Spring in Cooperstown

Why am behind this counter?

   I was scheduled to work in the shop yesterday...a cold, gray day, and Jeff wasn't feeling well so I decided to take Fanny with me.  Jeff's doctor's tweaking his meds and that always makes him cranky...effects his sleep and appetite.  And besides, Jeff's apartment is on the 4th floor and when Fanny's there she wants to go exploring...or at the very least to sit by the door waiting to go out.  So I thought it would be better/easier for both of them if she went with me.   Fanny isn't the kind of dog you can leave home alone for long.  Maybe she should have been crate trained but that's not our way.  She starts off with a nap but when she wakes up and realizes she is alone she goes thru the house looking for her family and taking the house apart...garbage pail by waste basket by knitting bag by tool box (and yes, she has destroyed the handles on screwdrivers...Jeff was not happy).  It's easier and cheaper just to take her with us.  She rides well and sits in the car without barking at other dogs or people who come close.  In fact, she tries to hide in the back seat from anyone who tries to talk to her thru the car windows!  Anyway, the ride down was uneventful,  she sat in the backseat and looked out the windows.  When we got to the shop, we walked around a few minutes before going inside...in case she needed to...but when I shut the door behind us and the aromas from the handmade soaps and beeswax candles and everything else hit her she backed up to the door, her nose in the air and her tail tucked between her legs!  And stayed there!  I did the opening routine and since she was still leaning against the door decided to put her back in the car.  I could see her...and she could see me...thru the windows and with a treat and a bowl of water she seemed comfortable.  After lunch I walked her around the parking lot for a few minutes and then took the bowl of water and her back into the shop with me.  There weren't any customers in the shop so we walked around the store for a few minutes and then I took her behind the counter with me and told her to lay down and take a nap.  And she did...well, with one eye open.  And that's how we spent the afternoon.  She just stayed at my feet and looked at the few people who did come in...no barking or getting up to investigate what was happening.  Oh, Fanny didn't like Cooperstown's water, either...only took 2 or 3 laps out of the bowl but when she got home she drained her water dish!

    This is part of my display.  You can see the new hat rack in the
background above the sweaters.  These are skirt and sweater sets done in a Pima Cotton and acrylic blend in size 1 and behind them to the right are ladies hats and tank tops, also in the Pima Cotton and acrylic blend.  And this photo
shows a corner of our new dedicated kitchen area with  a couple of my tea cozies.  Hope they sell.  So far it's been hats...a baseball hat and a ladies flower cloche. 
     I have to work again on Wednesday and I think Fanny and Jeff will stay home together.  He's talking about planting potatoes early (!) and wants to start working in the garden and Fanny just doesn't want to be a shop dog.  By the end of the day the aromas had gotten to me, too and I was wheezing and having a hard time breathing.  Happens every year...too much good scents with the door closed and the heat on!