Subversive Cross Stitch - My First

For Christy

(Cross stitch and pattern original, alphabet from How-To)

Stuffed Up Nose

I could grumble about the fact that every 10 t0 15 mins, my nose fills up with snot, necessitating me to blow into one of my numerous hankies to restore breathing through my nostrils and the natural integrity of my voice.

But really, all my nose is making me do is slow down and relax. I don't think it's bad at all.

Mail

I want to say that mail is a powerful thing. But, as I consider what different countries call letters and packages--mail, post, airmail, shipping--mail is not a thing, but actually a verb that has been turned into a noun for every day uses. The meaning--and the power--however, still resides in the action.

This morning I recieved online messages from those I love and care about back home whom have just recieved mail from me: Mother's Day presents, crafty gifts, creative connections. In turn, I'm sitting at my computer smiling, still not able to fully comprehend how things packed in little envelopes and boxes travel 6,000 miles from one person to another.

Think about each pair of hands that touched that package: me, the guy at the Royal Post that put it in the bag, the person that picked up the bag to take it to the shipping center, the trucks, the planes, the person from the USPS who unloaded the plane, the person who sorted it, the local postman, you.

There was a certain amount of care and love that went into getting that piece of mail from here to there. Even if someone in between hates their job, even if the recepient is disappointed by the contents, the act of posting a letter is connecting.

The potential in a single piece of mail is awesome and staggering.

Another Woman's Treasure

I have become a high frequenter of charity/thrift stores. One woman's garbage is another woman's treasure, and I found some real treasures in my shop around the corner. Cardigans, tops for family gatherings, books, a flowery enamel ring, vases, yarn, a hand towel. All these things, from nice designers to the made-to-be destroyed brand from the mega store on the high street. All used.

I like buying used because I feel at least then I'm not buying new, but rather re-cycling what is already out there--and then wearing it til it's thread bare. My eco-consciousness likes the not-buying-new-i.e.-corporate ideology, but I'm still asking myself: do I really need the new-to-me things I'm buying? Or am I still caught in the system of constant consumption?

Stuff to think about.

http://www.storyofstuff.com/

Wedding Dresses

There is a black and white photo of my sarogate, Bay Area grandma and grandpa, E and Papa J, that used to stand on their TV cabinet: it is of their wedding day. E is wearing a classic 1950's knee-length dress, Papa J in a tux, and they are walking down the aisle out of the church. If I am remembering correctly, E's dress has lace detail and a ribbon, underskirts fluffing it out. Since I saw this photograph for the first time, I have wanted a light, classic knee-length wedding dress to walk down the aisle in.

I have had visions of other dresses too: long, sweepy satin numbers with dipping open backs; slender sleeve-less dresses that flow from my hips, floral detail here, ribbon embellishment there; a halter top to call back to Greta Garbo and Marlena Deitrich. But still, it's the knee-length dress that comes back to me.

Classic in all forms, with little kitten heels, a smile from a black and white photograph.

Veg Box Experiment #1

On Friday the 8th of May, we got our first Abel & Cole fruit and veg box delivered to our front door step. Our excitement was great. On Friday the 15th of May, our second fruit and veg box was delivered to our front door step. Our excitement was still great, and creativity lurked at the edges with a mysterious inclusion of "spring greens" to our box.

Not knowing how to cook "spring greens," I decided to approach it like kale, following Veggie Knitter's recommendation: How to Cook Kale.

The resulting dinner:
Moroccan cous-cous
Boiled Spring Greens, salted
w/ a Tofu Stir-fry on top (firm tofu, red & yellow peppers, mushrooms and veg box leeks)

Not bad for testing the waters of cooking in season. Next time, I'll drop the peppers and mushrooms (store bought, they were needing to be used quickly) and use our in-season courgettes (zucchinis) instead.

In the Morning

"Wake up, love..." came the soft whisper from my lover this morning. I had awoken twice before in the morning light, and fallen back asleep to fantastical dreams and my lover's warm body. It was quarter to eleven when her voice pulled me from the depths. Nothing could compare to the moment of opening my eyes this morning. It was bliss.

Tulip