tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66714653314966126232023-11-16T03:34:20.469-07:00Local Gringos: Postmodern PioneersWe were frugal before frugal was cool! Tales of crafty living high & dry in the Sandia Mountains of New Mexico ... crafting, knitting, recycling, up-cycling, re-purposing, bargain hunting & outright scavenging. Plus, answers to the eternal challenge, "What's for dinner?"MaggieBelizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11622629351826950576noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671465331496612623.post-6721299919017513322015-09-29T10:23:00.000-06:002015-09-29T10:23:10.902-06:00International Book Week: Random sentence from your nearest book<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's International Book Week, and to celebrate, I'm borrowing an exercise that's currently making the rounds over on Facebook. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The rules: grab the book closest to you, turn to page 52 then post the 5th sentence, here below. Don't mention the title. Then copy the rules of the game and post to your Facebook page or blog, if you like.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don't see why you shouldn't reveal your title (unless it's 50 Shades of Whatever, maybe). The top book on my desk stack <span style="line-height: 19.32px;">happened to be the 1907 edition of "A Woman's Hardy Garden" by Helena Rutherfurd Ely.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.32px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On page 52 I found this:</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.32px;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"And even as the mahogany of our grandfathers is now brought forth from garrets and unused rooms, and antiquity shops and farm-houses are searched for the good old-time furniture, so we are learning to take the old gardens for our models, and the old-fashioned flowers to fill our borders."</span></b></span></div>
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Worth a moment of contemplation, I thought.</span></span><div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.13px; line-height: 24.208px;">--MaggieBelize </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.13px; line-height: 24.208px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.13px; line-height: 24.208px;">Designer, </span><a href="http://www.localgringos.etsy.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #888855; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.13px; line-height: 24.208px;">kNotes for kNitters</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.13px; line-height: 24.208px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.13px; line-height: 24.208px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.13px; line-height: 24.208px;">Creator, </span><a href="http://happyhandsstore.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #888855; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.13px; line-height: 24.208px;">Happy Hands Hand Cream for Knitters</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.13px; line-height: 24.208px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.13px; line-height: 24.208px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.13px; line-height: 24.208px;">Grower, </span><a href="http://maggiesmicrogreens.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #888855; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.13px; line-height: 24.208px;">Maggie’s Microgreens</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.13px; line-height: 24.208px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.13px; line-height: 24.208px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.13px; line-height: 24.208px;">Sandia Park, New Mexico</span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"><br /></span></span><div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">--MaggieBelize
Designer, kNotes for kNitters
http://kNotesforkNitters.com
Creator, Happy Hands Hand Cream
http://HappyHandsStore.com</div>MaggieBelizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11622629351826950576noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671465331496612623.post-67602106875408626122013-03-12T15:14:00.000-06:002013-03-12T15:44:21.231-06:00Score! Mid-Century Sugar Bowl in 1948 Dove Gray “Ballerina” Pattern<p> </p> <p>Oooh, I’m so excited to have found this wonderful mid-century sugar bowl for my microgreens!</p> <p><a title="Dove Gray Mid-Century Sugar Bowl, 1955 Ballerina Pattern" href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/126229821/mini-garden-in-mid-century-dove-gray" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="BallerinaSugarBowl04" border="0" alt="BallerinaSugarBowl04" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjad4Bzyny_G9jUyYClE7RZrpJ1PBd5I5mkdemWje5_9HodtH92fQXtZCsOBL1n3BRMOdGj2lKyeQHBhJTYJb8NVM-niU41rQnb2LGwpLGcMsDMiwR1FiBNgEhO6ZuFDOGsJu6qLag2uW5F//?imgmax=800" width="368" height="376" /></a></p> <p>I love the fat round “coupe” shape of the bowl, the lacy ring-shaped handles and lid finial, and most of all, the beautiful dove gray color!</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwF0HoUywyF0w0fDeBy4_UV97IbN6rg-4qB-46iymHUgperDuu2e6fq-9kb2iqvG0a28dxLda7X-7ZpnO9DVn6y17fp7OZu8CoF_eRQvQv_NLvd02FRx-6gSca7UVKlhueYhvnECeLenOt/s1600-h/BallerinaSugarBowl03%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="BallerinaSugarBowl03" border="0" alt="BallerinaSugarBowl03" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTknXJELTudatNPpSihP2Vd0_ZxjoP1jm9dOoHUTqdre6hKkPrp3jl6QFAAYWwx_Oqb4bZcm2ILxJFmToUXfBfkXUk8L3maM3__j6BfgVm559JynGzyySm1BX_Cb3EBUbSBa1kCWQSTVc//?imgmax=800" width="366" height="378" /></a></p> <p>This piece is from the “Ballerina” pattern, union made in Cambridge, Ohio by Universal Potteries, designed by Alf Robson. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjPytpO8fEUQ2lWrVfxmIror3TOe4qlkPujl1WflOlJqPix_m4nkSldHr8obglivx3W9kKrA1cGmBOYRVZ2Qo-mN9U2rwSno5LUUaG8wH8FsydiuaZQgck34DNdiTO5vJVoW8GBjN4gLRK/s1600-h/ballerina_brochure%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 5px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="ballerina_brochure" border="0" alt="ballerina_brochure" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5wtFReJjYxWXWJyOPYp4GuNptqj7R967EMI9O5OP7jHg3I3xpYMlrMrZNlNohHhAFzKtxfjmmd7Jevfe7vk20vMxE_oF3H-gZ8-2sQQtAqlcFUBQl1xRY1npy92bqwsS-1fWjyUtcfi2//?imgmax=800" width="130" height="244" /></a>Universal Potteries introduced the Ballerina pattern in 1948, in four colors: <strong>Periwinkle Blue</strong>, <strong>Jonquil Yellow</strong>, <strong>Jade Green</strong>, and this <strong>Dove Grey</strong>.</p> <p>At left is a Ballerina advertising brochure showing one of the 4 new colors introduced in 1949 – <strong>Burgundy –</strong> along with <strong>Forest Green, Chartreuse</strong> and <strong>Sierra Rust. </strong></p> <p>Then in 1955 the last 4 color sets were released, in <strong>Pink</strong>, <strong>Charcoal</strong> (which looks black), <strong>Turquoise</strong> <strong>Blue</strong> and <strong>Antique</strong> <strong>White</strong>.</p> <p>In addition to the solid color pieces like mine, Ballerina pieces were also made with decorative decals. (Personally, I prefer the solid colors.)</p> <p>The size & shape of this sugar bowl make it the perfect mini-garden planter: the bowl interior is about 4-1/2 inches wide and 2-3/4 inches tall. It's ideal for growing a larger crop of microgreens than a teacup, but it’s still counter top scale.</p> <p>Here’s how it looks planted with organic arugula microgreens … sweet!</p> <p><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/126229821/mini-garden-in-mid-century-dove-gray" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="BallerinaSugarBowl" border="0" alt="BallerinaSugarBowl" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwK9v3BofstnMdH5DwOHCcCNUL3UF_k_OaDoamDduQFhVF3SLwtTSFKPelXlzRyPKWhLma9lRr636HBuhIm8qh7gpu4d-lYDX7gUbuU8mztdf9zwMfEI7ddBJnSc4WOK-5jd-WLDqqJkW//?imgmax=800" width="364" height="374" /></a></p> <p>So far I’ve only found one of these – and I was especially lucky to find this one WITH its original lid, AND in pristine condition. Woot!</p> <p>I’ve already made up the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/126229821/mini-garden-in-mid-century-dove-gray" target="_blank">microgreens kit</a> in my Etsy shop, and I also offer the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/126133647/diy-microgreens-arugula-seeds-certified" target="_blank">organic arugula seeds</a> separately. For the time being at least this planter kit is one of a kind … but I’ll keep looking …</p> <p>--MaggieBelize <br />Designer, <a href="http://www.localgringos.etsy.com/">kNotes for kNitters</a> <br />Creator, <a href="http://happyhandsstore.com/">Happy Hands Hand Cream for Knitters</a> <br />Grower, <a href="http://maggiesmicrogreens.com/">Maggie’s Microgreens</a> <br />Sandia Park, New Mexico</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">--MaggieBelize
Designer, kNotes for kNitters
http://kNotesforkNitters.com
Creator, Happy Hands Hand Cream
http://HappyHandsStore.com</div>MaggieBelizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11622629351826950576noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671465331496612623.post-20860167157483713542013-02-19T11:07:00.001-07:002013-02-19T11:58:54.185-07:00Almost Famous! Happy Hands Hand Cream Featured in German Knitting Magazine<p> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH1xfGVxMCKj7RoQHIMwt6AfDJK_calzCc6v_a3WYwXbabYDfvd_87hrDdNAawaB5yeWiYtAUPOltIKmm1_pR2eFsNoQSh-D78Ft5W6trufCaU9BuuYZbFs1zYSZu2mt4Wevbq3vkpqy_5/s1600-h/TheKnitter_750%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="TheKnitter_750" border="0" alt="TheKnitter_750" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6kegDKrynFpu3InaT5mwdmpOittOkT8jW9bVUSRzmlATVWILVFegKUZjf9dOfRTqS13aXruIH_OfOfd4gyL-nhhyFnyLeohTtnTtFltVyAtJiXuQainmU3sGmFCb0d8j8rD5Xd3aHqQyX//?imgmax=800" width="175" height="244" /></a>My <a href="http://HappyHandsStore.com" target="_blank">Happy Hands hand cream</a> was featured in Germany’s leading knitting magazine, <strong>The Knitter!</strong> </p> <p>Big time thanks for this feature to our German wholesale partner, the <a href="http://knittybitty.de" target="_blank">Knitty Bitty shop</a> in Erfurt, Germany. </p> <p>Knitty Bitty currently carries 7 of my 32 Happy Hands hand cream fragrances: <strong>Cucumber Melon, Grapefruit Twist, Mango Orange, Sandia Sage & Lavender, Tall Cotton, White Tea & Ginger,</strong> and <strong>Unscented.</strong></p> <p>According to Angela Mühlpfordt, Knitty Bitty’s owner, the best-selling scent in Germany is <strong>Tall Cotton</strong>, a light, clean scent also popular here in the States - one of my top three all-time bestsellers, along with <strong>Sandia Sage & Lavender</strong> and <strong>Hippie Chick</strong> (a kinder, gentler patchouli).</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrsvUKm8TZ2oAV5pilDOIc8Mr8DutdXz0rdgA8WPnO1ARqClSi9MofL3b9X8PUlvADFi9b57aMZaHwnuIy8IVxaStJWapM4RMqTXM2P2Py3AM_LlwKRkB7xXRggTkvDsuNvuUWltjZ_Uo2/s1600-h/GermanKnitters%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="GermanKnitters" border="0" alt="GermanKnitters" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyP1mp_UVqh4egzXRX3rxUHjpic541vsqg6cdZSQmdrH3tRQzvqdUqAd2bm8JoAxQclXScpDTPeBEmFb15DBW9M-0zKflGUjRTiKu_9_f83qF1VDkLHQuPE1buhR5Fl0ukqJ3ewbEi9Qou//?imgmax=800" width="430" height="546" /></a></p> <p>Since the steep increase in USPS international package shipping rates this January, it’s nice to know my European customers now have a local buying option. </p> <p>Customers can purchase my Happy Hands hand cream from the Knitty Bitty shop in <a href="http://mapq.st/11Thyl1" target="_blank">Erfurt</a>, or order online through Knitty Bitty’s website at <a href="http://www.knittybitty.de">http://www.knittybitty.de</a> .</p> <p>--MaggieBelize <br />Designer, <a href="http://www.localgringos.etsy.com/">kNotes for kNitters</a> <br />Creator, <a href="http://happyhandsstore.com/">Happy Hands Hand Cream for Knitters</a> <br />Grower, <a href="http://maggiesmicrogreens.com/">Maggie’s Microgreens</a> <br />Sandia Park, New Mexico</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">--MaggieBelize
Designer, kNotes for kNitters
http://kNotesforkNitters.com
Creator, Happy Hands Hand Cream
http://HappyHandsStore.com</div>MaggieBelizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11622629351826950576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671465331496612623.post-75367734296805590742013-02-12T12:45:00.000-07:002013-02-19T13:00:56.119-07:00Homemade Tomato-Beef Soup with Microgreen Garnish<p>While most cooks use microgreens only in cold dishes like salads and smoothies, I like to find ways to incorporate their tasty goodness into hot dishes as well … especially soup.</p> <p>This can be a challenge, as heat rapidly wilts the delicate greens. My secret technique to keep microgreens bright and crisp atop a steaming bowl of soup, all the way to the table? Float the freshly-snipped greens on a protective – and delicious! – layer of grated cheese, or a dollop of cool plain yogurt, just before serving.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGgN5oSxOja3TbH6e53aMC75rwUXxhJrrUl542WnZtTKXGta9LVPTxkN0M7ovHRDcMAfAkknYAV4oaJjhTiEgUE9n4aSlxhrRNHmGeFE5vRekAcmSzVA_5ra3L0QMB8A4YqXqyuk3gusJz/s1600-h/TomatoSoup%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="TomatoSoup" border="0" alt="TomatoSoup" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhG0wXeYKZ4JE2dmpCgAgk_A9xcHKkoMHZ50HM_MVAswCANzsAmzMldvQu-j-8WiqUu0FNQHS-5EWrAE04Hb-EWw6X5H6-fgvOavAnD9NIhkqS_nIR3Ap6xq_5Fy6xt1lzZ9nd_Io5sJJ//?imgmax=800" width="425" height="499" /></a></p> <p><a title="Oriental mustard microgreens" href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/120713650/diy-microgreens-oriental-mustard-seeds?" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Mustard_closeup" border="0" alt="Mustard_closeup" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCe_-xQfAuekKGta6lG0tCWF_wPSUHDxX0l6_njwxirWi6V545JpphkgVJ0fyk-ZnmLVjsfVTmvJeh3GYIbQWDxuoUkPKoFVu7Qhq16YOZZkyNK2oW_26XyU6GpieilgsQLxVRC7ZnfFzB//?imgmax=800" width="161" height="167" /></a>While you can use this layering strategy for any hot soup, with any microgreens you like, I am particularly fond of peppery <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/120713650/diy-microgreens-oriental-mustard-seeds?" target="_blank"><strong>Oriental mustard microgreens</strong></a> atop hearty, homemade tomato soup.</p> <p>This past week has been wintry, so I found myself craving the warmth and comfort of tomato soup. </p> <p>I started with a new-to-me recipe from <a href="http://Onceamonthmom.com" target="_blank">Onceamonthmom.com</a>, and tweaked it to our family taste for hot stuff – adding roasted New Mexico green chilies to the mix, and topping it with sharp Cheddar cheese and the aforementioned Oriental mustard microgreens. </p> <p>Here’s what I made:</p> <h4>Tomato & Beef Soup with Microgreen Garnish</h4> <h5>Makes 4 Servings <br /><em><font style="font-weight: normal">Adapted from Christine @ </font></em><a href="http://Onceamonthmom.com" target="_blank"><em><font style="font-weight: normal">Onceamonthmom.com</font></em></a></h5> <p><strong>Ingredients</strong></p> <p>2 cans (14.5-oz ea) fire-roasted diced tomatoes <br />1 cup coconut milk, canned or carton <br />1 tablespoon coconut oil <br />1 cup diced onion <br />1/4 cup peeled & diced roasted green chilies <br />1 pound ground beef <br />3 cloves garlic, minced <br />1 teaspoon salt <br />1 cup homemade chicken broth</p> <p><em>Garnish</em>: Grated cheese and freshly snipped microgreens</p> <p><strong>Directions</strong></p> <p>In a blender or food processor, combine diced tomatoes and coconut. Blend until smooth. Reserve.</p> <p>Heat coconut oil in a large stockpot. Sauté onions and green chilies together until the onions are soft and translucent.</p> <p>Add ground beef, garlic and salt. Cook, stirring to break up large chunks, until beef is browned and crumbly. Drain off excess fat.</p> <p>Return stock pot with drained beef mixture to heat. Stir in blended tomato/coconut mixture and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.</p> <p>Ladle soup into 4 serving bowls. Top each with grated cheese of choice (I like sharp cheddar), then sprinkle freshly snipped microgreens over the cheese. Serve immediately!</p> <p><em>Note</em>: You can substitute a tablespoon of plain yogurt (low-fat or full-fat) per bowl for the grated cheese. The yogurt should be at cool room temperature before garnishing your soup.</p> <p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p> <p>I like Christine’s technique of blending the tomatoes and the coconut milk before adding to the soup! And when winter forces you to fall back on commercially canned tomatoes, choosing “fire roasted” tomatoes really adds color and texture to your soup.</p> <p>I should note that the original recipe works beautifully for a Paleo diet. Just leave out my grated cheese if you’re Paleo-ing – what the heck, so your microgreens wilt a bit, right?</p> <p>Enjoy!</p> <p>--MaggieBelize <br />Designer, <a href="http://www.localgringos.etsy.com/">kNotes for kNitters</a> <br />Creator, <a href="http://happyhandsstore.com/">Happy Hands Hand Cream for Knitters</a> <br />Grower, <a href="http://maggiesmicrogreens.com/">Maggie’s Microgreens</a> <br />Sandia Park, New Mexico</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">--MaggieBelize
Designer, kNotes for kNitters
http://kNotesforkNitters.com
Creator, Happy Hands Hand Cream
http://HappyHandsStore.com</div>MaggieBelizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11622629351826950576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671465331496612623.post-5438882993166781572013-01-17T10:21:00.000-07:002013-02-27T12:53:59.037-07:00The Swiss Cheese Scarf–Another Knitting Project Done, Yay!<br />
I’ve just bound off my <strong>Swiss Cheese Scarf</strong>, and I’m so pleased – even if my mom does think (rightly, I guess) that it resembles one of those rubber strip doormats …<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjacCUeRoXKH10cSR80_6uG3WuimVLXfFVlSkuYkqL9ujD0VQbln8FdyVIaT3nfEd_EaDBHJ4KDPakA1fRQpPzaU2pA_aMxQfeaNzhdWK_pS5EFPb_5JkDFDuBoVr6HbltaSD_wNygZl-D/s1600-h/SwissCheeseScarf_inprogress%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="SwissCheeseScarf_inprogress" border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8RyptWw_PeWoY0sr8k_g5eKAvx0PH-MXTA1Esj8LzR1N4b0ja9uEFz3c25TrwWr-ftltvLqfKB3XGNWk6XK6K-mTVemfzatIqn6ReI0jFMsKkncb8Mu_5-7ilfhNz7dtVaExoJZ_nC_Jl//?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="SwissCheeseScarf_inprogress" width="339" /></a><br />
I knitted this up from Winnie Shih’s <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/swiss-cheese-scarf" target="_blank">free knitting pattern</a>, downloadable from Ravelry, using <strong>Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sport</strong> yarn in the <strong>Mineshaft</strong> colorway. Is this gorgeous yarn, or what?<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3Ikbue_GEQ6Of3h05p7DzDAKpNdLOGsl2BcOMzNUDBr5bFtRGQVLBoHm4S6O6w8ybUBe4L6swQEO3yS_xPS1OyFgZMnhzIM9of8kmkSvwk1GLSku-tGan3HQo4ge3IBtDY83C0RopNEq/s1600-h/Lorna%252527s%252520Laces%252520Mineshaft%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Lorna's Laces Mineshaft" border="0" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNodFZ4V8_PIGA2mLIdwjAe-Bs6xgeLJpCZoGueVaNnw8PjZ3kg4qbHo9WqXUXDbhJnOrl2BW1buz8QZE6NfCH01w5PG83StJdHVjfg0zMwCqScca4ygVygPdKWsKyEzw4LM8KusZgSIvZ//?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Lorna's Laces Mineshaft" width="337" /></a><br />
I edited Winnie’s pattern for my sport weight yarn (gauge 6 sts per inch on US 4 for an 8” wide scarf) as follows:<br />
CO 48 sts <br />Rows 1 - 6: Knit <br />Row 7: K3 (BO6, K6) 3 times, BO6, K3 <br />Row 8: K3 (CO6, K6) 3 times, CO6, K3 <br />Rows 9 - 14: Knit <br />Row 15: BO3, K6 (BO6, K6) 3 times, K3 <br />Row 16: BO3, K6 (CO6, K6) 3 times, CO3 <br />Row 17: Knit to end, CO3<br />
This modification gives you alternating 3 and 4 holes per holey row.<br />
I gave up on the backwards loop cast-on she uses, I just couldn’t get it to look right. Instead, I used a cable cast-on, which meant I had to flip the scarf each time, but it looked better.<br />
I love the finished scarf and so does DH, so we can share it - and I enjoyed the pattern. I didn’t mind the tedium of all the bind-offs and cast-ons, I actually found it soothing! This was a great travel & TV-watching project.<br />
I might have liked the finished scarf to be a bit longer (my version came out 58” long) but I didn’t have more of the yarn and was ready to move on anyway … next up, I’ll be knitting another of Cat Bordhi’s awesome <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/anemone-hats" target="_blank">Anemone Hats</a> (number 5!), this one for my nephew. I swear, every time I wear my Anemone Hat in public someone begs me to knit one for them!<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">ETA: Duh, I hadn’t blocked the scarf when I took the measurement! Blocked length is a generous 71 inches, and blocking made the holes nice & round. Here's the "after blocking" photo. Dang, what a difference!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
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--MaggieBelize <br />Designer, <a href="http://www.localgringos.etsy.com/">kNotes for kNitters</a> <br />Creator, <a href="http://happyhandsstore.com/">Happy Hands Hand Cream for Knitters</a> <br />Grower, <a href="http://maggiesmicrogreens.com/" target="_blank">Maggie’s Microgreens</a> <br />Sandia Park, New Mexico<div class="blogger-post-footer">--MaggieBelize
Designer, kNotes for kNitters
http://kNotesforkNitters.com
Creator, Happy Hands Hand Cream
http://HappyHandsStore.com</div>MaggieBelizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11622629351826950576noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671465331496612623.post-61125836064410293112012-12-18T10:05:00.000-07:002013-01-17T10:06:36.380-07:00Let it snow …<p> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpBakaZu_sGx3O0rN2CQf7ZhyphenhyphenGgUg6lo8szo0u2SEWkxRCbwuLg8WebcGaJm7oXh1TrZbFf22AeaPN75WQW_peOsfpGqM7V_-ke51nRSLtujDHcsDDadNG29KHO-qbqPzJZs7YFDdtMrRM/s1600-h/CozyCat%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="CozyCat" border="0" alt="CozyCat" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5NAUK5QxYrWe3yPxTHfeAI6fhFOlMz9KAKLi4FrT7sEOHWQS8gs9h-lepOKIAIau6XMMmm01edVfQ6WZufp8BDC-DAuLfe091VyQVaQOvmve9fWXQ8VmpQG9QeWZJrbWr_GG5bssWkzlR//?imgmax=800" width="293" height="226" /></a></p> <p align="center"><em>Oh the weather outside is frightful</em></p> <p align="center"><em>But the fire is so delightful</em></p> <p align="center"><em>And since we've no place to go</em></p> <p align="center"><em>Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!</em></p> <p>Stay warm, y’all!</p> <p>--MaggieBelize <br />Designer, <a href="http://www.localgringos.etsy.com/">kNotes for kNitters</a> <br />Creator, <a href="http://happyhandsstore.com/">Happy Hands Hand Cream for Knitters</a> <br />Sandia Park, NM</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">--MaggieBelize
Designer, kNotes for kNitters
http://kNotesforkNitters.com
Creator, Happy Hands Hand Cream
http://HappyHandsStore.com</div>MaggieBelizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11622629351826950576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671465331496612623.post-87863240839181274152012-09-26T09:59:00.000-06:002012-10-20T10:09:19.766-06:00Decoupaged Suitcase - Quickie Project!<p> </p> <p>The night before I flew to Austin I took a long, hard look at my favorite suitcase. It’s a “million-miler” bag that’s traveled all over the world, still sturdy with maybe another million miles left in its useful life.</p> <p>But it’s solid black.</p> <p>Seriously, how many solid black suitcases have you seen on the baggage belt? Hundreds? Thousands? The only problem with this bag is how hard it is to identify it at luggage claim.</p> <p>I’ve tried tying various flashy objects to this suitcase on previous trips. Christmas tinsel, worry dolls, fuzzy yarn – you name it. But every time my embellishments have been torn off in transit, or looked ridiculous. I wanted a more permanent solution to the basic black bag.</p> <p>So, the night before I flew to Austin, I decided to decoupage my suitcase. And thanks to the bone-dry climate of our high mountain desert, it was done and ready to pack an hour later.</p> <p>While I would have liked to go completely crazy with this decoupage project, with maybe Frida Kahlo and dancing skeletons, I only had an hour to work on this – AND my husband also uses the suitcase, so understatement was the order of the day.</p> <p>Here are the finished pix, taken AFTER I flew to Austin and back again. I was thrilled to see how well the decoupage survived the armies of baggage handlers!</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6TJ4xE9wPaToR5KaHTP3Oig50ElIZUEvNy5KlgwtGoN26DqwyzZQomgd9pXdpBb3WylzQDiLb0y0u8TUBigkngwwGzJc7U6IBtCWYBUke8TWlV-pJ5nNEwli9mPtT60AbrsXEN8TRB3Rx/s1600-h/Suitcase02%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Suitcase02" border="0" alt="Suitcase02" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdgE7d8QyWZVdaU9cfMwwyA_O0dPD4OkUQFz5PrH-e7HERQL-PgE4ha2BUmrNYHY1ewKzk1JklLi3o5pLDboYWZJI38ts26PYe3EajPzcft7I-8jCBWHje2EGTOo5Q93kpie-xTnLlsF6//?imgmax=800" width="244" height="200" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDXeu-MKp-6c7LrApVjp5P2YWeD6NiMVSjUxHlV7kdQ6yJ_epqCLNpq6C65j4IXkpw0t79aWp335zp6fCFy6A-xJrIn1hJAzj4C4RxJgaGo1956esb1FYD3edKCzBxep8KaJipL3x2Br03/s1600-h/Suitcase01%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Suitcase01" border="0" alt="Suitcase01" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4RXBA8-rMxjHQ-y2ep9Da1eUlGe5Z07og_ydMD1MsgIw6CTtggDFVheDlvFO3mUB54Jqx3iXDX9xlRRJxbVbbkfgOApy8DYgcZXpi5i9EP_-C5uwFenOdlFe2t-k5q3_lH0GXiCMrq38_//?imgmax=800" width="193" height="244" /></a></p> <p>How I Did It in Under an Hour:</p> <ul> <li>First, I located the flattest, least-flexible part of the suitcase – which was around the reinforcing frame of this particular bag – and measured it. </li> <li>Next, I cut a strip of gift wrapping paper to my measurements, in this case, a strip 2-1/2” wide by 66 inches long. I did a “dry wrap” to be sure that the strip fit the frame. </li> <li>I’ve had best luck decoupaging paper that’s wet. So I rolled the long strip into a loose circular roll, and dropped it into a bowl of water. </li> <li>I immediately swiped Mod Podge around the frame of the suitcase using a foam brush. I worked as quickly as I could so that meanwhile the paper didn’t soften too much in the water. </li> <li>Then – the moment of truth – I removed the paper from the bowl of water and allowed the excess water to drip off as I unscrolled it. </li> <li>I picked the midpoint of the paper and began to apply the paper to the pre-Mod-Podged band around the suitcase, starting at the top center, moving down the sides, finally wrapping around the lower corners to meet at the bottom center. </li> <li>I sealed the strip of paper to the suitcase with more Mod Podge – this project used quite a bit of the stuff – pressing out any air bubbles with wet fingertips as I worked. </li> <li>After this coat of Mod Podge was completely dry, I applied a second coat. </li> </ul> <p>And done! At the airport I recognized my bag immediately! And as I said, the decoupaged paper held up remarkably well to its first round trip.</p> <p>I can’t wait to do another …</p> <p>--MaggieBelize <br />Designer, <a href="http://www.localgringos.etsy.com/">kNotes for kNitters</a> <br />Creator, <a href="http://happyhandsstore.com/">Happy Hands Hand Cream for Knitters</a> <br />Sandia Park, NM</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">--MaggieBelize
Designer, kNotes for kNitters
http://kNotesforkNitters.com
Creator, Happy Hands Hand Cream
http://HappyHandsStore.com</div>MaggieBelizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11622629351826950576noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671465331496612623.post-87340792569335106232012-08-24T13:54:00.000-06:002012-08-31T13:56:08.190-06:00Double Rainbow over Sandia Park, NM<p> </p> <p>Today’s rain showers missed us by inches, but we did get a double rainbow out of the deal.</p> <p>If you look closely, you can see the second rainbow – very faint – in the upper left of the picture:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdU26mVq9nrPG-D8XiFXzWzy1bj0QenTGynrMsf3F_AO4BaksM4A719fNatLCGY4Dw5geSkFSspG0IinfRGNLlp8eGExXmgbzRdyX7nzkEDxk3tLd9VY_GwypEGiQKCKR3Qfk3ocWzbpsH/s1600-h/Rainbow%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Rainbow" border="0" alt="Rainbow" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibv0d9clLZbpGMM8_PllHghSQTnv7zvVhEMsR0-KjPSTWFXN7tU7maF4GPal6tZwSmk1YPXKbE9p-xiOVJant4dHmggFjaGzuYG3azRJrgTEOj7qZDq1pqtheDJDi1LPwP8RFWlxprutPM//?imgmax=800" width="436" height="362" /></a></p> <p>Should I tell the neighbors, or just sneak over to dig up the pot o' gold from their yard?</p> <p>--MaggieBelize <br />Designer, <a href="http://www.localgringos.etsy.com/">kNotes for kNitters</a> <br />Creator, <a href="http://happyhandsstore.com/">Happy Hands Hand Cream for Knitters</a> <br />Sandia Park, NM</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">--MaggieBelize
Designer, kNotes for kNitters
http://kNotesforkNitters.com
Creator, Happy Hands Hand Cream
http://HappyHandsStore.com</div>MaggieBelizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11622629351826950576noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671465331496612623.post-60373598844073531542012-08-19T12:58:00.000-06:002012-08-31T13:02:27.160-06:00Whoa, Funnel Cloud! At 7,000 Feet?<p> </p> <p>We had an energetic thunderstorm this afternoon (August 19). When I walked out on my back porch to admire it, here’s what I saw:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-rjHrdhzxSxuCdB5iQzywNxHVhCbb_0hbsq2r2SsSS2tIfPprirlxPrQoVh3GtlXwQrxACdMUuW3xRQHdcdcp02DhA0MFckz9Y4YOXNjKJkoca0tQBrFbnEGTagwdNb_A5vuzMZHyNVIH/s1600-h/Twister1%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Twister1" border="0" alt="Twister1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_WIqS8atDKcPMRlMCpTHV2b-0RlJ3j1KYYYh97smeTyy-_BtqMtwHkCB2pdN7k32YIo6kOLFLnfrruFT7sQ0ScUwKsiWerwvXrzJi3V9WXhiS48SNW_Q4nyJmRmlGlT03hAP3c1a8zrs//?imgmax=800" width="445" height="342" /></a></p> <p>I’d guess it was about half a mile to the north-north-west of us.</p> <p>And then it got closer:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4xLtcsRD2UGI43vRm2Ap6Y2-JUailT76fXnfXJ-QQLR33zrLvvO0-aodGRtANLgL79-WFWbWkkwVgCHpZD3DB1RACVsmwwUgr7KlxJIQQ8efPmmMKPmWqMNogXLPyB76jB9v34PEgU3v/s1600-h/Twister2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Twister2" border="0" alt="Twister2" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6xVQTt4GR00araNOQqSBohoafth6yzkL3Vi8lFNc5BbqChjFfLnyrdys4593aFP1fS_yi5nzScywG_4zj4j6FMRJyTeSLCg4Uq5_sw-bCCAfNenKJKsBknEM-0C2Y9zrAuQN4BpEtfg6//?imgmax=800" width="446" height="343" /></a></p> <p>Mind you, here in Sandia Park (NM) we’re at almost 7,000 feet elevation. I didn’t think we got tornadoes … so what the heck is it?</p> <p>A neighbor who is meteorologically sophisticated told me it was a <strong>downspout</strong>. According to the National Weather service, it was a <strong>funnel cloud</strong>. By definition, a funnel cloud isn’t a tornado unless it touches down and wreaks some havoc on the surface. I watched this one for 20 minutes or so and never saw it touch down.</p> <p>This phenomenon was unusual enough to make our local news:</p> <ul> <li><strong><a href="http://www.kob.com/article/stories/S2733587.shtml?cat=0" target="_blank">Residents see funnel clouds near Sandia Park, Cedar Crest</a></strong></li> </ul> <p>I didn’t realize that "<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/weather/resources/askjack/archives-tornado-science.htm" target="_blank">tornadoes can and do occur at high elevations</a>" - this summer, one was spotted <a href="http://weather.aol.com/2012/07/31/watch-a-rare-high-altitude-tornado-strikes-colorado/#page=1" target="_blank">at almost 12,000'</a> in Colorado. </p> <p>But they are rare - either because so few people live above 5,000' that the tornadoes that do occur aren’t seen and reported, or (according to MSNBC), because mountains like ours break up the large-scale weather systems that give rise most tornadoes ...</p> <p>What a long, strange summer this has been!</p> <p>--MaggieBelize <br />Designer, <a href="http://www.localgringos.etsy.com/">kNotes for kNitters</a> <br />Creator, <a href="http://happyhandsstore.com/">Happy Hands Hand Cream for Knitters</a> <br />Sandia Park, NM</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">--MaggieBelize
Designer, kNotes for kNitters
http://kNotesforkNitters.com
Creator, Happy Hands Hand Cream
http://HappyHandsStore.com</div>MaggieBelizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11622629351826950576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671465331496612623.post-82434734480118243052012-07-24T14:03:00.000-06:002012-08-31T14:10:48.485-06:00Feather Feather & Fan Shawlette–Knitting FO<p> </p> <p>Great use for a single skein of sock yarn!</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAtv_pDKUFa3sZUAKKxi5PYEWK9dwUQrd-EBtfXVHqTrU9WIotQwzoDAEK7QqCtnMQfsEtNkkvMWPLVUQfsIEb0FynEVR3_aa69gXnLmrdieuuGLg39wB5PQA3zTajCxAuuvne9sJexcat/s1600-h/FeatherFan_03%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="FeatherFan_03" border="0" alt="FeatherFan_03" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhGwhfRVDVTuxELDFQbqM7kEUlGVn_llRQFkdENXfnDsAfxIi_OgbOpGBEja7oMOhaWkPWsKXSiSOXUTvODvAkhUO4F-vxghUYAvDpFsKifFL2NnFwAx_uANhANqWKd2-eaIDKxYwxSTC//?imgmax=800" width="342" height="462" /></a></p> <p>This <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/feather-feather-and-fan-shawlette-fw109" target="_blank">free knitting pattern</a> by Betty Balcomb is easy, and forgiving - considering my boo-boo of accidentally starting with US 11s instead of 9s, for instance.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfCLlNOlcrh0XMpjTb-w2M5hcdqbH5Kr4Xn0qmN0vuV3kOfRzQSV9LFIxBaKtsvLF8fjcYv32_C2MpMffOibOMR1gx1mHW9_BYIfV45zHMRVJmgya4Oq32jMnhHvPnciEaprz-Oh4ypOG/s1600-h/FeatherFan_02%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="FeatherFan_02" border="0" alt="FeatherFan_02" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_G5S2l3jk48Mxf_-ydt9nkXftaRmvDm41oKO7HlAtpuyyjcW6uKC_tVLPfSJ6EX6YvmnBP4MbUjYRRjQv7zW7SFEVnE3oKJrizvSSOjqK0zSt4EWB-HyUvb0-5DLf9GNFGgpcDvqL4r4T//?imgmax=800" width="390" height="318" /></a></p> <p>I truly love this yarn - Stricken Smitten’s <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/stricken-smitten-shimmer-glimmer" target="_blank">Shimmer Glimmer</a> – a 50/50 silk and merino blend. Lovely match for the pattern. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdx2LcDfUvcxsUgHcCf9FvYuL0c1uvTHnUmOiTzYOArVX4e0elFeNw4NBQ6In5Oqe-Vx47KCWuYBvF3OdsBUsfpQwEhldoR4OM3n3czQWOleeGxneLk0IjEN9DO_SY1J-48sgigct1dI4U/s1600-h/ShimmerGlimmer%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="ShimmerGlimmer" border="0" alt="ShimmerGlimmer" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrQwc_GOGFGjjek_CaCTpiJxW1W1qLKXAGcXa6o0zYMvjrWFRoHE_NHfM3dLPZAoZylfv-Ue1K-LXWaE9gFZ2UZk6AE7eLaptoc_rEg1sV9mol6avSyx8Qdu6XVjAMGTREFqBb6yXRNy2//?imgmax=800" width="316" height="324" /></a></p> <p>I bought the yarn at Sock Summit 2011 in Portland, and cast on while flying home (that’s when I made my needle size error) … and then the project lingered forever in my UFO basket.</p> <p>Fast forward to New Year’s Eve 2012, when I resolved that this year I would make myself finish one UFO for every new project I cast on. </p> <p>All that I needed to do on this one was weave in the ends & block it (and take its pictures), now it is all done!</p> <p>--MaggieBelize <br />Designer, <a href="http://www.localgringos.etsy.com/">kNotes for kNitters</a> <br />Creator, <a href="http://happyhandsstore.com/">Happy Hands Hand Cream for Knitters</a> <br />Sandia Park, NM</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">--MaggieBelize
Designer, kNotes for kNitters
http://kNotesforkNitters.com
Creator, Happy Hands Hand Cream
http://HappyHandsStore.com</div>MaggieBelizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11622629351826950576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671465331496612623.post-87788697277304556922012-07-16T13:41:00.000-06:002012-08-31T13:46:44.542-06:00Peace, Quiet & Permaculture: New Mexico Ranchette for Sale<p> </p> <p>Yes, we’ve listed our East Mountain “ranchito” for sale. And I know this will be somebody’s dream home, just like it was ours!</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKVsuwpwDzVNVV7w806o4eJnHFpRAo2QvNGWi1-0mwDto-kI2NT0oVHIw6Nm-tRv71gOTncHqkaccITuBMB09FyJPsdGYBmjlUHsyxbky_zYLhxbIElDWxl2bxsWcceg-o_0EG5NaHJexs/s1600-h/photo_front%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="photo_front" border="0" alt="photo_front" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOk3mNXy2ktXPj1HcM5vBIEowSmNzpDQSH-tKioL-UrwGwgdbfMReBriNH4ngIARgWZPHCk9Ii3dh5wYNJo5wOFlJJ1GZqBCajXQlR8ngUtG5V8TNVK1Y4Tm4KP5VYl47NcWmF4ZuQY54x//?imgmax=800" width="439" height="338" /></a></p> <p>This is a custom 3 or 4 bedroom (2 masters, one up, one down), 3 bath, 2,520 sq ft Pueblo-style home on a 5-acre horse property … passive solar … part fenced pasture, part wooded with pinon and cedar.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6c2IPR6aFYaUFD7G8KRS3UD0RaftwjMADyPgUDnDhR0uUk502iCF4Te5TQoTcIuKmtQBnK1q_fTlgVicHeIOtY9SufRBiKvFIehTSn9xCyzj-7jz2eOs4vrZehMVKg1KjGwflYytSXDK/s1600-h/ld19%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="ld19" border="0" alt="ld19" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_LjtU3A1TKw7dDdmyGUpghE18NeCezl1IvEO-JXRX981uavvLZ9lFyiUQssVC5dcbQJF1p0E4-X3z6RJ0RrUl_phDd7zcFFNpoqom2kf2qo_La7dWGI9r4rbfmE4RNYOSjw-yUTCEYY5//?imgmax=800" width="436" height="299" /></a></p> <p>We added 700 square feet to the existing home, including a ground level guest suite (or second master bedroom) …</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPXNkhKDBWJAzSzrj7oQoxubGV4e17meEZJt4Z7gTu3CTA_E9GdTeHHEbr191OHTPoklaiWFnMj0VnQv2sUa5k91ysaN4UwsOYJ3QbXxPUubBF8Da1CJfc_Dd0rzqrPESZzRvFAyyN6Kx6/s1600-h/ld08%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="ld08" border="0" alt="ld08" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLGJcn76ZsR8EK_ogrjCiSMuUbnmJokuMhgXKX9uBmuATSQYG3PZgyHuooPzMlDY4GouD1l5yokLYV_bCd93YUqIZmnGTJhn2TrWN37P1j2krEtqq5FyYLYA_M6Xou6LQU99RsOcL2Hv1//?imgmax=800" width="442" height="303" /></a></p> <p>and a home office/4thBR with floor-to-ceiling bookcases & captain's bed … Sliding French doors open to the back patio and deck.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLouXPV0szbdEm3kinZbyBaLn4LHkefCJC1Ww5vEnNY157hqG5sdPhosS0IpWM-yJ8u3qUiT1vkURgboJTCyjJXbilHvIsP1-suuTc9r-8Kun6o03EG94j-r8pPLqCe-6-6CmPHJfezZUi/s1600-h/ld11%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="ld11" border="0" alt="ld11" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKf2KnTZJm0psGsVymPWy5Ygct6G5WxS6VIpTcalQ_M64E7aNOdYDW_oivD_uAs_NR6H64SvK5p8ngLpOhO3ttNLfa7g6SPLSr-LuOO_Osq81epyfHggOUf-uqs41YbgVXH-acvIveCLcS//?imgmax=800" width="442" height="303" /></a></p> <p>The home is heated with in-floor radiant heat and a massive kiva fireplace with heat returns. </p> <p>Thanks to the kiva, the open floor plan, and the passive solar orientation, our propane guy told us we had the lowest propane usage in the whole neighborhood.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3srTkmOuz9aGFV49IWW5p9HTb508r4xNtZfi-ElaKYP_TfkSkxlUBZ7cs9zDmCoVY6QmFRsOXbuP-QeV9JipewHqnW8uFSSIE28e1M4XaAHJ4wWfdQ7uzFcIinjruRD7RZSds6whTZafH/s1600-h/ld07%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="ld07" border="0" alt="ld07" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQPka8B76pp2BHLhdn4Ur_gJ7EbsRrZlpATlThaUp6NhZxDvUnUmsDunZfUsADw2shSQMnaSIMe_NmbGIhhXBUWWN66JXmgwuC6VpApkjVyDzvYZMK6hTyL4REz30Uwuza98_WYhbE6ea//?imgmax=800" width="440" height="302" /></a></p> <p>We installed Saltillo tile throughout the downstairs, which looks great with the tongue & groove ceilings and Southwestern wood detailing. </p> <p>Kitchen has granite counters and a fabulous 29-cubic-foot French door Samsung refrigerator that I’m crying to leave behind …</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiluphxallDxmupqu-RIeUcCW0jqXvIvuMRGFxRONWsuYcBrsjMxE3bLq-auxrMfPdXSDObVMamfcEeAnedkhdIgRrYhYp4VYXr0DtMzMofAEOeO3fH117oCkSNoTCJaSOC270k9LOXi0bx/s1600-h/ld03%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="ld03" border="0" alt="ld03" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivZmv0SKoODWNEvEcBhWertJC1g662EXDHmBUyG0S5vRLrpVIZnoyYAOPD3yfpVqLIXUd99H8L6rr9FHeT-Iam5YoCDFjacNBonVgSnlvwwj2JQaBX6oAdmciU9vDW4KSSxbru0hy5Qg_y//?imgmax=800" width="442" height="303" /></a></p> <p>The garage is an oversized 2-car with custom storage cabinetry & a workshop. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvrivfXbXbP7lGQXxtB9DG24kiYUMRBgvwJELoj-hhW806hvMVr0O4s9e1blPjfe7-yklEM09x7w5V-u9N04Ltypp727rg3fYK22x7XytYovIDpsukVmm8GVDAKYXneSqd-Icsxe0IFZt/s1600-h/ld18%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="ld18" border="0" alt="ld18" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQpForEcbpNNtfKSypk5Be2Ze_cC1GK_vHcku2gtn3OpAWawQKLk7aa_luQvnf5XedJ44lFPwuMH-6EU0MbqHaB6ACTUUC6lE-kUjgX47PKJ9PlCi3sG8f0w8cjM4fcww4L9RT5qKEr49e//?imgmax=800" width="444" height="305" /></a></p> <p>The outbuildings (2 barns and 2 coops) have electricity, and there are 4 freeze-resistant pumps for irrigation (reduces your fire insurance, too). And the entire perimeter is “Invisible Fenced” for dogs.</p> <p>Beautiful views of the Sandia Mountains and the Sedillo valley …</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7Q12oICEIivrQWeRx3Gtk3MJNfbM6ZbepSsZVa6TEZCapS04brdxvRUojfBSMqhHavAhgkFo5NjftbJwEXw7hkaLhOzjzpUSgBPt36aD73MhpWUdu3HbYIhm7hfzaPfH3I4cggqCq-tD/s1600-h/ld06%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="ld06" border="0" alt="ld06" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsLZ8Iu9X6Gv3fs7AVZye5so6uVwyRqSfW2mrz5GWxWZyDNGCE1vyPcVyFi8-_xqbCeeu6zMkRDZQWGcoSQWBG2AkRsuuV5Qm_xXuIzhVVEbN-VR9iAK1pJJwoGyeWdapg0UWgYWtFZ3IN//?imgmax=800" width="444" height="305" /></a></p> <p>We’re asking $349,900 for our dream ranchito … you can see the Keller Williams listing with more pictures here <a href="http://bit.ly/McXiBH">http://bit.ly/McXiBH</a> …. and take a virtual tour here <a href="http://www.pfretour.com/7921">http://www.pfretour.com/7921</a> !</p> <p>--MaggieBelize <br />Designer, <a href="http://www.localgringos.etsy.com/">kNotes for kNitters</a> <br />Creator, <a href="http://happyhandsstore.com/">Happy Hands Hand Cream for Knitters</a> <br />Sandia Park, NM</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">--MaggieBelize
Designer, kNotes for kNitters
http://kNotesforkNitters.com
Creator, Happy Hands Hand Cream
http://HappyHandsStore.com</div>MaggieBelizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11622629351826950576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671465331496612623.post-1904951268541541702012-06-29T12:04:00.001-06:002012-06-29T12:12:07.456-06:00Tie Dye Project Day<p>A teenage friend & I devoted a couple of days to tie dye, what fun! We experimented with color dyeing, discharge (bleach) dyeing, painting, stamping and stenciling.</p> <p>Here are my four of our finished shirts:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqpP4tASvWo_hs9AockmofeqbqnHL_kuBT85fEy2dvPpq8Crnz_nhzvc5ns30T48llSByDdM59nwDaeaIMT0ZSMRHNSyx04YV7usP9IkTDXcS1IpteiyH2jqa6EPXc1JRM2luvxFUyyaC/s1600-h/Bird_01%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Bird_01" border="0" alt="Bird_01" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0A1SEV2rn8JLmvwubS89itzZbXu_UIi4GWgzDQpEn8EwXnRSUNXf7DfT4ecKe7Jtz3ll-kBIN_1M1whgTv4Rbmt0tg6_2ud_DYnLHHQLtLlibegOT9wIjdAfGcWzXO_4W5yIDlBeZWPgz//?imgmax=800" width="318" height="376" /></a></p> <p>This tribute to <em>Portlandia</em> was discharge dyed, then fabric painted and rubber stamped. </p> <p>Draped the shirt front with wet cheesecloth for resist, then sprayed with 1:2 bleach:water mix. Allowed to bleach for 10 minutes. Rinsed in cold water, then soaked in 1:4 vinegar:water mix to stop the bleach action.</p> <p>Washed and dried the shirt, then sketched bird silhouette and branches, outlined with fabric paint markers, then filled in with brushed-on fabric paints in black and gold. Used letter stamps for text with pigment ink I hope proves permanent. (Plan to heat set it with my tee shirt press before I wash it again.)</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo-XBHIcHpj4DFT6r83XAUWNULUh2oJMny0vsg4uDubTd23QMpRNf0QGXZGbLKPSBEnlQXWYTWY3UkBgRM4sM_xkS5mIKsyF3cS3dnT9mu8eI3WGTughUDbUYcKZ2gqo7HhfH9xcM2O5lI/s1600-h/MountainRange%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="MountainRange" border="0" alt="MountainRange" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw5saZXtCmGjpn20LeeIYjivejiN5LIJ2kygTaGA3hoqy7NEOPxfS9D0g2yvRYEx8YqxgdCL1m6zGZsWo3MQjaoP6iWHkXmn_5Vgx9p52dAF8hkqYC2SqVN6Y6KFEmAP9YPt4o237srvPd//?imgmax=800" width="328" height="397" /></a></p> <p>Tried for a mountain range effect on this one: discharge dyed using torn cardboard for resist. This was the fastest & easiest shirt of the day!</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_tQA_gJmwyw7FHWrLQhv21Dvy0x5-7n4PHgbg2jwNC6JVlUtwZgqIZSiUZ0Yu5DV-ik2fNoBlcrMn23pwAv4ZGZ4Lj_k8BTU8HrRxIeH8EYCrFsVW-HBVEQieh5urlkgkglYp2W_D95-Y/s1600-h/TieDye_01%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="TieDye_01" border="0" alt="TieDye_01" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6t8y9dl0IssChi13GybC0jH_1bkCRSLSUC4d_jcffC4J1nFuNM6CxpAY8vlkPg0jLrrCQJ06UDTnBUGBTokx6CF08cZiUqsC4t7AP-_iKNIkpdlc3bMBsIRLNJiVdnKESf2VuvlYBv8b//?imgmax=800" width="318" height="430" /></a></p> <p>This one was straight-up tie dye – haven’t decided if further embellishment is needed. Fan-folded from the lower left corner, then randomly scrunched from the upper right.</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHMLyDqV4fzbcveFgR4U3p6H-ftZX5PcIBBMaOuaik-TllGC29_Z9-hGf_DzLVFd1UfQ-D-xPGWIgLHBgCtqsKnLjR2FdQpFKzrnNXs1bQNhoD66YAUbISCTOngXRjoRm-cozVeKjkf9gV/s1600-h/TieDye_Stencilled%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="TieDye_Stencilled" border="0" alt="TieDye_Stencilled" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUkqUnd68IZR21WYf5FQhr5Rz-RsRo_Kt4evJY1Jje3-49nmutRSTm8JlyoA4mRF3NFPcixARdklOwBBndXILHGzlmTJrLzuH4QzNuG_g9U2hyQkXc6aEcSDIOxn7_lzoliQlAr8OoJDy//?imgmax=800" width="310" height="391" /></a></p> <p>And here’s an embellished tie dye: simple vertical fanfolds, dyed, washed and dried. The teal dye permeated the shirt, so there’s no white left, the background is now pale blue. Then applied a purchased screen stencil. This ink requires heat-setting before washing, which I haven’t done yet.</p> <h4>Project Supplies</h4> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002J1HYXO/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=localgringosc-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B002J1HYXO" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 5px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="TulipKit" border="0" alt="TulipKit" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaPoxLZk-dLVH7ItmNw-EGEonkE3aGLO98y0zI7MMO3gu8CMQQmWVGONcaxyTYBfp4nM477H978l8HWvvQB3jclXv1AL9LfJnsy5IKWeb4_SWSxexfo70xIqYqyVL-rd83DhFWdmSYf0e//?imgmax=800" width="186" height="189" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>This time we used the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002J1HYXO/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=localgringosc-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B002J1HYXO" target="_blank"><strong>Tulip One-Step Super Big Tie Dye Kit</strong></a>. </p> <p>We picked this particular kit because it <strong>does not require pre-soaking</strong> the shirts overnight prior to dyeing – we didn’t want to wait for that.</p> <p>We also liked that it has <strong>12 dye colors</strong>. Sure, you can mix primaries to get shades like lime green or coral, but it’s messy and more difficult to share. But I didn’t notice until we’d gotten started that the kit only comes with <em>8</em> plastic bottles for dye, darn it. Next time I’ll have extra bottles on hand.</p> <p>We also had a problem with the teal color in this kit – it ran. We dyed the shirts and let them sit, some for 8 hours and some overnight for 20 hours. When I un-tied the shirts and rinsed them, all had some un-dyed white areas. When these came out of the washing machine, the white areas of the shirts that had teal dye were now light blue. Not the end of the world, but not what we wanted, either.</p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000205WQ/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=localgringosc-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0000205WQ" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="JacquardKit" border="0" alt="JacquardKit" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsxPjUw7fEyb4TwjEFTRWcIaiQ1U_Fc5KYZ92HPzZCgodYLH0vC3UGflMBt1S88IwzlTt8rNaLfIYj7DfWpPOPc-coRNkzAibn6yX_nD4WKvSKXt3lU4Oo1R0SHEFPsfGccznT7esLW6mB//?imgmax=800" width="187" height="190" /></a>On our previous outing we used the <strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000205WQ/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=localgringosc-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0000205WQ" target="_blank">Jacquard Tie Dye Kit</a></strong>, which does require you to soak materials overnight in a soda ash & water mix, and uses Procion dyes. </p> <p>You only get 3 colors in this kit, red, blue and yellow, so if you want more shades you have to mix them. However, the finished colors with these dyes are brighter & stronger. I’d probably choose this one again for grown-up project days; but if you’re working with younger kids, or a larger group, I’d go with the Tulip kit.</p> <p><a href="http://www.walmart.com/ip/Next-Style-Zip-Screen-Large-Skull/20711732" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 5px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="tulipmarkers" border="0" alt="tulipmarkers" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6pawCFVhXN6r-KWpO-Ulx6JtPcZTS_GaudZo3L5Jm9seargoly6YBaP7tGWvzEx0ip3OWkF7_30p5SvMo_J4q0CT5HS21wslQ0Xbu_xympg1XSHoiUxiWEXao__bIpl_Uc0xhm_6Bh8D//?imgmax=800" width="161" height="164" /></a>We used <strong>Tulip Fabric Paint Markers</strong>, which were a lot of fun and easy to use, but the set we bought had very fine points. Great for outlining or doodle-type designs, not so great for filling in large areas. We found that brushing on fabric paints worked better for that.</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.walmart.com/ip/Next-Style-Zip-Screen-Large-Skull/20711732" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="zipscreen" border="0" alt="zipscreen" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6KCKC0Xahg9QTzSoAHhrF6tRos0Frsiv7XnbQI8NFx4mjQx3XfanzzvCU-4JglZfzvh5m54xRZurr924dW_hrKl0SStOts9VwVE76Wih46nDIDcoyPkstvu_tpeNGI251Lea_7l0AFME1//?imgmax=800" width="161" height="187" /></a>The silk-screen type stencil we found at Wal-Mart is called a <strong><a href="http://www.walmart.com/ip/Next-Style-Zip-Screen-Large-Skull/20711732" target="_blank">Zip Screen</a></strong>, and it worked really well. It’s a laser-cut plastic sheet with adhesive backing; you purchase the ink separately in a small plastic bag with a built-in squeegee. Nice!</p> <p>We purchased some <strong>blank tee shirts</strong> also at Wal-Mart, where we found 100% cotton Faded Glory shirts for only $4.48 each. We also used some shirts from the back of the closet. It’s nice to have a crummy shirt or two for experimental purposes; you can always wear it to wash the dog.</p> <h4>Next Time …</h4> <p>The biggest hit of the day was the <strong>discharge dyeing with bleach</strong>. It’s more immediate than tie dyeing: you see results in 10 minutes, and it’s like magic to watch it happen. When you bleach dark-colored shirts, you never know what color will be revealed – the black shirts shown above bleached to a light rust color, but you might get tan, white, or even pink! And it uses ordinary household materials – bonus!</p> <p>Next time we’d like to experiment with different resist materials for patterning. Maybe try the cheesecloth dry instead of wet … get some onion bag mesh … and try different ties, like those little zip strips, to tie up the shirts as for tie dyeing, but use the bleach solution instead.</p> <p>And we enjoyed the fabric painting on the dyed fabric. We’d like to get some of that fabric medium you mix with acrylic paints, instead of buying the dedicated fabric paint (small high-priced bottles in few colors).</p> <p>All in all, big fun!</p> <p>--MaggieBelize <br />Designer, <a href="http://www.localgringos.etsy.com/">kNotes for kNitters</a> <br />Creator, <a href="http://happyhandsstore.com/">Happy Hands Hand Cream for Knitters</a> <br />Sandia Park, NM</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">--MaggieBelize
Designer, kNotes for kNitters
http://kNotesforkNitters.com
Creator, Happy Hands Hand Cream
http://HappyHandsStore.com</div>MaggieBelizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11622629351826950576noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671465331496612623.post-34279666269574481112012-04-09T11:57:00.000-06:002012-08-31T12:20:42.425-06:00Anemone Hat #2–Knitting FO<p> </p> <p>As soon as I finished knitting my <a href="http://localgringos.blogspot.com/2012_03_01_archive.html" target="_blank">first Anemone Hat</a>, I simply couldn’t wait to cast on another!</p> <p>But what a bummer - my conservative little teenage friend loved my hat but picked Oxford Gray yarn for hers. Oxford gray, seriously? “Trust me,” she said.</p> <p>*sigh*</p> <p>So here’s her hat in Lion Brand Wool-Ease worsted. This is the “Everyday Anemone” version of the hat, with picot-edged but non-Moebius brim.</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikj-gil_T7QRuh3kDfAdtF6fPkG88-aoL5k4DKLpoQs01TsRXjpYy48ahOu-4JZUALtuV8DPogzQNj5X5dQbR4uzSH1kxyrOZATKjncro-8QXyK6xz7CtHl03mhggwDHdkD7Y5JXaNq4bV/s1600-h/ChloesHat_02%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="ChloesHat_02" border="0" alt="ChloesHat_02" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zxHpBY8hhmKGKObHiEDU2JhkbNOVXhcBxF8TDe0jHCWCJOo4D2wveUUEpo1XhntygwgeYlK9UoG1acEPMSmu_Nxg3RAPWxFlQ6UEia8QpPG-jfj-2glursxyX-Xch_zdTqD_VtrYeqPD//?imgmax=800" width="431" height="356" /></a></p> <p>She didn’t want the Moebius brim, but she did want the picot edging as shown in the “Arctic” version of Cat Bordhi’s <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/anemone-hats" target="_blank">Anemone hat pattern</a>.</p> <p>Since the picot edging instructions are only given as cast-<em>off</em> for the Moebius brim, I used this tutorial from <strong>Heidi Bears</strong> to cast <em>on</em> the <strong>5-stitch Twisted Picot edging</strong>:</p> <p><a href="http://heidibearscreative.blogspot.com/2011/02/pretty-pic...">http://heidibearscreative.blogspot.com/2011/02/pretty-pic...</a></p> <p>And now that it’s finished, it really does look cute – maybe she was right?</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsoajC5E0ZANxo-JtO6tgH-f0YZ98Oh2YKOzYXIOuvoygoMqvnZ9Ye3bG5qjIYh6IcyEcZGMapyTKUjwwiABIvvY8Iy9PN4DdYmaMed4u2ATmMbknXP9MoHttuxJNgklgPLiyb1v9yoqg/s1600-h/ChloesHat%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="ChloesHat" border="0" alt="ChloesHat" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsttKgp5mnbKYlX1_QUQ1NcmQ1JBPun7WnRkWRRCOIfts-O6SorWPDq60tVJ4UoRHP2njeRarhz2LjdffMlVt0hGDTjqIFUPzv9RtnBR9fLDypWf6jSsZtrN-DuhMPgqMUb1UZ2rNMeQiP//?imgmax=800" width="237" height="320" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>I just love knitting these hats! Thank you, Cat!</p> <p>--MaggieBelize <br />Designer, <a href="http://www.localgringos.etsy.com/">kNotes for kNitters</a> <br />Creator, <a href="http://happyhandsstore.com/">Happy Hands Hand Cream for Knitters</a> <br />Sandia Park, NM</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">--MaggieBelize
Designer, kNotes for kNitters
http://kNotesforkNitters.com
Creator, Happy Hands Hand Cream
http://HappyHandsStore.com</div>MaggieBelizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11622629351826950576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671465331496612623.post-86559144656537468472012-03-04T10:47:00.000-07:002012-08-31T11:47:54.353-06:00Anemone Hat! Knitting FO<p> </p> <p>Wow, what fun! </p> <p>This is a great <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/anemone-hats" target="_blank">knitting pattern</a> by <strong>Cat Bordhi</strong>. Lotsa new techniques, love that links to video demos are included. The pattern includes a lot of options – the brim can be knitted up in Moebius fashion or straight, you can use worsted or bulky yarns, in adult and children’s sizes.</p> <p>Here are photos of my Anemone Hat “before” and “after” washing & drying, which really made the tendrils stand up. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR6FWapdqt0G_wSPDs89cjH9FMjFajuU2EiAOpI8Pi2zDVTXhSPLSSYHvKHzEusRtRiRWO4JgbCx_VB8sj8MoxY5xuRKhLDJ3NevgK0cnDDyFXOSK2mTTOB0U-QHrhV-FmgW65Ui0Uz2up/s1600-h/AnemoneHat01_beforewash%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="AnemoneHat01_beforewash" border="0" alt="AnemoneHat01_beforewash" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOepJA3Bmt8lvtCbmUskDx-CIJqUoWNlfHNMDJ9RDz82seWT0iXvWHwnMuNFxTRaKwXNN9R-WyuVbyYdyD8mqS93WsEN6WDnYkFAOxf8boYLwestEarSD34vkHFc6qMLl5q3vIbcnpWYu//?imgmax=800" width="433" height="333" /></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhbszisfbCcfkr_2vjjp_jmfKU3GdVRxfyMMiITrQwZo7GMZpJngFrePMlSYxC2R4rfiG9Q_2e2ZEd7kH7nDZ-CnQupQkDeur-AJqnPnhvPkUS4Ws6DUOAyrMTvICqhyI9ifeHIy-bk5R/s1600-h/AnemoneHat01_afterwash%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="AnemoneHat01_afterwash" border="0" alt="AnemoneHat01_afterwash" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTfeWyc7gkeVfBt5iORYX2ZHKI15kXGCK8XVIXIHQdIiV_krshkfAQtryGSTyd772NzCPLtd2MhkY9b2cQAOoPRTnSJvNu-KPdWklnAuDbwmb1R1uv9zbZYysv9Y-xtsQokR_OY8j-okF//?imgmax=800" width="436" height="386" /></a></p> <p>I used a merino worsted superwash yarn from <a href="http://www.sunshineyarns.com" target="_blank">Sunshine Yarns</a> in the Bitterroot colorway.</p> <p>I knitted the Moebius brim version in an Adult Large, using a 38” cable. After I finished the brim, I used the Magic Loop technique all the way up.</p> <p>I really, truly, can’t wait to cast on another! I want to knit one up in Lorna’s Laces … and one in bulky …</p> <p>--MaggieBelize <br />Designer, <a href="http://www.localgringos.etsy.com/">kNotes for kNitters</a> <br />Creator, <a href="http://happyhandsstore.com/">Happy Hands Hand Cream for Knitters</a> <br />Sandia Park, NM</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">--MaggieBelize
Designer, kNotes for kNitters
http://kNotesforkNitters.com
Creator, Happy Hands Hand Cream
http://HappyHandsStore.com</div>MaggieBelizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11622629351826950576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671465331496612623.post-82978409004191308192012-02-16T09:10:00.001-07:002012-02-16T11:18:53.777-07:00Yard Sale 2-18-12! And You’re Invited!<p>We are hosting a one-day-only, everything-must-go, whole-house yard sale at <b><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=14+Digby+Lane,+Edgewood,+NM&hl=en&sll=35.12173,-106.248599&sspn=0.012268,0.026157&oq=14+digby+lane&hnear=14+Digby+Ln,+Edgewood,+New+Mexico+87015&t=m&z=16" target="_blank">14 Digby Lane</a></b>, Edgewood, New Mexico, this <b>Saturday, February 18</b>, from <b>10 AM to 4 PM</b>. </p> <p>And you're invited! Bring friends! ;) The current weather report says Saturday will be the prettiest sunny day of the week, and we believe it, ahahahaha.</p> <p>This is a "whole house" yard sale, including items for every room. Here's just <i>some</i> of the stuff we've got for sale … click the linked items to see a full description on Craigslist Albuquerque:</p> <p>· <a href="http://albuquerque.craigslist.org/fuo/2851167533.html" target="_blank">Oval dining room Table & 6 Windsor-back chairs</a> Table $150, Chairs $40 each, or $300 for the whole set!</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSGlsOJ71EqJ6qY-pFQTAw7NrarKqJMhllbydWS2CdiCLB887gDzdRZc-KmsBCy7Jtrbcz4ANDEV4_PP9Bilb8fqOFqGdaRoK_FFC_oEJNopDoPRsGA2gsaylnjnAJnGYL5l338n_c1vg/s1600-h/WindsorChair_Arms_01%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WindsorChair_Arms_01" border="0" alt="WindsorChair_Arms_01" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0phGVu9EJlYCvaHZ4GJ0w0o60EccW8qNXLHv7yF7-khyxCeNK7F0ZzhjY33k7AW4Kwn3gyN-2fA9EJz2eXnWpsEM0urUEbrrldOsWWCmOt2XAuKiSsxIcwBDqVOZr7joFGlNUixf3Kdxk//?imgmax=800" width="149" height="244" /></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfr0QDkMLeWL1Fb8eSQHjwMvmdlbsoZUn9n0LtS7xgGokXH9HK35woOxVo27R9FD4D4ta6a_7wFZRLOErWHUT36DYO63_DTFatd9WtiKwIpe4FGoKgkoUmNglKz5zBbmN0f65pUMFflyt_/s1600-h/DiningTable_01%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DiningTable_01" border="0" alt="DiningTable_01" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5cHJ33Sw4DaVlTmd2kwnkmK_6RMfNTKCoIXfp5Lj4mmM3nZv0ugRI9ynTzpbl_yA_cSKO3_9KoMre2rx-uKn04AOI4tO-fSqxPpYxp420YKYmyLub1eNFCWuxO8aqVAFDhJjTz1RxsHC//?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>· <a href="http://albuquerque.craigslist.org/fuo/2851217786.html" target="_blank">2 Kitchen Bar Stools</a> Ready to paint or stain. $25 each or $40 for both.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDo5980vy4kYEi4HhQDEwVMDc91gnWlBFlByNrfg1-H_Z1821gA1s32ddjy_Er7RErWdDtXfxzOkX7U5n7S0bj91xxRklLbkzXW_vvsUdSKz-Q1YPL5JULOdTQcH9054nyqMqH_PGtTxG0/s1600-h/BarStool%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="BarStool" border="0" alt="BarStool" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAz5K6lX-Jg9iA14B0f03pXc9dhhF2_EIuhG005kA2Lc8K96CO0hOYLn-H12wKNalRzb1sDoPsK3OxnEjC9dLFp51NYEog0tCCm4NFwj_w5ESsmu4ur8uiyX7ze3pGDVXgGgFfKMsidlCd//?imgmax=800" width="148" height="244" /></a></p> <p>· Upholstered Chairs</p> <p>· <a href="http://albuquerque.craigslist.org/fuo/2854604478.html" target="_blank">Glider Rocker</a> (needs repair) $30</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4W02pFMjB8xRX_hLZp8HcyX6k8AW-MsKon6Sv7wR8-wFWmF99EP5yu7vigZg7NGrpDZ5HrLxXyGomr9a7uADhY8b-ZZf-6QeQi18qKyK6hk6uxy1EIZM0jRWkoZ6X0SUTO7PkFqL-mH_/s1600-h/GliderRocker_02%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="GliderRocker_02" border="0" alt="GliderRocker_02" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWYUwIIeBtri0W7AxoYB6XDO2YjCqr4z1pU9NwcLBBO18moPQQMAxA7gpJjCwzUdSKcBzj63YM-NRRwz95keDB8yAMHGpM15jGf16SAy6SQ-bwoNX2VGoxT6ieTDPuQY-R9KD3stFilm0//?imgmax=800" width="244" height="179" /></a></p> <p>· Full-size Futon couch</p> <p>· <a href="http://albuquerque.craigslist.org/fuo/2854527463.html" target="_blank">Media Center & Cabinets</a> Low media stand table $75, two cabinets $30 each, or $125 for all three</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7trmRFu3egzyiDz107amBEpWHhnVUPrSL23N9Jd5h3m3tRfAYvriGqZw06RSvJInph-38HGMSR1TBOZaswXxKYMd5QGhRdDeDKu8EWfh-IgssCGnEcjBjEMF7dGhV9XtQn7M_mj2DbZr9/s1600-h/MediaStand3pc%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="MediaStand3pc" border="0" alt="MediaStand3pc" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-IItForXHG9Rk2VGg23RWf8-a19rwyjjujMCpZ7vPUbj0qUqL8670HIOX9blU1AiHQ3qLZ7OrL3RqIMsswU7tQnVeZhHKw_ogjhoH1W7soR6er8CX9hGwDDW13SPTarnyz3MfP2Oxonm//?imgmax=800" width="244" height="133" /></a></p> <p>· Contemporary home office Desk, Chairs & <a href="http://albuquerque.craigslist.org/fuo/2853255045.html" target="_blank">File Credenza</a> $100</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYm7qHrD4nNIHdgyVRBcVJ1IY-l7ufyk3rSuboY7vqbyblSysCUucIXdoHYTZ-GFESVgNr8VDkwJRpal9DUtmK7b0pyOxiH84ad7xOsJrLzvoRv0gRif0Wq3kJqWAvc5jlKlo4nJ8pLnM4/s1600-h/FileCredenza%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="FileCredenza" border="0" alt="FileCredenza" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMOuSd5keYJ3xxeJSzE72Nvwe49pJbi67kwHzGWLDbuBemJ75cnY1SW5MjwwCIcwGU_w2-sdzjm2BC2SM0km23O5E19s2sKriguvAKqPR5Ap6zoDOCUPH4GMemH3p2AUwRYfntlnmiD5d//?imgmax=800" width="244" height="154" /></a></p> <p>· Dishes & Kitchen gear</p> <p>· Men's & women's Jeans & Clothing</p> <p>· Kids' stuff (clothes, toys, books, games & DVDs)</p> <p>· Color TVs (not HD)</p> <p>· Assorted Hand Tools,</p> <p>· Universal Gym </p> <p>· Large wooden Dog House</p> <p>We hope you can stop by on Saturday to say "hello" ... and please feel free to forward this link to everyone you think might be interested!</p> <p>--MaggieBelize <br />Designer, <a href="http://www.localgringos.etsy.com/">kNotes for kNitters</a> <br />Creator, <a href="http://happyhandsstore.com/">Happy Hands Hand Cream for Knitters</a> <br />Sandia Park, NM</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">--MaggieBelize
Designer, kNotes for kNitters
http://kNotesforkNitters.com
Creator, Happy Hands Hand Cream
http://HappyHandsStore.com</div>MaggieBelizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11622629351826950576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671465331496612623.post-83334828212370915162012-02-05T10:37:00.000-07:002012-08-31T11:38:23.564-06:00Daybreak Shawlette–Knitting FO!<p> </p> <p>Gosh this was a fun knit! It’s a semicircular shawl – or, as I made the smallest size, a shawlette. Here it is, drying on my blocking board:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnCx-Y-gn8FJ6roxv-ttlbg5gvWIaFd-BUn1127EoJRPwvmDeyVm-SgbQI3wO5LeMHEOsXhoPsMNlIbpbZp2Z1XRQ63ul2sbwJvg-bbn8_dJXfApdbJ-0KeTM-H8iTpDGcXJvESu6oLSoJ/s1600-h/Daybreak_01%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Daybreak_01" border="0" alt="Daybreak_01" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1SX9cA-uWQEAgyd6B88hgjsXhy_wkXUpaV1K5BZp2SnZwSOO4xBpON-7adB5bWaplQuV1cPA5myMqzBCRrZReXSE0O_mjqJPfbn3w6mp85g8p6LPphGG8LHWb9E-gkDgtUesdBIpHguLp//?imgmax=800" width="417" height="321" /></a></p> <p>This is the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/daybreak" target="_blank">Daybreak</a> pattern designed by Stephen West. I like that the designer shows it worn bandana-style, very Western looking. Here’s his pattern photo:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8Qa51COY3oj4W1JcyJjzsn6xB00ODIwFvwseu0_jR4XpfPsbavTmfN2o5KPJNtO722bPhHqaAKF7xC7bQ91vFbViuXMO20X0n3YCG25Kwggpv9PhiMUL-gcv7zgt1vbOWHtpVfVrvOwv/s1600-h/daybreak%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="daybreak" border="0" alt="daybreak" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNS9YP5UtMQfsIOGSUNWgEmvb_SLRgg04P8pfOjpwvatplbpfWzbp5rGCKRr6-e043iOr-jATqWPDoNd_UsD_ApNzpwBK3GddVDEHX0NxKwvzqNq3VFeGTMos8tLCFQVXf8a1doQWdIx6a//?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>This pattern calls for fingering weight yarn in two colors. I was inspired by this colorway called “Early Autumn”, hand-dyed by Crafty Hippy:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0tXl7N9VQRUuFEk95IYE3_L68C7JER0WAfn_Sr3wcbKKfW69Y6twqUuMFX8pYdVGsRYmUWY0R9upekyUYPKb7eWbcLMJQpck7HbGI2F0A9UcqONCfWbBXpHUM_-3D8fHFuwzYqGeSvX3a/s1600-h/CraftyHippyCasbah_medium%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="CraftyHippyCasbah_medium" border="0" alt="CraftyHippyCasbah_medium" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGqtp8zQm7Ed6zZVaG-8VE7cTN6TfG3N_dfvcEci_fpa9fqI10FrYHE9yuYzPPxmrMe60UkjVDNRpT3QanlpXgCNo3vbXJuZ4KSvTccDa_jrPwuhtNw49W7l2klqG8QttrxQfnPxWHPEV//?imgmax=800" width="411" height="316" /></a></p> <p>And I paired it with a forest green colorway of Araucania Ranco Multy:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkjV6XIbMfJE37yPFzGtuyqSRKermaMTihZqKSWr58NLmUs04qRbG7D0aMoKWQbg9ltJr58QSvu7_2yXEDVI3k2shSbNMa_wup16blGtLA9tHYQ6Uuv1WDVriHyGydBwuc15DyDYJToEC2/s1600-h/AraucaniaRancoMulty_Forest104%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="AraucaniaRancoMulty_Forest104" border="0" alt="AraucaniaRancoMulty_Forest104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_h8U0ZP6ZiN2mYKvhEhmM-e9wha5nFtenMyO3UCsVkc0hzOMpQtkvV7c4FuH4P9hlPTWho3I8J1r4EnJ9WG3ERH5OJAO2KJjDnWEhuZFt93zjikVBzml3xQuHDu4-H1rFX1kZgznl7lij//?imgmax=800" width="168" height="134" /></a></p> <p>I still have quite a bit left of both yarns … hmm, I’m thinking a matching pair of fingerless mitts … striped, maybe?</p> <p>--MaggieBelize <br />Designer, <a href="http://www.localgringos.etsy.com/">kNotes for kNitters</a> <br />Creator, <a href="http://happyhandsstore.com/">Happy Hands Hand Cream for Knitters</a> <br />Sandia Park, NM</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">--MaggieBelize
Designer, kNotes for kNitters
http://kNotesforkNitters.com
Creator, Happy Hands Hand Cream
http://HappyHandsStore.com</div>MaggieBelizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11622629351826950576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671465331496612623.post-11770071784489379932012-01-30T15:35:00.001-07:002012-01-30T15:35:55.288-07:00Gotcha, Wiley Coyote!<p>Living in the near-wild as we do, backed up to the Sandia National Forest, we hear and sometimes see a lot of wildlife. Specifically, a lot of coyotes. </p> <p>Our goal is to avoid conflict with these coyotes, and to protect our dogs. The foundation of our plan is to “know thy enemy”. So last week we  purchased and installed a wildlife surveillance camera.</p> <p>Here’s our first capture:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZjYO5oPspqQDJh-vFYLGjRaVJHYj8nitBW5j89I0cZihDBNvbLRwx2yXeuK8OpsA_FzcLIGQaCmf-ZFDuFMa4ZaxEQ0UgwMqmW0ksIWEhamgT4iOoQ-fOLXHYNtXgz4iqqoBep7hpsb6/s1600-h/FirstPhoto%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="FirstPhoto" border="0" alt="FirstPhoto" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1cflVzqc64jAF4mBCbwFxAvmSMcgLCYtrrzijwkl9wMQhZE7_oaiUGbOiq5ntngcXNwz2IbhGhPNdOFQVI6lT6JZzY0J4WV7cx3GHITb0ojAa3DoHQIeOBp_59Eyva30wsbsFQHaGq3VH//?imgmax=800" width="436" height="335" /></a></p> <p>That’s right, it’s the infamous Wild Weimaraner. *sigh*</p> <p>We’ve got lots more photos like this one of our dog … and several of our cars … and of us changing the storage card, etc. </p> <p>It wasn’t until last night that we got this one:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzkNOk8qgP5A24opE3MdrDewIVVrqucSJlqv37CIbe05Qth6G1BymWTpQ8md6YuMRfedWfU7uJ6M4NnGYy6lS_OGRAKxaWqWIF3Nt8kol07oH1XKWneMoz1gERfebJ7u2q08BZjYsk5xe/s1600-h/Coyote_02%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Coyote_02" border="0" alt="Coyote_02" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbtX9UcyzbP1fvcvEu9XCgHDNGsCYCDTjYcZPqpB9e2CU2MOXj8_AfuAGvvrv6PW7m_YP-tR_Edd_q1LM2Gm03fbWkkCIJfWgRq0pm8rNvHI5w1unJ4XOR6Fwyvid-ErzIThUcvSi4XtRY//?imgmax=800" width="441" height="339" /></a></p> <p>Yep, that’s a coyote! </p> <p>At the bottom of the frame you'll see that he cruised by last night about 11:30 pm - the camera automatically records the date, time, temperature and even the moon phase of each photo. (We love this camera: it’s a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003K6W9G4/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=localgringosc-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B003K6W9G4" target="_blank"><strong>Primos TruthCam 46</strong></a>.)</p> <p>But because the nighttime shots are infrared, the detail isn't great. I've edited the photo to brighten & sharpen it, but I still can't tell what he's got in his mouth - and not sure I want to know anyway - it looks like a femur!</p> <p>Stay tuned for more as we catch them!</p> <p>--MaggieBelize <br />Designer, <a href="http://www.localgringos.etsy.com/">kNotes for kNitters</a> <br />Creator, <a href="http://happyhandsstore.com/">Happy Hands Hand Cream for Knitters</a> <br />Sandia Park, NM</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">--MaggieBelize
Designer, kNotes for kNitters
http://kNotesforkNitters.com
Creator, Happy Hands Hand Cream
http://HappyHandsStore.com</div>MaggieBelizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11622629351826950576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671465331496612623.post-42362992011301159602012-01-22T10:04:00.000-07:002012-08-31T11:11:59.184-06:00Sprout Blanket! Knitting FO<p> </p> <p>Just finished knitting this Sprout Blanket for a dear friend’s little one (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sprout-blanket" target="_blank">knitting pattern</a> by Hanna Breetz). </p> <p>As it turned out, I cast on only <em>one hour</em> before the baby was born, so I knitted like mad to finish before he starts high school (grin).</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsj31qncg3fEHk7dNnt6BTUMZk696Qr-X_t5V3QXRuph_PJcAXjWKBSohyphenhyphenJwa8UxkmlTHXVZTPUa2KMCYtg0_jJTAARUpqRIz6nNfwMvNyPqCtA6hZv4WKW81x1xe5nQrmUgo2x25ZOup_/s1600-h/SproutBlanket_01%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="SproutBlanket_01" border="0" alt="SproutBlanket_01" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwApiuDYu5oqHZ0FYh0FNPNaaJY3-mjy1MVRcXQ-aWgRJ9KUurSkrN1t6Z0G8Uz54vJY3rO507qkq-3GhaT7sS0VH6k06lVLjEbw6AoJTxzj9mLpdzwlrrW9jAjSb1Z1ZUTzQVHbmKauU//?imgmax=800" width="432" height="346" /></a></p> <p>Love this pattern, really fun to knit. The chart & instructions are very clear, and the symmetrical nature of the design makes it easy TV knitting. </p> <p>Because the recipient wanted easy, EASY care, I used machine washable & dryable <strong>Caron Simply Soft</strong>, one-and-a-half skeins (about 475 yds) in Pistachio. </p> <p><img style="margin: 0px 0px 5px" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTIzxrNQXmF-U2E1IDfrhedmJaIt_TK3vn0nBRxSGtk4G1bDHn6" /></p> <p>I found the yarn just a wee bit splitty, but switching to blunt needle tips solved that problem. It really a soft, light yarn for baby gifts, and launders beautifully.</p> <p>Would definitely knit Sprout again!</p> <p>--MaggieBelize <br />Designer, <a href="http://www.localgringos.etsy.com/">kNotes for kNitters</a> <br />Creator, <a href="http://happyhandsstore.com/">Happy Hands Hand Cream for Knitters</a> <br />Sandia Park, NM</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">--MaggieBelize
Designer, kNotes for kNitters
http://kNotesforkNitters.com
Creator, Happy Hands Hand Cream
http://HappyHandsStore.com</div>MaggieBelizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11622629351826950576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671465331496612623.post-74336783635839106012011-09-24T18:24:00.001-06:002011-09-24T18:32:48.664-06:00The Dogs Ate My Car. Seriously.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #f5f5ff; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I own 3 large & normally well-behaved dogs. This afternoon I put them outside while I mopped the floors.<br />
<br />
After 30 minutes or so I heard them yipping - sounded as if they'd gotten themselves stuck in something. I went out to discover they'd apparently cornered something under my car in the driveway. But I couldn't see anything there.<br />
<br />
So I put the dogs in the house and got down on my hands & knees to look, but still couldn't find anything underneath the car. Then I opened the hood and there was a terrified squirrel, hissing and squalling and scrambling and clawing all over the engine.<br />
<br />
I jumped back, and that is when I saw what the dogs had done to the car trying to get the squirrel out.<br />
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They pulled out the wheel well liner entirely, and chewed up the whole front quarter panel of the car. It's all plastic, right, so they literally ate it. I mean, pieces are chewed off, bite marks & scratches everywhere. The damage is amazing. b<img alt="" border="0" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.city-data.com/forum/images/smilies/sad4.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" title="Crying" /> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #f5f5ff; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Here are some samples of their work:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-K2x-uYm0bwJb8-S5ZygE8-NedoDADQI807MgH_jIFZe4tPRfZyDII5k1EywhlFtl4BKI7Mv79IF6IOJfm4cCr13En1iVGeLkqo62ME60Ft0RgeVCVZ3tqNrs3D9JsIknGin21nbe2pcB/s1600/Side2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-K2x-uYm0bwJb8-S5ZygE8-NedoDADQI807MgH_jIFZe4tPRfZyDII5k1EywhlFtl4BKI7Mv79IF6IOJfm4cCr13En1iVGeLkqo62ME60Ft0RgeVCVZ3tqNrs3D9JsIknGin21nbe2pcB/s320/Side2.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNlg78cHcQ8U-71KorRf_7ETcab28Y9mAcGkDl5qhNwPJFkpCkRRN10uABYCFBx-Bfg_3N-vwxMk8hUztNvVzZ1v8iZxZs5xfCQ_LjBcUUk_k3fNHF19ts8G4i5oIWJSk5PzcgaHDrwGnO/s1600/Front2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNlg78cHcQ8U-71KorRf_7ETcab28Y9mAcGkDl5qhNwPJFkpCkRRN10uABYCFBx-Bfg_3N-vwxMk8hUztNvVzZ1v8iZxZs5xfCQ_LjBcUUk_k3fNHF19ts8G4i5oIWJSk5PzcgaHDrwGnO/s320/Front2.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13v5mvOvk_pq_QDFnSrYevlxObuOsSfAmaFIAbIG7sIvhBR90mfd4ovvsE6U22z7q0htQEFnP4BYigvV6qzwzEDOYvHO-uD6TckqMGSyMYo8cq12IANnL9SwC6TYtCeDMEiPjbybdVJR6/s1600/WheelwellCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13v5mvOvk_pq_QDFnSrYevlxObuOsSfAmaFIAbIG7sIvhBR90mfd4ovvsE6U22z7q0htQEFnP4BYigvV6qzwzEDOYvHO-uD6TckqMGSyMYo8cq12IANnL9SwC6TYtCeDMEiPjbybdVJR6/s320/WheelwellCover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<br />
My question is, does anyone know if auto insurance normally covers something like this? Should I say it was a bear? I phoned home to ask my dad but he can't stop laughing long enough to answer me!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #f5f5ff; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">--MaggieBelize<br />
Designer, </span><a href="http://www.localgringos.etsy.com/" style="color: #448888;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">kNotes for kNitters</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
Creator, </span><a href="http://happyhandsstore.com/" style="color: #448888;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Happy Hands Hand Cream for Knitters</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
Sandia Park, NM</span></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">--MaggieBelize
Designer, kNotes for kNitters
http://kNotesforkNitters.com
Creator, Happy Hands Hand Cream
http://HappyHandsStore.com</div>MaggieBelizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11622629351826950576noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671465331496612623.post-70136216716797361302011-05-14T11:35:00.001-06:002011-05-14T11:55:42.472-06:00Leon Russell Live at Albuquerque BioPark 5.13.11<p> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMws9fwq97Rc5Z7bO7rW8vpC81NsNOlbAQHBMNBi-_fVLuHQI0JxBd47M5-zZtq8CVZS4oJVcNLWDnA9YBp6xTsdcG3bxeX7l-JwbSzP7CygonrZt4f2ORz9fOGu0UM9t76MUNi3-O7duy/s1600-h/LeonRussell_now%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 6px 5px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="LeonRussell_now" border="0" alt="LeonRussell_now" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6P1ilOfZRTWzKl2Siowy5DOZIHH73hrLc7vpjQMYff_h8PFG9bJMKd8b3Uz1_QuoFHktd3hNPlgEkJCazpiL38dhbzmtJHGBTgon_stcntq3Zs7etV2D8A1X9Kg6B3-XwMSlMg_RisV-7//?imgmax=800" width="172" height="175" /></a>I couldn’t have been happier to see <strong><a href="http://www.leonrussellrecords.com/index.html" target="_blank">Leon Russell’s</a></strong> concert last night at Albuquerque’s <strong>BioPark</strong> – only in part because we’d won the $25 tickets (thank you, <a href="http://local-iq.com/" target="_blank">LocalIQ</a>).</p> <p>The <a href="http://www.bioparksociety.org/biopark.php" target="_blank">Albuquerque BioPark & Zoo</a><strong> </strong>is a lovely place for a show, a small grassy patch of lawn shaded by towering cottonwoods. The spooky screams of the zoo’s tropical macaws, and the odd ducks who flew overhead and around the stage throughout the evening, added the sort of special effects that put the “quirky” in Albuquerque living.</p> <p>I could have asked for better sound and sightlines, but I couldn’t have asked for better music, or a prettier moonlit night. And I felt completely at home in the laid-back crowd of 2,000-some hippies-turned-grandparents. Ah, them are my people. Russell himself turned 69 last month, making him a year younger than <strong>Eric Burdon</strong>, but a year older than <strong>Keith Richards</strong>, imagine that.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwep5vijzLnFAIrIZPxiK4CMLH2Fpri-BQHH4w6lNPzE5yh8sXpw2zLmZaD9IZmkJ0DNghDnEJGHqdPKgyoEr_7LtD-0mtj6o87qrgXEAnlgswBnlc-vpotJnBRBr5ON0JWyrBTEuESWjU/s1600-h/LeonRussell_70s%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="LeonRussell_70s" border="0" alt="LeonRussell_70s" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcr-bEKvjqXMSRlhyphenhyphenUZmTmYNLWFfGQN1SS3OFUkb_zDPFAoUhd8zsnXrO7dS2ez4BH77btf1yWgCZoqaW8OD0jio9PSVdjl9uNmJLdXq5YCl_zeGB3WnVLbFRJefNOC3X_c8Nn4bhh3tTf//?imgmax=800" width="204" height="244" /></a>Leon opened with <em>Delta Lady</em>, and his set list hit all the sweet spots - <em>Hummingbird</em>, <em>Back to the Island</em>, <em>Tight Rope</em>, <em>Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms</em> and <em>Stranger in a Strange Land</em> – but dang, he left out <em>Young Blood</em>. So my favorites of the evening were <em>A Song for You</em> – of course, Leon’s singer-songwriter best – and his cover of Dylan’s <em>A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall. </em></p> <p>Between numbers Leon shared anecdotes that I didn’t mind hearing again: how at 14 he built a crystal radio set that picked up only one station out there in Oklahoma – blues & gospel. How at 17 he traveled to Los Angeles, intending to get a job in advertising (“That’s a bloody business”); instead, he became a session musician and “the hillbilly of the moment” in a place and time that “thought a lot of hillbilly music, for some reason.”</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigM8H93JDxOWxFDS7N4iulsXbmL8oD_FuGtRIZEDW5IzlU4pF8LKSKFDTRUbq6WI2XPiDjy8FkfG2sPn0HJpnISeEDekXCa4FDsE8l3GraSfkqAXLFeHzzxrr_7DzYiifwV5JcNDf21uT4/s1600-h/LeonRussell%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="LeonRussell" border="0" alt="LeonRussell" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzNzrdE3LvQr71m3nSw-QALYRTLDP_8Q41UozSsu9V8rsZ2Mrdh_DOWvrnQdmV189kXHS2U-OajMZDZK9H-DTAVZ8kMyzV35KaFPyvYnRQLXJYdwPwMS5e8Gv1KtfTer7H7SGQTSEjt1h//?imgmax=800" width="188" height="244" /></a>And perhaps my favorite story, how he got that green silk top hat from <strong>Gram Parsons</strong> (then with the <em>Flying Burrito Brothers</em>) just before he left for<strong> Joe Cocker’s</strong> <em>Mad Dogs & Englishmen</em> 1970 tour. After road wear reduced the hat to near tatters, he discovered that it had originally belonged to<strong> Al Jolson</strong>, who wore it filming <em>The Jazz Singer</em>.</p> <p>Introducing <em>Hard Rain</em>, Leon casually dropped a bombshell: <strong>he’s currently working out a set of 15 tour dates with Dylan this August.</strong> Looking at Leon’s already-scheduled <a href="http://www.leonrussellrecords.com/touring_info.shtml" target="_blank">2011 tour dates</a>, August will have him hopping between upstate New York, Montana, Idaho, Colorado and (one of my favorite Time & Places) <a href="http://www.sturgis.com/" target="_blank">Sturgis South Dakota</a> for the 2011 Harley Rally.</p> <p>He’s scheduled to play Sturgis on August 13 at the legendary Buffalo Chip as part of the <a href="http://www.buffalochip.com/" target="_blank"><strong>American Thunder Music Festival</strong></a> Aug 6-13. Other festival acts include <strong>George Thorogood and the Destroyers</strong>, <strong>Jeff Bridges</strong> and friends, <strong>Lynyrd Skynyrd</strong> (that’ll be a riot), <strong>Toby Keith</strong> and <strong>Alice Cooper</strong> (performing separately, not together). Now, can you imagine if Dylan were added to the line-up? Whoa.</p> <p>Here are some Leon links to brighten your day:</p> <ul> <li> <h5><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-sSSPj0p74&feature=fvst">The Union by Elton John and Leon Russell, and produced by T Bone Burnett</a> <font style="font-weight: normal">(“making of “video directed by Cameron Crowe)</font></h5> </li> <li> <h5><font size="2"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DF5mctkQ8Xw&feature=fvst" target="_blank">Trouble in Mind - Leon Russell, Maria Muldaur, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson</a></font><font style="font-weight: normal"> (YouTube video)</font></h5> </li> <li> <p><font size="2"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hjy7RAu8TJ4" target="_blank"><strong>Leon Russell-"Stranger In A Strange Land"</strong></a> (YouTube video)</font></p> </li> <li> <p><font size="2"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37dw2r45Xzg" target="_blank"><strong>A SONG FOR YOU - Leon Russell & Friends (1971)</strong></a></font><font size="2"> Excerpt from the Homewood Sessions</font></p> </li> <li> <h5><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000B8IANU/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=localgringosc-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=B000B8IANU" target="_blank">Joe Cocker: Mad Dogs & Englishment</a> <font style="font-weight: normal">(tour movie)</font></h5> </li> <li> <h5><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000AA4H1S/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=localgringosc-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=B000AA4H1S" target="_blank">Willie Nelson and Friends - Live & Kickin'</a><font style="font-weight: normal"> Starring Ray Charles, Lyle Lovett, Leon Russell and Steven Tyler (no kidding)</font></h5> </li> </ul> <h5><font style="font-weight: normal">So, happy birthday to the Master of Space and Time. Congratulations on your long overdue <a href="http://rockhall.com/inductees/leon-russell/" target="_blank">induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame</a>. And thanks for a lovely evening.</font></h5> <h5><font style="font-weight: normal">Peace,</font></h5> <p><font size="2">--MaggieBelize <br />Designer, </font><a href="http://www.localgringos.etsy.com/"><font size="2">kNotes for kNitters</font></a><font size="2"> <br />Creator, </font><a href="http://happyhandsstore.com/"><font size="2">Happy Hands Hand Creams for Fiber Artists</font></a><font size="2"> <br />Sandia Park, NM</font></p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">--MaggieBelize
Designer, kNotes for kNitters
http://kNotesforkNitters.com
Creator, Happy Hands Hand Cream
http://HappyHandsStore.com</div>MaggieBelizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11622629351826950576noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671465331496612623.post-321736747946586142011-05-05T13:06:00.001-06:002011-05-05T13:08:50.204-06:00Happy Cinco de Mayo! Margarita Chicken Recipe<p>I whipped this up last night, and it was delicious! Since it’s still a little cool outside for grilling – up here in the high mountain desert, that is - I baked my marinated chicken in the oven.</p> <h4><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52sT6mvveDaadbZqh-vGQUvvPxgiY4oRtvySJWuAz7wGVufw9Dc3lCR0eFvMfDE5xVZhLiRqOygrPey2VoYyCvMiskj4U4Otcvm0_4Oato6W8GFBaTSAnypXoSxP1vS88MxN3q8lo7Nw9/s1600-h/margarita%5B2%5D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="margarita" border="0" alt="margarita" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFwdOVgMGc9cNwf3XQDQENikkSE5ql_7EfE6Zzh_EX8hWrgUUcn9Yl4AhCUQRCEUCGWxm6BvghjIlEXST2TcesIqfK6FDyvloyOziP79Ssp588-Uz787BWloxMcnrxAv6Lwn2qgGCTFzF7//?imgmax=800" width="196" height="244" /></a>Margarita Chicken</h4> <p>I adapted this from “Mexican Tequila Marinade”, a recipe in the <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1405487739/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=localgringosc-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=1405487739" target="_blank">Marinades & Rubs</a></em> cookbook by Carol Wilson. </p> <p><strong>Marinade Ingredients:</strong></p> <ul> <li>1/2 cup fresh squeezed lime juice</li> <li>1/4 cup tequila</li> <li>2 tablespoons peanut oil</li> <li>1 tablespoon grated lime zest</li> <li>1 teaspoon dried oregano </li> <li>1 teaspoon chili powder</li> </ul> <p><strong>1 to 2 pounds of chicken pieces</strong> (I like leg/thigh quarters) <br /><strong>1 to 2 tablespoons of coarse salt</strong> (kosher or sea salt) for sprinkling</p> <p>Thoroughly whisk marinade ingredients in bowl or measuring cup (not metal). Let stand at room temperature for 20 minutes so flavors will meld.</p> <p>Trim fat from chicken pieces, then place in shallow baking dish (not metal) or plastic bag. Pour marinade over chicken, turning to coat.</p> <p>Seal or cover, and allow to marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, but no more than 3 hours.</p> <p>Transfer chicken pieces to a non-metal baking dish – if you haven’t already – along with the marinade. Sprinkle the chicken pieces with coarse salt, if desired. </p> <p>(I really like this crunchy seasoning on the baked chicken skin, reminds me of the salty rim of a margarita glass. If you don’t, just add 1 teaspoon of table salt to the marinade, and skip the sprinkling.)</p> <p>Bake chicken pieces along with the marinade, uncovered, in preheated 375-degree oven for 55 minutes or until done. </p> <p>(Note: this cooking time is for my altitude of 7,000 feet; at sea level, check for doneness after 50 minutes.)</p> <p><em>Serving suggestions:</em> Great served simply, with plain white or coconut rice drizzled with pan juices, black beans, and a green salad.</p> <p><strong>Grilling</strong>: This is fantastic on the grill when weather permits. Add 1 teaspoon table salt to the marinade & skip the coarse salt sprinkle. Then, instead of baking your chicken in its marinade, drain the marinade into a small saucepan & boil vigorously for 5 minutes. Drizzle over the grilled chicken at serving time.</p> <p><strong>Seafood</strong>: It’s an equally good marinade for seafood, especially shrimp or scallops. Marinate seafood in the fridge for <u>only 30 minutes</u>. Any longer and the lime juice will “cook” the seafood!</p> <p>¡<em>Buen provecho</em>!</p> <p>--MaggieBelize <br />Designer, <a href="http://www.localgringos.etsy.com/">kNotes for kNitters</a> <br />Creator, <a href="http://happyhandsstore.com/">Happy Hands Hand Creams for Fiber Artists</a> <br />Sandia Park, NM</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">--MaggieBelize
Designer, kNotes for kNitters
http://kNotesforkNitters.com
Creator, Happy Hands Hand Cream
http://HappyHandsStore.com</div>MaggieBelizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11622629351826950576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671465331496612623.post-60718260347308864262011-03-29T11:15:00.000-06:002011-03-29T11:18:25.165-06:00Hugs, Kisses & FREE SHIPPING from Happy Hands Hand Cream<p>I’ve just sent a coupon for <strong>free US shipping</strong> to all my Happy Hands hand cream fans who’re signed up for my mailing list.</p> <p>Would you like a <strong>free US shipping coupon</strong> too? You can <a href="http://eepurl.com/c9YCE" target="_blank">join my fan list</a> to get one for yourself. But hurry, this coupon ends April 4! </p> <p>And if you’re outside the USA, <em>sign up and stay tuned</em> for a new coupon especially for international orders.</p> <p>Don’t worry: I don’t spam, and I don’t share your email address with anyone. Ever. And it’s as easy to <em>un</em>-join as it is to sign up, should you tire of my mailings.</p> <p>Even though this offer ends soon, you can join my list anytime to get my latest special offer to members. It might be a coupon like this one, or it might be free samples of a new scent, or a members-only sale. Always a goodie!</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBy8CtY1n5cUiMh1f2GhQUrDJUmscpmhApD8ZyMFQzPMXI9vHiZ_2QqYVcbUh215GfDVJz9xZuKhfWsdl883sFGV8R-cPxSJpl7-aRs8dmHZWZWdj9O-eP9Lu5T7Tz3lWcckFTP1-Wg1JP/s1600-h/WhiteTeaGinger_all%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 6px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WhiteTeaGinger_all" border="0" alt="WhiteTeaGinger_all" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1_NwnJyAZmPcW3TYT4j-yKLMHKkVcRMKzfAVGHxPFE1KGngGpfwPeTHFX1qHBokYA04J0nDhhsFx6NMQfV-ofSZZXNyMd3P2FLbYPKbTdpSP5obc324shQirzoe13fp_AhGKYuEEKKKi//?imgmax=800" width="204" height="244" /></a>For those of you new to Happy Hands, I hand-blend this unique hand cream for knitters, crocheters and fiber artists from shea butter, goats milk, honey and aloe. </p> <p>It’s non-greasy, and won’t transfer to your handiwork, which means it’s great not only for knitters, but also scrapbookers, rubber stampers, jewelry makers … anyone who works with her hands!</p> <p>I offer Happy Hands hand cream in 25 different scents, plus Unscented, in my <a href="http://happyhandsstore.com/" target="_blank">Happy Hands Store</a>.</p> <p>--MaggieBelize <br />Designer, <a href="http://www.localgringos.etsy.com/">kNotes for kNitters</a> <br />Creator, <a href="http://happyhandsstore.com/">Happy Hands Hand Creams for Fiber Artists</a> <br />Sandia Park, NM</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">--MaggieBelize
Designer, kNotes for kNitters
http://kNotesforkNitters.com
Creator, Happy Hands Hand Cream
http://HappyHandsStore.com</div>MaggieBelizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11622629351826950576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671465331496612623.post-2459106958527526682011-03-28T10:51:00.000-06:002011-03-29T10:54:31.695-06:00New from ABQ Library: Borrow a Kill A Watt!<p>Y’all know what an *enthusiastic* supporter I am of our local <a href="http://www.cabq.gov/library/" target="_blank">Albuquerque / Bernalillo County Library system</a>. If you ever want to see something government is doing <em>right</em> (with the help of volunteers of course), look to your local library!</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRh3w-iOLWhXXSXFHcSle6FPRUl0wvNVCAbLLbETj-ILd021G6qu5L4bXp_psthqM98s78NAByKX0iGKh_HZBpBhuuj5jiPO1wTYz2sTdryuC9Yr9-MZf2k4kIsaGxg7AOlrJtmdbJE9h3/s1600-h/killawatt%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 6px 5px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="killawatt" border="0" alt="killawatt" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcE1CIMMbyLSgZfVGrqP9-HYHpfjTzau543uKBUhL6FI8pMtiTWF4lKkDepXp_q-qDjT23ENXZCrwlKnsqNmmLkiiSn05EaGe6_202H8ijC-43XDH7Ovn2RDjjulYLsCLJCe-NxbijydC//?imgmax=800" width="154" height="154" /></a>The newest service from our ABC library system is … drumroll … if you have a library card, you can <a href="http://bit.ly/f3QmeV" target="_blank">borrow a Kill-a-Watt</a> home electricity monitor!</p> <p>Plug the Kill-a-Watt into the wall, then plug your appliances or electronic equipment into the Kill-a-Watt. It will give you a read-out showing how much electricity your item uses, and an estimate of how much it’s costing you to run it.</p> <p>Hats off to PNM, too, who donated these devices to the library system.</p> <p>Not a resident of New Mexico? Chances are your local library offers Kill-a-Watt borrowing too. Call ‘em, and check one out!</p> <p>--MaggieBelize <br />Designer, <a href="http://www.localgringos.etsy.com/">kNotes for kNitters</a> <br />Creator, <a href="http://happyhandsstore.com/">Happy Hands Hand Creams for Fiber Artists</a> <br />Sandia Park, NM</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">--MaggieBelize
Designer, kNotes for kNitters
http://kNotesforkNitters.com
Creator, Happy Hands Hand Cream
http://HappyHandsStore.com</div>MaggieBelizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11622629351826950576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671465331496612623.post-72250125906774729232011-03-21T17:08:00.001-06:002011-03-21T17:08:05.733-06:00Importing Audiobooks from CD to iTunes 10<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4urTIUcIwJDPaNBWWWqe6AeqH0STEeVcoXh894OOhjRcfN704ziuWHWvneDhvyAC19aaI3hmM7Z8yJNBtbfnSPpp3SdHJT6D32VefH3kIRYWvqAfSGbmJtLwBBFpp6I39AkZw9Lb9RfHI/s1600-h/audiobook%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 5px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="audiobook" border="0" alt="audiobook" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWEtFopsB2vtNw7aCSlxLA_RmJsF3qOWaP-gaER_osSRur7ayWbgJj8pHTuN4jpDlxLaBM5xBzsxnR5dyON0cAJXCnEnyd5I-KFcLXdd9UzZEpIgjDNpZp4NmWZwg48KQQnApNgLoG8TN//?imgmax=800" width="234" height="244" /></a>I love borrowing audiobooks on CD from my local public library, but I hate how complicated it can be to transfer them onto my iPod Touch for listening.</p> <p>Because iTunes assumes that any CD I try to import is a music CD, the handling of audiobooks on CD gets messy. An audiobook imported as “music” shows up in the Music category of iTunes, each audio track as a separate item, subject to shuffling, and without bookmarks.</p> <p>There are a number of resources on the Internet giving instructions for handling this problem, but I’ve worked out my own procedure using Windows & iTunes 10 that’s relatively fast and easy, and thought I’d document it here – for my own reference, and in case it’s helpful to anyone else struggling with this thorny issue.</p> <h4>Before You Start</h4> <ul> <li>Launch iTunes. </li> <li>Pull down the <strong>Edit</strong> menu and choose <strong>Preferences</strong>, then make these two selections:</li> <li>When you insert a CD: <strong>Show CD</strong> (not automatically import)</li> <li><strong>Import Settings</strong>: chose <strong>AAC Encoder</strong> (default) & <strong>Spoken Podcast</strong> (32 kbpps mono/64 kbpps stereo).</li> </ul> <h4>Import the CD</h4> <ul> <li>Insert the first audiobook CD into your disk drive.</li> <li>In iTunes, select all the tracks shown, by clicking on the first track and Shift+clicking on the last track.</li> <li>Pull down the <strong>Advanced</strong> menu and choose <strong>Join CD Tracks</strong>. This groups all the individual tracks on the disc into one unit – much better!</li> <li>With the tracks still selected, right-click and choose <strong>Get Info</strong>. Enter an <strong>Album title</strong> using the book title and the disc number. </li> </ul> <p>For example, type an album title like <em>The Sugar House 01</em> or <em>Sugar House Disc 01</em>. Whatever you choose for the album title, use it consistently across all the discs of the audiobook so they’ll sort properly in iTunes.</p> <ul> <li>Now click the <strong>Import CD</strong> button.</li> </ul> <h4>After the Import</h4> <p>At this point iTunes has imported the audiobook disc as one big track, but it’s still in the Music category of your iTunes Library, not yet associated with your other audio Books. You can fix this after the disc has been imported into iTunes.</p> <ul> <li>Locate the disc you just imported, in the <strong>Music</strong> category of your iTunes Library.</li> <li>Click the right mouse button and choose <strong>Get Info</strong> again.</li> <li>On the <strong>Options</strong> tab, click <strong>Media Kind</strong> and choose <strong>Audiobook</strong>.</li> <li>Also on the <strong>Options</strong> tab, click to enable <strong>Remember Playback Position</strong> (your bookmark) and <strong>Skip When Shuffling</strong>.</li> <li><em>Optional</em>: if you want to assign artwork to the audiobook files, click the <strong>Artwork</strong> tab and upload a pretty picture.</li> <li>Click <strong>OK</strong> when you’re done.</li> </ul> <p>Now the first file of the audiobook is moved into the Book category of your iTunes library.</p> <ul> <li>Your Import Preferences will be remembered, so all you have to do is repeat the <strong>Import the CD</strong> and <strong>After the Import</strong> steps for each disc of your audiobook.</li> </ul> <p>When you’re finished you’ll have one “book” file in your iTunes Books library for each disc of the audiobook. If you’d rather have a real audiobook with just one or two files, you’ll have to use additional software like <em><a href="http://lodensoftware.com/chapter-and-verse/" target="_blank">Chapter and Verse</a></em> to consolidate the files. I don’t bother with this for audiobooks I’ve borrowed from the library, but I would do it if I owned the audiobook.</p> <p>And don’t forget to delete the audiobook files when your library loan period is up!</p> <p>--MaggieBelize <br />Designer, <a href="http://www.localgringos.etsy.com/">kNotes for kNitters</a> <br />Creator, <a href="http://happyhandsstore.com/">Happy Hands Hand Creams for Fiber Artists</a> <br />Sandia Park, NM</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">--MaggieBelize
Designer, kNotes for kNitters
http://kNotesforkNitters.com
Creator, Happy Hands Hand Cream
http://HappyHandsStore.com</div>MaggieBelizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11622629351826950576noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6671465331496612623.post-61017725560146675402011-02-23T10:19:00.001-07:002011-02-23T10:19:39.914-07:00What’s for Dinner? Maple-glazed Sweet Potato Wedges (recipe)<p><img style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; display: inline; float: right" align="right" src="http://www.self.com/fooddiet/blogs/nutritiondata/sweet_potato.gif" width="150" height="113" />I love it when this happens: my mom emailed me this recipe in the nick of time for dinner last night … AND, I had all the ingredients on hand. Woohoo, score!</p> <p>These were delicious. Family and houseguests ended up squabbling over the last few bits in the pan, a sure test of appeal.</p> <p>Here’s the original recipe:</p> <h4>Maple-glazed Sweet Potato Wedges</h4> <p>3 sweet potatoes, about 1-1/2 lbs <br />2 Tablespoon pure maple syrup <br />1 Tablespoon olive oil <br />1 teaspoon kosher salt <br />1/2 teaspoon pepper <br />1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary</p> <p>Cut the sweet potatoes lengthwise into uniform wedges, about 1 in. wide. Whisk together the other ingredients, then add the potatoes and toss to coat.</p> <p>Arrange wedges in a single layer in a roasting pan, or on a baking sheet and drizzle with any maple syrup mixture remaining in the bowl.</p> <p>Roast 20 min. at 450. Remove pan from oven, and carefully turn wedges over. Continue roasting until fork tender, about 15 min. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve warm.</p> <h5>My modifications:</h5> <p>Our rosemary plant froze to death during this month’s Arctic cold snap, so I used dried rosemary, in the same quantity because I really like rosemary. Then I also added 1/2 teaspoon of <strong>crushed red pepper flakes</strong>. I love the combination of sweet & hot.</p> <p>I planned to cook these at the same time & at the same 375 degree oven temp as my chicken pieces. So I cut the sweet potatoes into 1/4” thick slices instead of 1” thick wedges, so they’d cook faster. I took them out after 45 minutes when they were thoroughly cooked & starting to blacken just a bit around the edges. Yum.</p> <h5>Addendum</h5> <ul> <li><strong>Do you know the difference between sweet potatoes and yams?</strong> Kind of a trick question, but <a href="http://www.self.com/fooddiet/blogs/nutritiondata/2010/11/the-difference-between-sweet-p.html" target="_blank">this article</a> from Self spells out the nutritional data.</li> <li><strong>I always use the darker </strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maple_syrup" target="_blank"><strong>“Grade B” maple syrup</strong></a><strong> for dishes like this.</strong> It’s too strong for pancakes, but adds more flavor to baked goods, including breads.</li> </ul> <p><em>Bon appetit!</em></p> <p>--MaggieBelize <br />Designer, <a href="http://www.localgringos.etsy.com/">kNotes for kNitters</a> <br />Creator, <a href="http://happyhandsstore.com/">Happy Hands Hand Creams for Fiber Artists</a> <br />Sandia Park, NM</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">--MaggieBelize
Designer, kNotes for kNitters
http://kNotesforkNitters.com
Creator, Happy Hands Hand Cream
http://HappyHandsStore.com</div>MaggieBelizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11622629351826950576noreply@blogger.com0