Sock @ MindSay

The sock mill lost a good one last week. AWwww-girl, as I'll call her, is one of those rare individuals with a trainload of talent, drive and a sense of the big picture. She came to us already knowing now to make socks, sell socks and even make websites that sell socks. And she lived and worked every day beaming God's grace through her effort, products and attitude.

visit me at ConNiPtioNs

I was visiting hypnagogic yesterday and was reading about the new term called Sock Puppets, of which you will have to go read. I of course had to put my two cents in and start a David Letterman's style Top Ten uses... which then landed me ultimately on using socks for heating pads.  So here is a friendly tip from your Mindsay Community Massage Therapist:

here's how to make your own:

• find a sock, preferably a tube or knee sock
• get about six to eight cups of rice and fill the sock with it ( Alternatively you can use dry bird seed!)
  
• using a heavy (darning?) needle and thick thread, sew the sock shut about two inches from the end Or just tie securely-I vouch for that method as I HATE sewing :) )
  
• use a piece of ribbon to finish the end with a bow
• optional: use a match to singe the ends of the ribbon so it doesn't fray. be careful!

So what's stopping you? Get creative! Use all kinds of socks or ribbons, or try throwing some dried herbs like lavender or mint into the sock too for an aromatherapy boost.

Adding spices, herbs and/or essential oils - when heated the pad will smell wonderful. A combination of allspice, ground cloves, ginger and nutmeg makes a nice Christmas smell. The combination of herbs below are purported to soothe a headache:

• Dried lavender
• Marjoram
• Betony
• Rose petals
• Cloves
• Rosemary

Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl. Add a few drops of essential oil if desired. Cover and leave for a day or two, stirring occasionally to distribute the herbs.

To Use

Simply pop the pad in the microwave and nuke for 2-3 minutes (time will vary depending on the size of your pad). To use as a cooling pad, place in the refrigerator or freezer.

Caution!

Your heating pads may eventually catch fire from smoldering on the inside. This may occur when the water content of the filling is dried out and burned from many re-heatings. One possible solution is to place a cup of water in the microwave when heating the pads, to keep the interior moist, or spritzing the pad lightly with water before microwaving it. Another solution would simply be to replace the filling after so many heatings. Don't use twist ties to close your sock, as they may contain metal.

More Tips:

• New rice will give off quite a bit of moisture when microwaved and will smell strongly. The more your sock/beanbag is used and microwaved the less damp it will feel and the smell will gradually fade.
• Washed and dried cherry pits can also be used instead of rice.
• The foot of an old pair of pantyhose could be used as the inside layer of a two layer sock to keep the rice from migrating through a less tightly woven outer sock.
• Corn seed (available at farm outlets) can also be used and the heat generated seems to last longer. Don't use popcorn for this project!
• A small pillow case may be substituted for the sock if you want a pad that covers more area. Remember, more area means slightly longer heating/cooling time. You will want to experiment with times and settings, but be careful not to burn yourself.
• If you have no materials around to seal the sock, just tie a knot in the end of the sock itself or sew up the end of the sock to create a permanent seal.
• To be prepared for the unexpected, keep one in your freezer, so it's ready to use at a moment's notice.
• A good way to make a larger rice "pillow" is to fold a soft dishtowel (clean) in half. Sew up two of the sides, fill it with rice, then sew up the third side. These are especially good for menstrual cramps, because the weight feels nice on the abdomen, and the heat soothes the pain.
• Flax seed is another possibilty. Flax seeds are small, hard, smooth brown seeds about the size of a sesame seed. Their smoothness makes them conform very well to any shape.
• A rice sock also works well for comforting puppies who cry in the night. Warm it and put it in bed with the puppy. Be certain it's not too hot.
• A small amount of Vick's Vaporub can create an aromatic and therapuetic aid that will help with colds or allergies.

Enjoy!

Love and Laughter,

Dawn

I saw a white squirrel. I was shocked at first. I didn't want to tell anybody; I didn't think they'd believe me. Afterall, would you tell someone if you saw a creature you didn't truly believe exists? You wouldn't tell anyone if there was a snuffalufagus in your sock drawer, would you?

 

Then my mother said: "Holy crap, I just saw a white squirrel."

 

Today was a good day.

okay, somebody crafty out there tell me how i would make a 30-foot long sock for a boat cover. originally i was thinking of buying the requisite length of some sort of fabric -- conveniently, one yard wide is perfect -- cutting it to shape, and then attaching grommets to tie it together. something tells me this isn't the best way to do it. any suggestions? if you know of something i should or shouldn't think about doing, you might speak up sooner rather than later. i am male, so i might just do this at a moment's notice.

i'm also looking to refine my list of podcasts. on the technology end, i've listened to bdtsp on occasion, but (no offense) they talk over each other and it's a little more informal that i like. i'm also looking for something a little shorter, or perhaps bdtsp could make an efficient 5-minute summary i can listen to during breakfast. i do like npr's daily 5-minute summary because of that.

blah.

a