Scored Yarn!

My younger son's neighbor was going to throw away some yarn.  DS brought it home to me.  Two skeins cones are ww and 1 skein cone is thread. I did the burn test and it's synthetic and that's ok with me.  Unfortunately, it's a bit on the dusty side so I'm having to wash it before using.  To do this, I'm winding it into hanks on the back of a chair and then tying with small bits of yarn to keep it from becoming a big knot.  Before it goes into the machine I'll put the yarn in lingerie laundry bags. Whew, a lot of work but get this, IT'S FREE YARN!  Can you tell I'm excited? I love bargains!

On 18 October 1867, United States Gets Alaska

I've been remiss at throwing out some tidbits of history.  Today I'm changing that by posting an "On This Day in History" entry.

The Alaska Purchase

On this day in history, 18 October 1867, the United States takes formal possession of Alaska from Russia at a cost of $7.2 million. 

 On March 30, 1867, Secretary of State William H. Seward signed a treaty with Russia for the purchase of Alaska for $7.2 million. Despite the bargain price of roughly two cents an acre, the Alaskan purchase was ridiculed in Congress and in the press as "Seward's folly," "Seward's icebox," and President Andrew Johnson's "polar bear garden." Nevertheless, the Senate ratified purchase. Critics believed that was too much money for land that was cold and barren. The critics were forced to change their tune when major discoveries of gold were made there in the 1880s and 1890s. These discoveries brought attention and people to Alaska. Today, petroleum transported across the state through a pipeline is Alaska's richest mineral resource. For more information, the treaty that ceded Alaska to the United States is here. 


Hugs...


Search Amazon.com for The Alaska Purchase

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern

Just found out that a relative is expecting a baby in January. I'm not ready to start crocheting something for the baby yet, but I did go on a hunt for something cute for a winter baby. I found these booties made of ww yarn that might work out along with a matching hat. This baby isn't a close relative so I probably won't be making a blanket like I usually do. The video makes these booties look kind of easy and they're kind of cute too. I was working on a simple granny square throw I'm making while watching this video and I couldn't come close to keeping up with Teresa; she crochets a heck of a lot faster than I do!  There is a written pattern for these too so you don't have to rely completely on the video.



Happy crocheting!