Tin Can Abbey

Hi! Welcome to Tin Can Abbey. snickers
I couldn't tell you when it began. All's I knows is how wonderful they are for holdin' stuff not to mention pretty cool to look at. Very few of these are empty. I use large ones as canisters and small ones to hold fiddly li'l objects like nails, all the tags from every bush, tree, etc. that I ever planted, etc. Yikes. Save me. Some of my favorites came with cookies in them and have windup music boxes in the lids.I've given several tins away, but I'm a thinkin' it didn't hurt me any.
The next three tins are old popcorn tins. Goodman loves his popcorn so I always get him one when they're fresh in the stores. This is my favorite of them. I could live in that scene. I'm keepin' dog food in it. I like the lid of this one.I keep bird seed in this one.This is the only tin that I keep yarn in, but it holds quite a few balls of dishcloth cotton. Um, no this isn't all the tins I have, but I don't want to overwhelm anyone. ;) If you enjoyed perusin' these pictures of my tins I can tell you I'm not the only person who collects them. Recently, as I was cruisin' Ravelry I ran across a new group called What's In Your Altoid Tin?. There you can find some nifty ideas on how knitters use and alter empty tins. I rarely alter mine except for the time I threw one in a fire to burn off the paint. It worked very well. Goodman used it for making char cloth and as a tinderbox back when we did living history reenactments.

I made this fleece blanket last week for Firstborn's birthday. The tutorial is in the sidebar.
Have I been knitting? Yes, some. Have I been crocheting? Yes, but I've been loafin' alot more. Truth is good. See you next week, the Good Lord willing!

Foothills Parkway

Go for a ride? Yesterday Goodman and I went on a little Sunday afternoon ride on Foothills Parkway. We went by way of Calderwood Highway which is known to motorcyclists as The Tail of the Dragon. We passed Chilhowee Lake and Dam along the way. We're on the Parkway now.
There are lots of pull-offs for soakin' in the views and picture takin'.
The Great Smoky Mountains are known for their layers and layers of mountains.
A closer view.
Back at the house..it was to be noted that the robins had returned from points further south. We always have a few that stick around during cold weather, but they were back in droves yesterday.
Hoggin' the watering holes. Our bluebirds gave up and flew off exasperated to pieces. No worry, they know the this house is theirs, but they do like the birdbaths to be less crowded.
This here's Thorpe. (Can you tell I just recently watched Sergeant York?) I knitted it to go with the mittens I'd already given to Punkin #2. It's a balmy 72 degrees here today, but our weather roller coaster will surely give her a chance to wear it before spring. It seems like it was a dream that we had snow last week.

Guard those waterin' holes, Y'all. The robins are on their way, 'cause I'm shooin' them northward. _chuckles_

Goodman's Gaiter

A neck warmer that is so easy to work up even the newest knitter will have it finished in an evening. The directions are very simple, but for those who prefer pattern format…enjoy.

Knit entirely in 2x1 ribbing using chunky yarn your Goodman’s Gaiter will be completed before the next snow flies, and your own good man will appreciate that it is entirely handsome, not-so-bunchy, yet quite warm.

Methods:

Long-tail cast-on

Stretchy bind-off

Materials:

1 skein bulky/chunky yarn. Lion Brand Wool-Ease Chunky shown.

Size 10.5 circular needles, 16-24 in.

Cast on 72 sts.

Place marker. Join in the round.

Knit 2, purl 1 around.

Repeat until piece measures 8 inches long or until the skein is nearly used up.

Bind off using:

a. *Knit 2 tog through the back loops (or front, either or, but not both; just be consistent in which you choose.) Place this new stitch on the needle in your left hand and repeat from * until there is one stitch left. Cut yarn and pull the end through the loop & weave in the ends.
Poof. You’re done. Worn scrunched down, folded over or pulled up around the ears he will be comfy. Awwww.
Later, Gaiter.
Copyright © 2009 Toni in the Foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, All Rights Reserved

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Another goodly event here in the foothills, we're under a beautiful blanket of freshly fallen snow. The heavens opened up yesterday and showered us with unmatchable loveliness.