Acrylic Yarns.....

I have always tended to not knit with strictly acrylic yarns. Just my preference.  However, I do knit with acrylic blends - with wool, with cotton....   That being said, I know that over the years, the 100 percent acrylic yarns have gotten better and better!  Yes, even the ones sold at Michaels and Hobby Lobby and A.C. Moore Crafts. I don't have a Hobby Lobby here - so wish I did!  I normally buy my yarn at the yarn shop near me.  They have yarns from $4.00 on up!  And many of them are acrylic and acrylic blends. And they are quite nice! However the yardage on them is usually low.
For Christmas, my sister gave me a cowl made out of the new Lion Brand "Heartland" yarn.  I love it!  100% acrylic.  Comes in lovely colors. It isn't in all the Michaels stores around me. But it is in some - and I recently found it at A.C. Moore Crafts - much to my delight. Nothing like buying yarn that isn't that pricey to being with - and you can use a coupon!  So this started me on my quest to check out some other acrylic yarns at Michaels. I am using the Lion Brand "Heartland" right now - to make many cowls.  And it knits up really nicely and looks great!  Wears well...no pilling.   I haven't washed my cowl yet, so can't tell you anything about how that will turn out.  Today I went to Michaels and got some Vanna's Choice by Lion Brand. And some Red Heart "Soft".  Here are my ratings for Heartland, Vanna's Choice and Red Heart Soft.  Heartland comes in first!  But the Red Heart Soft is quite appealing to me also and I'm starting a cowl in that tonight.  My least favorite, was the Vanna's Choice. It isn't bad, it just didn't quite work for me.  But again, it isn't bad!  Someone else could try all three of these yarns and have their own preferences that are much different than mine. Anyway, that is my two cents today on acrylic yarns of "today's times". They sure are different than the ones from long ago!  And that is a "good thing".  I want everyone to be able to knit in yarns that may not be expensive, but are still nice!! 

I Am.... (aka Ten on Tuesdays)

Our challenge from Carole this week was to write 10 sentences beginning with the words "I am"....
Here are mine....

1.  I am happy that my cat came back from his wanderings...

2.  I am turning into a cowl-knitting fool....

3.  I am happy that I got out for two walks over this past weekend...

4.  I am reading more lately than I had been doing for awhile...

5.  I am enjoying the cucumber and leafy green salads my husband fixes for us each evening...

6.  I am having fun discovering new blogs that I enjoy reading...

7.  I am enjoying greatly the 10 on Tuesdays that Carole sends to us each week...

8.  I am happy that NASCAR is starting up soon!....

9.  I am spending too much money on yarn (well as if that could ever be a real problem)!....

10.  I am trying out a new hobby - painting with water colors.  I still need a lot of practice!....

Sweet Boy....

One Little Word....

It finds you - even in Home Goods.... I was drawn to this cup because of the color orange that is inside
of it.  I could see it had writing on it, but didn't know what it said....

Then I picked it up and gave a little gasp out loud in surprise...... when I saw my "one little word....

What I Like About Winter (Ten on Tuesdays....)

The Ten on Tuesdays challenge for this week is to list ten things you like about winter.... So - here goes!

1.  I'm not hot (hate being hot)!

2. No humidity (hate humidity)!

3.  After being out in the cold for awhile - a hot shower feels even better than usual.

4.  Snuggling under an afghan on the couch and reading.

5.  Snuggling under an afghan on the couch and taking a nap.

6.  My sister is home more often in the winter - so I get to talk to her more on the phone (she is in Ohio - I'm in Virginia)....

7.  Getting to wear the scarves I've hand-knitted.

8.  Getting to see more of my indoor/outdoor cat.  He stays in more when it is cold.

9.  I love trees - especially in the winter when they are bare of leaves and you can see their branches....

10.  I like staying inside - and winter gives me "permission" to do so....

Week-Ending....

How I spent my weekend....

Didn't do much. Spent two days waiting and looking for this guy to come back home....  he left the house at 3:30 on Friday and didn't come back until 12:30 on Sunday. Still has not told me what he was up to during that time!  He sure was hungry tho!

did some movie watching.... Blue Jasmine and Captain Phillips. Wasn't that thrilled with either one. I thought Cate Blanchett was excellent in Blue Jasmine, but thought the movie was pretty bad!

Trip to the yarn shop...for new yarn....

Knitting - lots of knitting...

Reading - lots of reading....

Long talk on the phone with my sister - mainly geared around knitting as usual!  She is in Ohio - I'm in Virginia - this way we get to still "sort of knit" together.  Wish she would get a computer so we could skype!

Ten On Tuesdays....

I'm doing this a bit early - on Monday.....
Listing my ten favorite breakfast items....

Well, since I normally eat nilla wafers and milk for breakfast, can I just list that 10 times - LOL!  Well, here goes (and these are in no particular order as of preference....)

1.  Nilla Wafers and a cold glass of milk
2.  Pancakes
3.  Waffles
4.  Chocolate donuts with milk
5.  Toast with apricot jam
6.  Scrambled eggs with tons of cheese and salsa
7.  Cold pizza
8.  Chocolate breakfast crunchy granola bars and milk of course
9.   French toast
10.  Cinnamon and  raisin bagles