Must blog today!

I've been wanting to, meaning to, trying to blog for the last few days - I'm either in the same location as the camera and don't have time OR I have time but the camera is at the shop. So....here's what I've been hard at work on - #15 is currently on the needles! I've have to plan the order that they are going to be and I've just got in the Black Cascade 220 for the border so I'm almost ready to put it together. Everyone who knows me thinks it's a miracle I'm still at these square with no end in sight. I even went to the supplier to buy six more colorways of Kureyon that I didn't have in stock to finish it. How self serving is that? Although, I know some of you are working on it too so that's good for you too, right?


Summer yarns have started to arrive and I've done a big shuffle of the store so now you are greeted by all kinds of summery, pastly, shiny yarn when you come in.



The little cylinders of yarn are the perfect substitution for Debbie Bliss Prima - and less expensive and made in Britain. It's actually the identical blend and such similiar colors that it seemed like a no brainer to me. I've got the magazines in stock too - these are my new favorite knitting magazine.





Here's Pure Pima by Berrocco - and Norah Gaughan Volume 4 is also here. I just found out today that Berrocco will credit me back for 2 sample garments a year - no one else does that.



Next week I'm off to Wigamog Inn in Haliburton for a few days with both of my daughters and my two grandchildren. We are joining my sister in law, mother in law and niece and nephew. It should be fun...and a nice break! Florida is just around the corner too and I must say I can't wait to feel the sun again after this crappy winter!

Yes...yes...yes

I'm still here....I can't believe how time flies! I took a week off after Grandpa's funeral to re-coup, recharge, relax and reflect. I'm feeling much, much better now. And I have been knitting - I am completely and utterly addicted to this. I defy you to see it and then not want to run out and buy all the Kureyon you can find and get busy. I'm on my 7th square with no signs of boredom or moving on to another project. I'm thinking I really need to get a handle on my WIPs - it kind of scares me to really look at that situation all that closely.

Have you seen the new Debbie Bliss magazine? 'sigh' I love Debbie Bliss, I really do, I think her designs are brilliant. I've ordered the new Prima and Eco that is predominantly featured in the magazine but if you can't wait for that - apparently, Sirdar Baby Bamboo is a perfect substitute.

I've also ordered new Noro yarns for summer, Cascade Fixation, Tofutsies and the sales reps will be visiting this week - Berrocco, Misti Alpaca - I love seeing all the new yarns!

There's new additions to the Specials section of the website. Lots of good stuff - if I do say so myself.

So....

apparently, there will be no eulogy - the church does not allow them. Same church as my grandmother where I was allowed to say a eulogy but now there's new clergy so no - they won't allow it. Perhaps I suggested, they should just bury everyone together on the same day since there will be nothing personal about the funerals. I'm pissed.....and of course, there's nothing I can do which does not sit well with a personality like mine.

I started a new sock last night - a nice self striping by Biscotte et cie but nothing is really working for me at the moment. I feel like I can't get comfortable - not watching tv, not knitting, not reading - I'm just so restless.

He's Gone....

Grandpa passed away peacefully this afternoon. He is restored to health and back with his loving wife again.
Pick Up Sticks (the shop)will be closed from today February 9th until February 17th.

Let's see....

where am I at? It's Friday morning and Emma just left for school and I am sitting here contemplating. My dear grandfather has pneumonia and it's very likely he won't survive it - I visited him yesterday and today I'm going back with Lisa and my dad. It's hard to even gather my thoughts to write something - on one hand I want him to get well but on the other hand, he's 90, he's been suffering and he needs to be with my grandmother. I was sitting with him yesterday thinking about the man who from my earliest memories smelled like Juicy Fruit gum - he always, always, always had a stick of Juicy Fruit until he got dentures. My grandmother always told me that when I came along he was ready to have more children so he poured all that love and attention on to me. And it's true - he's the man who gave me my first ring - an amethyst birthstone ring, he's the man he took me to my first movie - it was Jungle Book, he's the man who took me to the subway on the day it opened and rode with me up and down, up and down, he's the man who first took me to Center Island, he's the man who introduced me to horses and horse racing, he's the man who told me that it never gets darker than midnight no matter what, he's the man who came and sat with me when I brought my first born home and no one else could come, he's the man that showed up with grandma at every single one of Laura's horse shows - even when he wasn't sure how to get there, he's the man who would let me pretend to each spinach like Popeye the Sailor man and then magically be able to get his ring off his finger, he's the man who still has the stone I got stuck up my nose when I was three, he's the man who ate eggs with his dinner every day of his life, he's the man who made the best toast in the oven, he's the man who made the world's best french fries, he's the man that never called anyone by their right name - hence my mom and aunt were Manetta and Maurella instead of Annetta and Lauretta, he's the man who with grandma were among the first to meet all of my children for the first time, he's the man who started his day with 2 fingers of whisky - he's the man I call Grandpa and what a Grandpa he has been. I want to be the one to say his eulogy - maybe I just wrote it.