My big, burly, weight-lifting, football-coaching dad has been doing this since he was coaching at Ole Miss. He was told it would relax him and give him something to occupy his time besides yelling at people. I suppose it worked. I used to have a cross-stitch thing he did of all the teams in the SEC.

Well, they didn't have Cat Stacking, back then.

Huh. I always do cross-stitch with blunt needles. Tapestry needles, to be precise.

It's all so 21st-century domestic. I need to take pictures.

My regular Monday-night socializing thing is the local gothy Stitch & Bitch. The rest of the gang knits (or spins their own yarn from angora goat hair, 'cos they're hardcore fiber junkies now), and I sew black lace trim on to black lace or velvet clothing.

Well, they didn't have Cat Stacking, back then.

I should introduce him, but he's still a little technology- not phobic exactly, apathetic is probably a better word.

I used to have a cross-stitch thing he did of all the teams in the SEC.

I love this. And it makes me think of the mini Christmas tree covered in Auburn-themed ornaments and blue and orange ribbon in just the right shades that my dad's younger sister made for him while he was recovering from his heart attack 12 years ago. She's a big Bama fan--shrine to the Bear in her bedroom and everything--so this was a real act of love. She claims she went to a store where no one knew her for supplies, and that it's hard to sew with your eyes closed.

I'd love to inherit that tree, but I figure it'll go to VCOB, who, after all, actually graduated from Auburn.

She's a big Bama fan--shrine to the Bear in her bedroom and everything--so this was a real act of love. She claims she went to a store where no one knew her for supplies, and that it's hard to sew with your eyes closed.

Hee. He was showing me a cool pattern over X-mas that has the LSU Tiger with all the other teams we played on our way to the Sugar Bowl last year lying bloodied and beaten in its wake (except for the Gator which was picking its teeth).

ETA the right season.

My parents have many Auburn-themed ornaments on their tree. In addition to the Auburn throws, Auburn jewelry box that plays War Eagle, Auburn mail box, Auburn ceiling fan light, Auburn tire cover on their RV, and Auburn/War Eagle horn on their RV. And, of course, the Auburn cross stitch that my mom made.

And I broke their hearts by going to Bama for grad school.

Hm. Well, considering that I am unable to remember what my last cross-stitch project was, I may very well be thinking of embroidery. I seem to recall all needlework making the tips of my fingers hurt, though.

or spins their own yarn from angora goat hair, 'cos they're hardcore fiber junkies now

I should probably learn to do that before I buy the goats.

My parents have many Auburn-themed ornaments on their tree. In addition to the Auburn throws, Auburn jewelry box that plays War Eagle, Auburn mail box, Auburn ceiling fan light, Auburn tire cover on their RV, and Auburn/War Eagle horn on their RV. And, of course, the Auburn cross stitch that my mom made.

Your parents have mine beat. Though my mother once chose not to buy a red car because she thought it would make her look like an Alabama fan. Which, given people's automotive choices in my hometown, was probably a fair assessment.