Kilmurry House Goes Into Winter Mode
Well, after last nights excitement of library visits, tree trimming and Yule fires; we now have a decorated drawing room and a very quiet house. Everyone seems to have slept pretty well, I in fact, had another "missing" day by getting up at 2:30 in the afternoon. After going downstairs to clean up from the egg nog making and other fun, I filled the dishwasher and proceeded to go sit upstairs by Yule tree, with the best of the books I checked out yesterday. It was a real find, a book I used to own myself and really enjoy; Ursula K. LaGuin's: Always Coming Home. Having once been to a convention with the author who afterwards took us on a tour of the sites where the book action takes place (in a very future Napa valley California) I was enjoying tales of a warm, dry land. One with streams, hills, dances and songs when my house mate opens the door and says,
"Here she is," and the Wolf (my husband) come walking in...
"Uh Oh," I think, this is going to be bad. No one every just comes looking for me and says, "Kitty Kins" in a certain voice, unless they want something. Given the time of year it is, I have a strong feeling that I know what it is. We are about to enter another Kilmurry House situation, The Desperate Last Minute Attempt to Find Yule Present for People. I am not disappointed in this guess. The conversation goes something like this:
Husband:
"Kitty Kins, do you feel well enough for some very light sewing..?
Disaster Cat:
"No, I would have to use the presser foot of the sewing machine and I still don't want to press down on my foot yet."
Husband:
Ignores answer because its not what he wants to hear and says, " We realized that we need a present for so and so [family relative] and we realized he really needed some new 15th century shirts. "
I ignore the fact that last week they were busy making something else for this person. Something involving lots of metal and big plans. Somehow I suspect this either did not work or did not get finished. The conversation continues
Disaster Cat
"I still don't feel like sewing, and no you can't have the linen that I have in my workroom. Not the stuff that is 50 years old or the silk-linen mix I got to make a undress for me out of."
Husband,
"That's too bad, we were going to pay YOU to make the shirt..." (a ploy because he knows I am short of Yule money this year)
Disaster Cat,
"That's a nice thought, but I have no experience in making X-shirt, the tiny example I made in class looked like junk and I'm not about to try my first attempt on a gift for someone, using good linen fabric at that."
Husband,
"But he needs the shirt!"
Disaster Cat,
"So make one for him...."
Husband (with a sulky voice)
"But my sewing always falls apart...."
At this point the conversation falls into one of those repetitive ones that married couples always seem to have over and over again. I respond that that is because he never finishes his seams. He answers that he doesn't understand what I'm talking about. I offer to show him, but not today I still don't want to use my foot. Meanwhile, he is walking away and shutting the door.
I later go and suggest to both husband and house mate that they call M__________, a friend who does professional sewing and I'm sure could make the shirts with directions downloaded from the website. They respond that they probably couldn't afford it (I wonder what they planned on paying me? *smile*). I suggested they call anyway and ask if I should find the pattern instructions on line. I am told to "wait awhile while they think about it." Since its hours later and I have heard nothing, I guess they came up with another idea for a present. Or are still "thinking."
We go through a version of this every year. This year I have solved the problem by simply making cookies and not worrying about anything else. In the past, I've walked around the nearby town for days looking for small stuff. But this year, with my unhappy foot, that has not been possible. I'd have been happy to help with the shirt project, given a few weeks warning (I could probably have talked my sewing friend into showing me what to do or finding someone who could, if my foot wasn't up to it). But three days is cutting things a little tight. I'd hate to even try making a Viking T-tunic in that length of time, and that is a very simple garment. And one I have a lot of practice in making.
Anyway, I've already planned what cookies to make for this person. ..I have no idea what the guys will come up with. I guess I'll have to wait and see.
I think I'll go back to reading and visiting "Blue Clay House" in Shanshen, California; sometimes in a very far future. Far Away, but a warm one!
Disaster Cat ....in a very dark, cold Ireland