I had the pleasure of meeting up with Julia for a coffee the other day. Julia was one of the first three readers of this blog when I started it in 2005. She also has a number of blogging projects of her own, including Castlebrook Village’s neighbourhood blog, a sewing blog, an opinion blog, and a puppy blog (chronicling her adventures raising a future Guide Dog).
Julia had read on my blog that I was shopping for Really Warm Mittens, and she emailed to offer me a pair that she can’t wear because they are actually too warm for her. My heart did backflips at the prospect of Overly Warm Mittens.
We met at Bridgehead – the one in Westboro – and not only did she bring mittens, she brought a whole bag full of stuff, including a neckwarmer for me and a bunch of little treasures for the Swap Boxes. And then I admired her poppy (which had a clever little Canadian pin in the centre, to dress it up and keep it from falling off ), and she gave it to me. I wished I’d brought something for her. Next time!
We had fun drinking coffee and getting to know each other in person. I’m the first Internet friend she’s ever met in person. This is a photo of Julia in full cycling gear, ready to roll on home after our coffee.
I’m saving the mittens for when it gets painfully cold. I find I have to ration my warm clothing, because if I wear the warmest stuff in November, I won’t have any further protection against the cruelest assaults of January. I can’t let that happen.
The next day I went down to the Bridgehead on Third Avenue to see if Elmak’s newest Swap Box (the one with the General Patton clue) was there – and it was!
The only thing in the Swap Box was money. There was more than a dollar in there. I put one of Julia’s key chains in, along with an extra shoelace. I swapped them for a bent quarter. There wasn’t enough room for her hand-made fleece-lined glasses case, so they’ll be left in a bigger Swap Box. I wonder if it’s a Glebe thing, leaving money in the Swap Box?
Now this doesn’t warrant a whole blog post of its own, but I just had to mention that I ran into a three and a half month old Border Collie puppy yesterday morning at the Experimental Farm. His name was Charlie and he sat on my boot and leaned against my leg. I wanted that puppy more than I’ve ever wanted any other puppy in my whole entire life.
And finally, what do you think of this story about the United States Bridge Federation freaking out over a hand-lettered anti-Bush sign? There’s all this talk of sanctions and punishments, as if these women had committed some kind of crime or something.
on sunday I bought a small bird’s nesting box to paint and decorate in preparation for the inaugural Rosebery Swap Box. have two friends who want to do them as well, so there’s be one in the east, one in the west and one in the Blue Mountains.
I am swap box excited!
I think that you are ready for a new dog now…company for the long cold winter. With your new mittens, you would be able to walk him for hours.
And Kenya would be happy to help you socialize him. She LOVES puppies … infants and little kids it would seem.
Nursemyra! From what I can tell, you’ll be introducing the Swap Box craze to Australia – Ottawa and Rosebery will be forever entwined.
Debbie and Oma, I’m not ready for another dog just yet. However, if that particular border collie had been looking for a new best friend, I’d have let him follow me home. For a visit.
New swap box is up…
Where did the invisible man have to pay late fees?
I think I know this one!! The Invisible Cinema! I’ll check it out first thing Monday morning.
The Sugar Mountain Swap Box is gone. Do you ever get discouraged when they disappear?
I adore puppies who lean on one’s leg. And I really enjoyed finally meeting you! A fellow local blogger to boot. Even if you have beat me at Scrabble every game but one (so far). Don’t “save” the mitts – wear them when you think it is cold enough and carry some gloves with you for if they get too hot. No point in suffering if you don’t need to.