I Hate My Swatch!!

I would like to go on record right now.......I do NOT like to swatch!!!
I do not like to swatch at night, I do not like to swatch in the morning, I do NOT like to swatch AT ALL!!

!!! How BORING can you get?????

Not to mention my swatch is a slap in my face that I knit different gauge at different times of the day (aka stress level). I already KNEW (thank you very much) that I don't knit consistently!! NOW I have this, this, spitefull little block of yarn that just GLARES at me with it's different gauge!!!! Mocking me!!!

Now before you get worried that I have anger "issues".....let me just say here.......I think anger when applied correctly is a GOOD thing.....remember how mad I was at my first sock attempt? It was my anger at not letting that stupid ball of string and a handful of sticks get the best of me....and see where it got me? I am now a sock knitter.......improving with each pair!!

I got really angry when a friend was robbed while shopping at a local store and the management did nothing to insure the safety of future shoppers.....so I rallied up a group, we complained to the home office and the store was forced to hire a security guard or risk losing business......I believe the owners of the Food World chain of grocery stores received around 100 phone calls that day!!! When applied correctly anger can be a great motivator for good!! (stepping off my soapbox now).

I guess what I am saying is that I will embrace my swatch anger and put it to good use......right after I put band-aids on my sore finger tips......Love those Knit Pick needles but MAN are those points sharp for this tight, tight knitter!!!!

Update later on the swatch/sweater!!

Why YES......it IS a Sweater!!!

Can't you just SEE the gorgeous sweater this yummy periwinkle/denim blue silk tweed yarn will make??

Everyone will be SOOOO impressed!! I can just hear it now....oh Darlene....it is the most beautiful sweater in the WORLD.....where can I buy one? WHAT? You say you MADE this beautiful sweater??? You mean it is a one of a kind, original, knitted by you sweater????? M.U.S.T. have one of these most perfect sweaters......I'll pay....BIG bucks, maybe even clean your house for a year!!

Ahhh, it is such a happy little place in my head!! LOL!!!

Fact is......I am already nervous about this sweater project.

I like the short n sweet, immediate gratification projects. (Hmmm....wonder what this says about me?).

Remember my vest I posted about......oh..... several months ago? The one that I have never finished because it requires too much thinking and that I have put aside for "one of these days".......like in case of emergency and I can't get out to buy yarn for any other projects and I am FORCED to finish the vest or have nothing to knit at all??? Yep.....I have obligated myself to a sweater....with sleeves.....have I lost COMPLETE control of my mind????

Tonni showed me a sweater she made the last time I visited with her and it was SOOOO pretty, I was caught up in the moment when she told me how easy it was to make and that we should make one......that's all it took!! LOL!! Tonni even found the yarn......on CLOSE out pricing....it was fate!!! She also has a sweater wizard program and created a pattern for me based on my measurements......(which we will NOT discuss)!

Now the pressure is on! The sweater will be a "simple" (reserving judgment on this term for later) knit pattern, raglan sleeves, K2,P2 ribbing at the sleaves and waistband. Sounds simple, but I have this little problem with gauge. You would think after knitting for 2 years I would be able to knit consistently......so......we'll see how this sweater project turns out......but it will be fun and good experience!!

I'll keep you posted!!! Keep your fingers crossed for me!!! LOL!!!

It's Latetoberfest Socks!!

I believe this is the last picture I posted of my Octoberfest socks!!














Now I bring you..........drum roll please...........................
















TA DA!!!! I present my Latetoberfest Socks!!! (Previously named Socktoberfest Socks but since it is almost Thanksgiving I have renamed them)! LOL!! I actually finished these socks last weekend but just now getting around to getting them posted.

I have a mental block about doing a swatch and these socks ended up sort of loose. Last night at Chicks with Sticks I ripped out a sock that was too tight......so I'm just thinking here that there is a REASON why labels list the gauge! LOL!! I don't know WHY I have such an aversion to knitting a swatch!! Does everyone knit a swatch? Maybe I just haven't made enough pairs of socks to "know" what size needle to use to get the result I want.

I have some GORGEOUS yarn I received as a gift from Tonni that I am DYING to get started on but I think I'll make one more pair.....I still end up having to darn certain spots on my socks before I can wear them and I would like to be able to knit a PERFECT pair of socks with it!


Sock Data:
Fearless Fibers Yarn...(found on Ebay)
100% Superwash Merino Wool
Colorway: October
Knit on size 3 Knitpicks Circular needles.
Knit 2 Purl 2 Ribbing

We Interupt This Sock For An Important Announcement

WELL......pull up a chair and I'll tell you a little story of how NOT to knit a sock heel!!

So, I'm happily knitting away on my second Socktoberfest sock....(which I am now calling the Latetoberfest sock).....anyway.......you know on that simple pattern when you get to the point where you have just turned the heel and it says: Knit across the heel stitches and pick up the side stitches???

Guess what happens when you DON'T knit across that turned heel before you start picking up stitches....ahhh.....you real sock knitters already know I bet......you end up knitting INSIDE OUT!! Yessiree....that is EXACTLY what happens when you leave out that tiny little step of knitting across the heel!! And I would imagine that MOST folks would pick right up on that fact....but ME???? Oh NOOOOO.....took me 2, thats TWO times before it dawned on me!!!! I am going to blame it on the lateness of the hour factoring in extreme fatigue and hopefully not that I am a complete IDIOT!!!

SO.........while I get my Latetoberfest sock back on track tonight I bring this view from my yard! I read somewhere that Fall is God's Greeting Card.....WOW!!!

Another WOW Weekend!!

After working at "warp speed" all week and despite being tired we got up at 5:30 Saturday morning, drove to Auburn to spend the day with some friends of ours. We arrived to THIS!!

Talk about a TAILGATE PARTY PALACE!! This thing is N.I.C.E!!!! It has 1.5 baths!!! Three televisions! One large screen T.V. is on the outside (pic taken before full party set up)....AWESOME!! It was cold but they had an outdoor heater that kept us toasty warm the entire time!

















The guys went to the game while Kay and I spent the afternoon knitting! I managed to get two socks completed down to the heel flap but I left my pattern at home so I had to put that part on hold till one evening this week. We had way too much good food, good fun and the day absolutely FLEW by!! Before we knew it we were on our way home.....first we had to drive by Toomers Corner.










YEP....they still roll it!!! The last Auburn game we attended was when my sister was a Senior at Auburn.....WAAYYYYYY back in 1987!!!! No that's not a typo....it was 1987! We had so much fun we plan on going to as many games as we can next year!!

Stupid, Stupid Blog

My Blog is mad at me.....I had the audacity to make a blog title
a TAD too long and it messed up my sidebar. After much
weeping and nashing of teeth (and a tip or two from Laura
I was able to get my side bar back).......UNFORTUNATELY I
seem to have lost some of the comments from the previous two
posts. So if you don't see your comment PLEASE re-send!

Thanks so much!!!

We don't get any Trick or Treaters out here in the woods!

So......in keeping with the tradition of the season I will be watching Charlie Brown's Great Pumpkin Video followed by the original Halloween with Jaimie Lee Curtis.....oh......and eating Halloween Candy!!!!

I Bring You...SOCKTOBERFEST SOCK........(as in singular)

I bought 2 skeins of sock yarn SPECIFICALLY for my Socktoberfest socks and I had such high hopes of completing two pair of socks before the end of the month!!! But we all know what they say about good intentions!! LOL!!!

I also had the mistaken thought that one pair of circular needles were enough........WRONG.......I got "stuck" with a problem while working on my DH Blue Suede socks and there sat my needles, tied up!!! Took care of that little problem.....I now have I think it is 5 or 6 sets of Circular needles !! LOL!!!

I did finish the Blue Suede socks so I guess that qualifies for Socktoberfest!

This Socktoberfest Sock was knitted on size 3 Knit Picks Circular needles, K2,P2 rib all the way down to the toe. This yarn was hand dyed and as soon as I find what I did with the ball band I'll pass that info along too! LOL!!! I finished the toe using the Kitcheners stitch (decision made by input from my blog buddies, thank you very much....keep those tips coming!!).....It isn't terribly smooth on a couple of stitchs.....will practice a bit on some scrap yarn but I can see already I like the finished product SOOO much more than what I had been doing in the past!

I also took a few minutes this weekend between work and housework to make this!!

Please Hold Your Applause Till The End Of This Blog

Well......will wonders EVER cease??? Yes folks.....she HAS been knitting!!! LOL!!!

I FINALLY finished my DH Blue Suede socks!! HALLELUIAH!!! Please note how the stripes match??? (O.K. I admit, this was completely a fluke that they match)!

I need to do a bit of research on how to finish off the toes so they are smooth and "professional" looking but these turned out O.K.!! Thanks so much to TONNI for helping me understand where I was going astray with my heels!! I am also working on my October Yarn for my main
Socktoberfest socks and will post a pic of that tomorrow when there hopefully will be a bit more to show!

After seeing the sweater that Tonni made, I decided it was time for me to venture further into the knitting "pool" and I want to make a sweater.....we are talking committment here folks!!!! I am typically of the "immediate gratification" group when it comes to knitting.....love those "short n sweet" projects....but for some reason I feel compelled to make this sweater!! I am REALLY looking forward to this because it will mean several shared afternoon/evenings of knitting with Tonni and that is half the fun!!!

I'm not sure when we can get this project started as I have STILL not gotten over the fact that I will actually have to SHARE my body measurements with another breathing soul...(despite her disclaimer, signed in blood no less)......she IS the one with the pattern wizard so once we have that teensy little drop of blood to seal the deal we will get started!!! LOL!!!

WOW, What A Weekend!!

Ginger and her DH had two extra tickets to see CATS on Friday Night and invited Johnny and I to join them. I immediatly "nixed" Johnny going with me and asked if they minded if I brought Princess Cupcake instead! (Montana recently got her first kitten so she was especially excited to see a play about cats!!!

This was Montana's first Broadway Play and she was sooooooo excited!!! We had AWESOME seats, very close to the stage!!

Ginger has got to be one of the most genuinely thoughtful, kind people I have had the joy of knowing!!

Ginger met Montana for the first time at the play and true to her sweet spirit she presented Montana with her very own pair of kitty ears on a headband to wear......black with sequins....which matched her outfit and you would have thought she was wearing her very own "tiara"!! LOL!! Absolutely made Montana's evening!!!! (Oh Ginger if you could only hear Montana talking about you while we stood in line during intermission! You have a new fan!! LOL!!

SATURDAY, Tonni was gracious enough to share a good part of her afternoon helping me work out my latest "issues" I have had with knitting socks on circulars!!

What could be better than sharing an afternoon knitting with a good friend!!

We shared some AWESOME Wine from Tonni's collection along with some really good cheese and crackers!! Not to mention all the little "purls" of wisdom she shared with me about sock knitting.....little things I would never think about but make a big difference to the finished sock!! (I hope I can remember them all!!) LOL!! Gee.....I would REALLY hate to have to go back for another afternoon of knitting lessons!!! LOL!!!

I was so surprised and touched when Tonni gave me this gorgeous skein of Blue Moon sock yarn!!!! Aren't the colors GREAT??!! This will be my first experience with knitting with such nice yarn!! I was so tickled.....and a little embarrassed because all I brought her were some plastic bags to store yarn in!! LOL!!!

Tonni, it's very humbling to me to know I was thought of and VERY MUCH appreciated!!

I have a couple of socks to finish up and hopefully by then I'll be worthy of knitting with such nice yarn!!! Tonni knits the most incredible socks and if I can be just HALF as good a knitter as she is I will really think I have accomplished something!!! (She also showed me a sweater she knit that I absolutely loved!!! Ragland oversized sweater with a single cable down the shoulder and arm.....REALLY NICE)!!!

What a GREAT weekend!!

WANTED!!!

I am looking for a pattern like the ornaments shown above, or similar. I have seen the lace patterns and while I like the look of the lace ornaments I REALLY like these. If you know of a pattern like these or similar would you please pass on the information?

Many Thanks!!!

Socktoberfest Sock Started.....FINALLY!!!

FINALLY I have something on the needles to contribute to Socktoberfest! And to THINK I bought 3 different yarns for this KAL!! LOL!!! What WAS I thinking!!!

I should be able to finish this pair of socks by the October 31st...........hopefully!!

I have had technical difficulties with DH second Blue Suede sock......(translated means I have knit the sock to the point where I join the heel, mess it up royally, rip out, make a mess, have to rip completely out and start over........X 2)!! I really wanted to finish the Blue Suede socks before I started the Socktoberfest socks!! Also, I only had one set of needles.....but I now have another pair.....wooo hoooo.....two socks going at once!!! I'm outa control here!! LOL!!!

I now have the Blue Suede sock knitted to the the point where I have completely messed up in the past and have this little fella on hold till I can meet up with Tonni so she can give me a refresher course on this part!! I know I am doing something very simple but for the life of me can't figure out how to correct what I am doing wrong!! The first sock was a breeze!!

It is interesting how the Socktoberfest yarn is striping at an angle.....I'm not sure what makes the yarn slant rather than go straight like the self striping yarns I have used in the past.

This yarn is REALLY pretty, vibrant fall colors, although the picture looks sort of washed out. I bought this yarn from Ebay, Fearless Fibers, 100% Superwash Merino Wool, size 2 circs.

Hopefully in a few days I'll have a bit more to show!

Work has been incredibly hectic, not much time to knit....boo hoo!!!

Follow Up Post

I wanted to share the beautiful flowers that my DH sent me Monday. I guess I'll renew his contract for another year!! LOL!!!

I have so many wonderful people in my life, so blessed that I wanted to take a minute to express myself!

I can't begin to list all the dear friends in my life........I hope you know who you are!! So many old friends, new friends and friends I have not had the pleasure of meeting face to face, yet I feel close as if we lived right next door!! How was I to know just a few months ago that a "blog"....(which I had never even heard the term blog).......could bring me in contact with so many wonderful people!! Nor would I have ever thought that learning to knit would expose me to a community of such wonderful people too!!!

Gifts are fun to receive, no doubt, the cake is yummy, but the friendships and relationships that I have are by far the most precious gifts to me!!

Thanks so much to my "sneaky" friends who are some of the sweetest girls in the world!!!

Will try to knit tonight.....I do have some new yarn......ahhh......so much yarn......so little time to knit!!!

NEW Knitting Book!!!!

Look what I got yesterday! I have about 7 or 8 books in my knitting collection but this one I must admit is one of the best ones I have seen!! This book has SOOO much information in it and has great instructional pictures! I have read about Intarsia....this book has some really good, easy to understand pictures!!

The stitch library section has so many stitches I have never seen!!

Best of all? The book was a gift from my mother.....for my birthday.....which is really strange since I stopped counting birthdays 3 years ago.....(I figured 45 was a good age to be so I have decided to stick with it) !! LOL!!

We had a wonderful lunch yesterday, mother made chicken and dressing (which is the BEST in the world!) with all the trimmings and a very pretty Cake.....but since there is only a slice left over for breakfast I can't share it with you!! LOL!! Life is short....eat cake for breakfast!!!!

For my "non-birthday" My sister gave me a gift certificate to the LYS!!! (oh darn....guess I'll HAVE to buy more yarn!! LOL!!!) My mother also gave me some $$ which I am going to save toward my trip to Maine.....which unfortunately isn't scheduled until NEXT Fall.....oh well.....got to start saving now!! I also got a REALLY pretty cake plate from Williams Sonoma which I love, Philosophy bath gel and some $$ which will also be deposited in my trip fund account from my baby sister.

I will post a pic later of my blue suede sock with my black sheep of the family.......and NO it isn't a relative!!! LOL!!! I just finished the heel flap last night....I have GOT to get this sock finished.....I need the needles to start my Socktober Sock!!!

I am most grateful today for my family, I have a plethora of friends and a wonderful husband...what more could a girl ask for???

:) :) :)

Socktoberfest Questionaire

Socktoberfest Questionaire

Well here it is October 3th and I STILL don't have my socks cast on for Socktoberfest! I needed to finish the Blue Suede sockmate but I ended up with a major mistake and ripped the entire thing out.....and I have this insane desire to finish this pair before starting another pair! Somebody PLEASE stop me!!Guess this means I am going to have to break down and buy another set of circs to use for socks!!In the meantime here is a list of questions from Lolly's blog for the socktoberfest members to use.

1. When did you start making socks? About 4 or 5 months ago.

2. Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class? I took a class for making socks using DPN and Tonni taught me to make socks on circulars which I must admit my first sock was GREAT.....the second sock...well....in a fit of incredible stupidness I totally messed up had to rip out the entire second sock......I'm thinking I might need a refresher!!! LOL!!

3. What was your first pair? A striped pair using yarn from Knit Picks How have they "held up" over time? Well.....since I just learned to make socks this Summer I haven't actually worn them yet but I did darn all the holes pretty good so hopefully they will hold up!! LOL!!

4. What would you have done differently? Not much as they were a "learning" sock.

5. What yarns have you particularly enjoyed? All I have used is Knit Picks yarn so far but my socktoberfest sock yarn is a hand painted yarn!

6. Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method? Knit on Circulars.....Circs rock!!!

7. Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?) WELL......I have only made one kind but I'm not sure what it is!!!

8. How many pairs have you made? 2 pair completed...working on my third pair!!

YIPPEE It's Soctober!!!!!

I am SOOOOO happy it is FINALLY Socktober.....I mean OCTOBER!!!!

I just love OCTOBER!!!

I love all the pumpkins, gourds, mums, all the fall decorations that spring up around town and in neighbors yards! I love to see the colors of the trees as they change....never fails to make me happy!!! I love nothing better than being outside on a crisp, cool fall day and have the wind suddenly blow creating "leaf rain"!! Visiting the local produce stand for all the great apples!!

Oh wait.....I live in Alabama and it is usually in the 80's...hmmm must be thinking of November...oh well.....STILL love October!!!!!!!!!! The temperature is cool somewhere and the leaves are turning!!!

And I can't forget my favorite holiday...Halloween!!! Even though we don't get a single trick-or-treater here in the "woods" I still enjoy it!! (One year when Princess Cupcake was younger I made a spook house in my attic for her!! But alas, she is too old for such foolishness now)! Boo Hoo!

I must admit that I watch Charlie Brown' Great Pumpkin every year and I have a copy of the original Halloween that I enjoy watching......this was the first scary movie I ever saw at the theater....and it was a drive-in at that.....especially frightening!!! Of course now it is silly, cheesy, but the campiness of it makes it all the more fun to watch!!

I am excited to be a part of socktoberfest!!!! I purchased the yarns shown above from Ebay.....took a chance. I couldn't believe something so cheap could actually be nice but I was pleasantly surprised!! The yarn is a dk weight which I think I like fingering weight better but I couldn't pass on these!! The one on the left is appropriately named "October" and the one on the right is "Autumn". The Autumn yarn was disapointing in the color but then again it was quite inexpensive and I can use it to make DH a pair of socks....you know how guys just love dull, drab colors....besides he is color blind so he'll never know the difference!! The colors of the October yarn make up for the Autumn yarn!!

I will probably only get one pair of socks made for Soctoberfest so I'll be using the October yarn, not sure if I will rib or straight knit the body of the sock (that is the only two patterns I know).....but I'm looking forward to finishing DH Blue Suede sock so I can get started on the Socktober/October sock!

Looking forward to seeing all the Socktoberfest participants contributions!!!

Don't Step On My Blue Suede Sock!!

I bring you.....(drum roll please)......DH blue sock.....created by MOI on CIRCULAR needles!!

Yippee!! My FIRST circular needle sock!! (DH was so tickled he asked could he put in a rush order for the mate)! LOL!!! I have got to work on my finishing off technique but other than that I am SOOOOO loving these circs!!!! I just don't see me ever making another sock with DPN unless there is some catastrophe and that is my only option.

I was recently diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my hands....specifically the fingers that I use the most for knitting and it really bummed me out!!! I have to admit that working with the circulars was not bad AT ALL on my hands!! When using the DPN my hands would hurt and still be sore the next day but I have not had any of these problems using the circular needles.....guess it has something to do with the way I had to hold the DPN......not sure the reason but as long as I can keep knitting and it not hurt I am all over it!!!! (Thank you Tonni so much for teaching me to make socks on circulars!!!)

We Interrupt This Blog For An Important Announcement!!

If you do not have a pair of Becky's fabulous Leggy Creations you need to stop....seriously....STOP what you are doing right now and go here....go on.....I'll wait for you!

Scroll down and click on the gallery link to see an archive of some of the sock blockers Becky has made. Becky accepts custom orders so don't be afraid to let her know what you would like!

I could NOT be more tickled with these blockers! The quality of the pictures in NO way reflects the quality of the work!! Each set is signed and numbered and has a tag attached that tells you a bit about what goes into making a pair of Leggy Creations!

The beach scene is incredible!! I'm not sure if these are from actual pictures Becky made on the beach but pretty impressive!!! Oh...and don't think for one minute they are too pretty to use!! They are completely sealed with polyurethane!!! I'm just so excited I had to let everyone in on this well kept secret!!

AND.....Becky makes these little fellas too!! Are they not THE cutest little things? What do you give the knitter that has everything? Why a custom set of Leggy Blockers and pair of sheep!!

UPDATE: Becky did make the photos used on the beach sock blockers.

Farewell Sock!

Remember this???? My pumpkin socks that I could NOT wait to finish???? WELL.....a funny thing happened on the way to casting off........

I was down to the final few rounds of decreasing the toe and I lost a needle....yep....the little sucker just pulled right off!!!!! I am a very tight knitter and despite using a darning needle I could NOT pick up all the stitchs!!! I kept S.L.O.W.L.Y. ripping back in hopes of finding a place that I was able to pick up each and every one of the *&#% stitches......but no such luck!! I just wasn't able to save the sock despite my valiant efforts!! I didn't even get a pic of it before I frogged it!!! Sniff, sniff!!........and I was SOOOO excited because this was my FIRST sock to complete (almost) that wouldn't require darning before I could wear it!! LOL!! It was the closest to perfection I have ever achieved!!!!!!

BUT......I will be casting this yarn back on as soon as I can get the blue sock off my circs (will post a pic of that sock in a day or two)......but till then I leave you this.
















Aaaa.....Waaaa Waaaa Waaaa!!! Sniff, Sniff!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BUTTONS!!!!! Get your Buttons!!

I have been wanting to make a button for my blog for quite some time but for the life of me I have not been able to create one that will work!! Oh well....put that on my "To Do" list!! LOL!!

BUT......I have joined my first official KAL and I am so excited!! Well....actually I have joined FOUR KAL's!!!!! But these are the first ones dedicated to specific items to knit.

Warm Hands This is a KAL for mittens (or gloves for those that are more advanced than I am!) This KAL is hosted by one of my favorite blog sites I stalk....uhmmm visit!!! Follow the link and check out Sandy's blog when you have time!



Knit Unto Others I think this one is going to be one of my favorites!! Although this website is dated 2005, this is a KAL that will be active for this year as well. The blog will be updated later according to the facilitator. This KAL involves making toddler socks for the CIC !

And Last But Not Least:


Socktoberfest 2006 My FIRST sock KAL!!!

Who knows.....just might get good enough one of these days to join an actual SWAP!!!

EUREKA....I Got IT...and other things!

Tonni so very graciously offered to teach me how to knit socks on circular needles awhile back and we were finally able to get together over the weekend! I took my camera but never pulled it out of my bag.....I was so excited I forgot!!! One reason I was so excited was because Tonni gave me these!!! Aren't they great???



My very own sock bags....and not just any sock bag ....but made by Tonni herself!!! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE them both!!!!!

Tonni's daughter was celebrating her 15th birthday with a spend the night party the night I went for my lesson! All the girls came dressed as their favorite movie character.....everyone looked GREAT!! All such cute, sweet girls!! I got such a kick out of listening to them singing "oldies" at the top of their lungs.....(Oldies being the music of MY youth...UGH!!)

I also got to meet Tonni's husband who couldn't have been nicer and I am sure would have enjoyed the ballgames better if he hadn't been stuck in the bedroom having given up the LR to Tonni and I to knit! Last but not least....the fur children some of which I was able to pet and some who were not quite sure about me.....but there's always next time! LOL!!!

It took me several attempts but I FINALLY got the hang of the long tail cast on AND the circular knitting!! (Which I am now a huge fan of!!) I had so much trouble with having the cast on top of my socks not being neat and could NOT figure out why....they were "rippled" and loose looking when I was using the DPN!!! Don't have to worry about that anymore!!! The long tail cast on took care of it!! Be hard pressed to use DPN again for socks......EVER.....hmmmm wonder what I can use the DPN for now????



Tonni could not have been a better teacher or hostess....she made me feel like I was right at home and I am already looking forward to the next time we get together to knit! (I guess here would be an appropriate place to thank Emily once again, for creating a database for all the Alabama Knitters.....which is how I initially met Tonni). I would have never in a million years had the opportunity to meet and get to know Tonni, Ginger and all the other girls if it weren't for Emily and I feel like I have made some lifelong friends......some I have met in person, some I will be meeting in person when time allows!!

Going to be a crazy week, little to no time to knit.....boo hoo....I feel like a kid with a new toy now that I know this new way of making socks and I am so anxious to have the time to sit and knit!!!!

Knitting Deadline!!

Hee! Hee!

Pumpkin Patch Socks!

My camera didn't pick up on the vibrant colors....but the orange is a true vibrant pumpkin color!!

Makes me anxious for Fall!! Cooler temps and all the pumpkins, mums, hay bales and cornstalks that magically appear all over town and on front porches!!

I love to cook with pumpkin too!! Just have to be sure and keep my toes covered!! LOL!!!

NEVER Cook With Naked Feet

ESPECIALLY when it lands on your foot.......and you are wearing flip flops!!

If it can go wrong in the kitchen it has gone wrong in mine....as a matter of fact I'm going to write a book one of these days on what NOT to do in the kitchen! But back to my TOE!!!

As I was unsafely moving a potato from a boiling pot of water with a skewer to the cutting board mistakenly (in retrospect) placed on the OPPOSITE side of the kitchen the potato fell apart....and landed in part on my big toe.....I have a BLISTER!!! I am in pain .....I'm talking PAIN here!!!! I can't decide which hurts worse....the heat of the burn or the pain of the cold from the ice or the humiliation of being so STUPID!!!

I can NOT believe I am even admitting to something so stupid.....but I will be a big person and put my embarrassment and humiliation aside in hopes that someone will benefit from my injury.....if not....perhaps you will have a good laugh! LOL!!!

Note to self: Best to knit instead of cook!!

Bloggers Meet

(This picture was taken at the local coffee house.....NOT at Velma's bar.....and NO I am NOT drunk....I only look that way...HONEST!!)

I was so tickled that Ginger was able to attend Chicks With Sticks last night!! Ginger and I have been blog buddies for several weeks. I found Ginger's blog through Emily's blog under her Alabama Knitters button.

I'm not very good at meeting strangers......I'm pretty awkward.....well, VERY awkward when I meet new people but meeting Ginger was like being reunited with an old friend! First thing we did was hug....(I'm a hugger).....and I immediately knew she was as precious as her emails!! What a SWEETIE she is!! When you have time.....and you will need time......go through her archives! Ginger and her DH travel all over the south to all the out of the way, unique places that make the South so special and shares info on where to stay, great places to eat, etc. PLEASE check her site out....your are in for a treat.....oh.....and did I mention she is a Craft Queen as well as a knitter? She brought me this!



Among all the crafty projects Ginger undertakes she made this sugar scrub! It has a GREAT scent and is right up my alley as I am a bath product junkie!!

Feed The Stash!!!

I needed some eyelash to add with yarn purchased awhile back for a couple of scarves. I ended up with this:

The lighting isn't very good but this is a GREAT variation of greens that I LOVE.....just couldn't pass up!

I just love this color combination!!!

This is for two scarves....not sure if they will be Christmas or Birthday gifts!

SOCK yarn!!

The blue is a boucle yarn that I have never seen and I am going to attempt to make a very small shawl/very large scarf! The other two skeins are for triangular scarves knitted on size 19 needles (Thanks Jan!)......these go sooooo fast and everyone that sees them has asked for one!

A Blatant Case Of Bragging!

I would like to invite everyone to bookmark my nephews blog and follow his journey through Spain beginning today until he returns mid December. Please feel free to comment and let him know you are a friend of mine.

http://thereandbackasemesterinspain.blogspot.com/

Brent is a phenomenal kid....um....I mean.... man! He has worked very hard to get where he is in life and I could not be more proud of him!!!

On the knitting front: The purple "thang" is gone. Even the cat wasn't interested in it......just looked at me like PULEASE, whipped her tail as if to say humph ....and sauntered off!! I would have posted a pic but it was just too sad to show! LOL!!! After I gave it a "trim" I realized it was a good thing I went in the medical field rather than the hair dressing venue!! LOL!

Working on a sock.....will post pics later! I appreciate your support of Brent's travels and his blog!

What Makes a GREAT Saturday?????

What could be better than a Saturday????

The mail lady bringing a box.......to your door........from KNITPICKS!!!!!! Oh happy, happy, joy, joy!!!

I saw the Holiday Knits book at In The Making.....but they only had the shop copy....good for me because I found it at Knit Picks.......CHEAPER!!!!

The fall colored hank of yarn is Memories, Redwood Forest, the blue is Memories, Yukon, the Simply Stripes is Autumn, got a couple of size 2 circular needles.....Tonni (bless her heart) is going to show me how to make socks on circular needles.....hope it will be the end of the dropped/lost needles!!!

Another Blue Sky Saturday

Another Blue Sky From Trussville!! Early this morning the temperature was actually below 70 degrees!! Woo Hoo!!!

Raimie Noodles On Acid............Scarf!

I received a comment on my last sock post about my "spaghetti" yarn.....which reminded me I didn't post a picture of my scarf I named "Raimie Noodles On Acid".....looks like ramie noodles doesn't it???

I had to promise Max a bisquet to pose....but....just like me he will do most anything for food!! LOL!!!

I DID discover that I made the scarf wayyy longer than I wanted it to be!! I finished the scarf at a recent Sticks With Chics gathering.....I tend to get distracted....guess that's where that extra 24" came from!!! LOL!!!

I'm thinking about trying to "undo" back about 2 ft....but not sure if it will "undo" without a major hassle. Hmmm....have to think about this one!!