I went missing again, but it was for good reason. I was buried under a mountain of books! In the time since I last posted — on my birthday — the bookstore that I manage decided to move, closed, packed, moved, and reopened. “Nothing short of a miracle,” says our general manager. I agree. Who in their right mind would or could move an entire store, start to finish, in such a short time? Well, I’m not sure we’re in our right minds, but we did it, and we did it well.
Granted, we just moved next door; but it was a monumental, physically draining, emotionally stressful three weeks. I’m proud of all of us who made it happen. Our new space is light, airy, clean, beautifully renovated — and it has hot water. We gave up the creaky wooden floors, so loved by our customers, but I’ll take hot water over creaky wooden floors any day.
There’s even more moving going on — I moved the blog to my own domain. I feel like such a grown-up! If you arrived here via notplainjane.blogspot.com, you’ll notice that you’ve been redirected to not-plain-jane.com. At least I hope that people will end up here… I’m not quite sure what happens to the feed.
Just to be on the safe side, please update your feed reader to
(and when I publish this, we’ll see what happens).
I’ve been trying to maintain at least a little of my knitting mojo in these weeks. This is my version of Evelyn Clark’s Old Shale Shawl, which was first published in the Jan/Feb 2005 Piecework Magazine. I’m knitting with my own handspun — it’s that blend of BFL, cashmere, silk, and merino from Spirit Trail Fiberworks. I decided to knit the shawl in stockinette rather than garter stitch, because this pretty yarn deserves to show off. I’m also leaving out the traditional garter ridges in the classic stitch. I think of this as Feather Without the Fan.
When I began knitting, I knew that I would run out of yarn, and more fiber was already on the way from Jen. I kept knitting all through The Move, and now that life is going to be a little (not a lot, just a little) more sane I’ll spin up the rest of what I need. I’m usually distressed at the idea of running out of yarn in the middle of a project; aren’t we all? But this time, since I knew from the start, I could spend my little bit of knitting time enjoying myself.
The other thing I’m going to do now that the bookstore is getting back to normal is send out the giveaway prizes! I’d like to offer my sincere apologies to everyone who has been checking their mailbox and wondering what on earth became of that nice yarn, or that big book.
This is what I do when I have a whole day ahead of me, I’m too tired to do anything serious like vacuum, and there are fresh blueberries in the fridge. I love these old muffin pans; they were the ones my grandmother used, and they’re probably about sixty years old. I know, that was only 1950. But saying they’re sixty makes them seem antique rather than just retro. The muffins are pretty tasty, too. The secret is a little lemon peel, added at the last minute.
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Not Plain Jane 
Those muffins look delicious. Makes me hungry. I've been thinking of moving to my own domain also with my three blogs. I don't know how it works either. How is it working for you? I found by through blogs of note from last year. Just clicked on your old link and here I am. You're a great knitter! Come see my pictures at http://levonnesprettypics.blogspot.com/
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Congrats on your new blog location! Yup, I arrived just fine and have updated my Google Reader settings.Yowza – I'm glad that the more strenuous bookstore move is done, too!
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Congrats on your new domain! I guess you're new in my feed reader, but I updated you! Probably came here from Chris. Oh, and I'll have a muffin…
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Congrats on the new blog address! I had no trouble getting here from the feed. Three weeks to move a store does sound like "nothing short of a miracle". Those muffins look delicious. I have some newer muffin tins but I always seem to reach for the old blackened ones.
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Yay! Congrats! On the move being done, on the new blog digs, on the beautiful yarn and shawl! Can't wait to see it in person (hey, bring it to the Retreat, k?)Hugs, JenPS Those muffins look yummieeeeee!
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Congrats on the new digs — both bloggy and booky. And — those muffins! Wow! Can I come over for coffee and a muffin?
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Yay on the Feather-sans-Fan from she-who-doth-not-enjoy-garter-stitch. As for all the moving, nicely done, as always. Now, please pass those luscious muffins!
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Sounds like a busy time! But what a combination of good things: bookstore all ready to go with hot water, wonderful spinning-you are inspiring to get my wheel out!-and blueberry muffins. Great way to start the week-and the moved blog is good.
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Welcome to your new blog home! And congratulations on surviving a Herculean bookstore move. It's quite a muffin-worthy moment.
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The shawl looks lovely, the muffins delish! You are always making muffins … do you make them from scratch? Yummy!I have lots of "blackened by use" cookie sheets and the like. Rick wants to throw them away and get shiny new ones but I won't let him. He doesn't understand that they just work better.Moving an entire bookstore would certainly be exhausting! When I was little I would play library and carry my considerably large collection of books outside on the picnic table. Carrying them all back in again was not nearly as much fun! I applaud you and the rest of the bookstore crew. wow!
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Wow. Such a momentous post! I'm so sorry to be late to the party – but glad I checked in.Moving a book store is not to be under-rated. Moving a blog is less heavy but equally disruptive 😉 That yarn is gorgeous and the shawl! ouuuuu. Nothing adds a sheen like silk. /sighYummy muffins – I'll be they're all gone now!
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Well, I'd take muffins if necessary.
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oooh that shawl is going to be so fabulous. indeed, feather without the fan. perfect! And I pretty much love all of Evelyn's work.glad you have hot water, and yeah, moving a bookstore in a day in insane… but you did it!
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