A Little Update of Sorts
Well, let’s see… Yesterday one of Fred’s daughters, her husband, their son and the son’s girlfriend all came to visit us and brought food! They would have been welcome without food but we never turn food down! Before Fred became housebound, his daughters and their respective spouses used to take us out to eat which was always nice.
Y’know, sometimes I am so dull and boring, I wonder why anyone reads what I write. Actually, I write very little these days because I feel I am so boring! Tomorrow I plan MORE ADVENTURES WITH THE GPS! 
Thrilling, right? I am going to make my way to a craft shop and look for an embroidery frame. I used to embroider a lot when I was younger but had to give it up when my cataracts were so bad. Now, since I can actually see, I think I would like to do a bit of embroidery again. The problem is that when I have done some, I don’t know what to do with it! I don’t like embroidery on my walls and definitely not on my clothes… However, hovering around in the back of my mind is a little plan to use embroidery in my paintings…
I was taught to embroider by the Holy Nuns at the Catholic boarding school my sister and I both attended. {My mother insisted this was how we should refer to them!} Anyway, the HNs set a very high standards for me and the other students and I can’t tell you how many times I took out the stitches and redid the work. Mainly this happened because the back of my embroidery wasn’t as neat as the front, a task which is almost impossible for me. But I learned basic embroidery, and crewel work and how to knit. Oh, yes, and I learned how to darn holes in my socks and stockings. 
Now, there’s a skill there isn’t much call for these days!
Another fun-with-a-GPS trip I want to make is to downtown Burlington’s Kinkos. Apparently I can have some of my how-to art books torn apart and put together so that they will lie flat which makes using them much easier. Right now, I have one with pages marked with clothes pins to keep them open. It doesn’t work very well in case you were wondering.
A while ago, I called to see if Kinkos did that and how much would it cost. The answers were yes, they did, and it depends on the thickness of the books.
"We are taught you must blame your father, your sisters, your brothers, the school, the teachers – but never blame yourself. It’s never your fault. But it’s always your fault, because if you wanted to change you’re the one who has got to change." — Katherine Hepburn
"Anything you’re good at contributes to happiness."
— Bertrand Russell
I love your crafts.. you were one of the first people to inspire me to get into photography.
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I had to laugh about the sock-darning comment. I, too, thought “When am I *ever* going to need to know how to do this?” when I was being taught it, and what do you know, last week, my daughter nearly blew a gasket when the toe of her FAVOURITE socks in the whole world (that had JUST been bought, mind you) blew out, and how would she ever survive, because those were the ONLY socks that would workwith her riding boots, and there was going to be a horse decorating day, and her pony was going to match her socks, bla bla bla, and I was able to turn into SuperMom the Hero, and say “Well, honey, you know when I was young, I was taught how to fix a sock just like yours… let me see what I can do…” and I took it into a room, fixed the ock, and then read a book for a while (to take up time) before coming out and presenting it. And she thinks I walk on water now. So who knew>? Knowing how to darn a sock sometimes turns out well. 🙂
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You’re NOT boring. Well, or maybe I just am, and that’s why enjoy reading your stuff, haha.
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I definitely do NOT think you are boring! I love that you are open to adventures and taking on new challenges, something my mother won’t do, and I want to be like you when I grow up! I’m so tickled that you and your GPS are getting along with each other. Did you name it yet? 🙂 I’ve had a couple of books re-bound with a spiral binding at Kinkos so that they will lie flat. It only cost acouple of bucks. Well worth it!
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Pillow cases are a good place for embroidery. I won one, hand embroidered from a boutique in Atlanta. It’s for my granddaughter. Guess the value? $150. Unreal! Anyway, with an original design by you, I think such a thing would be a work of art.
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Oh, I love the note from the person above this one–pillowslips with your designs. I learned to embroider at age nine; still remember it. Love embroidered pillow slips. Still –why don’t I have any? I should. Messy doesn’t bother me–It doesn’t show. So, even though I read other diaries seldom because life is so engaging now, I read here and you inspired me. Reason to write? <br> Didn’t know Fred was housebound. Sorry to hear that. Will read back a few entries to find why.
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I have darned socks before! But it’s been awhile. And I learned how to embroider, but it was my Mom who taught me. She did not examine my work to see if the back was as tidy as the front….good thing, cuz it never was. I’m sure that only the Holy Nuns can actually do it that well! ;o) !! I don’t think you are dull and boring at all!!!!! I love to read your entries!!!!! Yours are the first I read, anytime I’ve seen that you updated! :o) !! hugs, Nicky
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It was my great-grandmother who insisted that the back of my embroider must be as neat as tyhe front – and NO KNOTS, of course. The woman had the eyesight of a ferret.
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i don’t think you’re boring at all! there have been times i wished i had been able to mend a sock. but, i don’t have the slightest idea how and when a sock gets a hole in it… out it goes. take care,
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I don’t think you’re boring either, you have the life I aspire to when I retire so I love reading about it. I love the idea of using needlework in paintings, the added texture and depth would be interesting…embroidered butterflies on a bush, embroidered sun in the sky…the possibilities are endless. If you don’t want to frame or wear your embroidery, you can always sew them into little pillows or seat covers or give them away to friends in cards (depending on the size).
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My socks certainly get holes in them – my work boots tear them to shreds. Though of course these days the solution is just to buy more socks. 🙂
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You have a much more exciting life than I do. You should take Fred on a ride with the GPS and just drive around town. I bet he would enjoy seeing everything this time of the year. Keep writing!
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