of the two of them is too much work for her and she needs to now have meals made for her and to stop having to take care of a house.  

My kids were here with Violet for two days before Christmas.  Violet had a blast.  She wanted everything to be wrapped in orange paper and wanted orange gifts.  I wound up making her an aviator hat which she loved for a minute.  My son and dil want the new baby, due in 7 weeks, to have an aviator hat for newborn photos so I had to make Violet one as well.  Super cute.  It has too much detail work for me to make them for my shop but I did wind up making them for a friends grandsons.

Lisa ~ Your kids must be doing a very good job of raising the girls.  Very difficult to find a balance between having it all and appreicating it.  You must be proud of them. 

This coming week, the 9th, will be one year since Neal's passing.  Hard to believe.  Just trying to move through it as best I can and do right by my kids.  Holidays were tough but I learned that so am I.  I'm thinking seriously now about downsizing and when the right place comes along I will consider it.  I'm in no rush but I feel that I am getting ready emotionally to move.

My brother and sister keep me going.  Today we are meeting for lunch on the beach in Pompano, just south of here.  Little things like that give me something to look forward to which is important.

Mary Alice, Sue Ellen and Lauren~ Hope you are all doing well and had a wonderful holiday season.

I reopened my shop on NYE and had 3 sales so far this week.  I am happy to just be a little busy.  My new grandbaby is due at the end of next month so I will probably close up again in mid-february because you never know when you are going to get the call to go. 

Have a wonderful weekend!

[TheYarningCompany]

Happy New Year, ladies!!!

I can't believe it's been over a month since I've checked this chat!  My, how life is different now that I'm working!  

I'm glad to hear that everyone survived the holidays, even if there were a few tears along the way.  Debra, I can't even imagine how difficult this Christmas must have been for you, but how wonderful to have been surrounded by your family!  

Lisa, your Izzy and Addy sound like my girls.  They adore every gift they get, whether it's underwear or some cool new toy.  Elizabeth especially.  Carl definitely doesn't love opening a gift and finding clothes in it, but he always ends up loving the clothes later, once he can wear them.  :) 

I got your crochet book for Christmas!  I'm so excited to try some of the patterns, but they'll have to wait.  I'm working on two custom baby blankets for a woman at my church (she ordered them, I'm not gifting them), and have a number of friends expecting for whom I want to make blankets.  I've already been thinking that any of those animals would be cute on a corner of a blanket instead of on a scarf, so we'll see if I end up trying that.  :)   I also sold a few Chemex cozies here on Etsy during the last month, which was awesome.  They're almost all profit (minus shipping), people seem to be okay with the price point, and I can make it in a couple of hours, so it's a nice, quick turn around.  

We had a great Christmas here.  No snow, but we did appreciate the temp being in the 50s at the end of December!  Have I told you about the Nigerian professor we hosted at Thanksgiving?  He was with us again for Christmas, and we'll probably have him again at the end of January for a weekend.  That's been a great experience for all of us, and I look forward to having him here again.  

The kids' big gift this year was a "game room" we set up for them in our basement.  Michael got my parents' old Wii up and working, we bought a futon and TV stand at Ikea, and my in-laws bought a TV.  Watching them do games on the WiiFit has been hilarious, but they LOVE it.  Michael also hacked the Wii and put on all sorts of old Atari and Nintendo games, and he and I are both kind of reliving our childhood with those.  :) Our basement is unfinished, but we already had a couple of big area rugs down there, and it actually came together really nicely. 

Sue Ellen and Mary Alice, I had also had a nice, long post erased at one point on here, and that is so frustrating! I hope you're both doing well!

Here's to a great 2020 for all of you!