Shop Update: Softly, softly we open

Last week our county allowed to tentatively open up just a wee bit more. The state Stay at Home order still in place but locals can now shop again in person! We're slowly opening with reduced hours for next several weeks. Taking it week by week for the rest of the month.

May Hours

May 18-24: Mon, Tue, Fri  11-2

May 25-31st: Tue, Wed, Fri  11-2

Closed Sat, Sun and Memorial Day

Come June we anticipate expanding hours but want to see how our little county fares as we open up. The next few weeks will reveal if there's a spike in new cases as intra-county traffic increases....or not. Hopefully it's the latter! 

There's a few caveats for retailers: 5 people inside max (based on our size shop), we'll mask up to protect customers, have Purell at counters, we daily wipe down surfaces and I'll open up both doors to get a lovely cross breeze (as weather allows) which helps keep air fresh and flowing.

We're happy to offer curbside too. Just give us a call or email to arrange. We want our customers to feel safe and comfortable shopping. 209-728-8261 or maisieblue@gmail.com 

Find us on Instagram or Facebook. I tend to use Instagram for quick little updates so this is good spot to reach me. The newsletter or blog posts take a bit more hurdle jumping to get posted. 

Our website continues to expand product online for purchase. We expect a return to closures in some form again this Fall as the flu season returns. In meantime we'll continue to add products and nimbly navigate this new reality. Today I posted up the latest Berroco Project of the Week: Penrose & Eirian poncho and capelet in Cambria, a new summer yarn I adore

Last week's project highlighted Lettlopi Icelandic Wool and a traditional yoke pullover-Weatherman

Few weeks back we had the wonderful Derecho Sweater in Remix Light, an easy top-down tee. 

That's it for the shop update. Meanwhile in our family last week someone turned Sweet Sixteen! 

We gathered for first time as a family since shut down and it was wonderful. Mom baked the most amazing Strawberry Cake!! It was so so yummy, 

We had little mini photo shoot then watched Cars on Mosey's new outdoor projector and screen. We froze! Usually her birthday we are dying of heat and sweating but not this year. I loved it! 

Kids practiced proper social distancing....

But this guy refuses to recognize any social distancing etiquette! 

Flashback to earlier days....

Gently cradling her brand new brother.....

Past surprise birthday breakfast of chocolate cupcakes at 7am 

Our memorable family trip to Hawaii a lifetime ago.....

One of my favorite candid snaps of her.....

I love my beautiful niece to the moon and back! Can count on her to always ready for fun, laughs and chillin' together on the couch. 

The past sixteen years flew by and I'm so proud of the beautiful young girl she's become. 

I adore being her Wacky Auntie! Look forward to growing old together. 

Until next newsletter....Enjoy the week! 

Kim

Combatting the blahs....a wee ramble

I've lost track of which day it is of the Great National Shut In. Think it's going on three weeks now? Maybe more.... the days have a way of blending, blurring and merging.  

This week finding it harder to be energetic. Instead just giving into this new slow pace. My days consist of moving from various rooms. Here it's the Loft having tea and actually knitting on my Weekender Sweater! It's soothing knit in the round, St st. Maybe I'll finish it!

Today bit of panic when our router died! OH NO!!!! After few hours Jordi got it back up and I'm calmer now. Now is not the time for a router malfunction! Grateful Aaron could get a new one and within hours we were back to working internet. Whew.

Baked cookies during that big storm this week. "Made" brown sugar for first time. A cool hack. The cookies however don't resemble the cakey soft fluffy cookie I craved. These are more melted globules of sugar with chocolate chips and nuts....but family loved them!

Speaking of baking. A major family cardinal rule was upended thanks to this pandemic. Never, ever do we ever bake our Great Grandma's Nut-n-Raisin Cake outside of Dec. Ever. It's just wrong. It's the Taste of Christmas in our family. But dang..... yesterday Mosey baked us all our own cakes and OMG it was heaven!!

It's pretty much gone today and we enjoyed every single loving morsel. Extra-ordinary times calls for extraordinary, once in a lifetime measures. Self-care begins with our comfort foods and this Nut-n-Raisin Cake soothed my jangle nerves. 

 Sunny days are easier around here. I sit out in garden, reading with a pot of tea. Cloudy days find me outside too. Even if chilly. I just bundle up. Reading my way through the Lane Winslow Series by Iona Wishaw. Love it! Finally have the first book back in stock if anyone's wanting to read. I'm on #3 and each one better than the last. It's my new favorite series.

Cats tentatively join me for some fresh air. Admonish the one who insists on chasing bees, but he'll learn once stung bees are not for chasing. And I'll try to not laugh to loudly. Here's a rare pic of the two together. They're pretending to not like each other.

Before this started I planted a barrel of mescalin greens and seeds. Each night I carefully tuck them in (cover up with towels to keep from frost) and love looking at how pretty they've become. Too pretty to actually cut and use! Does anyone else grow lettuce to look at, or is it just me?

Few days ago saw the first Iris bloom. A beloved customer several years ago divided her abundant crop and shared. I can confirm that uprooted divisions survived benign neglect for at least two weeks (a week riding around back of car, forgotten) before I bunged them into the soil. Lo and behold years later they're flourishing! Each spring there's more flowers and they make me very happy.

Home made face masks are all the rage and becoming mandated public attire. I'm horrible at sewing so I keep sending my loved ones lots of patterns and videos. Mom's (who is awesome sewer)  tackled a pattern. Dad is wearing a lovely blue cotton poplin from her Spring 2020 Collection. I'm sporting a vintage hankie version. Literally this was one of Megan's baby hankies. She'd fall instantly asleep once she had a hankie over her face. But not sure how long I can wear it. Elastic are not comfortable!

Oh and it was Posey's 3rd Birthday! Here he is doing what he loves best: looking pretty! He had birthday wishes from his Parents and Brother. They are all just gorgeous! He's loving all the time his people are hanging out with him at home.

That's Nash (brother) Annie (Mom) ande Hank (Dad). We're so grateful for Posey in our lives! He is such a wonderful pup.

Last but not least......Megan finally getting chickens she's always wanted! It's the perfect family project too. I'm so excited watching the progress. Quickly ordered up books for Mosey.  

 

We've discovered Mosey is a builder!! Thanks to a bunch of old Ikea shelves I've hoarded for years, the chickens are going to have the best coop! I'm amazed at her inventiveness and ability with tools.

She's repainted a playhouse (looking very Tudor Style). Here's she's making their nesting boxes and a sweet ramp. I can't wait to pick out a chandelier and pick out curtain fabric! LOL

One final picture. Few weekends back I finally tackled a corner of our Loft. It was a real archaeological excavation. Found a basket of old WIPs. Many ask me just how many do I have? Well here's a small sampling. Just one baskets worth and surprisingly. most still had patterns. A few are destined for totally frogging but a few I might consider someday picking up again. Or not! LOL

Okay just two more pictures. While tackling my wip pile, found old photo album Mom made me years ago. Lots of fun memories. I'll close with a couple I love. My first perm and me with my Papa. 

Thanks for indulging me with this rambling post! It's therapeutic. Helps me try to find some motivation and normalcy at this crazy, surreal time.