Learn something new every day

I'm preparing for my trip to my Mom's next week...so I decided to wash one of my purses to use. I checked all of the pockets, cleaned it out, and threw it in the washer with some of my turtleneck tops, and some towels.

I have washed this purse this way many times with good results. I threw the load in the dryer when it was washed, and to my shock, when I opened the dryer - discovered BLUE ink from 3 ball point pens ALL OVER the inside of my dryer. Everywhere. And plenty of blue ink stains on my load of wash. It seems that the purse had a rip in the lining that I didn't notice, and these 3 pens were hiding in there. GRRRRR!!!!!

I tried Simple Green, I tried my Mr Clean Magic eraser, Rubbing Alcohol. Nothing worked!!!!

Then I had an 'ah-ha' thought - and Googled for 'removing ink from dryer drum'. I found a site called Thrifty Fun and they had oodles of suggestions for removing the ink. Apparently I am not the only dork that has had ball point pens explode in their dryers. The first person suggested Lysol Disinfectant Spray. I had that on hand, so I tried it. It removed some of the ink...but there was still a lot left.
Another suggestion, was to use a Magic Eraser sponge, and soak it with NON-acetone nail polish remover. I had 'regular' nail polish remover, and it didn't work...so I made a trip to the dollar store. Came home, soaked my magic eraser sponge with the non-acetone remover, and it worked!!! My dryer is totally clean again.

Oh...and on the same site, they said to throw some of the Orange Cleaner in with the laundry soap, and also use Shout on the stains on the clothes, and the ink will come out. Almost all of it did. Amazing. I am in awe of these geniuses.

Now I have two questions on my mind (make that 3)....

Question 1. Just WHAT did we ever do before the internet (and before Google???)

Question 2. Who on earth came UP with the idea of "hey, I will just pour some of this here non-acetone nail polish remover on my Mr. Clean Magic Eraser sponge, and I KNOW that will take off the ink that is all over the inside of my dryer????? WHO thinks these things up????

Question 3. WHY is this stuff considered Thrifty "FUN"???? LOLOL


I dunno...but thanks, whoever you are. I'm glad your idea of fun is figuring these things out so I don't have to try. Cause I never would have thought it up. :o)

Now the Knitting...

I finished the hat I was knitting for my youngest DD's boyfriend. I like it. The pattern was easy (2x2 Rib) and came from the Stitch n B___ch book. It is called Men's Hot Head Hat.

Here it is on my DH's head, so I could take pictures.

I made it with Caron Simply Soft worsted, and Red Heart Soft (worsted). It didn't take too long to make, either. I think I will make him another one!! LOL Oh, and now DH wants one too!!!

Funny Dogs & Funny Kittehs!!!!

K, dis haz abzolutli nuttin ta do wit knittin!!! TWO of mah favrit places tah look are http://www.laughoutlouddogs.com/ and http://www.lolcats.com/. If you haven't seen these, and you are an animal lover, like me, you NEED to go check them out!!! They are so funny!!!! Just go browse through the pictures! I can spend a lot of time doing nothing at those two sites!!! But they sure make you smile!!!

Here is a picture of one of our dogs that I submitted to LOL dogs. .. this is one of our precious 'babies', Squirt. One of the gals from a Ravelry group I am on (LOLRavelers) came up with the words for each of these pics. (thank you Cathy in Ohio!!!!)

Hope you enjoy! (my favorite is the Ribbit, Ribbit one!)

And now to discuss Knitting Related Disorders/Obsessions...

I have just been diagnosed with "YAS" - "Yarn Aquisition Syndrome". My doctor gently told me I had the following symptoms:

1. Can't run errands without bringing home new colors of yarn.

2. Wake up in the morning, thinking about which stores I need to go to on my lunch hour where yarn is on sale.

3. Lay awake at night thinking about which colors of the spectrum I don't have - causing insomnia (but I just KNOW as soon as I get it all, I'll sleep like a baby!)

4. Went to the store yesterday for milk and came home with 12 skeins of yarn...forgot the milk.

5. Am considering an addition to the house for a yarn room.

6. I have 21 skeins of green yarn (my current favorite), but I know I'm gonna need more, so I need to go out and buy 20 more - they might discontinue that color!!!

7. Gotta buy at least 20 more of bright yellow, because it goes so well with the green!

8. Can't make Sunday dinner for the family because I don't have any place to put the yarn I bought this week that is sitting on the dining room table.

9. Family is grumbling about all the yarn, saying things like "what the heck are you going to do with all this???" and "you'll never use all this in your lifetime!" (Yes..I can. Wait and see.)

So I am thinking about forming a support group for fellow sufferers of "YAS". Think I'll reserve a classroom at the Craft store in my neighborhood....
(They have Wintuk and Bernat yarn on sale this week....)
Care to join me??

I am not the author of this (but I can sure identify with it!!!! LOLOL) If you know who did author this, let me know, so I can give them credit. Thanks!

Snow, Snow, and more snow!

We got another ...oh, maybe 6 or 7 " of fluffy white snow since last night. I hate to admit it
( I really do) but all that snowy stuff is real pretty! I had to drive in it today, and I didn't even mind.
OMG... I don't know what's wrong with me??? Somebody call a Dr. quick!

I, um, even wanted to go out and shovel when I got home. I can't remember the last time I wanted to (or even actually did) pick up a snow shovel, with the intent of actually using it. (we are so blessed to have a generous neighbor with a snow blower that LIKES to use his snow blower, so he comes over after every snowfall and does our driveway and sidewalk. He is so sweet!) I shoveled the sidewalk AND the driveway this evening.

This is so totally out of character for me. I am usually a whiney , spineless, little wimp when it comes to snow and cold.

I'm sure I must be sick or something.

Goodbye Old Picture!

Since my picture that's been on the blog since I began it was taken in 2004 - and it is now four years later...I am going to take a big step for me and replace the old one with the 'current' me. Scary for me, because I liked my old picture a whole lot better. So out with the old (which was L'oreal blonde) and in with the new (working my way back to my 'natural' hair color. IF I remember right, this is pretty close. I hope.

Snow is a four-letter word

We have had some beautiful snowstorms lately...and it is cold! It is so crisp and white looking and looks very pretty from INSIDE the house. (did I mention I am not especially fond of winter??? Give me 70's - even 80's, and sunshine every day!)
But even though I am not fond of winter, I still find it hard not to appreciate and enjoy looking at the beautiful, white, pristine, snow drifts...and it is amazing to me that God created snow, along with everything else that He created. God is amazing!!! I went outside the night before last when we were having big, fat, fluffy flakes of snow... I was crazy, and went out in stocking feet and my sweater (no jacket, no gloves...us Wisconsinites get tough, y'know) I took my camera (my Christmas present from DD Kim, and took some 'snow' pictures. I tried the night 'scene' setting...cool...but I found out with the flash, the snowflakes looked almost like little Christmas tree lights and they sparkled and twinkled so pretty when the flash went off. I kind of went nuts with the camera. (I've been doing that alot lately, trying to discover all of the features it has.)
So here are some nightime photos of the snowfall.





I have been knitting (when do I ever NOT knit? LOL) I knit yet another sweater and baby hat for DD K to give as a gift to one of her friends that recently had a baby.






Then DD K asked me ever so sweetly, if I would make her another scarf - in pastel baby pink. She handed me three skeins of yarn, and said "you rock, Momma". How on earth could I resist that flattery???? LOL So three days later, I have her scarf finished. She had picked out a super soft baby yarn and matching fun fur. So I doubled the baby yarn and crocheted the scarf with a double strand of the baby yarn held together with one strand of the fun fur. So far, my DD's have not tired of having the fun fur scarves. I still get requests from them for different colors.

Now DD K asked me if I would knit a hat for her boyfriend so I started that tonight.
I am using the "Hot Head" cap pattern from the 'Stitch n B_ _ _ H' book.

I had a Drs. appt today for my stupid ankle. Apparently I sprained it about 6 months ago, and it has been sore ever since, and swells all the time. The Dr. told me it has developed into tendonitis. So now I get to see a podiatrist, to see what they do for that. I have no idea.

I'm also posting doggie pics too. Of course, they ARE some of the cutest doggies ever!!! Yes, I AM biased. Squirt is sleeping on his 'cow' fake fur rug, with his two favorite toys, his little frogs, and a blanket. Sassy and Gabriel just looked so sweet cuddled up together, I couldn't resist. I've been a bit camera happy lately!!!




Blessings to you and yours.
Lissa