What's On Your Needles or Hook?

Our weather here has been less than ideal--freezing rain,rain,and more rain-but of course,this is NH in December,so one can hardly expect less.

I have been working on my latest crochet project. A cowl hood.

I was inspired by Claire's in the series "Outlander."

I am using bulky yarn and a size K 10 1/2 hook. The pattern I am using from Bernat Alpaca.

I Fixed A Lamp...And It Only Took 5 Years

One of the problems I have  is that I am a terrible procrastinator. In fact,a few years ago I posted about how I was Queen of Procrastination. I have great ideas,and get all excited about doing them...however,I never seem to do them in a timely manner. It's one of faults and I completely own up to it.My intention is always wonderful. Getting intention into action is whole other issue.

Take for instance,The Lamp.

The Lamp is a lamp that my Mom gave us several years ago. It was a wedding gift for my parents,which makes The Lamp 67 years old. I don't ever remember The Lamp being used. It was always stashed in the "cubby hole"-- the area off my bedroom that had a door leading to it (those who grew up in Cape style houses or the like will know what I am referring to).

At any rate,Mom gave us The Lamp,and we used it. It worked great,then it died on us 5 or so years ago. Diagnosis: it needed to be rewired. Seems simple enough. Well,like anything else I have never done before, I looked up what I needed to do,and printed out the instructions. Note the date I printed it,so you can see that when I say I am procrastinator,you know I kid you not:

Judging by the date,I must have been in a New Year's Resolution mode (another thing which I never stick to,so I no longer make them).  So there it was. Fix The Lamp!!!

Time rolls by....2010,2011,2012,2013,2014.....and this whole time,The Lamp sits on my bedroom floor,as well as the shade. And it sits...and sits...collecting dust.

Four months ago,I finally pulled out the instructions to see what what I would need to buy to fix The Lamp- wiring,a plug,and a light socket. For four months,these items would hang out in the bedroom as well, though they did get moved from the closet,to on top of my yarn basket,to finally falling on the floor and being ignored.

Two days ago,I rolled up my sleeves and decided that 5 years was enough.

It was so pathetically easy.

Here is The Lamp with all it's replacement parts:

Here it is all fixed! I don't think it took 1/2 an hour to read the directions,figure out a couple things,and clean it up.

I also scrubbed the shade with a brush and some dish soap. I got most of the dirt off,though it still looks a bit on the yellow side.However, it's much much better than it was. Here The Lamp is in it's place of honor. Please note the Outlander book!

So there it is....The Lamp..which only took 5 years and 1/2 an hour to fix!!

Teaching An Old Dog A New Trick

I love to learn. I love to read about history,and how to do things that I have never done before. I am more of a cerebral learner,though,meaning that I am all about reading and thinking about what I have learned,but doing things hands on that I have never tired before really intimidate me. I tend to think about something for a long time before I can bring myself to attempt it. It doesn't matter what it is. I have to be mentally prepped for it. Strange,I know,but I is who I is!

I finally decided to buy a sewing machine. Zach and Rick both needed  new scout shirts,so all their patches need to be transferred over from their old shirts. I can do a bit of hand sewing-I can sew patches on a shirt,but it takes a long time and I usually wind up with the shirt sewn to my pants.I can sew a button back on,but I usually cross my fingers to will it  because I never know if it's going to stay put. Rick is an excellent sewer,and faster than I,but he has enough on his plate.It's something I have wanted to learn,because I would love to make my curtains,quilts,etc.

I bought the machine a couple weeks ago. I took it out of the box,and read the manual and found what was what and what goes where. That was enough for me for one day.

I figured out what thread I needed to buy,and that was an experience in it's self. Who know there was different threads for different projects! I thought thread was thread!!

Yesterday,I finally worked up the gumption to work the machine. I had my instruction book,and the red thread for the first patch. Was I actually going to sew the patches? No way! All I was ready to do was operate it and practice a simple stitch.

I put it on the table and eyed it for a couple of minutes. It sat there,mocking me. What? You afraid of me?? Wimp! !Come on,thread me,I dare you!!! 

I breathed deep,read the instructions for threading a bobbin,and began.

I did mess up starting the bobbin at first. I didn't thread it correctly,but I figured out my error and started over.

What do you know??? I actually began sewing. I had an old t shirt that I used to practice the basic stitch with. Lennon decided to get in on the action:

I was so excited by the simplicity of it,that I tried a few other stitch patterns-ones I didn't have change the foot for.

Take that,Brother CS6000i!! You did not defeat me!! Your mocking tone and Mean Girl vibe did not put me off!