Monday Message

“We all need to build a personal ark . . . And we shouldn’t wait until it starts raining, but prepare in advance. This has been the message of all the prophets in this dispensation . . . as well as the prophets of old.

“Unfortunately we don’t always heed the clear warnings of our prophets. We coast complacently along until calamity strikes, and then we panic.

“When it starts raining, it is too late to begin building the ark. However, we do need to listen to the Lord’s spokesmen. We need to calmly continue to move ahead and prepare for what will surely come. We need not panic or fear, for if we are prepared, spiritually and temporally, we and our families will survive any flood. Our arks will float on a sea of faith if our works have been steadily and surely preparing for the future.” (W. Don Ladd, October 1994 General Conference)

Preparing for everything is a full time job but when we find time to work it in with trips to stores and chores it is doable. Take a few minutes each week to look at the sale flyers to take advantage of sales and to plan your menu. It really works into a way of life.  

Always think about the future and don't have a "this minute" attitude. Like if you are getting peanut butter, you know you use it all the time so why not pick up two? It saves another trip to the store and adds to your storage. All too often we just pick up what is needed right now. Sometimes it is money related but if you are getting things on sale why not get more? 

I ran across a sale on chicken broth and it was a quarter a can and there was this couple there at store, she was wanting to get a few but her husband said you only need one. I was thinking, get a lot, they were only a quarter and it is something you will need down the road. If she could have bought four, let's say, that was only a dollar but the next time it could cost a dollar a piece. Getting the four was like buy one and getting three free. Unfortunately he could not think about the savings, only getting what you need in the here and now moment...it is hard to change this mind set.

Along with this is building your skills. Many times we think, oh I can't be bothered, someday I will learn. Kind of like sewing on a button, after you have many articles of clothing that need buttons you might think about it? Same with mending. I mended something that took two minutes to do. I keep my machine set up so I only have to sew. I try to do as needed and not throw in a pile that someday I will sit and mend. It is easier to find two minutes than to find two hours!

Which takes me back to getting food ahead, it saves time and money. Just a thought for the week.

Mary Ann shared this link with us on making socks - https://marlybird.com/announcing-the-2018-knit-along-with-marly-bird-and-red-heart/  I think this is an excellent series to take you on a learning journey on how to make socks.

Is it cheaper to actually make socks? Perhaps not but having this skill is a 100% good one to have. Sock yarn is getting very costly, I am trying to develop my spinning skill so I can make my own sock yarn.  

If you are frugal you can take apart thrift store sweaters to reclaim yarn for socks. But Mary Ann starts you off using worsted weight yarn which is the kind of yarn you make afghans out of. She uses two sets of the same size double pointed needles (use Hobby Lobby coupons to pick up your needles to help further save money). She uses two sets because she suggests doing one part of the sock then do that same part on the second set. I really like that idea because it will reinforce you learning the skill and then get both socks done. Because they're worsted weight these will be heavier like a boot sock

I was watching a podcast from Norway, they said there was a red list of things that soon no one would be able to learn because those who knew the skill were dying out. Very sad....think of your circle of friends, how many can knit socks??

This is part 1 of the video tutorial on how to make your own socks....https://youtu.be/F2U8cJlMQIU

part 2....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mBkphVz3Ds

part 3....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fVNTcAIbpc&t=3s

part 4....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5bRdGdaKio

part 5....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRYEleUcFEQ

part 6....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qoo0p8YD64M

So if you have been wanting to learn to do socks this is fantastic and a huge thank you to Mary Ann from all of us!

If you prefer to start with something more beginner but still useful, how about dishcloths - https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/grandmothers-favorite

https://www.allfreeknitting.com/Dish/Incredibly-Easy-Knit-Dishcloth

https://www.allfreeknitting.com/video-basics/Easy-Knit-and-Purl-Dishcloth

https://www.allfreeknitting.com/Dish/Easy-Everyday-Dishcloth-from-Bernat

https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/easy-crochet-dishcloth-pattern-978603

https://www.thepurpleponcho.com/houndstooth-dishcloth-free-crochet-pattern/

These are great skills to develop and make great gifts too and once you use them you will love them!

Look around your house and see what things could be used for yarn bowls...

Think outside the box as real yarn bowls cost quite a bit. Many things can be used to work with our skills that can also be a great savings.

You will be surprised at what you will find or what you can make.

I'm not a coffee drinker but clear coffee pots from thrift stores make really great yarn bowls.

Even this cute little rabbit can be a thread bowl for tatting.

Below is a picture of a tatting press. It has two CDs encased with batting and a covering with pockets to hold shuttles.

The purpose is to press what you have tatted.

Just think out of the box, like what can I use for this or that? Find things that are helpful for what you're working on.

I wanted to share a favorite recipe...

Cherry Cobbler

-You need two small cans or one large cans of cherry pie filling
-spread in a sprayed 9x13 pan
-mix a white cake mix with one stick melted butter, add one tbsp lemon juice, mix and drop this mixture over the cherry pie filling, bake 350 degrees for twenty to thirty minutes

As we work on our storage and skills we will be blessed. Do the best you can!