Goodbye Old Friend

Homesteading is all about juggling different tasks! While we’re busy preparing for spring gardening, we’re also getting our hard goods ready for market season and online sales. This week, I’m washing and cutting fabric for a fresh batch of reusable paper towels. The new designs are simply adorable—I can’t wait to share them!

I was able to visit JoAnn Fabrics before they closed for good, and I’ll admit, I went a little wild. But how could I resist? I walked out with 48 yards of fabric, stocking up on goodies for future projects. Now, I’m happily reorganizing my sewing space to make room for all my new materials.

I was surprised by how much the store still had in stock. Boxes lined the aisles, filled with items waiting to be placed on shelves. I couldn’t help but peek inside. There was still plenty of yarn, but the scissors and thread had been nearly wiped out. As I wandered through the store, I was half-hunting for deals, half-saying goodbye to a place that had been part of my life for so long.

I started sewing when I was eight years old, and I still remember the first pattern and fabric I ever bought. I was bursting with excitement as I stitched together my very first drawstring bag (which I still have!). Walking through JoAnn’s that day felt like grieving an old friend. I understand that all things must pass, but I just wish it hadn’t been this.

"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." — A.A. Milne