Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern 28 February 2011

Here's a pattern for a pair of cute slipper socks. Recently I was on a marathon slipper making binge and I've been on the lookout for different patterns. These look a little challenging but nice. Have a great week

I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane...

Looking forward to going in the morning but I know I'll look forward to coming home too.

Search Amazon.com for john denver

Change of "To-Go" Project

Change of plans. My printer wouldn't print when I tried to print the pattern to take with me. I kept getting an error message for a paper jam. I did all the troubleshooting steps HP recommends, but no luck. So, I went to the laptop that has a small, el cheapo basic printer to use and I was going to print with it. PDF files won't open on the laptop! GRRRRRR. When I come home it will be time to do some additional troubleshooting. So, I dug in my stash of patterns and found this scarf:

In this book:

It isn't something fancy but it will be something to occupy my hands on the flights. I have a pretty variegated yarn that I will be using. For some reason, I don't expect my colors to line up like the ones in the book do. Hope everyone's weekend is going well.

Day Before I Leave Chaos

Tomorrow morning I'm leeeeaving, on a jet plane (kinda like the old song). Anyway, since dh isn't going it's a bit hectic. Yesterday I went to the commissary and picked up all sorts of his favorite, frozen dinners like Hungry Man tv dinners, salisbury steak entree, small packs of instant mashed potatoes and that sort of thing. He's really a junk food fiend when I'm not here. My packables are laid out on the spare bed, ready to go in the suitcase. It's cold here but warm there so I'll have to probably wear my winter coat to the airport and leave it in the car. To-Go project is decided on and supplies to do it are ready to go. Paperback is bought to read myself to sleep as is my habit.

I get nervous when I leave dh and the little chis. Usually dh is able to make a quick trip home at lunch time to let the chis out to do their business. They are such spoiled little guys I really believe they get lonely when they're home alone. I picked up some special treats for them yesterday too. I got them some of those bacon-looking treats and we break them up into 4 pieces. I'm catching up on a little laundry. I want dh to finish the taxes so I can take the laptop with me but I don't know if that will be happening. I will be doing some computer teaching with my uncle. He's going online (I hope).

Son brought over some pictures to give the uncle to show him the renovation work he's doing on his home. I used Picasa and made a slide show/video with the pictures and set them to music. Can't post video online because the music is copyrighted and we know that is a "no-no." Anyway, I put this picture of him as a toddler and captioned the picture with "Come see what I did." He was such a cutie then and I think he's a handsome man now but he's very modest--really odd for a young man (his modesty not him lol).

I better get back to work. Maybe I can fit everything into 2 carry-ons.  Hmmm, it's worth a try...

Decided on a "To Go" Project

I went stash diving (distantly related to dumpster diving) yesterday and decided on a "to go" project for when I go visiting family. I'm going to make a hooded scarf. The yarns won't take up too much room and I will be using some pretty yarn that has only been languishing in my stash. I've always wanted a hooded scarf and for some reason never got around to making one. I'm not sure of how warm this one will be even though it is a heavier weight classification (6 super bulky) because of the yarn itself and the larger hook size. I'll post a picture and you can see what I mean. I did several rows last night to get it started and I think it is going to be pretty. The pattern I'm using is on ravelry. Time to go and pack this in my carry-on. Have any of you taken larger crocheted gifts with you and had to check baggage only because of that? Besides numerous pairs of slippers, I am taking an afghan with me as a gift. Southwest Airlines doesn't charge for checking a bag so that's why I like to use them and their rates are cheaper too.

A Bit of Editorializing--

I've been a bit distressed lately over some of the grumbling that has been going on in several of the blogs I read. People jumping in at one lady because she treated herself to some small pleasures in life--a fancy washcloth, strawberries, cut flowers and a shirt from a thrift shop. How can she be frugal? Why didn't she donate the money to the less fortunate? My heart really, honest and truly hurts for folks who are legitimately doing without necessities in this time of economic crisis. My mil is a good soul and donates time to the local food bank and this organization also helps out folks about to have their utilities cut off. These people have to bring in their "budget" or I should say proof of their expenses. Many of them have the premium cable channels, cell phones with many of the bells and whistles and huge car payments. Now tell me, if a person really has a limited income, doesn't it make sense to minimize expenses? Get one of the new antennas and voila, great television reception for the local channels. Cell phone expensive? Don't use it! Get one with a minimum of minutes or pay as you go and restrict usage to absolutely necessary calls only. Internet on the phone? That would be nice and fun but really, is it necessary? Internet and computer at home--nice, but with free Internet and computers at the library ones at home are not necessary. Expensive car payment? I will admit, a car is almost (you notice I say almost) a necessity where we live because there is absolutely NO public transportation other than a few cabs. Let's get real, a big SUV with 8 cylinders is not an economy vehicle. This is the sort of  thing many of the poor are paying on as necessities in their lives and then coming in for help with utility and rent payments. They get the food cards to buy groceries with for themselves and children. Then, instead of packing lunch for the kiddies to take to school they are able to "double-dip" and the kids get free lunches at school and in some places free lunches are available in the summer too for kids. Don't get me wrong, I never, ever want to see a child go without food but the free food money needs to be spent responsibly so that it goes farther. The food cards can actually be used to buy already made cakes at bakeries and you know they cost way more than a box mix and tub of icing; better yet, go to the library, get on the Internet and look up recipes for cakes and use the ingredients already "bought" with free food money.

OK, now that I got that out, I realize that not all "poor" people are milking the system and are actually thrifty people having a legitimate hard time of things. Really, probably most of them are it is just the few that are taking advantage of the system that irk the living daylights out of me and are so noticeable. It is tax time again. When we bought our fixer-upper house at auction (there's a long story about that for later) we were able to only have a modest mortgage on it and at our ages, that was great and when we refinanced a few years later we were able to get a 15 year mortgage with an escrow account to pay insurance and taxes plus equity money to add a large bath off the master bedroom and our payments went up only $150. Ok, that's great right? Yes and no. We don't pay enough interest on our mortgage to deduct from taxes. So, as a responsible taxpayer, we helped bailout banks that lent money to the financially irresponsible who couldn't foresee that balloon payments or ARMs would cost them big bucks after a few years. Our children are grown and gone so no deductions there either. What does taxes have to do with the "poor?" At the time of our lives where we should be able to enjoy our money, our tax load is increasing and as far as the "poor" and their tax refunds, there are some who are getting back MORE than they paid in and where do you think that comes from? The working stiffs that's who. Do I donate to the "poor"? In the traditional sense, I'll put a little in the bell-ringers bucket at Christmas, donate gently used books, clothing and other goods to charity thrift shops and give canned goods for the periodic food drives. Do I feel obligated to do more? Only on a more personal basis if a neighbor, family or friend is going through tough times then I have gone to my freezer and given away "extra" foods that "the two of us can't eat before they get freezer burned so you might as well take it."  The ridiculous amount of taxes we pay takes up the slack in my charity giving. I too am going to take a little get-away next week to Florida. I will be visiting family there. DH is staying home with the chis. Is this trip a necessary thing to waste money on? Yes, my husband worked hard for the money, time is short and family is important therefore I will visit and not feel that the money would be better in the poor box. Lets face it, if someone is sitting on their computer at home, paying for Internet service and crying about the poverty they live in then they are really not that poor. Sorry if I offended some. I'm just irked that some of the nasty, nasty comments I've seen recently on a normally cheery, upbeat blog I like to read. If you think I'm being cryptic about what blog it is, nope, it's Attic24 and I just don't feel like looking up the url.

Must be something in the air, after reading Pammy Sue's Blog and her rants yesterday it empowered me to let it out. If you're reading this, thanks Pammy Sue.

Told You My Hair Was Cut Too SHORT!

I really look tired here. Maybe I need to take a nap! Anyway, I'm not going back to the same place to have my hair cut again. I need to go plaster on the make-up so I'm not confused with a dude. Later...

So What's Up with Crocheting Lately?

Today, I'm making the last pair of slippers that I need. I did have a pair of ladies in the "gift" drawer so that was cool (or maybe it's "kewl" nowadays). This pair is out of Caron's black and RedHeart SS warm  brown and will turn out to be a plain ol' men's pair of slippers. I'm getting a little bit bored with making slippers and I'm in the mood for something new. I'm actually getting antsy about sewing squares together. Hmm, that's NOT normal. ;) I'm considering everyone's advice on what kind of project to take with me to work on while I'm gone a visitn' in Florida. Anyway, before I get too wordy, here's the picture of the slippers that I don't have much done on.

Click the button and see what other crafty people have been up to lately.

 Thanks for stopping in...

Question...

On Sunday, I am going to visit relatives out of state. I'm undecided about what sort of project I want to take with me. I was thinking of taking my small butterfly loom and trying to make some squares for a project, or do I just bring a bunch of cotton yarn and make dishcloths, or do I bring my knifty knitter loom and make some hats? I was thinking that I might get bored with any of those choices so maybe I can just not take anything with me and maybe when my uncle and I go to a couple flea markets I might find some yarn and patterns but then maybe I won't. Decisions, decisions. What have you take on a trip to work on?

Finally, 21st Century Phone Service Here in the Sticks

Our telephone company only had the old fashioned plans where you pay as you go for long distance service and did not offer unlimited long distance. Our cable company recently began offering the package deal for cable, telephone and Internet. So, we are now able to use our home phone to call our old friends and not get the surprise at the end of the month. This is great because with the exception of my sons, ALL my family is out of state. I had been using my cellphone to make long distance calls but at the end of the month I would need to keep checking my minutes to be sure I didn't go over. I did that once in all the years I've had a cellphone so that's not too bad but that one time emptied out the wallet pdq! Anyway, it is nice to know that even though I live in the sticks I now have 21st century phone service. :) Hope everyone is having a nice day...

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern 21 February 2011

Here's a cute pattern for a bookmark that resembles an Easter Bunny. Great idea for someone you'd like to give a small gift too on Easter when candy might not be appropriate. Enjoy...

Suggestion...

If you are going to get your hair cut, don't use the stylist who spends time talking on her cell phone when she cuts hair. Short haircuts become super-short! That's what happened today when I went for a haircut. I'm a bit distressed about how short my hair is. I wanted a little bit of spikey action but there isn't enough hair to do it with. Grrrr.....

Usual Slippers "Fancied-Up"

Quick post of my latest completed slippers. I had shown the first one but now the pair is completed. The novelty yarn made these slippers a bit snug around the cuff so they're going to a petite young lady. Thanks for looking...

Hooked Not Only on Crochet but On Blog Reading Too

I love reading blogs. Since I've started reading blogs, I rarely do the magazine impulse buy at the grocery check-out. This is good--money isn't being spent to toss in the trash or drop in a donation box a few weeks later. Whenever I visit someone's blog, if I see a comment someone left that sounds interesting, intelligent or amusing and I'll visit their blog and soon I'll be scanning comments left for them and before you know it, I'm following a gazillion blogs-lol! I do enjoy them but I often don't have time to leave as many comments as I'd like to. If I don't leave a comment, I still enjoy reading your posts. I have found that many times, I'm reading about the same thing when I visit Crochetville.org and an individual's blog so I may only leave a comment on one place. If I'm visiting someone's blog and I feel compelled to get more information about what I've read there, I will use their google search box and maybe they can earn a few pennies if the writer has google for adsense installed. Anyway, before I started inanely jabbering away, what I wanted to say is that I am now reading 241 BLOGS!


As I was looking for a graphic to put on this post I found this comic that I thought was amusing:

I have a twitter account but rarely go to it, the same with myspace.

Hope all of you are having a great weekend. It's a bit overcast here but it isn't too bad otherwise. The crocheted hat and scarf wearing is having a break today. Hugs...

   

If You Crochet, Then You Will Appreciate This:

Did You Notice...?

Did you notice that under my blog's header not only do I have a link for a listing of free round(ish) afghan patterns but also for miscellaneous dog items? Under the dog items I also included some free patterns that are for sewing. I need to get off the Internet and stop looking at patterns and MAKE a few of them!

A bit off-topic but since I mentioned that dh hasn't been feeling too well I thought I'd do a quick update. He went to the doctor yesterday and when he complained of chronic headaches with neck pain and that a few days before it was so bad he had wanted to eject his dinner, they prescribed him antibiotics and told him that he had an upper respiratory infection. I don't know that I agree with that since he hasn't had runny nose or sinus congestion. He's back at work today so that is very good.

 Hope your week is going ok.

Head Sizes

If any of you are like me, you have some great ideas of making hat patterns but the question is, how big around is the "normal" head. At Martha Stewart's site, she has a chart that I am borrowing to put here. I hope she doesn't get mad at me since I'm giving her credit and a link back to her site. Anyway, here's the info:

Average Head-Size Chart
Newborn (6 Months and Younger)
Circumference: 14 to 17 inches
Crown: 8 to 10 inches

Infant (6 to 12 Months)Circumference: 16 to 19 inches
Crown: 11 to 12 inches

Child (1 to 3 Years)Circumference: 18 to 20 inches
Crown: 11 to 12 inches

Child (3 Years and Older)Circumference: 20 to 22 inches
Crown: 13 to 14 inches

Adult WomanCircumference: 21 to 23 1/2 inches
Crown: 13 to 15 inches

Adult ManCircumference: 22 to 24 1/2 inches
Crown: 14 to 16 inches

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Polarfleece Hats - Martha Stewart Crafts 

It's One of Those Blah Kind of Days...

Last night I finished one slipper (not pair, just one). I tried to fancy it up a bit by using some fun fur yarn but this extra yarn made the ankle snug so I'll finish the other slipper and set this pair aside to give to my adopted ggranddaughter because she is on the petite side. It looks pretty though.

DH hasn't been feeling well since Thursday and he stayed home from work Friday and came home in the middle of the day today. He's been "headachy" and that is strange for him because he NEVER gets headaches. It's off to the doc tomorrow for him. I've been moping today, although I did cook a relatively inexpensive, delicious dinner hoping to tempt DH to eat. It's round steak. I cut it in pieces, browned it and simmered it in tomato sauce with oregano, basil, garlic, small can of mushroom pieces and some dehydrated onions for about 2 hours. Every now and then I had to add a tad bit of water so it didn't cook down too far. I served it on noodles and topped it with Parmesan cheese. It's one of those things I came up with years ago when I had little money for good cuts of beef. I call it "Round Steak Italiano." I don't have exact measurements because most of the time I throw a little of this and a little of that in the pot. The downside of making this dish is that it has to simmer for a long time so that the meat gets tender; the upside is that it is delicious. I was going to take a picture for you but with son #1 over  it got devoured pdq! Hope everyone is having a great week.

Updated Round Afghan Pattern Page

I added another free pattern for a round afghan. This one is baby-sized. Patterns are listed chronologically by the date I added to the list so look under today's date. Oh, and the link to click to find these patterns is under the blog's header. Have fun!

To All My Family and Friends....

Have a joyous Valentine Day!