Stitching Up a Storm in Alamo City

Crazy day

 
No pictures to show you about my crazy day.   I spent 6 hours downtown in a jury pool.   There must have been more than 800 people in the room, and little by little, they started calling groups of people out to go to an assigned courtroom to be selected into a jury.

I went from the main building downtown to the Juvenile Center about 6 or 7 miles away, where a 13 year old girl was being tried for "criminal mischief."   She allegedly jumped up and down on the top of someone's car and caused more than $1500 in damage (the amount of damage makes it a felony offense). 

As the story unfolded, the prosecutor had only one witness and the defense attorney let it be known in voir dire that the accused little girl was not going to take the witness stand on her behalf.   I know, I know that a witness has the right to not testify, but after the defense lawyer said several times that the little girl was eager to have her name cleared and was adamant that she was innocent - I don't know why she wouldn't want to tell her own story.   So, of course, I raised my hand and let that opinion be known.

Maybe that was the reason I wasn't selected, and maybe it was something else, but what a colossal waste of time.   45 people spent the same amount of time that I did - and 12 of them were going to spend until Friday on this case (so the judge said).    

I certainly believe that everyone has the right to be tried by a jury, but I'm just hoping there was a lot more to the story than they told in voir dire.  

I'd be glad to serve - I'm not against that at all - but I can't help but think something went very much awry in this case.  

Sorry for the rant.   I'll start stitching again soon.   Actually, I blocked the rest of my week in case I was selected to serve on the jury, so I have almost nothing that I have to do until the weekend!!!

Hows' that for a gift?   I'm going to be a slug.

Happy stitching.
Jane

P.S.  Two bright spots in the day - a stitching friend, Susan, sent me an email introducing herself and asking for some information - I LOVE to get emails from all of you in blogville.   And, in just a few minutes, we're headed back downtown to have dinner with some dear friends and then see Garrison Keillor.  Have wanted to see him in person for a long time.   So the day is going to end on a definite upswing.

Mother nature at work

Will you look at this?   This spider is at least 4 inches long from toe to toe.  HUGE.  We noticed it in shrubs near our driveway as we came in from our walk this morning.

He's just hanging out in his web waiting for some unfortunate bug to get all tangled up.  

Back to stitching.
Jane

Unabashed plug.

I have to make a plug for a company that I've come to love.  I got a shipment from them today and was reminded just how much I love them - for many reasons.

I first knew about them after buying their product from a store in Austin.   I went back a couple of time to get refills, not really knowing who they were.   Then the store went out of business and I had to go on a safari to find them.  

Hillhouse Naturals.   I was buying bottles of scented oil with bamboo reeds - had them in one bathroom to start.   Once my last bottle ran out, I started buying on line.   And now I have 2 bathrooms that I love going into because the scent is so fresh and amazing.

They're from Kentucky - one of my favorite states.  Ages ago, when I was in sales, I covered IN and KY.   KY was by far my most favorite place.  Wonderful people, great scenery, and such history and tradition.   Loved every minute of it. 

And now I love Hillhouse Naturals.   Both times I've ordered from them, I've gotten a fun surprise.  Don't you love surprises??  Today it was a sample of linen spray scent and a fun green bag.   Almost my favorite color of green.  So, unlike most bags one gets unsolicited, it went in the stash closet.  Love it.

They tell a wonderful story about their dog and how they got started and the 30 women who work there.

Try it.  You'll love every shipment you get from them (and the scent they provide in the meantime.)

http://hillhousestore.com/

Happy shopping.
Jane

This is Nora - hanging on my every word

Mark was helping me get the projector hooked up to the computer so I can do my presentation tomorrow.   Once we got it working, Nora couldn't get enough of it.

At least SHE loves it.

Talk soon.
Jane

Reader, beware.

http://www.thehaystackneedleonline.com/

If you click on the link to this blog, you will find yourself losing several hours of your day and probably a few dollars.

But, you must look at it.   It's an amazing blog written by a young woman who is home editor at Real Simple and the lifestyle editor at Redbook.   

I guess she gets paid to find cool, artful things for the home.  And she's good at it.  

It all started when I began a search to find melamine plates for outside dining.  I googled and this blog was one of the first things I discovered.   That was about three hours ago.

Enjoy.
Jane