Now it's warmer, about zero, but colder, because of the wind. And the way I can tell is, by how cold it is inside. Not outside.

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1 December 13, 2013 Cold -- Monday It is crazy cold. It was cold before. Subzero cold-although not cold enough to kill the pine beetles. We need about degrees more below zero to make that happen. But when it was 20 below, we didn't have any wind. The house stayed warm. Now it's warmer, about zero, but colder, because of the wind. And the way I can tell is, by how cold it is inside. Not outside. It is so cold in the house that I am wearing flannel pjs, socks, sweater, fingerless embroidered gloves (the embroidery doesn't make them warmer, just fancier & more fun), and a knitted poncho. I'm also covered up with a quilt that has a wool batting. And I'm still cold. So I heated up one of those neck warmer things made with fleece and filled with corn. It's on my belly. BTW neck warmers stuffed with corn rather than rice get hotter & stay warmer longer than ones stuffed with rice. But I'm still cold. I even have all the shades pulled to keep the house warmer. And I'm still cold. The one place in the house that is nice & warm is the bathroom. I keep the door shut and the vent open. As a small enclosed space it stays nice & warm. Always a nice idea when you need to get naked to take a shower. Even the toilet seat stays warm, although that is probably too much info. It took me 20 years of living in this house to figure this out. I was about to buy a heater for the bathroom so that I would be warm when I showered. Then I figured out all I had to do was shut the door. When the cat chooses to hang out in front of the closed bathroom door instead of in front of the pellet stove, you know it's cold. In the old days - take your pick, 20, 30, 40+ years ago - bricks were heated in the wood stove and placed under the covers at the foot of the bed. Okay, that was my dad's era. But people also wore more layers back then, even in the house. Men wore smoking jackets at night. Women in bathrobes and fuzzy slippers. Chairs arranged before the fire. It was elegant, cozy and warm. Just watch the old movies, especially the ones from the 40s and 50s, and you'll see what I mean. But Monday, fuzzy slippers and a velvet smoking jacket wouldn't have worked. And that's because of the wind. It was so windy that snow that fell the previous Tuesday got whipped into major drifts a week later. I got stuck Monday just trying to get to the garage. Friends and neighbors had to plow me out on Tuesday. My car still hasn't recovered. But it's warmer now. I know this because the fitness folks across the way have been exercising outside. In t-shirts. They're nuts, of course, but I was able to stand outside in sweater and jeans and chop the snow packed, ice hardened snow on my stoop using a pair of fencing pliers like an ice pick. Give me a break. The one snow shovel I own is here at the shop. Yes, I know I live in Wyoming, where one snow shovel usually isn't

2 enough. And I didn't have to drag out the coat while I was getting the tree off the roof of the car. And it's a beautiful tree. Tonight it comes into the house and Christmas officially starts. Blocks will start being posted next week on the website for a limited time and we'll have them in the store. Price to buy in store is $1 for one page or $2 for 2 pages -- to help me cover the costs of the ink. Here is a sampling: CAPITAL CHORALE CONCERT SUNDAY 7:30 ST. MARY'S CATHEDRAL

3 FREE!! You'll hear O Holy Night, Ding Dong Merrily on High, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Carol of the Bells, He is Born and many others you will recognize. Please join us for this festive Christmas Concert. You'll get energized to carry you into the final weeks of Christmas! Yarn dyed flannel from Henry Glass: WHAT'S NEW!! Hoffman: Peacocks and the Hoffman challenge fabric in 2 colors: Old West by Robert Kaufman

4 Flannels from Robert Kaufman:

5 Mottles from Hoffman: 10 blender bolts from Blank came in today, also. Moda precuts in the lines: Little Black Dress 2, Mixed Bag (brushed cottons) and From Outside In. Bolts will be coming later. And from Hoffman, the Tiles are in! We got the Volcano and Splash colors. END OF YEAR CUSTOMER APPRECIATE SALE DECEMBER 27 & 28 We love that you support our business and to show our appreciation we once again offer the End of Year Customer Appreciation Sale. All items (except for Shop Hop Fabric and the Downton Abbey fabrics) are on sale at 40% off. This includes notions, patterns, books and, of course, fabric. Sale starts for Toad Toters on December 27 at 3 p.m. You must have your bag to be allowed inside. You can come early to scope things out, but I won't start cutting until 3 p.m. We'll close the doors at 8. Then on Saturday, Dec. 28, doors will open at 10 for everyone. This is a good time to buy backs and battings, materials for upcoming class projects, and just because you love the fabric but don't know yet what to do with it. Stock up on thread -- try the metallic thread you've always wanted to use -- patterns, hard bound specialty books, embroidery floss, especially the glitter floss.

6 December Classes & Special Events Hand Embroidery Club Sat. Dec. 14, 10-11:30 FREE Hand Applique Club Thurs. Dec. 19, 6:30-8:30 (See explanation in September) Friday Nighters Fri. Dec. 20, 5:30-9 $10 (See explanation in September) Plaid Pigs Dec. 21, 10-4 ongoing

7 DECEMBER Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Closed Beginning Open sew BOM 10:30- Machine Applique 1-4 OR 6: :15 Binding 1-2 Monthly Mini's 4-6 Finish Your Quilt Sale 8 Christmas Mystery Concert Full Moon Open sew Knit Pickin' Club Doodling 6:30-8:30 for Machine Quilters 1-4 or 6: Notes: Closed 19 20Open Hand Appliqué sew 1-4 Club 6:30-8:30 Friday Nighters 5:30-? Embroidery 10-noon 21 Plaid Pigs SALE SALE PM FOR TOAD TOTERS