Everyday Crafty Goodness

Winter in New England is COLD and EXPENSIVE.  This year, I’m going to do all I can to keep the heat in and save money.  Hopefully I’ll get to cross all these things off before it gets really cold.   Here’s a good link about winterizing your home.

My to-do list 

Caulk around windows

Turn down water heater temperature (I think I did this before but at the time I didn’t know that electric water heaters have TWO thermostats and you have to turn down the temperature on both of them.  My water is still scalding hot so hopefully I’ll get it right this time.)

Foam insulation for pipes

Foam insulation for outlets

Door sweepers and weather stripping

Turn off bathroom vents (they suck the hot air out of the room!)

New filters for heater

Move furniture away from heating vents

DIY window insulation (this is my secret project, if it works, I’ll post a tutorial)

Draft stoppers (like these)

Get a humidifier (moist air feels warmer)

I went to the Head of the Charles today to see my cousin’s team (Washington University, St. Louis) row.  She’s the third girl from the left.  I recognized her bobbing ponytail right away.  I’m pretty sure this is her team even though she did say their uniform is black with green stripes and here they’re black with red stripes.  Anyway, the weather couldn’t have been any more beautiful and I’m glad I didn’t miss her rowing. 

Steph, hope you guys had fun!!  It was great seeing you!

The Head of the Charles is this weekend.  In the past, that meant AVOID DRIVING THROUGH HARVARD SQUARE AT ALL COSTS, but this year, I’m actually going to go see the races because my cousin Stephanie is rowing!   She’s a senior (already?!) in college and has turned out to be a wonderful kid, I mean young woman.  My secret goal is trying to get her to move up here after she graduates.  Go Washington University, St. Louis!!

I figured out why my first attempt at the Jaywalker socks failed miserably … I used the wrong size needles!  I thought my size zero needles were my size ones for some reason so no wonder I couldn’t get my foot through the sock.  I frogged the sock and started over with the right needles last night and it looks like it’s going to fit just fine.

Speaking of knitting, I think I squealed when I saw Emerson Cod (played by Chi McBride) knit on Pushing Daisies.  He made a couple of gun cozies (very crafty), a vest, and he keeps his stacks of cash in knitted socks (I think they were socks at least).  How cool is that?

I started knitting the jaywalker socks this weekend and when I had about 4 inches of the cuff/leg done, I thought I’d try it on to see how it fits.  It DOESN’T!!!  So now I have to rip the whole thing out and start over.  Boo.  I might try casting on 84 stitches instead of 76 stitches and use #2 needles instead of #1 like I did.  I swear my feet are not that big…