Another Kosovo Post - Driving

Imagine a place where the roads are either partially paved or unpaved, you're as likely to share it with a troop transport as not, and there are more new drivers than experienced ones. That's Kosovo. The roads in Pristina are probably the best, with the main arteries from Pristina to the other major cities being almost as good. This means they're paved for the most part, probably flood when it rains, and are still under construction.


The other roads, like you can barely see in this picture from the Sharr Mountains, are usually unpaved and full of hairpins. It doesn't stop KFOR and UNMIK Humvees and trucks from patrolling them. Of course, even they have to avoid the numerous local cars with driving school placards on them. About one in ten, maybe more, cars on the road are of that type. It's not just cars people drive on the road, though. Tractors are popular as transportation, and it's not unusual to see horses or mules pulling carts on the road. Not along the road. On it. Taking up the only lane. Obeying road signs is optional. Traffic circles are a free-for-all.

There is a pecking order, though, to the traffic. Everyone makes room for KFOR vehicles. This includes the gendarmes and carabinieri, too. They run around in their own vehicles, but are part of KFOR. Next come the diplomats and their black plates along with UNMIK vehicles. Diplomats barely edge out UNMIK, but UNMIK's vehicles are usually bigger, so... it's a tie. Then come the Kosovar governmental SUV's and black sedans. Lastly come the regular Kosovars, driving everything from brand new BMW's to tractors. It makes for an interesting and strange drive even just to the grocery store.

Fairly Close

The larger piece is done and now I'm working on the smaller, inside piece. It's coming along really quickly, so I should be able to finish it in time and then put it together before the first class.

More Cream

I made a mistake on this sixth band, but I decided to make the same mistake on the other side, so it doesn't show. I worked quite a bit on this piece yesterday - it was the monthly get together to work on it. It's going to be done in time.

Sunflower Done

I finally finished the sunflower on this buckle. It only took me all the time in Kosovo to do it. Since I took this project with me while I was out waiting for Mattie at the airport on Sunday. Found I was missing -more- threads and substituted what I had. You'll see a picture next week. I still like the design but hate the stitch guide.

What I Did on the Plane

Even in first class, it's a pain to get up and get your stitching out of the overhead bin, so I had this design in my purse. It's old and from Shepherd's Bush. The title is Summer Song Sampler. I'm almost done with it and just need to finish the area below the writing and then do the three rows of border. It went really quickly. Now to finish it.

Framed and Ready

For Christmas. My husband framed the Joyeux Noel I did earlier this year. The framing is excellent - he used cherry wood he foraged from a cabinet shop - and I really like it, except it shows up why you don't do traveling threads. There were some popcorn stitches in the middle that I didn't do individually. My mistake now because you can see them through the fabric. I'll be making another one of these for a gift, but I'll make sure and tie off each one of those stitches this time.

Vienna Finds

I told y'all last week about Petit Point, the shop I found in Vienna, and the pretty box I bought there. This is the rest of what I got - old berlinwork patterns - five of them! This top one she threw in free for me. It's of the Sandman sprinkling sand to make kids go to sleep. I like it.

This one is a simple floral circle. It should be a quick stitch when I get around to doing it. None of the patterns were over ten euros; most of them were seven. I had never seen old ones like these preserved and well used. They're backed with very thick pressed cardboard.

Two more floral circles. I'm thinking of framing one or two of these for my loom room.

My husband likes the Tyrolean dancers one best. I think it'd be darling on a purse front.