Exhale....

The 2024 craft show season has come to an end for LeafLady Quilts. Last weekend's UMC Holiday show also marked the end of United Maine Craftsmen as an organization. While there are still some hoops to jump through, Ts to be crossed and Is to be dotted, the public activities have ceased. So far, the comments on Facebook have been positive and understanding. A sad time but the organization could not continue with fewer than 50 members, 3 shows that did not fill and 2 others that were cancelled before the season started. I stayed in Portland Saturday night - a good decision as there was a moderate snow storm early Sunday morning. Only a couple of inches but it was enough that I would not have wanted to drive down from home. Susan and Carolyn from Forever Clean were at the same hotel so we did dinner together at Sebago Brewing. Good salad which was large enough for me to have the remainder for lunch on Sunday. The attendance was very disappointing - no where near last year's or years past. I did not meet my goal to reach the magical $3K mark this year, but so what? 2025 is another (and the last) year. So the quilted goodness has all been inventoried and repacked, stowed in the closet. The show accountrments are all tucked in their cubbies downstairs and all that remains is to deep clean the studio and get to work again. ~ I have been playing catch up since Monday: banking done, scones baked, Party Mix made, tree set up (D. procurred the tree on Sunday) and lights installed, outside lights installed just today. We took a day off yesterday to tour the Blaine House, the governor's home in Augusta. Lovely example of historic Maine architecture and fascinating furnishings. I was a tad disappointed in the holiday decor, remembering all the fuss the KV Garden Club ladies would create each year when I worked at Longfellow's, but they were appropriate for the theme of Winter Sports. - I'm having a very difficult time understanding all the support for the guy who seemingly shot another in the back at point blank range. All the evidence so far points to guilty and yet a certin element of society is painting him as some sort of folk hero for eliminating the CEO of a major insurance company. I know the US health care insurance system is not the best but good God! Someone was murdered! A planned murder. Get over it and get to a place where we can work to change the systems we don't like. And I've got news for those who think the President-elect and his richy rich pals will work for you...THEY ARE ONLY INTERESTED IN WORKING FOR THEMSELVES! THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT YOU!