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

Mar 13th Shop Update

Hope everyone is safe and staying healthy. Things are becoming more real as we face this dreaded virus pandemic.

I'm at shop 10-1pmn on Mar 13-14th. We're *tentatively* open this weekend 10-1.  This could change later today if the State issues new proclamations. Daily things are seeming to tighten up in terms of recommendations and guidelines.

**Updates**
Mar 13 6:30 pm: Weaving Workshop Mar 14 Postponed until later April or May
Mar 14 1pm: Shop CLOSED today until further notice due to COVID19
Mar 15 8pm: Calaveras Co Schools Cancelled (yeah!! now our kids won't go forth daily into the Great Petri Dish that is School! Now I can relax a bit about getting sick and happily stay home for next two weeks! LOL) 

These next few weeks we plan to offer online sales and delivery to the Hwy 4 corridor, as long as we stay healthy. Right now everyone in our family is fine and healthy.

Email me your requests or if you have questions: maisieblue@gmail.com

Despite my awareness to this pandemic in last two months, It's still hard to accept the upcoming reality.  I vacillate between the two poles: strict social distancing and less strict. But honestly...this is real. Italy was brought to it's knees within a week. All of Europe is now experiencing a medical surge. Britain overnight saw a spike in new cases. The Queen has cancelled all events. This is real!

Here in the US we're a week behind Italy in terms of spread of the virus in our communities. Pockets exist in Calif, Washington, New York. Over the next week I believe we'll see more cases and increased spread. Today it's crucial to get "speed bumps" out there to slow the rate of infection. It's imperative we all do everything possible to avoid the horrifying medical surge witnessed playing out around the world. 

Speed Bumps to Do Immediately

Take steps to protect yourself

• Clean your hands often
• Avoid close contact

Take steps to protect others

• Stay home if you’re sick
• Cover coughs and sneezes
• Wear a facemask if you are sick
• Clean & disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily 

Social Distancing

Non-At Risk people: Begin to limit to essential activities only within your neighborhood

Social Isolation

Stay at home if you're in At Risk group (this is vital right now)

Here are excellent informative links:

UCSF: How the Coronavirus Spreads 
This is from Feb 13 but describes basics of virus, transmission. This is helpful re: timeline and symptoms:

Once a person is exposed and becomes infected, the incubation period before the onset of symptoms is about five days, although this can vary from two to 11 days. Flu-like symptoms are often mild at first and some patients recover without the symptoms becoming more serious. But for a subset who get worse, day four after the onset of symptoms is usually when they seek medical care because they develop shortness of breath and early pneumonia, said Chiu, and they may become critically ill by day seven. After day 11, most patients who survive are on their way to recovery.

Notes from Panel Mar 10th: speakers from UCSF and the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub

(private notes of attendee published on Linkedin; not reviewed or approved for publication by UCSF. Original article now removed. Mar 14:UCSF issued this regarding this publication)

• Containment] won't reduce the number who get infected in the US.  Now we’re just trying to slow the spread, to help healthcare providers deal with the demand peak. In other words, the goal of containment is to "flatten the curve" to lower the peak of the surge of demand that will hit healthcare providers. And to buy time, in hopes a drug can be developed.

• We in the US are currently where at where Italy was a week ago. We see nothing to say we will be substantially different.   

• Unsure if virus seasonal but if is and subsides over the summer, it is likely to roar back in fall as with the 1918 flu.

• Definitively it’s going to get worse before it gets better.  Our lives are going to look different for the next year.

John Hopkins Center for Health Security

CDC Coronavirus 2010 (COVID-19)  

My apologies if this seems alarmist but we're facing an unprecedented event. Things are changing hourly and the tenor of daily life will alter over the next 4-6 weeks. But we all will come out on the other side if we're all vigilant and stay strong. I'm confident of that much.

Stay safe and healthy everyone.

Kim and Megan  

NEWSFLASH ! !

Attention everyone . . .

Our Thursday Nights knit nights shifting to 6:30pm. Just a smidgen . . . not a big change. This allows for us to eat dinner leisurely, no gulping and racing off to maisieblue's with greasy fingers or dribbling wine down our fronts.

Ingrid? Did you hear what I said. . . ? Hello. . . ? Are you listening?

What about you Katherine? Does a half-hour later sound ok? We're still all gathering like usual. Just at a much more civilized hour.

Ah, I can tell you're sad Sophia. But it's only starting a bit later and  I know you, as an Italian, can totally understand the need for La Dolce Vita at dinnertime.

But Goldie! Please. . . sit like a lady!! We're a respectable bunch around here. :)
See everyone tonight!