You CAN Teach An Old "Dog" A New Trick!!

    Okay, so I led this post with this picture because....because.....because I'm hungry!!! LOL Looking at pictures of food...especially Rocky Road Brownies...before you've had your breakfast will do that to you! I'll tell you more about that in a minute.
   First I want to tell you about this show I was watching on PBS {Public Broadcasting Station} yesterday that taught this 'Old Dog' a new trick!! The show is Knit and Crochet Today. I've watched it many times before. Not on any regular basis because, frankly, I've been crocheting since I was 9 or 10. They're usually teaching beginners how to do things that I already know how to do! {Although I do find it fascinating to watch HOW people teach others to crochet, and I have learned little pointers from them in that regard.}
   But yesterday they showed TWO different technigues of things I had never seen before!! One was how to make a scarf using a Hairpin Lace Loom and the other is a technique called Tunisian Crochet. Learning how to do the scarf on the loom is something I'm just thankful to know now how to do. I was given a hairpin lace loom a long time ago, in with a bunch of other crochet and craft items a friend 'just knew I could use'! I couldn't figure out what in the world it was...never mind how to use it!

   Now I know what it's called, and how to use it...if I ever want to...which I probably won't! I'm not a big fan of the look of the items they showed yesterday...But the Tunisian crochet technique?....Now that's another story!!
   As those of you who have been following this blog for a while know, I not only crochet but I also knit. I haven't done it for years, nor have I shown any of my knitting on this blog. The main reason I got out of the habit of doing it was because it's so S-L-O-W!!!!...And it's hard to keep track of your work...your rows and that; ...And when you make a mistake it's not easy to fix...not like crochet, where you just unravel to that point and redo it. One little slipped stitch in knitting and you could end up with a timely hole to repair!
   Well yesterday I found out that this Tunisian Crochet technique is sort of like knitting...but with a crochet hook! At least that's how I describe it. And I am almost kicking myself that I didn't know how to do this! It's obviously a well known technique. Look at the book I found on the web...

    I have some gorgeous baby blanket patterns that use an afghan stitch, using an afghan hook that looks like a long knitting needle with a crochet hook on the end. I tried years ago to figure out how to use it so I could make the patterns, and just could never figure it out!! I think this Tunisian Crochet IS the afghan stitch I was looking at!! When the lady on T.V. demonstrated how easy it was I almost wanted to cry at all of the wasted years of not knowing my craft like I should!
   So, Right away I pulled the crochet hook out of my black and red scarf that I'm making...which is coming along really nicely...and started a few rows of this Tunisian crochet, just to see if I REALLY DID know how to do it.

    And sure enough, 'easy peasy'!! And as you can see, the finished result looks almost exactly like knitting!! I'm going to have some fun with this I can tell!! I guess I'm not too old to learn something new! ^_^
    A couple of other things and I'm out. One being the two treasuries I was just included in. Mariann Rea, of LittleFoxPhotos, included my Green Harvest Hide Away Slipper Necklace...

     ...in her Gifts for Diabetics Treasury.

    How cool is it that she helped me think of how my necklace could be used for this purpose, and then she made a whole treasury of items just for diabetics and included it!! Now if that's not supportive I don't know what it!! :-) Thanks Mariann!
   Then Kim, of NeedlesAndKims, included my White and Purple Hide Away Slipper Key chain...

     ...in her Thankful for my Twitter Friends Treasury!

     I'm really partial to a few of the cute things in this treasury, like this lovely vintage Pink and Gold over White Demitasse Cup by MendozamVintage.

 This Purple Iris Hand Painted Silk Scarf by Julieriis.

   And this Textures of Nature Envelope Set by Maleaab.

     So, thank you Kim, for putting me in such good company!! :-)
   Two more quick bits of news: Hubby will be guest blogging this coming Sunday, November 28, 2010...I'm still SCARED!! :-} ... And I got my first copy of Country Living, the year's subscription I won on SnowFlakeDreams1 's blog! The Rocky Road Brownies in my header picture are one of the recipes in it!!! I'll share the other stuff I found in it tomorrow!!

    WHEW!!! Now that was a lot of work, putting this blog together, this morning! I hope you enjoy it. I'm going to get me a nap and some face time with the hubby. Have a good day now! :-]

Everything Is Getting Older

Everything is getting older,
past it's time, and rusting fast!
No matter how many times you oil it,
Somehow, still, it doesn't last.

Everything is getting older.
Even veggies just  from the store,
have now browned and withered up.
They're not all shiny like before.

Everything is getting older.
Old dogs included, people too.
Even babies, from the womb,
start gettig older, just past brand new!

Everything is getting older,
like real good books, with tales all told.
But, Wait a minute! Some books are good!
That's why "To read" will not get old.

Everything that's getting older
doesn't harm us and displease.
Just think of wisdom in the aging-
that's with people and with cheese!

All the things, those getting older,
showing marks and scars of time,
just need a tad bit more attention,
or just a small aged glass of wine!