This time of year I start thinking. Around here, most of the people say, "Uh oh, she's thinking" and it probably means another To Do list is about to be shared with them. But there's something about the change from Daylight Savings Time to Standard Time that means that I slow down a bit. I have more time to think and to ponder because of that. I go slower.
I am already thinking about next year, but I am also thinking about this year and what has happened for us at Miss Babs, and what has happened in our personal lives.
It's been a busy and eventful year. There are 9 of us now at the studio and 2 part timers as well. We are a close group and we share the good times as well as the bad. Among us and our extended families, we have experienced and shared a marriage, a family death, a couple of car accidents, a surgery or two, beginnings and endings of relationships, poor health, training new employees, travel, sleeping in tight quarters, insomnia, loss of a pet, anger, frustration, lots and lots of laughter, and lots of music.
We are kindred souls when it comes to work and doing a good job, and we care for each other. This very real group of women that I work with is what I am grateful for this year on a personal level, plus my understanding husband and family.
This foundation of good people has allowed Miss Babs (the business) to grow and continue to do creative things this year. We built an addition to the studio that has given us a drying space and a place to store a good part of our inventory, and create a second dyeing space.
Under construction!!
Dottie, our redneck dog, during construction
And here is the Studio today with snow coming down. We have some things left to do outside to decks and railings, but it is wonderful inside!
In tribute to Thanksgiving, please share a thought or two about what you are grateful for this Thanksgiving season. We will do a drawing using a random number generator on ... and we'll be giving away a skein of Ephemeral, with a pair of HiyaHiya circular needles, and Heidi Kirrmaier's Windward pattern.
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I am very greatful for my wonderful friends who keep me going when everything around me is falling apart, but two of them who are most precious to me: Paula, my best friend in the whole wide world who taught me to spin years ago, who came up to be with me when I broke ribs this summer when my own husband wouldn’t come home to help me and manages to talk me down when I feel like throwing in the towel. Even though we live 3 states away we bend heaven and earth to get to see each other; we even bought matching Sonatas this year so we can spin with each other even though we’re miles apart. And Mikey, the child of my heart, who let me teach him to spin last year and has become an absolute whorling dervish – I am so proud of him! He is a gifted knitter, and is the first person who has finally got me to follow a knitting pattern instead of giving up halfway through and “winging it.” When the two of them came up to see me at SAFF and spent the weekend relaxing and fiber geeking, I felt so recharged and reinvigorated and so very blessed to have both of them in my life. I hope everyone has their own versions of Paula and Mikey that enrich their lives in fiberous and friendly ways. Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Happy that my baby niece is out of NICU in time for Thanksgiving, and that I will see all my sisters and brothers tomorrow, our only time together all year.
This may sound silly but I have had a particular chronic injury that has plagued me for the last few years. It has caused running to be painful. I am so thankful that the injury seems to be at bay and my feet are allowing me to run as much as I would like. To be kept from doing something you love is frustrating!
I thankful for a lot of things, mostly my family and my health. Also all of my knitting friends which are very supportive, friendly, helpful and lots of fun!!!
I am thankful to my wonderful supportive husband and his understanding that I need to knit. I am thankful for my whole family which includes my knitting group family. I am thankful that mine and yours are safe.