Fran Sale Stafford

Sometimes we err!

Being one who avoids single use plastics and recycles everything the single stream recycler allows, I purchase the necessary paper products at the local natural foods store, packaged in a paper wrapper that along with the cardboard core can both be recycled. Purchasing 6 at a time fills my reuseable bag even without other purchases, so it occurred to me that perhaps purchasing a case was a good idea. Questions were asked at the check out about this option and how many rolls were in the case. The young worker/owner that was assisting me said he thought it was 24, maybe 48, so a request for a case was made. A few days ago, the call came that the case was in and to ask at the front when I arrived and it would be grabbed from the back storage area for me. Much to my surprise and chagrin, a huge box was hauled from the back, too large for me to comfortably carry, and containing, not 24, not 48, but 96 rolls, a lifetime supply. Having made it a special order, it didn’t seem right to refuse the order, so with help, the carton was loaded into the back of the car, wrestled out at home and slid across the floor to sit until a decision could be made on how to store it without potential water or rodent damage. The downstairs bath has a built in storage space with shelves, but they all contained other items such as spare linens. One shelf was cleared and this…

Less than half the carton. One of the guest bedrooms also has built in shelving on one end that contained much of my cottage business signage, baskets, and other accoutrements before the business was closed last December, so another shelf in there was filled.

I am not hoarding like was happening during the early days of Covid when such supplies were limited and you were lucky to be able to even find it, but maybe someday, it will become a good barter item, or certainly keep us supplied into eternity.

45 and Counting

Forty five years ago we became Mr. and Mrs. A special day on a significant day. It has been a great run and I hope for more to come.

When our children were young, my parents or a babysitter would stay with the kids and we would go out to a nice dinner at a restaurant we could barely afford, and one year left an 18 year old babysitter over night and stayed in a hotel on the beach in a snow storm. With the kids grown and gone, most years we have gone to one of 3 nicer restaurants in our nearby town, often in a snow storm. Five years ago, we took a cruise and spent our Anniversary swimming with dolphins and rays, riding horses on the beach in Honduras, and enjoying warm weather in the winter.

With Covid and continued healing from the fall medical issues, we have not been able to travel and this year even have to postpone our dinner out until much later in the week.

For three out of the past several anniversaries, my love has managed to get me a spindle from my favorite spindle craftsman, Ed Jenkins with the help of his wife Wanda. This year’s spindle is extra special as it has our anniversary date and a heart on the date arm.

This is a lovely gift from my dear, that indulges my hobby and contributes to it, helping my well being. I love him dearly and hope for many more.

Just In Time

This is a part of Virginia that gets at least a couple of several inch snows each winter, once in a while, a foot or foot and a half that prevents us from leaving for a few days as the State 700 roads are the last to be cleared, plus we live downhill about 2/10 of a mile on a dirt and gravel driveway. This winter has been an anomaly. There have been flurries and barely dusting bare surfaces, an inch or two that lasted a mere 6 hours before there wasn’t a trace left. If all the rain we have gotten since September was snow, we would never get out. Each time the forecast says snow possible, weather patterns shift just enough for it to be wintery mix or rain. There is another weather event predicted that could/might unload 2 up to 4 inches late Sunday, but chances are it will just be another cold rain.

As I was walking back from releasing the hens into the yard, you can see a few inches of Daylily leaves emerging and the daffodils in the back garden have buds. The snow won’t bother the daffodils, the Daylilies won’t be too happy, but will be okay. The Snowdrops on one of our walks are blooming. They will be fine, they often bloom in the snow when it happens.

In the fall, during hubby’s early months dealing with the health issues, an online friend offered to proxy shop for a spindle for me from the craftsman who makes the best Turkish style spindles available, Ed Jenkins, Jenkins Yarn Tools. They are in Oregon and only do events within a couple hours from home. Linda bought me a lovely Crabapple Finch, a smaller size that I love and wrapped it in some gorgeous black Merino/Alpaca/Silk blend roving, a very generous amount. About a month or so later, she was going to attend another event where Ed and Wanda were set up and offered again, this time getting me a Lilac Finch, and packed it in the same blend in a camel brown color. Those fibers were spun on the spindles they came with and a shawl/scarf was started for me. Last night, I cast off “Linda’s Hug,” soaked it, blocked it, and because it is so delicate, the yarn spun to 20 wraps per inch or lace weight yarn, it dried over night.

The two yarns were used together and in spite of the light weight (50.94 g or 1.8 ounces) of the shawl, it is very warm with the Alpaca and Silk, just in time for a possible winter blast.

I am ever grateful to the friends I have met through my Jenkins group and also my two local friends who I taught to spindle spin and hooked on the Jenkins spindles. They have been very generous in their time and support first through the Covid lockdowns and then through the early days of hubby’s issues. Each time I wear this shawl, I am reminded of love and concern.