If It's Tuesday This Must Be Belgium

Insanely busy week. Finally got copy of the lease. Met with Jenny from Maitland River Graphics to discuss shop sign, business cards, promotionals, etc. Had to register new business name - who knew that this cannot be done as an amendment on-line. Same vendor permit number, new name, ka-ching - that will be 60 dollars. Business info. to bank for new account. Lease to lawyer. Arranged business phone and internet. Arranged business cell phone. Discussed sample knitting with activities director at local retirement home - needs something tangible, e.g brochure, to show to prospective knitters. Tried to explain this is in the works but I don't think she was buying it.

Attended SEB program three days this week. One lacrosse practice, two hockey try-outs, one swimming lesson, one rugby game, one drum lesson. Took 3 children to dentist. Met with lawyer, made amendments to lease.

Marketing presentation due Monday, business plan due Friday.

Cannot find any real justification to attend Creative Sewing and Needlework Festival this weekend since my promotional items have not yet hit the presses.

I am, however, inching closer to "kniterary" reality. I'm looking forward to the For Lease sign coming down from the front of 229 Brock Street North in Whitby. Hopefully next week I will have the keys and preparation will begin. A June opening would be nice!

Foot in Mouth Disease

I had a particularly rough day in my course on Friday. As I have mentioned, we are all getting tired and restless and ready to put what we've learned in action. In a moment of emotional and physical weakness, I said something to someone that I shouldn't have. This is not uncharacteristic for me when I'm just too tired. My guess is that my apology didn't do much. Needless to say, I've felt terrible about it all weekend (in the True Colors/Personality Dimensions world, I'm a "blue").

Yesterday we took Dave, Nick and four of Nick's friends out to a movie. (Mark, Julia and I watched "The Wild.") They saw "The Rocket" which they said was good, except that a lot of it was in French and they had to read the subtitles. This can be tough for an energetic group of boys.

I had Nick and his friends in the van on the way home and we were listening to a Johnny Cash CD - a must-have since we saw the bio-pic. As we drove home, I listened to this chorus of twelve year olds sing along to "I Walk The Line." I can't tell you how wonderful it was to hear. Their innocent voices in sync with Johnny's, "I find it very easy to be true." It was one of those times when you want to push the "pause" button. I felt like I could have stayed in that moment forever.

Enjoy your children, they really do grow up too fast.

No Frolic For Me

Things are moving along at a snail's pace. Still waiting for my lease. I spoke with the real estate agent and was assured I would have it "early next week." (Sound of fingers drumming.) I'm making gradual headway in other areas though. I have an appointment on Tuesday to discuss the creation of the shop sign and related logo. I'm extraordinarily close to making my first inventory purchases - can't wait to see the Opal sock yarn!! Carolyn Anstey of Main Street Yarns in Milton was most helpful this week and I hope to meet with her again soon. Unfortunately, too much going on at home today (including a birthday party for Nick) kept me from visiting the Knitter's Frolic - I could cry! There will always be another one, right?

I'm still searching out people who can knit samples for me. I'm hoping to have some women from a local retirement residence work on a few things and aim to make some progress next week with their activities director.

Good news in the camera department. David discovered that the batteries in the camera (the same name-brand batteries I just put in that I swear were new out of the package) were dying. So we put the no-namers that came with the camera back in and all is well. We were able to take some pictures on Nick's birthday and even had them displayed on the TV. I'm thinking that transferring pictures to my computer (specifically this blog) can't be far behind.

Only two more weeks left of the SEB program. This week was tough. We've been sitting for 5 hours a day, 4 or 5 days a week, for quite some time now. There was less concentration among the group. I think everyone is exhausted. Hopefully the next two weeks will move along quickly. We will have a few days to work at home - it will be nice to have all my tools around me and the ability to take a break and stretch my legs when I want to.

On the homefront, I am getting quite excited about the flowers appearing in my garden. The perennials are starting to shoot up and lots of my bulbs are in flower now. We've made arrangements to have a garden designer do up a plan for our backyard. It may take some time to reach our ultimate look, but we can get started.

I've got a few mushy bananas that are calling out my name and Julia's sweater, on which I've made no headway this week. The pictures are coming soon - and no, not of the bananas.

The Theme From Jeopardy

The suspense is killing me!! Who knew setting up a 530 square foot wool shop would involve so much - well - everything. I may have mentioned the one thing I can do is order wool. The word is slowly getting out there to my suppliers. Because, of course, I can't have knitted samples for the shop until I have the yarn to knit with. Hmm, knit with - knit wit? Or is that yarn with which to knit? I definitely am losing it.

Meanwhile, remain positive. Smile. Take lots of deep breaths. Where is that Bikram Yoga Pickering when I need it?

And the program that got me here in the first place - the Self-Employment Benefits Program run by Essential Communications in Whitby - well they've got all kinds of stuff they want me to do - marketing presentations, business plans, trade shows, networking nights.....

No problem!

Did I mention I have three children - and a husband? So, add in the basics required for living (necessity of food on table, clean clothes, etc.) and top that off with a very generous portion of extra-curricular activities - hockey tryouts, rugby tournaments, swimming lessons, drum lessons - and, apparently, homework to be completed daily!! And we can't forget the birthdays - Nick's is tomorrow and Dave's is Mary 2nd. (Reminder - find time to celebrate!!)

Bottom line - if it ever really does stop somewhere - this opening a business thing is not for the faint of heart.

Must....sleep.....

Did you say June?

The aim, with the wool shop, is to open in June. Now, considering that I haven't signed the lease (the offer to lease has been accepted), I'm thinking this is a rather heroic undertaking. I've never felt the "domino effect" so fully before. Until I have my location confirmed, I cannot: order a sign, set up website, advertise, paint store, install shelving, install phone line, etc. etc. etc.

I can, however, order yarn - lots and lots of yarn. Contact has been made with a number of distributors: Diamond Yarns, Nova, Mission Falls, Lily Chin, Opal Sock Yarns, not to mention the Cabin Fever and Mac N'Me patterns and zecca buttons and accessories. And when it comes to small, independent yarn producers, the list goes on. I'm so excited!

My to do list this week is huge. Finalize logo, contact web designer, start placing orders, etc.

I met with a group of women the other night at the Durham Knit 'n' Nag http://www.brilliantwhitelies.com/snb.htm and was told, under no uncertain terms, that I was to look after the crocheters. And since I don't crochet, this was more steep learning curve stuff for me! I promise to make it work ladies!!

The wool shop undertaking is huge for me, having never worked retail in my life. And more and more, as I visit the knitting blogs and look at those brave souls out there who own and operate wool shops, I feel a little overwhelmed. Advise away folks - I can use all the help I can get!

Ironically, the downside to all of the preparation required to open up shop is that I don't have much time to knit.

I Know They're In There

We had accumulated a rather large number of Air Miles - not enough to take me anywhere I'd really want to go - but enough to blow it on some rather satisfying purchases. The Cuisinart stainless steel coffee maker, kettle and 4-slice toaster have made a nice addition to our kitchen.

And yet there were more Miles - what to do, what to do. Forget the weekend away - nobody ever wants responsibility for three kids - and besides, hockey season wasn't co-operating. Then it struck me, as I tried not to embarass my family when I took a picture of them (in public) with a disposable camera. Back to the Rewards section - and there it was, a digital camera with all the bells and whistles - and it was within our limit.

The order went in on a Monday at the end of February and the package arrived a few days later. I opened the box immediately - after all my friend Lou was there and I wanted to show it off. It would do, she proclaimed. Just like mine. You'll love it.

I was excited. Pictures for my relatives near and far, hassle-free prints on our new printer, I could finally start my blog and post my half-finished knitting projects too!! Inserted new batteries and I was on my way.

There are now three (3) pictures somewhere inside the camera. I know I took them and I know they're in there. I haven't seen them since the first week of March. I am now annoyed with shiny, little silver wonder. I want my pictures. Better still, I want my pictures on my blog.

Must seek assistance from teenage son. I will have to go about this carefully. Best not to sound too urgent. This type of request does not go over well. Perhaps I will ask after he has been showered with chocolate and jelly beans. I might catch him in a good mood, riding a sugar high.

In any event, this is yet another work in process. I know the camera works. I know the pictures are in there.

Lights, action, .........

You Gotta Start Somewhere!

Step one - create blog. Step two - find something terribly witty or interesting or both to write in blog. Step three - attempt to complete steps one and two at 1:45 a.m.

'Right then - step one - complete.

Step two - to be completed at a later hour or date.

Step three - see above.