enter esther

Senior Shoppe, Downtown Ventura
Window of the Senior Shoppe, winter 2006

I put out a request on Facebook and Twitter to see if any of my knitty friends (not “kitty friends,” as my friend Susan misread) would be interested in a craft trade. I desire some well-made leg warmers. Apparently my kitty friends are too busy with their projects (Christmas present catchup?) to help out, until well past leg warmer weather.

No big whoop. I moved my preoccupations elsewhere. Forward to a few days later, when I needed to kill a few moments waiting for my lunch date. I went into one of the best stores ever, the Senior Craft Shoppe. Exactly as you might imagine — a small store, packed to the gills with crafts of all kinds made by super seniors, and priced right.

It wasn’t until I was inside, ogling the racks and racks of crocheted golf club covers, flannel elephants, telephone book covers, ET AL, that the lightbulb went off.

Me: I want some knitted legwarmers.
Senior Counter Lady: Let me call Esther!

Before I knew it, I was on the phone with Esther (presumably not the Esther of the misaligned ducks). I told her I wanted gray and black striped legwarmers. Esther asked (in an undetermined accent), “What kind of size are you? Are you a regular kind of girl?” After she had gotten my very approximate size, she rang off, promising to call with a quote.

And call she did. She left a message quoting me the cost of the leg warmers. The cost, though reasonable, had me feeling a little regretful. After all, I bought a pair at Fever for a mere couple bucks. What was I doing, commissioning a piece when I needed to save my dollars for tax season? Feeling super-ambivalent, I called Esther back. She answered the phone with the perkiest, nicest “”Hiya, sweetie! What’s cookin’?”

Well, that does it. How can I compete with that kind of cuteness? Suddenly, the cost seemed really small — a custom made order by Esther herself? Priceless.

Update: And here they are. Whoa.

hmm

Um. We’ll have to wait and see if I can rock them or no, because the day after I got them the weather shot up to the 70s and hasn’t gone down since.

6 Comments

  1. Carol Moore on February 5, 2011 at 10:06 am

    They are fantastic!! I don’t know what you paid for them, but they are worth every cent! I LOVE that your money went to a senior, fixed income is a bear on them. I bet she concentrated on this project like it was the most important thing in the world! If you never ever wear these, you did a wonderful thing for someone and I bet you don’t even know how much.
    My cool friend Becky still holding the reins.



  2. Violet on February 5, 2011 at 11:53 am

    Rock them there legwarmers, ykceB!!!!!1



  3. Criggles on February 5, 2011 at 8:34 pm

    Yeehowdy!!! They are def. This leg warmer tale warms the cockles of me heart.



  4. hambox on February 7, 2011 at 12:29 pm

    Thanks, you sweetiepies! I fear legwarmer season has permanently left the Southland. But think of the fun you’ll have, attacking me with your snowballs — with the leggies you’ll have an easy target!



  5. cardiogirl on February 9, 2011 at 4:00 am

    Love your boots and I *immediately* thought that was the very same Esther who had previously effed up the ducks.



    • hambox on February 9, 2011 at 11:08 am

      And THAT is why you’re awesome, C-girl.