InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "I haven't slept in six years."

Effie (lacemaker) wrote in lechance,
@ 2009-01-13 09:12:00

Entry tags:

effie gallehawk, hattie palmer

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Effie was taking advantage of the warm weather, and sitting out on the porch of the house with her pillow on her lap. Her feet were tucked up on a stool, as she still had lingering nerves about whatever those metal skittering things had been returning, and she was certain those had been responsible for the damage to her threads. Such a little thing, in appearance, but so much to her. The box of threads was at her side, another box of bobbins next to it, and she was trying to wind pairs to start the next pattern.

Trying. The thread came to an abrupt end again, and she swore fervently, very Glaswegian and thoroughly unladylike, before glancing up and blushing hard, eyes widening as she caught sight of the person passing on the street. "Oh, I'm that sorry, ye'll forgive me, please, for saying such?"

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	ex_homemaker813 2009-01-13 05:00 am UTC (link)
	"Oh, dear - is something wrong?" Hattie asked, hurrying over, and frowning sympathetically as she saw the damage to the threads. "Oh, no, not you too!" (Reply to this) (Thread)

	lacemaker 2009-01-13 05:22 am UTC (link)
	"Too?" she asked, startled. "Hae they been at your yarn, as well?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	ex_homemaker813 2009-01-13 05:25 am UTC (link)
	"No, somehow all mine survived intact," Hattie said thankfully. "But Sadie's had some silk absolutely ruined. Whatever those things were, they did a lot of damage!" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lacemaker 2009-01-13 05:31 am UTC (link)
	"Aye, that they did," she agreed ruefully. "I'm thinking I've lost this whole reel, forbye how it's wound. Are ye well this morning, Ms. Palmer? Are ye still Palmer? I didna ask!" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	ex_homemaker813 2009-01-13 05:34 am UTC (link)
	"Oh goodness, has it been that long since we've talked!" Hattie covered her mouth with her hand. "No, I've been Mrs Salas for - oh, six or seven weeks now!" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lacemaker 2009-01-13 05:54 am UTC (link)
	"I didna know if ye were taking her name," Effie explained, and set the reel aside with a sigh, searching out another of the same weight and dye. "Congratulations. Ye're happy?" Hattie certainly looked happy. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	ex_homemaker813 2009-01-13 07:32 am UTC (link)
	"Oh, I see!" She blushed faintly. "Yes, I'm very happy, thank you! Ridiculously happy, in fact. And you are too? With the exception of things getting into your threads?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lacemaker 2009-01-13 08:02 am UTC (link)
	"Oh, aye," Effie agreed, with a warm smile. "Tis more than I ever thought, and so different from home." In the best way possible. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	ex_homemaker813 2009-01-13 09:06 am UTC (link)
	"Well, you didn't have Mr Ibis at home, did you?" Hattie grinned. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lacemaker 2009-01-13 09:25 am UTC (link)
	Effie blushed a delicate pink. "Nay, that I sure didna. Tis strange, though, after living so long in rooms, to have a whole house just for us. Are ye and Mrs. Salas settling well together?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	ex_homemaker813 2009-01-13 10:04 am UTC (link)
	"Oh goodness, yes, we are. It's almost too perfect - I can't help thinking something must go wrong soon, because it certainly couldn't get any better!" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lacemaker 2009-01-13 10:07 am UTC (link)
	She laughed. "I'm glad of it. There's more than enough oddness here, tis good to know of happiness as well." She spooled out thread, measuring it along her arm, then doubling it back, nodding satisfaction at the length and beginning to wind. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	ex_homemaker813 2009-01-13 10:09 am UTC (link)
	"Yes." She gave a funny little smile. "I admit I have not been thinking much of the oddness. I've been having too much fun with my new wife and my new home. I've always wanted a home to make wonderful!" She watched Effie's movements. "Do you need any help with that?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lacemaker 2009-01-13 01:48 pm UTC (link)
	"If ye wish it?" she offered. "Tis simple enough to wind." She bit off the length of thread, and offered it over to Hattie. "Ye just need tae be sure the thread is long enough before it breaks for the pair - hand tae chest on each is gey near enough for this pattern." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	ex_homemaker813 2009-01-13 02:10 pm UTC (link)
	"Well, it's like measuring out any braid or whatever, really, isn't it?" Hattie said practically, taking the thread and doing her best to copy what Effie had done. "Like this?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lacemaker 2009-01-13 02:22 pm UTC (link)
	Effie nodded. "And half goes on each bobbin. Will ye tell me of your home?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	ex_homemaker813 2009-01-15 02:37 pm UTC (link)
	Hattie laughed. "What do you want to know? Home was a nice but smallish house in Hertfordshire, on the edge of a small town. It was... very different to here. A lot sleepier, more old-fashioned, if that makes any sense?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lacemaker 2009-01-15 03:26 pm UTC (link)
	"I was meaning the home ye're making," she explained, blushing slightly, and holding the end of the thread to the neck of the bobbin with her thumb until the winding secured it. "Though Hertfordshire sounds bonny. Glasgow was always so noisy, so busy." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

ex_homemaker813
2009-01-15 03:31 pm UTC (link)

"Oh!" Hattie was getting better at not blushing, but she couldn't help feeling a bit silly at her mistake. "I thought - because you mentioned about here being different to home..." She took a breath and smiled. "Our home is... it's wonderful. I mean, it's not big either, but it's ours and it's - well, actually, it is very different from home! All the houses here are, aren't they? And with the weather so much warmer, too... It's a lot more modern, more sparsely furnished, and no need for such dreadful thick drapes across the windows. It all feels so much lighter!"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lacemaker 2009-01-15 03:43 pm UTC (link)
	"And cleaner!" Effie agreed. "Though I'm thinking if ye came from a small town 'twas not so dirty frae the factories as the city? I cannae be used to the weather, for sure, January should be snow and snuggling close for heat." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	ex_homemaker813 2009-01-15 03:50 pm UTC (link)
	"Oh goodness yes! It feels so strange to be so warm at this time of year, doesn't it?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lacemaker 2009-01-15 03:54 pm UTC (link)
	"It makes me sleepy," Effie confessed. "I must no' be wasting daylight when I could be working, but Jonathan came home the other day and I was sleeping in my chair. I didna even mean for to nap." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	ex_homemaker813 2009-01-15 03:57 pm UTC (link)
	"Oh, but I'm sure it doesn't matter!" Hattie cried, reaching out to lay a hand on Effie's arm and getting all tangled up in the thread she was still holding instead. "Oh dear, I'm sorry! I don't think I'm being much help here!" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lacemaker 2009-01-15 04:12 pm UTC (link)
	Effie laughed, laid the bobbin down on her pillow, and gently untangled Hattie from the thread. "I'm still working, and I can only work in daylight. Lamps dinna have enough light, and I get...well, anyway, I can only work in the day, and Mrs. Harris is waiting on her fan." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

ex_homemaker813
2009-01-15 04:16 pm UTC (link)

"Thank you!" Hattie said gratefully, and stopped trying to help with the thread. "Anyway, I'm sure no-one would mind you taking the odd nap. And it's not as if you have to support yourself by yourself any more, after all." She tilted her head thoughtfully. "I wonder if one of the inventor-types around here might be able to come up with a better sort of light, that might let you work in the evenings. I know I should like better light for my projects too!"