Week Two of our December Random Acts of Kindness contest! You all had such good ideas last week and I’m looking forward to reading all of the ways that you found to bless others this week. Leave your RAK comment on today’s blog, and I’ll use the Random Number Generator to identify the winner of the prize (which you can see pictured in this previous post) and will post it on Monday. That also means that if you haven’t had an opportunity to do a RAK this week yet, you have until I run the numbers and post on Monday to do one and comment on it. One of the things that I really love about RAKs is that often the people who are the recipients, then go on to do something nice for someone else – and so on, and so on, and so on. We really have no idea where that chain of events will end. It’s nice to know you might really be starting something!
Have you seen the newest issue of Knit 1? I wanted to give a big congratulations to some of our wonderful Indie Dyers who are featured on the “Indie Spirit”. There are 10 different dyers listed and it says their yarns are “dyed in small batches, these yarns have heart, soul, and a whole lotta color”. (And the people behind the yarns are pretty special, too!) So congratulations to: Georgia with Yarn Pirate, Claudia with Wollmeise, Marie with Brooklyn Handspun, Khris with Chewy Spaghetti, Jana with Hand Maiden, Jess with Yarntini, and Angela with Duets. (Rounding out the top ten list of indie dyers, you’ll also find Sundara with Sundara Yarn, Julia with Knitterly Things, and Tina with Blue Moon Fiber Arts. And yes, I’d love to have all three of those lines here at Loopy, and yes, I’ve asked before!) Further congratulations to Cookie A and Wendy for being picked as wonderful knitting bloggers (who have both designed and shared a sock pattern in this issue.) If you haven’t picked up this magazine yet, you need to. There are lots of great patterns in there!
As promised, here is the recipe for Meg’s amazing Peppermint Pudge. And the name? When one of her sons was little, he was eating a piece and then asked for “more pudge please”. It has been known as Peppermint Pudge ever since.
Meg’s Peppermint Pudge
4 1/2 cups sugar
24 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk
1/2 lb. (2 sticks) salted butter
1 jar (7 1/2 oz) marshmallow cream
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups (10 oz. bag) Andes Peppermint Crunch Baking Chips (reserve 1/4 cup to sprinkle on top)
Butter or line a 9 x 13 pan. Place chocolate, butter, marshmallow cream and salt in a large mixing bowl. In a 3 qt. saucepan, combine sugar and evaporated milk and mix well. Place over low heat and stir until dissolved. Increase heat to medium and cook, stirring mixure frequently, until candy thermometer reaches 234 degrees F. Remove pan from heat and pour hot mixture over contents in the mixing bowl. Beat on a low setting until all ingredients combine thoroughly. Increase speed slightly and mix until fudge is thick and holds shape. Stir in the Peppermint Crunch Baking Chips and vanilla. Pour into prepared pan and let set.
Thanks for sharing the recipe (and sending us fudge!), Meg!
I’m off to the grocery store this afternoon. College Guy and College Girl are arriving home today for the holidays, and I’m sure they need some Peppermint Pudge. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.
Sheri lookingforwardtoreadingyourRAKcommentsagaintoday!
I chipped in and helped wrap the gifts that myself and my co workers purchased so that local families will have presents under the tree this Christmas. We more than 170 gifts, which are being delivered to 16 families.
The Peppermint Pudge sounds absolutely wonderful. I might have to try some of that!
Inspired by Alison Hyde’s blog, on the way to my doctor’s appointment I dug into my stash of finished objects and took a scarf to the nurse and fingerless mitts to my surgeon. They were so appreciative — it’s good to have a tangible way to say thank-you for wonderful care.
This was a good week for RAKs. My daughter’s school got out midday all week, so I picked up and brought home a boy who’s gone to school with her for years, and whose mother couldn’t get time off work (who can?) to get him this week. Of course, since he and my daughter played (which meant I could work), I guess he was doing an RAK for me, too!
My mother passed away, and I gave her nice clothes to a friend whose mother couldn’t afford nice things. She’s dressing up every day now!
This one has been in progress for a while. I made a quilt for my daughter’s school to raffle off to make money for prom.
The teacher in charge was so excited that she called me at home and told me how pretty it was.
Glad it is done, was really cutting into my knitting time!!!!!!
My RAK this week was to make little goodie bags for my nursing school study buddies. I gave them each a little bag filled with yummy chocolate, and an ornament. I would not get through nursing school without the support of these gals, and I just wanted to do a little something for them to say “thanks for all your support”.
I also gave a donation to the Salvation Army. And I don’t know if this is true everywhere, but I was able to use my debit/credit card to give the donation. How cool is that! They just swiped my card, and off I went!
Last spring I had bypass surgery. I made a yarmulke for my surgeon, to thank him for “knitting” me back together. He loved it, and I have heard from his receptionist that he mentions it often. So I made him a new one for Hannukah, and dropped it off at the office. After all, without his skills, I might not be here!
I gave a frozen homemade apple pie (all ready to bake) and ice cream to a friend whose daughter decided to get married this month two months ago. One less dessert to worry about over the Holidays.
I purchased too many desserts from an animal rescue group’s fundraiser so I donated one to my former coworkers at the hospital. They always appreciate treats.
This week’s intentional act of kindness was to join a group from my church that holds a twice-monthly “tea party” at a local retirement home for lower-income seniors. Mostly I sang with them and served cookies. It was more fun than I expected and I’ll do it again. I’ve also made a concerted effort to be polite to drivers.
Sounds like a good excuse for Peppermint Pudge. And I am sure the college kids will love it.
RAK’s I made a few more hats for the giving tree I had already made a few but the DD said there were not many on the tree this year so I made a couple more. I also picked the boy up that lives across the street from us,when I was driving my kids to the bus stop . He was happy not to have to stand inthe sleet waiting for the bus.
I stopped to get a meal on the go in (well I won’t mention which fast food place it was) but the place was PACKED and border line nuts. The woman at the register was SO nice to everyone in her long line, and kept her cool and smile through it all – so when I got home I called the main corporate number and gave much very positive feedback for her – I had asked for her name before I left. They told me they will forward my comments to the local manager here and give some kind of recognition for this woman. She wasn’t a kid by any means and it’s hard to deal with the public (as I do at my job) – I just hope they appreciate this woman – an employee like her is very hard to find and an asset to anywhere she would work.
This RAK stuff is so much fun! I have tried to do a RAK every day this week. My best one so far is this:
One of my friends has a little stick figure sculpture that she has on display in her home. She “dresses” it up for the seasons. The other day she was lamenting the fact that she hadn’t been able to find a hat and mittens for this figure for the wintry weather. I went home that night and scrounged around and knit minature set of a hat, mittens and scarf out of leftover sock yarn. She was so thrilled! You would have thought that I had given her some crown jewels for the thing. Her surprise and her gratefulness made me smile all day long.
Today I picked up some cookie mixes and pasta and sauce while grocery shopping for our local domestic violence shelter. While I was at it, I grabbed some yummy lovely oranges and hot cocoa for the nun’s at my kids’ school. I love reading everyone’s posts!
I had 2 RAK sessions this week! Both involve knitting!! I donated to Knitters without Borders for the first time! Also I cleaned out my yarn stash and parted with some of the oldies but goodies that I have lost my interest in knitting- and there was some very good stuff there like Rowan Plaid, Blue Moon STR, and Schafer silk lace, etc. and I sent them to college with my daughter to pass out to her yarn poor college classmates. She had told me that one of them was telling her that she had knit her very last ball of yarn (I can’t imagine that!) and would have to place an order for something to knit. Well, my daughter invited 3 of her knitting classmates back to her car after seminar and dumped out the large bag of yarn and said, “take what you want!” She told me their mouths fell open and they said, but you could sell this on ebay! Why are you giving away the good stuff? We thought you had acrylic! She told them her mother wanted to see it go to some appreciative college students and after some more encouragement they split everything up between them. I am betting that some of that yarn will make it under a Christmas tree after being knit by one of those surprised young women. I don’t know these students, so I hope this is random enough for the contest.
Does donating old cat carriers to an animal shelter count? Cause that’s all I’ve got this week.
I made my doctor laugh. He said he looks forward to me coming in because it’s the lightest part of his day — not only am I healthy (!) but he knows he can joke and talk with me person-to-person, not just doctor-to-patient.
He also admired my Fleece Artist socks.
This week, I donated a book to Children’s hospital. Also I pray for those who drive like maniacs–instead of getting mad at them. I pray Blessings over them and their loved ones. Happy Holidays!
I spent a couple of hours helping a first year student (I’m in my last year) study for her final exam.
At the supermarket today, I paid for a family’s groceries that were ahead of me in line. They had a ham and the trimmings. I had asked the clerk to say that a benefactor had paid for their entire basketful and to get the cash from me once they left the store. They kept looking around for someone to thank. It was great to be nice and not expect anything in return. Since my family members will be visiting others for the holidays, I did not need the money to purchase groceries for the holidays and I could tell that they would appreciate the gesture.
I sent out some RAK gifts this week to some people from the RAK group in ravelry. one of them, I even included something *extra* because I saw it and thought she might like it. 🙂 it was fun. 😀
Betty H – what a great thing to do for the family in line at the store! 🙂
I forgot to add! I also bought a bunch of canned goods & dropped them off in the donation bins at the grocery store. 🙂
Two small RAKs to report this week: I drove past the last parking spot in the remote lot at the airport to let the person behind me have it. I had time to spare; maybe they didn’t. I donated a book to a children’s charity.
My office has adopted a needy family for the holidays, and I donated a doll and some money.
Surprise cookie for Clint and a cupcake for Brittany again. 🙂 I know how much they love Baker’s Peak desserts, so I enabled them into a few extra calories. Most of my RAKs are holding open doors. I just tend to be the “door-woman.”
My RAK this week again focuses on work–I volunteered to give up vacation so that another worker could spend extra time with her family.
One of my students money was stolen today so I gave him $10 to go to the dance. His smile was well worth it.
Donated to Doctors without borders. That is so far the only thing I could do because I spent my week from doctor to doctor. I hope to do better next week. I love all the comments and sometimes they make me really emotional. Last week the lady that gave her knitting bag with all it had made me cry, the generosity or that!!!!!
I was in the grocery store…it was packed with long lines. There was a woman with a testy toddler in her cart. I remember that feeling of doom of a soon-to-be crying child and told her to go ahead of me.
Guess what? I had my knitting with me and wiled the time away!
For a Christmas present my DD and I gave the high school girl who helps with the farm chores, a weekend clinic with “the” barrel racer in the country. it required 3 days away and her boyfriend had the truck and trailer she needed to get there. The only way their parents would allow them to go together was with a Chaperone . No other adult was available so I volunteered. I have been pretty ill but will not let how I feel interfere with their wonderful weekend.
This evening after sock club ended, there were a lot of leftover cookies and fudge that none of us wanted to take home. I wrapped a bunch up and took it to the nightwatchmen out on the farm I work at.
I have been waiting all day to get on and catch up on Wednesday and today’s blog. But This is finals week for my online classes so I had to finish the last bits of work that was due. Loopy is my reward. So your blog is your RAK to me.
My RAK for this week has been lending an are to one of my elder gf s that they can go to work unburdened and in a happy mood. ANd then I paid part of a firends rent and anothrs insurance for thir car, as they dont gt paid until end of the month.
JAlso just being there for frinds is my RAK.
loveya
Sabrina
i have two, (i don’t need 2 entries, lol), and funnily enough, they both happened at the post office. on monday (stupid paypal AND the usps website are down), i was standing in line with a large # of packages, and this elderly gentleman with acane came to stand behind me. the poor clerk was hideously behind because her compatriot was at lunch (hey, postal workers gotta eat, too!). we’d already been there for 20 minutes, when my turn came, and i knew i’d be awhile, and he had mentioned that all he wanted wasa few stamps, so i let him go in front of me.
the second was today. in line again (websites are STILL down), and the woman behind me had 4 boxes, all of which were booze boxes. I asked if she was sending christmas packages, and she said, no, it was ebay, and that she’d had to search all over town for boxes to ship stuff in. i told her about the website that miss v and i use for our shipping/packing needs, and she told me i’d made her day.
it made my day to make her happy, because it hadn’t been the best, so maybe it was a reverse RAK as well
I did some tiny ones this week. We have two people in our work group who work in a different state. Since all of the office holiday things happen at our site, I sent treats to them through inter-office mail because everyone needs some Candy Cane Joe Joe cookies from Trader Joes.
And then since some coworkers invited me to join them to lunch, which led to a trip to Starbucks, I bought their drinks. It was nice to just do something for someone else.
Clearly, I’m all about the tasty snacks these days.
My RAK involves an older gentleman who lost his wife of 59 years this past spring. He comes into the store that I work at in the mall everyday to say, give hugs, and flash us his wonderful smile. The mall has been his social outlet since he lost his wife and he has gotten to know and befriend almost all of the merchants in the mall (it’s a big mall). All us girls at the store know that he hasn’t been eating too well since his wife passed away and that he eats out a lot. So, on Monday I cooked some extra spaghetti, put it in some containers, and added a few sweet treats and bread to the bag. I dropped it off at our store on my day off and asked the girls working to make sure he got the food when he came by. He loves the food and is even kind enough to wash and return our containers. 🙂
This week’s RAK happened late at night when I was coming home from work. I stopped to get some food at a fast food joint. It was late and I was tired. And I assumed whoever was behind me was in the same situation. So I paid for their meal too. Hopefully they’ll pay it forward sometime.
i think i just gained a few pounds just thinking of eating that pudge!
Just this evening while at Lowes we stopped to help a man load the large boxed generator into the back of his car, then we even helped him by taking his cart back to the store so he did not have to worry about it. What was xtra nice was when we were leaving with our generator (yes, lol our power has already gone out 7 times today and the storm is still on its way) a man stopped to help us load it into the back of my jeep! Pass it on…..smile!
Simple but sure to be appreciated: extra tip money to the nice cafe workers at one of my favorite neighborhood places.
At work we have a voluntary secret pal thing going in December, where we give candy or other things to our pal now and then. This week my pal has got lots and lots of candy from me. It looks like he apprechiate it.
On our local rav group, I’ve started the RAK project, where people can PM me with suggestions for people who could use some extra kindness and each week until the end of the year, I’m going to send one of the nominated people a skein of my handdyed yarn.
It’s been quite popular, so I might keep it going into the new year:
http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/over-the-fence/442149/1-25
I teach and the teachers lounge has a couple of cookie plates set up- but a staff of 70 means that refills are gobbled up instantly and most of the time the only thing to see are crumbs. So I snuck in when it was empty, filled up all the plates to the brim with candy and cookies and then enjoyed their faces when breaktime came and lo and behold- there was something on the plates! 🙂
My RAK? It was pouring down rain this week and I let a young mother with toddler go ahead of me, holding the door for them, as we all entered a local restaurant. The puddles outside the eatery were well over the tops of the child’s shoes. Their smiles made my day too.
On Monday, as I was going thru the local coffe drive thru, not SB but still good coffee, I paid for the coffee in the car behind me. The cashier laughed and smiled. The other gal at the window said, “thanks, this will be fun. The last time you did that it carried on for 6 cars.” I guess a RAK can entertain others too.
School let out and I got a huge box of choccies off one of the kids. I was walking to a restaurant and saw a child and her mother begging for money. The kid’s face when she received the chocolate was priceless.
My daughter and her equestrian team had a competition so I stayed up late and finished crocheting 15 horse finger puppets. I put those on candy canes and handed them out for good luck to all the kids on the team.
I love this RAK challenge-it means people are getting in the spirit of the Holidays! I paid for the dry cleaning of the person behind me-It made me smile! Have a great weekend. 🙂
While we were all at work one day this week, we got a ton of freezing rain that froze to our cars. I scraped the ice of my 3 co-workers window before I did our daily run to the main office. This way when they left in an hour, their cars would be ready to go.
This week I helped a single neighbor who was moving. She had a moving company hired, but she wanted to do as much of the packing on her own as she could before they arrived. I spent hours with her wrapping things in newspaper and stuffing boxes! She is all moved now. I will miss her! 🙂
Our church is doing a mitten tree for distribution at our local food bank. The tree is Sunday, and in anticipation I knit 16 hats and gloves. I took them over and hung them, along with the other members of our knitting group. We hand knit over 70 items!!! Along with what our church kids bring, we will surely have a bounty of woolens for the winter ahead!
I have been running hard this week to finish up all that needs to be done this time of year. My DS works at one of the Circuit City stores that is going out of business tomorrow,and they are working with a restricted staff, so I have been checking in and making McDonalds runs for them this week, either picking up lunch for five of them or today’s run was iced coffee for 4. They no longer have a fridge or furniture in their break room, so they have been tired of only water from the faucet if they can find a cup!
I also finished up my seventh hat this week to add to my LYS collection of over 1000 hats for an Army unit in Afghanistan. We are planning to keep going on this, even though this unit is “hatted” we know that there are many more that need them.