Turn Tragedy into a Positive

Overwhelming feelings of loss, disappointment, exhaustion, displacement are all things Linda and I have felt over the last few weeks.  But along with that we have seen an out pouring of concern, love and support as we sift through the rumble that was once our shop.  Offers of help, prayers and JillyBeans cupcakes have been so appreciated.  Thank you to everyone who has contacted us on Facebook, Ravelry, email, phone and in person.  We love all of you and miss you terribly.  We turned over all the information to the insurance yesterday and are waiting to see what will happen next.  What a relief!  I have to say, I am amazed a Linda's organizational skills.  We had every receipt, every invoice all compiled into 2 notebooks for a total of over 750 pages.  I remember telling Gary the night of the fire how thankful I was that Linda paid the bills, because there was no doubt she had written the insurance check.  Had it been my job, who knows???? Kudos to Linda, what a great business partner and most of all what a wonderful friend. 

Friday and Saturday Linda and I will be at the First Baptist Church Yard Sale helping sell the smoke damaged yarn from the shop.  Please come out and support this wonderful cause.   Help us turn tragedy into a positive. Buy yarn for pennies on the dollar. Smoke damaged inventory, yarn and needles from Yarns by HomePlace Farm will be at the sale, Friday March 2, from 8 til 4, and Saturday March 3, from 8 til 1. Funds raised will support the Honduras Mission Trip in June.   http://www.fbcjville.org/ 

Never loose that twinkle!

One Saturday last November an adorable woman and her son stopped by the shop.  As she stepped in the door she exclaimed "Oh my!" as she drank in the colors and textures we create with our spinning and dyeing.  I knew in my heart "she feels it."  Allison and I became instant friends.  She had knitted and crocheted since her childhood and was looking for Christmas gift ideas for her children and grandchildren.  I offered up a crocheted chain scarf and we set to work choosing enough yarns of varying colors and textures to create 7 precious love gifts.  Over the next several weeks Allison's son dropped her off for one hour on Friday and together we put the finishing touches on her scarves.  I found myself excitedly waiting for her visits each week.  You see it wasn't the crocheting that tickled me, it was the chance to drink in her humor and love for life.  Her eyes sparkled as she joined in the conversation, offering up antidotes and funny stories.  She was encouraging and kind, telling us how much fun her young friends were, as if we were doing something special.  Allison didn't realize we were the ones drawing energy from her.  As with all of us, I am sure her life has been filled with lots of joy and her share of heartache, but it has not broken her.  As I watched and listened I thought..... I want to be like Allison at 80 ......gracious, kind, full of life, real, honest with a twinkle in my eyes.  Allison, may you never loose that twinkle in your beautiful baby blues.

Puppy Piles and Puppy Love

Puppy Piles are my favorite. There is nothing sweeter than watching little pups piled up sleeping, dreaming about their next meal, and snuggled up with the love of their brothers and sisters. Watching puppies pouncing and playing with fellow pups is one of the simple joys in life.

Five weeks ago HomePlace Farm was blessed with a litter of nine puppies. Darlin', a Great Pyrenees, was rescued by Linda and Michael a couple of weeks earlier, and much to their delight Darlin' joined the family and surprised us all with puppies too. Now Linda says puppies are a lot of work, but they are worth it. They just make you feel good inside.

Last week I thought Linda and Michael were going to keep all nine, until they realized each little creature was consuming 3 cups of dog food a day. They were just 4 weeks old and growing in leaps and bounds. Actually, all but two have been adopted and are preparing to go to their new homes in a couple of weeks. "Chunk" the biggest boy is going to join the Boozer clan and stay at the farm with Harley, Duke, Buddy and Darlin' (the Great Pyrenees working farm dogs). I can't leave out Chocolate "Chip" the pack leader (a chocolate Toy Poodle), and Dee Dee the Princess (a retired Yorkshire Terrier show dog). Let's see, if we add the new puppy Chunk the total number of dogs at the farm will be seven, all busy working around the farm guarding the alpacas and running the house.

My friends Linda and Michael love animals and have compassion for those lost souls in need of a home. They have also rescued several alpacas since they have owned HomePlace Farm, the old Boozer Family farm established in the early 1900's. Animals have a special way of tugging on our hearts' strings, especially puppies. So I am thankful Darlin' and her pups are at the farm bringing joy, laughter and warm cuddles by the truck loads.

"Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot about puppies." Gene Hill