I lost my glasses!

I had a bit of an adventure today. I was going to just stay home and knit, but I was putting things away, and couldn't find my glasses!!!!!

I mean, I REALLY need my glasses, especially when I'm playing organ or piano at church. So, I went berserk. I was frantically searching EVERYWHERE.

Then, I started thinking and thought that maybe I left them at Showmars Restaurant yesterday when Marvin and I had lunch. So, I decided to run some errands, grabbed my shopping list, my purse, and ran out the door. I also grabbed my knitting bag, just in case I had time to stop by my cousin's yarn shop.

I had to squint my eyes to see the road and signs clearly, and I was getting a headache from the strain. I stopped at the post office to mail a letter for Marvin, then stopped at Peace of Yarn to grab a couple skeins of yarn I HAD to have. (They were rude this time. I guess I was under-dressed by their standards.) They didn't even offer to help when I was straining to read the color numbers and lot numbers on the yarn I was looking for. I only bought ONE skein, just for spite.

I got back in my car, and carefully drove to the restaurant, then went inside to ask if anyone had turned in some glasses. The girl at the counter didn't want to look for them. I almost had to BEG her. Finally, she grudgingly looked around the register, and said, "There's nothing here." I stood my ground, and told her that they are valuable glasses, costing about 250 dollars, and I can't afford to replace them. She then went to ask someone in the kitchen if they had seen any glasses turned in. Then, she looked where they indicated for "lost and found" items. Not there.

So, I left my name and number on a slip of paper, describing the glasses. (Gold rims - NICE) Boy, was I pissed. There I was, with no glasses, and the choir's Christmas musical will be coming up in just a couple weeks.

So, I drove straight to my eye doctor's office to order a new pair. It took about 45 minutes for me to look at glasses, and for them to try to get verification of coverage from my insurance company. They were never able to reach my insurance, so I was left with having to pay out of pocket. So I asked for the "thrift box" of frames. I chose a pair, and the lady marked them for my prescription. Then, I told them that I would try to confirm the insurance coverage myself, because they were closing.

What a rotten day. Here I was going to have to pay over 100 dollars for glasses, when we really need the money for our kid's Christmas. So, I called the insurance company...finally got through after holding FOREVER. The lady at the insurance place said that my coverage is fine, and she faxed a copy of it to the eye doctor for me. Next, I called the doctor's office again, and said that I will try to come back in tomorrow morning, so I can choose the glasses I really want, and hopefully get an appointment with my doctor to confirm that the prescription is accurate.

Whew! What a day so far!

Next, I stopped at KFC to grab a chicken pot pie, then went to the grocery store to grab a few things we needed. (Dove Hairspray was on sale for 2 bucks!)

When I got home, I carried in all the groceries, then took my dinner down the hall to the computer. After a quick trip to the bathroom, and washing my hands, I put away all the groceries, then fixed a glass of orange juice and grabbed a paper towel. Finally, I was able to relax at the computer and have my dinner. I reached over to pick up my PDA sitting on the printer, then noticed......

MY GLASSES!!!!!

Memories of the old Krispy Kreme in Charlotte

We used to have a very old Krispy Kreme in downtown Charlotte at Hawthorne Lane and Independence Boulevard. http://www.krispykreme.com/history.html#

My parents took me there when I was a little girl, and I continued to go through the years. It was hard to get to, because of the location, and it got worse when they took down the stoplight and closed the intersection because of freeway traffic. But I still went, even taking my own children there when they were very young.

I really liked that location, because it had that old 50's diner look to it. The stools and tables were always full, and there was a constant line going out the door...even if it was raining or freezing outside. Whenever the door opened, you would feel this RUSH of cold air from outside.

When I was little, I would stand and stare at all the different donuts in the display case, right at my level. I would place my hands on the display glass, and my eyes would be huge round circles. All the different donuts, with sprinkles, icing, or cinnamon just amazed me. And the smell of hot cocoa captured my mind. My mama would order a cup for me, and then only let me drink it by dipping it out with a plastic spoon and sipping it a little at a time. It was always SO HOT! But the chocolate tasted like heaven in my mouth.

We would always try to sit at one of the tables where you could look through a window to see the donuts being made. That was SO fascinating to me. The donuts would pop out of the bottom of a big stainless steel bowl, ride on a long conveyor belt, then take a bath in hot oil. When they finished cooking, they would ride other belts to different ports where they would either be coated with honey glaze, iced with chocolate or vanilla, or filled with cream. I could have sat there all day watching that.

When Mama said it was time to go, I would look around the store to see all the other customers, waiting for a table. The place was always packed with EVERY kind of person imaginable. I mean, EVERYONE could afford to buy a DONUT!

My childhood trips to Krispy Kreme were a highlight of my life. I was so sad the day they tore down that location. I felt like a part of Charlotte's character was being erased.

Now, we have other "newer" locations, but they just don't have the same "magic". Sometimes, you'll find a photo hanging inside that shows the old store, and I'll look at it with a wistful eye. Then, reality snaps me back when I hear someone saying, "I don't like the way that hot chocolate tastes. Yuck!" or "Excuse me, can I get a refund on this donut? It's not cooked evenly." I miss simpler times.

Christening Gown Completed!

I just realized that I never posted any photos of the completed Christening Gown. Silly me!

I finished it about a month ago, and my cousin was thrilled with the final product. I'm certainly proud of it!

Here's the gown being modeled by my full-size baby doll. After putting it on the doll, I realized that the skirt is so lacy that it is a bit too revealing.


So, I sewed in a lining of white satin:


It looks MUCH better now!


Here are the pretty buttons on the back:

This was my first attempt at buttonholes, and I'm very pleased with the result!

My yarn purchases at SAFF

Rebecca asked what I bought at SAFF this year, so here's my answer!

The HUGE skein of blue/teal yarn is 8 ounces of RIATA (Wool/Mohair/Silk) from Brooks Farm Yarn.

The cream skein is 1750 yards of 100% Extrafine Merino Wool from Yarns Forever.

The roving is Merino Wool from Shepherd's Corner.
(8 ounces "Forest" and 8 ounces "English Garden". )

Last is a Lanaset Starter Set from Earth Guild, so I can learn to do acid dyeing with my yarn!