Woot, Fanny's are done!

Here's a pic of my Fanny's for Socktopia. Wow, what a sock to work on, they may be anklets but short row heel and toe I have never attempted before. Heck it took me 3 weeks of reading over the pattern contemplating whether or not I could do it, lol. But after much thought I took on the dreaded short rows and won, with no holes either *cackle*. Here's a pic of the finished socks and my heel, see no holes, I'm one proud knitter.


Now that I have finished a pair with short rows, with only having to frog the heels of both 3 times each and toes once each I think I will make a go of the toe up. After taking a look at the Rockin' Sock Club Kit I really need to master the toe up otherwise I won't have a kit to knit, hehe. I'll give it a whirl right after I finish my Hocrux mate, hopefully tomorrow. Here's a better pic of my yarn porn from last week. Check out the Yarn Pirate *squeals* and the STR "Walking on the Wild Tide".

But here's a little more catch up from the last post. I ended up with a sinus cold not allergies and missed my little guys special day in Kindergarten on Thursday. That really sucked cause I enjoy watching him in class plus talking to someone over the age of 6 helps too ;). Hubby took my place and had some fun but I'm at the end of this nasty thing and things are getting back to normal. We had a great time on Saturday, took the boys to the park(forgot the camera but brought the knitting)for a couple of hours and yesterday we were out all afternoon with me knitting on the sidelines trying not to get hit by the basketball. A good time was had and I finished my socks last night before going to bed. Here's the boys having a blast yesterday.



Well better run, have to pick up the little guy at school in 10 minutes.

Mail Call/Spoilage Ahead

Woot diddie Woot Woot! I got my Rockin' Sock Club kit and I'm loving it. The yarn is sooo soft. As soon as I get some of these socks done I'll cast on for these, my monsoon socks will have to wait till I try toe up on some regular worsted. Here's a pic of the fibery goodness I received. The other skeins of yarn are from Sweet Sheep, 2 skeins of Louet Gems in Bright Red and 2 luscious skeins of Yarn Pirate, my very first two.




I also received a gift from my SP10 pal a.k.a. Secret Knitter 2007, this was in the mailbox this morning with my newspaper. I guess I'm losing my touch in stalking my mailman, lol. I definately have the best pal ever, look at all the wonderful goodies I received. A Bernat crochet baby gifts book and this is awesome cause I still have some Bernat kicking about and some friends of ours are trying for their own little one. I also received a pretty pack of sticky notes, a pair of sheep(so cool, one is hanging off my monitor) and a Toblerone bar, mmmm.

Now to go nurse this sinus infection/allergies, not sure which it is yet.

Craptastic

I got that dreaded stomach flu Collin had. What a crappy week, no pun intended, lol. So now that I'm feeling much better I got around to checking my email and getting back to blogging.

I've got my partner for the Knitters' Coffee Swap, Yeah! I can't wait to see her questionnaire and start my shopping. Now, I just have to patiently wait for my Sockapalooza pal. In other swap news, I sent out my last package to my Canadian Secret Sister. I'll wait till she gets the package before I reveal who she is. I also sent out my Knitters Treat package, here's a little glimpse of what I sent.

Oohh, I can't wait to see what she thinks of the goodies.


Here's a pic of my WIP, I have the one Hocrux sock done in Patons Kroy from my SP10. The mate only has the cuff done. I also have my MIL's sock going, just finished the decreases this evening so hopefully those will be out the door by the weekend for her Mothers Day gift. In Monkey news I finally gave in and frogged the pair. The dog fur was just to much to take so off to the frog pond but as I frogged I used the blow dryer on cool and I think I got most of it. Right now it is just a lump of pink yarn and I don't dare touch it yet.

Drat, I just realized I missed the first half hour of Sopranos. Oh well, I'll catch it tomorrow. Might as well get some knitting done before Desperate Housewives.

Knitters' Coffee Swap QUESTIONS

1. Whole bean or ground? Ground please
2. Fully-loaded or decaf? Fully-loaded
3. Regular or flavored? Regular
4. How do you drink your coffee? French Vanilla coffee cream
5. Favorite coffee ever? Xtreme bean(local dark roast)
6. Are you fussy about your coffee or will any old bean do? kinda fussy, love the dark roasts but do enjoy a good medium roast as well.
7. Favorite treats to have with your coffee? Milk Chocolate or Choc. chip cookies
8. Anything else about your coffee preferences? Absolutely love coffee
9. Yarn/fiber you love? Sock yarn or any other natural fibers
10. Yarn/fiber you hate? Acrylic
11. What's on your needles? Socks, socks and a scarf
12. Favorite colors? love everything except mustard yellow
13. Allergies? no
14. Anything you really love, really don't like, or just need to get off your chest? I don't like the acrylic/ribbon/furry yarns, love anything wool, especially sock yarn. I can't wait to start shopping!

Holy Crap!

Yes, that's what I've been up to my armpits in plus vomit. It all started on Friday the 13th, Collin started vomiting and had the poops. I had a bad feeling it was the take out we had the day before and since we rarely have it I chalked it up to that. So, yesterday rolls around still no improvement and I'm watching for any signs of dehydration and sure enough by 2:30pm I was sitting in the Emergency at the hospital with Collin and Justice(hubby was at work)waiting to be seen. An hour passes and finally after the cleared out some beds we got in. After getting checked out by the Doc, blood work(in case of diabetes, thankfully turned up normal), he got a shot of gravol in the butt and a script for Immodium all for the Stomach Flu. Man, I tell you everytime this little guy gets sick it is always the worst it can be. Hubby and I are ready to get a bubble for him so he has no contact with germs. Today, he's up and about, drinking and eating a bit with no vomiting. He has gotten some of the color back in his face and looks like everything should be back to normal for the weekend, fingers crossed.


So with all the crap going on I've barely knit a stitch on my Hocrux socks and I'm half way done the foot on the first sock. I did have a chance to go thru some of my yarn and decided to weed out what I'll never use.

EDIT: Mohair is spoken for, TY.
Anyone want some free Mohair Yarn?
I've got a couple of bags going to the hospital for the knitters there and Blankets of Canada too. I'm kinda unsure if the knitters at the hospital would use "Pingouin Soft'Hair" it's 50% mohair, 25% wool and 25% acrylic in lime green and 121 yards in the 50 gram ball. I've got 8 up for grabs and since I'm not a huge fan of mohair, makes me itch plus it gives me the heeby jeebies(reminds me of spiders, lol). Anyone out there that can put it to use, it is all yours, just leave a comment with your email addy and I'll get back to you for your snail mail addy. Here's a pic of my Hocrux sock and the mohair yarn.



I did get some great news today, had a chance to look at a couple of blogs before posting and I WON a contest of at Knittymama's blog. That is so sweet, first blog contest I've won. Thanks Knittymama!!

Time to make lunch for the kids.

Hocrux Socks Finished!

My MIL's Hocrux socks are finished. I was up till 1 am this morning finishing those off. In total I think it took 2 weeks to knit these worsted weight socks up, sheesh and it only took 2 days to whip up a pair of fingering weight for the Socktopia contest, unbelievable. The pattern is awesome, loving it but the Galway in the dark burgandy, not loving it. Here's a pic of the Hocrux socks before they are stashed till Christmas.


In other knitting news I frogged my Cherry Tree Hill socks, just wasn't loving the basic sock pattern for the yarn. I did cast on for another pair of Hocrux socks in fingering weight using the Patons Kroy my SP10 pal sent. I've got the cuff done and just going to start the leg and it is looking awesome. I also ordered the sock yarn for my Hogwarts Sock Pal , woot, can't wait to get started on those.

Not much else going on, just alot of knitting and organizing the house. If it wasn't so windy today I could have got my windows started but the last thing I needed was dust blowing in. Well, better get my swap mail boxed and ready to go for tomorrow.

Happy Knitting!

When it Rains/Snows, it pours Mail!

Woot, finally after all the wait I received some of the mail I've been waiting for. My regular parcel delivery gal and her hubby are on holidays so they are pretty backed up on their routes. Now, if they weren't on holidays both know how much my packages of yarn means to me so they usually pop by first thing(7-9 am), lol. Yesterday it was after 5pm when the sub came by and I have some fibery goodness to share.


First off, Super Huge Thank You to my Secret Pal 10. You so rock! So, I opened the box and low and behold there are 2 skeins of Patons Kroy in Winter Eclipse. This is the yarn I've been looking for since I made Collin's socks and have had no luck on ebay or other yarn stores. My Aunt didn't even have anymore in her stash or at the stores down her way. I also received a pair of cable needles(always needed), picture keychain, 2 "T" post it notes and a "Footprints in the Sand" notepaper. Oops, forgot the gummies which almost didn't make the pic, lol.

My other packages I can't show you all because it's for swaps, SP10, Knitter's Treat and possibly my Sockapalooza pal's socks. Yes, I signed up for Sockapalooza last night and yesterday morning I squeezed into(I was #88) the Hogwarts Sock Swap. I am so looking forward to knitting those socks. I also volunteered to Angel in Sockapalooza, what the heck, I enjoy knitting for those who really appreciate it.



I also found my STR Xmas Rock socks(my first pair of STR socks) which have been missing in action for the past 5 months. I thought my oldest made off with them but I found them nicely folded and sitting in between blankets in the closet. What a relief!

Time to get knitting before I make lunch. The dreaded Galway worsted weight socks are almost finished, just have less than half the foot and those can be stashed till Christmas. Sheesh, if I was thinking I could have used the Colinette Cadenza I had ordered.

Edit: I just checked the mailbox and I received another gift from my Secret Pal. Check it out, gorgeous stitchmarkers and some Tim Horton's gift certificates, cause I gotsta have my coffee, lol. Woot! Thanks so much Secret Pal, You are the Best!! Awesome day or what.

Hogwarts Sock Swap Questionnaire

1. What Hogwarts house have you been sorted into?
I belong to SLYTHERIN.

2. Shoe size?
9 US

3. Foot Length?
9 3/4 inches

4. Foot Circumference?
8 3/4 inches

5. List your three favorite double-point needle brands, including size and length.
a. Crystal Palace- 6 or 8 inch, US 0 to 3's please
b. Britanny Birch, 5 inch, US 1's or 2's
c. The Collection SRK, 6 inch, US 0's to US 4's

6. Would you like to try a new brand needle? If so, which brand? Size? Length?
Yes, anything Bamboo or Wood or the Addi Naturas in US 0's or 1's and anything over 5 inch length

7. If you are a RAVENCLAW, do you prefer the colors in the film or the book? Do you have a strong preference?

8. Are you willing to have an international Hogwarts Sock Pal?
Yes!

Happy Easter!

Kids are bouncing off the walls, all the eggs have been found and it's time to start knitting, lol.

What a morning, the little guys had us out of bed at 6 am, they did try for 4:30 am but no way that was happening. I had my camera all ready to go, turn it on and batteries are dead, nice, grab Jordan's camera, memory card full and his plug isn't compatible with mine(damn Kodak) and his laptop is buried somewhere in his room. Start the hunt for my back up, the little HP, found it, memory card full, transfer pics and batteries die. Something tells me I should have stayed in bed or at least had a cup of coffee before this had begun. Once the batteries are changed kids start the hunt. It only took 10 minutes this year to find 38 plastic eggs. I didn't want to hide to many that were in the open but next year I won't make it as easy, lol.

Now that I've had 3 cups of coffee, sent hubby to work(yes, he works today, double shift), made cookies with the boys I'm ready to do a little blogging and knitting. I managed a couple of rounds on the Horcrux socks for the MIL. I sent them an email the other day asking their shoe sizes and always thought she had smaller feet than I...NOT. She's got size 10's, same with Rob's dad and he thought they were close to his size 13's(could this have been his plan to get some extra socks, hmm, maybe, especially since I haven't made him any yet). Lucky I didn't make the first Horcrux sock to fit me, lol. These socks are my 3rd time knitting with worsted for socks and wow, working with a solid color is killing me. I did very well when I cast on for these puppies on the 1st, got the leg and heel turned and just totally lost interest on the foot. Mental note, start buying variegated worsted wool, lol.

In other news, I just received my Knitter's Treat pals info!!!! Woot!! I'm all excited, she like knitting socks too. Now, the big decision, what yarn do I send. Lucky I have a few weeks before sending the package out. On the Secret Pal 10 front, I still haven't received the packages of goodies I bought for my pal yet. I'm sure they are held up in Customs, those guys love the sock yarn. I was really hoping to get her first package out before the end of March but now it looks like it will be leaving the middle of April.

My spoiler for SP10 is just awesome! *wave* I should be seeing the package she sent in a little bit, can't wait. Happy Easter Secret Knitter!

Spring cleaning is almost finished now. I still have the laundry room to wash down and reorganize the computer room. Hubby was off Thursday and Friday so we hung the new curtains and dumped the blinds and the place is looking great. Saturday we had our Easter dinner since both Jordan and hubby worked yesterday evening and today. Justice is off this week for Spring Break and maybe, just maybe I will get one day of sleeping in *fingers crossed* and a couple pairs of socks finished. WIP's are the scarf and 3 pair of socks and trying not to cast on for anymore till at least one is finished. It is so hard, I've got sock yarn everywhere, or almost everywhere.

Time for more coffee. Happy Easter Everyone!

Another Birthday

Yes, another birthday today. My oldest is 17 years old, un-freakin believable. Right now he's at school and than out with his friends. We have been dumped, lol. He spent the day with us yesterday celebrating Collin's birthday and kinda doing his as well. Hubby had the morning/afternoon off so all in all it was a pretty good day and I am beat. Birthdays are now done till December(Justice) except Rob's dad has his in November but that's just mailing a little something, hehe.


The past week has been rough, trying to get some knitting done, cleaning, yes still cleaning but I did get my new curtains/rods yesterday. Got 2 windows done but with the snow I still haven't had a chance to pull the windows out and give them a good cleaning yet. I've also been trying to get the time to look thru my new book "Casts Off" and fondle my birthday order from Red Bird Knits that came on Monday! I thought it was appropriate to picture her book on a bunch of sock yarn, lol. Still waiting for my Secret Pal 10's pressies to arrive. Sheesh, I hope it isn't held up in customs and if it is those guys better wash their picky paws before touching the fibery goodness ;)

Ughh, better drag my butt back upstairs and finish the dishes and tidy up. I'm done for the day with hanging curtains and cleaning after this for today. I leave you with a pic of my 3 boys. Happy knitting!

Happy 5th Birthday Collin!

My baby turned 5 today! Where did the time go? Since it is Collin's day, he's picked his birthday lunch, BK with a brownie cake(hates real cake) and lots of giftees. Here's a pic of my little guy.


Take care and happy knitting!