We had a beautiful Indian Summer weekend which was a perfect time for washing windows. Washing windows is a job I don't particularly look forward to doing but I like the results. What a difference clean windows make! I've been admiring them all day.
Sunday was the annual Kirkin' of the Tartan's at St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral. To celebrate the Scottish heritage of their denomination in the United States, the church has this special service in November. Our band, Celtic Cross Pipes and Drums, marches in while playing and proceeds around the sanctuary. St. Paul's has one of the largest sanctuaries I've seen in a Protestant church. The altar is in the center and the pews are arranged on two opposing sides. There is an aisle all the way around. I have to say it is quite impressive to have the pipes and drums come through the doors and parade around the room. About midway through the service folks bring their tartans forward to the altar for a blessing. The priest says the family/tartan name and blesses it individually. The band also plays Amazing Grace as an offertory and a short set after the service is over. The band always looks forward to this event, partly because it is a way for us to show our appreciation to St. Paul's for all the years they have allowed us to use their building for our rehearsals each week.
The Large Market Basket was the first Longaberger Basket I ever owned. I still have my original one, the one that started me on a path which has been very beneficial for me and my family. I never expected to have my own business. I earned a Master's Degree in Library Science and worked in two libraries in the Champaign-Urbana area, first as a director and then as an adult reference librarian. After we moved to Washington IL it was fully my intention to continue in library work when my sons were a little older. After Peter was born I was invited to my first Longaberger show. There were several baskets that I wanted right away for my knitting and I signed up to have a show, not because I thought I would get anything free, mind you, but just because I wanted another chance to see the baskets! Shortly after that I decided to become a consultant myself just to earn an extra $25 to $50 a month and get all the baskets I wanted at a discount. The business continued to grow and I was able to work while staying home with our 3 sons. I'm very grateful for the opportunities I've had, the wonderful people I've met...and this beautiful Large Market started it all!
This basket is on sale, Wednesday, November 11 online only at
www.longaberger.com/paula or you can get it at half price by hosting your own home show or catalog show.
There was no ice or snow as we have experienced during the last few years that I held this event in early December.
The 2010 Sweetheart Basket is available starting December 1. The Hershey Kiss Basket is our first collaboration with the Hershey Co. The chocolate pottery is another first! It is so rich and elegant. Wouldn't these be perfect gifts for the chocolate lovers in your life?
