Incoherent Scribblings

Happy Blogday!

It was one year ago today that I sat down at my computer and typed http://blogger.com into my browser window for the first time. I wasn’t sure if I would like the whole blogging thing, but figured I might as well give it a try. It is true that my blog has moved homes a couple of times since then and it took me a couple of months to find my voice, but I am still here and though I go through a dry patch now and then, I enjoy blogging more than ever!

Due to my hard drive crash, I wasn’t able to highlight my favorite posts throughout the week as I promised. However, today I am making up for it by giving you the whole list. So, without further ado, I present to you… (drumroll, please)

“Culture Shock and the blondelibrarian:” One Year On

A Wine Drinker in Beer Country
It is hard living in a country where beer is the national beverage when you don’t like it. Here I explain why. (originally posted 27.03.04)

A Bra Story
Like most women, all of my adult life I have dreaded bra shopping. After many weeks of casual browsing, my first bra shopping experience in Germany didn’t turn out nearly as bad as I feared. (originally posted 20.04.04)

A Keyboard Story
The hard drive crash wasn’t the first adventure I’ve had with my laptop. When we bought it June I faced a major dilemma: An International US (is that an oxymoron?) keyboard or a German one? Find out which one I chose here. (originally posted 28.06.04)

A Melon Story
Memories of the time I received a 30 pound watermelon as a gift from my “Little Chinese Guy.” (originally posted 05.08.04)

Die Deutsche “Recht”schreibung
One word or two? A scharfes “S” or not? Just when I thought I had learned enough German to get by, I find out some reputable German publishers want to abandon the spelling reform! (originally posted 08.08.04)

Flying Kitties
Thinking about moving abroad and bringing your pets? After you read about the most stressful time in my life, perhaps you will think twice. (originally posted 10.08.04)

Lily White vs. Golden Brown
In which I attempt to come to terms with my naturally fair skin while also making a case for the tanning bed. (originally posted 10.09.04)

Confessions of a Coke Addict
Hello, my name is Renée and I am addicted to coke. It may or may not be what you think… (originally posted 15.09.04)

Pork Chops and Side Burns
One word, two plural endings. Getting them mixed up at the butcher can sure get some odd looks thrown your way! (originally posted 27.10.04)

The Panty Thief
In which I retell three bizarre instances that resulted in the same thing: missing underwear! (originally posted 21.12.04)

Thanks to all of my loyal readers this past year… I hope you stick around for the second installment!

Framing Quest

I have yet to have any of my cross stitch professionally framed. However, I am planning on changing this with “Passing Admirers.” This is my first big complicated piece and with all of the time and effort I am putting into it, not only do I want to look up and see it on my wall when I am finished, I want it to look professional.

I thought my local craft shop did framing. However, since I haven’t had anything professionally framed yet, I decided maybe I should take in another piece that I want to frame as a test subject.

In my mind’s eye this is how I pictured the scenario: I would come into the craft store and tell the lady I had something to frame. She would then go through the frames and mats with me making suggestions concerning the color of the mat and/or the style of the frame she thought would go best with the piece I wanted to frame. After I had chosen, she would take some notes concerning this and take my cross stitch to have it sent away and framed to my specifications. In a week or two I would return, pickup my newly framed cross stitch, pay, go home, and hang it on the wall.

In reality this is what happened: On Wednesday I took “Precious Family” with me to the craft store. There I chatted with the lady about framing. They had a selection of frame and mat samples and she told me once I had looked through them to let her know. She could then quote me the price and how long it would take. With the exception that the lady offered me no advice on matting or framing, it went pretty much as I planned.

Finally, I chose a frame (I decided I didn’t want a mat for this piece) and took it to the counter. There the lady had me measure my piece with the frame. She then took some notes, quoted me a price, and told me my frame would be ready in a couple of weeks. However, they just custom make the frame. All of the actual framing is up to you! (Luckily, I had been thinking ahead and had the size of “Precious Family” planned including the extra fabric for framing, so I should be able to frame it myself… it just won’t be professionally done as I had hoped.)

Well, I went ahead and got the frame, but this is totally NOT what I have in mind for “Passing Admirers.” If I want to do my own framing, but just order a custom frame, then my local craft shop is the place to go. Otherwise I guess I will head to the GelbeSeiten (Yellow Pages) to see if somewhere in Munich there is an actual professional framing shop.