My Day Off

Wednesday I was able to do something that rarely works for me. Schedule 2 doctor's appointments on the same day. But I did have some time between them. The Batlimore sewists from Artisans Square are planning to meet in Baltimore in April. If you're reading this and want to join us feel free. Plans are very fluid right now. I volunteered to see if one the old fabric stores was still open, since so many of them are gone. After a scare in thinking they were indeed closed, I saw a sign saying they'd relocated. It wasn't that far out of my and I had volunteered to check it out. Guss's has moved 229 Park Street. They're a brick and mortar store with no web presence. They cater to the menswear trade, but really fabric knows no gender. I found them easily and wow a parking space right out front. The store is much like the old one, no frills, but a decent selection. But for me the real treasure lies upstairs. There are table of flatfolds, most in pant or skirt lengths, marked $10 each. I only bought 2. I know I said I wasn't making anything clothing, but a couple of skirts added to the two pair of pants should get me through the rest of the winter and since they're skirts they can be easily altered. Besides both pieces only cost $18 plus tax. I also did my bit for the economy. Honestly, though I'd hate to see these small shops go.




After I left Guss', I remembered that I needed to go the main branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library. Let me say right now I love libraries and feel they are any city's best treasure. Except for fines and some fees Maryland's libraries are free to all. The Pratt library system in Baltimore was endowed by Enoch Pratt in his will and money was never well spent.

My mother took me to get my first library card when I was five and I'v had one ever since. Whenever I've moved someplace new, I locate the library and the fabric stores, then I don't feel so lost. My father took me to the main branch of the Pratt when I was a wee little girl. I remember walking in and looking up and seeing all the books and all the art on the walls and being awstruck. I haven't been to the main branch in years and while it had changed a lot, in some ways it hadn't changed at all. I was looking for "The Care and Feedng of Spinning Wheels". I knew they had it and it was just a matter of going to get it. I could have ordered it from my branch, but there was no guarantee when it would get in. I also picked up several other books on spinning and a DVD that my county system doesn't have. I'll probably buy a couple that I borrowed. I often do this. Try before buying. If I like it I buy it. If not it's there whenever I want to borrow it.

After my last appointment I went to return a book to my branch and pay a fee. They were having a book sale. If you bought the plastic bag for .50 you could fill it for a $1. SCORE! There were a couple of bios for DH on Pete Rozelle and Digger Phelps, some for the grandkids to read, a couple of mysteries. BUT, I got 11 knitting books. I told myself not to be greedy to leave some for the next person, but I didn't. I took them all. I've been meaning to buy the Vintage Socks book. I know I don't knit socks, but there were some in there that I liked. I've probably borrowed this book a dozen times. It just dawned on me. Why am I trying to justify this. They were practically free. And next to the names of my family, free is my favorite word.





Days like this show me that I'll enjoy retirement. I'll just have to get used to reduced income. NOT!




TTYL