Happy?? Thanksgiving???

What do we have to be thankful for? After the serious snowfall last week, the car accidents, the amount of work needed to clean it up? The devastation to the crops, all the profits left standing in the fields?

September was the coldest and wettest in 60 years. My brother was kind enough to ask me if I remembered the 1958 September? I was 7! Really, I am going to remember walking one block to school (Grade 2) from 60 years ago? Not likely.

Last Tuesday was the snowiest October day in 104 years!! Something to be thankful for?

For thousands of years, man has tried to control our environment - we can not. Let's hope mankind is starting to learn this lesson as we deal with the major climate changes we are experiencing - and were brought home with over a foot of snow in Calgary last week. This area was snowy, wet and cold, but we did not get 12 inches of the white stuff.

No matter which side of the political spectrum, the new NAFTA agreement or US Mexico Canada (USMCA) deal is not a great deal for many. But could anyone have negotiated a better deal? It is much better than was originally demanded by the US. We were able to keep the arbitration clause! Canadians do not have to buy US milk products. Canadian milk producers do NOT use hormones and/or antibiotics as do the US producers. We can support our dairy farmers by simply reading the labels and purchasing Canadian!

Being a citizen of Canada, for me is a major thing to be thankful for!

Last week Margaret focused on fall - we had our one week of fall? If so, let's be thankful we got that much.

As the snow melted, the leaves on the trees glistened, against the blue sky and the world looked fresh and  almost like spring. Please be thankful - we can get out, we can appreciate so many of natures wonders and gifts.

Speaking of "getting out", we are wondering how far you have traveled with your Crafty Lady bag? Recently a customer asked this question after returning from a trip to the edge of the Arctic Ocean. This person's goal was to put her toes into all three of the oceans on our coasts. She forgot to take a picture, but asked the question anyway. Where have you taken your knitting to? Please, come in and tell us, e-mail or share your photo with us on our Facebook page letting us know.

One of my favourite places to knit is when I am out walking my dog on the beach at Gull Lake. Yes, you can knit and walk. My granddaughter loves to brag she has the only grandmother who can walk, talk and knit. We all multi-task. I just have the privilege of walking in nature, with my knitting, reducing my stress, and being very thankful.

Crafters celebrate colour, crafting with colour, texture and fibre. The ranges of colour and texture are currently amazing compared to the fibres we knew when I was growing up. I remember working with Phentex, which was like cast iron polyester, (hard to work with, itchy and rough). Many of the yarns were either 100% wool OR 100% synthetic. Today's yarns are often a blend.

This week's special 75% off sale features both colour and texture and are a blend of wool and synthetic! What a gift, something else to be thankful for!

Kyoto

by Katia

120 yds/110 m - 50 gm

50% Wool; 44% Acrylic; 6% Nylon

Reg. $11.00

75% Off

$2.75

Posted by Anne, happy TCL employee who can think of so many wonderful things to make with this beautiful yarn. Yes, I am aware beauty is in the hands of the crafter. This yarn is a great starting point. 

History and Colour - what a combination!!

Central Alberta has not always celebrated it's history. 

As a culture we are more aware of the people who settled here than we were 30 or 40 years ago. Lacombe is becoming known for it's historic tours of the older buildings, museums and murals. One tour highlight is the working blacksmith shop, and if you are lucky, you may be allowed to make something while there. 

Recently we had a group of students from Edmonton. One of the group grew up here and brought some classmates down for a walking tour of downtown Lacombe. He worked several summers conducting historical tours. They appeared to be having a great day! 

Other highlights feature the beautiful gardens around Lacombe, the Ellis Bird Farm, local breweries and great restaurants - some of which feature very old recipes and family favourites. 

When writing this blog, I was intrigued to discover this week's feature special 75% off yarn is named after a very old community in Japan.

Kyoto, once the capital of Japan, is a city on the island of Honshu. They, too, are known for historical tours. Their tours feature classical Buddhist temples, sublime gardens, imperial palaces, Shinto shrines, traditional wooden tea houses and geisha scurrying to secret liaisons. Some of the temples and houses were built in the 1300's. I have just added this to my bucket list of places to visit. 

If you Google Kyoto - the pictures are very colourful as is this yarn. Milled in Italy you will be able create some beautiful items. 

We have a good selection of colours - definitely enough to make a larger item and at 75% off - you can start on Christmas with colours to remind you of spring. 

This is a light weight chain yarn, it is a thick - thin yarn (varying thicknesses) and interesting colour changes. Best of all - it is machine washable - Come in and take a look . . . 

Kyoto

by Katia

120 yds/110 m - 50 gm

50% Wool; 44% Acrylic; 6% Nylon

Reg. $11.00

75% Off

$2.75

Written by Anne, happy TLC employee who loves history and whose stash is growing rather than decreasing.