Friday, May 28, 2010

Library Friday

I went to the library with my old ladies today. The topic of the kids' summer reading program came up in conversation, and I thought of Jen Funk Weber's Stitching for Literacy program. I asked the librarian if our group could stitch bookmarks for the kids. Last year, there were 800 kids in the summer reading program. I guess we'd better get stitching! LOL. Anyway, she was very interested in the program so I think we'll be doing something next year even if we don't stitch 800!

One of the group members had brought her dulcimer and played something for us. And I learned a new word today, "luthier" (loo-tee-er) which is a maker of stringed instruments and is indeed related to lute for all you smart asses. So don't let them tell you you're wasting your time stitching with (or like) an old lady. We talked about the days when you had to pay to use a toilet (.10), even in a department store, which came up because in some European countries you still have to pay to pee.

And as you watch the 500, eat burgers, and drink beer to celebrate our country's fallen soldiers, thank them for the free toilets. (With apologies to my foreign readers.)

9 comments:

Caroline said...

This is the first I've seen of Jen's Stitching for Literacy site - most excellent!

You've got your work cut out for you....... sounds like fun.

Anonymous said...

I'm happy to pay in Europe because the potties are nice and clean.

Good luck with the BMs (no, I'm not talking about potties anymore, that's bookmarks). ; )

dd

mainely stitching said...

Whoever DD is obviously hasn't paid to pee in a Dutch toilet. OMG. I won't even talk about it - just thinking about it makes me want to go wash my hands.

But I wanted to comment on the old days of pay toilets in department stores. My brother and I used to slither in and lock all the bathrooms from the inside and then slither out again. We were so awful!

Deb said...

I remember those pay toilets in the big department store downtown that my mom used to take us to for a special day of skipping school and shopping with mom. We'd slid back and forth under the doorway. My mom was mortified - we thought it was funny. Now I'm wondering how we didn't die from all the germs we slid across - YUK!

Anonymous said...

Well, actually, I'm a friend of Anna's. When I was in Spain the last time in 2000 the price of approximately 10 cents U.S. to use a public restroom was well worth it.

It's been many more years than that since I was in a Dutch potty so I don't really remember what it was like or if we even paid to use it.

dd

Billie said...

I live in Germany and yes, they do make us pay. And believe me, it is not always clean although if I have to pay, I expect a clean environment. But more to the point why should I have to pay for something that can be helped??? I guess that is just something I will never understand. Or maybe I am just to stupid to understand...

The Queen Bee said...

I must comment on the pay toilets... as a child we traveled a lot and often came upon those types of public restrooms. People were more then happy to hold the door so the next user could enter for free.
But.... when in Spain last summer people were reluctant to accept a free pass to the potty. Made me think I was raised wrong or something! LOL! Glad the days of pay toilets are gone, in the US, anyway.
Pam

Jenna said...

One of the last times I was in Harrod's in London, it was a pound for the loo. But then again, Harrod's bathrooms live up to a completely different standard.

Charlene ♥ NC said...

I remember there being slots on the stall doors at Belk - where there was also a 'sitting room' my aunt used to nurse the baby...