Good morning, everyone!
Before I begin today....not to get into politics or anything...but in case you didn't know there are a lot of bills being proposed in the Wisconsin, Ohio, and Michigan legislatures that are attempting to limit collective bargaining for state workers (including teachers), asking them to pay a higher proportion of their own insurance, etc. Now, I have never been really sure about unions (especially for teachers), BUT I also don't think our good teachers get paid enough or supported enough. There was something flying around on Facebook about how much teachers make and how much they would make if we all paid them a babysitter's wage (incidentally, which would have them making well over $100,000 for their 9 months of work). So, I've been thinking about the contribution that teachers make to our society. And then I saw this. It's by the same guy who did that other poem that many of you liked so much. So, I thought I'd share it...
..and ask, "Have you thanked a teacher lately?" One of your teachers? One of your kids'/grandkids' teachers? One of your quilt teachers? Just a thought!
Ice storm update:
Well, the kids are still off school here again today, because the roads really haven't improved much. But the university is still open. Papa Pea just told me that to make the 17-min commute to work, I better leave at least 45 min before my meeting...because it's going to take that long to get there (based on how long it took him to get home from class last night). Sigh. Spring, where did you go?! Come back! I miss you already!
It's snowing here today. We have a few inches of snow here now, which helped a little with traction on the roads. I am grateful that we've never lost power. I heard on the radio that there are 160,000 people without power in southwest Michigan. One of my faculty colleagues told me she's "winter camping" at her house. They've been out of power for 2 days and probably won't get it back for at least 2 more days. My graduate student called me yesterday to make sure we were okay. Apparently they had not had power all day. He wanted to make sure we were all doing okay. I felt like such a heel. I hadn't even thought that others may be out of power (in my own little world, working at home) or checked on any of my friends! My secretary told me she still has no power. She washed her hair in cold water today and brought her blow dryer to the office to fix her hair! Her house was 48 degrees last night! Brrrr! And all of her food in the fridge and freezer is spoiled. I e-mailed Linda, The Quilted Pineapple, because I haven't heard from her in so long I was worried about her. She replied (from her iPad) that she has been sick and is now without power. I feel bad for my friends!
Okay, back to the task at hand. At my Friday Night Sew In, one of my friends, Holly, and I got to talking about knitting socks. I knit mine one at a time from the cuff down, and she knits hers two at a time from the toe up. I was wearing some of my hand knit socks, and she had brought her knitting with her in case she got sick of sewing. I asked her where a good yarn store was in town, as I haven't really gone looking for one yet. But I'm about out of sock yarn and wanted to know where one was.
She said, "Oh, you have to go to Stitching Memories." Okay. So, on Saturday, after Sweet Pea and I picked up her unicorn, we went to check out Stitching Memories.
I drive up to it and think, "This looks like a nice store!" (As you can see, this was BEFORE our lovely ice storm hit on Sunday.)
I walk in and see this! (The sound of angels singing rang through my head...as if the Pearly Gates had just opened!) Wow! This is a fully stocked, full-service stitching shop! Mom, when you come to visit, you have to come here with me!
This is right inside the front door. You can see Sweet Pea playing with their toys. This whole wall is for stitchery....cross stitch, needle point, embroidery....Look at that collection of silk ribbons just above Sweet Pea! (Sweet Pea was actually upset when we left becasue she was having so much fun with their toys. She told me next time we are in that store, I need to shop longer!)
A close up of the stitchery wall. What a riot of color!
To the right of the front door...more goodies.
The classroom!
The check-out counter. They sell Trollbeads! (Cue the angels singing at the gates again!) Yay! I haven't found anyone in town who sells these, and I've been wanting some new beads for my bracelet. Papa Pea has been looking for them, too, because he and Sweet Pea like to get me beads for Mother's Day, etc. I found out this is the only store in town that sells them!
This is a little book nook right inside the front door and behind where Sweet Pea was playing.
I did get this pretty Alpaca wool sock yarn and cast on a new pair of socks. Isn't this wool just lucious looking? I'm still doing cuff down and one at a time (even though this pattern is for two at a time). It's a different sock pattern with lots of decoration on it, so I wanted to only change that one thing right now. See the little "baubles" along the top of the sock? I had a little bit of a hard time figuring them out. I had to rip them out the first time, as I realized I had done them wrong. But, now I have it figured out, and they're not bad at all. I can't wait to be able to wear these. This sock also has a rolled cuff, which will be interesting to see how I like.
I finished some other socks over Christmas break, but I don't think I ever showed them to you before. Here they are:
I was wearing this pair at our Friday Night Sew In. That's partly what got the conversation going with Holly. I love wearing my hand knit socks. It just makes my feet feel special! And these wool ones are warm! (Unfortunately, Papa Pea, trying to be nice, did the laundry and washed and DRIED my cotton socks. They are now about the size of a size 5 foot. Too bad my feet are sized 8.5! I will have to find a new home for those socks. They are too big for Sweet Pea.)
This store had a lot of interesting yarns that I haven't seen before. I will have fun shopping here. I don't know if I should hug Holly for introducing me to it, or if I should spank her. I could get into serious trouble in this store. I enjoy knitting about as much as I enjoy sewing, and I have a much easier time doing this activity in the car...
Well, that is it for today. Hope all of you are warm and with power.
Until next time,
Mama Pea
Did I know that you knit, too? We'd REALLY be in trouble if we lived close. Knitting is my second passion!
Posted by: Shelly | February 22, 2011 at 10:03 AM
Your new yarn looks wonderful! And I love the baubles on the cuff!
In this case, having friends who are enablers is a GOOD thing (and I think you should hug your new friend!).
Posted by: Sequoia | February 22, 2011 at 10:07 AM
Nice shop! Too bad about your weather - sorry! Hope Spring comes back soon!!
Posted by: Brooke | February 22, 2011 at 11:07 AM
I have been thinking that I need to learn to knit. I'd love to knit socks, but I'm afraid of how much I'd spend on yarn if I did knit. So I haven't pursued it ... yet. I'm not sure how long I can hold out though! Your socks are beautiful.
Posted by: Lynn | February 22, 2011 at 11:38 AM
I can't believe you are taking on another hobby. Where do you find the time. I can barely get my quilting done. Love those socks. I bet they are warm and comfortable. Still, I do love to sit and knit on these cold winter evenings. I stick to dishrags though. No great investment there.
Posted by: Caroll D | February 22, 2011 at 02:18 PM
Thanks Stephanie! You are too sweet! I wish you were coming Saturday!
I really enjoyed your post. I usually stay clear of politics but this one really hits close to home. Unfortunately, teachers aren't the only state employees under the gun. Scott comes home every day with more upsetting info. I had to laugh at a recent statement made by the gov that private sector employees make half of what state employees make for the same job! HA! What a joke. Too bad Scott would make more if he worked in the private sector doing the same job. Oh I could go on...
Love the socks!! Looking super warm to me right now! LOL! I, too wondering where you find all the time?? :-)
Posted by: Linda | February 22, 2011 at 02:36 PM
Now I REALLY wish I had my yarn store! The one I've wanted for years!! Although I must say this one looks awful full (aka cluttery)-that would drive me nuts. Yes, where do you find that time? I have none! Especially now with Jack -that is starting to get draining. We don't knock the teachers -we just wish they would be doing their picketing after school hours and wkends. Schools here have been closed 5 days now. If anyone else took off that long, they'd be fired.
Posted by: sisLH | February 22, 2011 at 09:05 PM
I saw on FB about teachers! Being a teacher is a very hard job. I can't believe people think teachers are overpaid!
I adore your socks! They are adorable :)
I have never learned to knit. I think it is the only thing I never tried. Amber learned to knit in school and she made me some pretties that I will treasure forever!
Stay warm and I hope the ice melts soon.
Linda let me know last night too that she was without power and sick.
Stay well and Hugs,
Donna
Posted by: Donna | February 22, 2011 at 10:51 PM
If you ever get down here to Champaign-Urbana, I will take you to Needleworks! This store is the ultimate!
Teachers = babysitters
Nurses = waitresses
People don't value the services that we provide.
Posted by: Maggie Szafranski | February 23, 2011 at 08:44 AM