Neither snow, nor bus strikes...

Neither snowstorms, traffic jams, bus strike nor athritic attacks shall get between a knitter and her stash. This was the lesson learned this past week as our wonderful customers graced our doors. My esteem for the hardy Canadian knitter/spinner/felter has risen immeasurably and we had to follow their incredible examples of courage and fortitude.

Despite our own winter battles with Arthur(itis), despite my giving in and having to resort to using my cane while my partner hobbled along beside me fighting her own demons, we resolutely drove to Montreal to (what else?) BUY YARN for the shop. Of course, we made one pit stop along the way, during which I dropped a comb out of my hair. My partner offered to bend down and kindly retrieve it for me, earning herself a knock across her already pained shins when I dropped the cane too! I don't think she's forgiven me for that yet.

Then, to ensure a total lack of forgiveness from anyone who might ever have loved me, we bought sock yarn. We had just finished reorganizing the entire shop to accomodate a forgotten shipment of sock yarn in a new floor-to-almost-ceiling display cabinet, we had been warned by all staff NOT to buy any sock yarn and what did we do? We bought sock yarn . The only good part of this part of the story is that said staff members do not read my blog and the shipment isn't coming for a couple of days, so I have a temporary reprieve. Perhaps the other good part is that I'm still computer-illiterate enough that I can't respond with all my prepared excuses if and when said staff does respond to this blog : ) In this vein, would the writer of a comment on my last post be kind enough to email me personally, please? I simply haven't had the time to figure out how to reply to your kind invitation!

After the sock yarn, we picked and plucked only the ripest, juiciest fruit off that most sinful yarn-tree for another 3 hours. We fully intend to tempt all the most incorruptible of crafters with orgasmic fibres and penny-pinching pickings.

At 4pm, we dragged ourselves back to the car and began our journey home. The light was fading fast and the snow was turning to icy rain. The CD player was blasting our favourite ABBA songs but even that couldn't drown out our thoughts. She, sitting there cringing about how she was going to explain all the sock yarns; me sitting there wondering how I was going to explain 20 more boxes of yarn being delivered this week... both of us revelling in the beauty of all that we had seen, felt and ordered. We, both knowing that after the expected expletives (in the privacy of the staff-room), would be observing that same sense of overwhelming pleasure which we all derive from the first gaze and carress we bestow on our treasures : )

And so, we begin the last couple of weeks of the year, trying desperately to finish all our hand-made gifts and looking forward to making some goodies for ourselves after the festivities. I have to thank all of our wonderful customers for having made the trek, having made us laugh until we cried, for sharing their creativity with us and having encouraged us with kind words, with wisdom and with patience. My personal thanks also to the other shops who have generously sent customers our way!

My heartfelt wishes for Health, Inspiration and Peace go out to you all.