Lady Fair Apron

A crochet pattern!

No, I haven't completely dropped the hook. I've just been in a crochet funk for a while. It happens. This is one of my favorite vintage patterns that I've made a few times because it just works up so pretty!

Variegated threads are difficult to come by anymore, but you can still find a store here and there that carries Aunt Lydia's in a limited number of variegated colors. If you just can't find what you're looking for, I'd recommend Handy Hands. They carry Lizbeth threads in just about any color and color combination you can think of.

This pattern is simple enough for even beginner / intermediate thread-crocheters.

Enjoy!

Alpaca Trinket Dish

Alpacas or Llamas? You figure it out. Anyway, it's a cute little dish that can be used as a trinket or coin dish, soap dish or a scrubbee holder.

Horrible picture, I know, but it's the only one I have handy. It came out looking so much cuter than this!

I've seen similar dishes on Pinterest where they painted the animals white and distressed them for a French Shabby Chic look, but I thought these Alpacas / Llamas were cute enough just the way they were, so I didn't go there. Sheep would also be cute - pick whatever critter suits your fancy.

What You'll Need:

• Small square snack dish (mine is 8" square)
• 4 large plastic animals with long flat backs that sit / stand evenly
• Hot glue gun and sticks
• E6000 glue
• Marker

You could probably use a dinner or luncheon-sized plate or a flat-bottomed bowl. You would just need to play around to see what works best with the animals you choose. I just thought it looked cute with their butts touching.

STEP 1: POSITION

Turn over plate and mark centers along the raised edge. Arrange the animals facing each direction. Place plate on top to determine the best contact points, aligning the center of the animals with your marks. 

STEP 2: GLUE IN PLACE

For quick set, apply a dab of hot glue to the animals contact points. Set dish on top. When glue is set, turn over and apply E6000 for the permanent set. Let dry completely before using.

DONE!

I'm using mine in the bathroom as a soap dish. I have weird things in my quasi-Steampunk-style bathroom (like a model of the Hindenburg flying over the toilet), so it fits in perfectly. 

TOTAL PROJECT COST - $23

Animals = $20 ($5 each) This is the cost without coupons

Plate = $3

SHOPPING GUIDE

Animals = Michaels

Snack Plate = Pier 1

Book Spine Bookmark

Guaranteed to last longer than any purchased bookmark!

What you'll need:

• Old book
• Purchased or handmade tassel
• Eyelet and eyelet setter
• Leftover piece of scrapbook paper
• Contact cement
• Exacto knife
• Awl or Crop-A-Dile
• Scissors

If you don't have an old hardcover book that you're willing to part with, you can pick one up at the thrift store. Find one with a fun title. I picked General Biology because there are ONLY 2 GENDERS / SEXES, no matter what the Supreme Court says!

A Crop-A-Dile can be found in the scrapbooking section of Michaels, Joann's or Hobby Lobby. If you have one, you can use it as both a hole punch and an eyelet setter. They're on the pricey side, so determine if this is a tool that you will use enough to justify the cost and don't forget to use those coupons!

STEP 1: Cut spine from book. I did this by first cutting the pages away with the exacto knife, then laying the cover flat and cutting along the edge of each cover. This leaves a flap of material on each side of the spine that you can fold over.

STEP 2: Glue the flaps down on the back side of the spine. Cut a strip of scrapbook paper to fit over the back and glue in place. Let set.

STEP 3: Using an awl or Crop-A-Dile, make a hole large enough for the eyelet to fit through. Insert eyelet and set.

STEP 4: Attach tassel.

DONE!

I picked up my used book at the Salvation Army for $1. All other items I already had.

Note Traps

Have a need for something to hold notes? Use a rat or mouse trap!

The one on the left is a rat trap, the one on the right is a mouse trap. Remove all parts from the mouse trap, glue on some leftover pieces of scrapbooking paper, replace the metal trap (use strong glue like a 5-minute epoxy) and embellish as you like. Glue a magnet to the back, stick it on your refrigerator and you're done!

To use, just pull back on the top of the trap and insert your note!

Dry Erase Board

This one is so easy-peasy!

Here's what you'll need:

• Lightweight Dollar Tree 8"x10" picture frame
• 1 sheet of scrapbook paper
• 5 neodymium magnets (if you want to hang it on your refrigerator, 1 magnet if you don't)
• Dry erase marker with magnet on pen case
• E6000 glue
• Scissors or paper cutter
• Any embellishments you want to add

These are much stronger than the regular black button magnets.
If you hang on the refrigerator, you need to use this type to keep the frame from sliding down.

Not even sure if instructions are needed, but here you go:

STEP 1: Remove back from frame. If you're going to hang it on the refrigerator, remove the stand or cut it down so it doesn't extend past the frame.

STEP 2: Cut the scrapbook paper to fit the frame. You can use the frame insert as a template. Insert the paper on top of the glass, followed by the inserts and ending with the reattaching the back.

STEP 3: Glue the magnets to each corner of the frame on the back. Allow the glue to set. Flip the frame over to the right side and glue another magnet to the side or bottom of the frame. This will be for your dry erase pen.

STEP 4: Add any embellishments or leave plain. Up to you! When the glue has completely set - about 24 hours - you can hang on your refrigerator. 

DONE!

TOTAL PROJECT COST: $9

Frame = $1

Scrapbook Paper = $1

Magnets = $4

Dry erase pen = $3 for set of 4

SHOPPING GUIDE

Frame = Dollar Tree

Scrapbook Paper = Hobby Lobby

Magnets = Michaels

Dry erase pen set = Walmart

Got an Old Lamp? Make a Birdbath!

I made these a while back. I picked up a couple of old lamps at the thrift store (cheap!), and the diffusers, 5-minute epoxy and lamp finials at Home Depot. Each birdbath came to about $25 all in. You'll want to use a lamp base that is fairly heavy so it won't tip over easily. I picked the acorn finial as it was taller than the others and completely hollow inside which allowed me to be imprecise about how much of the rod to leave exposed. Plus, it was brass which will last much longer than plastic. Once the epoxy sets, you won't be able to remove it without a lot of elbow grease and chemicals.

Simply take the lamp apart and remove everything but the base and the threaded rod. Depending on how the lamp is assembled, grunting may be required. Place a washer and bolt to secure the rod placement (should be part of the lamp assembly). Finger tight. You want to leave enough of the rod exposed for the diffuser and finial.

Slide the diffuser onto the threaded rod and screw on the finial - finger tight. Mix the epoxy and put all around the finial making sure you leave no open areas. The epoxy will serve as your waterproof barrier.

That's it! Now let sit for 24 hours before putting outside and filling with water.

Never lift the filled birdbath by the diffuser. It will break the glass. My neighbor learned that lesson the hard way. Change the water often or use a wiggler to keep the water moving so it won't become stagnant and draw mosquitos. We have enough going on with C-19, we don't need to add West Nile to the mix!

Escape from New York

If you don't care about what's going on in New York, you don't have to watch the video. Just stare at Snake Plissken. You're welcome.

The Chosen

This series about Jesus is unique in that it is completely crowd-funded. They've made Season 1 available for free (8 episodes) in both the Apple and Google app stores for your phone. I have the DVDs and can tell you that the series, so far, is Biblically accurate minus for very minor deviations that have no bearing on the overall message.

Here is the newest trailer for Season 1:

The Roman soldier's voice sounds like Q from Star Trek: The Next Generation. Whenever he's on the screen, I have to work hard at not seeing Q. Needless to say, I had to research. Sadly, the actor is no relation to John de Lancie, but he could easily take over his character in future movies, if we ever have any more.

Original Trailer

The first 3 episodes are currently available on YouTube in case you want to view on your TV. If you like what you see, you can purchase the DVDs here. I promise, it's a keeper! And if you really like what you see, you can also donate to get Season 2 finished.

Enjoy!

To Infinity and Beyond!

Israeli spacecraft moves to forefront in NASA Neptune mission

 June 23, 2020

A Weizmann institute-designed spacecraft is in the running to be chosen by NASA for a 2026 mission to Neptune.

By Lauren Marcus, World Israel News

A Weizmann Institute-designed spacecraft is in the running to be chosen by NASA for a mission to Neptune. The craft, named Trident, has received over $3 million in funding to enable researchers to search for signs of life and study the atmosphere and oceans of the planet Neptune’s moon, Triton.

After last July’s crash landing of the Israeli aircraft Beresheet on the moon, the Neptune mission may be the Jewish state’s attempt at redemption in space exploration.

Trident was chosen from 22 competitors and is currently one of four projects remaining in the final stage of selection. NASA will choose two crafts for the 2026 launch. The craft are expected to arrive at Neptune in 2038.

One of the critical features above the Israeli craft is a hyper accurate clock, built by Jerusalem based firm Accubeat. The clock, which loses less than one second every million years, will be able to record, measure, and transmit data about Triton’s atmosphere.

Professor Yohai Caspi of the Weizmann Institute’s Earth and Planetary Sciences Department spoke about the project’s goals with ILTV News. One of the main aims of the mission will be investigating Triton’s subsurface ocean.

“The spacecraft will be measuring the thickness and mass of this ocean,” said Kaspi.

“Moreover, in some places, this ocean spills out. We have geysers that are going from the interior to the atmosphere, which is carrying the material around, and that’s something we’ll be measuring with the spacecraft.”

To the delight of those who are curious about life on other planets, Kaspi directly alluded to the possibility of finding life forms within Triton’s deep oceans.

“It might even have life in it. We have life very deep in the oceans on Earth, where there’s no sunlight, so maybe there’s a similar state on this moon,” Kaspi said to ILTV News.

Kaspi also explained that Triton’s atmosphere is another main focus for investigation.

“We’ll be learning about a very unique atmosphere that hasn’t been observed before on any other moon in the solar system.”

But it’s not just the moon’s atmosphere that makes it unique. Triton spins the opposite direction of Neptune, suggesting that it likely did not originate in Neptune’s system. So in studying Triton, Kaspi said, “We’re actually learning about an object from outside our solar system.”

“This is something very new.”

This article appeared first on World Israel News.

Don't Mess with the Big Babu!

CHINESE TROOPS IN 'PANIC MODE' AFTER BORDER CLASH WITH INDIA
Steven Green 
June 22, 2020 1:38pm EST

Chinese troops were reportedly in “panic mode” after a recent border clash with Indian troops high in the two nations’ disputed Himalayan border area.

The Sunday Guardian’s Abhinandan Mishra reported on Sunday that “Chinese soldiers were in a state of shock and fear after the Indian soldiers replied with ‘sheer fighting force’ to the treacherous attack by the Chinese.”

The two countries share a largely undemarcated and sometimes disputed border in the Himalaya mountains, where the peaks can reach 28,000 feet. While the area has been largely quiet in recent years, the two nuclear-armed powers have engaged in sometimes-deadly border clashes since May 10.

The Sunday Guardian report details the most recent fighting, in which China’s PLA land forces may not have acquitted themselves very well:

Inputs accessed by The Sunday Guardian post the debriefing of these 10 men, revealed that the outnumbered and “unarmed” (as the rules required them to be) Indian troops, rather than retreating in view of the huge number of Chinese soldiers, grabbed the improvised clubs and rods that the Chinese were using to batter Indian soldiers, and used the same to kill “at least” 20 Chinese soldiers and officers at patrol point 14.

“This was one reason for the high morale of our troops who came back to us on Thursday. Our men were captured after they chased the Chinese into their area of domination, with the intention to kill them after hearing of the loss of their CO, Colonel Santosh Babu. The Chinese soldiers, seeing the unexpected attack from our men, started fleeing and running back to their area and were followed by our men, who were then captured”, the official stated.

The debriefing of the 10 men has also revealed that the Chinese soldiers were in a state of shock and fear after the Indian soldiers replied with “sheer fighting force” to the treacherous attack by the Chinese. During the next 60 plus hours, the Chinese soldiers were highly anxious about a possible retribution from the Indian side and were in “panic-mode”.

My gut reaction is to take such claims with a grain of salt, but as crazy and difficult as mountain fighting is — even in a “mere” border clash — maybe anything is possible.

China would seem to hold most of the advantages in this spring’s border clash. They literally hold the high ground — the Tibet plateau — on their side of the Himalayas. And China has made great strides to improve the local infrastructure, which is much more modern than India’s.

Also, while India has enjoyed robust economic growth in the last two decades, China’s growth has still left them in the dust.

Also, China’s military budget dwarfs India’s by a factor of almost 4 to 1: $266 billion to $71 billion.

But lacking any major external threats by land, Beijing has concentrated its defense buildup on the People’s Liberation Army air and naval forces. By comparison, the ground forces have been lacking.

So it is possible that faced with unexpectedly fierce resistance from the Indian Army during the weekend’s renewed border clash, Chinese troops simply failed.

Whatever might or might not have happened over the weekend, Beijing seems to be getting what it wants.

There is still some lack of clarity about the exact ground situation in the Galwan Valley region of eastern Ladakh. But there is little doubt that Chinese soldiers have built dozens of new fortifications and bunkers after physically occupying an almost 8-km stretch of what India considers its own territory along the Pangong Tso since early-May.

Chinese troops have also taken control of the heights to dominate ‘Finger-4 to 8’ (mountainous spurs) area on the north bank of Pangong Tso, adroitly utilising the time when bilateral military talks were underway on the troop confrontations at Patrolling Points 14, 15 and 17 in the Galwan Valley and Gogra-Hot Springs areas.

More to come from the 2020 China-India Border Clash, I’m sure — none of it good.

This article appeared first on PJ Media. Tweets that were originally included that contained video are not included in this post. Click on the link at the top of this post to view the original news story.