Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Please answer a question for me ...
I must be getting old.
TTFN
Sue
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Knitters are Natural Recyclers
We talked about how many of the knitters that come in usually put their purchased items in their own bags since they have them with them anyway.
Think about it. Knitters are recyclers.
They will use the same little shopping bag over and over again until the handles fall off and the bottom falls out. Knitters will use big shopping bags until the handles fall off and the sides rip open.
Knitters will use plastic freezer bags with the zip enclosures until the zip no longer zips, and the bags themselves start ripping from all of the holes the knitting needles have made.
Canvas bags, we love canvas bags. We will use these canvas bags over and over again. If a charity is offering a canvas bag as a “thank you gift,” the money is theirs and the bag is ours.
And then there are the plastic bags with zippers that bed linens come in. We love it when someone buys a king size comforter and gives us the bag. What a perfect yarn storage container. You can see what‘s in it, and it holds a lot of yarn.
What about yarn? Do you know of any knitters that throw away yarn into the garbage? No, of course not. Knitters will save any little piece of yarn. We end up with little balls of yarn for a stash busting project. We will save the little clippings from finishing to stuff a toy or pillow with. If we have part of a skein of yarn left, we save that too. Never know when we might make a stripped hat or scarf. If we have some really awful acrylic, we knit it up for doggie blankies. We won’t throw it away.
Patterns. We never toss out patterns. Even the patterns that were miserable failures or were poorly written. Nope, might want to pull an idea out of that pattern some day. We are attached to those patterns.
Knitting magazines. Knitting magazines pile up everywhere. In the bookcase, on the bedside table, in the living room, kitchen, on the dining room table, even in the bathroom. They are great reference guides, and we all love to spend lazy afternoons just looking at the designs.
Knitting books. There is no way we would get rid of a knitting book. No, no. We place them proudly on our bookcases. They are next to our bed for reading before we fall asleep. These are pulled out to answer questions, provide ideas, and to keep up focused.
Needles. Hate those bamboo double points? Willing to give them to someone or use them as plant stakes. Didn’t think so. You might need them one day. However, if you did just hate them, you would use them as plant stakes rather than tossing them out. Have you received a bunch of needles from an elderly relative that aren’t like the Addi Turbos you love? We all have, and yet, we love them and will knit with them on some projects. Do you have any bent needles? Did you toss them out? Of course not, you love them and continue to use them.
What happens when we are tired of a knitted garment, or outgrow it? Yarn still looks good, has a lot of life left in it, so we will frog the garment and stash the yarn for another project. Recycling at it’s finest.
What about those little metal boxes that mints come in. We don’t toss them, we use them. We use them to store stitch markers, safety pins, and needles. How about prescription bottles? Those get used for the same thing. Got a wooden ruler the dog chewed on? What does a knitter do with such an item? Cut off the chewed end and use the 8 inches left for measuring small projects. Fits like a gem in the knitting bag (little shopping bags or long, long lasting canvas bags).
We are a mindful bunch, we knitters. We are also the ultimate recycler.
TTFN
Sue
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
A.J.
A.J. was a quiet little dog, but a very funny and unusual dog. He came into our lives a little over four years ago as a foster. He had spent many years as a stud in a puppy mill in Marysville before being rescued and then adopted out to another family. When they had to move, they surrendered him to Small Paws Rescue, and hence entered into our lives.
Be in peace, and we love you,
Sue, David, Louie, Edgar, Johnny, and Abby.
Monday, May 4, 2009
'twas a Lovely, Lovely Weekend and Other Stuff
We had such beautiful weather for the most part. It was perfect weather to get out and admire spring and to work in the yard.
I managed to do all this with wearing broken glasses (wearig broken broken - see what I mean), or an old pair of glasses, or sunglasses. I had a splitting headache, couldn't read or knit much, but a little Merlot and sunny days took care of it. Fortunately all of the trimming I did was with my LONG handled clippers.
Then it was Monday, back to reality, and trying to work in old glasses where I can't read mush. 3's look like 8's and c's look like e's. Not too efficient. I broke a temple off of my glasses last Friday and they won't be fixed until Wednesday afternoon. I'm too old to be walking around and working in glasses without bifocols.
But ... my hands, wrists and arms are very happy. I've been having my massage therapist work on my hands and wrists because I was told I would need to have carpal tunnel surgery. You know, the surgery where you can't do anything with your hands for 12-24 months. Not for this spring chicken. I was suffering from numb, tingling hands with shooting pains going up my wrists and arms. What a different massage makes. Listen up knitters, if the talk of carpal tunnel comes up, look into massage therapy before going under the surgeon's knife. I'm not advocating massage is the cure all, but I am willing to give it a good try. Next session is going to be for my poor, old and tired feet. (Getting old is for the birds.)
Well, I've at least have my current glasses balanced on my nose (a new fad maybe) so off to see if I can get dinner going, pour a glass of wine, and then sit down to watch some television and knit.
TTFN
Monday, April 27, 2009
We're All Home Now
David and I feel truly blessed to have such wonderful sons, and to have such a good time with them when we are together.
A.J. is back home now after being at the vets since Tuesday. We had him stay with the vet while we were out of town to have them administer his medication and to give him some more time to stablize. He is on prednizone to help him feel better and he is walking and singing as usual. Susan was so kind and went to visit with A. J. while we were gone and it meant a lot to him (he told me so).
Well, it's time for bed and bedtime snuggles for the dogs. Tomorrow is another work day.
TTFN
Sue
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Tuesdays
Remember this sock? The one I was bored with?
Since then, I've started other socks.
The sock on the right is knit with Regia sock yarn and I really enjoy knitting with it. I have a couple of pair of socks knit out of this yarn and they still look new and have held up to wearing and washing beautifully. I've decided it is one of my favorite sock yarns. The sock on the left is knit out of Universal Yarn Bamboo Sock, which is merino wool, bamboo and nylon. I've never used this yarn before. It feels so nice and I'm enjoying knitting with this yarn as well. The fabric of this sock is very soft and relaxed. It will be interesting to see how it washes up and how well it wears.
In case you are wondering, no I didn't finish a "pair" of socks out of the Regia yarn yet. My routine is to work on three pairs of socks at a time, by knitting one sock, then moving on to another yarn, and knit one sock, etc., until I have three socks. After three socks are done, I start all over with the three different yarns, and knit one sock at a time. When I am done I have three pairs of socks. This helps a great deal with the second sock syndrome. It helps to entertain my brain while commuting to and from work.
This weekend we are heading down to Portland on the train to see Frank and John. It's been a long time since we've seen them. I'll remember to take my camera.
Well, on to socks and to pray for A.J.
TTFN
Sue
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Seeds and Needles
With the weather being crappy for the most of March, David and I have been taking advantage of whatever decent weather we are given on the weekends during late March and April. We've been going over to Edgar's Acres most weekends to get the garden cleaned up, and planted. Susan has been coming over some weekends as well to help because she wants fresh, organically grown produce. She loves to weed, so we are happy to have her join in on the gardening experience. We are going to be heading over the next two weekends as well because the Hood Canal Bridge is going to be closed for six weeks starting May 1. When we head over to Edgar's Acres, the trip will be another two hours longer.
The deck at Edgar's Acres is done and LOVERLY. We are thrilled with it and the contractor did an outstanding job.
In late March Susan and I went over to clean up the garden and plant onions. We've got Susan's leeks ...
In the meantime, I'm waiting for my seed potatoes to eye out enough to plant at Edgar's Acres.
In the meantime, I've been knitting. I've got a bunch of baby knitting to do for friends and relatives expecting starting this month, through September.
I was cruising along on baby blanket no. 2, when I discovered I left the other yarn at Edgar's Acres. Then I moved on to baby blanket no. 3 when I discovered the two remaining skeins were of a different dye lot. I had to think about this, and decided I will try adding more sections with the other skeins, and call it a design element.
The big baby blanket is more of a winter project so I'll work on it next week when we are supposed to get snow again. Probably next Tuesday on my birthday.
Finally, one of my additional sons, Matt, has moved in for a while. We adore Matt, and we adore his lovely girlfriend Elizabeth. The dogs adore Matt as well.