I was sitting over by the window reading a gardening magazine and listening to the radio a few months ago now....when someone rang the front door bell. Not once, but an annoying four or five times in quick, nervous succession. I put down my tea cup with a sigh and reluctantly stood up and went to the door, my eyes rolled so far up into my head that I could see the inside of the back of my skull. My mood disturbed. The postal employee stood there with a packet, chewing gum, and saying--"It wouldn't fit into your mailbox, so I thought I'd try the front door". I looked at it and said, "I am not expecting anything...anything from(cocking my head to see the postage stamps)....Amerika"...feeling a bit testy. "Do you want to accept it"? --in a saturday morning tone. "Who is it from, then?...show me the return addy". I didn't recognize the name, but it came from Texas. (I reflected a moment--I know people in Texas, but why would they be sending me a packet?)! "Hmmmm....ok then, I'll take it. Thanks. Have a good day, further.", I mumbled, filled with curiosity and speculation...gazing rudely at the packet, almost ignoring the postman. "You too", he said as he turned and headed back down the stairs. "Say, I thought the postman always rings twice...what's with the concert here this morning"? He called back--"I'm late, I'm late for a very important date...time is money!"(in english). "Hurmpgh!...Show-off)", I thought to myself..."I didn't know postmen here read about Alice's adventure". I reckon it just goes to show you never can tell. I nodded and closed the door as I squeezed the packet and walked back to my chair by the window and pulled-out my pocket knife to make careful cuts at the packet's edges. "What could this BE"!! I wondered what was going on...my name and address was correct, but a packet from the States???....shaking my head, puzzled. Well folks, you would not believe what was inside. I was thrilled, and honoured. Then it was like a religious experience--the light shown down on me and I recalled speaking to Dooley a couple of weeks before. Why didn't I put the obvious 2 + 2 together?--The boy's a bit thick, now and then I reckon. :-? I haven't needed it until now, but with the harvest period coming on, well....I can honestly say that every day that I go to the lotties now it gets used. Take a look at this-- This apron from Dooley is such an unbelievably useful garment...and it holds so much. I use it to gather regular French climbers. No problem for Cauli's and courgettes either. These are what we call "snijbonen"--they fit too! Kapucijner peas fit in there so nicely. When the apron is full, I just push up from underneath and dump it into a bushel basket or onto some spread newspaper and go back for more. Here it hangs, in it's place...at the end of a good day's harvest. I do not use the apron for dirty and heavy things yet, such as spuds and beets. I have not used it for spinach or Swiss chard either. I thought that with heavier tuber-like veg, the weight might be too much...but I found that if i use the apron strings to sort of wrap around me and then tie it in the front, that the weight tends to press onto my waist instead of pulling on the back of my neck. --The same idea as using a waist strap on a backpack, y'know? I can see that this would probably not work for someone that had a generous waistline...but if the apron strings were longer then they too could use the strings in this way for better support. I am thrilled to bits with this gift, Dooley. Thank you so much. Now then...if you send me one of those labels, I will sew it onto the front pocket for all to see. All to see?, you may ask--well, since wearing this harvesting apron, I have had a few comments and noticed some oblique interest (that's the Dutch way...don't give too much attention--someone might think you are interested. hahaha). Well we have a sober rep to maintain, y'know. You know, after having worn this apron for a number of weeks now, I can see just how helpful it really is. It has passed from being a novelty with promise to something that truly is a practical and just as necessary as any tool or trug. Thanks so much, Dooley--I shall enjoy this gift, very much. p.s.--I wonder if the postman read the book or saw the movie that showed here recently.
Isn't Dooley just the best?!! I use my apron every time I'm in the garden. The pockets are so strong and well made that I can pop almost anything into them. I now carry around a trowel, a dibber, a small fork and tree ties (just to mention a few) and no longer have to walk backwards and forwards for things or carry them around in a trug. The trug now gets used as it should - to put my fruit, flowers and veggies in. I really don't know what I did before I got this great pressie from Dooley. :-D
Another fine Dooley-apron. I expect to see these in stores soon Well done Dooley and congrats on your useful accessory Sjoerd.
Yep! well done Dooley, you are such a sweet person and congrats Sojerd :-D Great Harvest too!! I can never get beans like yours Will be trying the dwarf pole beans together with the corn real soon!! :-D
EILEEN--Yes she most certainly is! I carry a tool now and then too. I will have to start experimenting with stuff other than veg soon too. Thanks FRANK-- I am going to use this apron until it falla apart, I can already see that. KK--Thanks mate! The harvesting is beginning to take off now. I am going to take two weeks' vacation beginning on tuesday to work on the harvesting and processing the veg and fruit for the coming year. I am glad to hear that you will be trying dwarf pole beans and corn soon. I am wishing you good luck. BTW KK--what do you mean by, "dwarf pole beans"? I find that term confusing to my brain. For me terms like "dwarf", "pole" and "bush" refer to a specific habitus. If I hear, "pole bean" I think of one that grows long, vining up a pole...and if I hear, "Dwarf bean", I think of one that stays closer to the ground or a bean that has a short length. The bean lexicon is a sometimes unclear entity where terms are used interchangeably and to mean different things in different areas of the world (and country, even). The way that I use bean terms is clear to me...but that doesn't mean that it is clear to others. The more I write about this terminology, the more that I feel like I am digging a hole in the ground. The sides are beginning to crumble in around me the deeper I go. I'd better stop now.
Nice looking apron, those generous pockets sure hold alot. Dooley does a great job with design and appearance. Your wear your harvest well.
Very nice apron...I sure could use one of those! Purple of course! I will have to go jotting around the web to find a pattern of sorts and transform one of these my my rather robust form...PURPLE!
Sjoerd I received one of those beauties. I like the way you presented your apron What a boundful harvest you picked. They are most helpful aprons.She is one of sweetest people I know.I think her aprons would sale every where.I thank you for showing your apron at work.Mine is different from yours as she makes them for each person needs.It looks like you showed how much it will hold.
What a perfect gift for the allotment. I was picking beans today and had to keep throwing them into my trug, getting further and further away, missing the trug, cursing, you get the picture. A lovely pressie indeed.
GLENDA--You know, we ought to start a club (Dooley's Apron Wearers). hahaha. She surely does great work. EJ--It really is perfect for picking beans especially. I have the same prob as you with missing the trug at the end of the row when I toss a handfull. This apron solves that problem alright. It's made so well, that I can see myself using it for many years to come. She's such a nice lady.
Thank you for all of the kind words about my aprons. I make many types, the garden ones, farm ones, kitchen aprons, barbecue aprons, kids aprons and the half aprons that tie around the waist. I make all size and shapes of tote bags. I sell them at the farmer's market on Friday and Saturday morning and it is going well. Every now and again, I'll just send one out to someone. If you would like to pm me I can tell you more details. Anyway, it's relaxing to sew and I try to do some everyday. dooley
