Well things haven't picked up on the Google/business front. Many small businesses have been affected. Most of us noticed that other search engines are showing much more normal results still. So if you are looking for a good, non filtered, unbiased search engine, here are some.

Altavista
All The Web

Was just swapping emails with a competitor in the USA. She is almost out of business and hasn't seen an order in over a week. What a sad time for the "little man".

Despondent Jackie alert!

Google has just about put me out of business by filtering certain searches for businesses. Last week a search for Crochet Hooks put my little business at #1. Now you can't find me. A search on Crochet Patterns had me at the top of page 3 (pretty good). You can't find me in the top 800 now. Basically Google has done this to generate revenue it seems. I am not a big enough business to pay huge amounts for advertising. I did go on their Google Adwords but it is costing so much and not bringing in any customers. They click, I get charged but nobody buys. I can't afford it for more than a day or so more.

To say that I am depressed is an understatement. I have worked my butt off building up Karp Styles from nothing. It has taken 4 years to get where I am. I was doing OK. Not a big business by any means. Not a high earner. I have worked until 2am some nights. Now it seems to have been taken away by one search engine. Isn't it sad that they have so much power?

You can see the filter in action. Do a search on CROCHET HOOKS. Karp Styles is not there. (I may appear in the sponsored paid ads on the side that are costing me an arm and a leg for nothing). Now do a search on CROCHET HOOKS -googlegoo . Voila! Jackie's business appears again. The -googlegoo takes the filter away. So many small businesses like mine have been affected by this. I had just bought in thousands of dollars of stock ready for Christmas.
Now our family income has been cut in half.

Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas Google!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This morning was FUN! We braved the snow and slippery roads and headed off to Tree House. Tree House is a group for parents and kids. It is a fairly new group. We have a Tumbling Tots morning every Tuesday in the Pentecostal Church. Nice big room for the kids to let off all that energy. You SOOOOO need somewhere like that when it is -30 and they can't play outside. Anyway, today we had a party. We were celebrating World Children's Day or International Day of the Child. The reason that I am not sure which is a 2 year old who distracted me :) Shannon (who runs the group) played guitar and we all sang kids songs. Hey what do you know? The words are different in England. So Mommy Jackie was singing one version and the Canadian Moms are singing a different one. It was funny. Then we had a puppet show. Jesse decided he couldn't live without seeing how the puppets were being worked of course. He can't sit still for a minute anyway. Then we had Gingerbread men and snacks. It was a nice morning. I badly needed to get out of the office and house. I have felt like a prisoner lately. That is often I how feel at the beginning of winter. As soon as we get out on the snowmobile, I start to enjoy winter. Not quite enough snow coverage yet...but if it keeps up, as it has all day, we will have enough.

On the knitting front. I am throwing caution to the wind. Began knitting Bonne Marie's Ribby Sweater. Although it is made flat, I have decided to try to make it in the round. So far, so good. Touch Wood. Fingers crossed. etc etc. I am trying to use up some stash so this is being made with RH yarn (don't all groan at once) in a nice dark blue fleck. Will try to take an "in progress" photo later.

Was hoping to update the blog this morning but I think the pre-Christmas rush started this week. I have been packaging orders non-stop all day. OK I did stop to put a joint of beef in the oven.

Big thank you to Missa for the button that she kindly made me. It is perfect.

Finished the 2nd flap cap. This one is for Hubby. Made in black fleck chunk yarn. It is from my stash from years gone by. Can't say what it is other than it is Patons.

Not sure what to start knitting now. I have a few ideas but I look at the patterns and find something about them that I don't like. It is normally the seams that put me off. If I wasn't so tired, I would think about making them on circs and then separating for the front and back at the armholes. But I am just pooped tonight.

A Poem for Remembrance Day



"The inquisitive mind of a child"



Why are they selling poppies, Mummy?

Selling poppies in town today.

The poppies, child, are flowers of love.

For the men who marched away.



But why have they chosen a poppy, Mummy?

Why not a beautiful rose?

Because my child, men fought and died

In the fields where the poppies grow.



But why are the poppies so red, Mummy?

Why are the poppies so red?

Red is the colour of blood, my child.

The blood that our soldiers shed.



The heart of the poppy is black, Mummy.

Why does it have to be black?

Black, my child, is the symbol of grief.

For the men who never came back.



But why, Mummy are you crying so?

Your tears are giving you pain.

My tears are my fears for you my child.

For the world is forgetting again.



Author Unknown

Finished this project so fast that I never even had time to mention that I had started it. The pattern is Little Flap Cap by Cabin Fever. It is sized for kids but I used chunky yarn and a 6mm circular. It fits me perfectly.

Just started another for hubby. This one is in black.

Bonfire Night - Guy Fawkes - Nov 5th

Remember, remember the fifth of November,

Gunpowder treason and plot.

We see no reason

Why gunpowder treason

Should ever be forgot!



One British tradition that I miss (and I don't miss many) is Bonfire Night. Nov 5th meant fireworks, bonfires and making a "guy". A 'guy" is a dummy that we make to put on the bonfire. I used to make him out of my Dad's old clothes and stuff him with fallen leaves. Then we would take him around the streets chanting " Penny for the Guy". And people would give us money. Of course the "guy" represents Guy Fawkes who tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605. Bonfires were lit all over London when the people leant that the King had been saved from this fate. Hence the fact that we light bonfires on this day still. Our "Guy" would be placed on top of the bonfire and burnt. Then the fireworks began. Read more about the Gunpowder Plot and Bonfire Night

Halloween was cold! Tried to clear the drive and paths of snow and 10 minutes later, we had another dump of the stuff. Well at least I got some exercise!!!!

Jesse was a dalmatian. He wouldn't bark though. He pretended he was a monster. After the first house, he got the hang of carrying his bucket and looking cute. Of course the cuter he looked, the more candy he got. Not a dumb kid by any means. He was very polite and remembered to say "thank you!" to everybody.

Finished Jesse's 2nd Top Down Raglan sweater. He wanted to wear it today and keeps saying "Nice, Nice". It is RH Kid's in Crayon colour. Perfect for a kid that adores and suits bright colours.

It is -13c (9F) today. I need to find another knitting project to do as I sure don't feel like going outside too much. And to think it will reach around -40 eventually. Not looking forward to it one bit.