Celtic Beamer

Celebrating Little Things

Page 11 of 11

Baadeck Yarns

Baadeck Yarns

The Welcome sign at the bottom of the driveway at Baadeck Yarns.

A couple of December’s ago, I went on a ‘fibre frolic’ with two friends; Alayne Martell and Andrea Temple.  They picked me up at my house and we headed out to Baadeck Yarns, in Alayne’s Volkswagen.  We weren’t more than 15kms from home, when we suddenly found ourselves in a snowstorm.  By the time we got to the Trans Canada Highway in Queensville, we were in a blizzard.  We trudged along with Alayne driving, Andrea in the co-pilot’s seat and me sitting on the middle of the back seat.  The visibility was soon nonexistent, but we continued on.  Someone suddenly said ‘Who’s idea was this anyway?’ and all three of us just cracked up laughing.  But onward we went.  As  quickly as we drove into the storm, we drove out of it, with blue skies and sunshine, only to drive into it again.  Once we were beyond Whycocomagh, the skies turned blue again, the sun was out and the roads were bare.  We arrived in Baddeck, none the worse for wear, and promptly went to Baadeck Yarns.  The girls were looking for various fibres and colours for their weaving artworks, while I, as always, was in the market for wool of any kind but particularly sock yarn.  This is one of the best shops I’ve ever visited.  It is bright, with nice lighting and natural light.  The yarn is displayed beautifully and there are always many hand knit items on display.  It is such a fun, pretty and warm shop, that one can’t feel anything but happiness when moseying about.  The three of us went about, checking the many weights, styles, and colours of yarn, reading labels and looking at the many notions.  At one point, I turned around to see Alayne laying down on the floor.  I said ‘what are you doing?’.  She looked up, while holding a skein of yarn,  feeling its texture and with eye closed and said ‘just feeling the fibres on the bottom shelf’.  Oh how we laughed.  Pat, the owner of the shop, was doubled over.  We had such a wonderful time  visiting the shop that day.

Last week social media told me that Baadeck Yarns was closing.  WHAT?  How could this be?  Pat was retiring.  Initially I was sad and then realized how selfish that was of me.  Pat has been at this business for 26 years.  She deserves to retire and enjoy life, in a different way.  She told me she will now have time to knit.  Of course I had to make one last visit.  Here is a sampling of a few pictures I took that day.

 

 

The shop as you enter.

Large spinning wheel in the loft area is such an added touch.

Another view of the shop and the gorgeous stock.

One of the many items on display.  A colourful shawl.

Another view of the shop and its glorious stock.

A nice touch hanging in the window.  Pat told me she was going to enjoy some boating now.

A masked Pat waiting on my masked Mom.

Did I buy anything?  Of course.  Two skeins of  Fleece Artist sock yarn and another skein in yellow, blue and white to make a shawl.

I have warm memories, much laughter and quality yarns from Baadeck Yarns.

Congratulations Pat.  I’ll miss you and and miss the shop, but wishing you nothing but the best in retirement.

Dear Covid-19

Some of you may have already read this, as I initially posted it on Facebook.  I’ll post here as well, for those not on Facebook.  This is the longer, original version, which was in the Reporter newspaper (local paper) and a shorter version appeared in the Cape Breton Post as a column.

 

Dear Covid-19

Yes, you have caused chaos. You have caused fear and anxiety. You have caused sickness and death. But do you know what else you have caused? You have caused everyone to just slow down and smell the flowers. You have made people realize that material things don’t really matter, but love of family and friends is most important. You have caused many of us to declutter and downsize because it is just ‘stuff’ and holds no value. You have given us time to reconnect with family by playing games, reading, watching movies, working and playing outdoors, with the ones most dear to us. Children are connecting to their parents, which had been a lost art for several decades because work got in the way. They are sharing quality time together through cooking, music, art, common interests, etc. and maybe they are creating common interests they didn’t know existed. Parents are realizing it isn’t so easy being a teacher and have gained more respect for those trained in the teaching profession. We have all gained more respect for front line and essential workers. Acts of kindness, that would have been taken for granted, are now appreciated so much more than ever before. You have made me enjoy, even more, the little things in life like the feeling of amazement while observing the small red buds form on the trees and gradually burst into a beautiful leaf; like the feeling of excitement watching the birds return from their winter vacations; like feeling so encouraged, by a kind remark, about how well my yard looks, like the feeling of love and compassion from being with my Mom, and best friend, daily, and like the feeling of love when we received a care package from my brother and his partner.

You know what else Covid, we are finding humour where it didn’t exist before. We are laughing at our hair styles, or lack there of, when perhaps we stressed over such a little thing before. People who colour their hair are now making fun of the new striping patterns that are emerging. I look like a sheep dog, with my long shaggy hair, but I’m embracing it and with apologies to my hairdresser, I don’t believe I’ll get it cut, even when I can. People are also having in depth conversations with their Fitbit, microwave and other objects, they would normally ignore. While others have introduced themselves and have developed a personal relationship with their refrigerator.

I have never disliked dandelions, but I have really been embracing the brilliant yellow flower this spring, and have enjoyed watching the bumblebees flitter and flutter from one blossom to another. I’d normally be too engrossed in other things to pay much attention, but this slow down in life has been amazing. And watching the flight of the hummingbirds, if one is able to follow, as they dive around the yard from one resting place to another, in between gulps of their sweet liquid. As I type, I’m listening to the symphony of rain as it comes down on the roof and flows down the gutter; rain that is so needed in these crinkly dry times. It is also, washing the leaves as they spring forth on the white birch, and many maple trees. It is simply beautiful.

Oh Covid, you have opened our eyes to a world that was passing us by. You have opened our ears to sweet sounds we heard, but never listened to. You have opened our mouths to conversations we should have been having with our loved ones, but never had time to say. You have opened our noses to fragrances that have forever filled the air, but that we never smelled before. And you have opened our palate to tastes for the first time, as we prepare new and interesting foods. Thank you Covid.

Covid, I am not diminishing the affect you have had on society. And I am also not making light of the deaths you have caused, not in the least. One death, would have been one too many, and you have caused thousands. But I am a firm believer that with everything bad that happened because of this virus, even more good will come forward. You might have us in Time Out right now, but we are a resilient species and when we emerge, we will be stronger than ever. You do not consume me, Covid. You many dictate what I can and cannot do at this time, but no, you DO NOT consume me. In fact, there are days I don’t even think about you. Why? Because I am too busy enjoying the little things in life; bees, birds, nature, budding trees, flowers, family, friends checking in, rainy days, sunshine, music, knitting, creating, and so much more. How do you like that?

So, yes, Covid, you are a despicable. And you might think you are winning the war, but you are barely leading this battle at present. A battle in which we will overtake you eventually. We, HUMANS, will win the war.

Yours in continued isolation,

Hughena MacDougall

Dundee, NS

Slight Brush with Fame Today

I was having my car serviced at a local car dealership in Port Hawkesbury this morning. I wasn’t paying too much attention to who was coming and going or just waiting. The gentleman beside me got up and went towards the service area and I heard one of the lovely ladies call him by name, “Linden”. Hmm…..I thought. That’s the name of my bike, which I named for the street I lived on in Brookline, Mass, many many years ago. Then I remembered a little boy, whose name is Linden. And then I thought of the acclaimed author, Linden MacIntyre, who was raised in nearby Port Hastings. Then the light bulb came on and I realized it was indeed the author, Linden MacIntyre. He came back and sat at a distance beside me. I noticed he was reading a book. I wondered what he was reading. Was he enjoying it? I also wondered does he critique the books he reads or does he just enjoy them for what they are. I wanted to speak to him, but I knew I’d become tongue tied and look like a blubbering fool telling him I enjoyed his books and his writing style. I didn’t have the courage to say hi. Perhaps I won’t be so shy if our paths cross again.

Some of Linden MacIntyre’s books:

Causeway
The Bishop’s Man
Why Men Lie
The Only Cafe

Why CelticBeamer you ask?

I knew when I started a blog site I had to have the name Celtic in the domain.  With a last name like MacDougall, I obviously have some Celtic ancestry.  50%  Scottish to be precise.  I have always identified as being predominately of Celtic origin.  Also,  I live in Cape Breton where Celtic ancestry and heritage play a huge role on the island.

The word ‘beamer’ comes from a course I just finished a few days ago.  It was called ‘Be The Lighthouse’ and it was taught by the amazing Michelle Myrick-Olsen.  It was a self discovery/mindfulness course, which was wonderful.  Michelle referred to the participants as ‘beamers’.  Through this course I was encouraged to pursue my desire to blog, so I wanted to pay tribute to it and therefore used the word ‘beamer’.

You can check out Michelle Myrick-Olsen at www.michellemyrick.com or on Facebook at Michelle Myrick – Coach or check out her “Heart of the Matter” Facebook site.

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