Monday, July 22, 2013

I Shop, Therefore I Am. Aren't I?


(Although for now we aren't selling the 'Creek, I have been slowly trying to organize and get rid of things we no longer "need."  The idea of the basement, garage and especially barn getting cleaned out is overwhelming to the whole family.  Our house is small and since I can't stand clutter, I get it out of sight.  It's not as bad as it was...but it still lurks...

I wrote this article many years ago and found it recently.  Can you relate to any of this?  The purple lines are updates) GW-T


Many of us work hard at perhaps not our “dream job” so we can buy things we need (or think we need.)  If I had the money I’ve spent for all of my unnecessary purchases, I’d probably be out of debt and maybe even have some savings!  I would also have less clutter in my house, garage and barn.  Here are some examples of what I’ve bought (often even charged) that really haven’t “paid off.”  I am glad to say that I don’t charge things anymore, but it didn’t happen overnight. 

I admit that I am an uninspired cook.  Com’on, I can’t be great at everything!  I can eat a peanut butter sandwich and be done with it.  I think it’s mainly because I hate a mess (meaning doing dishes.)  We got $1500 worth of stainless steel, waterless, grease-less cookware that stacks on one burner to save energy (I never stack it) and is supposed to improve our meals.  All that has improved is I now have the shiniest, most expensive dirty pans soaking in my sink of anybody I know.  What I really need is “cook-less” cookware, because I still don’t like to cook! (Cook even less now!)

Another example of my impulse buying is my two bathroom cabinets filled to the brim with “free gifts with purchase” make-up and nifty little bags from Lancome, Clinique, Estee Lauder…all the great companies.  It looks great in the drawer.  I’ve never tried it most of it on my face.  Usually, it’s an off color for me (or a just plain ugly one) but heck, it’s free!!!! Well sort of.  I only had to buy $45 worth of stuff to get each one.  I have enough skin care products to last me into my next life and I’m only 41.  I don’t dare add up my investment in beauty that hasn’t turned me into a movie star yet!  I was heartbroken to hear they have expiration dates, so now it looks good in my trash can. 

If knowledge came with buying books, I’d be Einstein.  The problem is you actually have to read them. Imagine how great it would be if you could see improvement by just owning self-help books! But, even if you used to skip the reading part in school, real life simply doesn’t have "Cliff Notes" for everything!  (But hey, maybe it's on You Tube LOL!)  I never buy novels anymore, but get them from the library.  Not even so much because they are free, but because they leave by a deadline.

I am a respectable crafter, longing to be an artist.  I walk into art supply stores and desperately wish I could paint, draw, sculpt… anything.  I get all the tools and materials thinking I can “buy” my way into talent that I will never have. Even with my ability, I seldom make anything.  I guess I just expect the stuff to “breed” in the storage box and something will magically appear.

I certainly have to mention my investments in the fitness and diet industry.  Of all the things I dearly wish would work, especially magically, these are it!  (Cleaning supplies/make-up tie for a very close second.)  I despise the “no pain, no gain” philosophy.  Unfortunately, I just keep “gaining.”  I save a lot of money though not buying the latest bikinis and short sets.

Who hasn’t bought a treadmill or weight set only to use it as a clothes rack? The best jogging shoes in the world won’t help you get off the sofa.  But, they are comfier than high-heels for all those trips to the grocery store…

Then, there's the stuff you buy because you might need it someday.   If you need it then, buy it then!  But today isn't someday and it will add to your clutter now!  So, dig into those closets, garages, basements and barns and enjoy the light airy feeling of a job well done!  

Until next time,

Gale



Thursday, July 11, 2013

Gale's Gallery VIII: An Easy Blanket With A Surprise

Hello,

I know lots of you read the craft posts and I apologize for the delay.  Seems like I'm always doing that, huh?  

Well, here is a gift that I've made many times for babies.  But this time, I added a twist.  This blanket is always made from cotton (polyester is hot, yucky and will melt!)  It's washable, and if you've been around a baby five minutes, you know that's important.



These blankets do take awhile to make, but are really easy.  I simplified the pattern to not have ribbing because the color changes would hide them anyway, so why do it?  Although I do love knowing how appreciative the parents are, I make these blankets to be used (and abused.)  They aren't museum pieces, that's for sure.  A few of my blankets become the favored "bankie" and are washed until they become a series of strings.  That is great! 

But many parents love keepsakes and they are afraid to ruin the blankets, so I came up with a decent replacement.



I created a Christmas ornament using the scraps of yarn I used in knitting the blanket and filling a plain glass ball with it.  That way at least part of the "bankie" will survive.  Obviously, one could make an ornament "retroactively" by placing pieces of their child's favorite blanket in an ornament as well.


BLANKET 

Since this blanket is a square, you can make it any size.  I do a 36" square.  The pattern is basically an old dishcloth one.  I use 5-6 balls of cotton worsted-weight yarn.  Some people use Sugar 'n Cream but it depends on the color you want.  ALWAYS buy the balls of yarn at the same time, checking for dye lot.  Trust me, I've tried to wing it before and it's not good.  One time I even tried to dye yarn to finish up one little corner as I couldn't find any more of that dye lot.

I'm not going to be able to teach you how to knit here, but there are lots of online sources, books/videos, as well as your local yarn shop.

Cast on 3 stitches.

Row 1: knit 2, yarn over, knit 1.  
Row 2: knit 2, yarn over, knit 2...
Continue knitting 2, yarning over and knitting across until you get to 36" wide.

Then, Knit 1, knit 2 together, yarn over, knit 2 together until you are down to the last 3 stitches and cast off.  This is great TV watching knitting as you don't really have to think much.  It also makes it's own neat border.


ORNAMENT

I will explain how to do the ornament in a different post where I will have lots of other examples of an easy technique.  But, I think you get the idea from the photo!  

Happy Knitting!

Gale


Tuesday, July 2, 2013

It (Really) Ain't Easy Being Green!

Hello!

Hope your summer is going well!  Normal weird Ohio weather here, but nothing horrible (yet!) and everything is a lovely shade of green...



But there is a little less green here than a couple weeks ago.  I had to work, so the rest of the family went to an annual "frog giggin'" party at what they call the Swamp.  Fortunately, they have a regular cookout before "the hunt," after which I would depart and wait for the great "hunters" to return hours later.  I am not a fan of mosquitoes, ticks, etc.  However,  I do enjoy riding around the property on a Gator though.... Some close calls with flipping or going into the pond...

This year Mark brought the kids home before the hunt disappointed because there were too many people (many drinking) for it to be safe.

I am a queasy coward and don't plan to change.  I have never intentionally killed anything more than a fly (unfortunately, unintentionally much more.)  If you haven't heard of frog gigging, it is, I think, the barbaric hunting in the dark with flashlights and gigs aka "spears" used for the stabbing of innocent frogs.  This is said to be done to "thin the herd" but it is really a sport.  Sort of... except for the lights, spears and now boats.  There is nowhere for the frogs to get away.

They do cook the legs right after the hunt and they supposedly taste like chicken.  But many hunters at the party don't eat them and I think they should.  They are only supposed to hunt the big ones, but in the excitement of the chase, start stabbing anything that moves.  Yuk!  My only hope is they are killed instantly, but I know that is not the case.  

I have heard tales of normal, rational people turning in to crazed Grim Reapers with no fear of ruining their fancy outfits and shoes!  Mild-mannered, bashful, first-timers boldly stab away like bloodthirsty demons.  What is it that makes it so exciting?????  

Many of you are too young to remember "National Lampoon" magazine.  They had a famous cartoon, which became part of their logo...


poor little fellows....

As for me, I prefer frogs of a different sort:

Happy Fourth of July!

Until next time,

Gale