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I have just returned from a 4 day personal retreat.  I was needing a break so badly. There had been a lot of stress in my life in the past several months and some personal issues that I knew I needed time to put to rest.I traveled 5 1/2 hours to Southern Indiana to my best friend's house. It is a place of peace back on 100+ acres with a lake and most of the acreage in woods. I spent much time sleeping and allowing my body and mind to rest. I spent a lot of time reading - one just a fictional fun type book and the other was an inspirational one that refreshed me. I also journaled a lot.  I had a lot of time to reflect on my personal issues and brought them to rest and resolution. I also spent time with my friend (when she wasn't working) laughing, crying and talking.  I also spent time walking and playing with a new puppy that she had.I am so grateful for the 4 days of rest. I am so grateful for my family that they can let me go and function well without me here. I am so grateful for my husband that encourages me to take care of myself because he knows that they will only benefit from my emotional, spiritual and physical well-being. I am grateful to my Father who so loves me and knows me better than I know myself.There are some new directions up ahead for me which I am excited about and yet realizing that these new directions are bigger than myself and I need my Father to come through for me to accomplish these things.I am looking forward to what's ahead for me and my family and I will keep all of you posted.

So life has rather forced me into making some decisions regarding my craft business.  The pain in my shoulder and arm has subsided but when I try to crochet - it begins to scream at me and I remember why I had to lay my beloved crochet hook down for a time. Also,  this is my youngest daughter's last year in high school and then we'll have to prepare for college. My eldest daughter is going to school full-time.  My middle daughter is moving out to LA the end of this month.  And I'm working full-time. All of these things plus the shoulder issue is helping me to realize that it is time to lay this all down and focus on myself and my husband and get us ready for this next huge phase in our marriage of having an empty  nest.   I will be finishing up my craft shows through the first weekend in Oct.  And then I am planning on closing down all my shops.  So if you've been waiting to purchase something - now is the time to do it. Because when I sell something at these last shows - I will not be replacing them. Thanks for supporting me and encouraging me in my craft and who knows if at some point in the future I will be back but the signs are all telling me that at this time - its time to let it go. http://hookyarninker.artfire.com http://hookyarninker.silkfair.com http://sonnetandprose.etsy.com

So for the last several blogs - I have been letting you all know that I am not crocheting for awhile in order to let my arm and shoulder heal up.  It has been healing and the pain is less and less which I am thankful for. My family and I went camping last weekend and my husband and youngest daughter were bragging on how many military style push ups they could do - I decided I wasn't going to let them get away with it. So I proceeded to show them that this "old lady" could still do them and I did 25, yes count them 25.  I could have done more but the pain in my arm and shoulder reminded me why I was taking it easy...so I quit.  Needless to say they were impressed.  But the rest of the weekend and even into this week - I am still paying for showing off.  Oh well....life is good when you can beat your youngest daughter who is a swimmer btw, and my husband all in one day....yay!!!Some other things that I've been doing with my hands besides crocheting is tending to my little vegetable garden in the back yard.  I have plucked 4 zucchinis and several tomatoes, they are finally ripening, and several cucumbers.  I have also been doing some more baking. People at work know that I bake and I have done several bake sales with them over the years - so they order from me.I just wanted to keep you all updated with what I'm doing these days. I have the French Market in a couple of weekends where I will be crocheting while I sell my wares - so hopefully my arm will be ok to pick it back up.  I will be taking it easy even as I "ease" back into picking up my hook and yarn.

oh wait....has it even been summer????  I can't believe that July is almost finished and we haven't had summer yet.  In a few weeks kids will go back to school, which means my youngest daughter will be a senior in high school. I think last summer was cool as well - what is happening?  Global warming??  How about Global Cooling??I have a garden and I have lots of flowers on my tomatoes, pepper, cucumber, watermelon plants and even some little nubbins of vegetables,  I have picked one large zucchini but that is about all that I have gleaned from my garden yet.  It has been just too cool of a summer to ripen the vegetables.Since I have taken a break from crocheting - I have put on several pounds.  I am trying not to get too depressed. =-) I have to keep my hands busy and not crocheting is keeping my hands idle except now instead of holding yarn - I'm holding food in my hands.... I guess now that I'm not creating - I should be exercising more.  I'll have to try that. =)

It's been a long time since I've blogged but read on and you will begin to understand.....For the last month - I have been needing to slow down with my business.  I have been having migraines which have been a result of a locked up shoulder.  It has been very painful to crochet.  I have been seeing a chiropractor/massage therapist which has been helping me tremendously. Because of the pain and the inflamed muscles - I need to take some time off.  I used to crochet every minute I had and I need to give it a rest.It has been very difficult for me to just sit and watch tv or a movie because I seem to always need something in my hands to do.  I am learning to relax and train myself that its ok to not always be productive.  In some ways I have burned myself out with my crocheting. I want to be able to crochet because I love it and when its not painful - not because I have to.  I want my business/hobby to come out of the overflow of my life. It becomes more of an obligation or a "job" when it doesn't come for life within me.Hopefully I will be back stronger and more creative than ever. In the meantime - I will sell what I have and once in a while put something new in my shops.Thanks for all your understanding.