Living in Tucson

 There are a lot of great things about living inTucson besides the nice spring and summer weather.  One of them is Bookman’s.  Bookman’s is an old favorite. It was the place to exchange things like books, music and a whole assortment of fun things. It was fully linked to the sustainability issue long before it became an issue.  It was a place I took the kids to exchange their books for new to them books. If they got an album that they did not like they could exchange it for something else.  I even pick up the odd arts and crafts supplies.  

For the last several years I have been using Bookman’s as a part of my house decluttering efforts.  I bring Bookman’s things like books, old jewelry, and other things.  In return I take store credit.  I pick up the occasional book, but mainly I get cool socks for the children’s clothing bank that I knit for.  The picture below is from the store credit I got from today’s trade. 

The other thing that is really special about Tucson is the yearly Gem and Mineral Showcase.  It takes place from late January to mid February.  It is one of the largest shows of this kind in the world.  Some of the shows are wholesale only. Others are open to the public.   We occasionally go to the public shows.  We get to see all kinds of all things lapidary. From raw rocks to highly facilitated gems.  

I occasionally get supplies for stitch markers and earrings. Sometimes jewelry findings.  Yesterday I got 5 charms to make one of a kind stitch markers for myself.  I pretty sure these won’t be at Joann’s or Michael’s anytime soon. I have even been know to buy some earrings. 

Now it’s time to go do some knitting.  

Getting Scrapy

 I am currently working on another Stash Dive Scarf by Summer Lee Designs. It is not exactly as written.  I have gathered all my small skeins of sock yarn and cotton yarn.  As you can see by the second picture there are a lot of the smaller skeins.  The first picture the very colorful scarf so far. I am trying to do my best to make a fun and colorful scarf.  This scarf is going to be between 5 and 6 feet long so it is definitely going to a 7th or 8th grader. With all my recent destashing I now have room in my closet to store it until next fall.  

I also think that I over did it a little on my errands.  I was only out for 1 1/2 hours.  I did 4 errands today.  On the 3rd errand I found kids fall socks on sale for 70% off. This was my *Ganga of the day.  So I went back and grabbed a shopping cart and pick out a whole bunch of socks for the clothing bank I support. Yes, I filled up half a huge bag.  My hope is that the kids who get them, like them.  I then came home and slept for 2 hours.  I still managed to get 1 out of 2 loads of laundry folded, but not all at once. I also managed to mis match the colors on 2 pairs of socks, oh well. No harm no foul.  I still have to put the clothes hanging in the garage away too.  

*Ganga is Tucson speak for a great deal.  

By the Numbers

Today by the numbers goes like this:

I went to Bookman’s Mid town and Bookman’s East side.2
The number of socks my store credit bought. 12
Hand knit hat finished.  1.
Pillows given to Ivan.  I not sure weather he liked the Elmo or truck pillow better.  I know that they will be loved.  2.

The Bookman’s stops were for my on going Zenning. I guess I will need to figure out what to zen next.  Maybe a couple of extra dressers that are no longer needed. Then more books. Maybe even tackling organizing my fiber books or my closet.  I am sure all that can result in more trips to Bookman’s.

In the meantime I have:
3 hats to knit. 2 to find and correct errors these will go to Flowing Wells School District Clothing Bank and 1 for a friend.
1 blanket to knit and add a crochet border.
Some animals to sew.
3 purses to finish.
1 random animal to finish.
Can I get this all done before the end of January? I hope so.

More Socks

Yes, I am still zenning the house.  This is yesterday’s sock haul from Bookman’s NW. Five pairs of socks for the Flowing Wells School District Clothing Bank. I am really grateful that I can turn my house decluttering into something very useful. I really like the Yoda socks.

Fantastic

I had a fantastic Zenning day. I went to Bookman’s Mid Town and Bookman’s East today. With today’s trading and some credit when they were out of socks it was just fantastic. I have traded for 17. Ore pairs of socks for the Flowing Wells School District Clothing Bank.  This is a total win for me and the clothing bank.  I have a lot less clutter to worry about putting away or dusting. For the clothing bank it is a very small boost in their supply of socks.  

So a very big thank you to Bookman’s Mid Town And Bookman’s East.

Fantastic Zenning

Today was a fantastic Zenning day.  I now have enough in trade credits at Bookman’s to get 2 dozen more pairs of socks for my favorite charity project. Which is fantastic because they need more socks from little kids feet to high school size feet. My Zenning is on a roll.  I did not get much else done today. Unless you count a thee hour nap.  As you know I find the actual act of Zenning exhausting. It’s 9:30 and I am ready to call it a night.

Please consider sending a gift card to the Flowing Wells School District so the staff can fill in what is needed in the clothing bank. Target and Walmart gift cards work out well. Please include a note saying what you want the donation to go to.

Please mail to:
Flowing Wells Schools
Iola Frans Administration Center
Attention Superintendents Office
1556 West Prince Road
Tucson Az 85705-3087

Thank you in advance.

Sheri.

A Score

John and I went to Bookman’s today. We traded some of my Zenning  to replace 3 coffee cups that were stolen a while back. This was a hard to find item because they were from my first set of dishes I ever bought way back in the late 1970’s and were removed from the Cornelle line in the mid 1990’s.  I had given up ever replacing them.

We also scored 5 pairs of socks for the clothing bank.  Before bed tonight I refilled the Bookman’s bag.  Truth be told I only zenned for 5 minutes today. I am totally exhausted. My arthritis has kicked in with vengeance like I have not seen in a while. So a 2 1/2 hour nap instead of knitting was needed. I am also going to turn in early tonight. Tomorrow is going to be better.

Errands

Today I got out of the house for some errands. I managed to get to the library to return the equipment on loan from the Library of Congress, Services for the blind and disabled. The librarian knew he was supposed to take them back, but had to research were to send them.  He was really nice.

Then it was off to the Flowing Wells School District main office to drop off the hand knit hats, socks and a few school supplies.  They were very happy to receive everything. All 3 bags full.

Then off to drive across town to drop off a check and check out a venue.  I think the event will be inside.  That’s great because it’s supposed to rain on Sunday. Then I went shopping and headed home. A 9 hour work day left me exhausted. Did I mention that I started making earrings and stitch markers at 6 am and forgot to eat breakfast because I was so busy.

After dinner I got in some weaving time on the new scarf. I even managed to empty a shuttle.  I am almost at the splash of red part.

It’s 10:30 pm and I am so tired that my body is saying go to sleep. I really don’t know how I managed such long hours with Eric. I guess I am a mere mortal now.

Projects 75 to 99

The next 15 projects include 12 hats and 3 scarfs.  They all went to The Flowing Wells School District Clothing Bank.  There are also 18 pairs of socks that I got from trade in credit at Bookman’s.

Tuesday

Dropping off Eric.  Paying activity fees for the year. 

Getting 2 knitting projects off the knitting needles and weaving in the ends. I am to tired to take pictures or count the rows.  Cast another hat on and knit 1 3/4 inches of the band. 

A trip to Bookman’s and they took everything today. I used the credit for 2 more pairs of socks for The Flowing Wells SD Clothing Bank. 

Went to 2 different grocery stores to get shopping done. I managed to put almost 

everything away and do the rebates. 

Fixed Eric’s Wheelchair and cleaned off some of the formula that spilled on the chair.  

Was too tired to cook dinner. I don’t have to wonder much about that. 

Praying that Eric does not want a 1 am play date with me. 

Time for lights out.  

18 and 19

The next 2 hats are finished.  They have been placed in the bag going to the Flowing Wells SD Clothing Bank when it is full.  This also added 136 rows towards the 1 million row challenge on Raverly.  I know I probably won’t make it to a million knitting and Crochet rows, but I can have fun trying.

I spent most of the day sleeping. I caught the bug du jour. I would just like to remind everyone to try to stay home when you are sick.  It is just better for everyone.  I put off my errands to stay home and not spread the cold.

I now have 2 bags of books for Bookman’s and will spend the trade credit on socks for the clothing bank too.   It’s a win win for everyone. I have less stuff.  Bookman’s has more stuff to sell and I am supporting a local Tucson business.  Some kids who need socks will get them.  Plus nothing goes to the landfill.  What could be better than that?

T

Zenning

Nothing but Zenning got done today.  All my knitting books fit on the allotted shelf space.  Now I just have to sort them by knitting,spinning ,weaving,crochet and quilting. I found another foot of knitting books that are ready to go to Bookman’s.  If they take most them I should be able to trade them for socks for my pet charity project.  They liked the last dozen pairs that I brought in.  Who knew that you could trade knitting booksthat are no longer needed for socks and make it a win for everyone. I also went through the rest of my Molly magazines. I decided that I did not need most of them.  So I will be sharing them.  I also managed to get my to read books all lined up.  No wonder I was too tired and too sore to knit today.

Small Feet

The sad part about the kids getting older is that I got shorter.  I have only lost 1/2 of an inch since Teri has been born, but they both take after John. Now it appears that I also have the smallest feet in the house. If you sort the socks mine are the smallest. Oh well life goes on small feet and all. 

It has been a while since I blogged

Eric has been home sick so many days that I have lost track of time. I have been busy cleaning, knitting and packing. On the knitting front I have almost finished a full basket of scarfs,what nots, coasters,bookmarks and wash cloths for Eric's camp fundraiser.  They have chosen the Tucson Ronald McDonald House. When I have a date I will post it on line. I have been doing a lot of light cleaning and not the heavy duty fill the Goodwill box and recycle bin type of cleaning.

On a very happy note I will be leaving the guys at home and going to see my daughter tomorrow. If you see me at the airport I will be the very,very excited one. A visit with Teri is better than a shopping spree at my local yarn store. Sorry yarn stores but some things are even better than yarn.

And yes I will be trying to finish the pair of red socks that I started when Teri and I went to look at law schools. I am really on the second sock. Apparently it is easier for Teri to finish one year of law school than it is for me to finish one pair of socks. I have also packed a very easy to do 1 skein shawl pattern.  Since I will let Teri do the driving I am sure to get a lot done after all it is on size 8 knitting needles.

I have not decided if I am going to try to borrow a computer or wait until I get home to blog. But Teri has some exciting things planed for us to do. I do hope she has saved time for long talks because I really miss them.

So I am going to wrap up the odds-n-ends and take care of Eric. Maybe I will even have time to knit before 8 pm tonight. I want everyone to have a great day and enjoy your families.