All About the Socks

You have to try this sock pattern Katie the pattern is beautiful and is easier to knit. Here is sock number 1. I am knitting this sock as payment to Gena's boss, Anne, for payment for her to get the extra time off for Sock Summit in August.



You can see that this is a beautiful pattern. I used Lorna's Laces yarn in Dawn. I received this yarn as payment for a test knit. Here is a picture of the front of the sock.



I love how this pattern is turning out. I will finish it on the train to Portland. The author of the pattern just asked if she could use the pictures on her pattern page on ravelry, this is a great honor to me.

I also got the Loopy Ewe July Sock Club installment.

I love this color a red from The Sanguine Gryphon Bugga this yarn is 70% superwash merino 20% cashmere and 10% nylon it's so soft and yummy. The pattern is from Wendy D. Johnson "Phoebus Apollo Socks" I'm seriously thinking of this pattern for my sock class toe up at sock summit, it is so beautiful. Included is a Buddy case from namaste in red and a cute stitch marker, which I forgot to photograph. This was a great sock kit the best one so far.

Sock Summit is coming very fast and I have yet to start my homework. I know I have to get on it. Gena calls to tell me I need to get on it. I have begun a new test knit so now I have to divide my time to all of it. This test knit is for two socks instead of one done by the end of the month. But the great thing is, it for yarn. And I do knit for yarn.

Well that's about it I let you know how the parade in Everson turns out this Saturday and for my first real shift at the restaurant, I get to bartend. I'll post some pictures so until then, keep those sticks aclickn'.
Happily knitting socks, Bye.

I'm Still Here Sumas Parade and More

I really am alive, I've just been lost. Work has been catching up with me and I don't seem to have as much time as I would.

The hotel is filling up and is keeping me working longer days. I have been cleaning rooms at least twice a week so I come home tired and worn out. But at least it is a job and a paycheck. The restaurant is busy. I am now working 2 shift a week there, Friday and Saturday nights but after a long day at the hotel and then a short shift there, my knitting time has been cut into.

Last Saturday we did a parade in Sumas, here is our float, representing the Nuthouse Grill.

It's not great but we did put it together in a week. And then put it back together one hour before the parade. Dad didn't get it strapped down good in the truck and it went off the back end before we got out of the driveway.

We're going to do it again on the 11th of July in Everson, we figure it's free advertisement for the restaurant so we will do it. Have to make more bags of peanuts and buy more candy we ran out in Sumas and I hear that Everson has a larger parade. So we have to redo the float make it more sturdy and have fun once again.

We made t-shirts to wear so we looked like a group. And Guess What? MICHEAL home!!!! Here is Abby, Micheal and Chris together. You can see our shirts we did all different colors so you had your pick. They also have a car show going on. One of the car entered was a car that Chris had worked on. They did the paint and Chris polished the car. He as proud of his work. And the car took first place so that a reason to be proud.

I don't have any pictures of my knitting so I thought I would show you pictures around the house. I didn't really get much of a garden planted this year. The tractor we used to till the ground broke and we didn't get a new one. So not much of a garden. But I do have some tomatoes to show they are growing slowly I guess I should water them I think that would help.

We will have carrots, beans, cukes, zucchini, and squash that is if they grow. We will have corn we decided not to plant that but would eat the neighbors. I went out back to the raspberry field and they are ripe so I now have berries to eat I can never seem to get enough when they are ripe.

Tony's flowers are in bloom, I love the Daisy's they are always pretty.

The lilies in the fish pond are in bloom and look pretty floating in the water. The fish had to hide when I took the picture. But a few of the goldfish were swimming around the flowers.

Things around home are returning to normal now that Micheal is home. He has to decided what he is going to do with himself. He just doesn't know what he wants to do. I want time off he says but that doesn't make the car payment. But I promised not to harp on him and give him time he wants as long as it's not to long.

My knitting is coming along, I have finished a test knit that I was working on and started a pair of socks for Gena's Boss Ann. I almost got one socks done and it was to tight so into the frog pond and have started over. The pattern I'm using is called Katie by very busy monkey. I have knit some of her other patterns and really enjoy her work. This pattern is really pretty and will post a picture when I get some knitting done on them. The yarn I'm using is Lorna's Laces with is a dream to work with and I am loving it.

I have to start on my homework for Sock Summit, its only 36 days away. So I guess I have to get homework done on it. I am going to do another test knit that has a short turn around. But I will be knitting for yarn so that part I love. Well not much else is going on. So.

Enjoy the summer, and keep those sticks aclickn'.

Happily knitting socks, Bye.

Micheal

He's on his way home. He was discharged from the Army with a medical discharge. You name it and the kid has had it, I think. He was suppose to be discharged 4 weeks ago and sent home 2 weeks ago. But will be put on a plane this week and sent home. It was great to hear his voice after 3 months of not hearing from him but in letters. The funny part was I went and talked to his recruiter to see what they could find out for me, just so we would know when he was coming home. Abby was almost in tears, he missed her graduation, she misses him, not knowing when he was coming home. He told her it could be the middle of July. So being Mom, I thought why not go and talk. Micheal told me that his Sargent told him that his mom called. Poor guy can't get a break. Maybe that put a fire under someones butt and got him home sooner. Who really knows.
My knitting's coming along finished a sample knit for Woolgirl and am working on a test knit. Then I have to start my homework for Sock Summit in July.
Well stay cool and out of the sun, remember the sun block. Keep those sticks aclickn'.
Happily knitting socks, Bye.

Over the Rainbow and Life

Woolgirl, Jen has started a sock club that is going to go for 2 years called "Oz" all things dealing with the Wizard of Oz. The first kit is called "Over the Rainbow"

Here's what was included in each kit:

1. A skein of fingering Lotus Toes yarn from Zen String in the custom "Over the Rainbow" colorway
2. "Over the Rainbow sock pattern designed by Lisa Dykstra.
3. An "Over the Rainbow" drawstring knitting accessory bag sewn by Krystine Jett. The fabric is great a black and white backdrop with Dorothy dreaming with splashes of rainbow color.
4. An official WB "Over the Rainbow" journal. Each page is lined with a faint character image on the back ground.
5. An "over the Rainbow" stitch marker by Jillian from Wee Ones.
6. A special tin filled with Skittles (taste the rainbow!) and a rainbow.
7. Rainbow stickers and Wizard of Oz themed stickers
8. An "Over the Rainbow" tape measure.
9. A "Over the Rainbow" lollipop, filled with all of the colors of the rainbow.
10. An "Over the Rainbow" wooden gift tag to add to your Oz collection made by Jen
11. A special Oz magnet.

Here is a picture of the wooden gift tad and three of the stitch markers I've gotten that go with this theme. The Wicked Witch, Glinda the Good Witch, and Over the Rainbow. I had to get out all of these makers just to see them together.

I had fun on line at Raverly waiting for Gena to get home from work so I could open the box. We decided to wait to open them together, so all day it was open or wait, open...........wait.........open .............. wait.............. OK I'll wait.Is she home yet, where is she, stuck in traffic, open.......wait.......open...... yea the phone rang. We can open. It was so worth the wait. I can't wait till the next one. Which is Dorothy.

Life We don't know when Micheal will be home. We think he is discharged but don't know what is going on. Talked to Abby and she says sometime next week but she doesn't know. But he is still in the Army doing what ever he does.

Mark is in Afghanistan now. He says it's very hot 100+ degrees I don't think I can take that. Mom and Dad should be home tomorrow, we got the trailer all cleaned, water and satellite hooked up so all they have to do in unpack and enjoy themselves. Chris is hard at work he is working on a new car for himself so we are all waiting to see it.

The restaurant is going good. Tony is there 6 days a week. So I see him once in a while. I'm working on Friday and Saturday nights and will be working more as people quit and shifts open up. I don't want to take anyone's shifts. The hotel is getting busier and keeps me going.

Well the mind is getting over heated. I talk about the knitting later. So keep cool in this heat and keep those sticks aclickn'.

Happily knitting socks, Bye.

Sock Summit

Sock Summit here we come. Gena and I finally got our classes. It took awhile to get them but we did. Registration started at 10:00 am and the server went down at 10:01. You only had a 15 minute window once you started to registrar to get your classes and to pay for them. I had the classes I wanted but with the server crashing, you get the picture. Talk out a lot of words that where said on my end. Gena and I where on the phone together making sure that we got into the same classes. We got into one together, Sock Heels on Saturday, a 6 hour class in which we will learn 5 different heels. Gena got into Spindle Spinning Basics on Friday and I didn't. We left it like that because most of the classes where full. I checked back later and found some open classes. Called Gena, here we go again. I got into Spindle Spinning Basics and the we also got into a class Toe Up for the Stubborn. This should be a great class, I know how to do a toe up sock but it will show you how to work a gusset and heel flap something I don't quite understand fully. But I want to learn. So over all we got great classes. We didn't get the class with Cookie A. but I will survive.

Now we have to start our homework for these classes. Save money for yarn in the marketplace, food and drink, the hotel room, got a great deal and the train down. Count down to begin.

Memorial Day Weekend

I hope everyone has a great weekend. With lots of fun, sun, and remember ace of what this day means. What I want everyone to remember is our boys and men in uniform fighting to keep our freedom for us. We live free because of what they do every day fighting for our freedom. So to all those boys in blue, grey, cameo, or what ever their uniform color is. God Bless them and everything that they stay for.
I want a special pray for my brother, Mark, he left for Afghanistan last week. So thought are going out to him that he keeps head down and out of trouble. Stay safe Mark, my thought are with you.
Have a great weekend and get lots of knitting down.
Happily knitting socks, Bye.

Yarn Update

The last blog was long so I saved some thing to blog about for later so here they are:

Loopy Ewe Sock Club

Here is this months package. We received a semi-solid yarn from Dye Dreams their Luster Sox, a 100% superwash Bluefaced Leicester in Shades of Ireland, the pattern was by Monica Jines, Kinvara. A great looking pattern with cables. Also included was an apple green tote with the Loopy Ewe Logo on it. and a Happy Pen. I was surprised that both the Loopy Ewe and Woolgirl had an Ireland theme this time around and the shipment they both featured cashmere yarn now I can't wait to see how close they compare next time around.

I also bought me a some yarn, I know that was bad. But I've knit with so much red yarn that I had to have my own red. I stopped by Apple Yarn I wanted to get some addi's lace needles. I didn't buy the needles but got this yarn instead. It is a Pagewood Farm Hand Dyed Sock Yarn Yukon Really Red the blend is (70/20/10) Merino/Bamboo/Nylon and is so soft. So now I have to find the right pattern and knit it up.

Registration for Sock Summit date has come up next Tuesday at 10 a.m. I will have to have fast fingers and lots of luck just to get the classes I want. Then I just have to anticipate the time till Sock Summit begins.

Things around the house is going slowly we haven't gotten the garden in yet. I have to go down and talk to the next door neighbor to see if he will till the ground. Then we can plant. But the weather doesn't cooperate around here long enough.

Well I think I'm all caught up now I hope if not I will update you again in the next few days. so keep those sticks aclickn'.

Happily knitting socks, Bye.