Bits&Pieces

in honor of all Presidents, both dead and living…

I present the before:

…and the after:

Awwwwww. Her so cute!

I don't know about you, but this knitting stuff is mildly...addictive? To put it…mildly.

So it's President's Day, and I'm actually going to take most of the day off. Right on! Just a few little work things to do, then I'm going to join millions of other Americans in reflecting upon and honoring our presidents, both dead and living.

For example, we'll bake cookies this morning in the shape of Millard Fillmore. We'll read stories and sing songs about Taft, and Truman and Kennedy. Oh…the fun we'll have!

Then we'll head out and exercise our rights as Americans to consume goods and services. Specifically, a new car stereo for my not-yet-ready-to-give-up-the-ghost 1990 Honda Civic. A little back story is needed…

I bought my Honda Civic used, in 1997. A steal at $6,500, it only had 20,000 miles on it, and I bought it from one of my print vendors. I was so happy. It was paid off in three years. I owned my own car. Yay me!

Over the years, the car has done pretty well. A few major services required here and there, but by and large, it's done exactly what I purchased it for: continue to run.

Now, in the past two weeks, it's been very cold here and it hasn't done what it was supposed to do (run) and as I pulled out the jumper cables each time I had to go somewhere, and gazed upon the rusted out wheel wells, and the chipping paint, and the front and rear bumpers which are both just one good pothole away from falling off…i thought to myself: I could afford to buy a new car.

I mean, I have a job. I have very, very few monthly bills, other than home owner type of bills. I have no credit card debt whatsoever. I have some money in savings that could go toward a downpayment. I could actually buy a vehicle with both airbags and working seat belts!

So I started a little web surfing…and looked at a few cars that have piqued my curiosity: a Mitsubishi Outlander, a Honda CRV and the Fit, and the enviro friendly (but kind of ugly) Prius. And I enter in the payment plans on each website and realize I could really get a new car for around $300-$350 if I played my cards right. WOW! I could actually manage this! And this includes such features as wheels and doors, standard!

So I share all of this information with Dan, who listens intently, nods quietly, and we move on with our day. That was on Thursday or Friday of last week.

We are now up to this morning, after the fourth car jumping of the past two weeks, and I say to  him: you know, I really do think it's time to consider a new car, maybe sooner than later. This car (my Honda) just isn't safe anymore. And, we can afford a new car.

To which he replies:

You know, just because you can afford something, doesn't mean you need to buy it.

Isn't that the sexiest reply you've ever heard?

Exactly.

Here's to putting a new car stereo in, because apparently, I will be driving this car until Coleman graduates from high school.

well then…

So many possible topics for a Monday morning: the snooze fest that was the Grammy's; the pattern for that bag; what color shirt I am wearing; and the list goes on…

First things first: this morning, Dan comes downstairs, wearing the same shirt and pants he wore to Sunday School yesterday (no,  he is not a student, rather, a teacher...to clarify) and he looked quite handsome, so I said, "Hey…you look nice. Didn't you wear that yesterday to church?" To which he replied:

Yes, I workshopped it over the weekend.

Second things: already this morning (and its only 8:25) Cole has had a few issues that have involved whining and general anger directed at, well, me. He said he was cold and needed pants. I told him to go get pants. He whined, "Couldn't yoooouuuuuu?" I said, no, and then asked him how come when daddy asks him to do things, he pretty much does them without a trace of whine. He said, "Because Dad makes me lists."

So i made a two-item list with a check box that said, "Go get pants" and "Don't whine."

Third things: the Grammys.

So guess what time i turned it on? 7:10 p.m. Which means the only REAL thing worth seeing, the Police reunion, was done and done. I'm sure it will show up on Youtube in the next half and hour or so. But still. It would've been nice.

When i was 17, the Police were my favorite band, following my three-year obsession with Journey. I LOVED that band. Categorically. And not just Stingy. All of 'em. Stewart. Andy. LOVED them. But that's fodder for another day.

My main problem with last night's show (and I do think Mary J. deserved her moment in the spotlight, no disrespect) was that it was…how does one say, boring? Boring. Zzzzzzzz. Shhhhhh. I'm asleep! I'm sure I could be really clever and witty if I thought harder about it, but that's all  i can say.

Except for the Dixie Chicks. Now…i have that album. I bought it because i like them. But honestly? I've hardly listened to it. I like the first half, and then it feels like it fades towards the end. I'm happy for them and all, winning what they did, but I have one BIG issue.

So…they're up there....thanking the songwriters....you know, giving a nice shout out to Minnesota song smithers, Dan Wilson, and Gary Louris....and then they added "...the rest of the songwriters...."

Hello? Would it have killed you to mention who wrote track 8?

I'm sure Neil won't be offended. It's fine. And it'll sound WAY better when his version comes out on the new Crowded House album. Right.

Okay…moving on to....knitting!

Here is the pattern, minus the felting instructions, but i figure that's easy: throw  it in the washer, with soap, and hot water. Repeat until you achieve desired effect. Fill bag with plastic bags to shape until dry.Yes? For to understand? (And  I have an ethics question: someone gave me this pattern. Is it wrong to share it here? What's the scoop on that? Because i'll gladly pull it down. Anyone?)

But I have a request of you: anyone who has a good pattern for making cute little felted flowers (which would be so for cute on this purse, yes?) please for to share with me?

Little Felted Bag
you need:

1 skein of chunky wool (140 yds)
16- to 24-inch size 11 circular needles
4 markers
yard needle

Guage: in stockinette, roughly 12 inches and 18 rounds, four inches

Finished measurements: after felting, purse is roughly 6.5 to 8.5 wide by 6.5 to 7.5 tall, depending on how long you felt.

To make bottom of purse: loosely cast on 13 stitches and work back and forth in garter stitch (knit every row) for 38 rows (19 ridges). Do not turn.

Begin main part of bag: Without turning, knit 13 stitches on needle, place marker and pick up 19 stitches along the long edge  (1 stitch for each ridge), place a marker and pick up 13 stitches along cast on edge, place marker, and pick up 19 stitches along second long edge, place a fourth marker to mark the beginning of the round; 64 stitches total.

Note: you will be working in rounds from now on. Be sure to keep moving markers as your work.

Begin knitting every round (stockinette stitch) until purse measures 10.5 inches, measuring from pick-p round, ending at beginning of round marker. (Mine was 9.5 inches. I was running low on the yarn!)

Begin handles: On next round, k13, slip marker off, k3, bind off next 13 stitches, k3, slip marker off, repeat to once more, leaving only beginning round marker.

On next round, k16, cast on 25 stitches, k19, cast on 25 stitches, knit to end of round.

Work 4 more rounds, bind off all stitches. Work in ends.

Felt.

Done.

EDITED TO ADD:

And one more thing: happy birthday to Angela Beltakis, who lives in Mt Gambier - South Australia. (She knows someone who apparently is a second cousin of some sort to Mr. Neil Finn. And that makes her SPECIAL!)

HAPPY DAY!

I'm in love…

…with something other than Dan…and Neil Finn.

I present, my first felted project:

OH FOR CUTE!

Seriously. I'm in love. In love with this tiny, super cute purse. My heart is a flutter.

The only reason i decided to learn to knit was because of this. I remember thinking (in a high-pitched, somehow unplaceable yet distinct accent): "For to have me make like bag?" So thanks to a pattern from my former neighbor, Denise, and a little help from my all-knowing, really smart ecology professor and super knitter, Sarah, I finished this little bag last night. Although, i still am going to add a little vintage ribbon/button dealy to it. Mmmm.

Today, I'm taking a class at my local yarn shop.  It's a technique class covering increases, decreases and knitting in the round. I need to be able to figure this stuff out on my own. I'm so excited. I can't remember the last time I took a class about anything. In fact, I think the last time i signed up for a class was in 2001, at my local Archivers. It was an intro to scrapbooking basics. Good times.

So…happy sunday. I also finished some work this morning that had to get done. And done it got.

To celebrate, drink some more of the Kool-Aid with me, won't you? (From a webcast (thanks, Krista!), a song which boasts one of my favorite lines: magnets and words, up on the fridge, speak to the poet in all of us…)

Download last_to_know_webcast_version.mp3