a simple yarn

Ahhhhh…….

In Dublin, there used to be a place called Fado’s on Dawson Street. Would you believe there is another branch of the same restaurant in Columbus, Ohio? It’s probably the closest thing to a ‘real’ Irish pub in the US midwest. So, to celebrate the occasion of our being in the same city at the same time, Traveling-For-His-New-Job-Husband-Will and Also-Traveling-But-To-Different-Locations-With-The-Kids-Cheryl took ourselves over to Fado’s for a pint.

Our weaving mathematical equation for today: Sails - Wind = Me.

Yes, the wind was taken out of my sails today….

During my visit to Tamarack…the centre highlighting the best of West Virginia craftspeople…I purchased a cool little lap loom in the old-fashioned wooden toys area. ‘How nifty!’ I thought, and immediately began to experiment with this tiny treasure. I was certainly feeling a connection to my pioneering forebears. So what was this that I held in my hands?

I googled the term lap loom. Nothing looked like the toy sitting in my lap. Peg loom? Nope. ‘How curious!’ I mused. Ah well, I couldn’t tell whether it was knitting or weaving, but it produced a double-thickness-cool-loopy-chain-mail-like scarf.

It was all quite simple…wrap the yarn in a figure-eight around the pegs. Repeat once again. Draw the bottom loop over the top loop and continue to do this as the ‘woven’ portion drops through the middle of the loom.

I found it all quite relaxing as I could chat with my parents and yet feel like I was getting back into the feel of fibre.

As I fell into a sort of reverie pondering all of the lovely colour combinations that could be made with a wonderfully simple open-double-weave using this time honoured wooden tool. I set it aside, however, so my mom and I could make a quick trip to the craft store. And what did I see?

Cheap, plastic loopy knitter. Ack!

Okay, so I’m not totally devastated and am still chuffed with the results from my little wooden beauty. And ya know, I’m thinking that I may just be able to take it on the plane!

How does the saying go? ‘Physician heal thyself’?

I just realised today that I may need an extra suitcase to take back all of the ’stuff’ from our summer in the US.

Let’s see….pot…..kettle…..black….

Okay, so maybe I was a little harsh on US culture. Here’s where I make atonement…

Without a doubt, creative opportunities are endless in the American culture. The power to express oneself, in whatever medium, is great indeed. I was reminded of that as I traveled to my parents’ home in West Virginia.

Warning: Emotional Baggage from Childhood Ahead
I struggled somewhat with the fact that I was raised in West Virginia. The brunt of many a cheap-shot-joke, it’s a state that usually found itself at the bottom of any statistics list. Poverty. Lack of education. Inward focused. Rough. But if John Denver could find a sense of it being ‘almost heaven’ then I, too, needed to look deeply to find its worth. Rugged. Mountainous. Beautiful in a wild, untamed sort of way.

And in the history of the people of West Virginia, among them many a Scot or Irishman, was a creative vein—fashioning interesting and beautifully practical pieces of art and craft. As a testimony to the West Virginia artisan, a stunning showcase has been created to highlight the work of local craftspeople.

Tamarack.

Pottery, quilt making, glass blowing, basket weaving, local cuisine and books gave a much needed balm for the soul. Over the top? Excessive? Somehow when it comes to arts and crafts, I just can’t have too much—inconsistent, I know!

Next up…what I got at Tamarack…

Disclaimer: The following is not intended as an indictment on my home culture. More like an admission of reverse culture shock as I see it with new eyes during our visit to Williamsburg, Virginia.

I knew there would be some adjustments to be made…
…driving on the right hand side of the road
…sharing meals due to generous portions
…malls
I just didn’t anticipate the continual mouth-gape-open response to various stimuli.

Excess
The sheer volume of stuff is staggering. Here’s the shopping centre dedicated to Yankee Candle. This one shop would rival any Irish supermarket for floor space. This wall of product represented the fruit section. Additionally there was the flower section, the fresh section, the spice section, the red-white-and-blue section, to name a few. And this shop sold only candles and accessories.

In other parts of the shopping centre were home accessories, toys, a café, calendars, DIY candle dipping, and an area where it was always Christmas—even to the point of ’snowing’ every 15 minutes. The Kiddies loved it. I was overwhelmed.

Image

The Kiddies have fond memories of Taco Bell and so we did a fast food run. As I steer the children to non-carbonated-non-caffeinated alternatives, I find that the lemonade option is empty, dispensing only water. I turn to the Mr-Nice-Employee-At-The-Till.

‘I know,’ he remarks, ‘the management won’t let us put up an out-of-order sign. They say it looks tacky.’ So the management, with a notion of the financial bottom line, would rather waste drink and cups rather than look tacky.

Celebrations
I’m not sure how warm weather tourist locations can sustain up to 3 different large Christmas ornament shops, but they do. I’ve never been in one, so the Kiddies and I went exploring.

Alongside the snowman section, the Santa section, the beach section, the cowboy section, the retro section, the DIY tool section, the Native American section, among others, we rounded a corner and came upon…

…the Irish section.

Attitude

While on holiday, part of the fun for the Kiddies is to watch television since we do not have one. As I’ve been watching some of the children’s shows with them, I’m amazed all over again at how parents are portrayed as stupid and incompetent and how kids zing one another at lightning speed with shallow and flippant remarks. Like, duh, whatever…

On Balance
It would not be a fair observation if I didn’t include this one. Americans are friendly. Restaurant staff, hotel employees, average guy on the street. Americans are generally a chatty, good-natured bunch.

And a little kindness goes a long way.

Guess, that’s it for now. Being off-line for 3 days means facing 275 unread Bloglines entries from only 41 feeds. Another shock to the system…

I am strangely fascinated by the various products that have come about in the US in the last couple of years. Today, they happen to fall into the drinks category.

So what to my wondering eyes did appear while looking for a simple little drink to quench my thirst in the heat and humidity?

Sure, Diet Coke, but not just any Diet Coke, mind you…

So, all the vitamins and minerals that Diet Coke strips out of your body are now being replaced artificially. I am absolutely, without a doubt, gob-smacked.

And while we’re on the topic of drinks, it seems I cannot avoid Starbucks, much as I try. Now, if I were in the Forbidden City in Beijing I would have no worries since Starbucks has been asked to leave due to their trampling of the local culture. But here, where Starbucks is located on most corners and in many supermarkets, I cannot escape them. Sigh.

However, after taking Carrie’s advice about asking for an extra shot of espresso AND having a firm talking-to with the Starbucks-coffee-maker (meaning the person not the appliance) about the difference between dry and airy foam (boo) versus velvety and silky frothed milk (yeah), I have found that it all comes down to a single word.

Wet.

So, if I ask for a cappuccino-with-an-extra-shot-of-espresso-make-it-wet, I will get the closest representation of a European-esque hot cup of coffee. I think there’s a wee glimmer of hope for summer coffee drinking.

And finally, so that the posts are not totally devoid of any fibre, here’s a glimpse of what is in the works. And it’s not a pickle…

Conversations in the US have been going something like this…

Them: ‘Where ya from?’ (Because we know Americans are a friendly race.)
Me: ‘I live in Dublin, Ireland.’

Them: ‘Welcome to America!’
Me: ‘Thank you. I’m an American, though, just happen to live in Europe.

And at this point, the conversation will take one of two paths.

Path 1
‘Well I could tell you live in Ireland because you certainly have developed an Irish accent.’

or

Path 2
‘Well I could tell you’re an American because you haven’t picked up any accent while living there.’

And such is the case of living in the in-between.

Summer is a glorious time to do so many things…but for me, perhaps knitting isn’t one of them.

I think I’m in a knitting slump.
I went to a nice little yarn shop in Maryland.
I walked in.
I looked around.
I sniffed the fibre-filled air.
I felt, even fondled, a wide variety of yarns.
I perused the books.
Hmm….no inspiration.
Yep, that might be heresy with some knitters.

I think I’m in a slump.

I did not crochet on the plane.
I have only touched my needles for the purpose of shifting them in the suitcase.
It took me almost 2 weeks to even hunt for a yarn establishment.
Must be a slump.

But I did walk out of that yarn shop with a significant purchase.

Claudia’s Hand Painted Yarns, 100% Sportweight Linen, Colour Freesia
Stork by Dale of Norway, 100% Cotton

Though the linen was definitely on the high end of my budget, I believe it whispered my name.

And what shall I knit?
Nothing.
Perhaps a handwoven summery shawl is wanting to be formed and fashioned out of this lovely yarn.

And what shall I do with this temporary slump?
I think I shall do a little reading.
For this little package from Amazon was waiting for me in Maryland.

Going back to basics for a little inspiration.

Thanks to DaviMack for the inspiration for summer blog posting…the virtual postcard.

A picture of midwest Americana…a small field of sunflowers…

Also having a challenge finding consistent wi-fi. Best option is Panera Bread restaurant. It’s been a good alternative with soups and sandwiches to the ever-present-McRestaurant-fast-food-fare.

Finally, after 12 days of fibre drought, I’ve been in a yarn shop. Will show my purchase in the next postcard.

Warning: The following may reinforce midwest American stereotypes.

So what do you think happens around the dinner table in the evening?

You pass the guns around, of course.

Postscript: Okay, truth be told…we’re staying with friends, one of whom is a policeman. But still…

…of our first day in the land of abundance…or overstimulation, depending on how you look at it.

The Kiddies and I made it to the US…eventually. To be honest, every little thing that could go wrong…did.

Delayed flight out of Dublin…layover in New York not very long anyway…will have to be efficient.
Have to identify luggage in New York, go through customs and put on conveyor belt for next flight, but no luggage coming from Dublin flight.
Still no luggage.
Amount of layover time swiftly running out.
Aha……we’ve all been standing next to the wrong luggage carousel…possibly because it said ‘Dublin Flight DL165′ on the sign.
Finally have luggage.
Rush through customs.
Baggage trolley tips and nearly takes out leg of by-stander. Profuse apologies.
Go to lift…lift not coming…waiting…waiting.
Queue at security check-in.
Jump queue at security check-in.
Grumbles from rear of queue at security check-in…wish I had an Irish accent at the moment and plead ignorance.
Unload all electronic gear, computer, shoes, belt and dash through metal detector.
Run to other end of airport to departure gate, checking periodically to make sure children are still behind me.
Our departure gate is the very last one on the concourse.
Find that next flight is also delayed, feeling stupid for having just run a mile with my shoes, belt, computer, handbag and children trailing wildly behind me.
Initial delay is extended and finally arrive in Ohio 3 hours late.
Find our luggage is still in New York, or possibly New Guinea, both start with the word ‘New’. Will have to wait and see.

But, even at that, a new toothbrush, a hot shower and a good night’s sleep put everything to rights. And the luggage showed up a few hours later. So far, so good. The Kiddies were absolute stars for handling the stress of the trip without complaint. Not too many adults, including me, would have done so well.

The first few days have been a bombardment on the senses, overloading eyes, ears, taste, smell and touch with way too many choices. Now, if it was yarn we were talking about, that would be a good thing!

The Best
Easily the Columbus (Ohio) Metropolitan Library. A superior wealth of services interlinked between multiple branch libraries in the city. Sitting here I have access to internet on their computers, wireless internet for my computer, computer games for kids, endless media, a plethora of world-wide magazines, audiobooks, used books for sale…all with a library card which I could get in an instant. The kids had fun and so did I.

The Worst
Well…..I hate to mention Starbucks again so soon, but I have to say it was the worst cup of cappuccino I have ever had. Full stop. A cup of foam….light on milk and lighter on espresso. Sigh. Asked the servers for a solution to this predicament. Received polite but unhelpful young blond stares. Never again, I vow.

After the to-ing and fro-ing settling into proper holiday mode, hope to be back to fibre…