Monday, April 02, 2007

Miscellanea

Knitters & Good Causes

If you aren't a regular reader of Dorothy's blog, go over for a visit and consider supporting her Relay for Life plans. She is selling seeds from her beautiful sunflowers as well as some stitch markers made by me. I so wanted to show ya'll what I ended up doing with the beading but I wanted to let Dorothy post them first for the sale. So go - visit Dorothy! Buy some seeds and/or stitch markers. It is all for an excellent cause.

Apropos of Nothing

Thursday evening I went to the grocery store. I had to do some significant shopping and so the young man who bagged my groceries helped me out to the car. (I know this is a very common occurance and generally not blogworthy but it is something that has been stuck in my mind.)

Every time I go to the store and buy enough groceries that someone ends up helping me to the car, I want to tip the guy. I have even tried on occassion over the years to slip them a dollar or two, unthinkingly, and been told that they can't accept tips. I don't know why I do this - or even think to do this. There has not been a time in my adult life (at least in my major grocery shopping years) when it was expected that I should tip the bag boy so I am not sure why it feels like a habit to me. I remember when I was growing up, my mother would always tip the person (usually boy/young man) who carried out our groceries. It was always the appropriate thing to do. I've been told that, at least here, all of the grocery store employees are unionized and they aren't allowed to accept tips - Still, I just feel like I should. I seldom let anyone help me out with the groceries because, in the end, I feel guilty that I didn't tip them. (I know - it is completely irrational, but still true.) What about you? Do you tip the bag boy?

Baby Blanket

The yarn for the baby blanket has been ordered and should be here...soon. I don't have a shipping schedule from Web's yet. I'm eager to get my hands on it. I am not taking odds, though, on whether it will get done in a timely manner or if, when it is all said and done, it will look anything like the Moderne Baby Blanket from MDK....Ya'll know how it goes.


Knitting, Barely

The only knitting I got done this weekend was a bit of work on Lori's bookmark. (I've made considerable progress since this picture was taken.)It is almost done. I am going to have to figure something out about a border. I was hoping (the stupid kind of hope - the hope that is not based in any sort of fact or reality) that this little slip of a thing (stockinette from top to bottom) wouldn't curl too bad and I could just gently block it. Why do we dilute ourselves? I am considering - GASP! - some sort of little crocheted edge. I will have to get out the books, though, as I have little to no idea where/how to start such an undertaking. Any words of wisdom - quicky edges that work well and aren't too fussy?


Today's Quote:

"If, after I depart this vale, you ever remember me and have thought to please my ghost, forgive some sinner and wink your eye at some homely girl." - H.L. Mencken

7 comments:

Dr. B. said...

I am one of those lucky ones whose live-in sidekick does all our shopping, so I can't help with the tipping question exactly -- unless you have eyes for the bag boy. In that case, we'd have to discuss "tipping" privately. But I can't imagine hubby would be too keen on that. Unless hubby is also the bag boy...

Jessica said...

I always feel like I should tip them too ... which is weird because I don't know anyone in my area who tips the bag boy, even while growing up. But it just seems like you should. I always feel a little guilty as well.

So ... on to your crochet edge! I can't see your bookmark very well from the picture, but you could definitely put a nice crochet edging on it ... something simple like a round of single crochet and then maybe some scallops or picots ... depends on how "fancy" your bookmark is. Or even just a round of sc in one color and then a round in your second color. (To get a sort of striped effect) I am not an expert knitter, but crochet generally doesn't curl so if you did a couple of rounds it would probably help keep it laying flat.

Jenn said...

I always want to tip them too. I grew up on the east coast, ans my parents tipped EVERYONE, even the bag boy.

Now here in California, most stores are union. I only know this because my husband is the manager of a grocery store. It's against their contract to take a tip. My husband HAD to fire one for taking a dollar. He didn;t want to....but the union was told and then he had no choice. can you believe that!

I really like the bookmark! I was just thinking the other day that I could knit myself a bookmark....

Stefaneener said...

No, I thank profusely. Usually I have four obstreperous children with me so I'm the one getting the pitying glances.

Charity said...

I love the stitch markers you made! I was over visiting Dorothy's blog this morning, and admired them. :0)

MLFTC said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
MLFTC said...

G.A.S.P. !

I asked for a bookmark because the one I have is crocheted. I can't believe you even entertained the idea of crocheting on my bookmark.

I am glad you didn't and I love it. I can't wait to get it home and put it in its first home of Ricochet by Sandra Brown.