Recently, I have been making button runs on my lunch breaks.
Since my Etsy shop (which sells crocheted goods) decided to have a miniature boom (a-woo-hoo!), and I've been making fingerless gloves 24-7, keeping a full stock of buttons has been crucial.
Enter the button man. The New York button man.
I never thought I'd be very good at telling the difference between accents in America, unless they are extremely obvious and stereotypical. But as soon as the button man opened his mouth to greet me (we're nearly on first name terms. One more button purchase should do it), I saw the lights of Broadway. Off-Broadway, to be precise.
He says he left New York when he was eighteen, or, in his words, as soon as he could. According to him, unless you have a good income, it's a pretty tough place to live. The Texan way of life suits him better, and he seems quite content sitting in his button shop that is literally overflowing with every type of button you could imagine.
I don't believe him. His demeanor and flamboyant greetings tell me there's a little more to his New York story than he is willing to share. Here is my theory:
The button man was an Off-Broadway director, the kind that says, "Wonderful, darling!" to his leading lady's face, and then rolls his eyes behind her back while dabbing his forehead with a paisley neckerchief (he would definitely be the kind to wear a paisley neckerchief. It would most likely be a silk one, too).
Then something dreadful happened - he directed a show that the critics labeled 'an utter flop', and he was shunned from the Off-Broadway scene to sell buttons in Texas.
Either that, or he just loves buttons, which would be weird, but understandable - buttons are awesome.
Today, I walked into his button kingdom in my work wear and he exclaimed, "My, we're looking professional today! Is your limo waiting outside? Let's fill this bag quick!" He then gave me a plastic zip-lock bag and told me that see-through was the new black.
God bless you, button man.
FYI: I just want to share the beautiful Autumn view from my office window:
Maybe it's just because they're set against a clear blue sky, but I think the Autumn leaves are more vibrant here than in England. Perhaps it has something to do with the amount of sunlight.
I've been told that Texas Autumn colours are nothing compared to Colorado's and those in the East. Road-trip next Autumn? Yes please!
(Yes, that is a giant vase in the picture. It's antique gold in colour and taller than me. I have no idea why there is a giant vase in the office. It would take some pretty beefy flowers to fill that thing, but I have to say it is quite elegant. And if we ever have an office game of hide and seek, I'm going in.)
Have you ever had one of those moments when your life becomes a comic sketch?
Well, yesterday I got stuck in a coat.
To back track a little, this week I have the pleasure of playing host to a friend from England. She went out of her way to come and see us, and we are so happy to have her!
We had a girly day yesterday, shopping at Grapevine Mills. She was looking for a new handbag, and I was looking for, well, you've probably already guessed it.
Enter the coat from hell.
It was a simple black coat that zipped all the way up to the chin. As soon as I put it on and took a look in the changing room mirrors, I decided it wasn't the one for me, and I attempted to undo the zip.
Then my friend attempted to undo the zip.
Then I tried again, this time a little more desperately.
Then my friend tried once more, before suggesting that we seek the help of a shop assistant in case we busted the zip.
But first, we attempted to remove the coat over my head. Because that seemed like a sensible idea.
Evidently, I have a fat head.
More panic ensued when I tried to get the coat back on again in order to go and seek help from a shop assistant. I couldn't very well walk out into the shop with the coat flapping over my head and being led by the hand by my friend who was hyperventilating with laughter, now could I?
I managed to get one arm in, but the other was a struggle. It looked like I had one normal arm and one worthy of a T-Rex. I had no more energy, but my friend summoned her inner boot camp sergeant and ordered me to PUSH IT THROUGH!!! I can't! YES YOU CAN!
It turned out I could.
By this time my cheeks were flushed, there were tears in my eyes and my friend was speechless from laughter.
Huffing, and feeling a little claustrophobic in my straight jacket, we hurried out of the changing rooms and found an assistant.
I pointed at the coat and said, "Stuck!"
I was sure she would call the fire brigade, or at least use some impressive coat busting scissors to set me free, but she merely pinched the top of the coat and slid the zip down without so much as a tug. This was too much for my friend, who burst into more fits of hysterics and gasped, "What a perfect end to a comic sketch!"
I can only assume that we had loosened the zip with all our tugging, or that this was not the first time the shop assistant had released a customer from the coat from hell.
Looking back, the whole debacle definitely wouldn't have been out of place as a scene on a show like Miranda. Then again, maybe it was a 'you had to be there' moment, in which case I apologise for this tedious blog post.
However, I would ask all of you to heed this word of warning: NEVER attempt to remove a zipped coat over your head. It will only make matters worse by smearing your mascara and giving you a head-size complex.
On Sunday evening, Austin and I, as well as others from our church, had the pleasure of attending a friend's ordination.
It was held at his home church, where his father is the pastor. His family are Mexican, as are the majority of his father's congregation, so it was a wonderful, humbling experience to hear the word of God read aloud in both Spanish and English.
I love the mishmash of cultures in Texas. I love the overheard Spanish conversations in line at Walmart. I love the feeling of awe when my banker slips seamlessly from English to Spanish and back again. I love hearing the cheeky beat of mariachi music when the workers across the street clock off and start playing cards. The Mexican influence here adds richness and texture.
Our friend gave his testimony at his ordination. His family had a history of alcoholism, but then one man shared the Gospel with his grandfather, and his grandfather shared it with his father, and his father shared it with him. Healing, clarity and hope came to that family. It's amazing to think that one person's boldness in sharing his faith had a ripple affect that spread across three generations, and will continue to spread forever.
It was an extremely moving service, full of prayer and singing and big, arms-wrapping-three-times-around-you hugs.
Later, there was a reception at the family home, where we munched nachos and queso and imagined our friend at five-years-old sitting in his every-boy's-dream attic room nurturing those first seeds of faith in his heart.
Anything is possible with a bit of faith-filled boldness.
FYI: The skunks are multiplying! Two of them were out and about the other night when hubby and I arrived home. They really are the cutest little animals. It's a shame they're so flatulent.
The most amazing thing has happened - my husband is a tea convert!!!!
Ok, this might seem small, but I have been slowly chipping away at his stubborn coffee butt for the past two years, and now I have conquered his taste buds! Mwah ha ha!
I could have cried with sweet joy when he announced last night that he was looking forward to his evening cup of chai tea with milk and honey. Hurrah!
In other news, I am back on the Etsy shop band wagon. I opened a shop a few months ago called Petite Poetry, but let it drift by the wayside until now.
I am slowly building up my products, which consist of tiny canvases displaying some of my tiny illustrated poems, and crocheted mug cozy's. A random combination, I know, but I love poetry and blanketed beverages.
I am now branching out to other crocheted goods, as well as some other canvas creations. What other shop do you know that sells Jesus's face made out of coffee granules?! (If you know of one, please don't tell me. I'd like to maintain the thought that I am original :))
Here's the link if you'd like to take a look: https://www.etsy.com/shop/PetitePoetry?ref=hdr_shop_menu
In other other news, I have officially been in Texas for one whole year!
It's one of those strange deals where it feels like time has flown, but when I think back to the immigration process and pre-car, it feels like ages ago.
The highlights of my year have been documented in this blog, even the most obscure (do you remember the Walmart apple the size of a baby's head?), but I think the most wonderful thing about Texas is the people.
Friendly, respectful and loving with big ol' Texas hearts. Now I know why my husband is so wonderful (mush mush, mushy mush!).
I love the 'Yes, sirs' and 'Yes, ma'ams', the friendly strangers that recommend the pumpkin ravioli in Trader Joe's, and the checkout servers who give you free chocolate. Although Dallas is enormous and a little overwhelming at times, the people make you feel like you're in a small town.
In other other other news, the location of this blog will be changing soon. I am in the process of setting up a website (Ooo, fancy!) with the help of website/creative genius Ben Larzabal (http://www.benlarzabal.com/) and will be blogging from there to keep everything in one place.
I will greatly miss www.redroseyellowrosecarboardbox.blogspot.com, but let's face it, it's a bit of a mouthful! I'll let you know when the official move will happen, and there will be a link to this blog on the website so that previous posts aren't lost or forgotten.
Thank you so much for the time you take out of your busy schedules to read my ramblings! If I could make you each a complimentary chair tea with milk and honey, I would!
