I am making progress bringing NewNeedlepoint.com back up to speed.  I let my stock get low while I fumbled around with my house renovation and then collapsed in a big downshift (notice the automotive allusions?).

I have finally replaced and listed all the rare Bargello Needlepoint books and most of the  new Bargello books the Australian customer bought from me in November (was it November?).   It was hard to replace some and a few I just couldn’t find anywhere, at any price (within reason).

I can’t pay $100 +++ for the few wonderful rare books out there that cost that much.  If any of you ever want one, I will get it as a special order for you.

Books sales are strong right now, I have gotten a number of orders since Christmas.  I had an order today for 6 books including my 2 copies of Sherlee Lantz’s A Pageant of Pattern for Needlepoint.

It is going to cost me considerably more to replace them (fair warning).  I am also selling new books.  I seem to move a lot of the TNNA series of books on the basics of Needlepoint & Knitting.    I seem to sell less of the Embroidery book.  I have just ordered the Crochet book from this series.

I had a large backorder of Design Books pending from Search Press, they are finally on their way to me.

Here’s a surprise.  I think (I hope) the formerly discontinued A Perfect World in Ribbon Embroidery and Stumpwork by Di Van Niekerk is available again.  It was a frequent seller on NewNeedlepoint.com until they (so I was told) discontinued it.

I have ordered 5 copies, if they actually show up I will buy more before they disappear again.

I have some new book news.  Sandra Arthur’s 3rd book in her The Shapes of Needlepoint Series is at the publisher right now.  I have an order in to get a bunch.   Series 3 is Corners, Horizontals & Verticals.

Sharon G is also due to release her 2nd volume of her SENSE Series.  She says maybe March.  I think I will hold my breath (think that will work?)

I grew this lovely Amaryllis in my adorable bunny bowl.  I foreced it for the holidays but it only bloomed this week.  It is a pretty one but not a double.  

Want more news?   K is going to Houston for a job interview this coming week.  Yes, he promised me we would stay here.  Yes, I am getting too old to keep doing these moves every year or so (5 moves in 4 years)

The job is a good one, he would be directing a program and the pay offered is amazing.  Still,  do I want to live in (or outside Houston??)   The job is actually in Port Lacava, TX but the bosses recommend we live near Houston and he spends a day or 2 a week in Port Lacava.

I am pretty sure I agree with them, just from looking at it on Google Earth.

It is safe to say I am freaked out, bordering on hysterical.  K says he will not take it if I don’t want to go but I don’t see that as a path to future happiness either.

BUT (big but) it would mean 2 more moves,  to TX to a rental and then (maybe) to a house of our own.   They say is a permanent position but I know K.  I know K very well.

So, I will end this here,  just think of me as someone who has had the rug pulled out from under her…again.

Yup, here I am again.  It has been a totally bizarre holiday season.

Remember my excellent Thanksgiving plans with my son in Boston.  We never got there, despite leaving Tuesday rather then the usual Wednesday, we found the roads clogged with drivers in the pouring rain.

The road rage level was terrible (not to exclude my own husband’s tendency to get that way himself, when incited).  Ok, it took us 2.5 hours to get to Allentown, PA (usually 45 minutes or so) and K was *enraged*

So practical me suggested we stay in a hotel for the night, leave early am next day.  It was a very sensible idea (not to mention that the Sands casino in Allentown recently opened a hotel).

So, the next morning we get up 4 am and go.  It was still bad, pouring rain and heavy traffic.  We made it to the NJ border (much longer ride than it should have been) and gave up.  We came home.

We cooked a solitary turkey the next day (Thanksgiving) and my son and his GF went to her parents in CN.

OK,  We were coming up to Christmas.  So far, it was good and we were planning a small New Years Eve party with our regular group of Saturday night poker players etc when my Dad called early one mornng.

My Mom had fallen & broke her arm.  Now, I need to give you a little background on my Mom.  She is 82 (had me at 20) and has never been really sick, never been in pain.

Back then they put women to sleep to have babies (3) and she has had no illnesses.  The only pill she takes is bone density.

So, she tripped and fell on the tile kitchen floor.  MY Dad (87 and with a really bad back) could not lift her so they called the EMTs.  It turns out she broker her right arm, up very near the shoulder.

This is bad but it could have been worse.  She is left handed.  I guess they do not put a cast on a break there, just gave her a sling and told her not to move it.

She is in extraordinary pain.

My Dad took care of her the best he could but it was not (and never will be) right, he gets it all wrong (according to her).

My brother & his wife flew in from Switzerland (where they live) and stayed 5 days.  They did for her, cooked & cleaned etc.  (yes, my folks have cleaning help but my mother wants the beds made every day ..tucked in even with wool blankets, does anybody do that anymore?)

They could not stay, my sister-in-law is a teacher in Switzerland (my brother organizes & runs ski races).

So…I flew down.  It was good but hard.  My mother is not an easy patient or a good patient either but I did my best and made her more comfortable.

I took over all my Dad was doing and more.  I was glad to do it.

I received a number of good  NewNeedlepoint orders while I was in Florida (I know, you think FL in winter, not too bad…but still…..)

K packaged them (not too badly either I am told by a customer. I apologized in advance to everyone for his packing) and the few orders that needed me there I asked the buyers if they could wait.  Everybody was very nice about it and sent my Mom best wishes.

So, I am home now but not sure for how long.  The therapist told my Mom it will hurt for 4-7 more weeks.  She finds it hurts even more after therapy (oh dear).

So, that was my Holiday season.  New Years Eve I made my folks & me Mom’s recipe Macaroni & Cheese (she can’t cut anything she is eating) and went to bed at 10pm.

This cartoon pretty much describes it all

I am working listing new stuff. First I am finishing up the replacement books (the ones I have anyway, you all keep buying them and I never catch up).

No word yet on when or if I have to go back to my folks in FL.

K is installing the backsplash in the kitchen, finally. It is thin pieces of what I guess you call a porous marble with a polished finish. I was going to do one of those wonderful glass tile etc designs but they are or will be trendy, in the end.

I went with a neutral and then ordered some smashing (if I don’t say so myself) outlet & switch covers for above the counter.

Of course, I am reading. I was a reader & fan of Christopher Hitchens work. I was sad to hear of his death on December 15, 2011. Not that I had not been expecting it, he has written about his mortal illness as it went.

In his last article for Vanity Fair he argued against the old saying “anything that doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”. He had come to believe that was not true. I am in agreement with him (as usual) since I also think that cliche’ is not true.

I had been reading his books on my iPad.

Look for some (finally) new stuff to (finally) show up on NewNeedlepoint…finally

Happy New Year