A good night's sleep, chocolate, the happiness and satisfaction of sharing on AgingCare forum. Does anyone have some favorite things to think about? Yes, this phrase is from the song in the movie "The sound of Music". My husband and I often resort to using movie lines and song to improve communication. We were the only two in a gathering of people who heard the background music playing. We both had the same (cassette tape/CD). A connection bringing two people together. To this day, we crack up when one uses a simple movie line to make a serious point.
SO, What is one of your favorite movie line, some of your favorite things?
Thinking of running away from home to live a simplified life in an RV. Affordable would be nice. Too bad I'm such a klutz-and this with just tylenol. Checking back in much later, really miss everyone!
Many years ago I made a large doily/tablecloth for mom, but after the move I washed it without taking proper care and managed to tear it in several places. Maybe I'll get around to trying to repair it some day.
Just quickly, popcorn stitch is one of the many crochet stitches. Sometimes if a pattern includes or emphasizes that stitch, the piece can be called a popcorn hat, popcorn Granny, popcorn afghan, etc.
When I taught a crochet class several years ago one of my students was really enthusiastic, and picked a complicated pattern. I worked it before she started so I could stay ahead of her in case there were errors in the pattern, which often happens.
It required using a drop stitch, which I found really exciting and a way of creating a lot of change and drama to the pattern. Just did a quick search but didn't see any as interesting as the pattern my student friend chose.
Alreme, I'm betting that adding ribbon to your projects really made them stand out. Could you tell us a little bit more about them? I'm thinking they'd make some beautiful crocheted snowflakes.
I love crocheting. I know you can buy things more cheaply at the stores...but nothing beats a good homemade crochet hat imo...love those little beanie type things....some have little crocheted flowers on them...I just think they're so fashionable and flirty...
Maybe we should start a Crafts Therapy Thread like the Gardening therapy thread?
Any other crocheters, knitters, sewers, quilters here?
GA, the ice chips melted as the wax was poured and when you took the candle out of the mold, the water ran out. I wish I could remember the exact specifics of it now...but I'll look on youtube...And for sure you could put some pretty leaves, acorns, etc. in there. I've even seen pieces of dried apples, oranges, cloves, etc. in the candle...The "ice candles" seemed to burn faster because they had more air pockets in them...Just thinking out loud..I wonder if you could use a tall taper for the center of the candle and then put the ice around that so that it is solid all the way down against the wick...might make the candle burn longer? not sure...I need to check that out...
I've never even heard of a northern spie so I need to check that out...I am amazed how many different apples there are...but that pile of Galas I believe it was...I literally wanted to curl up in a ball in those and take a nap...I'm guessing that might have gotten me in trouble... :))
I love the macho version of the easy bake oven cwillie...yeah, that was me...no easy bake for me..I want the creepy crawler please...it's so funny to remember how young we were and yet they were actually for kids our age back then...I can't begin to imagine they'd make those now with the litigious society we live in now...but it sure was fun. My brother and I always tried to see who could make the creepiest nastiest looking bugs and hide them to scare each other...and the incredible edibles you could eat...so I remember making spiders and stuff and putting them in my mouth when Granny came to visit...haha fun times!!!
GA and cwillie...I had started to the yard myself again earlier but now I am setting that to the side for tomorrow and getting with the festivities :)
I don't have the patience any more to do crafts, I once spent hours knitting or crocheting or quilting but there just doesn't seem to me to be a point in it anymore when you can buy so many nice things for a fraction of the cost, plus that type of item is no longer fashionable and you can't even give it away. I haven't been able to find a new hobby to take up, I think maybe finding something satisfying takes having someone to share your interest with.
Walking along a river trail in this weather must be beautiful. Willie, do you take photographs of the river scenes during different seasons? Do you do any art work, or use the photos in crafts projects?
I'm wondering now if little designs that are heatproof could be added? I don't know offhand what I'd use as a design, but snowflakes and leaves come to mind. I think stencil plastic would melt. Maybe some real items like acorns? Little bits of leaves?
What happened when you lit the candle? Did the original ice cause it to burn more quickly, or had it been dissolved and absorbed by the hot wax?
As to kids, oh my gosh I don't think they would be interested in that kind of creativity when they have so many electronic devices. As we were in the radiology waiting room yesterday one of the local newscasters announced that some study or other determined that teenagers spent an average of 9 hours daily looking at electronic screens of smartphones, cell phone, tablets, etc.
I couldn't help wondering if optometrists and ophthalmologists are experiencing a higher rate of younger people with eye issues. Staring at a computer screen for too long gives me eye strain and ophthalmic migraines.
Do you mix in nutmeg and cloves when you make candles? The aroma would be heavenly; I love the scents of those spices anyway. I'm thinking maybe I'll sprinkle some on my turkey centerpiece, and maybe on some fall wreaths...also maybe on the arborvitae wreath I have yet to make.
Michael's might be a good source for little figures to add to your fall centerpiece. Your project sounds like it'll really be lovely and comforting with the seasonal colors. And what a great project for this interlude of nice weather before the blustery November winds come!
When I made my turkey centerpiece years ago, I found miniature loaves of bread, gourds and pumpkins to add. I've grown the little pumpkins and really like them, but they need to be hardened off before they'll last inside.
I think my priorities for today just changed and all the work related ones got pushed back!
Apple crumble? Did I hear an invitation for us to come over for dessert today? Oh, I LOVE the fragrance of freshly picked apples, especially in a cool environment which seems to really bring out that apple aroma.
Honeycrisps have been sold here, but a lot of our apples come from NW Michigan. I'm not sure if they're in season elsewhere.
What I have trouble finding are the Northern Spies, which Mom used in her baking. I think they are absolutely the best for pies. One great store used to be the only store offering them in this area, but it sold out to Kroger, which offers a more traditional blend of apples.
Guess I'll have to go to a farm to get some Spies, but they're worth it.
I'm getting so excited now about fall baking!
I went for my walk today on the local river trail, almost all the leaves are down now and with the recent rains the river level is up so lots of burbling and rushing water sounds. Temps have been breaking records, absolutely stunning for the beginning of November.
It's funny to think back on things that were actually sold as child type crafts. Now you couldn't sell those for kids in that age bracket...We even had those hot as fire machines where you could bake rubber type bugs...I think my machine was called a creepy crawler....and my brother had one called incredible edibles and you could eat those bugs.....yuck...
You are so right GA, the warm glow of a candle against the oranges, burgundies, russet and gold...and I love the scent of cloves and nutmeg and cinnamon in my fall candles. They have one call "Fall Gatherings" that I got the other day at Kirkland and am about to enjoy that one now that my mocha café one is almost gone...
I have a little fall dressed girl who has maple leaves for angel wings and I want to find some little pilgrims, maybe some Indians, other little fake fruits and stuff. We have a little fireplace in the den where Mama is and I always fix the top of that with a scene of the season...so that's the project for today....
With all this talk of fall and autumn fragrance..I think I'm going to bake an apple crumble... When I was at the grocery the other day, they had an enormous area where they had all these gorgeous varieties of apples...It looked like they had shined each one individually and the fragrance...mmmmm...I just stood there and breathed in that aroma....Are honey crisp apples in season yet? I don't think I've seen them but oh wow, those are just good for straight out eating...let alone baking... now I'm hungry....
There's something about an orange object glowing with the warmth created by a candle...it's reminiscent of fragrant goodies from the oven, a warm fire, good companionship, and shelter from the cold.
I'm guessing you make luminaria as well?
Keep us up to date on your fall centerpiece - I suspect many of the gardeners here are also crafters. I used to make a turkey centerpiece out of some type of reed; it's been so long I've forgotten what it's called. It was so pleasurable, so relaxing.
Speaking of candles, has anyone ever made them by hand? Decades ago before candles became so complicated with multiple designs, I used to visit a place that sold wax in a big slab. I used to chop it up and make candles, but they weren't anything like the beauties in the stores today.
I never used the wick dripping wax method though. Someday....I like the idea of these old fashioned, homey, Mother Earth type activities.
Big slabs of good things reminded me that years ago I used to buy a 10# or so slab of chocolate, melt it down, pour the chocolate in molds and give it for holiday gifts. Good thing I don't do that any more - sampling was always necessary to ensure each batch was good, and well, you know how difficult it is to stop that once you start sampling!
It's such a different fragrance, like that of burning wood....neither are sweet or soft, like lavender or roses, but a bit pungent and yet invigorating in their own ways.
It's also nice to hear the swish of leaves being shuffled around underfoot while walking.
Are you done thinking yet Sendme???
Really have enjoyed each avatar change for you too! Just keep on changing Book, it's fun.
Yall memories of your countryside drive bring back happy memories for me, of when we would drive to my Grandmas house on Sunday afternoons, we had to go through a winding road through the lower end of the mountains, and there was a waterfall along the side...all the leaves turning and the waterfall sparkling ...and when the sky was blue....I can almost hear my brother and I both hollering with glee......wow I miss those family drives....