Everything Is Changing

Not all changes are good. The grocery store doesn't carry some of my favorites anymore, so I've been getting them at Walmart, but now Walmart doesn't carry them either. Walmart has stopped carrying fabric. The clerk told me that in two years all the Walmart stores will stop carrying fabric and most notions. She said that a Target CEO is now a Walmart CEO and he decided that Walmart didn't need to sell fabric OR notions. So what's the good of having a new Walmart in Front Royal? I was excited by the idea of not having to go to Joanne's in Winchester for my fabrics and notions.

I went to Winchester tonight to get some crochet thread from Ben Franklin. That store always had the best inventory. Well, guess what? It's being closed down! Everything was 75% off. Great. Except there was NO CROCHET THREAD LEFT. None, zip, nada. Empty shelves everywhere you looked. Walmart only carries a few colors and Michael's is not much better.

What's a crafty person to do? I have a pattern book that calls for a Cro-tat hook. You can crochet and tat in the same pattern without having to crochet the piece then add the tatting later. I want to try that so I started looking for a cro-tat hook. It's not the same as a crochet hook because it is slender all the way down, like a tatting needle. Finding one is like finding a needle in a haystack. I finally found one at Annie's Attic, but it's in a kit (the hook and a pattern leaflet) for $20. Great. I only want the hook. I have a pattern. I'm not spending $20 on a hook that probably should sell for around $3.

So, I can't get my margarine-tasting margarine anymore; I can't get my Pillsbury Blueberry Waffles anymore; I can't get fabric anywhere unless I go to Joanne's; I can't get my IBS tablets anymore (I have a supply that will last until April '08, but after that what will I do?); I can't find the right crochet thread (black with silver threads); and the cro-tat hook would cost me $20 plus shipping.

That's not all, but I'm starting to depress myself. Yikes!