Happy Friday, all! :) It's been a busy week for us here, all in all. We're getting busier in our new location and just tons of stuff going on. Or at least it seems like it. I'm enjoying the quiet right now, since we're closed and all the cleaning is done for the day. I feel like I've been a non-stop chatterbox all week, with one wonderful conversation after another. I'm full of stories and the happiness of being a part of that sharing. However, part of me is also full of criticism of myself for a distinct lack of productivity. What to do? Well, this time I'm choosing to simply be grateful and know that connection with others is not only the joy of my work but it is also my purpose, regardless of whatever the to-do list says. So, perhaps I'll get new business cards done next week. And all the other stuff. :) This past Tuesday, I was at a day long training event connected to the Megamind competition which I've been selected to participate in. Super cool! The RGJ did a nice article on it today. You can check it out here for more information on what it is.  http://www.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012310040071 The training was mainly focused on understanding ourselves and how to best communicate with others. Totally awesome! One of the lessons to me is the importance of our stories to us and being able to share these stories with others. The world can be a lonely place without someone to listen or a willingness to open up. So, of course, I'm busy thinking of new activities to facilitate story sharing. I don't know what that'll be, to be honest. However, Serena in her great wisdom told me that we can start simple with game nights and crafting again. Well, that's true. So, stay tuned as we begin to fill our calendar again with events to bring us together. Fun! A quick aside about music, I'm not planning on hosting music here any more, except as part of events, like a grand opening party, etc. The licensing fees and associated costs was just too much. But, when we have parties or other events with music, well then, we'll have music! So, again, you'll just have to stay tuned. :) Asta la way-go*, folks! And hope to see you, soon! Maybe we'll have a chance to catch up and share some stories! :) Sarah PS *Hosta Luego, of course. What, you don't understand crazy phonetic nonsene? It's my first language. :) **After re-reading the newsletter before it's way out, I'm so impressed with our gang of customers! I'm honored to be here to share in your lives. :)

Sunday Brunch! Sunday, October 7th, 9am - 2pm Brunch starts with our delish mini pumpkin muffins, followed by Eggs Benedict with puff pastry, Fontina cheese, ham and poached eggs topped with a roasted heirloom tomato sauce served with an arugula and pear salad. Dessert is a cherry crisp with our sage ice cream. Woot!

New Word of the Day Game! OK, so no other entries yet, though I've been given enough encouragement to continue. It doesn't take much, really! A few of you mentioned that you've enjoyed reading these stories and are contemplating perhaps, just maybe contributing! Yes! You can be totally anonymous, btw. No pressure. No failure. Just the joy of exercising the creativity muscle which you all have. :)   This weeks words... Paripatetic: adj. of or relating to Aristotle or relating to walking or being itinerant Undulate: verb, to form or move in waves Disapprobation: noun, the act or state of disapproving Quail: verb, to give way, to recoil in fear Mercurial: adj, characterized by rapid and unpredictable changes in mood Futhark: alphabet used by German peoples from 3rd to 13th centuries, also called runic Volatile: adj, prone to sudden change, explosive, prone to evaporation "Again he walked the fields alone. He was endlessly fascinated by the undulating terrain of the farm after his grandfather found the carved stones tangled in the roots of the old oak they fell when he was still a boy. It was these stones, carved with what he later learned was the runes of the ancient Germanic Futark language, which inspired his career in ancient languages. However, he's kept the secret of his childhood stones from his colleagues, quailing at their certain disapprobation. His peripatetic career has taken him from one institution to another, usually due to repeated eruptions of his volatile nature. He knew, though, that his mercurial heart was tormented by hiding a truth that burned in him. The ancient history of our country and continent was alive with a mystery which he was compelled to deny, no matter how it called to him from across the centuries." Next weeks words... Excoriate The fourth estate Placate Seriocomic Bombinate Elegiac Dearth You can check out all the definitions and examples of usage at the Merriam-Webster website link here. It's the word of the day archive! Uber cool. :)

My Journey Home Fundraising Event   One of our very esteemed customers is involved in the organization, My Journey Home, which helps veterans and former offenders to transition back into society. What a critical need there is for this organization! They are holding a fundraiser and need to sell raffle tickets. The event sounds pretty cool, so please check out their website and as well as the fundraising event.    Also, if you have events that are near and dear to your heart, please let me know and I'll do what I can to spread the word.

New Good Things We got some new stuff to share at Hi Point!  New Ace Pumpkin Hard Cider, Hoopla Pale Ale from Boulder Beer Co. and the Alberti 154 Syrah from the Bodega Calle Winery in Argentina. It seems bizarre to list them together considering the flavor profile of each has nothing to do with the other, except they are all tasty and personally selected by yours truly. :) Our wonderful kitchen renter, Shannon, is supplying us with cheesecake made from old family recipes. Best of all worlds here! Fabulous cheesecake that we didn't have to work for. Love it! :) We're serving Wood-Fire Roasted Coffee's most popular blend,the Cowboy Roast, and it's been a hit! Come check it out! Plus, we do have coffee by the pound to take home. :) Serena's baked up some awesome new biscottis, cappuccino flavor and orange almond. I'm addicted to her biscotti. I have a problem. Perhaps we need a support group to gather and assuage our guilt together as we eat more biscotti! ;) Our mega awesome customer, Jake, from Grassroots Bookstorehelped us out with a great infusion of new books and took some of our old books that weren't circulating to new homes. If you don't know Grassroots, you should. And if you meet Jake down there when you go in, know that he is awesome. :)  Another wonderful customer, Mary, brought was a great assortment of children's books plus a bunch of crafting supplies for kids!  Plus, we've been gathering for Record St. and now the shoe collection. People have been donating, but don't think we've stopped! We do have the most wonderful customers in the world and I thank you for all you do and all you are. You rock. :)

Newsletter Photography!! Ian Kahler is our resident photographer, supplying all these awesome shots of Hi Point. You can check Ian's work at http://www.redbubble.com/people/iiman Plus, Ian's got a community shot book at Hi Point, which you can peruse. It's up front where the newletter binder and the community sketch book are located.

Children's Shoes! Hi, guys! We're collecting children's shoes to give to our friend and customer who goes out in our rural communities with the Food Bank. Some of the little ones need shoes out there! So, look to see what you have and bring them in before the end of next week so we can deliver them to the right folks. :)