I have been so wiped out this week that I haven't done one constructive thing and not even any destructive things either!  I thought that I'd be sidelined a bit by the gallbladder surgery, but I imagined myself making pithy comments on my beloved blogs, crocheting up a storm, reading loads of books, or at least watching some guilty-pleasure tv.  I haven't had the attention span to do any of these things.  Bea did read me the entirety of Danny the Champion of the World, and I've been strangely obsessed with the cake decorating competition shows on the Food Network, but that's about it.  

Here's hoping that I'm more functional next week, so that we can start some holiday crafting!  

**One quick Tasty item--new favorite football player name=Golden Tate of Notre Dame.  (All-time favorite=Lawyer Milloy, of course!)

I'm just checking in for a second to say that the surgery went well and, as far as I know, I no longer have a gallbladder.  Thanks to everyone for your good thoughts and prayers--I firmly believe that they help!  I am still pretty sleepy and a little sore, but otherwise well.  I'm also learning that I'd make a lousy painkiller addict, because the oxycodone just makes me feel gross.

And bag pictured above?  Oma made it for me.

She filled it with little stones, in case I start missing my gallbladder!

**A little boy from India's pre-K actually lost part of his finger this way!

News: Maclaren Recall Affects Strollers Sold Since 1999

Stroller industry giant Maclaren announced this morning a massive voluntary recall affecting every stroller they've made since 1999 - that's over one million. The stroller hinges "pose a fingertip amputation and laceration hazard to the child when the consumer is unfolding/opening the stroller."

The CPSC reports that fifteen children have been injured in the U.S. including twelve incidents of fingertip amputation. To address the safety issue Maclaren is issuing hinge cover kits to all consumers.

If you own a Maclaren, you should contact them via the web or phone (toll free, 877-688-2326 9am – 5pm EST) to receive the repair kit.

It's unclear to us how distribution of the repair kits is being handled outside of the U.S. so we'd advise those customers to find contact info for Maclaren in their country at their global website.

Press release from U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

via www.ohdeedoh.com

I'm having my gallbladder out tomorrow morning, so, in an effort to keep positive thoughts, I'm only going to share tasty things.

Tasty

--Please give a warm blogosphere welcome to new blogger, Jen Cook!

--Nine ways to embrace slow food. (Zen Habits) (via Casual Kitchen)

--100 Best Book Blogs for kids, teens and tweens. (via The Presurfer)

--Let Them Sing It For You (via Swallowfield)

--My lovely Fall Swap package from Sol (thanks to The Claw for hosting!)

Today is Halloween, holiday of orange pumpkins and black witches, white cobwebs and green ghoblins, but I find myself hypnotized and overwhelmed by the red leaves of our Japanese Maple tree.

Happy Halloween from the Knot Sew Crafties!

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you for your viewing pleasure, Subtle Sexuality:

...THIS is the worst Beatle's cover ever...

"From Hungary, a choir of ventriloquistic monstrosity." 

via presurfer.blogspot.com

(via Boing Boing)

via presurfer.blogspot.com

Tasty

--I want it! from chez-sucre-chez

--FREE Printable chore chart from ModEco Kids

--Lots of Bean Recipes from Cheap Healthy Good

Tedious

--Christmas music playing at Target.  I actually quite like Christmas music--at Christmastime, but I'm afraid I really must draw the line at "Silver Bells" before Halloween.

--Gallstones.  Yup, I've got 'em, and a lovely surgeon is going to take out my gallbladder in a few weeks.  Aside from the fact that I have to have surgery, the most alarming thing is that I cannot eat ANY fat at all until then!  I'm trying to imagine how I will get through Halloween without even one little tiny Reese's Peanut Butter Cup...  

If you have any beloved non-fat recipes of any kind, please send them along, and let me know what's tasty or tedious for you this week!