Incoherent Scribblings

A few weeks ago my sister and I decided to break out the blender and make some strawberry daiquiris in celebration of the arrival of my nephew. Nowadays I am little more than a social drinker, but on special occasions I still like to have a drink or two and besides, my sister was ready to have a drink after nine dry months.

Now my mom and step-dad keep some liquor around, but after looking in the liquor cabinet it was apparent to me that they didn’t have any rum, and I think the last time their daiquiri mix had been used was when my sister graduated from high school in 1998. So in order to make our celebratory daiquiris, it was obvious that someone would have to make a trip to the liquor store.

Because I thought it wouldn’t look too cool for my sister to take a newborn into a liquor store, I volunteered to go our local liquor-slash-convenient store and acquire our drinking paraphernalia, which included a bottle of rum, some daiquiri mix, a bag of ice, and some whipped cream.

Our local liquor store is not big: In fact it is just a section of the convenient store that has a false wall around it and a gate that you go through with a big poster on it that claims that “[y]ou must be 21 to enter this section of the store.” However, even though area is small, there was quite a selection of rum to be had and I deliberated over what brand of rum and just how much to buy for at least fifteen minutes.

I finally decided on a fifth of Bacardi (yeah, I know… why did it take me 15 minutes to get the “standard?”), picked up the bottle of daiquiri mix (luckily for me they only had one brand), went to the cooler, grabbed a can of whipped cream, and headed for the checkout.

I placed my things on the checkout and was just getting ready to tell the cashier that I also needed a bag of ice when I heard something that I hadn’t heard in many a long year:

“M’am, can I see some ID?”

At first I was flattered: After all, I haven’t been asked for ID to buy alcohol in probably seven years. I am pretty sure that I don’t look 21 anymore and I know he was just doing his job, but I can’t deny that it felt good.

Then I was amused: A. had specifically reminded me to carry my passport with me while I was out and about in the US for just such an occurrence.

Suddenly I was anxious: Since I no longer have an American driver’s license the only form of ID I have is my passport. I remembered from my waitressing days that the three acceptable forms of ID are a driver’s license, a military ID, or a passport, but I was concerned that the cashier might be reluctant to accept my passport anyway.

However, it turned out that my fears were unfounded: The cashier didn’t hesitate to accept my passport as a legal form of identification… even though I did have to point out where my birthdate was because he had never seen a passport before!

Hooray! I just found out that Cari received the garden exchange piece that I stitched for her safe and sound, so now I can share a picture.

It has been a while since I finished this piece (If I remember right I finished it way back in November!) and all of its specs are on my hard drive at home, but I will share the information that I can remember.

The pattern is from a pair of bookmark patterns called “Nature’s Beauty” by Robin Kingsley and is available from FreePatterns.com. I stitched this little birdhouse on 11 count per centimeter pink Evenweave and finished it into a flat-fold using Kim’s flat-fold instructions.

It was a quick stitch but that didn’t make it any less enjoyable to stitch and considering that this was the first time I did a flat-fold, I think I did a pretty darn good job. All in all, I must say that I really liked this finishing method and I am sure that I will do it again in the future.

As promised, here is this week’s SBQ, as suggested by Nancy:

Describe your “perfect” project. (Include the designer or specific pattern, the fabric, the floss, and anything else that would make that project “perfect” for you.)

When Nancy suggested this question a couple of weeks ago I was quite intrigued and though I have been pondering my answer ever since, I must admit that since my tastes change so often it is a very difficult question for me to answer.

However, at this point I think it is semi-safe to say that my “perfect” project would probably either be a MLI or a Mirabilia. It would be on a hand-dyed piece of 32 count linen that complimented the design and probably stitched with silk threads. (I say probably because I have not yet stitched with silk, but I love silk in any other form so I imagine I would love stitching with it too.)

In perfect conditions I would already have all of the supplies for this project and I would stitch it straight through in my comfy stitching chair with optimal light and minimal distractions. Then once I was finished I would promptly get it to the framer, it would be framed within a week or so, and I would hang it in a place of honor on my wall.

And the best part about this “perfect” project? It wouldn’t cost me a fortune! Oh, it is nice to dream, isn’t it?

I just got back to Iowa from my trip down to Mississippi and I have some personal stitching stuff I want to post before I do an SBQ, but never fear… hopefully I will have some time tomorrow to post the SBQ.
Anyway, today I had my second happy dance of 2006 and the first one that I can share a picture of. Even though it is a gift for my sister I don’t think she reads this blog, so I am going to go ahead and post this picture of the baby sampler that I did for my nephew. It is a companion piece to the one I did for my niece in 2000 and once I present this one to my sister at her (late) baby shower on Friday, I will try and get a picture of the two samplers together.

While I was at Dawn’s, I did manage to get a little bit of stitching done… even though we talked and talked so much that I didn’t stitch at even close to the rate that I normally do!
In Mississippi I decided to start on my square for Jo’s round robin. Her theme is “Spring Around the World” and I decided to stitch a Pam Kellogg freebie that can be found on the Kreinik site called “Keeping the Eggs Dry.” I stitched this pattern a couple of years ago for myself before I found a place that sells Kreiniks. When I did it then I just substituted some rayon thread and it is very cute, but this time around I have the Kreiniks and I think it is going to look even better.

And in addition to all that, I am sure you are all dying to know what I have picked up during my stash shopping the States, so here is a run down:

Magazines:

The Cross Stitcher, February 2006

Cross-Stitch and Needlework, March 2006

Cross Country Stitching, Folk Art ABCs 2006, Spring Special 2006

Charts

Cat’s Eyes: Just-a-Chart, Janlynn

Gift of Music: Just-a-Chart, Janlynn

Home of a Needleworker: Little House Needleworks

Britty Kitties I: Brittercup Designs

Once Upon a Time: Butternut Road

Shimmering Mermaid: Mirabilia

Pins and Needles: Prairie Schooler

Country Seasons: Prairie Schooler

Tricky Treats: Calico Crossroads

Summer’s Magic: Dragon Dreams

Kits:

Nature Patchwork: Stitcher’s Gallery

Domestically Challenges: Dolly Mamas

Fabric:

One piece “Natural” 32 count linen

Miscellaneous:

1 5” Hoop

1 6” Hoop

2 Bobbin Packs of 50

1 Set of 2” Rings

2 Packs of Needles (24s & 26s)

1 Large Bobbin Box

2 Small Bobbin Boxes

2 Bead Boxes

1 Pattern-a-Day 2006 Calendar

2 Yards of Finishing Fabrics and Notions

Over 100 Skeins of DMC floss at 24-68 cents a skein!

Yeah, I’ve made out like a bandit, haven’t I?

This blog entry is dedicated to my stitching friend Vash, who emailed me to tell me how much she was missing my “Culture Shock” entries.

It just so happens that while I have been over here I got an email from someone asking me if “[I] could provide some advice about food or products that are common in the U.S., but rare or nonexistent in Germany.” The person apparently wanted to put together a package of “typical” American goodies for her German relatives.

I am sure the person knew that right now I am visiting the U.S., but it still struck me as ironic that it was at this moment in my life that someone was asking my advice about American food. Because as I told her,

[Y]ou wouldn’t believe the crap (like Cheetos) that I have been eating because you just don’t find it in Germany! What I have noticed on my trip back home is that the American products I have missed most is “junk food” like Kraft Mac and Cheese, instant pudding, Fruity Pebbles, Club Crackers, ranch dressing, Red Vines Licorice, and of course the aforementioned Cheetos.

And you know, I gotta tell you… when I reread my little list of all those pitiful American “delicacies” that I had been craving, it sure does make me feel awfully white-trashy!