It's just Business...

Or is that busyness?  It is early on a Sunday morning and I am taking the day to catch my breath.  I have gone nonstop all summer long.  Unlike my skinny sister, I need a rest every now and then.

It all started last spring when the owner of the yarn shop told us she planned to sell the business.  {This was all going on while we were preparing for Prom, remodeling the kitchen, and planning a graduation party.} It was just too much for her to teach and run the shop.  I didn't want to shop to close.  I love that shop. So I, with two partners, attempted to buy the shop.  We studied the financials, outlined a business plan, and met with advisors.  We also ran off to TNNA where we took business classes and made connections with yarn reps and other shop owners.  We made the offer the night before I left for our family vacation week in Okobji. 

Unfortunately, we couldn't come to terms.  Harriett had so much invested in the shop, in the end she decided to keep it.  What an emotional roller coaster!  Harriett decided she really just needed a manager for the shop and she asked me to do it.  And really, it is a great gig.  Almost like owning the shop without the debt AND I get paid to do it. Plus the staff at the shop is WONDERFUL.  I think we could have a lot of fun.

More on my summer later,   

Summer Time...

We just spent a fun-filled week at Lake Okoboji where we stayed at Fillenwarth Beach.

We ate.

We drank, but probably not as much as these people.

Charlie skiied.

The men had their "Man Float".

We played at Arnold's Park.

And we relaxed.

What a week!

Gardening...

After Charlie left for Germany, and Mom went home, I was feeling slightly blue so I took my friend Carolyn's advice and walked around my garden.  We've had a lot of rain, sunshine, rain, sunshine... so the garden is thriving.

The birds can take a bath among the hosta.

There is a bench at the far end of the garden.  It is home to an antique teapot filled with impatiens.

My hydrangea is blooming.

The Tri Color Beech tree is striking.

My herbs are thriving.

My window boxes are overflowing.

And thanks to my friend Ellen, a watering can sits nicely by the front door.

I'd like to take all the credit for the yard, but this year the husb worked endlessly in the garden to prepare for the graduation party. 

After an inch and a half of rain overnight, the sun is shining in central Indiana.

It's all over, but the cryin'...

The kitchen remodel was completed Friday at 3 pm  (details in another post).  With in hours Skinny Sister, my bro-in-law and 2 of the husbs sisters arrived for Charlie's graduation.  The party for Charlie and Jack was Saturday night.

It rained like crazy Saturday morning.  By party time (5 pm) the weather was steamy, but no rain.

We had plenty of food.  The dear s-i-ls peeled 10 lbs of potatos for All American Potato Salad.  So many people requested the recipe... you'll find it at the end of this post.  We also made coleslaw.  I ordered sandwich platters from Jimmy John's.  Jack's mom, Sally, brought fruit platters and relish trays.  We also had chips and French onion dip.

The dessert bar was a hit.  We had all the boys' favorites.  Jack's father, Keith, made chocolates (okay... that may have been one of my favorites).  For Charlie we had pie and cheesecake.  The pie was from My Sugar Pie.  Eva K claims this is the best pie she has ever tasted.  We had blackberry, blueberry and strawberry rhubarb.  For Jack we had chocolate cake and tiramisu.  My friend Peg made the tiramisu.  It was SO GOOD!  Kevin and Carolyn brought Phil's Organic Lemon Cake from DeLullo's, one of our favorite hangouts.  Yummo! 

Jack and Charlie greeted friends as they arrived.  Here they are with Coach Brennan. 

 Skinny sister donned an Indiana Hoosier shirt for the occasion.

My bro was in attendance.

My bro's daughter, my Goddaughter, Emme manned the door.

The open house was from 5 to 8, but we had people here until midnight.

Graduation was Sunday afternoon.

Here is my smart, handsome grad... he graduated with academic honors. 

For graduation, Charlie chose a trip to Germany.  He will visit the family that hosted him in an exchange last summer.  I put him on a plane this morning.  So... it's all over but the crying. 

All American Potato Salad
(originally found in Good Housekeeping magazine {as if I am a good housekeeper})

3 pounds all-purpose potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks

1/4 cup cider vinegar

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

3/4 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup whole milk

2 medium celery stalks, chopped

1/2 small red onion, chopped

In 4-quart saucepan, place potatoes and enough water to cover; heat to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 8 to 10 minutes or until potatoes are fork-tender.

Meanwhile, in large bowl, with wire whisk, mix vinegar, oil, mustard, pepper, and 1 teaspoon salt.

Drain potatoes. Add hot potatoes to bowl with vinaigrette; gently stir with rubber spatula to combine. Let stand until cool.

In small bowl, with wire whisk, mix mayonnaise, milk, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt until smooth. Add mayonnaise mixture, celery, and red onion to potatoes. Gently stir with rubber spatula to combine.

Cover and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.

So much going on...

I have been very busy getting ready for Charlie's graduation.  I finally finished the announcement

and open house invitations.

Charlie and his friend Jack wanted to have their open house together.  They will be roommates at IU next year.

My new appliances came last week.  They are WON-DER-FULLLLL.  I picked GE Cafe stainless for everything but the dishwasher, which is a Bosch.  Momma like!

I went to the granite lot and picked the section from my slab of Geriba for my island.

This week I need to clean, clean, clean.  I need to call Restore to pick up my old appliances.  {Restore is part of Habitat for Humanity and they will accept gently used appliances, cabinets, furniture, and other household products.}  Someone is coming to measure for wood blinds on Thursday.  My new Walnut Dining Cabinet is coming on Friday.  

BUT next week is when all the magic happens {fingers crossed}.  June 1st, the counterops and plumbing are ripped out.  June 2nd, the granite arrives (and so does Eva K).  June 3rd third the plumbing is reconnected (new garbage disposal too) and the backsplash will be put in.  June 4th the painter returns.  June 5th is the open house.  What?... you think I'm crazy?  You may be right. 

Coping in the midwest,

It is a busy time...

Our house {literally} is gearing up for graduation.  The past month has been busy, and this month promises to be more of the same.

First of all, let me confess.  Several years ago when one of our nephews was graduating from high school my SIL did  a lot of redecorating.  At the time I thought "how crazy".  Why did she need to redecorate and why did she wait until the last minute.  Well... now I know.  {Those were my younger days when I was some what naive and obviously judgemental.} 

My tale of redecorating reads something like If you give a Mouse a Cookie.

It started with the spot on the ceiling of the family room.  I was responsible for this spot as I ran the water in the master sink upstairs to the overflow point... overflow and large spot on the ceiling.  So bring in the painter to fix the spot. 

If I am bringing in a painter, I should probably also repaint the dining and living rooms. 

If I am going to repaint, I should bring in an interior decorator to help me choose paint.  And convince me that I need to repaint kitchen, family and powder rooms too.

If I am going to repaint the kitchen, I should probably think about replacing my formica with the granite I've always wanted.

If I am going to get granite, I should get a tile back splash... and what about replacing the island with something more functional and pretty...and the white appliances won't look good with the new granite.

If I am getting new appliances, including a new dual fuel range, I'll need to hire an electrician. 

If I hire an electrician, I should update the lighting in the kitchen.

And now that my dining room looks so nice with the new paint, I should have a real dining room set, complete with a place to store my china.

I'll tell you, it never ends.....

So girls, the moral of the story is never wait to redecorate. 

Here is the graduate, on the day of prom, and before the wisdom teeth extraction.  He is headed to Indiana University but as you can tell, there is a little Hawkeye in his blood. 

For My Mother...

All that I am, or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.  -Abraham Lincoln

Happy Mother's Day Eva K.

xoxo

Where there is life...

...there is hope.  The husb pointed out to me that my clamatis is blooming in the back yard.  A little bright spot and pointed reminder on this busy weekend.

Tonight is prom at the Indianaoplis Children's Museum for Charlie.  It is rainy outside, but I am hoping for a ray of sunshine for pictures.

My blogland friends probably think I've fallen off the face of the earth.  Just busy, busy.

Last weekend I was very fortunate to be able to travel to Chicago with Mary and Jenny to the International Quilt Show. We met the Iowa girls there for a couple days of quilt-seeing, shopping, laughter and wine consumption. We mixed in a little knitting and found 2 stores we adored.

My Sister's Knits is on 9907 S. Walden Parkway in Chicago.  The owner, Carol, is very friendly and truely delightful.  The shop is not large but every inch of it is used wisely and stocked with inventory that will make you ohhh and ahhhh.  The store's slogan is "Come in for yarn, and leave with a friend" and we did.  I'd make the day trip just to visit Carol again.

Chix with Stix is in Forest Park on Madison Street.  I bought patterns and yarn because their samples sold me.  Again, the shop was small but the space was well used.  Kelly was so nice and it was fun to share the excitement of ...yarn.  

But back to reality... I am taking on a kitchen update which will include new counter tops and a fresh coat of paint for the entire first floor.  And I am hoping to have it done before graduation.  Silly me.

I have been knitting like a fiend for the shop {The Village Yarn Shop}.  It is cheaper than therapy, although the husb may not agree. 

Here is a Potato Chip Scarf made out of Plymouth Kudo.  Kris at Knit Witts Yarn & Shoppe in Evansville, IN shared this pattern with me.  She said it is called the Potato Chip Scarf because nobody can make just one.  This is my 3rd and it looks fab with a jean jacket.  Kudos for Plymouth Kudo - they have really great colors and it is fun to knit.

Have you heard about the Super Scarves project?  The 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee is looking to outfit their 8,000 volunteers with hand knitted scarves.  I made one and several are coing into the shop.  This is Cascade yarn (per the project specs) and the pattern is from the 60 Quick Knits book.   (This is listed under My Favorite Reads on my side bar, where you can link to a great buy from Amazon at $12.21.  Really... you'll want to make 99% of the projects in the book - all hats, scarves & mittens from Cascade yarn.)  If you'd like to participate in this project...I can hook you up.

Okay... that is several weeks of blogging in one day.  Sorry for the long post... but I feel the need to act like I am doing SOMEthing.  

Kim is a Superstar...

I have been following {read stalking} Kim from Bitty Bits & Pieces 4ever.  I love her style of writing and designing.  And she is up to it again.  Look what she designed for Moda Bake Shop.

And look inside!

Isn't this great?  Wouldn't you love to have one?  Well... head on over to Bitty Bits & Pieces cuz Kim is celebrating with a givaway.  This is just too good to keep to myself!

Good luck!

Catching Up...

Spring has sprung and there is so much to do - inside and out.

Look what my Skinny Sister sent me.   Remember the Owl and the Pussy Cat post?  She drew the Owl and the Pussy Cat and made me a punch needle embroidery!  She is so clever!

Thanks Jeanne!

Did I tell you that my baby {Prince Charles} has decided to attend Indiana University next year?  While antiquing with Theresa in New Harmony I found this....

Indiana University stoneware by Shenango.  It is a relish dish and he can use it for loose change on his desk at school.  It is probably from the 70's...which would make me an antique too.

The husb has poker night tonight...HERE.  I need to tidy the house and put some Tijuana Train Wreck in the crock pot.  I hope I can find a little time to knit or sew.

Fond Easter Greetings...

May the risen Christ fill your heart with joy, bring you new hope, and bless you with peace. 

Hey Yarn Lovers...

I've been following Alana Dakos of Never Not Knitting after finding her patterns on Ravelry.  I love reading her blog and checking out her lovely work.  All knitters and yarn lovers should run over there now and check out her Never Not Knitting Green Yarn Giveaway.  And you'll enjoy her story too!    

Good Luck!