One Last Hook

October 21, 2013

 My move to Pennsylvania didn’t stop my scarf production. Before I left, the ladies jammed two bags full of yarn to continue my efforts remotely. With Christmas fast approaching, I was on schedule to meet my goal. One of those instances when the pace of project gets shifted into 5^th gear arrived via a facebook post. The deadline to get the scarves in has moved up to November 4^th! The group had found someone to deliver the scarves and the flight was coming up fast.

Now I look at the two boxes on the floor full of scarves. At this point, I decided it was okay to be amazed by my own efforts. I had made 95 scarves this year! 95 seems so small and yet so HUGH! Over the course of 7 months, through countless hours, one stitch after another this project is coming to a close.  The number I actually turned in was an even 100. This was due to the fabulous people that contributed and support me along the way: Vickie Graham, Sue Schmidt, Aletheia Schmidt, Chris Pipkin, and Hilary Sephton.

Are my crocheting days over? Not by any means. I have bigger projects envisioned for the future. But first, I think I will give my wrists a break.

Finding a Name

October 16, 2013

Having a child count of ZERO, I often wondered why some parents found it so hard to pick a name for their child. Well, now I understand. It isn’t because I am expecting a child (which I am NOT), it is because Aletheia and I are starting a business, and we have been toiling over a name for the past I-don’t-know-how-many weeks.

This new business venture in many ways feels like a first child—not knowing for certain that you are ready for it, wondering if you have what it takes to help it grow, and hoping that the choices you make don’t screw things up for the rest of its life. Still at the same time you want the best for it and you know that in some many ways the name can cause a lot of grief (to all of those children out there with uncommon names that people don’t know how to pronounce or to those with common names that are uniquely spelled, I feel for you…well with a common name like Heather I really don’t, but Aletheia sure does!).  Needless to say, the process has been somewhat torturous and relentless. At many points, I have just wanted to through my hands up and say “Let’s just pick one already!”

Now I think the filtering process has finally worked, the hours of panning and screening has finally revealed a little glimmer of gold. Now the refining process begins. Hopefully, come January, all will be ready to reveal.

Memorial Lake

October 4, 2013

So far I have to say that where I am now is a better fit for me landscape wise than Durham. The trees in North Carolina seemed to create walls on either side of the road. A great beauty at times, but often I felt somewhat trapped. Here trees are in abundance as well but the rolling hills provide depth as the fields break up the tree line to allow a glimpse of the horizon.

Pennsylvania has also shown some other great advantages:

1: There is no sales tax on clothes or food (with some exceptions like fast food)

2. It has a lower sales tax than North Carolina

3. It costs a significant amount less to register your car and get plates plus my car insurance is less

4. You don’t have to take a test to get a driver’s license

5. You can get into any state park for FREE!

The ladder point was one that really made me smile. Although the area that I live in is full of many of the beautiful aspects of nature, I realized there was still something missing – the presence of water. Fortunately, just up the road is Memorial Lake State Park. Calming and rejuvenating, Memorial Lake filled the gap by providing a new place to explore and discover and witness the beauty of the changing seasons.