Do Something!

Bushism for Thursday, March 15, 2007
"Well, I think if you say you're going to do something and don't do it, that's trustworthiness." CNN online chat; August 30,2000

Now, there's some food for thought!

I have no clue what DUBYA was referring to in that comment but when I read it before posting it this morning, it gave me cause to think a lot, long and hard, about myself and brought me to the conclusion then that if that is the case, I am really an extremely trustworthy type person!

I'm always saying I'm going to do this, that or the other and all too frequently I quickly forget I planned to do those things too.

And, I have lots and lots of proof too of those good intentions sitting around my house.

My "good intentions" frequently come under the banner of things I think I will either knit or crochet or items I plan to sew. And, in preparation for any craft project along any of those lines, I have all kinds of yarns, stashed away in those big plastic toy box size containers just waiting for me to get the urge to pick up knitting needles and a pattern or a crochet hook and start working away. I think I have at least three of those big plastic bins pushed back in a corner in the basement at last count. (I also have a couple smaller containers of yarns shoved under my bed too, come to think of it.)

And fabric - do I have fabric? Oh my yes! I have three storage bins -at least - in the basement containing fabrics of many lengths, types, textures, another bin with nothing in it but vest panels ready to be cut out along with matching pieces and put together to make reversible vests. That bin is from about 8-9 years ago when I was on a kick making (and even selling) reversible vests.

Then, in my bedroom, I also have 3 more large bins filled to the brim of more fabric along with a stack almost 3 foot high of what else, but fabric that is earmarked to be made up into little things for the two younger grandchildren and an occasional larger piece of fleece fabric amongst the mix to be used to make sweatshirts for the older grandson.

Ah yes, Grammy J has grand visions of being the little old granny sitting contentedly at the old Singer just busy making pretty little things for the sweet grandkids to wear!

What Grammy J doesn't have is the energy some days to get busy and make these visions become a reality.

What Grammy J does have in abundance is the ability to procrastinate - profusely!!!

But, if DUBYA wants to call that trustworthiness, it's as good an excuse as any I'd ever be able to come up with to put a label on myself for my plans and my inactions too!

Whatever works - that's more or less my motto there in that respect!

"Hurry, Hurry!"

Several bloggers I visit regular do a thing called "Friday Feast" in which they select from a menu setup like a regular dinner type thing and post a comment pertaining to each segment of a meal. One of the questions this Friday was which language would you like to learn and why? If I were answering that one, I'd have to say Swedish because it is in my ethnic background, I have several things in the house that are written in Swedish but, I can't read, and also - if I ever hit the lottery, Sweden is where I'd absolutely love to visit so knowing a bit of the language would be a good thing.

But what does that have to do with my title today? Well, another thing about language came to mind and that was some remembering of the two years of French I had in high school. I don't remember how to spell the word correctly so will put it here in my phonetic spelling - veet - which in French as I recall means "Hurry." Our French teacher (Miss Radomsky) often used that word but in double - "Veet, veet!" and that is what I need to begin doing every day now - till the big Holiday gets here!

Last night, I got a small start on my sewing projects. I cut out ten bibs I will be making for the two younger grandchildren and got six (I think six) completed before my vision and energy level ran out on me at about 3 or 4 this morning. These bibs are made from either cute dish towels or fingertip towels and you simply fold one end of the towel down about 1/3 of the length, then fold it again but down the middle and cut down about 1 1/2 to 2 inches then at your foldline and cut a semi-circle for the neck opening. Then, using a knit fabric - preferably the rib trim variety - in a matching or coordinating color to make a crew or turtleneck closure and, after sewing this up, you then attach the "color" part to the towel and presto-magic, you have a really neat little big that pulls over the head, fits fairly snuggly around the neck and protects a multitude of the child's clothing then while they are eating! The dish towels work best for toddlers and the fingertip towels - if you can find any at a decent price - work better for babies. I've made many of these over the past few years and sold quite a few of them at craft fairs too because they are cute, but also are very, very useful. Just a thought there for anyone with little ones and who has a bit of a knack for sewing cause they are also very easy to make.

The "Hurry, Hurry" thing applies to me in lots of ways right now. I have a stack of fabric sitting in my room, with several patterns pulled out too, all ready and waiting for me to get busy and cut out some shirts, jumpers, coveralls and long pants things for Maya and Kurtis. The makings of some Christmas gifts there you know.

Then, there's the ham in my refrigerator that I have to cook off today and make up a big casserole of Ham and Bean Potpie for the church supper tomorrow that will be held prior to the St. Lucia Day celebration our parish has every year. I may blog more about St. Lucia - for those who don't know about her and this special day observed in Sweden and by many here of Swedish ancestry.

I have to finish addressing my Christmas cards too. Now there's one thing about Christmas stuff I really dread doing. My penmanship is terrible and after one or two cards, I start getting writer's cramp in my hand and my penmanship gets even worse then. Wish I had a Christmas Card Fairy who would show up here and take care of that task for me.

I don't have much left to do in the way of shopping - thankfully! Don't have much money to do any shopping with in the first place, so - well, that task will kind of take care of itself due to the lack of funding I suppose!

And then, there's the Christmas baking to consider. In years past, I have been known to take several nights in a row, stay up all night mixing up upteen batches of cookies and getting them all baked for the holiday. It used to be nothing for me to have baked anywhere from 15-20 different types of cookies - some in double, even triple batches too - and have every freaking tupperware container in the house filled with cookies! This year, I doubt I will go that crazy with the cookie list, but I am hoping to get at least 8-10 different varieties baked off. And, while I am baking, I will have to make several loaves of Limpa Rye bread for the family and also, enough extra to give to some of the elderly members of our church who can no longer bake breads but who I know love this particular type of bread - just a little thing I can do for them and it helps put me in a better spirit mode for the season that way too.

Yep - so much to do, never enough time! There'd be more time available if I would ever get myself organized but at this stage of my life, I doubt seriously that is going to happen!

So, in the meantime - as the title reads, for me it will be "Hurry, hurry" over the next 2 weeks! Hope your life isn't too stressed out and jam-packed with all kinds of things to be done to make it a pleasant holiday. Still have to remember the reason for the season while doing all this too, you know!

Till later and off to "hurry, hurry!"

Knit 1, Purl 2?

If you are a knitter, you will understand my title. If not, don't worry about it, as it means nothing exceptional other than that I'm going to expound a tad about knitting.

What inspired this you ask? One of my pretty regular readers noted today in response to my mentioning knitting in my earlier post of today that I am working on a sweater. Key word there being "working," as I am not exactly a speedy knitter, nor am I that devoted to the hobby or projects I start, that I keep on working at 'em to get them completed!

But I do, when I am in the mood, usually enjoy trying to knit.

My reader wrote that she feels she can't really knit as all she has ever made, using that method, would be some long scarves, but she adds that she makes a really mean afghan.

I've made some afghans too in my day - crochet type, that is. Oh, almost forgot - I have knitted two afghans - both baby type though so they weren't huge projects which, if I were knitting a full sized afghan, the project would most likely ended up in my corner pile of things started and never completed! One I made in the late winter-early spring of 1980 and went to my friend, Kate, for her third (and last) baby! Do you feel honored Susan that you were one of two recipients of one of my knitted afghans? The other - which was a kind of lacy patterned baby afghan was given to the daughter of one of my Avon customers back in the early 80's.

But what triggered this posting here really was Skittles mention of making long scarves. And I was just wondering if she had tried to make the nifty boa type scarves using the really pretty "eyelash" yarns?

My Aunt Mary - the one who recently passed away - got me hooked two years ago this winter with making those scarves, using that type of yarn and I just love making them! They are soooo easy - well, once you get accustomed to the feel of the yarn and working with the really big needles and such. But if I start one of those type scarves, provided no one comes along to interrupt my train of thought, I can generally push one through to completion in a matter of only a couple of hours worth of work! My kind of project there for sure; fast and easy and pleasing to the eye when finished too!

And if anyone is interested in making scarves like I described above, just let me know and I will gladly give you the specs to make your own!