FO!

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Socks are done! It's interesting there are so many color variations in the socks. Apparently some sock yarns I've purchased have cotton or acrylic in them. Nylon takes acid dye like wool does, with maybe a slight variation, but cotton and acrylic won't. Fortunately these are work socks to be worn in his rubber boots, so it won't make any difference.
Info: CO 56 sts with two strands of sock yarn
US4 Needles
One inch of 2x2 ribbing, seven inches of leg, seven inches of foot, Dawn Brocco's afterthought heel, standard toe
Leg pattern: 4 rounds of st st, 4 rounds of 2x2 ribbing

Oh...I wanna make these! More pics. They are clear resin needles with yarn (or whatever) in them! And I don't even use straight needles!
The only good thing about one's cat dashing out the door in 35F degree weather is even the dumb cat recognizes it's too cold to go catting around and comes home within the hour. Stupid cat....

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Keeping the "We" in "Yes, We Can!"

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How about giving up some meat, if not all?

I'd have loved to been a fly on the wall at this meeting!

Maybe Allison has an idea why health insurance is so costly!

Ya know those little stickers on your produce? Here's what they mean!

If you're going to adopt a pet, go to a shelter!

Socks and Slippers

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Scrappy Socks are done except for the dyeing. I'll do that after taking kidling to school.Granny Square slippers are finished, too. They've been fulled and are drying. I'm not impressed with the pattern or the yarn (Manos del Uruguay). Not only is it full of vegetable matter, straw, etc., it smells. Not nice like clean sheep, but like dirty, dusty sheep. It's very rough and scratchy, far worse than the cheapest acrylic I've ever come across. I understand that poor women in Uruguay are spinning it to buy food for their families, but.... It's nasty.

Virtual Knitting on the Wii!

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Keeping the "We" in "Yes, We Can!"

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Chemicals to avoid while shopping for cosmetics. Food politics-know who is deciding what you will eat. Shopping in your own house. Ten Ways to save money by going green.

Slipper, No Heel

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No progress to report on Scrappy Socks. In fact, it's negative progress. I didn't think the yarn I was using for the heels was thick enough, so I frogged it all, got it on the needles again, and Youngest Son decided we should go to the movies!

So we went to see Bedtime Stories with Adam Sandler. I'm not necessarily a fan of Adam Sandler, but I have like several movies he's made (50 First Dates, Spanglish, Click, Reign over Me, The Longest Yard). This wasn't one of his best, but it was good. I'd say, wait till it hits the cheap seats or DVD (rental) before seeing it. I don't regret paying $7 to see it, but there were a lot of other movies I'd rather have paid money for and waited on this one. However it's a good family show, the kids will like it and it's interesting enough to keep the adults' interest.I did find a slipper pattern only available on Ravelry. It's made of six granny squares and then lightly fulled. I got the first one done last night while catching up on my TV shows and listening to my book. I'll finish the second tonight and full them tomorrow. It's a nice slipper, but I'm not sure how helpful it is to someone that really needs to keep their feet warm, and not just have something to wear in a heated house.

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Keeping the "We" in "Yes, We Can!"

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Making your own vacuum cleaner bag! Make it yourself cleaning products.

What if you held, stored and did without for just one week or one two-week interval every month? Fast. That’s the solution. Just like the master cleanse, all you need is a calendar. Pick a ridiculously low financial threshold and an applicable time period. Test it, stay home, take public transport, avoid eating out, go shopping for clothes in your closet or for purging, or for altruistic purposes. Barnes & Noble your own damn book shelf for a change because you know you ain't read all them books. Go to sleep. Who actually losses money by sleeping more except a toll-booth operator with narcolepsy? --from WiseBread

Where is your thermostat? We try not to use the heater.

Hats, Socks, and Philosophies

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Both socks are finished, sans heels. And first heel has been started. If all goes well, I should be able to finish both heels today. Then mend the socks Second Son sent back, and the package should be ready send out this week.I spent a little time crocheting a baby hat last night. Didn't have a pattern with me but it turned out okay! The model is a grapefruit from my tree in the back yard.

Both the lemon and the grapefruit are loaded with fruit. Unfortunately, most of the fruit on the lemon is so far up there that we'll never get it down. However the local food bank will come and pick it if I donate it, which is fine. How many lemons can one family go through?

The kids are heading back to school today.

I so want to buy this from Sock Pixie, but can't think of a single thing I'd make with it for myself.
I so hate (sometimes) the philosophy my father had of, "You have a pair of shoes, hat, pair of mittens, etc., you don't need another one." That is so logical to me and so so true. So, I wear the same shoes every day and wear them out. I made myself a hat two winters ago. I finally gave my mittens away cuz I never wear them and wear my handwarmers. Socks, you have to change every day and it's not economical to wash them out every night and hope they are dry the next day, so I have several pairs of handmade socks (but lately have been thinking I should give some away cuz I don't need that many pair). So the impulse purchase of 220 yards of yarn for no known purpose will not only make me feel guilty, but I'll not use it for years waiting for the "right" project that will never appear....

On the other hand, such a philosophy allows me to live rather comfortably on next to no income. Without pretty balls of yarn....

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Keeping the "We" in "Yes, We Can!"

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If you buy second hand stuff for your kids, you better hurry!

Wisebread is a good blog to subscribe to. Today has a 40% of coupon at Borders and before Christmas I got a DVD player for Youngest Daughter for $17 and change, including shipping!

Motivation is what makes us change....so before you spend money to help you with your resolutions this year, understand what really makes the change.

Spreading The Word....

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Got a little more than half way on the leg of the second sock in this pair.

Someone on one of the groups declared January "Selfish Knitting Month." She said all her January knitting was going to be for herself. It was kinda funny how several of us reacted to the word "selfish." One dictionary says: denotes the precedence given in thought or deed to the self, i.e., self interest or self concern. It is the act of placing one's own needs or desires above the needs or desires of others. Not very flattering to put one self first. I agree with the concept, though, and suggest SelfNurturing Knitting might be a good alternative.

So do you knit for yourself? What percentage of your knitted items are for you?

Someone else suggested that the act of knitting is selfish or selfnuturing no matter where the end product ends up. Discuss in comments. :)

I agree with Colin. Oh My!

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Keeping the "We" in "Yes, We Can!"

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Spreading the word. I got this e-mail from my sister about my great niece: In the meantime do you have a crochet hat pattern thats simple enough for an 11 year old beginning crocheter? Bridget (Darren's daughter) is doing a lot of crocheting and would like to help with the hats for Cheyenne Kids. She's make several hats but might be ready to start some new ideas.
I don't know how many hats Bridget will make, but she is definitely keeping the "We" in "Yes, We Can!"

Socks and Books

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All done but the heel. I'm going to wait and do both heels at the same time with the same yarns. I'm not exactly sure why, but that's the plan at this point.

The kids go back to school on Monday. I'm so going to miss my limitless uninterrupted computer time in the mornings. However, I'm not going to miss the squabbling and child boredom. I will enjoy the three hours of silence four mornings a week while Youngest Granddaughter is in school. Trade offs....

Many people must have made regular blogging a New Year's Resolution. My reader is coughing up over 100 entries per day now instead of the 60-75 in November and December!

If you like Gary Larson's The Far Side, you'll enjoy these.

Cold hands? Make these handwarmer gloves using hand made or store bought gloves or mittens. I'd change it velcro or snap the inserts in so the gloves or mittens could be washed.

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Keeping the "We" in "Yes, We Can!"

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We were discussing the reading challenges, mainly 100 books in a calendar year in one of my groups. Someone said, "I think I am up for it also, although it will encroach on knitting!"

My reply:
Audio books. The libraries are meeting the demands of the customers and there are many of them extending their selection of them.

Many of the libraries also have free audio downloads from Overdrive
http://www.overdrive.com/ and NetLibrary http://www.netlibrary.com/
in MP3 format or WMA format that can be listened to on MP3 players or
computers. Although the following places won't have the newest books
on the Top Ten lists, they do have a variety of classical and the like.
http://www.freeclassicaudiobooks.com/
http://librivox.org/
http://www.learnoutloud.com/Free-Audio-Video
http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/categories/1
http://www.podiobooks.com/
http://www.oculture.com/2006/10/audio_book_podc.html
http://www.audiobooksforfree.com/home
http://www.thoughtaudio.com/
http://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/
http://www.booksshouldbefree.com/

Pay:
http://www.audible.com/

I love sitting down with some well memorized pattern, socks, blankets, hats, (hmmmm, ring a bell?) and knit and listen to great books, fun books, mysteries, romances and end up with something useful as well as the escape books provide. It's not the same as curling up with a book
in print, which I do, too. Audio books do provide the opportunity to keep knitting, do housework, take a walk, drive, while being entertained and perhaps even learning something!

##End of Public Service Announcement##

Countdowns

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Scrappy Socks are done and they are the last FO of 2008! The very bright, unmatched socks are now a nice matched pair! Youngest Son was thrilled with them.
Based on: Work Socks
Needles: US 3 & 4
Yarn: Leftover sock yarns
Modifications: CO 56 using two strands of sock yarn throughout. One inch ribbing, seven inches of leg, Dawn Brocco's afterthought heel done on size 3 needles, seven inches of foot, wedge toe.

Sock for Second Son CO. Same basic idea as socks shown above. Pattern in leg is a variation of Blue Berry Waffle Socks, a favorite of Joansie; 2x2 ribbing for an inch, four rounds of st st, four rounds of 2x2 ribbing. Repeat. A nice and stretchy leg! These socks, too, will be made from various leftover sock yarns and then dyed a dark color: black, blue, green or burgundy.

Spent a quiet evening with BFF, F, and his hubby. We all realized how old we were when we started checking the clock every five minutes from 11:00 on! By 12:05 we were in the car to take me home. Late nights, even New Year's Eve, are just not what they used to be!

As I read through the blogs, many were posting their knitting wrap ups:

1. Sixty five pairs of mittens
2. Thirty nine pairs of socks and slippers
   
3. Twenty seven hats
4. Six Sweaters
5. Three Neckwarmers
6. Two pair legwarmers
7. Two blankets
8. Two toys
9. One dishtowel
   

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Keeping the "We" in "Yes, We Can!"

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Save money by using your crockpot.

Enjoy this funny and thoughtful look back on 2008.

Wouldn't this idea make a cute clock, substituting little knit socks or mittens instead of erasures? Such a good idea to make a totally unique gift for someone!

Stacy's resolution: Live Life More. Good one!

More Socks

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Much progress on the Scrappy Socks. Youngest Son arrived to check the foot length on the first one, additional rounds and toe added. In the mean time, second sock has progressed past the leg and the heel waste yarn has been knitted in. Remember, before you complain about how garish they look...I'm using left over sock yarns and the socks will be dyed dark blue, green, or black. My sons are way to conservative!These are the socks I made for Second Son last March. The arrived in my Christmas package from them yesterday. Hint! Hint! Time to get out the darning needle and find something similar to fix it with. Don't think it's very visible in the photo, but the hole is right above the heel flap.I laid awake trying to figure out a way to reinforce that area on the next pair of socks. I could start the eye of partridge stitch earlier on the back leg of the sock, before starting the heel flap itself. I could also add reinforcing thread there.

I read yesterday at Calana Crafts an answer to my question about use of cotton yarn for reinforcing. In the comments, someone also suggested linen as a good reinforcement. All good ideas and something I'll try out eventually. My main issue now is wishing there was a way to add reinforcement above the heel flap without having to reinforce all the way around the ankle. In my uncaffeinated state I can't think of any way to do it. Any ideas?

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Keeping the "We" in "Yes, We Can!"

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I think, in time, we are going to have to, as a species, (or maybe just Americans), change our diets in order to survive. Here's what Kim has to say about it.

Rethinking the Piggy Bank. My BFF, F, has a Spiderman Bank and it's averted some minor emergencies as well as finally coughing up enough for a table saw he's been lusting over forever. When we go to Disneyland, every night we all dump our change into a container. It generally pays for gas and food on the way home!

Embrance Imperfection. Cut yourself some slack and just enjoy.

Socks

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I got as far as I can go without Youngest Son trying them on. Then the toes and Scrappy Sock 1 is finished!
Scrappy Sock 2 has been CO and some progress made. It really feels good knitting socks again.

My BFF, F and his hubby adopted a new family member. This is a picture of the breed, a snow bengal cat. F said she looks almost identical to the one in the picture. She's a PC cat, adopted from the Humane Society.

hmmmm! I noticed the apples in the fridge were getting shoved to the back to make room for leftovers. I cut, cored and chopped, set them to boil in water and cinnamon. Yum! Warm home made applesauce for breakfast! Not to mention the house smells like I've been slaving over the stove for hours!

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Keeping the "We" in "Yes, We Can!"

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Ideas on how to celebrate the New Year!
I found my favorite holiday sweater (not one of those, just a plain red one) had a hole in the center front. Time to unravel and make into something else.

Warm Feet

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This is one of the gifts Santa left for us. We all like playing with Mr. Potato Head.These are the stitch markers Youngest Daughter made for me. The puzzle piece is the logo for Autism Awareness.I finished up the leg warmers for myself. They are nice and warm, snug and work perfectly. I had nice warm ankles all day yesterday despite the fact it was close to freezing for most of the day!And I liked how nice and thick the legwarmers were, I decided to make some similar socks. These are only two strands of sock yarn. If they are big enough, they'll be for Youngest Son (after they are dyed black). If not....maybe Youngest Daughter or DIL. They will still be overdyed if given away, as both YD and DIL are far too conservative for bright unmatched socks. Still using up left over sock yarn.

I finished up my two books yesterday! Still don't think I'll make my goal of 100 by 2009, but....the mid 90s is an admirable try! I remember in July thinking this would be an easy task. then life got in the way.... Ain't that how it happens, though?

I just discovered Patricia Cornwall has released another Kay Scarpetta novel, Scarpetta. I started reading this series several years ago, and loved the first eleven of them. Then it seemed the author began to hate the main characters and did everything she possibly could to turn them into people that hated each other and themselves. I've been very disappointed in the last five or six of them and wonder if should even bother with the new one. Hope, however, springs eternal and I keep reading to see if the characters I knew so well would snap out of it and begin to work together.

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Keeping the "We" in "Yes, We Can!"

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I get tired of never being able to have a meal out...it's just to expensive. Or maybe not? Then again, trying some new recipes may be all that's needed to make you think you're dining out.
It's time to start making slippers and socks for those living on the Cheyenne River Reservation. Here's some neat patterns for Heet the Feet.
Need a themed night light for your favorite kid?