No bail outs, just rambling and knitting

Things are so crazy today with the economy and people over reacting everywhere, it’s awful.
I wanted to just try and lighten things up a bit.

Someone sent me an email the other day about dogs, and you know it may sound crazy but it taught me something that I wish everyone could learn.
I think that by living by a few simple things (that dogs do daily); the world would be a much better place.
Here’s the list:

1. When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
2. Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.
3. Take naps.
4. Stretch before rising.
5. Run, romp, and play daily.
6. Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
7. Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
8. On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
9. On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
10. When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
11. Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
12. Be loyal.
13. Never pretend to be something you're not.
14. If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
15. When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

Now really, if we all lived by those rules, wouldn’t life be sweeter?
Woof, woof

Autumn smells so good!

In front of where I work:









Have you ever noticed how the air changes in the fall? I love that smell and crisp clean feel that is outside.
The colors, brown, orange, yellow, I want them to be "in season" all year long!
This is definately my favorite time of year.

Like I mentioned before, we are having a craft/bake sale at work and so I have been trying to come up with ideas of what, if anything I could bring.
As a result of that thinking I came across this website and thought I’d share; it is 10 easy scarves you can knit and it has complete instructions, all for free:

Easy Scarves you can knit

There is also a link for 9 Easy Sweaters you can knit and Kidswear you can knit

Now, on a non-knit note, I found this YUMMY looking recipe:

Caramel Apple Pie (how to video)

Ingredients:
4-6 large red apples, sliced
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
6 tbsp unsalted butter
Pinch of salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup water
1 package Pillsbury Pie Crust, or pie dough for a double-crust 9" pie


This looks and sounds SO good, I’m pretty sure I already have everything I need except for the crust which I’m sure is pretty cheap.
I’m SO making this! Tonight? Maybe :)


Knit on!
and oh yeah
Bake on!

Just the beginning

I finally finished a knitting project again!!!
It was Circle Cloth by Hakucho, congratulations for writing the one perfect pattern to get me out of my funk! :0)





So now I am thinking about my next project. We are having a craft fair at work and I'm trying to decide if I want to make stuff to sell.
Last year I sold a bunch of hats and scarves.
Of course I can not spend any money on yarn this month so it would have to be with stuff I already have around the house. My stash is not very impressive, but I might be able to pull something out.

I really love Hakucho's Ball Band TP Cover That just might be my next project.

Well, I'm very happy that I am out of my slump, I just hope that I continue to stay motivated and maybe even actually get through some of my in process projects.

TTFN

Simple October

Well, as I promised myself, (here) I will live very light this month.

I am not planning on making any drastic changes, more to just stop and think before I spend a dime.

I want to be completely aware this month and see if I can cut back even more than I already do every other month of the year.



Oct 1st thru Oct 3rd



I did the monthly shopping trip and spent 1/3 of what I usually do.

We will see how that holds up as the weeks go by.



I was blessed to have a friend at work supply me with tons of fresh tomatoes and some zucchini……YUM!!!

That along with some homemade bread that my daughter-in-law gave me made several meals.

So, here’s a good tip for saving money, get free stuff!!! :0)



I have been taking PBJ sandwiches for lunch everyday along with a V8 (which I bought on sale at Costco with a coupon) so that too has been a big savings.



I plan on making lots of No Knead Bread, it’s cheap to make and SO delicious, I could totally eat it everyday.

I will be searching for other money saving recipes, which now that I think about it should have been done prior to my shopping trip. Oh well, I will have to search for recipes which will use up only the things I have on hand or that I can purchase cheaply.


I will keep a diary of the days to follow and probably just do one post about it at the end of the month so it won't be quite as boring.

Off to make my No Knead Bread!!

October

Well, I made it back from California safe and sound.
The trip was pretty fun even though it consisted of way too much time in the car.
We saw tons of cool things one of which was The Monterey Bay Aquarium:













And San Fran, where we went to Pier 39 and walked, and walked.
It was an absolutely beautiful day:






SF Hard Rock Cafe











And of course family, we saw lots of family which was awesome:












I got to reconnect with my lovely sister-in-law whom I had'nt seen in SEVERAL years, I really love her and I am so grateful that we are communicating again.











But now we are back and it's time to get back to routine.

I started and completed (YES!) the first real project on my house since I bought it 2 years ago. I stained the fence! It looks great.
It took me 3 gallons of stain and I am going to have to buy one more, maybe a smaller can to do some touch up, but that will probably have to wait until next spring
















It’s October, and I love it!!
I feel like with the rain and the cooler weather I will be more motivated to really kick up my knitting.
I even started a new project last night, granted it’s nothing much, just a wash cloth, but hey, it’s a start, right?

Not that I needed to start a new project when I have several unfinished ones. I still need to work on my Tree of Life Afghan, which I have a total love/hate relationship with. (It’s so hard!)
And then I have a pair of socks to finish and a scarf, which I posted about early but have since decided to frog and use the yarn for something else.

That’s it for now…….thanks for stopping by