Howdy, y'all.
We saw "The Matrix" on Sunday (dropped Little Girl off with Uncle Fun Guy - AKA my younger brother). I was struck by the fact that in the Matrix universe, there are no crochet hooks, needles or pre-soak for laundry. What else can explain the holes in sweaters, general tatteredness of clothing and big sweat stains everywhere? No wonder these same people wear Italian leather when they are inside the Matrix, it's the only time that they are able to look spiffy. I see that Zion also went to a Star Trek garage sale for their uniforms, suspiciously similar to those seen in "Wrath of Khan", with a little leather trim added and the required dirt, grime and scruffing up done.
My younger brother explained that it is because they are a messianic cult and are not concerned with appearances. Right. That's why their preferred fantasy wear is black, glossy, fitted and styling.
At 3AM on Monday, dear Bob woke the household to meet a visitor. A puppy was sitting at our back door and our little dachshund chiuaua cross was barking her head off about it. This "little" guy is 6-8 weeks old and weighs 25 pounds. My best guess is Great Dane. Lovely, they eat 6 pounds of meat a day when fully grown. Yes, he will find a loving home ELSEWHERE!!!! Oh, but he is cute, cute, cute. I slept on the sofa last night so he would have company and everyone could get some sleep. We're looking for his owner, but I think that someone just dumped him. The animal shelter is filled every year when the students leave for the summer with their pets that they've abandoned. We won't be taking him to the shelter, but will try to find someone to take him on our own. I am SO glad for linoleum, he pees at the least provocation.
On the knitting front, I've been reading in all the magazines about ribbon yarn. They look intriguing, but that price tag! At this point in my life and financial state, I can't justify spending $$$ on designer yarns, though I would love to do so. I have to work within a strict, tight miniscule budget, which sometimes does not leave me enough to get a daily paper. I am so grateful to have been raised by depression era parents and so blessed to learn how to live on very little. So, hmmm, what do we have around the house that is something I can work with? I came across one of my ebay acquisitions from Barbara Furia, my favorite source off ebay (http://prism.net/furia/kp/index.html). I bought 2 1/2 pounds of 85% silk with 15% synthetic, but it is very, very fine, almost like sewing thread. It seemed to be about sportsweight when quadrupled, so I thought that I'd roll it into balls and knit it up that way. It became a "later" project and was put on the shelf.
I keep a stack of knitting magazines and books in the bathroom. Interweave Knits Spring 2003 had a lace dress made of Linet, which is a chained yarn. I thought that would look weird, but the dress seems to look fine. The price tag for this dress is well over $100. Way too high for me for a single garment. Then I remembered the fine silk thread that was taking up shelf space. I tried to make I cord with #1 needles, but it was very, very slow and hard to do without watching what you were doing. I liked the results, but I'd be working on it forever, so I frogged it and tried crocheting. I found a #5 steel crochet hook (stamped with it's price - 15 cents) that I inherited from Bob's grandmother and started to chain. I am working from the 2 1/2 cone and winding directly onto a heavy cardboard tube. This is working faster and I like the look of the finished product. I have another big cone of very fine silk yarn - different color - that will get the same treatment if I like the way it knits up.
If you think that I'm spending an inordinate amount of time, I liken this to spinning fiber to create yarn. It is also "mindless" work as I do not have to look at it. I think that this would work with any fine thread of any fiber content. I may also try a crocheted tube and may try I cord again if I have a thicker thread.
I just have the sleeves to go on Older Sister's CNC. I want to get that out of here before it gets too hot since it's a lapful!
I've been making a lot of sushi since dear Bob's birthday last week. I make the california style roll - it's the flavor of least rejection by people who are put off by sushi.
Third Son is getting several awards today at school. I think that I've mentioned how proud we are of him. He has gone from being a special ed student, while living with his birth parents to being on honor roll in "regular" classes, a member of the student council, chess club, computer club and orchestra now that Bob and I have adopted him. He's a great kid and we'll all be there for the ceremony. I have no money, but I have such great kids!
Take care, I'll be posting to you later.
We saw "The Matrix" on Sunday (dropped Little Girl off with Uncle Fun Guy - AKA my younger brother). I was struck by the fact that in the Matrix universe, there are no crochet hooks, needles or pre-soak for laundry. What else can explain the holes in sweaters, general tatteredness of clothing and big sweat stains everywhere? No wonder these same people wear Italian leather when they are inside the Matrix, it's the only time that they are able to look spiffy. I see that Zion also went to a Star Trek garage sale for their uniforms, suspiciously similar to those seen in "Wrath of Khan", with a little leather trim added and the required dirt, grime and scruffing up done.
My younger brother explained that it is because they are a messianic cult and are not concerned with appearances. Right. That's why their preferred fantasy wear is black, glossy, fitted and styling.
At 3AM on Monday, dear Bob woke the household to meet a visitor. A puppy was sitting at our back door and our little dachshund chiuaua cross was barking her head off about it. This "little" guy is 6-8 weeks old and weighs 25 pounds. My best guess is Great Dane. Lovely, they eat 6 pounds of meat a day when fully grown. Yes, he will find a loving home ELSEWHERE!!!! Oh, but he is cute, cute, cute. I slept on the sofa last night so he would have company and everyone could get some sleep. We're looking for his owner, but I think that someone just dumped him. The animal shelter is filled every year when the students leave for the summer with their pets that they've abandoned. We won't be taking him to the shelter, but will try to find someone to take him on our own. I am SO glad for linoleum, he pees at the least provocation.
On the knitting front, I've been reading in all the magazines about ribbon yarn. They look intriguing, but that price tag! At this point in my life and financial state, I can't justify spending $$$ on designer yarns, though I would love to do so. I have to work within a strict, tight miniscule budget, which sometimes does not leave me enough to get a daily paper. I am so grateful to have been raised by depression era parents and so blessed to learn how to live on very little. So, hmmm, what do we have around the house that is something I can work with? I came across one of my ebay acquisitions from Barbara Furia, my favorite source off ebay (http://prism.net/furia/kp/index.html). I bought 2 1/2 pounds of 85% silk with 15% synthetic, but it is very, very fine, almost like sewing thread. It seemed to be about sportsweight when quadrupled, so I thought that I'd roll it into balls and knit it up that way. It became a "later" project and was put on the shelf.
I keep a stack of knitting magazines and books in the bathroom. Interweave Knits Spring 2003 had a lace dress made of Linet, which is a chained yarn. I thought that would look weird, but the dress seems to look fine. The price tag for this dress is well over $100. Way too high for me for a single garment. Then I remembered the fine silk thread that was taking up shelf space. I tried to make I cord with #1 needles, but it was very, very slow and hard to do without watching what you were doing. I liked the results, but I'd be working on it forever, so I frogged it and tried crocheting. I found a #5 steel crochet hook (stamped with it's price - 15 cents) that I inherited from Bob's grandmother and started to chain. I am working from the 2 1/2 cone and winding directly onto a heavy cardboard tube. This is working faster and I like the look of the finished product. I have another big cone of very fine silk yarn - different color - that will get the same treatment if I like the way it knits up.
If you think that I'm spending an inordinate amount of time, I liken this to spinning fiber to create yarn. It is also "mindless" work as I do not have to look at it. I think that this would work with any fine thread of any fiber content. I may also try a crocheted tube and may try I cord again if I have a thicker thread.
I just have the sleeves to go on Older Sister's CNC. I want to get that out of here before it gets too hot since it's a lapful!
I've been making a lot of sushi since dear Bob's birthday last week. I make the california style roll - it's the flavor of least rejection by people who are put off by sushi.
Third Son is getting several awards today at school. I think that I've mentioned how proud we are of him. He has gone from being a special ed student, while living with his birth parents to being on honor roll in "regular" classes, a member of the student council, chess club, computer club and orchestra now that Bob and I have adopted him. He's a great kid and we'll all be there for the ceremony. I have no money, but I have such great kids!
Take care, I'll be posting to you later.
