I keep thinking this morning about how things happen sometimes, that you never anticipated.   Sweet things, great things, wonderful things and sometimes sad things and terrible things.

Sweet things - for example, when Ken had the idea for this loom it was because I was down in my back and couldn't walk well for a period of several weeks.  But his focus was totally on making the warping easier.   What we didn't expect was the response we got to the change in the heddle.   So many customers have told us things like, "I'd given up on my rigid heddle because I couldn't see to thread the eyelets anymore.   Now I don't have to worry about it.  With your loom it doesn't matter that my eyesight isn't what it used to be."   Sweet!   Others have shared how arthritis, Parkinson's, and other debilities have kept them from weaving in the past, but this loom let's them enjoy it now.   See what I mean?  It wasn't planned or anticipated at all - but what a great result!   Unanticipated, but Sweet!

I've also been thinking about unanticipated things of the other kind - the yucky, sad and terrible.   I'm going to the hospital today to visit a young woman battling cancer.   She's fought an incredible fight.  No one anticipated her being here to see her only daughter graduate.   But she was here for that celebration a few weeks ago.   And now she's back in the fight, but her goals have changed - from survival, to peace; from longevity to depth of purpose.   I think back to when she and her husband were dating and planning to marry.   They certainly did not anticipate any of this, but it has been the making of them.

Life sometimes seem random and messy  - sometimes you stumble across the sweet and sometimes  you're confronted with the sour.   But weaving always reminds me - if you look at things from the backside, it always looks random and messy.   It's not until you turn it over and see the big picture that it all comes together in a beautiful mosaic.  We stand on the backside of our lives, but God sees the beauty being created.   Have a wonderful day, friends.   Happy Weaving!

I had every intention of trying to "blog" at least every 2-3 days.   HA!   How does life always manage to get in the way of good intentions?  I was going to write about my experience at Red Barn Yarn Farm in St. Joseph.   But the dust had barely cleared from that trip and suddenly there were sheep to corral, land that needed to be mowed, meals to cook, cleaning, and a last minute invitation to participate in Magnolia State Fiber Festival in Mississippi.   (yes, I still chant M-i-s; s-i-s; i-pp-i when I have to spell it!)

So here's a BRIEF synopsis of all the STUFF that made up the last couple of weeks.   Had a great time in St. Joe at Red Barn Yarn Farm.   Jenny Hudgens has a great little shop with tons of variety.   Very knowledgeable help and a "come in and join the fun" sort of atmosphere.  Nancy (my traveling buddy) and I really enjoyed our day there.

Next on the agenda was corralling 13 sheep that we were pasturing for someone.   What a job!   Exhausting!  I'll skip the cooking and cleaning and all the boring stuff that happened.  

​But last week we got a last minute invitation to attend the Magnolia State Fiber Festival in Vicksburg, MS.  Had exactly 36 hours to get my act together and get it on the road.   Fortunately my friend, Nancy Meyers was planning to attend and needed a co-pilot, as her husband was not able to make it after all.   We had a great time driving and gabbing (getting lost occasionally, but not for long) and, in general just really enjoying each other's company.  

The festival was great - very well attended and I nearly lost my voice while demonstrating the Rapid Warp Loom for 6 hours straight on Friday and 9 hours straight on Saturday.   Mississippi people are some of the nicest you'll meet anywhere.   We had such a great time meeting others interested in fiber, weaving, knitting, and the like and some will be friends for a long time to come!

So, there's my "brief" synopsis.   And I am going to try to blog more often.   But here's my encouragement to you.  Make a plan.   Life will get in the way.  But make a start.   Buy the loom, start crocheting those slippers, go for the complicated pattern.   You may have to lay it aside for awhile.   Life does get in the way.   But don't put off forever those things you REALLY want to do.   I want to share more with you all.  Today is the beginning of new intentions!