Citrus trees create fingerprint-like patterns on the landscape near Isla Cristina, Spain. The climate in this region is ideal for citrus growth, with an average temperature of 64° F (18°C) and a relative humidity between 60% and 80%.
no really, squeeze it. Does it feel like it’s got sand in it? is’s sharpening sand. Stab the tip of your needle into it back and forth and it’ll help put a sharp edge back on a pin or needle that’s been blunted by use, or has a little bit of rust on it. It can’t fix anything worse then a little of either, and won’t work on something REALLY blunted, but its a lifesaver.
also it is a pepper
It’s not a pepper and it’s not for sharpening!!
It may seem like it should be a pepper, since that would go better with the flavour of a tomato (and the mass produced modern ones are admittedly more pepper shaped), but it is and has always been a strawberry. Here are some antique emery strawberries, which are much more strawberry shaped, and some of them have seeds.
And it’s for cleaning needles, not sharpening them. I can’t imagine how jamming a blunt needle point around in a bunch of loose grit could possibly sharpen it in any significant way, and all the historical sources I’ve seen only talk about cleaning.
“Every sewer’s work basket or work box should contain an emery bag, as shown in Fig. 2, through which to push a needle when it becomes rough, squeaks, or sticks in the material. An emery bag is usually shaped like a strawberry and consists of a rough denim bag filled with emery powder, which is a very hard material used for polishing metals. Such a bag may be purchased for 5 or 10 cents in any store that sells sewing materials. Needles often become rusted from the perspiration of the hands or from being left in damp places. The beginner may use a small emery bag to remove rust; or, a small piece of emery paper may be used instead.”
“An emery bag is inexpensive and is useful to keep needles polished and smooth. If the hands perspire and it is difficult to push the needle through the cloth, running the needle through the emery will relieve the condition.”
“It was very hot to sit and sew. The needle would get sticky in spite of all the little emery strawberry could give it, and Beth’s fingers had never felt so clumsy and uncomfortable.”
This patent from 1873 mentions an emery slab for sharpening pins, which is quite different from a cushion, and which sounds like it actually would work for sharpening.
“C is a slab of emery or other sharp and fine grit, for sharpening needles or pins”
Then later down the page it also says
“E is an emery cushion, secured in the body of the holder A, and is used for polishing needles and keeping them smooth.”
So. Strawberry for cleaning. Not pepper for sharpening.
Gentle reminder - modern sewing tools are made from treated or plated metal, or stainless steel. In terms of human civilisation, this is a wild advance of technology. Needles are some of our oldest tools; rust was formerly ubiquitous, and attacked every form of everyday metal. A rusty needle tears fabric, or worse, stains it. The luxury and technology of rustproof needles and pins - forgotten in a few generations of human memory - and yet it is remembered in the strawberry. Memory is stored in the strawberry!
brought scolipede to a party with me because i need to bring him with me when i get anxious and i thought people might think it was weird but no they think hes cool as fuck
something ive learned is when you become an adult most of your peers dont give a shit about your more peculiar traits and sometimes they actually like these traits. like yeah i was bullied as a kid for bringing a plushie to school but in my 20s everyone thinks its fine in fact people love my epic scolipede
the thing is that “I love you, dad” is the kind of thing Dick Grayson would say to Bruce to indicate that he was being held hostage or otherwise in an extreme amount of danger
Dick ends a phone call with “I love you, Dad” and the rest of the Bats are immediately scrambling for every vehicle and weapon in the cave because this means Dick is, bare minimum, tied up dangling over a shark tank with a gun pointed at his head, two broken legs, and a bomb strapped to his chest.
