This Poor, Abandoned Blog

One of my New Year's resolutions is to blog more. I'm almost one month in, and I'm already doing a poor job. I have a good reason, though!

I've been incredibly busy since last September. Why? Because I got married! The whole process was pretty quick. I got engaged on September 11th and married on January 8th. Needless to say, I spent four months planning (and gathering money) for a wedding. It was stressful, but in the end everything went smoothly. I'm glad it's over, though!

Once all the post-wedding obligations are taken care of (thank you cards, organizing, name changing, etc), I'll update you all on the details!

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OCD

I've been out of touch with pretty much everyone lately, and I just wanted to send out a signal letting those who were wondering about me that I am okay.

I was recently diagnosed with a psychiatric condition (OCD), and I am receiving medication and therapy. For those unfamiliar with OCD, it stands for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and much to my surprise, there's much more to it than compulsive hand washing. I'll of course spare you the details since they are both embarrassing to me (and probably repulsive to you), but I'm proud to report that my brain has finally started to quiet, and it's a feeling I've never felt. You normal people have no idea how lucky you are!

I look forward to subjecting all of you to my ranting and raving (and over-sharing) once I have recovered. Good day!

Branching Out

FYI - I've started a "crafting only" blog over at WordPress. Click here to check it out!

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New Phone = Less Blogging

I’ve wanted a smartphone for a really long time. I pretty much need internet like I need air, and I definitely wasn’t getting enough of it at home. I wanted internet on-the-go. I didn’t want to have to wait for my ancient computer to restart a million times before allowing me to partake in the internet experience. It was inevitable. I had to get a smartphone.

Unfortunately, smartphones (and their data plans) are very expensive. I wasn’t sure if such a device would be worth the cost, so I spent many months talking myself into getting one and then talking myself back out of such a “silly” expenditure. Up until the Wednesday before last, I had been using a Razor – the same Razor I'd been using for the past five years. It was definitely time for an upgrade, so I went with my mom to the T-Mobile store to have a looksie at the recently advertised free phones. It wasn’t long before I wandered from the free phone section to the Blackberry section. T-Mobile had two versions of the Blackberry in stock – the 8520 Curve and something else that was newer and more expensive. I consulted with myself and decided that I had to have a Blackberry. There was no turning back. I chose the 8520 Curve purely based on price. The customer service rep told me that the 8520 ran on the slower “Edge” network (as opposed to 3G), but that there wasn’t much difference between the two. I left the store in a great mood and ready to play with my new toy. That lasted about 30 minutes, at which point the internet inexplicably left my phone. I’ll save you the details, but apparently customer service added my data plan to another phone in our family plan. It was one of the free phones, no less, and that didn’t explain how I was able to access the internet for half an hour, but okay. Customer service turned the internet back on, but I soon realized that it didn’t work so well when separated by many miles from the T-Mobile store. How disappointing!!! Web pages took 5 to 7 minutes to load, and they only fully loaded when the phone was feeling generous. Pictures pretty much never came up, and Ravelry (my favorite site) was nearly impossible to access. On top of that, the keyboard was incredibly small, and the keys were poorly positioned. I spent more time deleting than actually typing! By the second day of owning the 8520, I had become so frustrated and upset that I asked my mom to return it. I wanted one of the free phones instead. I couldn’t justify spending $30 a month on a data plan for a phone that worked (to my liking) approximately 5% of the time, and I figured that everyone else with mobile web must be more patient and forgiving than me. (And I also wondered why the heck they were paying so much money to watch a progress bar load.) I didn’t expect the phone to work at the speed of light, but I expected a decent web browsing experience.

My mom took my Crapberry back to the store last Saturday with instructions to procure a (free) green Gravity slide phone. I received a phone call from her that afternoon. She wanted me to know that the customer service rep (a different one) had shown her one of those new android phones, and that it worked really well. She said she’d get it for me for Christmas if I wanted it. I was skeptical, of course. I asked about all of its workings and made the customer service rep log into my Ravelry account and name to me all the projects she saw. I also made her navigate to multiple sections and quizzed her on the page layout, how many pictures were shown, etc. My mom told me that the customer service rep said this particular phone ran on the 3G network, and that I shouldn’t experience any of the issues I had with the Crapberry. After confirming that I could indeed return the phone if it did not operate to my satisfaction, I gave her the go-ahead to buy it.

I am now the proud owner of a black MyTouch 3G Slide. (It comes in black, white, and red.) My mom called me boring (in regard to my color selection), but I wanted my phone to match everything! It’s a touch screen phone with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. I think it’s T-Mobile’s version of the iPhone. The good news is it works much better than the Crapberry. Internet surfing is comparable to using a computer. The phone is pretty much a teeny laptop, and it came with lots of free apps and awesome features.

My MyTouch seems a little glitchy, but that’s to be expected with just about every newly released gadget. I hear T-Mobile will be releasing some sort of update in a little while that should iron everything out. The worst thing about it is the battery life. Mine only lasts a few hours before needing to be charged, and I will be returning to the store tomorrow to see if I can’t get myself a new battery. Other than that, though, it’s great!

Double Knitting

I think it’s safe to say that I stay within my comfort zone when selecting knitting projects. I avoid patterns that utilize techniques other than plain stockinette, cabling, and lace. I am terrified of colorwork, and I will never steek. (I can’t imagine cutting something that I’ve spent months knitting.) So it may come as a surprise that I’ve decided to try something new.

I really want to double knit. In fact, I want to double knit so much that I’ve written quite a few double knitting patterns for scarves and blankets. I know that it’s kind of strange to write double knitting patterns without having double knit before, but I’m very good at creating mirror images! (Technically anyone who can color in boxes can create a double knitting chart.) I’ve done a bit of research on double knitting, and I believe I have a fair understanding of how the process works. However, understanding it and doing it are two different things. I’m sure my first swatch will look horrendous.

I will definitely release my patterns if I (or someone else) make some sample objects from them. I hate when people release patterns without a sample photo. I will offer my designs for free, of course, since I’ve taken advantage of so many free patterns over my knitting career. My copyright blurb will go something like, “You may use this pattern however you please. Usage includes but is not limited to knitting the pattern, folding the pattern into an airplane, using the pattern as a coaster, showing the pattern the Siberian landscape, eating the pattern with a glass of milk, and substituting the pattern for toilet paper. You are free to do whatever you want with objects made from this pattern, as I do not own your projects and cannot police whatever action you choose to take in regard to your finished objects. Please do not attempt to sell this pattern. I will hunt you down and destroy your operation. Thank you.” Yes, I do have a bit of an issue with some of the copyright blurbs I’ve seen. Some people may disagree with me, but I find designers who specify what knitters can do with objects knit from their patterns to be pompous. If you’re so uptight about people selling objects made from your pattern, don’t sell them the instructions! Sometimes I find patterns similar to the following:

Knit Scarf

1.) Cast on 25 stitches
2.) Knit row 1
3.) Knit row 2
4.) Repeat steps 2 and 3 until desired length is reached.
5.) Bind off.

…with copyright blurbs like this:

“This is my pattern. Do not sell any objects made from this pattern. Do not sell any objects that look like my design. Do not sell objects made from an altered version of my pattern. I work hard to provide you with free patterns, and I would like my intellectual property to be respected. If I find that my patterns are being abused, I will have to start charging people to use them. Thank you.”

El – Oh – El. That’s all I have to say. I completely understand why designers wouldn’t want unscrupulous people to sell or claim authorship of their patterns, but this crap about copyrighting the knit stitch? Puleeeeze.

Anyway, I’ve already told myself that this weekend will be dedicated to knitting my Thermal, but I might be able to throw a little swatching into the mix. You know, just to make sure the charts work. ;)

12-Point Baby Blanket

Well folks, I’ve started yet another project. This one should go fast, though. I anticipate that I’ll have it done by the end of this month. I am using this pattern, but I’ve modified it slightly. Instead of doing two rounds of big shells and two rounds of small shells per repeat, I’m doing two rounds of big shells and one round of small shells. Many of the Ravelry users who have already completed this project say that the blanket lays better if a 2-to-1 ratio is used. I am not terribly experienced at crocheting, so we’ll see how this goes. I’m already confused about where the increases take place on the small shell rounds, if they do at all.

Originally I wanted to make the blanket in black, white, and varying shades of pink. Unfortunately, I could not find varying shades of pink at Michaels, and I had only $12 to spend. I ended up with one skein of Red Heart Soft in “Black,” two skeins of Vanna’s Choice Baby in “Pink Poodle,” and one skein each of Vanna’s Choice Baby in “Angel White” and “Sweet Pea.” The Red Heart Soft feels very nice, but the Vanna’s Choice Baby leaves much to be desired. I’m surprised that it feels so rough – being a baby yarn and all. I hope a run through the washer and dryer will soften it.

Here’s a picture of my progress as of a few days ago:

I didn’t realize until after crocheting this far that I chose watermelon colors.
I have a particular stripe sequence in mind, but I’m not sure how far I’ll get with the small amount of yarn I purchased. I will be switching back and forth between this and my Thermal. I have less than three inches to go on the body before splitting for the neck placket. That’s when things will get hairy. Yikes!

And now for a bit of sad news – I’m considering throwing away my Palindrome. Yes, you read that right. I would very much like to take what I’ve done, snip it from the skein, and throw it in the trash. I hate the way it looks, and I would be embarrassed to give it to anyone. Some of the cables are messed up, it’s fuzzy and worn looking, and I doubt it’ll be useful in actual winter weather. The yarn isn’t worth frogging. It’s already nasty looking, and it’s just Caron Simply Soft. I think I need to be honest with myself and frog all of the projects that I know I’ll never finish. I have some projects that have been hibernating for so long that I didn’t mention them in my list. Most of those need to go. And I should photograph the ones I can’t part with, so that I can put them on Ravelry and hold myself accountable.

Ruffled Top

...had been resurrected. Hooray!

Works in Progress – Updated 7/30/2010

-Short Sleeved Cardigan (Now going to Rae.)
-Palindrome Scarf (Currently my at-work project.)
-Houndstooth Scarf
-Owl Sweater (On hold until yarn is bought.)
-Lace Panelled Baby Blanket (On hold for next shower – whenever that is.)
-Dalmatian Cross Stitch
-Ruffled Top
-Thermal

My list is getting longer! How did that happen?

A Teeny Rant

I am hardly a perfect writer (or speaker for that matter). I make mistakes. I’m sure my posts are littered with grammatical errors, spelling errors, punctuation errors, etc. I can’t diagram a sentence. I don’t know when to use “who” and when to use “whom.” I don’t even know what an adverb is. (Although I’ll be looking that up after finishing this post.) I doubt there is a person on this planet who knows anything and everything there is to know about the written English language. However, I’ve seen (and heard) some pretty atrocious things written (and spoken) by otherwise intelligent people. Here are three of my biggest peeves:

The I-Me Complex

I don’t know who deserves the blame for this I-Me problem. Maybe the schools? Parents? TV? In any case, it is blatantly apparent to me that a large portion of the American people see the use of “I” instead of “me” in any context as an easy way to sound “smart” and proper. Oh no, no, no. There are many situations for which the use of “me” is necessary, and people who omit “me” in attempt to sound smart ending up sounding, well, stooopid. I know that someone who majored in English (or perhaps paid more attention in English class) could explain the following in much more detail with fancy terms and diagrams, but you’re stuck with me. Deal with it!

Mom took Tracey and I to the store.
Greg asked Michael and I to help him move.
This is a picture of Jackie and I on the beach.

All three of these sentences are incorrect. Think about it. Once the person partaking in the activity with you is removed (And I’m sure there’s a special term for that person, but I don’t know it.), you’re left sounding like this:

Mom took I to the store.
Greg asked I to help him move.
This is a picture of I on the beach.

Perform this test next time you’re thinking about using “I” instead of “me.” If the “I” can’t stand alone, then the “I” should not be used.

Here’s the same situation from the opposite direction:

Tracey and me went to the store.
Greg and me asked Michael to help Bob move.

WRONG!

Here are the sentences post-test:

Me went to the store.
Me asked Michael to help Bob move.

Obviously the “me” cannot stand alone, so “I” should be used.

Apostrophes

I hate it when I see something like, “I brought my cat’s inside.” I always want to ask, “Your cat’s what?” or “Oh my God you gutted your cat!” An apostrophe never makes something plural! Apostrophes are used to show possession or to signify a contraction. (i.e. Meghan’s book, it’s = it is) (There are other uses – like for quotes in research papers – but I’m not going to get into that.) Interestingly enough, I discovered fairly recently that “hers” and “yours” should not include apostrophes. Go figure!

You’re, Your, Their, They’re, There

These are pretty self-explanatory. Obviously these words have different meanings and are not interchangeable.

You’re = contraction – you are
Your = possessive

Their = possessive
They’re = contraction – they are
There = a position in space

Thermal Progress

I didn’t get much crafting done over the weekend. I battled a case of strep throat instead. I managed to sneak in some Thermal knitting, and I’ve completed about 7 inches on the body. I believe my risk taking has paid off, as I can now see that the waffle stitch is very stretchy, and the 32” size should fit me just fine. I’m going to try to knit 13 inches worth of body (instead of 12) to account for the negative ease ride-up phenomenon. I may vote against that as time passes by, though. I’m pretty sure I’ll have to make the sleeves longer. I have freakishly long arms. And I see that there’s some short row action further along in the pattern. ::shudder:: If I do finish this project, I think I will feel invincible.

I have been tasked with the unfortunate (haha!) job of finding a new “at-work” project. My latest at-work project (a cross-stitch Christmas ornament) is pretty much done (…except for the french knots, which are driving me bonkers.). Let’s see…I could do something from my Ravelry queue…or I could try to get a head start on my cousin’s baby stuff…or I could resurrect one of my hibernating works in progress. Which will I choose? It’s a mystery!

Pink Slouch

Last week I finished a pink slouchy hat. If you’re interested in knitting it for yourself, it’s called ETTA on Ravelry.

Getting a good picture of this hat in action was pretty near impossible.

I took a risk and did the ribbed brim with size 5 needles. The sample pictured on the pattern appeared to have a very loose brim (done with size 6 needles), and I knew I wouldn’t wear it if it kept sliding off my head. However, I’m not sure what convinced me that I’d get gauge. Of course my gauge was much tighter, and the brim turned out a little snug. Some serious blocking widened the brim a bit, and I can fit the hat on my head, so I guess I can call the project a success. Besides changing the needle size for the brim, my only other modification was to knit 4 pattern repeats (instead of 3 like the pattern said) because the hat wasn’t slouching to my satisfaction.

So as of now, I have two knitting projects that I’m working on regularly. There’s the pink cardigan that needs about an inch or two on the body, both sleeves, and button bands. I’m going to give the cardigan to my sister because I am absolutely certain it will not fit me. I hope this change of recipient will make the cardigan easier to finish. (Less mods!) The other project I’ve got going is Thermal. A while back I mentioned that I bought yarn for some fingering weight sweaters, and Thermal was one of them. I’m doing this sweater as part of a knit-a-long with my friend, Sara. I’m hoping the knit-a-long aspect motivates me to finish the sweater in a decent amount of time, but I’m positive many new projects will be started and finished before Thermal leaves the needles. In fact, I’ve received word that one of my family members is expecting a new baby (Not my immediate family! I don’t want to start rumors.), so I’m already thinking about what I’d like to knit/crochet for her. Anyway, I’m doing Thermal with size 3.0mm needles and Knit Picks Comfy Fingering yarn in “Lilac.” I chose to knit the 32” size because I’m crazy. I really want this sweater to be both form fitting and flattering, but my bust measurement changes so dramatically from month to month that selecting the right size is hit or miss for me. (I go between 34” and 37”...and I mostly miss.) I’m hoping I get gauge. I didn’t swatch, though, because that’s how I roll. :)

There’s really nothing else of interest to report. I’d like to finish up that sewing project I started. Weekends have been kind of busy around here, but I think this coming weekend will be pretty slow. If I’m not feeling too lazy, I might take a stab at finishing it. I'll probably have to re-iron everything. ::groan::

You Won't Believe It

…but I did it! The Gentleman’s Shooting Stockings with Fluted Pattern are finished!



They are a tad baggy on me, but I suspect they’ll tighten up when they accidentally go through the wash one of these days. Is it silly that I’m scared to use them? I spent so much time knitting them that I’m afraid I’ll wear a hole in them. I can already tell that felting will occur. Nonetheless, I love them. I can count my first attempt at adult socks as a success!

I need to amend my Works in Progress list a little bit. Obviously the Shooting Stockings have graduated. I frogged the WWII socks. (??!!) Apparently I still lack the ability to judge gauge, and as such they were coming out way too big. I’ll probably try them again sometime towards winter. Grandpop might get a hat instead. The Baker’s Kitchen dishcloth will be heading to the frog pond next time I dig it out. A couple of weeks ago I tried working on it, and progress didn’t go very well.

Works in Progress – Updated 7/6/2010

-Short Sleeved Cardigan
-Palindrome Scarf
-Houndstooth Scarf
-Owl Sweater (on hold until yarn is bought – Septemberish. Actually, I haven’t even started this project. It’s more like a planned project.)
-Lace Panelled Baby Blanket (on hold for next shower – whenever that is)
-Dalmatian Cross Stitch
-Ruffled Top

Oh? Did you see that I snuck in something at the bottom of the list? The pattern is here. It looks simple enough, and I’ve already cut out all of the pieces. I managed to do some damage with my handy dandy seam ripper, so I’ve been scared to continue working on it. I hope to finish the top this weekend. I should work on it tonight, but I’m much too exhausted to play with a machine that pokes stuff. Plus I have to make sure Xerxes isn’t in the immediate area while I’m sewing, and that’s no easy feat. He finds the pedal to the machine absolutely delightful and steps on it every chance he gets. Anyway, I’ve chosen a royal blue fabric for the chest band and straps and an Asian inspired blue bird print for the rest of the top. I think it has potential. Mine isn’t going to be as “billowy” as the sample. I’m going for a non-maternity look.

In other news, I visited the dog park with my posse last Sunday. Darby and Xerxes overdid themselves in swimming hole, so they slept pretty much straight through to this morning.


Darby injured herself doing who knows what. One of her foot pads is peeling. When I first saw the damage I was pretty upset, but it isn’t bleeding, and it doesn’t look infected, so I’m just going to let her take care of it. She’s really milking her situation, though. She now stops mid climb (stairs, hills, etc) and demands a boost.


The scenery was exceptionally nice during our visit. (The water was pretty muddy, but usually it isn't like that.) If you’re ever in the area, you should definitely go! The park is called Freedom Dog Park, and it’s located in Medford, NJ. It’s attached to a large people park, so you could make a day out of it!

Sewing

Last weekend I broke down and opened my sewing machine. I convinced myself that everything would be okay, and that nothing would get lost. It comes with a handy drawer for all of the miscellaneous pieces, so I don’t think anything too terrible will happen. Also included was a free subscription for Martha Stewart’s Living Magazine, although I’m pretty sure the offer has expired by now. I couldn’t find a date anywhere on the offer envelope, so I’m going to send for it anyway. I wonder what's in the magazine...

I got the machine last year for Christmas. It’s a Singer 2263 Simple. I’ll be the judge of just how simple it really is, though. I read through the entire manual, and I think I’ll be able to thread it successfully. Since I know next to nothing about sewing, I’m going to have to do some serious research regarding sewing stitches and techniques. And I should probably educate myself about textiles as well. P.S. – I’ve already started a “sewing” tub in my closet.

I have a few sewing projects lined up for this year. (What? Did you expect anything less of me?) There’s the quilt I’ve mentioned before, a (hopefully) simple dress, some doggie diapers, and a couple of purses. I’d like to try the doggie diapers first. I think they’ll be the easiest for me to accomplish. As it stands now, I’ll be buying the materials on Saturday in Vineland. I hope to find some hot pink fabric and maybe an animal print. Xerxes likes to be the center of attention, and I doubt he’ll experience any lack of it while strutting around in his hot pink wee-wee holder!

I already bought most of the required materials for the dress. I’ll be using a free pattern from BurdaStyle called Coffee Date Dress. (If you’d like to access the pattern, you’ll have to sign up for BurdaStyle. It’s free!) After a little bit of struggling and some deep thought, I finally printed out the pattern correctly. (100%, no scaling) Much to my dismay, a portion of the pattern lies outside of the printable area on the page, so I’ll have to measure and draw a little. Since the pattern doesn’t include the seam allowance, I’ll have to get myself a marking device while I’m out on Saturday. In addition, I need a zipper foot for my machine. In case you were curious, I picked a royal blue cotton fabric for the dress. At first I wanted a print, but then I decided I’d rather not have to worry about lining up everything and making sure the pieces are cut straight. If, by some miracle, I actually finish the dress and it’s wearable, I’d like to put a thick black ribbon around the waist for interest. I’m on the fence about the ruffle. Unfortunately, it’s walking that very fine line between looking stylish and looking like a waddle.

Last Sunday I spent some time looking up purse patterns. At some point I’d like to make a knit purse, but sewn purses seem so much faster. I chose two patterns that I think I can manage: the Buttercup Bag and the Phoebe Bag. Neither calls for more than a yard of fabric, so they should be pretty cheap to make. Plus, I’m in need of a cute little purse. Who isn’t?

And there you have it. I’ve officially entered yet another realm of the craft world. Goodness gracious.

Before I sign off, I have a bit of good news to share. I have been working on one of my works in progress, and I’m happy to report that I’ll be starting the heel of the second Shooting Stocking tonight. Maybe I’ll be finished with the pair this weekend!

Kiwi Jam

Last night I made a batch of kiwi jam. The process was much quicker this time. (I didn’t have to pit anything!) I sort of made up the recipe as I went, so I’ll share it here for anyone who is interested.

Supplies:

• 5 half pint canning jars with lids and rings
  
• Large pot for sterilizing/processing (the pot must be tall enough to cover the jars by an inch or more of water!)
  
• Saucepan
  
• Stirring Utensil
  
• Ladle
  
• Tongs (or whatever you want to use to handle the jars when hot)
  

Ingredients:

• 2 cups mashed kiwis (about 7 whole kiwis)
  
• 4.5 cups of sugar*
  
• 1 box of Sure-Jell
  
• 2 tsp. Lemon Juice
  
• 1 tsp. butter or margarine to prevent foaming (optional)
  

Preparations:

The packaging around the canning jars should have instructions for sterilizing the jars. You can either follow those instructions or use my method:

1. Thoroughly clean your hands and all surfaces you will be using.

2. Set a freshly laundered towel on your countertop/table to protect it from the heat of the cooling jars.

3. Fill a large pot with water (enough to cover the jars by an inch or more) and turn on the heat.

4. Remove the lids and rings from the jars and set aside. (VERY IMPORTANT! If you leave the rings and lids on during sterilization, the jars will seal.)

5. Place the jars into the pot using tongs or whatever is most convenient for you.

6. Boil the jars for 10 minutes to ensure that anything lurking inside is dead.

7. Carefully remove jars from pot without touching the insides/rims and place them right side up on the towel.


Method for Jam:

Peel, rinse, and chop kiwis into small pieces. Lightly mash kiwis until they become a chunky, pulpy blend. Place mashed kiwis, lemon juice, Sure-Jell, and butter into saucepan. Turn on heat and bring mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. (From now on, you’re going to have to keep stirring.) Add the sugar. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil, and let boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and ladle into jars.



Kiwi jam on the stovetop!

Processing:

1. Wipe down the rims of the jars with a clean, wet paper towel to ensure a tight seal.

2. Place the lids on the jars and screw on the rings “finger tip tight.”

3. Place the lidded jars into a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.

4. Remove jars and allow them to cool.

5. Check to make sure your jars have sealed about an hour or so after they’ve left the boiling water bath. Usually you can hear them seal as they cool. Any unsealed jars must be put into the refrigerator immediately.



My kiwi jam!


*I know that it sounds like an awful lot of sugar, but if you mess with the amount of added sugar, the jam will not set. If you want to try making jam with less sugar, or a sugar substitute, you’ll have to get special pectin.

Etiquette - For Grocery Shoppers

1. Do NOT double park in the spaces closest to the store. It is difficult enough to find a spot closer than half a mile away from the front doors due to the 40 or 50 handicapped parking spots each store provides. Don’t aggravate the problem by bringing your fancy sports car grocery shopping. Same goes for crooked parkers.

2. Do NOT spend an eternity traveling the crosswalk that runs from the store to the parking lot. Navigating a crowded parking lot can be tricky, and the last thing you should be doing is causing a traffic jam.

3. Do NOT park your cart in the middle of the aisle while you look for an item, have a conversation, read your list, zone out, etcetera. I should not have to move your cart for you as I struggle to pass through to the next section.

4. Do NOT walk down the middle of any aisles, pathways, etc. at Mach-Slug.

5. When experiencing “chooser’s remorse,” do NOT plop any refrigerated/frozen items onto the room temperature shelves closest to you. Walk all perishables back to where you found them – or at least to another refrigerated/frozen case.

6. Do NOT open any boxes and take one snack cake, tampon, twizzler, etcetera. Either some unfortunate soul will purchase that box and not realize until they get home that it’s been tampered with, or the store will add it to the damages pile, resulting in a slow and steady rise in prices for all.

7. Do NOT allow your children to run hog-wild through the store. Who will be the bad guy when I accidentally clobber them with my cart?

8. Do NOT take an entire cartful of items to the 10 or less register. Bringing 11 or 12 items is fine. Anything more and I can assure you that you’ll get plenty of nasty looks. There is a reason those lanes are labeled “express.”

9. Do NOT load all of your stuff onto the check out belt and flee the scene for 10 minutes in search of something you forgot. If you can’t return with the item in less than 20 seconds, get it next time, or check out and get back in line. Making others wait while you continue to shop is rude.

10. And please, do NOT berate the cashier when something doesn’t ring up correctly. The cashiers don’t set the prices or have them memorized. They aren’t responsible for misplaced signs, tags, or items. Screaming at the cashier will accomplish absolutely nothing. Just ask for a price check. Politely.

Need...More...Time

I haven’t done much crafting in the past couple of days (well, except the cup cozy thing) due to lack of time. I spent Tuesday shopping, Wednesday sleeping, and tonight I went to get a haircut. (It looks great by the way. I hadn't had it cut in over two years, so it sure was needing it!) Sometimes I feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day. My weekdays usually go like this:

-Wake up (between 5am and 6am)
-Prepare for work (6am – 7am)
-Commute to work (7:15am – 8am)
-Work (8am – 4pm)
-Commute home (4:15pm – 5pm)
-Make dinner and do any cleaning/errands that I (rather Kai) can no longer put off. What can I say? I HATE doing chores after spending an entire day at the office. (5pm – 7:30pm)
-Savor a little bit of free time, unless something in the prior bullet spills over. (7:30pm – 8:30pm)
-Randomly visit the computer while winding down and getting ready for bed. (8:30pm – 9:30pm)

Occasionally I’ll stay up later for that "there's a couple extra hours in the day" feeling. But in the end, I always regret doing that. I have a very hard time getting up in the morning - even when I go to bed early. I know it sounds pathetic, but I’m already looking forward to retirement. Though I’m not sure what funds I’ll have for retirement. My student loan payments have swallowed up all of my retirement contributions and will be doing so for the next 29 years. Gotta love that expensive (and practically worthless) education!

A Full Plate

I’ve been hoarding again. I bought more yarn and needles from Knit Picks a while back, and just last Sunday I visited Joann (the store) for an all out shopping spree. I’ve wanted to make a quilt for a while, and on a whim I decided I needed all of the supplies immediately. I chose four different fabrics: tan, gray, reddish brown, and a patterned one with a black background and paw prints in the aforementioned (non-black) colors. I know it sounds like it’ll be a dreary quilt, but the shades don’t look bad at all, and Kai can identify each color with confidence. (He’s colorblind. Did I mention the time he swooned over a pair of pink fingerless gloves I made? He wanted to keep them…until I told him they were pink. I made him his own set in green– which he calls tan. Go figure.) I also bought some black thread, black binding, and the batting for the inside of the quilt. I need to get a sheet for the bottom and some pins, and hopefully I’ll be doing that tonight. I want the sheet to be black, and now that I think about it, I might have a black sheet somewhere around here. I’ll have to try to find it before heading out.

I’ve come up with a new rule for myself, although I may have difficulty enforcing it. I want to finish all of my works in progress before moving on to anything else. I want to finish everything that’s hibernating on Ravelry before starting any new knit/crochet projects, and I want to finish the large cross stitch project I started ages ago before starting anything embroidery floss - related. (That won’t stop me from attempting to buy floss and aida cloth at Walmart tonight!) And I’m not allowed to start my quilt until EVERYTHING is finished. I hope this serves as a hefty dose of motivation.

In an attempt to shame myself, I will list my works in progress here:

-Shooting Stockings
-WWII Socks
-Short Sleeved Cardigan
-Palindrome Scarf
-Houndstooth Scarf
-Baker’s Kitchen Dishcloth (I put a dishcloth in hibernation?! Well, it was hurting my hands.)
-Lace Panelled Baby Blanket (I might let this one slide considering it’ll be a while before I need to give it away.)
-Owl Sweater (For my mom. I can’t start it until I get the yarn – which will probably be around September.)
-Dalmatian Cross Stitch Project

Oh! And I have one more project in the works: a cup cozy for my dad’s water glass. My mom caught him shirtless - sitting in front of the TV - wearing one winter glove. When asked why on Earth he chose to clothe himself in the style of Michael Jackson, he said that his cup was cold. When I offered to make a knitted cup cozy for Father’s Day, my mom said that wouldn’t do. She wanted me to make something waterproof. So, she took a trip to the fabric store and picked up some fabric that has foam attached to its underside. (I’m sure there’s a fancier name for it, but obviously I don’t know it.) I started the cozy last night with no pattern and a very rough idea of what I’d like to accomplish. And of course, I’m sewing it by hand. I still refuse to break out my sewing machine. I’d like to make two: one straight and one tapered. Perhaps I’m a bit ambitious.

Before I wrap this post up, there’s one more thing I’d like to add. I finished that teeny welcome sign last weekend. It’s cute, and I managed to crudely “mount” it on some cardboard. I shoved it in the provided frame, and it’s sort of staying, but I wouldn’t trust it if I were to hang it somewhere. And so, without further ado, here is my first completed cross stitch project.

The picture is a little blurry!

I Can, and So Can You!

True to my word in my previous post, I spent last night canning. The process was a bit lengthy, and I would have preferred to do it on a weekend. Unfortunately, cherries don’t last very long, and I had to can/process all of them last night before they turned. Since last night was my first time canning, I documented my experience with pictures.

A big bowl of cherries just waiting to be pitted!


One of those manual hand-pitter things. I borrowed it from Kai’s mom.


A bowl of pitted cherries. The pitter was very effective, but it sure did hurt my thumb!


Canning jars undergoing the sterilization process.


Some cherry jam on the stovetop. I “chopped” the cherries in the blender. I’m not much for extra chunky jam.


A jar of cherry jam – all sealed up and ready to store!


How could I resist constructing a jam tower?

In addition to cherry jam, I canned some whole cherries for kicks. I’m hoping that they taste kind of like maraschino cherries (only better) when the time comes to eat them. Canning whole cherries was VERY simple. All I had to do was pit the cherries, shove them in the jar, pour a boiling sugar/water mixture into the jar, slap on the lids, and place the jars in a boiling water bath. Ta da!


Canned whole cherries! They sort of look artifical in this picture, but I swear I added nothing but sugar and water.
I thought I packed the cherries in pretty tight, but evidently that was not the case. They probably lost some of their juices during the canning process - which caused them to become smaller and more likely to float. I hope they relax once they’ve soaked up all the sugary goodness.

Anywho, I’ve decided I like this whole canning thing, and I’m thinking about all of the other stuff I can preserve. I’d love to make some kiwi jam, and I found a recipe for dandelion jelly that looks interesting. Now if I could just find a field full of dandelions…

Double Pineapple Doily

I finished a vintage monstrosity last weekend. I think it could double as a cape.

Vintage Double Pineapple Doily


Artsy shot!

This carpal tunnel – causing gem measures 19 inches in diameter. I crocheted it using a size 7 hook (1.65mm) and black cotton crochet thread. It took me about a month to make, which isn’t too shabby considering my track record. Anything large usually takes me many months to finish, but that’s because I have severe project ADD.

Speaking of project ADD, I have ceased work on my cardigan and the two pairs of socks I started in favor of a little cross stitching project. I figured I should give my wrists a rest before I lose the ability to perform any and all handcrafting. A while back I raided my mother’s craft box, and I brought home a bunch of little cross stitch ornaments and doodads. I’ve chosen to do a teeny welcome sign since I’m not really in the mood to make Christmas ornaments at this point in time. I’m about a third of the way done, and it’s really simple. I am, however, very confused about how I’m supposed to get the finished product inside the provided frame. I foresee the use of glue…and cursing.

In other news, I went cherry picking last Sunday with Kai and his family. It was quite an experience! I had never actually seen a cherry tree until last Sunday, and I had no idea that cherries grew in clusters. Picking cherries was so much easier than picking strawberries. After 30 minutes or so, Kai and I had picked approximately 17 pounds. We gave about half of them to my mom and kept the other half for a jam-making extravaganza. In fact, as soon as I post this, I’ll be heading to the kitchen to begin the process. This will be my first time canning, and I hope I don’t mess up or hurt myself. I’ve been begging Kai to take me on a return trip to the farm. He isn’t very sympathetic towards my cherry-pickin’ needs. Sad face.

Etiquette - For Moviegoers

Last Sunday I went to see Iron Man 2. While the movie was awesome, my fellow patrons were not. Inspiration struck once again, so here are my rules regarding movie theater etiquette.

1. If you have a big head, big hair, a big hat, or prefer to stand while watching the movie, please choose a seat that is NOT in front of people who are already seated (when available).

2. If you decide to sit in the end seat, do NOT shoot people dirty looks when they ask to get by you. If you don’t want to move out of the way, don’t sit at the end of the row.

3. Do NOT rest your feet on top of the seat in front of you if it is occupied.

4. If you have brought an infant into, say, Iron Man 2, and that infant begins to cry, TAKE HIM OR HER OUT OF THE THEATER! No one wants to listen to your kid scream. And besides, is a movie theater the best place for a baby?

5. School your young children on proper behavior BEFORE visiting the theater. Let them know that it is NOT ok to talk, yell wrestle, throw food, or kick the back of the seat that is in front of them.

6. Regardless of whether you have or haven’t talked to your children about proper movie theater etiquette, you should still supervise them. I don’t believe that you are so engrossed in the movie that you cannot hear your kid(s) misbehaving.

7. Do NOT accept phone calls once the movie has started. (Yes, I’ve seen this happen more than once!)

8. Do NOT throw anything into the audience. (Yeah – I’m talking to you, teenagers.) It’s not funny.

9. Do NOT make out (or worse) during the movie. It’s disgusting, and I bet you have a perfectly good car waiting outside in the parking lot.

A Whole Bunch of Nothing

There’s not too much to report on the crafting front. I did finish the sock I was knitting. (Gentleman’s Shooting Stockings with Fluted Pattern) As it turns out, my mother reported my grandfather’s shoe size to me incorrectly, so I ended up shortening the foot a bit so that the sock would fit me. I have yet to start the second sock, but that’s probably because I’ve been working feverishly on the Double Pineapple Doily. I’m past the first set of pineapples and about 3 rounds from starting the second set. I thought for sure this doily would be huge. I am, after all, using a bigger hook and bigger thread than called for in the pattern. Presently, it’s not big at all. I bet it’s fooling with my mind and will grow considerably towards the end.

Last Sunday I placed an order with Knit Picks. (I know, again?!) I wanted more sock yarn, bigger double pointed needles, and yarn for two fingering weight sweaters I’d like to attempt. While I’d like to start knitting one of the sweaters right away, I know I should finish my sock and start my grandfather’s pair. (His birthday is July 12th…I think.) And I’ve begun to think about Christmas knitting, though I’m not sure I want to go there. Last Christmas was pretty stressful with all of the deadlines. I think I might make some ornaments, perhaps some doilies, and possibly something bigger for my mother. (Can you say Trilobite Hat?) I’d like to start concentrating on “home items” a little more. I want to be able to decorate the instant I move, not months or years later. I’m slowly but surely filling my craft drawers with decorative objects.

Oh wait! I did have something to report! Tuesday morning I awoke to a strange sensation. Something was crawling on my legs. I got out of bed and inspected the sheets. Lo and behold, a freaking SILVERFISH was in the bed. Gross! I did a little research and discovered that they like to eat pretty much anything including all kinds of yarn. Thank goodness I moved all of my yarn into tubs a while ago. I bagged everything I own in a panic, and I can only hope that no damage has been done. I alerted the apartment complex, and supposedly they are sending out an exterminator tomorrow. Here’s to a successful extermination!