tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54990298540639628532024-03-12T20:22:38.485-07:00Fixer's Fibre InsanityOne woman's adventures in travel, literature, cooking, cleaning, pet ownership, family management, and of course the FIBRE ARTS! (currently reading: random short stories by Philip K. Dick)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119032382271627748noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499029854063962853.post-28451232512758306122015-05-05T10:19:00.000-07:002015-05-05T10:19:00.750-07:00Recipe: Apple-Brandy Cake<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A traditional coffee cake with a twist! Soft, moist cake, tart apples, and sweet streusel topping combine for a delicious experience.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-P4SbOmRJ1OpUK5yNMUctLYNtT9NZGHPFAINBa20FWFHfcRpuIoFuT3JXix2ojXjm88AhVr3WgbfIvmv6EjFdxyOS1Zdwg1WOXgoTr8roCPSbOleQfX6XWovBgXDvDXtSX9etiPOglgT/s1600/cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-P4SbOmRJ1OpUK5yNMUctLYNtT9NZGHPFAINBa20FWFHfcRpuIoFuT3JXix2ojXjm88AhVr3WgbfIvmv6EjFdxyOS1Zdwg1WOXgoTr8roCPSbOleQfX6XWovBgXDvDXtSX9etiPOglgT/s1600/cake.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Ingredients</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Filling</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1-1/2 lbs. (.7 kg) tart baking apples, peeled, cored and sliced medium-thin</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">2 Tbsp. (28 g) butter</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">2 tsp. (4.7 g) cinnamon</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Cake</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1/2 cup (113.4 g) butter, softened </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">3/4 cup (150 g) granulated sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">3 eggs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">3 cups (360 g) all-purpose flour</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1 Tbsp. (14 g) baking powder</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1 tsp. (13 g) salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1/2 cup (118 ml) brandy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1-1/4 cup (296 ml) milk</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Streusel</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1 cup (90 g) rolled oats</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1/2 cup (90 g) packed brown sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">4 Tbsp. (57 g) butter, melted</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Directions</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Filling</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Melt butter over medium heat in a covered skillet. Add apples and mix to coat. Add a sprinkle of cinnamon. Cover and reduce heat to low. Cook until apples are beginning to soften. The time this takes will vary depending on the apples you have, so check them often and give them a stir. Cool the apple filling to room temperature before adding to the cake batter. If you want you can reserve the cooking liquid to use in the cake batter. Just substitute it for some of the milk. When apples are cool toss with the rest of the cinnamon.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Cake</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Cream butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Beat in eggs. In another bowl mix the flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir together the brandy, milk, and any reserved apple liquid to make 1-3/4 cup (414 ml) liquid. Alternately add liquid and dry ingredients to the butter mixture, combining well after each addition.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Streusel</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Combine all three ingredients and mix well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Grease a 13x9 inch baking dish. Pour half of the batter into the pan. It will seem like a thin layer, but it will rise quite a bit in baking. Layer the apples on top of the batter. Drop the remaining cake batter by spoonfuls on top of the apples. Sprinkle streusel evenly on top - the easiest way to do this is with your hands.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Bake in a 350°F (177°C) oven for 35-40 minutes. The toothpick and springback tests don't work for this cake, so cook until the top is golden brown and it looks done. When you smell it the second time it's almost done.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Notes and Substitutions</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">* You can use whatever apples you have on hand but you may want to reduce the sugar if you use a sweeter apple.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">* If you hate peeling fruit you can skip that step, but the skins will make cutting the cake slightly challenging. Unless I'm baking for company I don't peel my apples.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">* If you're really in a hurry you can use a can of apple pie filling. Toss it with the cinnamon as directed. No other recipe changes are necessary.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">* If you're still in a hurry you can pour all the batter into the pan at once, put the apples on top, and the streusel on the apples. The cake might be just a touch dryer, but it'll still be tasty.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">* If you don't want to use alcohol you can substitute soft cider or just use milk to make up the liquid.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">* This recipe was developed using lactose-free low-fat milk and salted butter.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119032382271627748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499029854063962853.post-20957981215807214212013-07-03T13:27:00.000-07:002013-07-03T13:27:01.018-07:00Dear Knit Picks,<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I love you guys. You know that. You have some awesome support for independent designers and the best sock yarns in the business. However, your needles have gone to heck in a handbasket over the past 18 months. The quality has degraded so rapidly that it's shocking.</span><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">What's really shocking, though, is today's email ad.</span><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><i style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">> Thanks to savvy and subtle<br />> manufacturing improvements we're now<br />> able to offer the same beautiful<br />> product at an even more beautiful<br />> price.</i><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">What a load of crap. The "manufacturing improvement" in question is a move to fabrication in China. It's less expensive, but it's also cheaper. Cheaper as in, cheaping out on materials and workmanship.</span><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">They're not the same needles as you claim. They're much, much worse. They weren't worth the old price, but they're not worth the new price, either.</span><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I won't be buying. The frustration isn't worth it. I just feel sorry for all the new knitters who think they're getting a great deal and then have endless problems with their knitting because of these cheap, junky needles.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119032382271627748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499029854063962853.post-29355878109905970872012-03-18T20:47:00.000-07:002012-03-18T20:47:38.539-07:00March MadnessIn honor of March Madness and the Sock Knitters Anonymous March challenge, which is cables and traveling stitches, I have discounted my Garnet Lattice and Carborundum sock patterns.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/purchase/maria-velasquez-mckeeth-designs/95567"><img border="0" src="http://www.ravelry.com/images/shopping/buy-now.gif" /></a> Carborundum is a beaded sock with a diamond motif in traveling stitches. It includes charts for the leg, heel, gusset and foot and written instructions for sock construction. It is for sale on Ravelry using the button above or this link: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/purchase/maria-velasquez-mckeeth-designs/95567">buy now</a> (no Ravelry account is necessary. You can use your PayPal account). <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxX9FoipyVDe9WRfSCJUyAb9hXgZRu9vTuOCH4S5e-I3VD2_LtZKZmbVwTsSmRJBEFzKqDTU7Q2sJGJ3seXUgW7wkm27CfzsXofD3jaSTvoG1MRpPI-FyLAV_mXBjkLdfO-Vsjz0srd10O/s1600/Carborundum1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxX9FoipyVDe9WRfSCJUyAb9hXgZRu9vTuOCH4S5e-I3VD2_LtZKZmbVwTsSmRJBEFzKqDTU7Q2sJGJ3seXUgW7wkm27CfzsXofD3jaSTvoG1MRpPI-FyLAV_mXBjkLdfO-Vsjz0srd10O/s320/Carborundum1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/purchase/maria-velasquez-mckeeth-designs/90287"><img border="0" src="http://www.ravelry.com/images/shopping/buy-now.gif" /></a> Garnet Lattice is an allover pattern of interlocking diamonds accented with beads and eyelets. The charted pattern includes a lattice-patterned toe. The download includes charts for two sizes and written instructions for sock construction. You can purchase using the button or this link: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/purchase/maria-velasquez-mckeeth-designs/90287">buy now</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEh6J3H1u2koSTzpSHZZ58mdn0eQVjpkyZvrhctJJ_KzNSQtHcdJsP1p0OKyfgwJBusup2_bscr_1iG_0OLP6o-NVVWLAqoIijNm0KwHPFeCaIBTYOjoD5QbX-bNM6AvMSGbFjOvDX6cts/s1600/Garnet+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEh6J3H1u2koSTzpSHZZ58mdn0eQVjpkyZvrhctJJ_KzNSQtHcdJsP1p0OKyfgwJBusup2_bscr_1iG_0OLP6o-NVVWLAqoIijNm0KwHPFeCaIBTYOjoD5QbX-bNM6AvMSGbFjOvDX6cts/s320/Garnet+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
If you don't want to use Ravelry for the transaction you may email me at <a href="mailto:maria.mckeeth@gmail.com">maria.mckeeth@gmail.com</a>. Please include your PayPal address and which patterns you wish to purchase. I will send you an invoice via PayPal. The sale prices are US$3.00 for Carborundum and US$2.50 for Garnet Lattice. You will receive a complete PDF of the patterns you order. No physical copy will be sent.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119032382271627748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499029854063962853.post-41728040484693858732012-01-05T02:00:00.000-08:002012-03-18T20:23:58.970-07:00On the twelfth day of Christmas my True Love sent to me...<span id="internal-source-marker_0.35760499189603656" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Twelve noise citations,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Eleven tow trucks towing,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ten Sharks a-skating,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Nine traffic cops,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Eight buskers busking,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Seven baby possums,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Six Canada geese,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Five live octopuses!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Four tabby cats,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Three hummingbirds,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Two Muscovy ducks,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And an egret in a western red cedar.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“I think I know what he’s going to get for Valentine’s Day this year.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Oh yeah? What’s that?”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Divorce papers!”</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119032382271627748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499029854063962853.post-3337940168190641572012-01-04T02:00:00.001-08:002012-03-18T20:22:31.735-07:00On the eleventh day of Christmas my True Love sent to me...<span id="internal-source-marker_0.35760499189603656" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Eleven tow trucks towing,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ten Sharks a-skating,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Nine traffic cops,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Eight buskers busking,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Seven baby possums,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Six Canada geese,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Five live octopuses!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Four tabby cats,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Three hummingbirds,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Two Muscovy ducks,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And an egret in a western red cedar.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“What the...”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“HOA says the police cars were double parked.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Geez, those Scrooges would impound Santa’s sleigh.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Yeah, they wouldn’t know a reindeer if it ran over them.”</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119032382271627748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499029854063962853.post-48676732354007764942012-01-03T02:00:00.001-08:002012-03-18T20:21:30.817-07:00On the tenth day of Christmas my True Love sent to me...<span id="internal-source-marker_0.35760499189603656" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ten Sharks a-skating,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Nine traffic cops,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Eight buskers busking,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Seven baby possums,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Six Canada geese,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Five live octopuses!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Four tabby cats,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Three hummingbirds,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Two Muscovy ducks,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And an egret in a western red cedar.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Well, there goes our chance at the Stanley Cup.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“On the plus side, you got to see Doug Murray beat up an octopus.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“He cheated! Officer Lodge distracted it!”</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119032382271627748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499029854063962853.post-32014820651900392992012-01-02T01:00:00.000-08:002012-01-02T01:00:01.012-08:00On the ninth day of Christmas my True Love sent to me...<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Nine traffic cops,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Eight buskers busking,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Seven baby possums,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Six Canada geese,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Five live octopuses!</b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Four tabby cats,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Three hummingbirds,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Two Muscovy ducks,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And an egret in a western red cedar.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">“He says he’s not going to take me in for kidnapping because even with the octopus climbing up his leg it’s still calmer in here than the 680 at rush hour.”</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119032382271627748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499029854063962853.post-38076481711634703692012-01-01T01:00:00.000-08:002012-01-01T01:00:00.147-08:00On the eighth day of Christmas my True Love sent to me...<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Eight buskers busking,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Seven baby possums,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Six Canada geese,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Five live octopuses!</b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Four tabby cats,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Three hummingbirds,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Two Muscovy ducks,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And an egret in a western red cedar.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">“Is that a...ukulele?”</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">“Looks that way.”</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">“Shame she has no idea how to play it.”</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119032382271627748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499029854063962853.post-11875085565331734632011-12-31T01:00:00.000-08:002011-12-31T01:00:08.205-08:00On the seventh day of Christmas my True Love sent to me...<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Seven baby possums,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Six Canada geese,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Five live octopuses!</b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Four tabby cats,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Three hummingbirds,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Two Muscovy ducks,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And an egret in a western red cedar.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">“You know, I can’t figure out whether to report you to PETA, the UN, or Homeland Security.”</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119032382271627748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499029854063962853.post-75680863703395828282011-12-30T01:00:00.000-08:002011-12-30T01:00:05.794-08:00On the sixth day of Christmas my True Love sent to me...<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Six Canada geese,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Five live octopuses!</b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Four tabby cats,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Three hummingbirds,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Two Muscovy ducks,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And an egret in a western red cedar.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">*sigh* “So much for the carpets.”</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119032382271627748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499029854063962853.post-5321508951445916302011-12-29T01:00:00.000-08:002011-12-29T01:00:02.947-08:00On the fifth day of Christmas my True Love sent to me...<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Five live octopuses!</b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Four tabby cats,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Three hummingbirds,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Two Muscovy ducks,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And an egret in a western red cedar.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">“What is this I don’t even...?!”</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">“The Red Wings are in town, there was a sale.”</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119032382271627748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499029854063962853.post-43216992235221938052011-12-28T01:00:00.000-08:002011-12-28T01:00:07.304-08:00On the fourth day of Christmas my True Love sent to me...<span id="internal-source-marker_0.35132908725773115" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Four tabby cats,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Three hummingbirds,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Two Muscovy ducks,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And an egret in a western red cedar.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“You’re a sick bastard, did you know that?”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Did you know there’s an egret on your head?”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Can you blame him?”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“<i>Wrawk</i>.”</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119032382271627748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499029854063962853.post-24285647264583141172011-12-27T01:00:00.000-08:002011-12-27T01:00:03.276-08:00On the third day of Christmas my True Love sent to me...<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Three hummingbirds,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Two Muscovy ducks,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And an egret in a western red cedar.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“You know one of these hummingbirds is trying to take on a duck?”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“They’re very territorial.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“And he’s winning!”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“<i>Flzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz</i>.” “<i>Wrawk</i>.”</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119032382271627748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499029854063962853.post-74793740295825532712011-12-26T01:00:00.000-08:002011-12-26T01:00:04.655-08:00On the second day of Christmas my True Love sent to me...<span id="internal-source-marker_0.35132908725773115" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Two Muscovy ducks,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And an egret in a western red cedar.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“What the hell is a Muscovy duck, anyway?”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“They’re the big ones with the nubbly faces that live in the park.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Ugly suckers.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Hey, that’s no way to talk about your Christmas present!”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Well, I wouldn’t want to meet one down a dark alley at night, is all I’m sayin’.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“<i>Wrawk.</i>”</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg-zlwnrEkzfe8oKzW3Q5AucAqnhDYE8ateYI1pKXb2r-EW0usRoJa_UBA_JKPNfGYJCxY4PRZyq6xIM8WGPMrJAIvvJPB7PkdzCrQ8THIqLgTorS3e47qIgZO_5Ee40i2psN7iWZ38VHc/s1600/Duck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg-zlwnrEkzfe8oKzW3Q5AucAqnhDYE8ateYI1pKXb2r-EW0usRoJa_UBA_JKPNfGYJCxY4PRZyq6xIM8WGPMrJAIvvJPB7PkdzCrQ8THIqLgTorS3e47qIgZO_5Ee40i2psN7iWZ38VHc/s1600/Duck.jpg" /></a></div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Photo by </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">original uploader <a class="extiw" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Steevven1" title="en:User:Steevven1">Steevven1</a> at <a class="external text" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/">en.wikipedia</a> and used under a <a class="extiw" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:Creative_Commons" title="w:en:Creative Commons">Creative Commons</a><a class="external text" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/deed.en" rel="nofollow">Attribution 2.5 Generic</a> license with my thanks.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119032382271627748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499029854063962853.post-63347638267097954832011-12-25T01:00:00.000-08:002011-12-25T01:00:08.194-08:00Merry Christmas!<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I have a little gift for everyone. A new post will be made every day from now 'til Twelfth Night. Have a blessed and peaceful holiday and a prosperous New Year!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>The 12 Days of Christmas, Northern California Style</b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">On the first day of Christmas my True Love sent to me...</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">An egret in a western red cedar.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">“Hey, where’s my pear tree?”</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">“You don’t even like pears.”</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">“<i>Wrawk</i>.”</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcerxNSsCVFCuCvFg4klIogwK4pILuiER53X5IxGRx3BOnpCs-sra_poj-nmFtJd8ybopfTVDiQcdTDLBSFIaRM-b49fLCZKDZwWD7thKHDJ0opjVZ-ECrVXh5z-SxZUpZ9j_6Aj8N3jz/s1600/Egret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcerxNSsCVFCuCvFg4klIogwK4pILuiER53X5IxGRx3BOnpCs-sra_poj-nmFtJd8ybopfTVDiQcdTDLBSFIaRM-b49fLCZKDZwWD7thKHDJ0opjVZ-ECrVXh5z-SxZUpZ9j_6Aj8N3jz/s320/Egret.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Photo by </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a class="external text" href="http://www.flickr.com/people/9062441@N02" rel="nofollow">Len Blumin</a> of Mill Valley, California, United States and reshared under a <a class="extiw" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:Creative_Commons" title="w:en:Creative Commons">Creative Commons</a><a class="external text" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en" rel="nofollow">Attribution 2.0 Generic</a> license with my sincere thanks</span> .</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119032382271627748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499029854063962853.post-3814151709533231012011-12-15T15:35:00.000-08:002011-12-15T15:35:37.029-08:00Stocking ShoppingI realized again this Christmas that many women end up filling their own stockings for whatever reason. I find this kind of sad, not in the pathetic sense but in the sense that it's too bad that they have to find their own little goodies. After all, the surprise is part of the fun, right?<br />
<br />
So I thought it would be nice to put together a guide to small gifts for grown-up women. I intend this post to be a kind of work in progress - I'll add things as I think of them and then repost next winter for maximum helpfulness.<br />
<br />
So here we go, broken down into categories.<br />
<br />
<b>General Interest</b><br />
<ul><li><b>Gift Cards</b> - always fit in the stocking and always fit the recipient, assuming you don't give a Harbor Freight card to a lady that's not into power tools. Think of what stores she frequents, and I DON'T mean the grocery store. Book stores, craft stores, and her favorite coffee shop are good choices.</li>
<li><b>Lip stuff</b> - gifting makeup can be tricky. But you can probably make a pretty good guess at what she likes. Does she wear lipstick or lip gloss? Then a tinted gloss or clear sparkle gloss might be good. If she's outdoors a lot a SPF chapstick is a good choice. If she's into natural stuff Burt's Bees or a local-made beeswax balm are a good choice.</li>
<li><b>Beverages</b> - no, not a bottle of beer, unless you're positive that's what she wants. Fancy tea, gourmet coffee or cocoa mix are usually welcomed by their respective fanciers.</li>
<li><b>Flashlight or booklight</b> - really handy for anyone. I like to have an LED flashlight on my keychain, not only for finding my way in the dark, but for finding things in my purse/computer bag/carry-on. MagLite makes the mini and micro sizes that are great and the Sapphire light is also a nifty light.</li>
<li><b>Pocket knife/multi tool</b> - if she doesn't have one she probably doesn't know she needs it...yet. Find a small model that includes a scissors.</li>
<li><b>Chemical handwarmers</b> - my brilliant idea of the year last year. If you live in a place that's even remotely cold it can be nice to have a set of handwarmers handy just in case.</li>
</ul><b>For Crafters:</b><br />
<ul><li> <b>Scissors</b> - you can never have too many. New embroidery scissors or clever travel scissors are good stocking-sized choices.</li>
<li><b>Marking pens/pencils/Sharpies</b> - pens run out, they hide, they get left in the other bag. More are always welcome.</li>
<li><b>Measuring tape</b> - using a cloth tape means it needs to be replaced every couple of years anyway due to stretching. A smallish metal tape is nice for some applications, but sometimes the flexible tape is a necessity. Also useful for many crafters is a really nice straight edge/ruler like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Classics-12-Inch-Stainless-Backing-TPG-152/dp/B002IXKD9U/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1293840873&sr=8-4">this stainless steel one</a>.</li>
<li><b>Craft gloves</b> - repetitive motion becomes an issue at some point for almost every crafter. Having a pair on hand can be a lifesaver.</li>
<li><b>Notepads</b> - like the pens, they have a tendency to wander and are consumable. Don't get ones that say Grocery List or Things to Do unless you know she won't take it as a hint and make you sleep on the couch.</li>
</ul><b>Knitters</b> <br />
If you have a knitter to buy for, you're lucky. They need all manner of nifty things that will fit in stockings.<br />
<ul><li><b>Luxury needles</b> - like these super sweet <a href="http://www.yarnmarket.com/yarn/Blackthorn_Needles-Blackthorn_DPNs-6564.html">carbon-fibre DPNs</a>. Or some <a href="http://www.lanternmoon.com/SP.asp">pretty wooden needles</a>.</li>
<li><b>Cable needles</b> - mine have a tendency to escape into the wild and are never seen again.</li>
<li><b>Yarn needles</b> - maybe I'm just bad at owning needles.</li>
<li><b>Fancy yarns</b> - get her something she wouldn't get for herself, like a ball of <a href="http://www.windyvalleymuskox.net/colors/royal-blend.html">qiviut/silk blend</a>. Or if she's a sock knitter get her something she <i>would</i> get for herself - sock yarn! (Remember that it takes 100 grams of fingering weight yarn to make a pair of socks. Most sock yarns come in either 50 gram or 100 gram balls.)</li>
<li><b>Row counter</b> - this is where my partner came up a winner last year. I had been using <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dice#Non-cubical_dice">polyhedral dice</a> to keep track of my patterns. (I'm such a geek.) Being able to tote my counter along with my project is a huge improvement!</li>
<li><b>Stitch markers</b> - pretty stitch markers abound, on <a href="http://www.etsy.com/">Etsy</a> and elsewhere. (<a href="http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_query=snag+free+stitch+markers&search_type=handmade&ref=auto">Example search of Etsy.</a>)</li>
</ul><b>Crocheters</b><br />
Mostly the same as knitters, but I'll note the differences as they're kind of important.<br />
<ul><li><b>Fancy hooks</b> - <a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=1404530">pretty wood hooks</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Clover-Touch-6-0-mm-Crochet-Hooks/dp/B000QHGW9U/ref=tag_stp_s2_edpp_url">ergonomic hooks</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Crochet-Lite-Hooks-Size-4-5mm/dp/B000SKHR6W/ref=tag_stp_s2_edpp_url">light up hooks</a>...all fun and a little different.</li>
<li><b>Yarn needles</b> - same as above.</li>
<li><b>Fancy yarn</b> - crocheting takes around 30% more yarn than knitting, so keep this in mind when purchasing.</li>
<li><b>Row counter</b> - I never used one for crocheting, but I also never had one before. I'm guessing it's as handy for hooking as it is for needling.</li>
<li><b>Stitch markers</b> - similarly useful, but crocheting stitch markers must be <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Coats-Clark-Split-Stitch-Markers/dp/B000QHD6FS/ref=sr_1_12?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1293844173&sr=1-12">removable</a>/<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/60370921/removable-markers-for-knit-or-crochet?ref=sr_gallery_1&ga_search_query=lace+stitch+markers&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=&order=&includes[0]=tags&includes[1]=title&filter[0]=handmade">openable</a>.</li>
</ul><b>Cross-Stitchers/Needleworkers</b><br />
<ul><li> <b>Needles</b> - this is getting to be a theme. In this case you might have to ask what kind she uses - take notes!</li>
<li><b>Travel scissors/snips</b> - I really like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gingher-G-NS-4-4-Inch-Featherweight-Thread/dp/B000UUABEK/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1293844816&sr=1-1">these ones</a>, and TSA has never given them a second look. </li>
<li><b>Luxury thread/floss packs</b> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/DMC-Light-Effects-Metallic-Packs-Pearlescent/dp/B001DEEM92/ref=sr_1_11?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1293844914&sr=1-11">DMC Light Effects</a> are fun, as are <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Weeks-Dye-Works-Strand-Embroidery/dp/B002UT70RU/ref=sr_1_49?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1293845095&sr=1-49">hand dyed flosses</a>.</li>
<li><b>Magnetic needle keeper</b> - either for the <a href="http://www.nordicneedle.com/PROD/7431.html">table</a> or on a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/50543076/magnetic-needle-holder-pendant-custom">necklace</a> or brooch. Until I got one of these I just parked the needle in my shirt...you can guess how happy that made the people who wanted to hug me!</li>
</ul>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119032382271627748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499029854063962853.post-33136831375134058002011-05-23T18:36:00.000-07:002011-05-23T18:36:02.551-07:00Not Dead YetI'm deep in several projects right now: two about to be published crochet patterns and another in the design stage, some nifty needlecases up on Etsy, and a novel that is moving right along thanks to obsession, the nice ladies and gents on Rav, and Dr. Wicked's awesome <a href="http://writeordie.com/">Write or Die</a> program.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119032382271627748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499029854063962853.post-37327043064926172022011-04-30T12:30:00.000-07:002011-04-30T12:30:29.392-07:00Placing Beads on Sock YarnThe May techniques for <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/sock-knitters-anonymous">Sock Knitters Anonymous</a> are beads and texture. And even more exciting is the Mock (mystery sock) which also includes beads!<br />
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Here's a simple method to get the beads onto the yarn without having to tear your hair out, aka forcing yarn through the eye of a beading needle. All you need is some sewing thread and a needle with an eye that will pass through your beads. I prefer a small-gauge tapestry needle for this task, though a sewing sharp will also work. (In the photos my beads are strung on yarn for visibility. If you use thread this will all be much easier. Also I haven't wound my yarn yet.)<br />
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Step 1: Wind your yarn into cakes or balls if necessary and string your beads onto a length of sewing thread, leaving the needle on the thread. It is okay to knot the far end of the thread (or use a bead) to keep the beads from escaping.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y275/fixergirl/Yarn/Step1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y275/fixergirl/Yarn/Step1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Step 2: Loop the working end of your sock yarn ONCE around the sewing thread, doubling both fibers back on themselves. Your work should look like this:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y275/fixergirl/Yarn/Step2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y275/fixergirl/Yarn/Step2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Step 3: Thread the needle back through the first bead, being careful not to split the thread (this is where the tapestry needle makes it a bit easier).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y275/fixergirl/Yarn/Step3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y275/fixergirl/Yarn/Step3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Step 4: Slide the bead down to the loop of yarn. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y275/fixergirl/Yarn/Step4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y275/fixergirl/Yarn/Step4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Step 5: Tug the bead a little to pop it over the junction.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y275/fixergirl/Yarn/Step5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y275/fixergirl/Yarn/Step5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Step 6: Pull the yarn tail free of the bead. Voilà, you have a bead right where you want it!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y275/fixergirl/Yarn/Step6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y275/fixergirl/Yarn/Step6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Once you have the steps down you can do several beads at once limited only by the length of your needle. Good luck and enjoy your beaded socks!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119032382271627748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499029854063962853.post-77602711108578366922010-12-31T10:03:00.000-08:002010-12-31T10:03:07.853-08:00I Can't Decide!Stephanie Flynn at <a href="http://rossiter-designs.blogspot.com/">Rossiter Designs</a> is giving away some really nice Celtic cross-stitch designs in January. They're all so beautiful I had an awful time deciding which one I'd like the most. I finally settled on the <a href="http://www.celticobsessions.com/KnotworkDesigns.htm#Celtic%20Sampler">Celtic Sampler</a>; I really love the knotwork.<br />
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If you'd like to enter as well the rules are posted <a href="http://rossiter-designs.blogspot.com/p/win-free-pattern.html">here</a> on Stephanie's blog.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119032382271627748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499029854063962853.post-71271250688170378012010-12-30T16:05:00.000-08:002010-12-30T16:05:47.094-08:00You say potato, I say YARN BOWL!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y275/fixergirl/fabricbowl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y275/fixergirl/fabricbowl.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
I was having my morning browse at <a href="http://craftgossip.com/">Craftgossip</a> and found this awesome fabric bowl. Of course, the first thing that sprang to my mind was, "Hey, that would make an awesome yarn bowl!" (The second was that it would make a cool washable bread basket for the dinner table.)<br />
<br />
The tutorial by Jennifer is available at <a href="http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=14722">Sew, Mama, Sew!</a> I'm going to whip out my fabric scraps and try it right away since I already have the sewing machine set up for ornament finishing. (Finishing is the wrong word for it. I'm never gonna be finished.) One of these would be really cute filled with pinecones for Christmas. Or gelt at Hanukkah. Easter eggs, Valentines candies, apples in the fall...I can see it now. I'm going to end up with about a hundred of these. <br />
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I also have a nifty idea for a variation: I'm going to get some little sew-on snaps and do snap-together corners instead of sewn. This will have a couple of advantages: they'll be easier to wash and iron and they'll be able to store flat; a particular advantage for the seasonal bowls I'm sure to make. I'll post pics (sort of, the Canon is still sickly) and let y'all know how the snaps turn out!<br />
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PS - I just realized since the pattern uses heavy interfacing I could foundation quilt or crazy quilt the top layer. Somebody stop me!<br />
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PPS - The snaps will also allow you to use the corners as a yarn guide without being tied to the bowl. Genius!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119032382271627748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499029854063962853.post-2103432996432022902010-12-30T15:17:00.000-08:002010-12-30T15:17:35.829-08:00In the New Year: Trying this AgainI am unlocking the blog for two reasons. One, I want a place to stash my knitting and crocheting pictures and musings and this is a good place to do it. Two, I want my patterns to be available to the crocheting public.<br />
<br />
Here's the deal. Comments are on, but they are being moderated. Abusive comments will be deleted with extreme prejudice and without response. I welcome reasoned debate and grammatical quibbling. If you find a mistake in a pattern please comment or email or both.<br />
<br />
(Speaking of mistakes in patterns - there seems to be a mistake in the Kaleidoscope Beret. I'll find it and fix it as soon as I have a spare moment to pick up a hook.)<br />
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Thank you all for your support and have a very happy New Year!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119032382271627748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499029854063962853.post-35007284710789441012010-06-14T08:21:00.000-07:002010-06-14T08:21:26.830-07:00RandomnessI just realized that I haven't even been keeping up with once a month posts. So here's my update, in no particular order.<br />
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1. Google analytics is really frelling annoying today. It's made Ravelry unusable and is probably going to make this post shorter than usual. I'm not even sure of what I need to do to make it stop. I did run malware/virus scans and nothing came up. <br />
<br />
2. I'm back into the RP swing on Star Pirates. I really enjoy RPing with that crew. Collaborative writing is a kick in the pants, both in the sense of being a lot of fun, and in the sense that it gets me motivated to actually write (and even more importantly, edit).<br />
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3. I want to knit. This is inconvenient because I'm supposed to be putting a crochet blanket together for Leah's birthday (Saturday), I have a shawl half-finished (Converted Shipwreck), and I have a really cool idea for another shawl/throw. I think I need to work out a reward system with myself.<br />
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4. I have an essay sketched out on late Victorian action adventure movies. I promise It won't turn out to be a rant, I'm a better writer than that. (Okay, maybe a little rant. Just a skosh.)<br />
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5. I'm gonna shoot somebody at google analytics with a dirty sock gun. This isn't funny.<br />
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6. I will add links to this post once I get the google problem sorted out.<br />
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*wanders off grumbling*<br />
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ETA: I finally got google analytics sorted out. I ended up having to install NoScript. It makes things a tidge slower, but it's totally worth it.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119032382271627748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499029854063962853.post-3063030825995764692010-03-21T21:33:00.000-07:002010-03-21T21:33:54.877-07:00Dumbest Thing Said By a TV Sportscaster TodayNHL Network reporter to Teemu Selanne: So I suppose you're aware of all 600 goals you've scored.<br />
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No, dumbass, they were a complete surprise to him. In fact, they didn't tell him about it until after he scored the 600th one tonight so they wouldn't spoil the surprise party the other Ducks players had all planned for him. Oy vey.<br />
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Congrats, Teemu. Go drink your champagne.<br />
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(I'm contemplating making this a recurring theme, but 1) I don't want to be known as that crazy chick making fun of retired athletes and 2) it's too much like shooting fish in a barrel.)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119032382271627748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499029854063962853.post-3324470512911271212010-03-08T12:54:00.000-08:002010-03-08T12:55:27.512-08:00WIPs (writing style)I don't even want to talk about the stalled fiber projects I have hanging around. I <i>do</i>, however, want to get some of my thoughts about what I'm writing organized.<br />
<br />
The horror story I wrote a couple of weeks ago is still sitting. I have character backgrounds in my head, and a rough idea of some story to go forward on. I don't think it's book-quality work, however I think it may be weird enough and engaging enough for a web serial. Watch this space for details. (My life is a funny thing. I was contacted last week by one of the people that I based a minor character on. He was even weirder than the story. Go figure.)<br />
<br />
I don't write much fantasy anymore. Certainly not the sword and sorcery type that I loved when I was younger. I don't read much of it either unless it's mixed into a volume of short stories. It's possible that <i>The Unschooled Wizard</i> was the last fantasy book I read, unless you count Conan. Now that I think about it <i>The Unschooled Wizard</i> and Conan fit into the same subgenre of fantasy, a subgenre to which I would also add Jennifer Roberson's <i>Sword Dancer</i> series.<br />
<br />
But the two fantasy stories I have bouncing around in my head don't fit into that category. One is a oddball combination of Shadowrun (post-awakening magical world without the anarchy) and coming-of-age that would probably fit best as a Young Adult novel, though I am trying to avoid angst in favor of more interesting conflicts. The other is...well, it's not fully formed yet, but it's a feminist take on the old prince marries girl stories. No, strike that -- not feminist, humanist. I want to write a fairy tale where the main characters have enough good sense to be disagreeable at times, and to fight the roles they're being forced into.<br />
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<i>Romeo Falling</i> is as it has been -- constantly in the back of my mind. It's a sort of incorporeal worry stone; I take it out and run it through my mind to distract myself from being worried or stressed. The title, which it has borne for almost ten years, has to go. It in no way describes what's happening. What's falling is Carly, the main character, and I don't know that she ever really hits bottom (though she repeatedly thinks she does). I dislike (due to overuse) the phrase "down the rabbit hole" and I'd rather think of freefall in space, though that metaphor for what's happening to Carly falls apart quickly. The <b>most</b> frustrating thing about that story, though, is that I have the entire thing outlined, which is usually the hard part for me. It's the writing that's proving problematic.<br />
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And that brings me to the work that I'm avoiding now by writing this blog post. <strike>I have never written a hard science fiction story.</strike> Correction, "Cold Dawn" is clearly hard SF, even if it happens to be 40K style. Cyberpunk has been more my thing, and borderline SF/fantasy. Psychers appeal to me, as do netrunners. I haven't the faintest idea how to write an alien. As of this story I'm trying anyway. What's more, I'm throwing the whole book of hard SF issues into it: FTL travel, colonization of other planets by humans, first contact, wars...you name it, it wants to be there. The work in this one will be the research. I have to decide which rules to bend to make it plausible, I have to map out alien psychologies. On top of all that -- wait for it -- I have three groups of characters I want to follow. It's a Game Master's nightmare and I'm doing it to myself. (Though it can't possibly be as bad as having a character set on a suicide for which an entire audience wants to lynch you because they blame the GM. At least I hope it won't be that bad.) Oh, and I need a linguist, because I sure as hell am not going to be able to make up convincing alien names. Maybe I'll just make 'em all speak Portuguese.<br />
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Okay, enough avoidance. My brain has wandered off to a planet that Terra has colonized for farming, and my fingers are cold from typing in front of a draft. I'll write if I find work...or if I find a plausible story in this drek.<br />
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Cheers,<br />
MAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119032382271627748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499029854063962853.post-53988671647406628002010-02-15T20:30:00.000-08:002010-02-15T20:30:57.837-08:00Quote of the DayAlmost anything carried to its logical extreme becomes depressing, if not carcinogenic.<br />
<i>~Ursula K. LeGuin in the introduction to</i> The Left Hand of DarknessAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119032382271627748noreply@blogger.com0