a year of necessity....

I'm pondering living 2009 as a minimalist........purchasing only what is absolutely necessary. I think it would be an interesting experiment. I've been doing some research and joined a few on line groups. I need to come up with some operating rules....here's a start:

1) Determine if it's a want or a a need....if a want - it's out
2) It it's a need, balance quality & low cost...it's not a bargain if you use it once and it breaks
3) Always ask if there's a cheaper, greener way of doing things....
4) Go through stuff regularly and take what you don't use to the Good Will.

more..............later

Third time's a charm

Well, today we bought the cabin for the third time! We refinanced to cover the construction and today was the closing......it's good to be done with it. 30 more years of payments and we will be done! Hopefully we will live that long :)

I've been knitting Christmas gifts and finshed "one" up this evening.....I'll be posting pics soon on Ravelry. I've had a little knitting explosion lately and I have about 6 projects started at this point.....must concentrate on finishing them before starting something new - must must.

I've gotten into Alan Dart's toy patterns and I love, love, love them.....they are a little tricky, but
worth the trouble.........I've also been making little sock coin purses.....I'm waiting for more hardware to make more of those......fun, fun, fun.

We are getting ready for winter up here....the frost is nipping all the flowers and there aren't many left. The leaves are pretty well off the trees and it won't be long before the pretty white snow will be gently falling....can't wait.......really, I do like winter!

back to my knitting now........

Rock on,
Cindy

Golf Club Covers

Here's some pics and the pattern I invented for golf club covers

Cindy’s version of golf head covers
Size 7 double points
Worsted weight yarn

CO 28 Stitches
K2P2 for 8 inches
K one round
Increase 7 stitches evenly (35 stitches)
K 1 round
Increase 7 stitches evenly (42 stitches)

Knit for a total of 7 inches, accommodating various
Strips as follows:

For 1 strip:
At 5 ½ inches, knit one row with contrasting color
Resume knitting with main color

For 3 stripes:
At 5 inches, do alternate row of main & contrasting color 3 times as follows:
K 1 row w/contrast
K 1 row w/main
K 1 row w/contrast
K 1 row w/main
K 1 row w/contrast
Resume knitting with main color

For 5 stripes:
At 4.5 inches, do alternate row of main & contrasting color 5 times as follows:
K 1 row w/contrast
K 1 row w/main
K 1 row w/contrast
K 1 row w/main
K 1 row w/contrast
K 1 row w/main
K 1 row w/contrast
K 1 row w/main
K 1 row w/contrast

Resume knitting with main color
At 7 inches begin decreasing as follows:
(K5, K2 together) 6 times - 36 stitches
K one row
(K4, K2 together) 6 times - 30 stitches
K one row
(K3, K2 together) 6 times - 24 stitches
K one row
(K2, K2 together) 6 times - 18 stitches
K one row
K 2 all the way around - 9 stitches

Break yarn and thread through remaining 9 stiches. Weave in ends. Attach pom pom. Go golfing!


Copy write: Cindy Steinberg Knits; October 2008

Mac book cover

Here's a picture and the pattern I invented to make a Mac book cover for Tommy:

Mac Book Laptop Case
Size 10.5 - 12 inch Circular needle
Size 10.5 double point Needles
4 skeins Lamb’s Pride Bulky

CO 50 Stitches
Knit until 1 ½ inches
Pick up & Knit 5 stitches on the side of your piece, 50 stitches across the bottom and 5 more stitches across the other side of your piece. 110 stitches.
Knit away until the piece measures 11.5 inches

Purl the next row
K2 together K3 K2 together, K 50; K 2 together K3 K2 together
Bind off 50 stitches

Top Flap
On remaining stitches on needle, Purl one row
Knit 4 rows
Purl one row
Knit for one inch
Next row: K1 SSK, knit to last three stitches K2tog K1
Next row: Knit
Repeat the last two rows until you are 6 inches away from the last purl row
Bind off

Handle:
Pick up the 5 stitches immediately next to the to flap.
Knit each row on size 10.5 straight or dp needles for 50 inches, bind off
Attach to other side of bag

Felt until the piece measures 12 x 9

Yikes

Oh you know how it goes........those feelings of uncertainty....well, that's where I'm at. I think it's spurred by some changes at work. I think what lies on the other side will be good, but getting there makes me loose some sleep. It just never fails........home life is settling in and now work is errupting. Go figure. All I have to say is thank God they don't both errupt at once.

Ways I can navigate these waters:

Patience
Don't act knee jerk
know that this too shall pass
get excited about doing things better
do my research

Get lots of sleep..........ok........Good night!

Spring, maybe?

Well, here it is almost the first of May and the snow remains on the ground. It was gone, then covered with 36 inches a couple weeks ago, gone again, and covered again by 10 inches last weekend....it might be really going we shall see.

Well, I feel like my knitting is going to be taking a back seat to scrapbooking for awhile....I've gotten back into the scrapping and I'm enjoying it...the knitting will not be far away tho.

It's hard to believe but in another month we will have lived here for a year..it seems like just yesterday we moved in. It's been a really good year, many fun things happening with the remodel and all the visitors.

Speaking of remodel, all we have left in the inside is the flooring and that should be done next week. Yipeeeeeeeeeee. Then comes the garage.

The summer is shapping up to be a busy one...the Staley wedding, visits from relatives, Aaron & Sarah's wedding and a friends wedding shower. Hopefully it won't speed by too fast.

Well, that's off the top of my head now....I'm signing off..........

24 years ago

My oh my, it's a little chaotic right now......we are moving forward with the remodel on a wing and a prayer.....the craft closet is done - and it's very cool. 10 feet for floor to ceiling cupboards that I can close the doors to! Now my yarn, fabric & scrapping stuff will have the home it deserves.....I just hope there's enough room!

My Johnny turned 24 this week. Unreal. He is such a sweet boy! Kind, introspective and creative. I love to see him smile, his face just lights up, always has, always will. We (John, Jenny & I) went to Red Lobster to celebrate. It's was cool to spend time just with the two of them.
I'm so pleased with the man he has become.

I can't wait until this organizaing gets done so I can craft.....I'm going through craft d.t.'s

Princess Grace of Northome

Here's the newest babe in the house.....she's about 3 months old here.

Nuttin' Manors

Well, well, it's February and all is calm in the North Country. My knitting has been put on hold while we get things in line to put in the kitchen, bath, etc. We will have this place into a real house before you know it.

Princess Grace of Northhome is such a good dog.....and smart as a whip. If that darn chewing would just go away. Oh well, in time....

Linds & Nik were here a couple weekends ago when it was 25 below. They brought my Grandcats Captain Murphy & Milles...........I sure enjoyed spoiling the two of them (Linds & Nik, not the cats). I hope all had a nice relaxing weekend.....

I finished a quilt top for my niece yesterday and might work on finishing that up this weekend. I'm not too motivated....

Just living the good life up here where Nuttin Manors :)

Welcome Grace

Interesting that an earlier post was about Grace.......as we now have a new puppy that we've name Grace....."Princess Grace of Northhome" is the full name, but just Gracie for short....she is the big dog I've always wanted, at least I hope she will be....she's 9 weeks old now, black and white and quite a mix of dogs......hopefully some border collie, lab & springer...who knows.....

Life's been pretty darn good right now! Tommy was here for the weekend before going back to college......I'm so proud of that boy!

It's been a wonderful warm spell here......40 degrees today.

Hopefully life will be settling down now, the house is sold and we are soon to get the kitchen, bath & floors done. Whooo hooo....

So, I sign off happy in the woods with my hubby, 2 cats and 3 dogs.........