Food Inc.

The documentary film Food Inc is being shown on the program POV (Point of View) on PBS on April 21 at 9:00 pm. I've seen this film twice and will watch it again. It is well-worth watching, IMHO. Did you know it is AGAINST THE LAW to criticize a food?! (Remember Oprah and her comment about hamburger? She only was able to win the lawsuit because she has enough money to fight the beef industry. You or I would not be able to win.)

Even the mother whose child died of ecoli could not tell the makers of the film how she had changed her eating habits since her baby died!!!! And she is still working to get Kevin's Law passed. This law will allow the USDA to shut down plants that are producing contaminated food products, which you'd think they should already be able to do, but, unbelievabley, can't.

Knitting Two Socks at Once, or I Must Be Crazy

I saw, in a knitting book I bought, directions for knitting two socks at once, one inside the other. It seemed impossible, but the directions were there, and I HAD to try it! When it comes to skills I already have, I hate to think there is anything that someone else can do that I can't. This method is challenging to say the least. You knit the cuffs for each sock separately, put one inside the other, and then put the stitches for both on your needles (I use two circulars, usually, but I've also used the old way of three double pointed needles, with the fourth to knit with), alternating one stitch from one cuff and one from the other, until all the stitches are on.

You purl the Near sock stitches and knit the Back sock stitches; if you get mixed up, the wrong stitch joins the two socks together--NOT GOOD! I have taken the stitches off the needles and restarted three times, but I think I can do this. If I run my hand around between the two socks each time I finish a round, I can feel if I've made a wrong stitch, and if you find it right away, it's not hard to fix it.

SO, stay tuned. One thing I learned is NOT to bring this project to my knit group--there's too much going on there what with conversation and all, and this is not a project where you can get distracted and still be OK--at least I can't. Send good knitting thoughts my way!

Doc Martin

Doc Martin mini marathon April 1, beginning at 8:00 p.m., PBS, Channel 9, Seattle. They are showing the last three episodes of last year's shows before the new season shows begin on April 8. For those of you outside of the Seattle area, check your local PBS listings. Both LaMont and I LOVE Doc Martin, so if you tend to like what I like and have never watched Doc Martin, give it a try. (Warning: watching Doc Martin may become habit-forming.)

Planted More Today, March 26, 2010

Today I planted ten pansies and two nastursiums in the two gallery flowerbeds, and some edible pod peas, too. That way, folks walking by or visiting the gallery can munch on them. Came home and planted peas in my own garden. I haven't planted them this early before, so we will see how they do. My goal in gardening this year is to extend my gardening season by planting both early and late.

Bought a couple different tomato plants from the Hoquiam Farmers Market when I was there getting my weekly eggs. One is a yellow one and the other is called Sweet Baby Girl, I think. My problem is that I forget which tomato plant is which, once I get them outside and into the ground. I tried some tomatoes in containers last year, but my tomatoes in the ground did so much better that this year I will put all of them into the ground.

I am also removing the rocks that we put along the fence, lo those many years ago. Water would collect along there and that's why we put the rocks there; it seemed like a good idea at the time. But now I am planting flowerbeds there, so little by little, I am removing all the rocks except those VERY close to the fence. Tedious work, but a little at a time isn't all that bad.

Out in the Greenhouse

I went out today and planted some of the thousands of marigold seeds I harvested last fall. Hopefully, they will do OK out there. My greenhouse isn't insulated and it has been getting near freezing at night, but in the 60s during the day.
My little tomato seedlings are growing in my kitchen, in my garden window, and those that have been there the whole time are doing wonderfully. The ones that were in the living room for awhile are not doing very well; I moved them into the kitchen window with the others and hope they pick up.
I gave away several small houseplants earlier this week to a FreeCycler. I can't stand wasting anything, so anytime I accidentally break a stem off one of my plants, or if I have to prune them, I put the stems in a brown bottle of water and root them; soon I have too many little plants for my window, even though it's big. So I am pleased to give the little ones away. I like having plants, but there is a limit to how many I can keep!!!

Screamer's Cute Baby, my latest doll

This is my latest doll; he's not quite done yet. His hands and feet are yet to be made/attached. He's cloth and his head is made over a hollow ball--first Paper Clay, then knit cloth, then it's painted and sprayed with a clear coat. He's about 18" tall. His body is fabric, stuffed with polyester. I like him!

Daylight Savings Time

I HATE Daylight Savings Time! I hate my clocks being tinkered with twice a year!! I hate having jetlag w/o the vacation!!! My Grandfather Nelson, in his later years, refused to change his clocks, and the family just had to remember he was on his own time all the time. I plan to do that, too, but I'm not old enough yet to be THAT eccentric....or AM I??!!