Saturday errand/efforts

Hello!

My Saturday morning errand was to go to the thrift stores [Salvation Army and Lutheran Thrift] and see if I could find a rice cooker for cooking our morning oatmeal and a George Forman, or other grill, for cooking pannini sandwiches. I was a very lucky gal and got them both.
The rice cooker 5.00, the grill 8.00. They were both in perfect condition, but of course *I needed to clean them...rice cooker was new, grill barely used.
It is amazing that these items are actually used so little and then sent to the thrift.

I made the oatmeal, following the timing, but decided to add 5 minutes...WRONG...it bubbled over.
A bit *more clean-up time! Now we are in business for the next time I need oatmeal.
The rice cooker also steams veggies, which I learned from the brochure. I had never even looked into a rice cooker before, but thought it would be good for our needs; I have broccoli to try.

More at the thrift:
Looked for cook books, got two on grilling for Bob and a tofu cook book for myself. I also found some cute shoes [Just washed them up and they are drying.] and a darling Christmas floral [red green, black] top, as well as a nice lightweight denim collarless jacket and a black and white top and matching black skirt. I have to adjust the skirt as it is too long. I will take it up at the waist since there are a lot of cute white beads along the hem.
I love to get these bargains. I almost can't shop at real stores!

Stopped at the PO to send two fall cards and a challenge of some fall paper, yarn and ribbon to my pals in OR.

Also sent four Close To My Heart catalogs off to people that will help with my aims for funding the critters.

A friend in our ATC paper arts group, lives where an animal group comes in and picks up kitties that are strays, spay/neuter them and then bring them back.
She feeds/waters 10 kitties that are strays.
There is a similar program at Arizona State University in Tempe, one of our close by cities. The students fund this and maintain water/food stations for the kitties and adopt some, but care for the all that live in the area.

I think I will concentrate on giving the funding to the spay/neuter program.
[When I make some $$]

If anyone is a thrifter or wants to help the critters, leave a comment. I would love to hear from readers of this blog.

'Nuff said. Time to do computer catch up!

Needle Notes for all & griping about the weather

Hi, Happy Friday!
Whew...turn on the AC!

I am getting antsy for the weather to change.

It seems to be that high 90s are here forever.
I guess anyone in cold or rain would tell me to stop fussing [shut up] and enjoy it.
Well it is nasty when you are putting on your lipstick in the am and your forehead is sweating!
I guess this is one of the things I just like to crab about. [among many]
Remember in the fall when you started school, [we lived in Salem, OR at that time] ...you were all ready for the cool days and you wore a new swearter and wool skirt? Then by noon it was hot as heck and you were uncomfortable all the rest of the time?
That is the way it seems to me here.
In Hawaii with all the humidity, my wardrobe sure would lean towards the MU Mu if I lived there!

What kind of weather conditions are you living in and do you have tolerable or cold cold winters?

Looking at all the neat patterns available for sweaters [oh the gorgeous yarn!] is enjoyable, but it isn't feasable for me... so I just surf 'em, not wear 'em.

Yesterday I went with Evelyn, to deliver crochet hats she and friends had made for the new babies at the hospital. Would you believe they made over 500 baby hats this summer!!
We all need to say a BIG THANKS to Ev and her "team!"
[Shirley, our hspital volunteer contact says they have... "24 babies born there every day. A whole kindergarden class!"]

Ev started me crochetting...ha, I need another lesson or 20!
Now, I am toddling along on a burgundy scarf with some sparkly yarn in it shared by Patti.

Below you will see what Pat G has shared and I wanted everyone to know that she and Bill celebrated their 50th anniversary on August 31.

Thanks for the sharing. I hope you all have a great weekend!
Barb
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Sharing
Gail sent some quotes. Here are two of her favorites:

"There are two ways of spreading light
To be the candle or the mirror that reflects it."

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen,
nor touched, but felt in the heart."
Helen Keller
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
from Pat G.
We just returned to Arizona from 2 1/2 months in Oregon. We had a
lovely, busy summer. I didn't have much time for knitting. In fact I
only managed to finished one pair of socks and completed one sock of
another pair. Since we returned, I am half way through with the second
sock. I will be so glad when it is done. I am not going to make any
more socks for awhile. I plan to start on the "Glowing Colors" afghan
that I downloaded from Lion Brand Yarn. It calls for 2 strands of Lion
Jiffy yarn worked together, so it should be fast knitting.
That's what I need after knitting all those socks--instant gratification.
http://cache.lionbrand.com/patterns/70142A.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
from Shelly
Regarding the Debbie Macomber Books, I've read all of the Shop on Blossom street series and am gathering the Cedar Cove series (by trading books, buying used, etc.)
I also enjoy the books based around knitting by Maggie Sefton and Mary Kruger. Maggie Sefton's books are a mystery series with most of the characters carrying through the full series which began with Knit One, Kill Two followed up by Needled to Death, and then A Deadly Yarn. The latest in the series is A Killer Stitch which I haven't read yet.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Wanna Paint Yarn?

Learn here and also pick up some great color ideas of finished socks.
I loved the wine bottle *cover ideas!
http://www.soxophoneplayer.blogspot.com/
[...all sorts of colors to fit in with the shoe covers, on this page]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~YH Fill in/she's great!

from http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Christmas for a guy
Travel shoe covers: "These special 'booties' fit on the outside of shoes
and protect your clothing from getting shoe polish on it in the suitcase."
http://cache.lionbrand.com/patterns/BK4K-0606003.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The Ghana Project
Inspiration about: What to do with dish cloths...
"This project is a combination of various people's knitted
or crocheted efforts, sewn together into afghans
which are given to these children as a love gift."
http://theghanaproject.wordpress.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Oops
...we were notified that our new shopping cart at www.soysilk.com had a glitch and when you tried to buy patterns, you were being charged shipping. Thats really silly considering they are instantly available for download!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Lola
Great to knit at all the Suns basketball games and at the hockey games too,in Phoenix.
I love to do this to promote the art and to keep from sitting bored before the game
and half time breaks.

On Lola's page, you will also find some swell patterns, kitties and even a Christmas one...
so start checking in!
Lola the knitter is such a riot on Lion website:
http://www.lionbrand.com/lola/20070928.html
Kitties!!
Ready for Santa!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Friday Recipes

Chicken Marinade for the BBQ
Skinless chicken breasts, to serve two people

brandy- 1/4 cup
honey- 3 tablespoons
lite soy sauce- 3 tablespoons
lemon grass- 2 teaspoons, rub it in your hand to bring out the aroma and sprinkle on
[or use a bit more of fresh and cut in small snips]
ginger- 1 rounded teaspoon

Add all this in a zip lock bag and marinate chicken for a couple of hours, then BBQ.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Chocolate-Chip-Pumpkin-Cookies/Detail.aspx

[I substitute *butterscotch chips and add raisins not walnuts]
1 cup shortening [I cut this to at least half, to save calories]
2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 pinch ground nutmeg
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
In a large bowl, cream together the shortening and white sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Stir in the vanilla and pumpkin until well blended. Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg; stir into the pumpkin mixture. Mix in the chocolate chips. Stir in the walnuts if desired. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets.
Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until edges begin to brown. Allow to cool for a few minutes on the baking sheets before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

Happy Mid-Week.
Are you working on a project or nearly through or just lagging along...?
Whatever you do, enjoy your days.

Life is too short to be worried about half full or half empty...
Just DO IT!!

My chenille/ribbon scarf is finished. I have that and the two blue and white scarves to fringe...
guess I will "just do it," tonight.

I was reading my mail this morning and I had a good reminder from an on line friend,
about Debbie McComber's books.
Have you read any of the one's centered in the yarn shop on Blossom Street?
Really they are great and there are more in the series that I haven't read.
http://www.debbiemacomber.com/
One nice thing is for me at least, she gives you a goodly amount to read
from each book and it allows you learn about the characters and the theme of the books.
She and I share rotator cuff surgery, so if you enjoy reading blogs, like I do, check out hers...there is a really funny section about her hubby helping her with her bra, after she was home from the surgery. [His comment is choice!]
http://blog.debbiemacomber.com/index.cfm

Speaking of bras, reminds me of the swim suits of the old days and the way the knit sagged. [...see link below for some vintage patterns, including swim wear.]
I wonder how the bikini tops knitted today fare, when the wearer comes out of the pool
...on second thought, do those who wear them, care?
Maybe they should knit them with Spandex yarn?

Hope to hear more from you, with shares, soon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Vintage Pattern page
...featuring swim and sun patterns...just click over the picture on the site and the pattern will come up.
I really like a LOT of these!
This is a pretty crochet sun top, one of many,
which might be swell under a tailored jacket, for a little pizzaz!
http://www.geocities.com/fasharch3/patterns.html

On this same site...many other knit/crochet patterns. '>
~~~~~~~~~~
Bikini anyone? Spandex, glue, duct tape!!?
'>http://tinyurl.com/2gfo7y
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Ever knitted a Tribble?http://1870pearl.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/02/rubadubdub.html
Go ahead look, pretty clever/useful!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Felted and fun
Home of knit and felted designs: Carol Bristol
...don't pass this one up! Even Pumpkins!!
'>
http://carolbristoldesigns.com/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Vickie Howell
http://tinyurl.com/2ro3xm
It's felted!
Check here for some rockin' patterns...left side of the blog

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~It will bring a lump in your throat
From Vicki Howell:
Noel the Wonder Pup! "Hey all! I wanted to take a moment to spread the word about the incredibly sad story of Noel, a dog who's missing both of her ears due to being used as fight bait. Sometimes I'm ashamed to be a part of the human race!"http://vickiehowell.blogspot.com/search/label/doggy%20hat

She's a beautiful, kind eyed puppy whose story
broke my heart into a million pieces when I read it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Practically world famous
[I know this is a repeat but so *handy and some may not have this saved.]
This is the same pattern used for many baby blankets
...in fact one of our knitters in Bend, Elizabeth... was finishing hers when it was time for me to leave for AZ
I think this is a great one and you could use it for the "snuggle" pad/blanket for pets.
Just *change the size by adding stitches to yours for a square snuggle or kids blanket.
Use worsted yarn perhaps even double/triple for the pet's bed.

Grandmother's Favorite DishclothDesigner: No one knows, some smart cookie, that's for sure!
Materials: cotton [other yarn if making blankets or pet snuggles]
Size 6 or 7 needles (US) [ 10 - 15 for heavier yarn items]Instructions: Cast on 4 stitchesRow 1: Knit 4Row 2: Knit 2, yarn over, knit across the row.Repeat Row 2 until you have 44 stitches on the needle.
Add more at this point, for the larger items you are making.
This is where you determine the size of your project.Row 3: Knit 1, Knit 2 together, yarn over, knit 2 together, knit to the end of the row.Repeat Row 3 until you have 4 stitches on the needle.
You can now either bind off or for a dish cloth: do a round of single crochet and make a little loop of chain stitches in one corner so you can hang the cloth to dry when you are finished using it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Foodie Tips
10 Tips for Eating Out While on a Diet
http://weightloss.about.com/od/eatsmart/a/a101405a.htm
I liked this line:
"...and don't worry about being a member of the clean plate club.
I won't tell your mom if you don't tell mine."

Tips for those of us who love oriental meals:

http://weightloss.about.com/od/eatsmart/a/aa080707a.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Recipe

It is sweet, but no fat added! http://tinyurl.com/34frrz
from: Kraft Kitchens

Crispy Baked Bananas

1-1/2 cups POST HONEY BUNCHES OF OATS
with Almonds Cereal, crushed
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 Tbsp. honey
4 small ripe bananas, cut crosswise in half
1/4 cup thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping
[use low fat version]

Prep Time: 10 minTotal Time: 20 minMakes: 4 servings, two banana halves each
Preheat oven to 375ºF. Line 15x10x1-inch baking pan with foil; set aside. Mix crushed cereal and the cinnamon on large plate. Pour honey onto second plate.
Roll each banana piece in honey, then in cereal mixture until evenly coated. Place in prepared baking pan
Bake 15 min. or until bananas are soft.
Place two banana halves in each serving dish. Top evenly with the whipped topping.

[Maybe a bit of rum in the whip topping? Crispy Banana's Foster?]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Giggle
Why did the girl's granny knit her three socks for Christmas?
Because she wrote to say she had grown another foot.

A Daily Discussion 9-25-07

It is great to have the fall come, the start of the new TV season.
All summer we watched shows that we didn't watch last winter, but at the end of summer they dwindled.
Funny, some CSI Miami shows we had seen...but our "Wandering Minds," didn't remember all of them, so we looked again! GRIN!
When the TV is interesting I can get a lot knitting done.
Cop shows/mysteries and British TV shows are good.
Animal Planet shows that tell of helping the animals, let us in on how rotten people are and for that we are glad to have the information.
Maybe we can help?
I am starting a funding idea to do this. Perhaps leaning toward spay/neuter funding.
A friend just wrote that her area is bad for folks just dumping cats. This is sad.
Sometimes I want the abusers of animals to have the same things done to them that they do to the animals...Does this make me as terrible as they are?

Needle Notes of the Wandering Mind

Hello Needle Notes Pals,
Is it time to think of cool weather knitting?

I think we are all getting ready for a change of season and many are doing fall yard work, getting set for indoor chores and fun knitting.
[Bob has gotten all the tree trimming/clipping, blowing, sweeping and raking taken care of...what a great yard maintenance guy...and he vacuums and does laundry! Now he is ready for tennis and bowling to begin.]

I really appreciate the comments you gals have sent in.
There are more today.
Here in The Valley of the Sun, we are still sweltering, with just a small respite,
so heavy yarned items are still sort of scary/sweaty!

Done:
...blue/white scarves, two finished, which now need the fringe.
[thanks to Patti for the yarn!]
I am still working on the chenille and ribbon scarf.

Have a great start to your week!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Sharing
from Cat
A blog for NN. She has tons of patterns on the blog and Barb she has a scarf a month lol, as if we need anymore scarf patterns.
http://suzies-yarnie-stuff.blogspot.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
from Gail
I have been raking up leaves like crazy and putting them in my home made bucket sled.
I've got a whole basket full of neck warmers made for the kids at North Pole Elementary. Some of them are pretty wild. I have about 20 more to make before delivering them this fall.
I want to make a couple of knit dish clothes and crocheted pot holders for the Senior Center. I finally got the ones done for Butch and his family. I also made some crocheted grain heating pads like the ones that people sew, for Butch's Mom and Dad.
~~~~~~~~~~
from Janet ...for your stationary headings:
...and for the doggy lovers, see bottom of the page-->
free miniature knitting patterns (cool)
http://store.buttercupminiatures.co.uk/newsblog/?cat=11
Has anyone tried any of Alli's miniature cloths yet?
http://alliknitts.blogspot.com/
I finally tried the new self-striping yarn - very pretty indeed.
This was the ClothoftheWeek pattern (I think Sept 9). Maile has a lot of wonderful free cloth patterns at: http://freepatterns.k1p1keepingyouinstitchesstudio.com/
- 5 new patterns were also added this week.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Local Shops
Here's an advert for our local E Mesa, AZ yarn shop.Very close to me.
It is a very nice shop/sweet owner.
Check out these websites:
http://www.yarnfifthavenue.com/
and another in Tempe, AZ a short drive from my house :
http://www.soysilk.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Great lot of free-bees!
Including lots of felted patterns
Opening page:
http://www.garnstudio.com/index_lang.php
English:
http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/en/kategori_oversikt.php

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Fall Felting
http://www.pippikneesocks.com/blog/fireside-footies/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Dave's Lovely scarf pattern
The Dave Daniels is an excellent photographer.
http://cabincove.com/journeyscarf.htm
...and for daily interesting blog entries...go here:
http://cabincove.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~from The Crochet Dude
I have followed Drew's blog for a long time and am very impressed.
Here is a darling crochet pattern to buy:
http://blog.thecrochetdude.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Help for head measurments
Nobody has the same shaped/sized head!
http://www.yarnstandards.com/headsize.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Doggies
from Janet
[This was so cute and it prompted me to lok up doggie's coats. B]

Top two ask you to join, but it is free, as are the pattterns.
Crochet:
http://tinyurl.com/3ad6xu
Knit:
http://www.patonsyarns.com/pattern.php?PID=2194

Not free, but cute and great ideas:
[kitty and mice on the socks]
http://www.fiber-images.com/mall/033_doggie_kitty_christmas.html

Loads of free patterns for the critters...you will love this site!
Scroll down for a big list of patterns!
http://www.barlowscientific.com/technotes/home/sweater.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
More from Barb
I have yet to find the right venue [blog/website?] for my scarves, necklaces and other items to sell for making money for donations to the critters. I will also sell gently used glitzy cruise clothes. If anyone has suggestions, send them to me. Thanks!

FYI
Dear Friends,Did you know that for the sake of human profit, dogs are trained for dog fighting by being beaten, chained and fed gunpowder, illegal drugs and even live animals -- and sometimes they are not fed at all for long periods of time? In the end, dogs that do not win are either killed or left to die horrific and painful deaths. I can't even imagine what these dogs must go through. Every animal deserves the right to live a cruelty-free life.
I just signed a petition to end this horrific practice, and I hope you'll join me in urging the U.S. Congress to support the Federal Dog Protection Act: http://go.care2.com/helpdogs
Thanks! B.
PS: I also believe that the lives of the children who are around fighting of dogs can be completely ruined, as they are hardened to the sadness that aninmals go through. In turn they themselves are completely altered for the rest of their lives. It is a crime aginst them as well as the animals.