Harry and Edna

Harry and Edna Kroft, lovebirds till the knitting's done.

We girls at Wild Purls have a crush. Our crush is not of the ordinary variety. Our object of affection is a man of deep devotion. We have decided that we all want this love of the century. Harry Kroft, a wonderfully wonderful man, is deeply devoted to his wife of many, many years. We hope Edna doesn't mind that when Harry arrives at the store, we pretty much drop everything and rush to his side to see what has brought him to the shop. Usually it's a needle or two or a ball of yarn for his dear wife, Edna, but we like to think it's really us he wants to see.

Harry Kroft was a hard-working man, owning a farm and a trucking business. His uniform is still the plaid western shirt with red suspenders that hold up well-worn Levis. He still lives at his place with his trucks and a van. Harry has to have the van, because in his words " I still got to chauffeur Miss Daisy!" You see, Edna lives at an assisted living facility here in Billings. But Harry does not let one day go by without seeing his girl Edna. It's lunch everyday and the occasional meandering around town.

When the white van pulls up in Wild Purls parking lot, and we get all giddy - "Harry and Edna's here!" (I'm not kidding) One of us rushes to hold the door for them - and Harry rolls Edna in. It is so obvious that Harry is still in love with this woman; he is willing to her bidding - whatever she wants, she gets. Edna's specialty is prayer shawls and baby blankets. Her yarn of choice is Plymouth Encore. She's been given other yarns (you know which ones!) but she spurns them, saying, "Why spend that much of our precious time on Earth knitting with bad yarn? I'd rather use a quality yarn that my hands will enjoy."

Monday, Harry and Edna, visited us here for a personal tour of the new shop. Edna had instructed Harry that she must see our new store, and dutifully, Harry obliged. Harry wheeled her around to every corner and every nook and cranny, and she announced her approval. As long as Edna can knit and Harry can get her to Wild Purls, we know we'll be seeing our little lovebirds.