Swaps and other stuff

So what has everyone been up to? Me, boiling here in the heat and boy am I sick of it. Today is a little cooler than what it has been the last couple of weeks and I can't wait till we have some rain.

My Hogwarts Sock Swap pal Jane, received her package yesterday and her socks fit(here they are) :). I'm very happy she loved the package, especially the wand! This has been a great swap and since I love making socks and really enjoying the HP books/movies I signed up for Hogwarts Sock Swap 2. If anyone is interested in the Hogwarts Sock Swap 2 signups have begun, hope to see you there.

I got a bit of online shopping done in the last week, 2 shops at the The Sweet Sheep. Thursday it was a bit of restocking from my Aunt Margaret's visit and something for my Knitter's Virtual Vacation pal's package and on the weekend I picked out goodies and yarn for Gryffindor socks for my Hogwarts 2 pal Violet and a few more thing for myself, lol. Couldn't be helped I like the free shipping and have developed a new love, Louet Gems fingering weight.

Speaking of Louet Gems, I've got my Sockapalooza pals socks on needles and I'm using the Waving Lace pattern with "Bright Red" Louet Gems yarn. They are coming along great and I am loving the pattern I had to order some "Pink Panther" to make a pair for myself. Pics to follow, The Boy has to find his camera cord.

Well back to knitting and start thinking about fixing supper soon. Happy Knitting!

Hogwarts Sock Swap 2-Second Years

Hogwarts Sock Swap Questionnaire
Second Years

1. What Hogwarts house have you been sorted into? Slytherin

2. Shoe size? 9 US Foot length? 9 3/4 inches (sound familiar, lol)

Foot circumference? 8 3/4 inches

3. List your three favorite sock yarns.
a. Sunshine Yarns
b. Socks That Rock
c. Koigu

4. Would you like to try a new brand of sock yarn? If so, which brand?
Oh yes please, there's so many..Zen Yarn Garden, Fleece Artist Sea Wool or

anything in fingering/sport weight would be awesome. We have a very

limited selection of yarns here(Regia, Patons Kroy and Austerman Step).

5. Do you prefer variegated or solid sock yarn?
I love the variegated/handpainted but would like to acquire more solids, don't

have many.

6. What colors would you like to add to your sock yarn stash?
Reds, Purples, Greens and Blues either Jewel tones or Pastels

7. What kind of sock patterns do you gravitate toward? Lace? Ribbed? Fair Isle?
Lace

8. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, animals, etc.)
Don't care for smoke

9. Will your socks be exposed to cigarette smoke or animals as you knit them?
Non-smoking household and I've got 2 dogs but they don't go near my yarn.

Always kept up high or on the table.

10. Are you willing to have an international Hogwarts Sock Pal?

Yes I am

Proud to be a Slytherin.

Back from Vacation, well sorta..

I'm back, took a mini at home vacation away from Real Life and wow was that ever needed. The boys and I decided after the past 2 months of running around, preparing for company, kindergarten grad, play dates etc, etc it was time to take a vacation away from all of that. I took a break away from the computer and read the first 3 Harry Potter books and watch the 3 movies and have started on book 4 in hopes to get book 5 done before next week to see the movie. I've also watched a few other movies, got 3 pairs of socks knit, injured my thumb during that time, lol and worked on the tan. The boys and I have been having a blast and I've managed to sleep in till 8 or 9 am some days(that's a big deal for me since I usually get up at 7am).

So, you wanna know what is up with the push to read the books? I'll tell you a little secret, I've never read any of the books before last month or seen the movies. Well I did see a bit of the first one and Jordan is not into Harry Potter(he's a Lemony Snicket fan) and hubby is a LOTR's fan boy so there hasn't been an interest or urgency to see or read the books till I joined the Hogwart's Sock Swap. I am officially a Harry Potter fan(I can't believe it took so long for me to read the books), the books have been a great read and the movies are fun. The best part is getting together the special giftees for this swap, shh, I'll tell you a little secret, I bought my pal a wand(also got one for myself, couldn't resist). It just arrived today after being held up in customs, thankfully they did not open the packages but I'm sure they got a good laugh, lol. The stitchmarkers I made for the swap turned out fabulous, exactly how I pictured them. Now I just have to gather an owl, hopefully not Errol, I can't wait!

I have picked up some things for the Knitter's Virtual Vacation Swap already. Yarn is on order, Vulcan ears have been purchased as well as other fun gifts. We will be making a visit to the museum and Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden on the weekend so we will see what other cool goodies can be found.

Robyn the great gal I was spoiling for SP10 received her reveal and the package I sent for her son Sean. I made them matching socks, hehe and even had enough yarn left over for her to make a square or two for his mitred blanket. This was a really great swap, both up and downstream pals are awesome ladies so I think I'll be popping over to sign up for SP11 before I forget, lol.

Well, I think I babbled enough for now so I'm off to sign up/read blogs/knit and bbq.