The  Army of Good is…well, good.

There was a good-sized box waiting for me at my local post office this morning, and I was surprised to open it and find some absolutely beautiful hand-knit scarves and cowls.

I wrote last week about my plans for a series of clothing festivals to get the Mansion residents ready for winter. We had a sweater festival last Tuesday, and next Tuesday I’m having a scarf festival before my story reading.

After that, blouse and shoes and slacks. (Please don’t send me old clothes without contacting me first – [email protected]. I appreciate the generosity, but I’m snobby about what I give the residents.)

I’m getting some scarves at Caroll’s Trading post but I wasn’t expecting this gift from Margaret Hanes of  Davisburg, Michigan.

Margaret has knitted since high school and knits to keep her hands busy when she is stressed or waiting in a doctor’s office.

She said she became a yarn snob some years ago.

“For fiber fiends that means knitting with natural yarn or blends – a/k/a more expensive yarn than Walmart Red Heart yarn…All of these enclosed scarves are knitted with natural yarns. I hope you will give them to any residents that would like a scarf.”

Her scarves are some of the most beautiful scarves I’ve yet seen, and I see a lot.

I will happily give them to the residents, Margaret, and I thank you. The Mansion residents are always in need of scarves, our winters can be tough on the elderly.

As often happens, and always touches me, Margaret thanks me for her making and the scarves that she worked so hard to produce. Don’t thanks go to her?  And I was eyeing one of the cowls, I love cowls in the winter, I might try to commission her to make one for me, paid of course.

“Take care and thank you for the good work that you continue to do. Continuing to read your blog over the years has given me many things to think about, often in new, personal and helpful ways.”

Thank you, Margaret, this is a beautiful gift that will keep some beautiful people warm this winter. I appreciate what you have done.

Note: There is one item left in the Mansion Memory Care Unit Wish List, a shuffleboard game for $51 dollars. Take a look if you can and wish. The Mansion’s new memory care unit, dedicated to the Army Of Good, opened this week.