As a knitter and crocheter, I have had plenty of experience frogging. But I have never chosen to frog voluntarily. I am currently making a baby afghan for a friend who is due in July. I picked a simple pattern because I knew the warmer months are coming. Basically, it's k10, p10 for ten rows, then p10, k10 for ten rows. You end up with a basket-weave pattern. It's easy and cute. But I wasn't having any fun. It was more of a chore. "I guess I should work on the blanket for D's baby." So, today, I did something I have never done before. I ripped it all out. Granted, I had only done about 25 pattern rows, (plus ten rows of garter stitch border) but it is all gone. When I had nothing but a pile of kinked yarn on the floor in front of me, I felt...happy. And...liberated. I sat and looked at the yarn. The Man asked if I was okay. I have now started on a new pattern for D's afghan. A log cabin. And I'm having FUN!
The moral to this story: Don't be afraid to frog if you're not happy with what you are doing! Knitting and crocheting are supposed to be hobbies for me, not chores!
Monday, April 15, 2013
Monday, December 3, 2012
Cozy...
Have I mentioned that along with knitting and crocheting one of my favorite passtimes is reading? I LOVE to read. Lots of different stuff too. One of my favorite novels ever is The Grapes of Wrath. I recently read the non-fiction best seller The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. Both very heavy books. But I love to read "fluff" too. Waltzing at the Piggly Wiggly by Robert Dalby was a very fun read. And I have enjoyed many "Cozy Mysteries", too.
I am currently listening to the audio version of Murder is Binding by Lorna Barrett. According to her website, the fictional town of Stoneham is "...About five or ten minutes down the road from lovely Milford NH". Which is MY HOMETOWN! I spent the first 28 years of my life in Milford. Which got me thinking about my childhood dream of being a writer. And then I started to wonder...Can I write a Cozy? I thin I'm going to try!
I am currently listening to the audio version of Murder is Binding by Lorna Barrett. According to her website, the fictional town of Stoneham is "...About five or ten minutes down the road from lovely Milford NH". Which is MY HOMETOWN! I spent the first 28 years of my life in Milford. Which got me thinking about my childhood dream of being a writer. And then I started to wonder...Can I write a Cozy? I thin I'm going to try!
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Sunshine
If you have been reading this on a regular basis, you know that things with Bud, my sisxteen year old son have been strained for the better part of the past year. (And if you haven't you can read about it here: http://nonishooksandneedles.blogspot.com/2012/05/having-rug-pulled-out-from-under-me.html). Recently, I realized how much I miss him. I miss the way we used to pick a dvd to watch together. I miss our Boggle tournaments, just he and I. I miss singing along to a Beatles CD in the car with him. I miss my little boy. There was a line on the sitcom "The Middle" a few years back that really hit home with me. I can't remember it exactly, but it went something like this: "There he was! My sweet little boy was trapped in the hideous shell of a teenager." Boy, did that hit home.
A few days ago, Bud came home from school and started telling me about an assignment he had done. Being the week before Thanksgiving, his advisory group had been given the task of writing a letter of thanks to someone.
"I couldn't see the sense in writing you to tell you thank you for anything," he said, pushing a knife deep into my heart. Then he continued. "I am thankful for a lot that you do, Mom. You buy me food that I like, you put money in my lunch account at school. You cook awesome meals. I know I don't seem very appreciative, but I am."
And that's when my little boy peeked out of the teenage shell. But it gets better.
"So who did you write a letter to?" I asked.
"Ladybug. I thanked her for being my crazy little sister."
How awesome is that?
Every once in a while, there's a little ray of sunshine that gives me hope.
A few days ago, Bud came home from school and started telling me about an assignment he had done. Being the week before Thanksgiving, his advisory group had been given the task of writing a letter of thanks to someone.
"I couldn't see the sense in writing you to tell you thank you for anything," he said, pushing a knife deep into my heart. Then he continued. "I am thankful for a lot that you do, Mom. You buy me food that I like, you put money in my lunch account at school. You cook awesome meals. I know I don't seem very appreciative, but I am."
And that's when my little boy peeked out of the teenage shell. But it gets better.
"So who did you write a letter to?" I asked.
"Ladybug. I thanked her for being my crazy little sister."
How awesome is that?
Every once in a while, there's a little ray of sunshine that gives me hope.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
How Many Licks...
I have to say that this is the best commercial ever.
A couple of years ago, Bud even had a t-shirt with the now iconic image of the boy and the owl. It is simply timeless.
One of my all-time favorite candies is the Tootsie Pop. Orange, preferably. And I am proud to say, that my Ladybug is following in my footsteps. But do you remember the rumor that if you got a wrapper with the entire picture of the Native American boy (Indian when we were kids. We were far from P.C. in the '70's and '80's.) shooting an arrow at a star, that meant you got a free Tootsie Pop? I, to this day, have no clue if there was ever any truth to the rumor or not. My guess is that there was one retailer somewhere who decided to do this for the neighborhood kids. And an urban legend was born. I can't remember if I ever got an entire "Indian". But it was something we all strived for. And the desire to possess one made it all the more elusive. Bud had one a few years ago, and it's hanging on his bedroom wall. Tonight, Ladybug got a Tootsie Pop for dessert, and what do you know?
How cool is that? Her first complete "Indian"!
A couple of years ago, Bud even had a t-shirt with the now iconic image of the boy and the owl. It is simply timeless.
One of my all-time favorite candies is the Tootsie Pop. Orange, preferably. And I am proud to say, that my Ladybug is following in my footsteps. But do you remember the rumor that if you got a wrapper with the entire picture of the Native American boy (Indian when we were kids. We were far from P.C. in the '70's and '80's.) shooting an arrow at a star, that meant you got a free Tootsie Pop? I, to this day, have no clue if there was ever any truth to the rumor or not. My guess is that there was one retailer somewhere who decided to do this for the neighborhood kids. And an urban legend was born. I can't remember if I ever got an entire "Indian". But it was something we all strived for. And the desire to possess one made it all the more elusive. Bud had one a few years ago, and it's hanging on his bedroom wall. Tonight, Ladybug got a Tootsie Pop for dessert, and what do you know?
Yeah. There he is, in the lower right hand corner.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Itchy Twitchy
Another thing that I love to do besides knitting and crocheting is reading. A few years ago, I discovered www.paperbackswap.com. Essentially, you list books that you are willing to part with. When another member orders one of your books, you send it to them. All you have to do is pay for the postage to mail it out, which is usually between $1.50 and $3.00. For every book you send out, you get one credit. You can then use this credit to order a book from any other member. It has been a great source for me to find some out of print books, or books I just wasn't sure would be worth spending money on. Once you receive the book, you can do whatever you'd like with it. Keep it, swap it again, give it to a friend...anything. The book is yours.
Quite a while ago, I put the book Knit 2 Together by Tracy Ullman and Mel Clark on my wish list. Yesterday, it came. I have not been knitting much lately, simply because it's summer time. It's been very hot. I'm busy doing outside stuff. Mainly taking Ladybug to the town beach. I'm always afraid to bring my knitting to the lake because sand manages to get in everything. Unfortunately, knitting has been set aside.
Soooo, long story short, I'm aching to knit. I spent yesterday afternoon practically drooling over some of the beautiful designs in this book. And in the midst of one of the hottest weeks this summer, I am attracted to the adorable hooded sweater made with a wool/microfiber blend. I simply can't make this right now. Even though the temperature has dropped some, it's still too hot to knit a sweater made from lamb fur. But my fingers are tingling to cast this sweater on for Ladybug to wear this fall. What to do, what to do...
Quite a while ago, I put the book Knit 2 Together by Tracy Ullman and Mel Clark on my wish list. Yesterday, it came. I have not been knitting much lately, simply because it's summer time. It's been very hot. I'm busy doing outside stuff. Mainly taking Ladybug to the town beach. I'm always afraid to bring my knitting to the lake because sand manages to get in everything. Unfortunately, knitting has been set aside.
Soooo, long story short, I'm aching to knit. I spent yesterday afternoon practically drooling over some of the beautiful designs in this book. And in the midst of one of the hottest weeks this summer, I am attracted to the adorable hooded sweater made with a wool/microfiber blend. I simply can't make this right now. Even though the temperature has dropped some, it's still too hot to knit a sweater made from lamb fur. But my fingers are tingling to cast this sweater on for Ladybug to wear this fall. What to do, what to do...
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