I received a package in the mail this morning… it brought me to tears.

You see, the amazing Bev posted a Pay It Forward challenge and I responded. She PIF’ed me the most amazing gift…

No Joke. I dyed that yarn as part of the Year of the Sock club.

So…she took my yarn… knit it into a beautifully, and lovingly crafted shawl… and gave it to me. I am tearing up just thinking about the hours of work and intention that she put into it. I will always wear this shawl and remember how powerful a random act of kindness can be. I am speechless. (that is really hard for me!)
To honor Bev… I am also going to PIF 3 people.

I have been crazy busy lately. Work, Family, and this little thing called “C*EYE*BER Fiber Yarns” has kept me running in circles. I have screwed up some shipping, finally fixed it all, and am taking a 1 night breather from the yarn business.
I stopped by the Post Office today to check the ol’ C*EYE*BER Fiber box and found a package. I took it to my car and ripped it open.

Heide sent me jaywalkers made from June-Bug! She actually took the time to MAKE me socks.  She sent me a PIF with my own yarn.

I am touched beyond belief and have been in the greatest mood  all day! Thanks Heide, they fit my size 11 feet perfectly! I love, love, LOVE them!

well… maybe I should say got the monkey off my back. ( I can not resist any Peter Gabriel song references. I scored some concert tickets to see him when I was VERY preggers with the cowboy and rubbed my big buddah belly to make a doorman feel sorry for me and give me two tickets!)
I FINISHED…meaning knitting, weaving in ends, and crocheting (blech! I would rather die in a ring of fire (a la soapturtle) than do that again. No offense to all you hookers out there!) the edges of D.’s 2 year long blanket!!!! My longest UFO is now an FO. Woot!

This blanket ( that is to have no photos!) was the first thing that I tried to knit for D when I first started knitting again. Umm…. there are some gauge issues… and some intarsia problems….. but overall a lot of love for my D. I hustled to finish it by the weekend (even with a nasty cold ) because… when I presented my hubby with a BIG box for his birthday on Friday (thank you very much to all of you well wishers… he was touched!) he immediatley said “Is this my blanket????” and was so excited. Uh…. had to fix that, right?
I felt kinda crappy and too self-critical about the blanket. He just wanted something that I made to wrap himself up in when he is cold… or alone… or even when I steal the covers ( for the record: I NEVER do this… right, honey?).
So, lesson learned. Stop agonizing over perfectionism and just let go for a minute. See it from another perspective. Blanket done. Whew!
In other news…

I have created a ring for PIF. Feel free to check it out and join!
Did you see the PIF map has added more markers? I am so excited! I sent 12 out and now there are 28 PIF’s on record! Whoo hoo! How killer is that? You have no idea how happy it makes me to see more markers on the map or just to know that folks are being kind to each other. For no reason at all other than to be kind. I think this world could use a little more of that, don’t you?

C*EYE*BER Fiber news…. I am getting ready to dye a huge run of yarn. If you have any requests you can email me here.

Thanks all… remember… keep Paying It Forward!

And the Winner is:

Christine Hermes

email me to claim your prize!!

Thanks to everyone who participated!

Announcement!!!!!!!

We are live! Yup, that’s right!

Is open and ready for business! Connie is fantastic to work with and there is some C*EYE*BER Fiber there that is exclusive to that shop. Even a signature yarn for the store.

GO check her out!!!

And… to all my friends in the north… she is Canadian based!!!

3 OPEN SPOTS IN the Socks for all SEASONS Fall Club… come and git’ em’!!!

Did you see that there are 21 people mapped on the PIF map….. keep the kindness flowing people!!!!!

See the king and queens of the jungle as they embark on their incredible journey across the Sahara…

after a couple of hours in the heat their spirits were still high after an elephant sighting…

and a couple of minutes later they…

dissolve into a pool of sweat-laiden, exhausted little kitties.

This is my cowboy’s best girlfriend. She was born one day before D and I got married. I held her when she was hours old and promised her a friend one day.

Good thing I take my promises seriously.

Off to Orlando tomorrow…. the cowboy has asked to ride in a helicopter instead of an airplane.. let’s hope he forgets about that.

Remember to map yourself if a Pay IT Forward giftie makes it your way… we have 4 mapped so far! Yea!

Contest ends August 4th.

Tonight was the Baltimore Spinners group at my LYS. What a great night and a great group of spinners. I love learning from you all…. and yes… me and the long draw are trying to come to terms with each other.

I am pleased to announce that CLOVERHILL YARNS is carrying C*EYE*BER FIBER Sock and Roving. I dropped of 20 skeins tonight (including a Cloverhill signature) and 11- 4oz bundles of fiber. Go check them out of you are local.

PIF is in motion…. some have found their merry way to their intended recipients…. if you got one… go map yourself and start thinking of your intended (s)….

Pictures of spinning tomorrow… promise! Maybe zoo pictures too…

Oh! 4 open spaces in the Fall Sock Club….

Ok guys! I have 12 PIF’s in route….. you may be getting one!

I have sent mine to folks who I have been inspired by…. supported by… or just think are nifty. I would ask them…. only if they can… to think about someone ( or ones) who they feel the love from and to pass on the goodness.

Small tokens of affection are wonderful surprises and can be a relief from the everyday stresses (and HEAT!).
Here is the PIF Button:

If you give or receive a PAY IT FORWARD giftie…. go map yourself… I want to see how far we can cast the net!

Ready, set? PAY IT FORWARD!

(OK…just a quick note about the cruise…. DID YOU SEE the corporate sponsors?????)

Thanks to everyone for your feedback (and enthsiasm) on this idea inspired by my friend Amie’s kindness….

If you are interested in this idea becoming more formal ( a ring or swap) leave me a comment.
Weekend Update: 

Things here at Chez’ Cowboy have been all potty all weekend. I have not really seen much other than the cowboy’s bum-bum and the inside of a bathroom all weekend.

We are making great strides and the effort is so worth it. We are using a lot of positive reinforcement and a 45 minute sit schedule… I will keep you posted. ( I know you are all on the edge of your seats!) If any of you Mamas that have done this have any suggestions… I am all ears!

When you are wrong, you’re wrong:
I wrote a politically - oriented post (that has since been deleted) on Friday regarding the recent extension to the Voting Rights Act.

Looks like mama jumped the gun on some things.

Here is a thoughtful email I received regarding the post (thanks S!) :

Your post on the Voting Rights Act got me thinking also, and then I
did a little Googling to refresh my memory, because I thought its
purpose was to protect already-existing rights.  In short, whether or
not the Act was extended, African-Americans (and other minority
citizens) would all still have the right to vote under the 15th
Amendment to the Constitution.  What the Act does is protect that
right against practices that were attempts to get around the
constitutional rights guaranteed by the 15th amendment, such as
requiring literacy tests.  Unfortunately, there are places and cases
in recent years where the Voting Rights Act has been necessary to
ensure that everybody gets a fair opportunity to vote.  The 25 years’
extension refers to very specific issues in very specific states and
municipalities where there is a history of discrimination against
minority voters.

The link below had an explanation as well as some other useful links:

http://www.fairvote.org/?page=828

Anyway, it IS incredible that such protections are still necessary
and in general its an issue well worth getting angry about when it is
still such an uphill battle in many places to ensure everyone’s right
to vote.

So, I being someone who firmly believes in being flawed, admit I jumped the gun. Thanks! Maybe that is why I stay away from posting about the political.

Happy Monday Folks!