Off the Clock

It’s just not politically correct anymore to use the plastic grocery bags when you do your shopping. I started noticing this here about a year ago, and then I really noticed it when I was in England earlier this year. The grocery store I go to now sells re-usable bags. They’re ok I guess, but they’re like a heavier duty plastic and I don’t imagine them holding up very well over time. So I’ve been using some canvas bags I’ve accumulated over the years. Whenever I’ve been away at a union conference I inevitably end up with another bag of some sort, whether it is a backpack or a canvas tote. Well I had the scathingly brilliant idea to use the canvas totes for bagging groceries. They are roomy and sturdy enough to fill them up without breaking, and they are showing no signs of wear after about a year of pretty regular use. The downside is that I used to use them for bringing my lunch and stuff to work when I was working on the factory floor. Therefore, even though they’ve been washed and I

First I don't post for weeks on end. Then I'm posting like there's no tomorrow! Have I ever mentioned my obsessive personality? But I have to tell you about this laceweight wool from Handpainted Yarn . I hate it! Now I remember why I put the partially knit Clapotis aside and didn't work on it for over a year. This laceweight wool is so fine - about half as thick as sock yarn, if even that - that it's almost impossible to knit with. It's like knitting with thread! Well, not quite, but almost. It's not too bad for straight knitting, but you need to be working with really good light and be super focused. I'm just not that focused. So after doing two repeats last night of the lace pattern for Branching Out, it's off the needles again. On the other hand I did find some leftover balls of Sirdar "Salsa" in the stash, a super-soft merino and acrylic 50/50 blend and a DK weight. It's left over from when I made " Tempting ". So I will

I've been playing around with the template for this blog. I've been bored to tears of the skin I had on it for years now, but didn't want to change it for a few reasons. First, I didn't love any of the free skins I was finding out there. Second, I had so much stuff in the sidebars that I didn't want to have to change it only to find that I couldn't figure out how to put that stuff all back in. And third, I was too lazy busy. So I just started playing around with the template that was on it, so the layout is still pretty much the same but now at least I have a little colour in my life. Last night I was looking for the leftover yarn from a pair of socks I had knit that now needed darning. It's been awhile since I've looked in my stash, and I couldn't believe how much great yarn I have in there! I also have lots of crap yarn, but that's another story. Anyway, I found a pair of socks I had forgotten about that I'm now determined to finish. I al

After I finished the tea cozy, being the cheap bastard that I am, I decided to use up the leftover yarn by making a couple of trivets or hot pads to match. So I've spent the afternoon in front of the tv knitting and watching the original Canadian version of Beowolf (yum!) and CSI reruns with the fireplace on and a warm kitty on my lap. I ask you; does it get any better than this?!

Woohoo! I've actually finished something; the Kureyon Kozy I started back in August . Makes it sound like a huge accomplishment, doesn't it? Fact is it's been sitting on my bedside table just waiting for me to knit one short piece of I-cord. Now how pathetic is that?! But bottom line is it's done, and I happen to think it's pretty cute. Considering how many projects I've knit where I hate the finished product, that's an accomplishment all in itself!

I have been so bad about this whole blogging thing. The truth is my life is so boring I can't believe anyone would want to read about it! But I'm biting the bullet and putting up another pathetically boring post. But first a clarification; although I call Thumper my little rodent friend, the truth is he's a hampster. A very cuddly soft little rodent hampster with ticklish whiskers; and sharp teeth! lol He's definitely weazled his way into my heart already. So I was up in Port Elgin again last week to do a presentation about women in skilled trades. I can't tell you how much I enjoy that! Like everyone else I get really nervous when I have to do public speaking, but I'm completely at ease when I do this presentation. Maybe it's because it's a room of all women. Maybe it's because there's always a couple of sisters from my own local union there to provide moral support. Or maybe it's just because I tell lots of personal stories about m