Here's What I've Been Upto

Not much

No that a white lie. I've been busy work is keeping me going. We have several Spanish speaking maids and they speak very little English so we have arranged for them to learn English. We have class two days a week for an hour. While they are learning English, I'm learning Spanish. I'll see how it turns out it has been fun, they drill me on the words plus other words. They get me to say these words, which I don't know and they get a laugh out of it.

Tony's been hard at work he seems to be working more now then when he worked at his other job. So I don't see him all that often but that's OK with me.

Micheal is working hard at Overhead Door. He's done with his training and is working on his own now. He is enjoying what he's doing, he always liked a manual job.

Chris is done with school and graduated in the top of his class. He is working at Number 1 Collision and is working at a Detail shop in Everson. He quit the job a Wilson Motors I don't know if his misses the job or not.

Well that's the update on my family. We see each other in passing and that's just fine with me.

My Knitting

I finished a pair of anklet socks for a girl at work. They had to be made special she has two different size feet so one sock is a size 4 and the other a size 6. I made they out of Tofutsies yarn I like the yarn it does split some but it is so soft that I like to use it. I made them using the pattern 'Vog On from Knitty, summer 07 issue. I changed the cuff portion of the pattern I don't like a ruffly cuff so I did a simple K1 P1 for 4 rows and then began the pattern of the sock I really like how it turned out.
I've been working on the Slippery Slope Socks again. I don't like how they are turning out the pooling is different in each sock and I don't know why. The first sock turned out how I wanted it to no real patterning from the yarn. The second sock is stripping it looks good it's just not like sock one and I don't know what I did wrong. I am not going to frog it so I will have two different socks. I hope to get them finished this month so I will be ready for Super Sock Scarefest that begins in September and goes through October. At that time I can show you all the test knit that I was working on awhile back.

I got my sewing machine out today and made myself some KIP bags. I thought I could do it and I did it. The first one I made was the one made for the baseball game I'm going to on September 7th we are going to the Mariner and Yankees game. I made it reversible because my favorite sport is............ football. The second on turned out better then the first I learned from my mistakes. But over all I like how they turned out and they didn't take that long to make. I figured it took right about an hour and that's not long for a sock bag. That I will use over and over. Now I have to get more fabric and make more, these are made in the round next I want to try a square bag and making them in different sizes.

My Rewards from Ravelry, So You Think You Can Dance Pool

This is my bounty of rewards:

3 Loopy Ewe gift certificates each for $20.00.

From left to right, GypsyKnits BFL yarn, Spring Love, Madelinetosh - Hand dyed sock, Dusk, Rio de la Plata, kettle dyed, SL03, evergreen, ethereal blue, sparkling grape, 2 skeins Plymouth Yarn Co., Happy Feet, Color 10 blues, burgundy and blacks and a skein of Noro, Color S185. I could not be happier with my bounty. I still have one more person to receive from, but if I don't get it, so be it.

I also received a gift from Alison my accountability partner from a group on Raverly "Pair a Month". We have been sending each other gift of thing we like and a skein of yarn. She sent me her favorite knitting bags, a Key chain sock blocker sock, a small bag filled with lavender and a skein of yarn from Kraemer Sterling,colorway Imperial Blues. The yarn is a blend of 63% superwash merino, 20% silk, 15% nylon and 2% silver. The colors are beautiful and I can't wait to use it but it will be for me.

Well that's about all. Next month I will have my contest. I'm not for sure what I want to do but I'm going to come up with someing fun and with great prizes out of my stash.

So keep those sticks aclickn'.

Happily knitting socks, Bye.

WIP

I haven't been doing very good with my knitting. I lost some of that mojo just a little so I have backed off some. Hopefully it will come back to full swing as the weather changes.

I finished my test knit of Squirmy Wormy they turned out great I really like this pattern. If anyone wants this pattern you can get it from picnicknits.com It is a fun pattern and I really enjoyed working on it.

I am on the second sock of the Slippery Slope Socks I have about 5" done of the leg. The patterning is turning out differently on this one I can't figure it out why, same amount of stitches, needles, I just can't figure it out its not bad just not the same.

My Fantasy Dragons Breath I have frogged. Not working on them on a regular basis I didn't keep tracked of the pattern and I got lost and didn't work it right so away it went. I learned my lesson 1 pair of socks at a time for me or keep better records of work.

I got my Woolgirl Sock Club Package. This one was one of the best the best. Jen has gone up and beyond herself I don't see how she can keep it up. The theme of this kit was called "Dog Days of Summer" and this is what we got. A skein of fun Beach Ball yarn by Madelinetosh. 2 different patterns by Kristi Schueler, each pattern is different from each other. A beach tote with the logo on it. A water bottle w/logo, tape measure, cocoa butter lip balm hand-made by Naiad soap Arts. A stitch marker keeper designed by Kate from Spindle Cat Studio. We got a mini beach ball and cute flip-flop erasers. What more do you want? This truly is one of the best sock clubs you can join and I will stay in this one again.

Well not much more is happening around here, everyone is working and keeping busy. So I'll guess I best get to my knitting. so keep those sticks aclickn' til later.

Happily knitting socks, Bye.

It's hot outside, no air movement. I don't feel like doing anything.

Here's the garden. I now have fresh vegetables. For my dinners I just go out into the garden to pick dinner. We have had green beans, cucumbers, zucchini, and carrots. The corn is the shortest corn stalks I have ever seen, They just come up to my shoulders. It is tasseling out and little ears are being to form. The tomatoes are turning red, we have ripe grape and cherry tomatoes. Now to just eat till I'm full.

My knitting is coming along fine. Today's not a good day it's to hot. I need a small breeze. I have been working on my Squirmy Wormy sock I've gotten one done and am working on the leg of the second one. I should have it done this week and then to finish up my Slippery Slope Sock and

then finish up Dragon's Breath.

This week I have had some fun. I won a pool. It was from a group on Ravelry called "So You Think You Can Dance" . We where put into groups of 10 with 2 dancers each, as the dancer were eliminated so were we. I actually won, Joshua, one of my dancers, won the competition so I won also. So I got to pick out what I wanted as a prize and the other 9 contestant had to send me presents. I came up with two different items you had your choice, 1 a favorite yarn from your sock yarn stash, or 2, an online gift certificate from Loopy Ewe. You had a limit of $15 to $20. So far I have received 3 gift certificates and some yarn. When I get all my gifts I will post one picture.

Well off to cool off somehow, maybe I'll go to the grocery store. They at least have air conditioning. Anyone watching the Olympics we have and am enjoying watching Phelps go for a record breaking number of gold medals.

Well I'm still thinking about what to do as a contest my goal is to run it in September. So keep those sticks aclickn' till next time.

Happily knitting socks. Bye

Socks

WIP

Here's how my knitting is coming along. I have 3 pairs of socks on the needles something I'm not really proud of but what the heck.

Sock #1: Slippery Slope Sock on done one to go. A fun pattern and very easy to remember. I have put it on the back burner because I got another test knit, I know I wasn't going to do another right away but on this one I'm doing things that I have wanted to do.

Sock #2: Test Knit Squirmy Wormy by Corrina Ferguson. I'm getting to learn magic loop and a provisional cast-on. The yarn is Yarn Pirate "Sweet Lime" the needle are also Yarn Pirate's Pink size 1. The magic loop is different then anything else that I have use. I'm not going to give up my dpn's but I can see traveling using the magic loop, you can't drop your needles. The provisional cast on, I like, it wasn't as hard as I thought it might be I like it over other methods you can use.

Sock #3: Dragons Breath Sock by Jen Schripsema. I am using Claudia's Handpainted Yarn in Fantasy Dot. I started this sock because the other two where somewhere else and I was to lazy to get up and get them, so I started this one. Not a bad pattern to memorize I almost have it down but I'll start one of the other ones and forget and have to dig out the pattern. But at least I can try to memorize it and not confuse it with the other patterns.

The garden is growing and should be getting more vegetables soon and my tomatoes are growing I just want red ones or yellow ones which ever will get ripe first.

We got the Wii fit and Tony is on it every day and yells at me when I don't. The darn machine keeps track of your fitness usage and mines not that good. It cuts into my knitting time and I don't have great balance when trying to do both, I tried. So I guess that's about it.

So keep those sticks aclickn' till next time.

Happily knitting socks, Bye

Didn't Have To Work Today

No Work

So I thought I would blog, I've been busy but that's no excuse. So here goes:

The family reunion was great. We have lots of fun and it was great to see everyone once again. Dinner turned out good even if Tony didn't show up to cook it and left me to do the work, he did prep everything for me so all I had to do was cook the prime rib and heat everything else. Everyone praised the food.

Here is a couple of pictures of the family. On the left is Chris, Mom, Dad and Nicole. Now on the right is Gena, the author of tiggertat's socks blog, her husband Brian and my sister Paula. I would have had more pictures but Chris had the camera and didn't arrive till just in time for food. So all my picture are candid shots. I'm waiting for picture to be emailed to me. HEAR ME, MY FAMILY.

My Garden has grown it looks good. We have had bibbed lettuce, leaf lettuce, carrots, small zucchini, green onions and basil. Everything taste so good and it fresh. We are enjoying it. I can't wait till more is coming out of the garden. The tomatoes are growing we will have lots I hope.

This is just one of the bushes and it's lot of green tomatoes, the other bushes have the same amount. I can't wait to make BLT's for dinner, tomato sandwiches, tomato salads and just to eat cherry tomatoes for snacks. I will eat tomatoes anyway. What's your favorite way to eat tomatoes?

My Knitting is coming along once again after I finished the test knit. I should be able to show you pictures of the socks soon. Emily sent me a copy of the final pattern. The socks really turned out well. I have been working on the Slippery Slope socks by Chrissy Gardiner.This is a fun pattern even with the zig-zag cable. It is a small cable and the look is really beautiful. The yarn is from SockPixie and is wonderful to knit with I have several skeins of her yarn and I can't wait to knit with more of it now.
I have been working on a sock called Dragons Breath Socks by Jen Schripsema I've only just started on it am only to the cuff. The pattern is a flame chevron lace I'm using Claudia Hand Painted yarn in the Fantasy Dot colorway.

I also starting another test knit this one is by Corrina Ferguson, her pattern is called Wormy Socks, it is a toe-up magic loop sock. I get to learn new things and that is why I decided to do this pattern, I have wanted to learn magic loop and a provisional cast-on. So here goes. I have decided to use Yarn Pirate yarn Sweet Lime. The yarn looks like it has more lime but there is lots of pink in it with a little bit of yellow thrown in. I'm going to start it in the next day or two. I want to get one of the Slippery Slope socks done. I have to get back to some true power knitting, I'm behind in my 52 pair plunge. I've gotten 5 pair done, working on 6, 7 and 8 so I hope to catch up.

Well that's about all for now. I have been thinking about doing a contest and giving away some yarn, I'll have to think of something fun to do. Like maybe how many skeins I have who knows.

So keep those sticks aclickn'.

Happily knitting socks, Bye.