Bar Codes – Where Things Come From

Do you know how to tell what country an item is from?  Here’s a little info for you.  If you object to buying items from China, Taiwan, or any other country except the US, then print this and take it with you when you go shopping.

 

This may be useful to know when grocery shopping, if it’s a concern to you.

The whole world is afraid of China-made “black hearted goods”.

Can you differentiate which one is made in Taiwan or China ?

If the first 3 digits of the barcode are 690, 691 or 692, the product is MADE IN CHINA.

471 is Made in Taiwan

This is our right to know, but the government and related departments never educate the public, therefore we have to RESCUE ourselves.

Nowadays, Chinese businessmen know that consumers do not prefer products “MADE IN CHINA “, so they don’t show from which country it is made.

However, you may now refer to the barcode, remember if the first 3 digits are:

690-692 . then it is MADE IN CHINA .
00 – 09 . USA & CANADA
30 – 37 . FRANCE
40 – 44 . GERMANY
47 .. Taiwan
49 . JAPAN
50 . UK

BUY USA by watching for “0″ at the beginning of the number. We need every boost we can get!

Just thought you might like to know how to tell where things are from.

Summer Colds

I have a summer cold and it’s the pits!  I’m hoarse and can barely talk (maybe that’s a good thing).  I have a cough and a sore throat.  I can’t breath through my nose.  I’m just miserable!

But what to do for a summer cold, any cold for that matter?

Drink plenty of fluids.  I do that already.  I’m currently drinking a mixture of green tea, peppermint tea, echinecea, ginger, lime juice and honey. 

Will it do anything?  I don’t know, but my throat feels better.  It helps loosen up the chest congestion, at least for a little while.

Take acetaminophen.  Yep, do that too, especially when I feel achy.

Get plenty of rest.  I try, but not always possible.  I work nights.  Sleeping during the day is chaotic at best.

Colds are caused by a virus and usually last about 2 weeks.  I’ve got about a week and a half to go.   I sure wish there was a magic pill I could take and be instantly cured.  I so hate being sick!

Fort Pickens

This morning we visited Fort Pickens.  It just recently re-opened to the public after suffering quite a bit of damage during the last few hurricanes.  Water and electricity have still not been re-established.  So if you go camping, it’s very BASIC.

Fort Pickens is one of four forts built to defend Pensacola Bay.  It was completed in 1834 and used until 1947.   It was also “home” to Apache prisoners in 1887 including Geronimo.

Happy Father’s Day!

Just a quick note….

 

Hope all you dads out there have a grand day…one with lots of good memories.

Popcorn Mile a Minute Afghan

Lately I’ve been working on a popcorn mile a minute afghan.  I have a basic mile a minute pattern but no pattern that included the popcorn stitch.  So I came up with my own.

When I complete a strip, I add chain 3 every other stitch around.  Then when I am on the last row (the chain 3 row) of the next strip, I crochet it to the first completed strip.  I prefer to crochet the strips together as I make them so I am not putting them together once they are all done.  It makes me feel as if I have accomplished something and I don’t tend to have another unfinished project lying around the house.

Here are a couple of pictures of my work in progress:

 

Crochet a Pot Scrubbie

Waste not, want not.  Recycle.  You can make a pot scrubbie using one of those nylon net type bags that frozen pops come in and left over cotton yarn.  With this pattern you will NOT have to cut the nylon bag into strips.  You will use it as is.

Materials:

1 long nylon bag (remove any labels)

Small amount of left over worsted weight cotton yarn

G hook

yarn needle

Start with a magic circle making sure you leave a long tail.  Chain one in the circle.  Then do 13 SC in the circle.  Pull the long tail tight.  Join with a sl st in the beginning chain one.

Chain 3.  1 DC in same stitch, chain 2.  2 DC in next stitch, chain 2.  Repeat 2 DC, chain 2 around.  Close with a slip stitch in top of chain 3.

Chain 3.  1 DC in same stitch.  Chain 2, 1 DC in next chain 2 space.  Repeat chain2, 1 DC in next chain 2 space around.  Close with a slip stitch in top of chain 3.  Fasten off.

Scrunch up your nylon bag, lengthwise.  Begin weaving the bag through the second round and finish up on the third round.   Make sure your bag ends are on the back of the scrubbie.

With the back facing you, thread your beginning tail end yarn in your yarn needle.  Weave it back and forth through the nylon AND  through your beginning cotton stitches.  Do this several times or more than several times.  Secure the yarn tightly.  Trim the yarn and trim the nylon.

With your ending tail end yarn, weave through the remaining nylon and the back on the scrubbie several times.  Well, more than several.  Secure the yarn and trim close.  Then trim the nylon.

It doesn’t matter if this is perfect or not.  Believe me your pots and dishes will not care.

Your finished scrubbie will look like this:

Have fun!

Mystery Flower Crochet

I found an amazing crochet pattern while browsing on Etsy.  It’s called a Mystery Flower.  Once it is crocheted and connected properly, the center opens to store potpourri or scented soap.  The seller is L33ntj3, if you would like to visit her Etsy shop.

When I made the flower, I used worsted weight cotton yarn and a G hook.  The pattern, however, calls for a smaller hook and #5 crochet cotton.   My flower came out the size of a small pillow.  But I thought it would make an excellent gift “bag”.

Here is the picture of the seller’s Mystery Flower and a picture of mine follows.

 

 

By the way, I stuffed mine with a potholder, hotpad, coasters, dishcloth, can cozies, and a panhandle cover.

My Snake Bit Me!

Yes, he bit me.  I was reaching into his aquarium to get his water bowl and he latched onto my finger. 

Did it hurt?  No, his fangs did not puncture my finger.  They scraped one side of my finger and his bottom teeth were on the other side.  He let go almost immediately.

Did I yell? No, it didn’t scare me.  In fact, it was all over so quickly, I didn’t have time to react.

Will I reach in there again?  Yes.  Snakes do not frighten me as they do some folks.  He’s not aggressive, he was just hungry and mistakenly thought my hand was a mouse.  Needless to say he did have a mouse for lunch.

Most snake owners will agree that if you own/handle a snake, the day will come when you WILL be bitten.  It’s a fact of ownership.  Just don’t panic.  Remove the snake from your hand/arm or whatever.  Seek assistance if necessary.  And most definitely clean the wound thoroughly with soap and water.  Add some antibiotic ointment.  And if the wound is severe, go see your doctor.  But be prepared for some questions regarding why you own a snake.

Crochet a Soda Can Cozy!

Do you like your sodas really, really cold, but can’t stand what it does to your hands?  Then crochet yourself a can cozy.  

Materials

Size G or H hook (depending on how loose or tight you crochet – I have made this with both the G and H hook and I prefer the G hook)

Worsted weight cotton yarn

Yarn needle

Begin by making your magic circle and chain 3.

Do 13 DC in the circle (total of 14 which includes the ch 3 at the beginning).

Pull tail end yarn tight.  Join with a slip stitch to top of chain 3.

Chain 3, dc in same stitch.  2 dc in each stitch around.  Join with a slip stitch to top of ch 3 in previous row. (total of 28 – includes Chain 3)

Chain 1, sc (in back loops only) in each stitch around.  Join with slip stitch to chain 1. (total of 28 sc – includes chain 1)

This creates a ridge and separates the bottom of the cozy from the side.

Chain 3, dc in each stitch around (total of 28 – includes chain 3).  Remember to count your stitches in each row.  You want to maintain 28 stitches throughout.

Repeat the dc row until you have 6 rows of dc.

When you have completed your last row, join and secure yarn.  Cut yarn.

Join a contrasting color with a slip stitch.  Chain 1, sc in each stitch around, joining to chain 1 with a slip stitch.  Secure and cut yarn. 

Join second contrasting yarn with slip stitch.  Chain 1, sc in each stitch around.  Join to chain 1.  Secure and cut yarn.  Weave in all ends with a yarn needle.  Remember to maintain 28 stitches throughout.

Turn inside out and secure/weave in beginning tail end yarn.

Turn right side out and use with your favorite soda.

Have fun!

Easy Crochet Hot Pad Tutorial

Here is a crochet hot pad that any crocheter can make.

Materials:

I hook

Worsted weight cotton yarn

2 inch wooden rings

Yarn needle

Fray Check or fabric glue

You will need 7 wooden rings for this hot pad.  You may use more if you wish.

Begin by  covering each ring with single crochets.  It doesn’t matter how many you do, just as long as the ring is completely covered.

Do this for each ring.

Weave in all loose ends.

Take the center ring and an adjacent ring and sew them together, snugly.  Tie secure knot in the back.  Join remainder of rings.  Tie secure knots in the back.

Use Fray Check or fabric glue on each knot.  When dry trim close to knot.

Finished Hot Pad:

See, easy, simple and quick.  Add a potholder and dishcloth for a great gift.