Monday, January 21, 2008

My Little Friends

I think, if you read my blog with any regularity, that you know I am kind of strange. Weird is a better word. If you have money you are eccentric, but, if you are like me, not much money you are just flat weird. Another embracing going on here. :)

When I was attending college, in the 90's, I had a little friend. Actually, I had several little friends. One of my little friends was an eraser. This wasn't just any ole eraser. It was one of those pink quadrilateral erasers. And not only was it one of those pink quadrilateral erasers, my oldest, Aaron, who was 15 at the time, had drawn on it and written his name. I do have quite a sentimental side. I kept this little friend with me for many of my higher education years. Finally, he went missing. It was a very sad day.

Another group of little friends I had was mechanical pencils. Has there been any greater a creation made by man? I think not. Now, we aren't talking about just any ole mechanical pencils. We are talking about refillable 0.9 lead mechanical pencils. I love these little babies. I wish I could say I still have the same ones I started off with, but alas, they too have gone the way of my little pink quadrilateral friend. Yet, you can always find me with one of these little fellers. When I substitute taught I had a mechanical pencil friend club with a group of sixth grade girls. It all started when one of them wanted to borrow my little friend. I told them of my deep emotional attachment to my friends and how devastated I would be should ill befall him. The next time I was in their school, they introduced me to their own little mechanical pencil friends. It was a great day in pencildom.

I said all that to say this. I have some little buddies I want to show to you. Way back when Sara was in Middle School the big thing was to own some boots called Ropers. At that time I couldn't really see paying $100 for a pair of shoes. That was '93 I think. So, I bought her some boots that looked something like Ropers without the little tassel thingys and were only around $50. Just as was expected that "country" phase was long gone once she had a different boyfriend and had started High School. As with any good mom, her rejects became my dailies. These little boots have become my best friends. It became evident a couple months ago that they were dying a slow death. I looked and looked to find a suitable replacement but could find none. Then I remembered we have a fella at church that used to be a cobbler. I had on my little friends last Wednesday and Mr. Cobbler was at church. He told me if I didn't get my little buddies to him pretty quick there would be nothing left to revive. I took them off right then and there, patted their little bottoms and told him to do what he could. This past Sunday I saw Mr. Cobbler, he boldly walked down the center aisle and handed me a bag. Inside were my little reborn bootsies. He put on a new sole, a new heel, dyed them, polished them and put in new shoestrings. (The strings that were in them were the originals, it kinda makes me sad to have lost them but they were tied in a couple knots and frayed.) I'd like to introduce you to my friends.

Aren't they just the most special little things you ever did see? I hope you have some friends like mine in your life. Are you still my friend?




I finished Jordan's gloves:









And I went ahead and finished Clue 1 of SOTSII. I should have finished Clue 3 of SSS, particularly since Clue 4 comes out tomorrow. But I couldn't stand it. SOTSI was such a joy to knit I couldn't wait to get started.







Dem-Fischer-Sin-Fru, The Fisherman's Wife, KAL starts Friday I think. I gotta get that baby swatched.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

I WANT THOSE SHOES!!!! They've gotten my name written all over them :) I have a similar pair, although they have a higher heel... I bought them in Uppsala a couple of years ago hehehe.

Cheers Eva

Kristina B said...

That looks fantastic, Peggy! I love your colour choice as well. Great stuff!

Traci said...

Weird never, hilarious ALWAYS!

SYLVIE said...

I'll say it again, I love to read your posts!

I too, have a pair of boots that I've had for about 12 years, my husband thinks they look like "nun boots" but I love them they are so comfy.

Your Secret of the Stole ii looks great, really nice color. I'm still working on clue 2 for SSS, only 2 more rows to do.

Holly said...

Mine are navy ;~) Good going Mr.Cobbler!

Tabitha said...

I just recently tossed a pair of knee high boots that were my favorite because the heel was talking to me, literally, coming open and closed, blabbing away every step I took. I had tried super glue and duct tape (which is suppose to fix everything, right?), only to be disappointed. I wish I had known a Mr.Cobbler :(

Carol said...

Your Clue 1 of SOTSii looks fantastic! I can't wait to see your DFSF swatch. I'll be going at mine sometime this week.

As for the boots...(shakes head)...sometimes you have to know when to let go. (grin) Ok, I'll admit to hanging onto a Birkenstock clog whose mate was utterly destroyed by a teething puppy for over 10 years. One clog. Ten years. And I moved with it. But they were my faves.

Roseann said...

I so enjoyed reading about your boots, you should be publishing your memoirs! I love Jordan's gloves, especially the stripe across the middle, I have never done that. I have lace knitting on my list, at least I can admire yours in the meantime.

Arianwen said...

SOT11 is very nice I love the shape. My 90's boots went to my a daughter on Friday when she wanted to dress up as a st Trinian!

Brenda said...

ooo love the color of your yarn...your sotsii looks great! just how many lace kals are you in? ;)

Opal said...

I'm so glad you were able to revive those boots. They're gorgeous!

Anonymous said...

Oh yes I love those shoes. Yes I have lots of little friends also. When I went to college my youngest used one of those label makes and did one that said I Love You. I stuck that to my day planner and it has moved to every day planner since then.

Hugs!!!!

Oh I gave you an award over at my blog.

Anonymous said...

Fab boots!
I keep all my ballet slipper friends, tatters notwhitstanding. And I still have/use an eraser that came home with me from Denmark 10 years ago.

Ok, I'm running out of adjectives for your lace. It's beautiful!

kimberly said...

Cool boots! And your Stole clue one looks great - very nice stitch definition - can tell you are a real lace knitter!

Sonya said...

I had a pair of lace up ropers in the early 90s. I loved them they were very comfy.

loopette said...

Looks great! I love the color, and your work is beautiful!

Suzanne said...

LOVE, LOVE Clue 1 of SOTSII, I've got to get busy on it!!!!

Lori said...

"Little Friends!" You crack me up!
I've given you my "You Make My Day" award (awww!) over on my blog if you want to pick it up :)

Valerie said...

WooHoo for Mr. Cobbler!!