Happy New Year!

Hello all,
As this year closes, I want to say a heartfelt "Thank You" to each and every one of you who helped in any way with the 2008 Nettie and Friends Show and Sale at the Egg and I East Restaurant. The show and sale has been a tremendous success! Thank You, on behalf of the students, families and staff of the Maxfield Learning Center, Thank You.

I've had a lot of fun, seen a lot of friendly faces, met some new folks who have been shopping, laughed with the staff at the Egg and I, and talked with friends about the 'miracles of Christmas' (Marsha's fireplace stayed up, I didn't gain any weight!)

There is much to be thankful for, I am thankful for all of you.

Happy New Year.
All the best to you and yours in the coming year.

Nettie

Gingerbread House Extravaganza

Well, today was one of those days at the Maxfield Learning Center.
I mean, one of those really good days.
The kind where things go right.
Children are happy.
Staff are happy.

We made gingerbread houses!
Here are some of the creations we made.

Thank you for your support!
We're having a wonderful 'run up to the holidays' in Room 10, Maxfield School.

We bundled up in all of our nylon coated glory and
went out an played in the snow today - finally !
(Brrrrr it's been cold!)

We had a great day! Nettie

My Students Rock!

Check out the link to the left to view the story by Jeff Olsen, KARE11 reporter on the show and sale.

Hey, I'll try to put the link here! Let's see what happens!
http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=531449&catid=14&provider=email

My students ROCK! (Yeah, how 'bout those Jingle Bells?) They were so great when Jeff was in our classroom!

Then, of course, we got to get our winter wear on and play in the fresh new snow! We had a blast.

Thank you one and all for your support!

Nettie

What A Wonderful Opening Reception!

I had such a wonderful time! There are so many people to thank for all of the hard work that went into planning, setting up, lighting and relighting the luminary on a blustery night! (At least we didn't have 8" of snow!) YOU are the best! Thank you.

To those of you who donated wonderful, unique, hand-crafted items to sell to benefit our students, thank you.

To those of you who donated time and energy to price items, wear a "show me the money" hat, do the math, carry items to and from the car / truck, lend a truck when my car decided it needed a little break this week, and provided emotional support, thank you.

To those of you who found wonderful items to buy to share with others or enjoy yourself (I found a couple myself!) Thank you.

Especially to Marsha for her unflagging support, listening to me go over details again and again, who helps me make lists and timelines, who makes wonderful BIG signs and a cozy fireplace (even when I said "What are you thinking???"), who laughs with me and encourages me to dream bigger, ask for help and say 'thank you.' Thank you.

To all of you, I had a great night. Thank you.

Jeff Olsen, from KARE-11 is coming out to school on Monday to do a little interview.
Wish us well. I'll let you know when the segment will air.

You are the best. Be well.
Enjoy this holiday season.
Peace. Nettie

I'm SO excited!

The show is up. I'm SOOOOOOO excited for Saturday! I keep hoping and watching the weather and hoping that we WON'T have a repeat of last year's big snowstorm. This is better than Christmas for me! WooHoo!

Again, I want to thank all of you for your support in getting the Nettie and Friends Show and Sale to this point. Watching my students on their stability ball chairs yesterday, I kept thinking "I could have never done this without the Nettie and Friends Show and Sale." Of course, right after that one of the kids bounced off the ball chair!

Last night at my bookclub, one of my pals asked "Did setting the earlier deadline help this year?" My answer, a resounding "YES!" which was immediately backed up by my buddy, Linda. "Yes, she's much more relaxed this year." I know that deadline was a little tricky for some of you, but thanks for playing along. It has made pricing, organizing and hanging so much easier for everyone involved in helping with the process.

Okay, enough blathering. I'm off to work. I'm looking forward to Saturday with 150 luminaries glowing (oh, yeah, ask whoever you ask to be gentle with the wind on Saturday afternoon/evening!)

Thanks to all who have offered to help with set up. I really appreciate your enthusiasm and support.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Nettie

PS! The OTHER reason I'm excited is that Borealis Too! is opening in downtown St. Paul TODAY! If you are a downtown employee, denizen, or just like to walk the skyways, check out Borealis Too off of the EcoLab Plaza.... Have a great day Abby and Jean! http://www.borealisyarn.com/

The Nettie and Friends Show and Sale Is READY!

What a wonderful group of friends arrived at the Egg and I to 'hang' the show today! It is up! We are ready! I'm excited and looking forward to seeing everyone at the Opening Reception on Saturday, where we'll have EVERYTHING out for viewing and sale! I have a carload of boxes just waiting to be unloaded! See you then. Thanks to everyone who helped out today! You are the best. (And Marsha, that fireplace IS just what was needed!)

We are done with pricing!

The Pricing is Done!

Yep, everyone of these boxes are FULL! There are so many wonderful, beautiful, delightful, fun items. Thank you one and all!

If your items came in after the Oct. 25 deadline, I might not have gotten photos on the web. Sorry about that... my 'real' work has been pretty demanding (paperwork, conferences, actual teaching!) Well, that and a cat that is on the mend from having a toe amputated (poor guy) has taken all available time and energy.

Once again, my thanks to the pricing committee. Whew. I couldn't have done THIS without you! (Let alone tried to figure out pricing in our present economy.) We did have discussions about our goal of actually selling the items and what 'the market will bear' in the current fiscal fiasco.

Jean, Marsha, and I have been experimenting with the luminaries... we're trying to figure out exactly how much kitty litter we will need for 150 bags... well, if we're asking questions, exactly how much lighter fluid will we need in those clicker things to LIGHT 150 candles in the dark on a December afternoon? Those might be questions for another day. Right now, I've got to get to work!

Have a wonderful day, week, year, life!
Be happy! Nettie