It was free, even. 

That would have been the perfect place to find out if knitting would be an enjoyable (productive) addiction. I'm still on the fence about coffee, but it's too late--been hooked since high school.

Oh well, maybe the class will be offered again sometime.

And wouldn't it be so awesome if there was free coffee at the class, too?

That's just too much excitement.

Kris

Women talk about the "need" to move their fingers and how they are "lulled" by the rhythm of the needles clicking.

On one episode of Corner Gas (awesome show!), Brent and his mother compete to see who will cave in first...Brent gave up coffee while his mother, Emma, stopped knitting. 

The episode shows Emma with a severe case of withdrawal as she couldn't live a normal life without knitting. Emma ended the contest. 

Makes me wonder if hand-crafted afghans and sweaters are worth the consequences.

Kris

There is no need to purchase specially-portioned snack packs--the ones that claim to be only 100 calories or so per bag.

Instead, save some money by buying the larger size. Note the calories per serving and split the goodies up yourself into 100-calorie portions or whatever you will allow yourself.

Not only does this save bucks, but this method also allows you to buy whatever kind of snack strikes your fancy--not just the ones already pre-packaged.

Kris

This time, the electric instruments will be left at home. Unwigged and unplugged, the band will offer an acoustic experience.

It seems most every musician unplugs sometime during their career. It just makes the Spinal Tap story more real...and as such, a surely awesome mockumentary. Yay!

http://www.unwigged.com

Kris

90-something, Clara, teaches us how to cook frugally. There is so much to learn from her.

Plus, she so gosh-darn adorable!

Check it out:

Kris

Everyone is welcome to the open house today, Feb. 28, from noon 'til 4:00.

Best wishes to them all!

Kris

The blogger is attempting to live most aspects of her life as a 1950's homemaker, specifically from 1955.

She is cooking and cleaning with items dated no later than 1955--which seems like she's disabling herself, although I would surely like a vacuum cleaner from 1955...they don't make 'em like they used to!!

Other than the vacuum cleaner situation, yeah, I'm sure her day is a lot more labor intensive than mine!

She dresses the part and seems to be having a blast.

Check it out: www.my50syear.blogspot.com  

Kris 

Anyway, taking our own sccworlds.com advice from yesterday, movies were borrowed from the library in anticipation for today's snow day! We aren't quite snowed in, but we can pretend.

There is a fire going and blankets on the couch. Toasty.

Here's what we borrowed from the library: The Irish R.M., All Creatures Great and Small, Breakfast at Tiffany's and Father Goose.

The Irish R.M. is a mini-series from the 80's about an English Resident Magistrate who goes to Ireland to become a judge, set at the turn of the century. It's funny and the scenery and costumes are gorgeous.

All Creatures Great and Small is another series based on the James Herriot books about a veterinary practice. It's comical and just plain relaxing to watch. One of the stars, Peter Davison, was also Doctor Who from 1981 to 1984--I knew I recognized him from somewhere.

I got Breakfast at Tiffany's just because Audrey Hepburn is so timeless and elegant. Just love her in any movie. I've already seen this, but it's worth watching over and over.

Father Goose is a romantic comedy starring a "seasoned" Cary Grant at about 60 years old. It's set during WWII when Grant runs across a frenchwoman and seven schoolgirls stranded on an island. I don't remember this movie to be all that spectacular, but hey, Cary Grant. I thought I would watch it again. Maybe I wasn't paying enough attention the first time.

I hope you were able to stock up on good movies for some good flickin'!

Kris
 

These are not isolated events. They may seem like it as reports of pink slips sprinkle into newscasts, but come on. Every single day...more laid off!

Our community cannot glide through this unscathed.

That's why sccworlds.com is going to offer resources and frugal living helps. We intend to be your county companion for getting through this mess.  

Even if this turns into a full-fledged depression, we do have "some" benefits over the Great Depression. We happen to have lots of stuff. Yeah, it's cheaply made, but there is so much of it!

It's weird to think we are upon hard times while we are surrounded by so much. We should recognize all this as raw material and make it work to our advantage. Not necessarily by selling it (who's buying anyway?) but by using things until they are completely worn out, start repairing things again, and repurposing items in new and different ways.

Being resourceful and working together (hand-me-down clothes and toys, for example) will be a display of our civility and sensibility.  We have an opportunity to become a more-connected community.

So, let's look around and see where we are and move forward. We can't let these times pull us under. We must buck up and help each other and sccworlds.com will do its share to help, not just report, these challenging times.

Kris

Doesn't January just free the mind?

The house looks so BIG now. I feel like doing cartwheels through the empty spaces, just because I can. Well, maybe there's not enough room for gymnastics, but it certainly feels like it.

Vacuuming large swaths of carpet is a joy (weird, I know). Ahhhh. That feels good.

Now that there's room, I'm itching to tackle some domestic projects...like soap making, needlework and trying new recipes.

2008's "baggage" is purposely lost--the pattern was getting really ugly. The replacement 2009 set isn't looking so hot either...but it's early yet.

At least there's plenty of room in the house for positive thinking.

Kris 

Isn't it wonderful to shed the old calendar with all the cluttery appointments and reminders soiling its once crisp pages?

My 2009 calendars aren't fancy. No photos of horses or lighthouses. Just numbered squares, thank you. Like a breath of fresh air.

A new calendar symbolizes the intention to stay organized. And yes. this shall be the year organization is conquered.

Birthday cards will be sent on time and nary an anniversary will be forgotten.

Onward 2009!

Kris 

Currently (10:25 a.m.) St. Charles County is under a tornado watch, flash flood watch and wind advisory.

The National Weather Service has posted tornado warnings for counties of Monroe, Ralls and Audrain. A report just came through for a tornado warning for the cities of Louisiana, Frankford, Bowling Green and Curryville (in Pike County).

I hope our communities stay alert and think to take cover from dangerous weather...even if it is December. At least it's not the wee hours of the morning, when everyone is sleeping.

My fear is to have company over when a tornado warning is issued...and then we all have to file downstairs...revealing my messy basement. Shameful. I should just clean it.

Of course, a stupid messy basement is chicken feed compared to the real consequences of dangerous weather.

Please stay alert and safe!

Kris 

This is a good time to dream optimistically about the new year. Next year I will get organized, eat better, exercise more--yeah, yeah...same as last year.

What will make 2009 different? Well, I hope we can pull out of this messy economy. But I think each of us needs to think about our own families and plan how we will ride out the storm.

Grow food in the backyard, cut down and eliminate processed, overly-packaged foods and open our homes to family who might need somewhere to stay.

For green thinkers as well as non-eco-freaks, living lightly should be encouraged...if for no other reason than to save money. The causes might not unite us, but the frugal/green actions will.

This week is for pondering the future in the remaining dreamy glow of the Christmas lights and for getting so sick of sweets that a New Year's diet doesn't sound so difficult.

Kris
 

As I'm preparing goodies for tomorrow, like: fudge, rum balls, sugar cookies and candied pretzels--bits get nibbled here and there.

To make a nice presentation of fudge, one must trim off the unevenness of each piece, creating perfect little squares. What happens to the unacceptable fudge trimmings?

Guess.

As for the candied pretzels--How can you tell when the candy shell is firm on the pretzels?

Guess.

It's not even noon yet and I'm on a sugar high...plus, rum balls loom merrily on this afternoon's agenda!

Here's to careening out of control. 

Kris 

Sometimes it gets to be quite late in the day before I plug in the Christmas lights. I'll walk by and not really care, especially, if the lights are on or not.

Of course, by the end of the day they are plugged in, but where's the love?

This year feels different to me. Jobs losses, foreclosures and bail outs are dancing through my head.

Like so many others, the sugarplum fairies must have recently received merry pink slips. They haven't shown up once to bust a move in my dreams this year.

Oh well, it's almost 3:00...time to turn the lights on, I guess.

Kris