Wednesday, November 04, 2009

One from the Archive

As we were getting the dude ready for work today, I suddenly realized he hadn't come down at 8:00, the time he usually leaves. We decided I'd drive him in since we are dealing with the SEPTA strike anyway. He quickly ate and grabbed his coat. Just before we walked out the door, he turned and asked, "do I feel hot?" (We still use the sophisticated "feel" technique.) (Which is why that ad where the kid complains woodenly, "Mommy, I feel hot." cracks us up.) He was burning up. This necessitated actually finding the thermometer. He had a fever. Home he stayed. (It's the new H1N1 rule.)

This made me feel less guilty about leaving the dog and running errands. Unfortunately I got all the way to the local needlepoint store and realized I didn't know what color I needed to finish that Shepherd's Bush stocking. (I had a name of unusual length to stitch, and ran out of overdyed perle cotton.) Well, it turned out okay because they didn't have the color in Week's perle and they didn't carry Crescent Colors at all. Sigh. Sometimes they make it hard for me to spend my money locally (more on that later).

So tonight for your delectation, one from the archives. I hope I haven't shown you this before. Back in 1996, the dude looked around our apartment and asked why we didn't have any of my stitching on the walls. (Oh, I knew he was a keeper before then, but that sealed it.) I told him I could stitch something for him, and that he should choose it. He flipped through all of my patterns, including the three inch binders (plural) that held patterns torn from magazines. He chose this:



Starry Night
Catherine Theron
Just Cross Stitch Magazine

He told me he liked it because of the disproportion. Man, I bet if Stella ran into that squirrel she'd stop chasing them for sure.

14 comments:

Unknown said...

Sometimes I will just brush the bangs off my forehead and look at my husband sadly. He will put a hand on my forehead and say, "Yeah, you're a little warm." Hopefully, he won't have to say, "Gosh, you are REALLY warm." Thermometers don't work for me because my normal temp is only 96 or lower. It's good to know that the old ways are the best ways.

corinna said...

hope your fellow feels well soon
good sampler choice
yep he seems a keeper
the dancy squirrel is cute

Nic said...

I know The Hermit is a keeper because he understands the difference between cross stitch, blackwork and hardanger; aida, linen and evenweave and has now started learning about yarn types ...

He's happy to wear handknits and even requested something the other day...

Your sampler is cute by the way!

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri ~ Boog) said...

Sorry the dude is not feeling well. We have the same kind of "new sick rules at work as well. If sick and won't leave, you'll be "escorted" out! Like anyone has to force ME to stay home?

What a great guy you have there. With almost every piece I stitch mine says, "Oh, that's really nice. I think it's my favorite of everything you stitched." Then of course we go into our dumb routine about how that couldn't possibly be his fav.....

I like the disproportion on the one he picked, too! I wish Sophie and Gracie would run into a squirrel like that as well - maybe then they'd stop the incessant barking!

Alice said...

I hope the Dude gets better soon. We use the 'feel' method in our house too. I start with the hand on the forehead and the clincher is the cheek on the forehead.

My goodness, if Grace Kelly ran into a squirrel-zilla like that life would be really exciting around here. She chases after deer all the time so a deer sized tree climber would be a real challenge!

Anonymous said...

Sweet! He's a good one.

dd

Deb said...

Wow, any man that can appreciate xstitch and actually pick out a pattern is a keeper to me! LOL on the squirrel. I'm sure Stella would run in terror. And hope the Dude is feeling better soon.

Kristen said...

Dude has nice taste. I hope he feels better soon.

Katie said...

Hey, I stitched that one too! It's funny though, I don't remember the squirrel. I hope the Dude feels better quickly and you stay healthy.

Carolyn NC said...

Cute sampler - hope the Dude feels better.

Caroline said...

I feel the same way about the squirrels on LHN's "Neighbourhood" - have you seen those suckers? They could eat the little ladies off to the side......

PS Whenever I leave you a comment I am painfully aware of how bad I think my grammar is. It makes me itchy. However, I hope that my sentiment overpowers my use of my beloved - .

drea_dear said...

My hands are always cold, so we used the kiss-mom-eter method - apparently mommy lips are tuned to the difference between healthy temp and sick temp. And it's worked well for me up until this last round. Either my kids have gotten too old for it, or my lips need recalibration. Hope he feels better soon. And that is a monster squirrel - I think in the stitched piece it is actually larger than my dog.

Anonymous said...

Hope the Dude feels better sooner rather than later.....

Mary Eman

doris said...

Does the dude have any much older brothers?

Do you mean to tell me that there are other methods besides the "feel" method to decide if someone has a fever?