Encompassing Designs
  • Home
  • Shop
    • Kits
    • Patterns >
      • Christine Little >
        • Signature Designs
        • New Designs
        • Seasonal Designs
      • Deborah Sweet
      • Susan Leslie
      • Patricia Perry
      • William Morris
    • Supplies >
      • Backings
      • Frames
      • Hooks
      • Books
      • Extra
    • Wool >
      • Abrashed
      • Antique JQ Colors
      • Custom Dyeing
      • Dyed Bundles
      • Dyed Curly Mohair
      • Dyed Spots
      • Dyed Values
      • Dyed Yarn
      • Natural & Colours
      • Plaids & Textures
      • Dye Books & Swatches
  • Ordering
  • Blog
  • Workshops
  • Our Story
  • Contact Us

Maybe I'm the card!

11/2/2015

3 Comments

 
Picture
I think I’ve reached a new plateau of curmudgeon. My tolerance for fluff already at a low ebb, now greeting cards have pissed me off!  Not just because of the price that seems to have escalated into the ridiculous, the content as well. Maybe it’s the fact that I wasted 45 minutes reading birthday cards, trying to find one that comes close to my relationship with Shane that fell short, starting out pleasant enough but as the minutes ticked by I found myself reading the cards through cynical eyes, each one a startling disappointment and I was filled with angst when I left the store. 
    
Card shopping is daunting!  Some are so sappy, so full of fanciful notions with unachievable perfection that they read like a eulogy.  We all tend to martyr the dead, all flaws and bad habits vanish immediately with their last breath, so it’s perfectly acceptable to design sympathy cards to sooth the souls of the recently bereaved, with exaggerated truths, let them see only the best in their loved one, but a birthday card?  "Blossom with joy and fragrance of happiness." What does that even mean?

Then there are the cards that make the receiver out to be divine, perfect in every way. Sorry but I haven't met one single person in my 56 years that would qualify as perfect or even close to it, except maybe a new born baby, full of hope and promise.  Maybe my mother set the standard by never telling me I was perfect.  That didn’t mean she didn’t love me, I think she was realistic.   Maybe that’s why I’m truthful today, it’s the only option I know.
  
I love my son and husband, but rainbows don't shoot out of their derrieres, the moon doesn’t glow for their benefit nor does a day revolve on their axis.   I don’t need to suggest they are flawless entities, always doing the right things, say something profound every time they open their mouth as nirvana glints in their eye.  They are no more perfect than the rest of us just because I love them.  When angel wings sprout out their backside, they walk on water, solve world hunger or cure cancer; I’ll glorify them with exaggerated Hallmark accolades.

As parents we can be proud and filled with love for our progeny, adore our spouses, grandparents and any acquaintance worth a $7.50-$9.50 card, but golly, water down the over the top praises and make the messages real!  We’re not all inventing penicillin or winning the Nobel Prize so stop with the insinuations that we are all so bloody perfect.  We’re ordinary people for goodness sake, don’t blow us out of proportion, and besides, some of us have big enough heads as it is!  We don’t need to be told that we are “all that” all the time.  I don’t know about anyone else, but I can’t live up to all the crap words they throw at us?   Give me something simple, less wordy and generalized to fit the masses so there is some semblance of truth in the message.  I know when I receive one of those cards that tell me I'm the reason for their  happiness I think to myself, what a load of crap/waste of money that was, and throw it in the bin, but if you give me a fun card that tells me you care with a bit of humour, I can take you to a drawer in my secretary and haul out every last one of them.  It's difficult enough for me to be in charge of my own happiness, I don't need the pressure of being responsible for yours as well.  And probably what all this angst boils down to is having to pay $10.00 for an archaic tradition so as not to be viewed as a cheap so-in-so and then having to doctor it up to say something meaningful. 

Reading the greetings that dripped syrupy goo, it drove my blood sugar over the top. I usually avoid the apple-polishing, bullshit toting ones with the sun rising or setting on their life, flattering to a fault type of card for a joke one.  Sometimes a light chuckle is all you need to get the point across, make a loved one smile while splashing out that warm fuzzy feeling.  You like or love them enough to spend a fortune on a piece of folded paper sporting a pretty picture, but you don’t have go over the top with the verse. 

At my age, I don’t have time to waste, yet I spent three quarters of an hour perusing the poor card selection at the local drugstore.  They were either too syrupy or too insulting, another trend becoming more prevalent that turns me cold.  Although I have a dark sense of humour, some of the cards went too far and made me say “Yikes!” out loud. The bites were nasty, insuring the need for an antibiotic to ease the dripping infection. I don’t care who you are, deep down those cards have to cut, scratching the varying thicknesses of security veneer.  I’ll confess, I might have more than my share of wiry chin sprigs and old man eyebrows, but if I received a card that pointed it out, I’d be crushed, never again leaving the bathroom with my new BFF, the tweezers.  
  
There was very little happy medium to choose from and none applied to my relationship with my son.   I ended up with the best of the heap to use as a cover for the note I wrote him that was simple, truthful and from the heart.  I’m not afraid to tell my boy I love him because he is the most important person in my life, but I can’t make him out to be something he’s not, a perfect, idyllic angel, who does no wrong and vice versa and he couldn't do that for me.  Being close as family and working together, we see each others warts, we don’t point them out but we don’t sugar coat it either.  We are who we are, special to one another but not wonders of the world that stand above everyone else. 

I learned this from my mother.  Every time there was a scuffle in the school yard, or trouble in class, she believed it took two to tango and both parties got blamed.  Same at home.  If one of us was crying, two got punished.  She never judged unfairly or took sides, she viewed us as kids, full of beans and vinegar.  We were never perfect little angels like the kids next door, who never did anything wrong and were defended by their mother as if their feathers were showing. 

Maybe I’m a hard nut, but I don’t believe in unrealistic praise.  Being told you did a great job is fine, if you did the job, and it was truly great.  They say flattery will get you everywhere but for me, if I know I didn’t do my best, flattery makes me wonder what you’re up too.  Accolades have to be rightfully earned.  If I was a teacher, I wouldn’t be handing out stars to all the kids for the sake of handing out stars, I’d be given my pink slip and be out pounding the pavement for a new career. 

I’m a rigid sort of gal.  Got the feet planted firmly, don’t hug trees or exaggerate, I’ve said it a million times.  If I tell you “I love you” it means something because I don’t throw the words around for the sake of hearing my own voice.  I can’t say the sun came up this morning because my son is in my life, although he does make my world all the more brighter.  For me it’s all in the layout of the words. 

This is the verse I wrote in his card. 

Son, you are the apple of my eye,
and not just any apple,
you are a Gravenstein and everyone knows
how much I love a Gravenstein! 



Picture
3 Comments
Charlene
11/2/2015 01:19:00 pm

I'm with you. I have always disliked most greeting card sentiment. If I don't draw my own, I usually buy a blank and write what I want.

Reply
Margaret
11/4/2015 05:58:11 am

Me too, Christine. So much sappiness in cards today, when all you want is simple and straightforward. Great words to Shane...we all know how much you like Gravensteins!!

Reply
Charlene
4/21/2025 07:54:14 am

EFFECTIVE LOVE SPELL TO GET EX HUSBAND/BOYFRIEND OR EX WIFE/GIRLFRIEND AND CURE HERPES AND INFERTILITY THAT WORKS WITHIN 24 HOURS.

Contact Great Odunga at [email protected] OR Whats App/CALL +2348167159012

I got my ex husband back to me and also got fertile and gave birth to twin girls after 12 years of marriage.
When I came online last year, I saw a testimony about Great Odunga and how he has been helping people with marriage issues and I decided to contact him. We spoke on email at [email protected] and later he gave me his Whats-App number which is +2348167159012. He assured me he would help me get my ex husband back after 3 years of no contact. Great Odunga is the best spell caster I must say. My husband called me after 24 hours of contact. The third day, I received natural herbs for fertility and after using it, I became fertile and conceived. My husband and I reconnected, had sex and I was pregnant. Presently I am happy to say I am the mother of twin girls and this is ALL THANKS TO GREAT ODUNGA. I came online to say this: If you need help, I believe you are saved with this man.

Contact his email at [email protected] OR [email protected]

Whats App/Call +2348167159012 and you too will give a testimony too to help others

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Christine Little has been ranked #5​ out of the 60 top rug hooking bloggers by Rug Hooking Magazine!

    Picture
    Picture
    Max Anderson, Australia, recipient of my Nova Scotia Treasures rug.  An award of excellence for promoting Canada through his writing.  
    Picture
    Picture

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    May 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    August 2024
    January 2024
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    July 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    July 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012

    Picture
    Picture
    Gift Certificates are available for that special rug hooker in your life!  Any denomination, no expiry date! 

    Categories
    (Click on the categories for past blogs)

    All
    Announcements
    Beginner Class
    Christmas
    Colour Planning
    Contests
    Copyright
    Coupon
    Customer Rugs
    Cutter Servicing
    Dyeing
    Equipment
    Featured Hooker
    Giveaway Draw
    Guest Blogger
    Guest Blogger
    Health & Fitness
    Home & Heart
    Hooked Rugs
    Hooking Groups
    Hook In Talk
    Initially Yours
    Jibber Jabber
    Just A Bit Of Fun!
    Life's Experiences
    Life's Experiences
    New Design
    New Ideas
    Pattern Of The Week
    Patterns Hooked
    Pets
    Rants
    Recipes
    Rememberingfbe7326ff7
    Rug Schools
    Show & Tell
    Show-tell
    The Rant
    Tips Technique
    Tips Techniquef0cd117ab4
    Visitors
    Workshops

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture





















    Picture
    We have a pot to "Fiz" in!

Shop Hours:
Monday - Friday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM 
Saturdays 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
We are closed during ice and snow storms
​so please call ahead.  If school is cancelled we probably are closed as well.  

Toll Free: 1-855-624-0370
Local:  902-624-0370​
[email protected]

498 Main Street
P.O. Box 437
Mahone Bay, N.S.
Canada B0J 2E0

​Follow us and keep up to date
on our specials, new products
​and events!
Picture
Picture
Picture


Home
Shop
Ordering
Blog
Our Story
Workshops

Contact Us




​​​© Copyright 2023 Encompassing Designs. Website by SKYSAIL