From bunnies to pumpkins!

I finished them!  Here is one of the crochet fingerless mitts I was working on.  I tried to take a picture of both of them on, but my blue rope bracelet on my left arm didn't let the crochet go over it, so it looked odd and like it was trying to come off of my hand.

 I told you before about how my mom got a bunch of pumpkins for free.  Here is a small gallery of the decorative ones she found and I fell in love with.  I know they won't last forever, so if I share them here, we can enjoy them forever.
I got lots of odd looks from the guys working on the neighbor's house while doing this.  I'm okay with that.  I got an odd look from one of them before when I wanted to leave my house and asked them to move the toilet tanks they had sitting in the path of my driveway.  I could live without the guy smoking on their front porch as much.

I didn't want there to be a ton of pictures, like when I did the Luray Caverns thing, so I played with gif maker to condense things a little.  I set them to change every seven seconds so you would have enough time to look at each one.

This is my favorite one.  It looks like an elegant swan.  Everything about it is awesome, the dark steam to the wide ridges.

 I like this one because of all the fun colors.  It is like someone was painting it and just dipped its little bottom in some green paint.  They then added some white lines to make it more exciting, or even wiped away the paint to reveal the white below.

Watermelon pumpkin!  Okay, so it is a watermelon gourde.  It mixes both summer and fall.

The sun kept going in and out, so that is why most of these were so bright.  I like this one because it looks like someone got bored when painting it.  The bumps are also pretty cute on it.

The mini pumpkins are just super classic.  There is only one picture of them, so that is why it isn't moving.
They look like every picture of pumpkins you see, but they are easy to lift and you can put them everywhere in the house.  They are also nice to give a display or centerpiece a few different sizes and textures.

There is something about the white mini pumpkins.  They have the nice shape of the orange small pumpkins, but more unique.  There is something almost fake looking about them.  This poor little guy had a moldy spot on his side, so I only got one good pic.

From the state of a few of these I feel like today is going to be filled with a lot of pumpkin roasting.  Luckily I got a good tip on how to get it done:

First, I cut the big pumpkin in half, then baked them 1 at a time in a 375
degree oven for 25 to 35 minutes.

When the pumpkin cooled down a bit, it was easy to cut into big chunks and
placed into a baking sheet for 15 to 20 minutes in the oven preheated at 500
degrees. The skin almost just peeled off.

This also means I bunch of pumpkin seeds for me to snack on!  I love those little guys.

I substituted white onion for the leek it called for since I needed it for something I am making later today.  It also got a little foil hat because the top was starting to go bad and I didn't think it was a good idea to put it back on in the shape it was in.

Here is the end result.  It took only about one and a half cups of broth to fill it.  I baked it for about an hour and a half.  It was soooooo good.  The Parmesan at the end made it perfect.
I will be honest and will admit that I ate it before it was cool enough to not burn my mouth and I was really tempted to bake the other one on the spot.

Where did the sun go?

I had some cute pictures planned for today, but don't worry, you will get to see them.  I had grand picture taking plans, but before I knew it the sun had set.  I had to finish some of the errands I forgot to add to my to-do list last night, and getting sucked into the Sims didn't help either.
I'm also making some progress on the fingerless mitts.  I thought I wanted to add one stitch per row for four rows, but turns out I really want to add 2.  I might have also wanted to add a plain row between, but I'm going to be doing some plain rows and we shall see if it looks pretty cool.  I am pretty proud that I figured out how to make it so that the beginning of row doesn't keep moving.  There is a bit of a spiral, but if I tug on it a bit they tend to line-up.
The one thing that makes me not a huge fan of crocheted fingerless mitts is the fact that crochet has so much stability.  It can be an awesome thing when used correctly.  Amigurumi and other toys are prefect uses for crochet's stability.  It can also use used for nice and lacy things that don't snag as easily.  With knitting, if a loop in lace gets snagged and pulled, you have to spend a while trying to fix it.  With crochet the stitches are locked within themselves, so they are harder to disrupt.
I feel like knitting is a bit better for things made for someone you don't know.  That way if it is a little snug, it can stretch out some and fit better.  I know there are a lot of hands out there and these will probably fit someone, but I'm still a bit worried.

Happy tummy.

At work I had the worst headache today at work.  I tried drinking more water, but that didn't help any.  I am now trying something I heard about on The Dr. Oz Show.  He said that ginger helps to reduce inflammation that can cause the pain.  I have some Pocas brand Honey Ginger tea and we will see if it helps.  If not I will just go to bed early.
My tummy has no complaints though.  I stopped by the pet store to get some kitty-box liners for Mr Jag, the pet store is near the Korean/International Grocery store, so I got some gimbap (aka kimbap: 김밥).  I also got some reduced kimchi, but I am not having any of that tonight.
Most of my break at work was spent eating my crackers and I didn't get a chance to work on the fingerless mitts I have started.  Though now I'm tempted to start them again and have the bottom detail go all the way around the wrist and not just be on the back.  Another option would be to just finish these and make another pair with it going all the way around.  Luckily for me, the weather has become a little warmer, so I don't feel as bad for not getting as many warm things done.
I also have an idea for a hat based on a pattern I had found on Ravelry and a texture on a fabric I saw at work the other day.  It will have traveling slip stitches.

It's coming-up bunnies!

I seem to have bunnies on the brain.  I also have pumpkins on the brain too.  This bunny is only about 95% complete though.  He still needs a little tail but I'm going to have to see if I have any white wool yarn to make a little felted one.  I know I have some wool blend yarn but that doesn't felt.  I used this tutorial to make him: Knitted Bunnies
The bunny is what I got the ring for.  It seems that I made the bunny too big for a one inch ring base though.  It just kind of got lost in there.  I pulled it out and I am going to try again on a smaller one.  Though before you point out that the pumpkin I showed before is fairly large so it would be no wonder this guy is too big, that is a new pumpkin.  My mom went to a few of the stands after Halloween and got a bunch of free pumpkins.  This means that I got a bunch too.  This pumpkin will become The Perfect Pumpkin Soup at some point this week.  There is even a video you can watch on how it is done.  I'm excited because there isn't as many steps as their usually is when making pumpkin soup from a raw pumpkin.  There is even a cheesy option that I might try with another one.  I found some sweet ones too, but I can get lots of sweet pumpkin things all over the place, it is harder to find any savory things.

I was just super distracted.  I wanted to do some research on different ways to combine beads and chainmaille.  Two things I love to do all in one place.  I was going to do a quick search... 20 minutes later.  Though the research does have something to do with this blog.  I had planned, back before I had typed a single word, that I would also have a charity Etsy account.  When (not if) the blog got big enough it would give a way for people to be able to donate money to me and also get something nice as well.  Like when you call in to a telethon and you get a tote bag, only better.  The best thing for these would be to find things that are both lovely and quick to make.  That way I wouldn't be taking too much time away from knitting/crochet/sewing items to donate.  While I am not to that point yet, it is just a matter of time.

This is already not going as well as planned...

I got the rings today but I feel too tired to try them out.  That will be on the list for tomorrow.  I have an idea for some quick fingerless mitts, so I'm feeling better already about making warm things.

This post is being super difficult to write.  I have a lot of things I want to complain about, but I don't want to sound like I'm whining.  Hello already writer's block, I was hoping I wouldn't see you for a while.
I've started a few general topics to talk about from my everyday life, but I've also deleted most of them.  I complained about my doctor bill that I didn't get until the second notice and also the doctor bill I will have to call about because I got a bill that I'm pretty sure I paid already.  A check for the exact same amount to the same people was cashed three days before this one was sent out.  I also hate calling people on the phone, so this will be less fun.
I started talking about how crazy the timing for NaNoWriMo is because of how crazy this month is, but it's not like it should be a surprise for me.  I also thought about how if I decide to add pictures of finished charity projects and count them as 1,000 words each it won't hurt anyone.  Some people count their homework because they don't think they will be able to do their school work and finish the 50,000 words.
In previous years when I've participated in NaNoWriMo the beginning is pretty easy for me.  I'm pretty good at coming up with characters, a location, and a general start.  Thinking of the big problem the characters have to face and how it will end are where I start to run into problems.
Also, the hubby's computer just started making noise from a YouTube video and he's not home...super freaky.

I'm thinking of doing something similar to NaNoWriMo, but with crafting.  Maybe 50,000 stitches in a month?  Though sewing might have to make more since it is really easy to just set the machine on the smallest stitch and go crazy.  I would count knitting, crochet, and beading in that list.  It might be a nice way to start the new year.  I could call it...NaStiMaMo.  Short for National Stitch Making Month.  Jan would also be a nice time to do it since I know December is usually reserved for Script Frenzy.
Some people use December to edit their story from November if they aren't participating in script frenzy.  Other people just look at it as a nice month off.  Do I think other people will join me in this idea?  I have no idea, but I would like to think that someone out there might think it is a fun idea.

Not sure if anyone likes that I'm adding the break, but I know that seeing a huge wall of text when checking out a blog might make me feel a bit overwhelmed, so I decided to add the break before I get to the long winded part of my post.  That way if someone doesn't want to read my prompt driven rambling they won't have to try and scroll past all of it and get carpel tunnel just to see if they missed a post from the day before.
Though speaking of blogs, I have done a fairly good job at catching up on a few I love to read.  The Yarn Harlot has a lot of funny things about knitting, Refashionista is a funny blog where she takes those scary things you see at thrift stores and makes them into awesome cloths, and AmpuTeeHee sometimes has knitting and other times just has stuff about life.  There are other blogs I read, but those are the three I try and keep up with the most.

Since this beginning of the post is so rambly, here is some more.  I did not go to Knit Night tonight because my mom was told to stay away from pregnant ladies.  She has a spot on her check that is red and warm to the touch.  After going to the doctor he guessed that it might be the start of a spot of shingles.  She gets to take three different medicines for it, but the fun does not end there.  One needs to be taken every eight hours while the other two need to be taken every twelve.  If that isn't confusing enough all need to be taken with food and no two can be taken at the same time.  We figure she will be just eating snacks constantly.  That is about seven times a day she will need to take a pill (or a few) with food.  That is a lot of eating.  I don't even really remember needing to take anything when I got the chicken pox the first time.

Let's talk about fingerless mitts.

Some more info on my plan.  I plan on putting the writing sections near the bottom of each post.  That way if you are here just for the crafting you won't have to scroll past all of that.
There also would have been a picture here of something I made to donate, but I've run into a problem.  What I'm making has a very round bottom, but I would like for it to be able to sit on a table or the floor.  A washer or something else flat and wide would work to fix that, but I'm worried that if this was given to little ones someone might get a boo-boo if it was getting swung around.  Another idea that might work are the plastic rings that can be found in the sewing/home dec notions isle of craft stores.  They are mostly used as tiebacks, cafe curtains, shade pulls or balloon shades, but I have also seen them used to make yarn buttons.  Hopefully the 1 inch will be wide enough to make a stable base.  Another option might be those fake coins you can find at dollar stores, but I feel like it might be a bit harder to secure them so they don't shift too much.
It has also gotten a lot colder in my area over the past few days.  About two days ago I was running around without a jacket on and now I feel like I need at least three.  It makes me feel bad that I'm making cute little things and not warm stuff.  Who needs little toys when it is cold out?  People need hats and other warm things for their body.  I do have plans for some fun fingerless mitts, I even got a free pattern for one.  The designer Sarah Wilson(Ravelry link) was doing a give-a-way where you picked up to five patterns and then you got a surprise one for free.  I got Mrs. Branson Wristwarmers(Ravelry link).  Super cute, right?  There are also about a billion other fingerless mitt patterns to be found on Ravelry.
There is also a chart floating around my computer that might become a pattern for more fingerless mitts.  Can you tell I like them?  It seems like a lot of knitters have a sock as their purse project, but I seem to gravitate to fingerless mitts.  How many times can I type fingerless mitts?

I also just found some good news in the blog world.  I was complaining that there is nothing like Ravelry for sewers.  It seems there is something in the works.  Here is some info on how the entries will look here.  I'm super excited for this.  I have some fabric I bought to make a dress but when I made the muslin version I did not like it as much as I thought I would.  So now I have a piece of fabric and no easy way to find another dress to make with it.  I could search for tons of patterns I like and then hope they take what I need or less, but I'm already tired just thinking about it.  I would much rather be crafting.  Though it won't be ready to be used within the next few weeks, I am still excited.

Day 1: Oh boy...fruit.

So this month will hopefully have a lot of words for you to read in it.  A lot of them won't be about stuff I make for charity, but I hope a good chunk of them will be.
Remember back in January of 2013 how I got permission to use some writing prompts of out a book filled with them?  This book to be exact.  How I got all excited and then nothing happened?  Then I planned on doing one a week this year so I would be doing 52 of the 32-62 range I was offered.  Remember how that doesn't seem to have happened either?  Well, here is why.  My big plan was to go through the book and write down all the prompts I really liked.  I would then keep narrowing them down until I only had 62 left.  As fast as I'm working on it, I might have that done by the time I'm 100.  This is code for "I haven't even looked in the book since the day I decided to buy it."
I decided to go super crazy this Nov though.  I am going to use a random number generator and go by what it tells me which one I should try out.  I was going to try and combine NaNoWriMo and NaBloWriMo, but it looks like NaBloWriMo happens in Oct...oops.  I will try and use the spirit of it and post everyday.  I will also keep a running tab of how many words I write for NaNoWriMo.  I know it won't be a novel with one set of characters and all that goes with that, it will be a set of short stories.  I'm okay with that.  I will also be counting any words about my charity stuff to my 50K.  I will also try and not use the "a picture is worth 1,000 words" thing to cheat, but I won't make any real promises.
I might also put more than one prompt in a post since I do have a lot of wiggle room number wise.  I know I have to try for at least 1,667 per day to try and reach my goal by the end of the month.  I know some days will be easier than others.

So today's prompt is.... 493!
Okay...turns out that won't work either.  It turns out that they don't have numbers by them.  More proof that I have not looked at the book since the day I got it.  Time to flip through and see where I land?