I Don't Like Ike

Ike blew through on Sunday and caused a lot of trouble (and damage). We lost the big Blue Spruce at the corner of our house (totally uprooted). Thank goodness it fell forward and not toward the house or our neighbor's house (or on their van that you can see through the branches).


And one of the White Pines that line the back edge of our back yard was split in two.


And what would a storm of that magnitude be without some damage to the house. Panels are missing from the eaves and of course lots of shingles are missing. There were times when we thought the roof was coming off.

We finally have phone service back and the electricity was off for just a little bit (some folks still don't have electricity), we are one of the lucky ones. My work doesn't have power yet so I've had a couple of days off.

I hope everyone is safe that has been affected by this storm. Now comes the clean up!

No Gold For Me

Here we are well past the end of the Olympics and I didn't finish let alone medal. I did get to the neckline of the back and I have the desire to complete C.J.'s sweater (and I'm hoping it will be in time for Christmas), so UFOlympics wasn't a complete failure for me. When I got it out to knit at the beginning of the Olympics the piece was at 12 inches, it is now 21 inches.

I did finish my nieces' socks (yes this pair is late for her birthday). I actually finished these last weekend (I am just such a slacker at blogging this year). This is Hot Socks Sockenwolle in color # 772. This was one of the first yarns I purchased when I started knitting socks, so it has been marinating for a while in the stash. I will have to mail them off on Monday (Monica, expect a package this week from me).

And I also finished one of my "Step Into Summer" socks too. This is being knit in Panda Cotton in the Seascape colorway. This is very splitty yarn but very comfortable on the foot. The second sock hasn't been cast on yet, but it will be very soon. And Mandy wants me to finish her "Bengal" socks (I only started them last year, what's up with that?)

I knit and sent off a square for Luke ...mine is the red "4 square" one (have you ever felt that compulsion to just do something after reading a heart wrenching story about a sick child... well I know many(if not all) of you have...knitters are a very caring and generous bunch and we rally when called upon).

I have started on some Christmas knitting (besides C.J's sweater) with hopes of actually finishing it in time. I have high hopes it seems.

Well that's it for now. Hopefully my next entry won't be so far away.

Holy Cow Batman!!! I Finished Something!

I have a pair of finished socks to show. I started these sometime in April, finished them July 20th. Berroco Sox yarn, 68 stitches, knit plain on US1 dpn's. It's funny how closely they match my couch! (And they are "almost" identical too!)

I started a new pair for a young lady in my family who will have a birthday next month but haven't taken a picture of it yet (I'm almost to the toe decreases of the first one, so I should have the pair done in time...deadline is the 13th).

I also joined a new Ravelry group...UFOlympics. I will be working on my son's sweater (this will help me accomplish my goal of finishing it this year...maybe in time to gift it for Christmas!). I am almost to the armhole decreases on the back (or front...there are the same except for the neckline). This is the Garter Stitch Aran Pullover from the "Men In Knits" book. Knitting starts 08/08/08 (I will probably be knitting past the closing ceremony on 8/24/08 though).

Well, that's it for now.. Have a great week!

Just A Few Things

Mandy is back from Europe...she had a fabulous time! Here she is astride Nessie...and with a Bagpiper (who played "Amazing Grace" for her)...and at Stonehenge. Just a small sampling of the over 300 pictures she took.

She brought this back for me. A little gift from Ireland... Monica says that's enough for a hat and fingerless mitts.

I have been working on more squares for the afghan... #11 isn't blocked yet.

and even though I didn't get a pair done in June (I'm such a slacker), I did work a little on socks. My "Step Into Summer" is past the gusset decreases...

and I've added inchage to the Berrocco sock too...

That's all I have from my little part of the world. Hope your holiday weekend has been wonderful and safe...tomorrow it's back to work. Have a great week!

I Actually Have Knitting To Show

I finally finished the first Berroco sock Sunday (I can't even remember when I started it) and the second one is started (but who knows when it will be done). Last month was the first month in about 4 years I didn't get at least one pair of socks finished. My knitting has slowed down about as much as my blogging.

I started knitting squares from my leftover sock yarn to make an afghan (college bound daughter thinks it should be for her for her dorm room (but she plans to commute the first two years so that theory isn't very sound to me...but it might take me that long to finish it so it just might be!). The Lorna's Laces (lower left) and Meilenweit (upper left) squares block out at the required 7-1/2" but the Regia square (right) insists on being 8" (rebel). I need to grab up another ball and start numero 4.

I have started some new socks, but haven't gotten very far on them... in the Panda Cotton is "Step Into Summer" (Monica's latest design). It's hard to see the pattern in the picture, but it's a pretty lace and cable design. The other is "Shadow Rib" from the "Little Box of Socks" "book". Not really a book; it's a box. That is knit in yarn Monica gave me for my birthday last year (I keep forgetting what yarn it is...even though she has told me a gazillion times...this getting old and forgettting stuff stinks).

My girl graduated on the 31st (she is in Europe right now and I miss her something terrible ...so what if she's only been gone one day).

Happy Anniversary Monica (and to Tony too!)!!

That's all I have for now. Happy Knitting!!

I Was Tagged

... so I'll play
The rules of the game get posted at the beginning. Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5-6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog.Let the person who tagged you know when you've posted your answer.

1. What was I doing ten years ago? Are you kidding? I can barely remember what I was doing 10 minutes ago!
2. What are 5 things on my to-do list for today?
go to work - done (I'm here)
knit - when I get home
clean my house- this is always on my list and I never seem to get it done
go to the grocery- my family thinks they need to eat every day (the nerve)
laundry - also when I get home.
(my resolution to finish my son's sweater isn't going well...I need to fix that)
3. Snacks I enjoy? Well if you had asked me a month ago, I would have said anything chocolate. But having been told I have diabetes, I have given it up. I love to munch on almonds (and yes I stick to portion sizes), grapes, clementine oranges, bananas, blueberry yogurt (see how healthy I've become?) you get the idea.
4. Things I would do if I were a billionaire? Well I know what I wouldn't do: WORRY!!! My kids would go to college, they would each have their own car, I would sit and knit as much as I wanted to, I'd hire a maid and a cook. Fund cancer research (I would really like that bastard (sorry for the language) to go away).
5. Places I've lived? Kentucky, Germany, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Indiana, and Ohio.
6. Peeps I want to know more about...
anyone who wants to play too consider yourself tagged.

Well, that's all I have. All I've been doing is working and sleeping...no knitting. I know, BORING!
Have a great weekend!

Senior Prom

My girl is at her Senior Prom (it's going to be a long sleepless night). She looks just like a princess, with her hair up and a beautiful gown on. I could start crying again. But I won't.

Her date.

Here she is with her girlfriends (these seven have been together for most of their lives). They will all be going in different directions in the fall, but I'm really hoping they stay close the rest of their lives.

They graduate in 4 weeks. I hope the world is ready!

I've Been Very Fortunate

It started back in December when one of Mandy's friends (Hannah, I taught her to knit) gave me some yarn for Christmas. I've started knitting a pair of socks with the Araucania Ranco Multi 310 already (that's Monica's Lace-agon pattern), the Trekking is patiently waiting.

Then in January, I won The Loopy Ewe Quarterly Challenge and got this Claudia in the Freesia colorway. It is waiting patiently too.

Susie (Perchance to Knit) is so sweet. She sent me a hank of her Black Rainbow to knit. It is so beautiful, I don't know what she washes her yarn in but it smells wonderful (yes I am a wool sniffer). It too is waiting patiently.

Monica's family came over last weekend to help us celebrate Mandy's 18th birthday and we finally got to have our Christmas too. My niece, Kaitlin gave me this cool skein of Meilenweit. I've already picked out the pattern for this yarn.

Monica gave me some yarn too (and a pair of socks that I totally forgot to take a picture of)here is the yarn : Cherry Tree Hill Sockittome in Gypsy Rose and some Artyarns Ultramerino 4 for a pair of Monica's Ribblets fingerless mitts. And if you look at the picture of my Lace-agon sock you will see the Knit Picks Harmony needles Monica gave me too. I love them, I may have a new favorite brand of needles (Crystal Palace has been my favorite up to this point).

Back in December I joined the "Top 10 Stashbusting group. I made it to the end without buying any yarn and I also got all ten of my projects done. My name was picked out of the bowl and here is what I won. These are some great prizes too. I received my yarn yesterday, Shelridge Farms Heather - Loganberry ( I just finished a pair of socks in this yarn in the crocus colorway and I'm looking forward to knitting with it again) and a Vera Bradley Large Cosmetic Bag in the Mod Floral Pink design. It will be the perfect project bag for my sock knitting. Thanks Nachaele for the great KAL and the great prizes.

I should have warned you that this was a picture heavy post (but I couldn't leave anyone out and I hope I didn't). Have a great weekend! More later.

Added: Kathy is having a contest. Well go on over and tell her I sent you!

My Baby Turned 18 Yesterday

It was my plan to do this post yesterday (on her birthday), but life got in the way. Here is a collage of pictures of her through the last 18 years. I can't believe how fast it's gone. She will graduate high school the end of May and start college in the fall.

She had a scavenger hunt party with her girlfriends last night. They had a blast (can I just tell you, 8 teenage girls are very loud, but very fun). Here is the cake I made for them (I'm making another for the family get together today). Her friends are so sweet...they told me when they go to other birthday parties they don't eat the cake there, they only eat mine because it is so good (I have ruined their tastebuds for anything else but mine). I'll post a picture of the family cake after I have it all done. Have a great day and weekend. I'm going to go bake a cake!

Here is the family cake (on the left...with the "happy birthday" candles). I think it looks much nicer than my first cake. Everyone had a good time and it was sad when my sister and her family left (Mandy always cries).

So Fun, So Easy (and fast too)

I finished my Swirl Socks tonight (I had 3 repeats done on the leg of the first sock when I picked it back up last week). They were so fun and fast to knit.

Monica called me back in December and told me she was emailing me a new pattern, would I please knit at least one repeat of the pattern and let her know how it worked for me. The yarn I chose (Shelridge Farms Soft Touch Heather - Crocus) is a little fatter than regular sock yarn and I didn't want to knit it on size 0 needles, so I cast on 60 stitches (rather than 70) on size 1's and away I knit. They are so pretty and fit great.

Sheri at the Loopy Ewe asked to have it for the first Loopy Ewe Sock Club pattern (all members have it now so I can show mine and not divulge any secrets about what it looks like) and Monica agreed.

Well it is past my bed time and that's all I have for right now. Have a great week!

Croc Socks

Just off the needles... Croc Socks! This is one of Monica's patterns. It was a lot of fun to knit up. This is Lorna's Laces Sock Multi - Sand Ridge. They fit so well and I love the lace and cabling.

Now I need to decide what I will work on next... I have 2 more of Monica's patterns going plus a few others.

Have a great week! More later.

Finally...

a finished pair of socks. I have really slowed down in my sock knitting. I don't have that frantic feeling to get a lot of them done this year (one pair a month seems to be it for me this year). So here are my Twin Rib Socks, knit in Wisdom Yarns Los Angeles colorway with 66 stitches on size 1 dpn's. I love the colors in this yarn, but I won't be knitting with it again. This yarn is so fuzzy it sticks to itself as you pull it out of the skein (what a nightmare this was at times), I hope it won't pill too badly when I wash them. And they match pretty closely even though there were two breaks in the yarn in the second sock (the one on my left foot). Next up, I will finish my Croc Socks (I have started the second one already).

Have a great week. More later!

Nope, Nothing To See Here

It's pitiful...the lack of knitting going on. This is all I have to show since I last blogged. I finally finished the first Twin Rib sock I started in October and started the second (until I realized I had cast on too few stitches and had to rip it out and start again). It's pitiful...I may have mentioned that. Monica has some great news and some great looking socks (if you haven't already been over to hear it).

We're under a BLIZZARD WARNING... maybe I'll get some knitting done this weekend. Pitiful.

Guess What We're Making

It started with a bunch of squares ( some 3", some 4")...

Then Mandy laid them out the way she wanted them to be sewn.....

Then she started sewing the squares into strips....

And I sewed the strips into a piece of cloth...

Until it became this...

A tote bag for her Tennessee trip for FEA (Future Educators of America). It is humongous, but it held everything she wanted to take on the bus with her. I put a little pocket inside for her Ipod and cut a piece of foamboard and covered it to place in the bottom for added support.

She led the scrapbook team...their scrapbook took third place of the 150 schools that were represented. She is so darn crafty!

We're under a "Winter Storm Warning" AGAIN...I'm going to go knit!

Some Socks To Show

Hi All!! Where did January go? And now February is half over too...unbelievable.




So, I finished Monica's socks on January 31st, with a few hours to spare for them to count as my January socks for SAM5. They turned out great! I love this colorway (Trekking XXL - 66)...I might just have to get another skein (someday). I used the Campfire Sock pattern, I knit it on the legs only and increased the stitch count to 68, for the difference in the yarn and needles I used.









I finished my February socks for SAM5 tonight. These are knit in some Perchance To Knit yarn (that Susie specially dyed for the Sockret Pal Swap back in 2006). I knit them plain on US1 dpn's with 68 stitches. They pooled wildly, but look so cool. These will look great with jeans.


I have at least 3 of Monica's sock patterns started so I will be working on those next (plus the 3 other pair that are OTN's too).
And you won't believe this, but I have another post already in the works (just waiting for Mandy to get back from Tennessee tomorrow so I can get a picture of the finished item that the post is about).


I'm liking my new job real well and my supervisor has already said that the position will be offered to me permanently after the company's 60 day contract with the temp agency is up (30 more days). I am thanking God every day for putting me where I needed to be for this to happen. This is such a blessing for my family.


I hope everyone has a great Sunday and if you're off Monday (think of me while I'm at work from 8 to 5, I'll be cruising around the net from 12-1) have a great day off. More later.

Sorry For The Lack Of Posts

Another long span between posts. Sorry about that. In the interim, I finished my niece's mitts, almost finished Monica's socks and started a test knit of her new pattern. Oh, and I started a new job too. Where I had been working, closed the week before Christmas (lousy timing that)...I was so glad when this temp-to-hire position came my way. It's going well. I like the work and the people I'm working with ( hopefully I will be offered a permanent position soon).




Here are Lauren's Mitts. I used the leftover Meilenweit yarn from a pair of socks (it took every bit of it...that's why the thumbs don't match). She loves orange and this yarn has some in it, sooooooo
Make sure she doesn't see them!!!





And here is the new test knit of Monica's pattern: Aran Socks. I'm knitting them in CTH Solid - Nantucket Red. This pattern will be available soon at The Loopy Ewe. Another fun pattern and I love textured socks, so you know I love this one too. (I will post a picture as soon as I take a decent one).



These are Monica's socks, not quite finished. We still haven't had our Christmas together. But I know what she is going to give me (Monica, I hope you don't mind seeing what you're getting). It's a good thing her feet are an inch longer than mine, I would be so tempted to keep these...I love this yarn. I'm using the Campfire Socks pattern in Trekking XXL-66, 68 stitches, US1 dpn's.
Well, that's about it for now... Knitting is slow going for some reason.
Have a great week!!
More later.

First FO of 2008

Mandy's Mittens...Patons Classic Wool Merino in the Rosewood colorway. I knit these in the Warmest Mittens pattern, but started with 32 stitches for the cuff and increased to 36 for the hand on US6 dpn's. She loves them.

Two of Mandy's friends did a wonderful thing for her this Christmas...and as a thank you I'm knitting them some mitts. I've finished one pair already, and I'm on the second mitt of the second pair. Ally's mitts are purple and Hannah's are fuschia. Both are knit in Cascade 220 Superwash. Ally and Hannah came over to our house over the Christmas break and I taught them to knit too. We sat up until 3am watching old movies and knitting...I was so tired but it was fun! Two more added to the "knitters" list.

I've come up with a plan...I'm going to finish some of the socks I have going and then I'm going to get to work on C.J.'s sweater. Keep after me about it...Please

That's it for now...More later.