Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Shirlee and Ruthie

Recently I was lucky enough to be the winner of a giveaway offered by Ranae over at Stitch by Stitch.  She had stitched Bent Creek's Photobooth Snowmen & offered the chart to one of her followers.  I was very excited to win it because I love snowman & this design just makes me smile when I look at it   : )   However, when I received it I realized that I will be needing to stitch 2 of these designs ... one for me & one for my best friend from high school, Ruthie.  Ruthie & I have a history with snowmen & whenever we give gifts to each other they are snowman related, but there's a bit more of a history here than that   : )

When we were seniors, Ruthie & I occasionally met at school in the mornings before classes began & decided to skip. Most often we skipped a couple classes, but there was a time or two when we left the school grounds & skipped the entire day. One of these days in particular stands out in my memory.  It was in the wintertime.  Both Ruthie & I loved snow.  We walked nearly 3 miles through the woods, enjoying the silence of the early morning & the snow falling down, to Fox Chapel Plaza where we caught a bus to downtown Pittsburgh & spent the day strolling through the stores & getting ourselves a cup of hot chocolate at a place called The Colonnade.  We timed things so that we were back at the Fox Chapel Plaza when the school bus for that area arrived at the nearby stop.  We then each called our mothers & told them we were at the plaza because we had mistakenly caught the wrong school bus.  We separated at that point because Ruthie lived in a totally different town than I did & our being together when our mothers came to pick us up would've raised suspicion ... lol!  Oh what a tangled web we wove   : )

On this particular day we splurged on a strip of photos from a photobooth.  I was really on the ball back then & had the smarts to write the date on the back ... December 8, 1970.  42 years ago!  Good grief! Little did we know back then what a precious gift the memory of that day would be for both of us in the future.  In the first 2 photos Ruthie is holding a note.  It's totally unreadable in the photos but it says "Come and get us Eugene!"  Eugene Bolt was the name of the assistant principal at school. He was the staff member who patrolled the halls looking for kids breaking the rules.  We gave him more than a few gray hairs, I'm sure   : )

You can see why I need to stitch 2 of these designs   : )


Thank you again Ranae ... not only for the chart but for the flood of memories it has brought back to me.  I am going to pass along Ranae's kindness & when I am finished stitching the chart I will offer it as a giveaway as well   : )

35 comments:

Mii Stitch said...

What a beautiful story for us & great memory for you! It's great that you're still friends too! I understand, you definitely-must-absolutely-have-to stitch this snowmen design twice!!!

Cindy said...

What wonderful memories! I can see how you tied this chart to your childhood photo, and I agree, you absolutely should stitch two!

Jessica said...

Okay, that is the CUTEST pattern I have seen in awhile! I need to get a copy!

Great memories Shirlee. Love the note in the pic too! That is funny!

Blessings, Jessica

Laura said...

Such a great story Shirlee! Have fun stitching the chart. :)

jennifer768 said...

Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful story.It made me smile to know that the friendship has held together throughout all the years.Just so wonderful.Love the pics of the two of you.Yes I can see why you would need to stitch to of the designs.LOL! Congrats on the win.Hugs,Jen

Catherine said...

What a fun story ~ and yes, you must stitch two!!

Peggy Lee said...

Love this story. This will be such an awesome gift for your friend.

pam said...

HOW FUN!!! An yes I'm afraid you will be stitching it twice.

butterfly said...

Lovely story Shirlee so nice to think of old friends I have almost the same photo some where in my photo box. With one of my old friends , and in those days we use to get some deep snow , now days we get snow one day and then its gone.
Lovely chart , I think your friend will love it you must stitch two so you can both think of each other at snow time. hugs.

Kay said...

Great story! Our "Eugene" was Miss Maitland, (picture a square woman wearing a brown, black or navy skirt, white overblouse and Hush Puppies). NOBODY messed with Miss Maitland, lol!

Edgar said...

What a super post and great story!!!! Thx for sharing!

Vickie said...

Oh how perfect Shirlee. Thanks for sharing your story, I loved it!!

Michelle said...

Oh what a lovely story thank you for sharing it - you must stitch two x

Emma/Itzy said...

aww cute chart and photos - I think everyone has photos like that somewhere from when they were young! x

Karen said...

How sweet is that! And naughty...skipping school! :)

Can't wait to see your finished pieces too.... happy stitching!

lynda said...

What a great memory...and what a wonderful keepsake this will be for your friend Ruthie!

Kathy A. said...

What a great post. I loved the story of you and your friend. Thanks for sharing.

Lisa said...

Wow great story. I can see why you have to stitch her one too. I am new to your blog. I am a beginner stitcher. I have been doing the very tiny ones from Michaels. I would love to learn to stitch on linen, do you think I can learn to do stitching on linen? Is there a kit you can recommend to start with? If there is no kit can you tell me what # linen to buy and how many strands of floss do you use? And maybe recommend a simple pattern for a first time. Wow that is alot of questions Sorry.

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

Fantastic story! How great that you two are still in contact too.

The snowmen are just perfect for your friendship. I think you should frame the photos next to the stitching.

Vera said...

Great story Shirlee...how well I remember those days. I was doing the same thing at the same time (usually in the Spring or Fall though)! Thanks for bring back those memories!!

Myra said...

What a special memory Shirlee! I wish I had kept some of those photobooth pictures. Enjoy stitching the design - I have always liked it and will be watching for the giveaway. :o)

Miss LindaLee said...

What a great post Shirlee, and to think that you both are friends after all these years still. Wonderful. I do love the piece you're stitching.
LindaLee from
CrossN'
My Stitches

Leanna said...

Oh Shirlee, I love your stories!
Yes, you must stitch Snowman Photo Booth twice! Great idea!
You know the only thing that would this a more perfect gift for Dear Ruthie...would be if the two of you were WEARING THE SAME SCARF in the last photo...lol...!

Nicola said...

What a lovely story. Thank you for sharing this sweet memory of friendship

Siobhán said...

Awww, what a sweet story! That will definitely be a fun stitch, evoking memories the whole time of a wonderful friendship. :)

Chris said...

Wonderful story! Thanks for sharing :)

Maggee said...

Great story, and post, again! I will email you soon! Hugs!

Janet P said...

Shirlee what little devils you and Ruthie were, are you both reformed characters now? xx

Melody said...

Cute story, what bad girls you were! I was such a rule follower, I wouldn't have had the nerve to do what you did. LOL.

Cute chart. Yes, you will have to stitch it for your friend as well.

Dani - tkdchick said...

That is sure going to be a special piece when its been stitched up!

TheCrankyCrow said...

Love it!! Me thinks the designer must have had a peek inside your photo stash....this is PERFECT for you and Ruthie!! What little hooligans you were!! Now, me...I would NEVER have dreamed of doing such a thing!! ;;;0) (But I, of course, destroyed all evidence years and years ago....) And my, aren't you the photogenic one??? LOVE the hair!! Smiles & Hooligan Hugs ~ Robin

Judy said...

Wow, to have that photo ater 42 years is really amazing...not to mention know where to find it! I was in high school then and used to love those photobooths. I am not sure I have any of the pictures. I have stitched that pattern and love it! It is a fun stitch.

Judy heartland stitcher

Carol said...

What a fun post, Shirlee--enjoyed every word and photo!! You certainly had "the look" of the early 70s down perfectly--love the sideswept hair alluringly hiding your eye... And all the 'Burgh references are great.

I think it is wonderful that you two are still friends--your snowman stitching will be just perfect for you both!

Sally said...

What a wonderful story Shirlee. The photobooth snowmen are just perfect for both of you.

Ranae said...

What a wonderful story of two Photobooth friends, lol
Good thing it's a fast stitch, you both need one, lol
Enjoy, my friend