Adding Years to the Lives of My Summer Socks

I don't know about you, but I can't stand the feeling of a hole in a sock on my foot. It just annoys me to no end. So when I see holes developing, I try to make time to repair them.

I'd reached the point of almost as many of my summer socks that needed repairs as those that were in good condition. This morning would be a good day to do a little mending, I thought. Then I looked out the window and the summer sun called me out to the deck and garden. I almost put off mending for another day. That's when I had the good thought to take my mending outdoors. Why not, right? The morning weather was good. The sunlight would provide better light for my old eyes. And I could get a little fresh air while taking care of a chore.

Some of the socks have already been mended in one spot and now have thin patches elsewhere on the toe.

This stitching shows, but I'm not picky about the look of the sock inside my shoe, just the feel.

Other socks will be repaired for the first time. For speed, I'll just use the white thread that I'm using on the white, gray, blue socks.

I use a rather untidy looking whip stitch to sew the holes and thin spots closed.

A few of my socks now have thin patches on the soles and heels. I only mended the smallest of those thin patches, as too much stitching under my foot would annoy me.

Some of my socks are on their last legs, especially those with numerous thin spots. Other socks should last through this summer and perhaps through next summer. What I've discovered is if I catch the holes when they're tiny, I can add a couple of extra years onto the lives of my socks, as holes in knits grow quickly with wear and movement.

I'm thinking that I will put  a couple of pairs of new socks on my wish list for this coming Christmas. 

Spray-Painted Cans as Plant Containers Two Years Later

Because sometimes people like to see how well something held up or lasted, I thought I'd share with you my institutional-sized cans (#10) that I spray-painted two years ago to use for potting basil plants.

These cans have lived outside for two full years. In fall, just before the rain season begins, I pull them under the eaves of the house, so they're not exposed to excessive rain, snow and freezing for the winter months. Then in late spring, after the worst of the rains are finished, I pull them back out from the shelter, amend the soil, then pot them with new basil plants or seeds.

They've surprised me how well they have held up. The paint has not chipped or cracked so far. And the bottoms haven't rusted out yet. I suspect they will fall apart at some point. But maybe I'll get another couple of years out of these cans.

In any case, I think I've made good use of the cans and had a place on the deck to grow my basil each summer.

For those waiting for my better sweet and spicy pumpkin seed recipe, it will be a couple more days. We've had a heat wave here and I've not wanted to use the oven. Once I've had a chance to make another batch, I'll write up a recipe. Thanks for hanging in there. I'm sure you all can relate to not wanting to heat the kitchen when it's already too hot.