Monday, May 31, 2010

A beautiful day

What a beautiful day outside today. We managed to plant our flower gardens and after much direction from Cliff, and much complaining about his direction from me, we got the job done.
There is alot to be said for perennials and this fall I'm going to add more. Cliff loves lots of colour and petunnias fill the bill for him so we were off to Wains Greenhouses in Brighton and honestly I think he started to salivate when we got out of the car. They still have a wonderful selection of annuals and their hanging baskets are the best I've seen. This ones for you Janice. While we're looking the first thing he says is " would you like some red and white"? I just stared him down and he realized his gaff as I had already explained your red and white theme. lol

Friday's hook in was a success but we missed Janice and Tina although Tina did drop in with her friend from Manhattan. Welcome to Canada.
I've decided to hold the Hook In on the last Friday of every month so we are booking now!
If any of you have a moment on Thursday, stop in and see Linda O'Connors work of art. She has been planning this piece for well over a year and it is all of a sudden coming together. They are embroidered wildflowers in stumpwork and it is the finest work I've seen. She has done a thistle that you could reach out and touch.
Cheers
Mary Anne

Friday, May 28, 2010

Hook In Today

It has been a busy week with Hookers, Knitters and Stitchers. Today is our 3rd Hook In and it looks like we will have a full house as usual. It is a great time for me to see what everyone has been up to and the selection of projects people are working on is just great. There are all kinds of mediums used in this group and they're always thinking. It keeps me on my toes.
A big congratulations to Janice Daniels on her graduation day. We will miss you today, but we are all wishing you a great day at your graduation. The best part is it's not to hot today !
Cliff has finally finished staining and sealing Sheenas toy box. Took him 20 years but it's done and delivered to Oshawa last night and she was thrilled. Amazing what grandchildren on the way will do.
I am patiently waiting for new fabric arrivals. I can't believe I'm saying it but I had a meltdown buying Christmas fabrics and I can't wait for them to arrive. Stay posted.
M.

Monday, May 24, 2010

80th birthday

Thanks to a lot of support we managed to pull off my Moms 80th birthday this weekend. A huge crowd turned out even though it was the long weekend and I declare the day a huge success.
Unfortunately my sister went down with the flu on Sunday morning and was unable to attend.
We all had a great dinner together on Saturday night on her actual birthday but Pam woke up with the bug and still hasn't been able to shake it. Both Mom and my brother Steve have had it and I am keeping my fingers crossed that I don't get it and that Sheena doesn't get it.
It was so nice to see Grace Ann at the party after her heart surgery and I think she' in better shape than some of us. Cliff asked her if she would commemerate the surgery with a little ink.
I can always count on him to say the right thing. She grinned and said "maybe".
I had left the job of getting the cake to Tracy at the flower shop and it was the best ever. A lady in Brighton made it and my cousin would like it for her wedding. No date for the wedding but she says she could plan it around the cake. lol
The Lioness ladies did a wonderful job on the lunch as usual and Mary Lynn Heiser coordinated it for me and I didn't have to worry about a thing. Joan Graham did the roast and brough back memories of the times together with my Mom going back to when they roomed in a boarding house in Belleville when they were all working for the Bell Telephone. What a bunch. Sounds like they had a great time and they have remained friends all these years.
I think I'm going to kick back a little today and enjoy the weather outside. Cliff has the pool up and running and declares it warm enough to swim. We'll see. I find it is usually freezing when he is trying to coax me into the pool telling me " it's warm, no kidding". Yeah right!
Hope all of you are having a wonderful long weekend and see you on Tuesday back at the shop.
M.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

They're Twins

Cliff and I are going to be Grandparents and Sheena is having Twins.
Woo Hoo!
Having said that I had better get in shape as the babies are arriving the first of December and there are a million things I want to do. I jokingly said to the knitters today that Sheena probably already has a book of things to do and after getting off the phone with her now , she hasn't let me down. She is making lists and notes. What an organizer. I can't get the grin off my face.

I was a bit of a shopaholic this morning and we are going to have the best Christmas selection around. I couldn't stop myself. I am hoping to have everything in the shop by July 1st, but will keep the blog posted as well as the customer list.

Cheers
Mary Anne

Friday, May 14, 2010

It feels like summer

No rain today. The weather is beautiful out there. I think tomorrow I will head in early and perhaps plant the perennials that Geri so generously dug out of her garden to dontate to my flower beds. We all know that I don't know the name of the plants but I will do my best to make them grow. I'm a florist not a gardener.
Rosemary Kirby has a facebook page for those of you who are doing the helmet liners. When I figure out how to get on it I will post the info so that you can all link up and see what is going on.
I'm hoping the other shops will post their numbers so that we can see how the mission is progressing. I suggested to Rosemary that we could have a Knit In at the shop this summer and she asked if Bad Betty and the crew would be there. I Love It! See you there Bad Betty.
A little quiet in the shop today but I am sewing up a storm. It is kind of nice to work away quietly after the past week at the Flower Shop.
Manos has a new yarn that I am interested in and will be ordering this week. It is good to felt and hook with and also great for felting. I hope to have that ordered next week.
I had a bolt of cotton and bamboo batting arrive this week. 90 inches wide for $14.99 a meter
a steal , so I've heard.
There is some new sock yarn coming as well. Knits to about a 3 ply and hopefully it will be in next week. Probably won't arrive in time for the knitters group on Tuesday but definately sometime next week.
Already they are contacting me for fall yarns. I hate buying off season.
Cliff outdid himself again tonight. Striploins, fried onions and mushrooms and he makes the best mashed potatoes. I'm not sure what goes into them. Travis was even impressed. I'm hanging up my apron
M.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Mothers Day is finally over

For those of you that know me well, you know we also own a flower shop. At Mothers Day week each year I drag myself down to the shop to engage in my original career of floral designer and this year was no different. Last spring when the markets went in the pot we were concerned about Mothers Day but as usual people didn't let their mothers down. This year was bigger and better. As I get older and think I can no longer stand on my feet for that long I amaze even myself. Even more amazing is my 80 year old mother who keeps up with all of us. I am ashamed that I whine so much about my back and neck from standing for twelve hours on a cement floor. She just keeps pluggin away and rarely says anything. The younger generation are just whimps. My words, not hers. I think I put in my forty hour work week into four days. Back to Andjareenas on Tuesday.
I hope all Mothers were looked after as well as I was at Mothers Day. Travis brought home two beautiful hanging baskets to go with the new trellis and plant stand that Cliff bought for my gardens. I have been complaining about the wooden trellis's he built so he has replaced them with metal ones that are just beautiful. Guys just don't get it. He figured the plant covers the wooden one he slapped together and no one would notice but me. He is probably right but I wanted the pretty one.
We have had some great new fabric arrivals lately but I haven't had the time to enjoy them much. I am always looking for a deal and fabic companies seem to be in the mood so keep checking back as things are arriving weekly.
Knitters and Rug Hookers alike should keep an eye on some of the new yarns that are arriving to support their craft. Hope to see everyone out to knitting on Tuesday afternoon and don't forget we have a Hook In at the end of the month.
M.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

What a day!

The first day back from the show and I had an enormous amount of unpacking to do. The mindset is , if you don't take it with you you can't sell it. Hence the amount of goods that go in and come out of the van. Although we had a great show there still is alot of unpacking to do. I managed to get most of it done today, but by noon I knew it wasn't getting done today. My knitters arrived at 1:00 and that was the end of the unpacking. Thanks to Maureen for the updated sock pattern. This is a very informative group and if one doesn't have the answer someone else does. There is lots to learn from these ladies. I am always so surprised at the sweaters, socks and afghans that are constantly being pumped out. I feel slightly inadequate as I rip another pair of socks off the needle. Lost count of the stitches or something .There is always an excuse. Bad Betty on the other hand looks like she has that sweater nearly done.
M.

Monday, May 3, 2010

Hook In a Huge Success

What a weekend! The Annual Hook In held in Cobourg this year was amazing. A huge display of rugs and talent. My hat is off to Janice Daniels and crew for organizing a great weekend. There is always criticism but to those who criticize I suggest you try to arrange something of this magnitude. As a vendor it couldn't have been better. Customers were friendly and generous and for that I thank you. As vendors we don't always get to see the venue as much as we would like to but I took lots of pictures. Although I see their progress on their work all the time it still amazes me what these men and women turn out. The thought that goes into designing some of these rugs is incredible and my hat is off to all of you. Geri and I had a great time.
I understand that the Cataraqui Guild's stitchery show was a huge success as well. That's good to know as it is always difficult to squeeze two things in on the same weekend but some of my girls managed to do just that. Good for you for supporting all efforts.
Cheers
M.