Halfway Down the Stairs

Gone.

Really. I am not at home.

However, there is a contest.

My favorite yarn so far has been Lisa Souza's Hardtwist.

Least favorite? Some awful Lion Brand Fun Fur crap I hope I never have to see again in my life.

I sold it on ebay for whatever I could get for it.

I hope this counts.

Bye.

Bits and Pieces


This is Spring Break 2005 - I thought I'd bring you a little bit of Springtime a la D.C. This photo was also taken by a representative for the National Archives and is now a part of our Capital's historic archives. How cool is that?

I am nearing the end of my second Pomatomus, but I have no pictures to show you, so you'll have to take my word for it.

Hockey is finally done for the year (until Summer workshops start). We've had HS Lacrosse tryouts all week long, and Spring Break starts on Friday so we're getting ready for a little trip. We're leaving Friday for New Mexico for a week so I will be non-blogging for a while. I'll miss you all!

SP10 -
So I'm participating in SP10 again, and I've already sent one little mini package to my pal. I've been really luck to have a very busy Pal of my own! She's sent me e-mail and e-cards and even sent me a GC to the Loopy Ewe!!! I mean seriously, could she have hit my weak point? I haven't used it yet, but I have a feeling that puppy is getting spent before we leave for vacation. I keep waiting for some more new stuff to go up, meanwhile, I have some Louet in my shopping cart.

Labels: project progress, sock knitting, SP's

Oh. My. Gophers.

I am having minor heart attacks watching the Gophs and the Sioux battle it out. Oh hello.

Sock Madness. I lost my round against a very nice young lady who lives in Germany. I just had too much going on this weekend to devote all my hours to finishing this pair of socks. However, I present my Mad-tini socks, knit on 2.75 mm rosewood needles (eh, I'll take my Knitpicks dpns I think). The yarn is Spritely Goods Sylph Fairy Duster II (www.spritelygoods.com). I have enough yarn left over for a second pair of socks! You can see my competitors' work over here at this Flickr website.

A closeup of the cute stitch. The pattern was written using European terminology for a few stitches so that was a little bit of a challenge. Thank goodness for www.knittnighelp.com.
I am free to pick this up again:
(P2)
This is next - any ideas for patterns?
And - I was a big winner! Over at Chris' blog - Stumbling Over Chaos - I was lucky with my comment entry! Look at all the yummy stuff she sent me!

There chocolate and Pez and some needle holders and some Dicentra yarn - isn't that yummy.

Oh. Gophers lose. Darn.

I'm Ready!

Sock Madness: Round 2


Sylph Fairy Duster II - Spritely Goods - from my stash.

The pattern is supposed to come today between 4-10 pm.

I'm ready.

(Oh and P1 is finished - I'll show you tomorrow, ok?)

Time to Show Something...

for the effort. Evidently I am something of a slacker.

Okay, frogged the Pomatomus and cast on to smaller needles...I am much happier with it now.

And this handsome fellow has been riding around in the car this week.

Trying to decide which yarn I'm going to break out on Thursday for the competition. I have a LAX Board Meeting on Thursday night, so I have a feeling I am going to start out way behind this time around.

Yes, we have no FO's...

I have no FO's to show you.

I'm sorry.

I should have something, but I don't.

I frogged the Pomatomus and re-cast-on to smaller needles. I'm about two inches further along than the last time I showed you.

I started another sock with my Lorna's Laces, but that's in my carpool bag and has not been posing for photos.

I tried to take a picture of my kitty as all else had failed, but she was not cooperating. The minute I get close to her she starts "mrow-ing" and shoving her head against the camera (she's 20 years old and she acts like a curmudgeonly old lady).

I tried to take a picture of Kona. He promptly rolled over and demonstrated his exhibitionist tendencies. I told him there were no takers.

Hockey is over and Puck is away on a school field trip. We did watch WCHA finals this weekend, and I can't tell you how scream inducing the Gopher game was on Saturday night. Seriously, what WAS that? Check it out!

Our school system does an all ages concert every Spring. Kids in the school band programs grades 5-10 perform in a huge concert held in the High School Gymnasium. Each grade plays one or two songs and they close with a rousing version of Stars & Stripes. The oldest kids start playing and the younger ones join in at the end. They split the band population in half so 1/2 of the kids play at 3:00 and the other half play at 7:00. Both of my boys play large brass (Tuba and Trombone), and this is the first year they were both in the concert. I confess, I have cried at the Stars & Stripes every year.

Oh yea, I got an order from the Loopy Ewe. I am shameless.





But Sock Madness starts up again on Thursday and I need to be ready!

Pomatomus!


I started this last night and I am so happy with how this yarn is working up. This is Chocolate Cherry from Yarn Ahoy over at Etsy. She is an amazing hand-dyer who does a some international community service. She also lived in India for many years and uses that culture for her color inspiration. She doesn't have anything listed right now, but you can check out her sold yarns to see what I mean about her inspirational color.

I get to be Car Pool Queen and drive 5 ten year olds to hockey camp this evening. This week has been exhausting and dinner inspiration has been nil. Thank goodness for those pre-cooked broasted chickens. I can always come up wtih something for dinner when there's some cooked chicken in the fridge. (Tortelloni, Fajitas and soup and pasta salad...) I'm always looking for inspiration if any of you have any for me...(hint).

2.44 miles is my Sock Marathon current mileage, and I'm trying to get psyched for the next round of Sock Madness. This time around we compete head-to-head with another knitter. I am matched up with a woman who is blogless, but she posted me a message over at the Flickr group.

It looks like rain/snow today so everybody in town - dress warm!

The Sun'll Come Out Tomorrow...

or at least my new socks will, and they're nearly as bright!
These are my Embossed Leaves Socks from the Favorite Socks book from IK. This is my MCY yarn fromEtsy, and I really just love them. The pattern was really easy, and I loved the swirly toe.

I am going to embark on some Pomatomus this morning, send help if I go missing....

ETA: I have about 2 ounces left of this yarn - and I only used 2 to make these - if anyone is interested in the leftovers, I would be happy to drop it in the mail to you - just leave me a comment!

Labels: sock knitting

I guess I promised you Yarn Pr0n:



This is my much anticipated Sweet Georgia in Omikase 5. It is very lovely - which you can't really tell because this photo is so blurry!

And then, since this is my 5th order from the Loopy Ewe - she sent me some goodies - a really cute project bag, some Dove chocolate (don't even ask why there's no photo of that!) and this:



Some Opal that I'm pretty sure I've been envying on some other sock knitter blogs. It looks like ice cream, and I think she looked at my usual color choices before she picked this out to send to me. How nice is Lori Berger? LOVE!

Oh, and by the way, Lori has updated the Loopy Ewe with some new yarn tonight: All Things Heather, Cider Moon, Seacoast Handpainted and, oh yes, she is now carrying the Louet Gems. You may go now, because I have already done my shopping. I am incorrigible and uncurable (incurable?) in my sock yarn addiction. At least I am knitting socks as fast as I can.

I am tying up the toe on my Embossed Leaves Socks, so I should have an FO to show you tomorrow.

Labels: Stash Enhancement

SP10 Questions

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? No fun fur for me. Mohair does weird things to my contacts.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? Dpn's go into a pencil box, my Knitpicks Options get stored in their case, and my single points are stored in a beautiful vase green glass vase that my kid gave me for my birthday last year.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I learned to knit when I was 9 years old in a Community Ed class. I would consider myself an intermediate knitter - I've never been too adventurous with new techniques.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? I do, but I've never learned to link it.

5. What's your favorite scent? Balsam/cinnamon/ginger

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? Chocolate and or sour candy.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I'm not a spinner, but I do scrapbook.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) I have an iPod and iTunes. I have a very random taste in music. Alternative, some pop, some rock.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? No dinnermint pastels for me.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I live with my husband, two kids, chocolate lab and a very ancient tabby kitty.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? Yes, yes, yes and no.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Ummm. Hate to be unoriginal, but socks.

13. What are you knitting right now? Socks.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? I like to receive any gifts.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? I like my Knitpicks dpns, but I also like wooden dpns. For bigger projects I like the Knitpicks Options.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? Yes, they were Christmas gifts and I love them!

17. How old is your oldest UFO? Two years? It's a cardigan.

18. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas

19. Is there anything that you collect? Wine & sock yarn.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? I can hardly wait for Lime&Violet's sock book. I have a script for Interweave Knits. Umm - I'd love to get my hands on a copy of Lace Style.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? Ones of these days I've got to learn how to do colorwork correctly, but I'm not in any hurry.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? I am a sock knitter, I wear a size 8 1/2 shoe.

23. When is your birthday? Feb. 10

Sock Maddness Has Begun!


What a crazy weekend! First I quit the competition (I was sick, the pattern was a little unclear, there was no direction from the moderators and I had to frog almost an entire sock!), and then I started again, but I managed to be one of the first sixteen to get their first pair of socks completed, so I get to move on in the competition. I'm still cheering for Limedragon tho'!

The Croup is hangin' on - a nice hard cough that makes my ribs hurt, but I am feeling a tad better.

Puck had his last Hockey game on Saturday afternoon - it was against one of the other EP Squirt C teams. Puck's team had beaten them once in a scrimmage and got beaten up on and beat in a game. Seriously, these kids played like they were playing NHL hockey - fists and elbows and shoves and slashes and tripping and, and, well you get the picture. They're 9-10 year olds, that's not supposed to happen and when it does, it's usually because the coach is not doing his job (in my opinion), either that, or those kids are learning something different at home than my kids are learning. ANYWAY, Puck's team won. Oooooh they won. Puck's best friend scored two goals, his other buddy scored two goals, and Puck scored on an assist from his BF (final goal - made it 5-1!) It felt good to win, and it felt good to win against a team that had beaten them so "dirty". They had a team party afterwards that was delightful. All in all, it was a satisfying end to a very fun season.

I still need to get my SP10 question answers up and I've got way too much yarn pr0n to share, but maybe I'll get those up later tonight! Now I have to go catch up on my blog reading!

Le Croup

Do you remember the last time you had Croup? I don't, but I have it now. I recognized the sound coming out of my throat this morning. I don't know which kid passed this on to me, but he's for sale. I'll take $1.50, heck you can have 'em.

On the plus side? Sock Madness, 7:00 am tomorrow. The yarn is ready (I even had what I needed in stash), I found a paid of Sox Stix at the LYS this morning. I'll be taking those slick little five inchers for a test ride on the first pair of socks.

Coming soon: SP10 Questions & Answers!

Bright & Sassy Sock Yarn Swap

I opened a package on Monday from Roo at Roo Knits. Doesn't this look like an Easter Basket? She threw some nummy sweets in there for me, along with this super skein of Opal. Thanks Roo! I'll let you know what I decide to knit from this!
So, for an additional .3125 miles, the Grid Lock Socks have been completed. This is my MCY sock yarn in the Prism colorway. I now have a total of 1.85 miles for the L&V Sock Marathon! (My goal was 2.0 miles by the end of March - I feel sure I am going to meet and exceed that goal!) The gals have extended the Marathon to July so I am going to have to re-set my goal, I think.

I must confess that I haunted the Loopy Ewe on Monday night for their store update. She got in her last shipment of Sweet Georgia before SG goes on her sabbatical - I managed to nab a colorway - I'll show you when I get it. I was proud of myself for only ordering one!! Man, that place was crazy. People were putting yarn in their cart, and by the time they went to check out, that yarn would be out of stock!

Sock Progress:

My MCY purple Grid Lock Socks. #2 will be finished today.

My Embossed Leaves Socks from Favorite Socks. Also in MCY. I love this color - it's like sunshine on a snowy day!! (Get it?!)

We had hockey, a nailbiter game, we lost, but again, these kids have heart. Lacrosse camp. Snowboarding all day on Sunday.

Poor Puck was monkeying around the back of the house on Sunday (we have MONSTER icicles on the edge of the roof), and knocked one down on his head. Scared the living daylights out of me. He has a knot the size of an egg on the back of his head. He doesn't appear to have any of the serious symptoms, so I've just been keeping an eye on him.

Crazy day today - we have music lessons, hockey and lacrosse tonight, and of course the boys have gone back to school.

I am stalking the mailman today because I still do NOT have my STR sock club shipment. Also, I am waiting for my sock yarn swap.

HELLO Jack Frost!

This is what my window looked like yesterday morning. This is what it looked like outside after I opened my window and took the screen off.

Seriously, the snow is up to Kona's back. You can hardly go sledding in this stuff. No school yesterday, so I can tell you that many forts were built.
Much knitting accomplished yesterday. I switched off socks and knit about four inches of the Embossed Leaves Socks from the Favorite Socks book. I also knit about four inches of my second MCY sock. I am in serious training for Sock Madness.

Labels: Outside my window, project progress, sock knitting

Let's give credit where credit is due:

I've been delinquent in making this post. Earlier this week, I received this package from my scarf swap partner. Isnt' it lovely?

These are all the nice goodies that I received from: http://unknitted.wordpress.com

There's some tea and some Nescafe. Those two Coffee Crunches? They are heavenly - they are also sticking up out of a really cute coffee cup. Thanks so much Pal! A 5.0 rating for you at Swap-bot!! (plus a heart, 'cause I love those Coffee Crunches...)

Also? More snow.

I also signed up for Sock Madness and I am in the Harlot bracket. Totally appropriate. I am pretty darned sure I won't make it beyond the first round, but I am a sucker for sock patterns. Look for more sock craziness here starting on March 10.

Holy Mother of All That is White!!!


This is outside my window at 8:45 this morning!!!