dragged the rug I'm making into my bedroom so I can knit while various things are uploading. So far it is olive green wool, royal blue, and deep purple. It's amazing how much down time there is on a computer waiting for it to finish this or that funtion.It's already looking darn and chilly outside. I was going to cut out some aprons on my front porch, but I think I will wait on that until the light is better. My back was sore when I got up this morning so I'm trying to take it easy. Right now I'm getting the afternoon sleepies.I need to organize my yarn better. I'm not making the best of it.   read more

I've decided to make a vlog about what I've been up to lately and as soon as it uploads to youtube I'll share it here. It is me talking about Nanowrimo and Halloween 2009. And it highlights some of the projects I'm working on right now. Sometimes I forget I can make videos and weeks go by without me making one. I make them with my Canon Power Shot and Windows Movie Maker. I'm working on 2 aprons. I'm also making a knitted rug. And a beaded collar. And writing 1,667 words a day for the National Novel Writer's Month. It sounds like a lot but I still have time to blog and watch too much TV and   read more

This video says it all. Call your congress critters and put the word out. Tell them to vote NO on any new healthcare bills.   read more

It's been a busy day and I'm getting kind of sleepy. But I'm still making bread. The loaf I spent all day making is about ready to go into the oven. I can't wait to see it turning brown. My first loaf ever of home baked sourdough bread. I'm so excited. While it was rising, I went to the fabric store and picked out the fabric to make two aprons for Christmas gifs. Each apron has 2 fabrics. So for the first one I'm going with red chili peppers on a burnt orange background with orange and yellow polka dots for the pockets and straps.   read more

Today has been a busy day and not much time for crafting. This is Nanowrimo month so I've been working on my novel. And some of my characters are crafters! Ha, big surprise there. One of them crochets and the other one is sewing. Speaking of sewing I want to make some aprons for Christmas gifts. I got a cool pattern from Simplicity. It's 2492. The catalog has a Christmas version not shown on the pattern envelope. But I think I want to make a year round version. If I'm going to that much trouble I don't want to make something someone will open on Christmas that they won't want to wear until   read more

My knitting plans on the train flew out the window on Sunday. The trip is 2 hours by bus and 3 by train. Only the bus was packed, and then so was the train. It looks like many students took the train to Isla Vista for the Halloween party scene, and bought group tickets, because the conductor had a big ole stack of tickets and was checking it with IDs and everyone on my train car seemed to be under 24. I had no elbow room.However, at the Santa Barbara train station, our train was delayed for an hour and a half. Another train was stuck on the rails, and our train ended up pushing it into town.   read more

Congratulations to our good friend Doug Hall who has been named senior editor of Organic Gardening. Editor-in-chief Ethne Clarke made the announcement today. Doug was at Meredith for over a decade, most recently as senior editor of one of Better Homes & Gardens special interest magazine. Before that he was Associate Garden Editor at Better Homes and Gardens, where he wrote and edited articles about basic gardening techniques and landscape design. For eight years before that, Hall held various editorial positions at Flower & Garden magazine, including Managing Editor and Editor in Chief.I   read more

Nowadays, hot water heaters come in two different types, gas or electric. Which one is used in the home depends mostly upon the availability and price of natural gas or propane, which can be more sparing than electricity. Some homes are adapting to solar hot water heaters, but overall, electric and gas hot water heaters are far more common.Both types of water heaters require very little repair once installed. Manufacturers recommend flushing water heaters at least once a year in order to remove any build of sediment at the base of the heater. This is an easy task to perform and an examination   read more

think I finally have Halloween out of my system. I'm candied out, costumed out and tuckered out. I'm still 300 miles from home though. I'm looking forward to knitting on the train. I just hope it's not too crowded from the weekend travelers heading home on a Sunday afternoon. I've never taken the train on a Sunday before so we'll see how it goes. The train won't sell out but the bus might. Being crammed in a bus seat too narrow for my thighs for two hours isn't my idea of a fun time. So I'm hoping to get a empty pair of seats so I can work on crafts. I have time to do some beadwork before leaving   read more

The term “fly fishing gear” can be used to refer to a lot of parts of your fly fishing supplies. In this article, we’ll discuss various piece of fly fishing gear that are important to have on hand. You already know you need a rod and reel, but there’s so much more involved in your fly fishing gear.Of course, you’ll need to have a variety of flies to use as bait for the fish. Flies are meant to mimic the look and movement of a fish’s natural food source. Some fish prefer different flies, and when you use what they are used to eating, your chances are better of landing a bite. Keep   read more