Wednesday, November 30, 2011

A Simple Gift



He had just deposited his pay cheque in the Bank. He has deposited all but fourteen dollars.  He needed it all really to cover the bills, but a man needed something in his pocket.

He crossed the street to where the car was parked. As he walked, he thought of all this meagre fourteen dollars must cover: gas, coffee at work. He needed a new tube of toothpaste.

The car was parked a fair way down the street. Parking was always scarce on paydays.

To get to it, he had to pass the florist shop. A sign in the window proclaimed “Carnations $1.25each, assorted colours.”

He went inside and care fully counted out four quarters, two dimes and a nickel.

The lady wrapped the single blossom in silver paper as if it were a dozen orchids and even includes a small sprig of fern.

Leaving the shop he continued his walk to the car, opened the car door and executed a courtly bow. “ Flower for a beautiful lady,” he said” who makes me richer, just by being in my life”.

He slid into the driver’s seat and closed the door.

On his lady’s face was absolute joy. The common place was made special.

Her everyday life was elevated to a one of dignity and grace, where poverty didn’t grind her down and work didn’t stoop her tired shoulders.

God Bless him, for certainly she did.

The Meanest Theif


THE MEANEST THIEF    
                                                      

   They didn't need the alarm clock to wake them. They had been awake nearly all night. Sometimes they lay rigid with dreadful anticipation, sometimes quivering with anxious joy.

This was Christmas! The time of miracles! The time when special things really do happen. A time when everyone is happy and joyful, and each person tries especially hard to do what is right.

Even big, grown up people seem to be touched by the magic of good triumphing over evil. At this time as at no other time of the year, people strive to ease the suffering of their fellow man.

One by one the five little people climbed from the warm cocoon of their beds, four boys and one girl.

 Their eyes were glowing orbs in their tense faces. After all, they were going to witness a miracle! Small feet slid into waiting slippers. Each child tied a housecoat around themselves with regimental precision.

Then, led by an unspoken command they trooped out to the hall, down the stairs, and into the family room.

The oldest boy paused to plug in the Christmas tree lights, for miracles must be revealed in the soft pastels of  warmth.

As if they were one person, they all turned. Each could see the wicker basket. They touched the faded blue blanket. They could all smell the stale milk and the mealy smell of dog food.

The wonder in their faces changed to a mask of unreadable stoicism. 

While young minds, numb with dispair quetsioned their beliefs. They had been so sure! How could such a thing happen?

The puppy wasn't there. Just as it hadn't been there for every morning in the past week. It just seemed impossible. They had all expected his wiggling warm body, and pink tongue to attack them in a frenzy of joy and love.

Instead they looked at each other in silence.

The miracle dimmed into reality.  Their dog hadn't been returned.

Whoever had taken him, whoever had cut the rope, was unmindful of the pain the theft had caused.

 The thief surely was not visited with the special glow that make folks rise above their everyday  self at Christmas.

The basket was empty!

Just one small tear found its way down a small cheek. Still no word was said. How do you say "Merry Christmas" with a  broken heart? Or greater still, five broken hearts?

The bright tinsel was ignored, the promise of secrets in pretty paper held no appeal. The stockings and presents were left undisturbed beneath the tree.

The oldest unplugged the tree lights. Slowly they turned and filed silently back down the long hall and to the loneliness of their beds, defeated, dejected, and although they were five in number, each was curiously alone.

The meanest thief had stolen Christmas. I wonder how he slept last night

Monday, November 28, 2011

Getting Near Christmas

I spent my early years in England and during WW-ll. we were hard hit and lost many of our family in the raids.

I remember sitting under a giant table in Orchard House in Mablethorpe . I was barley more than a babe, but I clearly remember all my aunts, and my mom were crying. The radio was on and all the Fairbridge Children, who had been evacuated to Canada for  safety from London and Liverpool.
http://www.fintry.ca/history/fairbridge.php

They were saying Merry Christmas through the miracle of radio to their parents in England. The sadness of families being apart had obviously hit a tap with our women folk.

This was my grandmothers house that was right on the beach. It was later commander as a command house by the military. Now, it is a Seniors Home.

How ironic that after our immigration to Canada,my father being declared dead,  and my mothers second marriage, I would live at the very same  Fairbridge Farms, in Cowichan Station.

We ate our meals in the room that the children had stood and sent those messages to family so far away.

The evacuations ended 23 Sept 1943 when a torpedo hit one of the ships

Three children  are buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Cowichan. All victims of a flu epidemic.

 When I tend my parents and my two children's graves. I save some  blossoms for three who never returned home.

Actually many never returned home, or if they did, they returned to Canada.

 Hardly a summer went by without a few visitors coming to the farm and saying "We are Fairbridge kids". I understand others did not fare as well, but the Prince of Wales Fairbridge Society did a wonderful job.

I also remember the preparations of Christmas. Homemade gifts, scarves for the men. I had a homemade doll house. My brother a game called Devil among the tailors sort of a bowling game.

But the food. Oh those wonderful smells. We had a big orchard at Orchard House and using oleo Margarine and apples and some long hoarded raisins they were baking mince tarts.

The smells were the most impressive.

Think of a group of four women, hoarding up their rations to do up Christmas. Of course the men or some of them were home for a holiday leave, so our rations had to cover them as well.

How would you pull a feast together with the following allowance of food. This is one weeks ration for an adult. A child would be about half but with a can of milk added

Weekly ration for 1 adult
  • Bacon & Ham 4 oz
  • Meat to the value of 1 shilling and sixpence (around about 1/2 lb minced beef)
  • Butter 2 oz
  • Cheese 2 oz
  • Margarine 4 oz
  • Cooking fat 4 oz
  • Milk 3 pints
  • Sugar 8 oz
  • Preserves 1 lb every 2 months
  • Tea 2 oz
  • Eggs 1 fresh egg per week
  • Sweets/Candy 12 oz every 4 weeks
In addition to this a points system was put in place which limited your purchase of tinned or imported goods. 16 points were available in your ration book for every 4 weeks and that 16 points would enable you to purchase for instance, 1 can of tinned fish or 2lbs of dried fruit or 8 lbs of split peas.


My dad and Uncle Roland were expected to be home, so everyone saved their eggs to make a custard tart. The favorite of the two warriors.

The masterpiece was cooked and put in the pantry to keep cool.

Imagine the feelings of my grandmother when she went to get the piece d` resistance  only to find the cat licking his whiskers and an empty crust.

I don't know what happened to aunt's Tiddles. But I do know for the rest f their leave, my uncle and dad, kept saying ... MEOW... I am all wet.... MEOW......I am cold

I think a covert action was committed.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Crafty shopping with your partner

I have seen them, in the stores, in the malls, in the coffee shop.

Spouses waiting for the other half to finish shopping. Finger tapping in the shoe store, feet shuffling in cosmetics, pacing in front of the dressing rooms.

And on the other hand, the females sighing heavily and looking at their watches in the tool section. Lack of interest in Tools R Us.

 But it doesn't have to be that way ladies.

I have just spent part of a day in four tool type stores and I hit the jackpot for craft stuff.

In one store, I found a neat little light weigh container that hangs on your belt. It was wrongfully advertised for putting a paint can in it. Well any woman could see that it was cleverly designed for carrying yarn while you knit.

 Even more interesting, it can double as a container to carry fleece to draw from to use for your drop spindle.You can then walk and knit or spin. Absolutely in the wrong store, absolutely.

The next store was a real bonanza.  WARNING RANT HERE......
 I had looked in the Thrift stores looking for rags to make rag rugs. Well at $14 a pair for jeans or $5 a T-shirt, it was obvious why these stores have signs outside sayings NO DONATIONS ACCEPTED, WAREHOUSE FULL

 Lower the prices Thrift store people to prices that the people who are tightening their belts can afford.
The $14 child's jacket that is half worn out, is the same price as a new one at the big box store.

 When we questioned an employee, I Forcibly told "we have bills to pay and payrolls to meet!!!!!!"
 hummm I volunteered at a thrift shop before I moved here.. What payroll. Folks need bargain folks.

 I scrounge thrift stores all year for sleeping bags and quilts for recovering and donating to homeless shelters. I look for yarn to knit for various charities..  But $3 for a partial ball of acrylic is no bargain.

Thanks to Joyce Wasden , of Joyces Knits   and her kind donation of yarn. I have enough to share for other charity knitters this year.

Oh dear I was ranting, sorry.

I was talking about my find for rag rugs.

 These functional attractive rugs are easy to make and are easy to care for.

 Imagine my delight at finding a whole 10 LB. pack of T-shirt material for $8.99.

That will make at least 3 or4 rugs. And the cotton can be dyed  with natural dyes like onion skin.

 Apparently this treasure was all new material from factories that were rejects and could not be sold on the  open market.

The other things I found for pennies were:  key separators in a variety of colour, that make yarn markers.
shrink wrap to mark different needles and make them immediately identified.,
heavy paper for warp on the loom.

Light weight plywood for sock forms.. absolutely free. And joy of joy, bubble wrap for Nanu felting, also free.
There were LED lights to put under the knitting machine to help when knitting with dark yarn. Or beside you to light up close work.

Work tables that work for sewing, cutting and knitting machines.

With a little imagination their is a treasure trove of  items that can be adapted. to our purposes

Storage containers.in all shapes and sizes, doweling to stack columns of yarn cones,

Really ladies, look forward to a shopping trip with your fellow. It is like being in Toy Land .
Then at the end of the day, there is this little gadget for less that $2.50, and it doesn't need an introduction.
Happy Shopping.



Sunday, November 20, 2011

Use Dryer Balls and save $$ and the environment.

I have spent today making drying balls. These little beauties are non polluting  and quiet. They are made from NATURAL, RENEWABLE FLEECE. yes the stuff the sheep grow. They will also break down in your compost after they have served their purpose. They should serve you in your dryer for years if they are treated right.
These are used in you clothes dryer instead of fabric softener and clunky tennis or plastic balls.

 Those plastic alternatives  give off toxic fumes when they are heated in your dryer.
So wool dryer balls keep the indoor air clean and fresh.  If you have small children, pets and birds in your home, this is am important consideration.  Chemical poly-dryer sheets off-gas harmful chemical scents even when they aren't in use.  When they are added to your dryer the scented chemicals permeate your clothing — increasing the chance of allergens, polluting your home and even outdoor air.  The smell increases the chances that your kids will develop chemical allergies.  Two of my kids did.
Those ugly plastic dryer pods will save you money over buying disposable dryer sheets, but they are a toxic alternative.  Being plastic — a petrochemical — they will off gas into your home during the dryer cycle and you may not even be able to smell the danger.
Wool dryer balls are the safer alternative.  Not only do wool dryer balls not give off harmful, toxic fumes in use, they absorb odours from your clothing, making your clothing fresher.  
  Wool dryer balls save you money by reducing the energy required to dry your clothes.
The larger your wash load, the more you save.  Using 6 dryer balls the size of a tennis ball will reduce the time it takes to dry your clothes by 30 to 40%.  Heavy loads like work clothes and diapers benefit the most from the use of wool dryer balls.
Wool absorbs 30% of its weight in water without feeling wet. So the more dryer balls you use in your wash load the less time it takes to dry your clothes.  Magic money saver.
Wool dryer balls remove odours and static from your clothing.
Chemical dryer sheets add a chemical scent to your clothing, masking odours and polluting indoor air.  Natural wool dryer balls absorb odours from your clothing, leaving it smelling fresh, without the pollution or chemical risks to your health.  They are naturally anti bacterial.
Wool dryer balls last for years with regular use.
Ugly plastic dryer pods will become brittle and break down with constant use.  As they off gas into your house with their toxic fumes they are breaking down one layer of molecules at a time.
 This will shorten the life of your dryer, too. Wool dryer balls, on the other hand, will stay firmly felted with constant use.  When you want to freshen them, you just add them to a wash load and dry them again in your dryer.  With regular use, you don’t need to worry about moth damage to them, but if you are storing them for the summer, because you’re switching to line drying, you can put them in a cloth bag for storage and firmly close to exclude insects.  They will last for years.
  Wool dryer balls break down static energy in your clothing because wool balances the electrons in your textiles.
Those dryer sheets contain silicone which coats your dryer and your clothing with an invisible film that damages your dryer, and prevents your clothing from naturally absorbing water — a bad thing for diapers, towels, socks, and t-shirts.  The silicone is how they reduce static in your clothes.  Liquid fabric softeners do that same thing using silicone.  The dryer pods are also made from a composite of silicone and plastic — not a healthy alternative to the dryer sheets.
Natural Wool dryer balls break the static energy, naturally, because wool is naturally anti static.  Static in your clothing actually robs you of energy.  Switch to wearing natural clothing — get the polyesters out of your wardrobe — and you will have more energy.
 Wool dryer balls are beautiful and make you happy when you take them out of the dryer, with your clean laundry.
If you’re happy, you have more energy to do the mundane tasks, like folding towels or diapers, so its a win -win proposition.  Whether they are made from natural coloured wools or naturally dyed wool, they are attractive, and compel you to touch them, squeeze them and even play with them.  They’re balls, after-all, not ugly, blue thorny pods.
If you do 5 loads of laundry and dry it in the dryer each week, you can save  $25 a month or more by using  safe natural fibre dryer ball instead of chemical alternatives.
Here is how I make mine.
I use snowball size hands-full of fleece, I wrap this like a ball of sting with hand spun yarn. I then put them in a panty hose and tie in between them sort of sausages. These I wash with whites in a hot load ( the only time I use hot water is to make the balls. Then into the dryer they go.
Now they are dry, I take them out of the panty hose, and I needle felt them. They can take about 20 minutes each.
I then hand wash and gently wet felt them, rinse and let dry. 
These make attractive tree ornaments, ans can be strong on strong cord as a baby carriage ornament.
If you don't want to make them, I will do it for you.
For a modest investment of $20 for 4 balls, you can have years of safe clothes friendly drying, and be kind to your home, family, pets, and the universe.
And I know just the place to buy them palea@telus.net

Friday, November 18, 2011

The shadow of who he used to be

When I went to UBC, we hung out in a second hand record store on Georgia Street.
It smelled like old records, and there were records then. They had listening booths so you could preview a record before purchase.

It was owned and ran by a middle aged chap who's name escapes me now. I find this funny as he was an important part of my life at that time.


While hanging around at the record store, I met with the owners cousin. An  up and coming young song writer from Pincher Creek Alberta
He had worked on a float camp in Howe Sound.  After dealing with the hail, snow, rain and inexperience, He decided to go back to his ranch and write songs.

This he did exceedingly well. And performed them in all over the world, but always returned to Pincher
 Creek.

 His name was Ian Tyson, and one day while we were hanging out and drinking coffee, we were looking through one of my books on BC Outlaws.

We were all interested in story about 3 brothers and their cousin who ran a muck in the interior. Three were the Mclean brothers and their cousin Alex Hare. . They were sons of a Scottish Factor married to a Native lady from Pouche Coupe. They were all hung on 23 January 1881
A grandson was decorated for bravery for killing 17 enemy and saving his platoon in 1917. I guess the wildness was channeled in another direction.

Somewhere in that afternoon, we came up with the words to` Four Rode By`. A song featured on Ian and Sylvia,( who was soon to be his wife) On an Album called Northern Journey.

Sylvia Fricker was a fantastic singer in her own right. She had been trained in the classical manner and was the daughter of a music teacher from Ontario.

Ian was a poet. A crafter of words a balladeer who capture the Canadian and America West as it fast disappearing  to the Cow Corporations and big Industry Farming. Like an Artist, he wrote words on paper as an Artist would paint them on canvas. His hero was Cowboy Artist Charlie Russell.

before he made a modest fame, he traveled as a  troubadour, singing and writing from the Arctic to Cheyenne.
He had some lean years, but as he said in Cowboyology.. `I  never sold my saddle``.

He paints pictures with words and yet for all his fame, still a cowboy from Pincher Creek, who fed and mucked out his horses and followed the rodeo circuit riding and singing.

I recently heard his perform at several of the Jamborees in Alberta. It was sad and painful to watch. His once commanding voice had been attacked by a fever he caught on tour in Denver and irrevocably damaged his vocal cords..His painful whisper only reminded me of how important he was in those years of my life.

I sang and played percussion with a group from UBC that performed for extremely low wages at the Arctic club, where we started for Australia;s National Treasure Rolf Harris.

 He was charm energy and enthusiasm. In his company you felt energized, encouraged, and inspired.

When the Arctic Club burned down, our little group were hired by The Cave, where our guardian Izzy would bring us from Acadia Camp on the UBC property and see we were returned..

 Heaven help a customer who tried to get friendly with " his Gurls"

I last saw Rolf Harris at Izzy's funeral in 1970

Monday, November 14, 2011

An Unexpected Sun beam

I woke up this morning to sunshine!. After the weather guru's had told us that we were in for at least a week of storms. What a pleasant surprise.
My little companion, Chelsea, absolutely gave her whole being to the gift of the day.

 She ran and jumped and played in the sunbeams, and demanded to play with her Elk hound friend.

I had to do some shopping so I dropped her off at her friends house and they played outside.

She is 12 inches high but has inner bigness. She seems to be afraid of nothing and everyone is her friend.

She is too short to turn the motion detector on at night unless she does a giant leap in the air in just the right place.n She has this trick down pat.

Her type is called a Chi-hon. Bred from a Bison Frise and a flop eared Chuauha.  The thinking is that by selecting breed for good qualities: long life, temperament, lack of allergy producers and other thing. It is hoped  that will get a breed will develop that is not cursed with the interbreeding of today.

After eight generations are bread to type, they will be possibly registered with the Canadian Kennel Club.

She is seen here with her friend from Fort St. John with her Burmese Mountain Dog called Riley.

She continually delights and amuses me. I am so glad my son found her for my birthday. Thank you Chris.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Miss Minimalist

I am reading this book and it makes a lot of sense. As our passions and hobbies change, we hang on to the trapping of the forgotten crafts, hobbies or projects.It is time to move on and make room for you.

First remember we do not have to make a career out of this. Tackle a small area at a time. Invite a friend who can be less emotionally involved.

Even getting rid of one item a day, will make your world 365 articles lighter.

We keep receipts, pictures, children's school art, dusty crafts and other memorabilia.

Her suggestion is scan most of it into the computer as a PDF file if paper matter, bank statement etc. Scan pictures and share with family members. Un-tether yourself from paper. This will make you spend a couple of rainy days doing the scanning, but what a load you will lighten in your home. And you can sort by file on the computer for easy retrieval. Remember to back up to a DVD though.


If you have papers or magazines creeping up on you, evaluate the subscriptions. Often you can get the copy on line, or read the news on line.


With the paper, shred it, and put it in your compost, or if you don't have one, I am sure a neighbour does. Don't send it to the landfill.

Next look at your wardrobe. How many clothes do you need.. want for that matter.

 How many are skinny clothes that "one day you will fit again." My theory is if I lose that  much weight, I deserve new clothes.

If you haven't worn it for a year, you probably will not wear it again.
Anything stained, ripped of ugly goes.

Starting a wardrobe around a basic colour ;black, navy ,tan for skirts and slacks will give you the option of picking out some attractive tops, shirts, top with sweater, scarf and jewelry and you can cut out frumpy days completely. Then you will have at least half your wardrobe back.

How many shoes do you need.
This is addressed mostly to the females. We need a good pair of cross trainers, hikers, boots, flats, small heel and one pair of dressy heals. Now if we multiply these by 2 colours, we have cleared our another third of the closet.
I find that a lot of thrift stores are not taking donations. I am not surprised by this because their prices, now will match a new similar article. I think someone needs to tell them we are in hard times.
The services that help street people are much more accepting of donations.
Failing that, look for a weaver or a weaving shop likehttp://knottybynaturefibres.blogspot.com/ in Fairfield or The Loom at Cobble Hill. And your cast offs will be transformed into beautiful re-purposed articles like rag rugs.

I am a fibre addict. I have a stash of yarn, fleece, spun yarn, that would do a store proud.

Every year I make a commitment to knitting hats, mitts and sweaters for the street link. Last year I mange 40 hats. I also do slippers that are fleece lined for chemo patients, older folds, and members of the CN.

I still need to lighten my stash so two huge boxes are going to the Victoria Spinner or weavers guild next Thursday.

The next area I want to attack is my nick knacks.. you know those cutsey presents the kids gave you in
 grade 3 or brought home from camp. Take pictures of all these treasures, take them into another room. I mean everything.

One by one, bring an articles in the room. Try them in different places in the room, even a different room. Them when your room looks smart, dispose of the rest at the Thrift Store, sell on line  www. ebay or www.usedvictoria.com ( put your own town in here) Even free on usedvictoria.com

Voila, a smart, easy to clean room that is comfortable, functional and easy to clean. And sometimes, a couple of comfortable chairs are easier to arrange for conversation that a clumpy old chesterfield.

That is all the energy I have for today.... MORE DE-CLUTTERING TO DO.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Pale light through the window

The sun, when we see it, is very low on the horizon. And the light shines through the windows in a pale reflection of it's strength.
I live on the very West Coast of Vancouver Island. As my son says, "If we go any further west, we get wet".

Most of my children are scattered, I have several in the oil patch in the Peace River. The temperature can get to minus 50. I have one in Alberta, and several within 100 miles of home.

Big Changes for the middle son and his family.

 After 20 years of battling the ice roads in the far North, they have sold their lovely home on the Peace River and are moving to Smithers.My son sold his truck and all his equipment and is starting a new career with more time for his family.

It is still as far from me, but in a different direction. I may have to become a summer Gypsy.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

The birth of the Sifton Spinning Wheel

Sifton Spinning Wheel

The community of Sifton, Manitoba was the centre of an active wool milling and related manufacturing industry between 1930 and the 1950s.

John Weslowski, a blacksmith, first made these wheels in the early 1930s, based on a wheel he imported from the Ukraine. The blacksmith shop became the Spin-Well Manufacturing Company, run by John and his brother George. By 1938 they were producing 20 wheels a day. The local railway station agent, Willard McPhedrain, was the main organizer of an expanded company, Spin-Well Woollen Mill.

The Spin-Well Manufacturing Company was purchased in 1946 by Metro Lozinski, who continued to produce "Spin-Well" wheels and hand and drum carders under the name of Made-Well Manufacturing Co.

Craftsperson: Spin-Well Mfg. Co. or Made-Well Mfg. Co.
Materials: wood, metal fittings
Date: 1930s-1946

Mary Maxim’s roots can be traced back to Manitoba, Canada where Willard and Olive McPhedrain, began manufacturing and selling spinning wheels. Willard soon began a mail order company titled “Sifton Products.” In 1954 Willard began to search for new locations for his business and ended up in Paris, Ontario. [2] The name was changed to Mary Maxim, after a store employee: Mary Maximchuk. Willard decided to take Betty Crocker's example by naming the company after a girl who helped around the household. Mary's name was shortened and the store name: Mary Maxim, was born. [3] In 1956 after recognizing the customer potential in the United States, Willard’s son Larry established an office in Port Huron, Michigan.
Mary Maxim was first recognized for their quality knitting yarns. In the late 1950’s they became increasingly popular for their bulky, knit sweaters with designs influenced by North American Wildlife. The first sweater pattern was designed in 1951 by Stella Sawchyn. [4]

 Celebrity attention

  • Bob Hope was photographed wearing a Mary Maxim totem pole design sweater in 1953 while visiting Canada. [5]
  • The Barenaked Ladies wore Mary Maxim Sweaters on their 2004 holiday album. [6]
  • Miss Outdoors 1957 was photographed wearing a Mary Maxim sweater. [7]

 Mary Maxim today

Currently, Mary Maxim employs over 120 people in the Port Huron area and 60 people in Paris, Ontario. Ontario accounts for 15 % sales from retail stores and 85% from the catalog division. [8]
Mary Maxim has looked to the internet to increase profits. They can attribute 25% of their sales to internet selling. [9]
Mary Maxim is now owned by the third generation of McPhedrains: Rusty and Jane. Rusty became vice president of operations in 1987 and president in 1995. [10] Mary Maxim celebrated their 50th anniversary in June 2006.
And the patterns!
Many of the immigrants to the praires were not able to read the pattern books
During one of his trips to department stores to sell his products, Willard was struck with the idea of the potential in the hand knitting market. His enquiring mind realized the potential and saw a business opportunity. His designers took their inspiration from the motifs of the Cowichan Indians of the west coast. This was the beginning of Mary Maxim's famous "graph style pattern." The first pattern was #400; the Reindeer. Mary Maxim still sells this sweater kit to this day. It was also made famous by the Olympic Games in Vancouver

The demand for yarn and patterns grew so quickly that it might have overwhelmed a less determined businessman, but Willard never faltered. He moved his company to Paris in 1954 to be closer to the larger Ontario market and his fibre supplier, Spinrite Yarns in Listowel. Mary Maxim's first home in town was the "old town hall". From there we had a couple of other homes, but completed our journey at 75 Scott Ave, where we are today. Willard and Olive resided in Paris for the rest of their lives. They are both missed by employees and town people who knew them. Their Grandson Rusty is now the Companies’ owner. Rusty and his family reside in Port Huron, Michigan. Today we mail over 3 million catalogues to the homes of our Canadian customers.
In September of 2006 they opened a second location. There is now a Mary Maxim store in Toronto at the Yonge Eglinton Centre, 2300 Yonge Street.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Thought for a Fall day



Tuesday, November 8, 2011
The cool wind has driven the heat from the days, and we are snuggled around our pellet stove.
I have made curtains and door snakes to keep out the wandering drafts.
My little dog Chelsea, is cuddled close to my side, resting from celebrating her 1st birthday with doggie cookies and a chew bone.
I have started to use the Jacob wool I have been spinning off and on all summer.
I think I have enough to knit John his Christmas sweater.
It is a good feeling to have Christmas in hand. Last year I worked myself into a frenzy.
My parcels are being taken up to Fort St John for the grand children by my friend Michelle.
She has shared some of her excitement with me this week as she is preparing Vintage Alley. A store in Chemainus that will be a pickers paradise. Cubicles will be rented to collectors and of course some of my handicraft will be for sale as well as a few bits for Artifacts.
I started a new facet of my fibre fetish tonight with needle felting. The results were some classy looking dryer balls and three stabbed fingers.
It reminds me when I started machine knitting under the tutorship of Joyce Wasden of Joyces Knits. I stabbed my finger so often that Chris commented :Mom I didn't know knitting was a blood sport.
I will do a bit more spinning on my antique Sifton Wheel. It's deep roots in Canadian history is a subject for another day.