Free Pattern of the Week

This weeks Free pattern is Bee's Knees Dishcloth from KnitPicks.

Finished Measurements 11” square
Needles US 8 (4.5 mm) straight or circular needles
Notions Stitch markers, if desired, Yarn needle
Gauge 19 sts and 25 rows = 4” in St st, blocked.


Directions
CO 51 sts using a knitted CO. begin working from Bee chart on row 1. Continue working back and forth over all rows.

After finishing the last charted row, BO all sts K-wise.

Weave in ends, wash, and block.

The Original Pattern can be found at http://www.knitpicks.com/patterns/Bees_Knees_Dishcloth__D55544220.html

Big Toy Playground

Last weekend I took Kody out to the Big Toy Playground in Williams, AZ. And I got to say, Kody LOVED IT!

Kody has had a lot of experience with "big toys" but he had so much fun running through all of their challenges and trying to be the best.

I bought him the Maximum Playtime package last Christmas and he finally booked a session. The instructors go over safety and controls before each activity. They were very helpful, friendly, encouraging and fun. They then walk beside you while you run the machine and give you further instruction/challenges through the radio. With the package that we got Kody got to be in each machine for 90 minuets.

Our day started off with him in a skid steer but that quickly ended. Kody used a skid steer at work everyday and so I talked with the instructor and we switched him over to the Excavator.

In the Excavator he dug a hole, moved logs, and stacked tires. He had a blast trying to beat records for most tires stacked (he couldn't get past 9) and trying to dig to China.

 

   

In the Backhoe he drove over the speed bumps, moved massive amounts of dirt, continued digging his hole to China, made a smaller tire tower (even tried to make art for me) and played Backhoe Basketball (using some basketballs and a few 55 gallon barrels).

  

 

Then they provided lunch from town.

In the Loader he filled in his hole to China, ran the obstacle course, picked up bar bells, picked up tires, stacked tires and ran the obstacle course with the bar bells and the tires. At the very end I even got to drive the Loader back!

   

   

Sharon, Larry, Wade and Rich where all very professional and made our adventure a blast. I would recommend this adventure to anyone.

More info about big Toy Playground can be found here http://www.bigtoyplayground.com/

Free Pattern of the Week!

This weeks Free pattern is Ridge Washcloth from KnitPicks.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS 10.5” square
NEEDLES US 2 (3.0mm) 24” circular needle.
NOTIONS Yarn needle Stitch Marker
GAUGE 20 sts x 19 rows = 4” on US 2 needles in garter stitch.

Ridge Washcloth Notes:
The garter stitch ridges give this dishcloth a wonderful springy texture and the color changes make keeping track of decrease rows easy! Comfy Sport is a wonderfully soft yarn that has excellent drape, perfect for a gentle washcloth or cleaning cloth.

Special Stitches: Centered Double Decrease (CDD): Slip 2 sts knitwise onto right needle, K1, pass slipped stitches over knit stitch (2 sts dec.).

Directions

Using the Long Tail method, cast on 103 sts with MC.

Row 1 (WS): K50 sts, PM, K53 sts.

Row 2 (RS): Change to CC (do not break Sea Foam), K to three sts before marker, CDD, remove marker, K1, PM and K to end.

Row 3 (WS): K across.

Row 4 (RS): Change to MC yarn (do not break White), K to three sts before marker, CDD, remove marker, K1, PM, K to end.

Row 5 (WS): K across.

Repeat rows 2-5 until two stitches remain. Break yarn and thread it through the remaining two stitches.

Finishing Weave in all ends and block to measurements.


The Original Pattern can be found  at http://www.knitpicks.com/patterns/Ridge_Washcloth__D55543220.html

Tent Care in the Field

Tent Care in the Field

Being an Outdoor Guide means that everyone asks you how to fix their stuff. Here are some tips and tricks that you can use!

Tip #1: When selecting a setup spot, look for an established campsite with a smooth, level surface with no vegetation. Clear away tiny debris (pine cones, twigs, small rocks) that could jab you in the back or poke a hole your tent floor. Avoid disturbing a site any more than that. As prescribed by Leave No Trace principles: "Good campsites are found, not made. Altering a site is not necessary." Also from LNT: "Keep campsites small. Focus activity in areas where vegetation is absent."

Tip #2: Use a footprint. This is a custom-cut ground cloth designed specifically for the floor plan of your tent. Footprints protect your tent floor from abrasion; in the morning they provide a clean surface where you can fold up your tent.

A footprint also discourages rain water from collecting under the tent floor. This commonly occurs when using a generic ground cloth that extends beyond the tent’s perimeter. If using a generic ground cloth, tuck any excess material under the tent floor.

Other tips:

• Avoid sleeping atop any uneven surfaces. Low spots can collect runoff.
• Stake your tent tautly and use guy-lines to keep the rainfly taut.

Other wetness may be the result of condensation. This occurs when the ground and footprint are cold, and the tent floor is slightly warmer. You can't prevent this, so just be sure to dry out wet items before long-term storage.

Tip #3: When you climb inside your tent, leave boots or camp footwear (and all the debris clinging to them) outside or in the vestibule.

Tip #4: The sun's ultraviolet rays cause nylon to degrade. If your campsite offers little or no shade during the day, cover your tent with its rainfly. The rainfly's urethane coating helps it hold up better under the sun's glare.

Tip #5: If your tent is a freestanding model, pick it up and shake out debris in the morning before you pack it away. Pick up any trash that falls out and pack it out.

Tip #6: If you forget your stakes, lose them or the ground is too hard to permit staking, dig out some cord, collect a few melon-size rocks and follow these steps:

1. Tie lengths of cord (or fishing line, even dental floss) around 4 rocks and attach 1 cord/rock combo to the exterior webbing at each tent corner.
2. Push the rocks away from the tent until the tent is as taut and stable as you can make it.
3. Leave about 1 foot of cord between the rock and the webbing. Then place a second rock (and a third and fourth, if needed) atop the cord. The additional rock (or rocks) pushes the cord to ground level and adds weight and friction for security.
4. No cord? Find some smooth rocks and gently place them atop each tent corner. If the rocks are super-smooth, you could consider placing them inside the tent to anchor the corners. The possibility of abrasion, however, makes this a risky move.

Tip #7: With shockcorded poles, resist the urge to whip them around to cause the sections to "snap" together. It's fun, yes, but all that snapping could chip the section fittings and weaken the poles. It's better to fit the sections together one at a time by hand.

Tip #8: When disassembling a tent, first separate a shockcorded pole in the middle rather than starting at the end of the pole. This eases tension on the entire cord while it is stored.

Tip #9: What if a tent pole breaks? Most tent manufacturers include a pole repair sleeve that can straddle a damaged pole section and act as a splint. The diameter of a pole sleeve is slightly larger than your tent pole, so it can slip over a bent or broken section pretty easily. If tape is available, it's good to secure the sleeve by wrapping a few strips around both ends.

Tip #10: When packing a tent, avoid folding the tent or rainfly fabric on the same crease lines time after time. Over the years those creases could become permanent and grow brittle. Fold a tent in different places each time you pack it up.

Article and others like it found at REI.com

Free Pattern of the Week!

Hello Everyone, 

So I find so many free patterns that find on the internet that I would love to share with everyone. So, i am going to start blogging them!

This weeks Free pattern is Orbital Crochet Dishcloth from KnitPicks.

Finished Measurements approx. 10.5” diameter
Yarn Knit Picks Dishie (100% Cotton, 190 yards/100g): J
Hooks US 7 (4.5mm): crochet hook or size to obtain gauge Gauge 4 dc = 1” (Gauge for this project is approximate)

This is an easy crochet pattern, perfect for beginners looking to move past granny squares. You will only need to know magic circle, double crochet, half double crochet and increasing. For solid colored dishcloth, work every round in the same color. For stripped dishcloth, switch colors at the start of each round.
Magic Circle -  Please see our tutorial for instructions: http://tutorials.knitpicks.com/wptutorials/learn-to-crochetthe-magic-circle/

Directions

Set up: Create a large Magic Circle, sc, dc 12 , join to first dc with sl st (12 st). Tighten circle.

Round 1: ch 3 (counts as first dc throughout pattern), dc in same sp, *dc twice in next sp, repeat from * until end of round, join with sl to first dc. (24 st)

Round 2: ch 3, dc in same space, dc once in next sp *dc twice in next sp, dc once in next sp, repeat from * until end of round, join with sl to first dc. (36 st)

Round 3: ch 3, dc in same space, dc once in next 2 sp, *dc twice in next sp, dc once in next 2 sp, repeat from * until end of round, join with sl to first dc. (48 st)

Round 4: ch 3, dc once all around, join with sl to first dc. (48 st)

Round 5: ch 3, dc in same space, dc once in next 3 sp, *dc twice in next sp, dc once in next 3 sp, repeat from * until end of round, join with sl to first dc. (60 st)

Round 6: ch 3, dc in same space, dc once in next 4 sp, *dc twice in next sp, dc once in next 4 sp, repeat from * until end of round, join with sl to first dc. (72 st)

Round 7: ch 3, dc in same space, dc once in next 5 sp, *dc twice in next sp, dc once in next 5 sp, repeat from * until end of round, join with sl to first dc. (84 st)

Round 8: ch 3, dc once all around, join with sl to first dc. (84 st) Round 9: ch 3, dc in same space, dc once in next 6 sp, *dc twice in next sp, dc once in next 6 sp, repeat from * until end of round, join with sl to first dc. (96 st)

Round 10: ch 3, dc in same space, dc once in next 7 sp, *dc twice in next sp, dc once in next 7 sp, repeat from * until end of round, join with sl to first dc. (108 st)

Round 11 (final round): ch 2, hdc all around, join with sl to first hdc (108 st)

Finishing Weave in ends. block to flatten.


The Original Pattern can be found at http://www.knitpicks.com/patterns/Orbital_Crochet_Dishcloth__D55542220.html

How to Check Eggs for freshness

Sinking eggs are extremely fresh.

Eggs standing up but still at the bottom are perfectly safe to eat but should be eaten real soon.

If the eggs are completely floating, you should throw them away.

This works because eggs have porous shells, which allow the air pocket inside each shell to get bigger over time as the liquid inside evaporates.

This helpful picture is taken from http://elthecook.com/pro-cooking-tips/fresh-eggs/

"No-Poo" What to do Without Shampoo

Over 3 years ago I have decided to go “No-Poo” and only use Baking Soda and Apple Cider Vinegar to clean and condition my hair.

Many people have asked me why, but most have just looked at me like I was crazy. Here are a few simple reasons I decided to give it a try:

- Shampoo removes natural oils that your hair needs to be healthy

- Cost - Baking soda costs about $.50 for 16oz and I only use 2 tablespoons per wash, this means that each wash costs around $.03. Organic Apple cider vinegar costs about $5 for 32 fluid oz and I only use 2 tablespoons per rinse, this means that each rinse costs around $.15. I don't know of any 100% organic shampoo that cost around $.18 per use.

- Most Shampoos have toxic chemicals

- My Curly Hair gets frizzy with commercial products

I was a little hesitant at first, mostly because I was nervous of the transition period, where most complained that your hair will be unmanageable and greasy 1 week to 6 weeks. To combat this I slowly went from washing my hair every day, to once every 2 days, 3 days and even 4 days with normal shampoo and conditioner. I then tried the "No-Poo" and at first my hair seemed to be just a tad to greasy but quickly got use to the new schedule.

How to Shampoo Your Hair - Without Shampoo

1.    Purchase a squeeze bottle (like a ketchup bottle)

2.    Place between 1 to 5 tablespoons of Baking Soda in bottle. (Is your baking soda fresh?)

3.    Add 4 – 8oz water

4.    Shower like normal and Squirt mixture into hair

5.    Massage into hair (This will be weird because the Baking Soda won’t make suds)

6.    Rinse well with water

How to Condition Your Hair - Without Conditioner

1.    Place 1-3 table spoons of Apple Cider Vinegar in a small spray bottle with about 4oz of water.

2.    Squeeze all the excess water out of your hair.

3.    Spray all of the Apple Cider mix in hair and let sit for a few minutes (this would be a great time to shave your legs)

4.    Rinse out extremely well with water (I mean a lot, or else you will smell like a salad)

My hair only was crazy for about a week, which I just wore it up in a loose bun. I now wash my hair once or twice a week and I just love how strong and easy it is to work work with.

I also found this hairspray recipe that works great!

Hairspray:

-2 Chopped Lemons

-2 Cups Water

-1 Tbsp Vodka
-Simmer lemons and water on low until lemons are soft. Strain, pour in Spray bottle and add Vodka. 

Introduction

Hello and welcome to Kimy's (kai-me's) Corner . My name is Kim and I am very excited that we share some similar interests.

I have always loved creating something out of nothing, learning about natural alternative and finding things to do with my down time.

Here at Kimy's Corner, I write about:

- Handmade goods and Crafts
- My Family
- Baby / Kid stuff
- Money saving tips
- Trying to be natural
- And anything that may tickle my fancy

I hope that you'll visit often.