“Hoot” does not begin to cover it
I like to wake up each morning—honestly, it is a plus—but after that nice surprise I like to take advantage of snooze technology and roll over for another half hour. Decadent? No, hon. That’s not decadent. Decadent is waking to chocolate croissants and a large Jamaica Me Mocha on a tray—straight from Mel’s on Main and still warm—and rolling over until noon. I dream of the day.
Do I really? No. Had you convinced, though, didn’t I? I am not a lifetime member of the Blue Plum Repertory Theater for nothing. I’ve had starring roles in everything from ‘The Sound of Music’ to ‘A Streetcar Named Desire.’ We are a small company, but we are ambitious. I hope you come to our next production—we’ve set Agatha Christie’s ‘The Mousetrap’ to music. The BPRT is what I do with my copious free time. And if you believe I have oodles of that, hon, then I am a better actress than even I suspect. No, between work and looking after Daddy, who is 93 and losing ground daily to Alzheimer’s, there is precious little spare time in my day.
But frankly, I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t go to work most mornings. I’ve been managing the Weaver’s Cat here in Blue Plum for twenty years. First for my dear friend Ivy McClellan and now for her granddaughter, Kath Rutledge. We are a fiber and fabric shop with enough colors and textures and tantalizing notions in the front windows to lure the least creative among you and enough of the “oooh” and “aaaah” factor throughout the rest of the store to capture the heart of any fiberholic. The Cat captured my heart the first time I poked my head in the door.
Can you believe I used to be a mild-mannered grade school teacher? Well no, I don’t blame you if you can’t believe the mild-mannered part. Look at me. I’m six-foot in my stocking feet. And when you put me in those skirts and jackets we all wore back then and the heels and the hose? I want you to know that I inspired hero worship in little girls, absolute awe in studious boys, and left the rascals and rabble-rousers quaking in justifiable fear. Ask the Dunbar brothers. I had them both for third and fourth grade—with mixed results. Ten turned out well enough. He’s a renaissance man, you might say. He teaches fly-tying classes for us at the Cat, can fix anything, is a fair hand with watercolors, and a good cook. I shake my head over his older brother, though. Coleridge turned out to be a starched and stiff sheriff’s deputy. I do try to improve him, though, every time we meet.
Until recently, my days have been as content and regular as knit one purl one. Not quite regular to the point of being somnolent; life in small towns only appears to be on extended snooze cycle. But since Kath moved to Blue Plum? Hon, think Fair Isle with all the bright, beautiful, confusing, hazardous, satisfying visions that pattern brings to mind. Why? Puzzles. Riddles. And rumors? We positively ripple with rumors. Plus, I am delighted to tell you, we have burglars and blackmail, gossip and guns, murder and mayhem. And who is in the thick of it all? Kath Rutledge and her TGIF posse. TGIF, that’s Thank Goodness It’s Fiber, the fiber and needlework group that meets at the Weaver’s Cat. I came up with the idea of calling it a posse. After all, what’s a good business manager for?
And so I don’t miss this opportunity, take a look at the classes we offer at the Weaver’s Cat—you’ll find them at Molly MacRae’s Pinterest page—and drop me a comment telling me what other classes you’d like to see us offer.
Molly is giving away one (1) print or audio copy of DYEING WISHES. Leave a comment to be included in the giveaway. Contest ends July 31; US entries only.
You can read more about Ardis in Dyeing Wishes, the second book in the “Haunted Yarn Shop” mystery series, published by Obsidian. The first book in the series is Last Wool And Testament.
Meet the author
Molly MacRae lived in Jonesborough and Johnson City, Tennessee, for twenty years and continues to miss the hills and hollows, but especially the people. She and her family now live in Champaign, Illinois—also full of good people, but not so many hills—where she connects children with books at the public library.
You can visit Molly at her website: www.mollymacrae.com. You can also find her on the first Monday of each month at Amy Alessio’s vintage food and craft blog: www.amyalessio.com and on the 23rd of each month at Killer Characters: www.killercharacters.com or connect with her on Facebook or Pinterest.
Books are available at retail and online booksellers.
I love mysteries that include needlework!
I really want to read this book now & visit the shop.
Sounds like fun. Dee
I would love to win the audio book version, thanks for the chance to win !
Would love a print copy of DYEING WISHES. New to me series.
Sounds wonderful! I knit, crochet and spin – sounds like a shop I would loose my mind in 🙂
I enjoy reading about haunted places and add in the mystery makes it even better. Thank you for the chance to win a print copy of the book.
I’d love to won either format. I sounds like a fun story.
I’d love to win this book 😀
I’m anxious to read this one. Have put it on my list to look for next time I get to Barnes & Nobles.
I don’t know quite how I missed this book, but thank you for bringing it to my attention.
This sounds like a great read. I would love to win a copy.
I crochet all the time, I do knit , just not well lol. I love mysteries and would love to win this
Would absolutely love to win a copy to see how Geneva helps out!! Thanks for the contest!! 😉
I meant to put this in my comment, but I wonder why Ms. Macrae left our beautiful Tennessee…I live only an hour or so away from her old home town!
Mamie, we miss beautiful Tennessee every day! My husband lost his job and, sadly, the only one he could find in six months of looking was here in flat, flat Illinois. We’re in a good place, but wish we were back in upper east Tennessee. I’ll be in Nashville at the end of August, but even better, I’ll be in the Johnson City area at the end of September. I can hardly wait!
this looks great!
I started crocheting again so now I travel with a bag of yarn and a bag of books…
I would just love to spend a day hanging out in Blue Plum. I would start my day with breakfast at Mel’s, shop and sit in The Weaver’s Cat and then back to Mel’s for lunch!
Would love to win this one. Sounds like a great read. Thanks Dru!
This sounds like I great series, I tried crocheting and wasn’t the most talented, I really need to find a teacher because I did enjoy it.
Delightful!
Looks great! Would love to win. 🙂
If I win, I would love to have you autograph this book for me and we take a picture together and post it on FB. 🙂 Charu
I meant with Molly Macrae, the author earlier.
Great opportunity and would appreciate either. Cats always add class to any story. Cover cat and one in your arms are good lookers.
Sounds like a fun read. Would love to win a copy.
Almost makes me want to knit again. Never became accomplished enough to make anything more difficult than knit/purl. I will just read about the joys of fiber.
Sounds great, I can’t wait to read it. I have already added it to my read list.
I have no knowledge of yarn or knitting, but this sounds interesting. Thanks for the review.
I would love to win an audio copy of the book. I enjoyed the write up. To think one could be a ‘fiberholic’. I just might have been one in my younger years when I was knitting and sewing for my children. This book sounds like fun. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
I haven’t seen half enough of Tennessee – just a smidgeon of Memphis and Nashville with a little Franklin thrown in. I think I may be a bit of a fiberholic myself. Sign me up for the giveaway. Thanks. judydee22002@yahoo dot com
You have me all revved up and ready to read this book—it just sounds like mega fun.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
I love to knit and would be delighted to take a course in knitting cats. This cozy sounds great. Thank you for having this giveaway.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
This is a new author to me, but this novel sounds soooo good and I would love to read this series. Better yet, I would love to win the Audio version of the book as I do a lot of listening due to impaired vision now. I would love to resume knitting again, but I still give my granddaughter lessons to keep up with it a bit. Thank you for the giveaway; it would be a pleasure to be the recipient of this book. Good luck to the author.
Thank you.
And a good time was had by all!
Ardis sounds like a hoot! Thanks for the intro and chance to win!
This sounds wonderful! I would love to have an audio copy! Thanks for the opportunity.
Sounds like a great book. Love cozy mystery.
I’d like to win the print copy, unless the audio is a C.D. version. I have the first in the series. I love cozies with ghosts (and yarn).
catbooks72(at)gmail(dot)com
contest is closed.
Thank you for the chance to win this for my daughter, she loves cozy’s!
wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
Thanks Molly for giving us a glimpse into Ardis’ day.
Thank you, Dru. I loved all the comments!