Finally a pair of socks

Ta Da ! The Sockapalooza socks are finished. After much deliberation about choice of pattern and yarn , and more than a few false starts, I finally have a completed pair of socks . I'm happy with the pattern (Math Whiz socks from http://www.knitspot.com) . The yarn I used was Opal Neon and 2mm DPNs . I changed the heel (originally short row heel ) to a heel flap , but otherwise the socks were knit as called for in the pattern.

Already on my needles is the Japanese Feather Stole , by the same designer . I was looking for a fairly open , lacy stole to wear with my dress for Casey's wedding . As it's a beach wedding I didn't want anything too fussy or stylized .I that think this one fits the bill perfectly. I've done the first of 10 pattern repeats . So far , so good . I can't believe that I've signed up for the MS3 KAL .I joined awhile back when it was first mentioned , but haven't knit any of the clues yet .I'm not one of the speedy knitters who manages to knit up each clue just after it's posted .The previous mystery stoles were spectacular and can't wait to see what Melanie is giving us this time . I'm thinking this will be my summer of socks and stoles . I've got it covered from top to bottom , so to speak .

Stick a fork in me - we're done !

We're done ! As of today Casey and Chantal are home owners (well at least mortgage owners) . We're doing small finishing details and clean-up , but today is officially the last day at the house. Seven and half weeks from start to finish , after the lunch break , that's it that's all ! I'll post some pics later , right now the camera battery is re-charging . I could use a little re-charging myself ; plug me in to the closest lawn chair , please ,with a nice glass of sangria and re-charging will commence .

Understandably it's been very quiet on the knitting front . I did work on the sock pal socks , which were also supposed to be my June socks for the SAM3KAL . I'm at the gusset decreases on the foot , so almost done. I'm happy with the socks and really hope that my pal is too . I've never been so anxious about knitting for some one else before . I guess it's that this person is a complete unknown and a knitter , which for some reason added pressure . Anyway they're just about done and ready to go . Bring on the Monkeys !

The home stretch !

We're into the home stretch ( pardon the pun ) ! Casey and Chantal will be moving into their new home this week. We're still doing the finishing touches inside and the siding is almost done.There's still a lot of work to be done outside the (landscaping , drive way etc. ) , but the house itself is pretty much ready . I've been at their apartment for the last couple of days to start packing . I can't believe how much stuff they managed to pack into that tiny space . I have to say that, all in all ,these last two months have been an amazing experience . This house is already filled with laughter and loads of memories . Casey and Chantal are very lucky, and so were we , to be able to share this with them .

Sockapalooza sock # 1

Here's how far I've come with the socks for Sockapalooza . You'll notice that the heel is not a short row heel as was mentioned in my previous post . I don't know whether last weeks' heat addled my brains , but I could not , for love or money, produce a passable short row heel . God knows I tried. After much muttering , ripping out and re-knitting , I decided that my standard heel flap was going to have to do . I'm sure I'll attempt some short row heels at some point in my life , just not now for my sanity's sake .

There are some other projects in the works , one of which is a stole to match my dress for Casey's wedding . I've ordered some lace weight yarn , which hopefully will arrive soon. I have a couple of patterns in mind , but will decide when I actually have the yarn at hand . I've also joined another sock KAL , so definitely more socks . Before knitting became my creative obsession , I used to do a lot of counted cross stitch . I've promised a friend that I would complete a cross stitch project that been languishing in her closet for awhile. In exchange she will complete a knitted afghan for me. I'd started this afghan about 3 years ago , it's about 70% done , but it's still in my work basket . I've come to the conclusion that I sometimes have the attention span of a flea and that I should never start any very large projects because I'm bound to lose interest. Hence the restless needles.

With the summer heat also comes a certain inclination to sit in a comfy chair in the shade with a cool drink and a good book . I have so many books in my to be read list ( have to stay away from Chapters ) . Mysteries / whodunits are my guilty pleasure and easy summer reads . You can see the sidebar for a look at what I've been reading lately

Dog versus skunk

Here it is Tuesday morning and and no knitting progress to show. Life has been getting in the way . This weekend we've finally gotten a taste of normal summer weather ; hot , hot , hot ! I'm loving it ! We had a very nice BBQ on Saturday with our friends . It was just so nice to be able to kick back and enjoy the summer evening. Until the mosquitoes sent us running back inside , that is .



The house building is going really well . Casey's on vacation right now , so he's been doing quite a bit everyday. He and Max were able to get in a game of golf , so it hasn't been all work and no play . All the plastering has been done inside , the ceramic floors have been laid . The big push this weekend will be the hardwood floors inside and the exterior siding . There will be a big crew again this weekend . I've been spoiled the last couple of weeks with fewer mouths to feed , giving me some free time .



It seems as if I spent all that free time going clothes shopping . My wardrobe needs a boost and I really had to find a dress for Casey's wedding . Good news, found it and of all places at The Bay ! I'm so happy I could sing ! It seems crazy to be shopping for this now as the wedding is only Jan. 2 , 2008 , but try and find summer apparel in October . Some of the stores are already getting in their Fall lines at the end of this month .



Yesterday morning Alaska had a run in with a skunk . Let me tell you the score , skunk 1 , Alaska 0 . Poor dog he got hit right in the face . Max had let him off the leash , just before coming into the house . Apparently, the skunk was having a bit of a snooze just in front of the house under our mailbox . Alaska probably thought Spooky was out and went to say hi . Max, half asleep , didn't realize right away either what it actually was , by then the damage had been done . To make matters worse some of that lovely smelling stuff got onto our welcome mat and consequently the newspaper , which Mike , not thinking clearly , brought into the house. As it 's been so warm the windows were all open , so he couldn't really distinguish inside smells from outside smells . I was outside trying to help Max with the tomato juice bath ; when I came in to get more juice , I saw Mike calmly reading the paper . I don't think anyone has ever moved as quickly as I did , newspaper , tablecloth, under pad, everything into the garbage . Let me tell you , it was a long day. Alaska had numerous baths . I had to scrub down the front entrance as well as part of the back patio . I just have to say , thank god that vets open early . We were able to get some very effective odour neutralizing products so that what could have been a very smelly house and dog are really none the worse for an early morning encounter with a skunk .

Random Thursday

No pictures of knitting today or anything else for that matter . I started another sock for Sockapalooza and I'm just about at the heel . I'm using Opal Neon in really pretty variegated blues and purples with some lime green thrown in for added colour . I think just might be THE socks . Haven't I said that before ? I'll be attempting a short row heel , my first ever . Fingers crossed it'll work out. Pictures after the heel is done.



I tried something new for dinner yesterday . I found a very good recipe for Chicken Tikka Masala (sort of a curried chicken ) on allrecipes .com . Still having trouble doing the links so I'll just leave it at that. I served it over basmati rice with lightly sauteed seasonal veggies . It was absolutely delicious , if I do say so myself ! Definitely will make this again .



I also went to visit Marie again yesterday . I'd brought her some groceries and then stayed awhile. She's really having difficulty breathing and all the rain and humidity we're having lately is making it so much harder. The home care nurse was also there yesterday and it seems her disease is progressing , her oxygen levels in her blood are lower than it should be . She really shouldn't be at home , but she refuses to go the hospital . She tells me that when she's ready to go she'll let me know . She wants to stay home for as long as possible . I can't say that I blame her , as care for seniors is often not ideal , especially if they have no family to act on their behalf. She's just such an amazing person , with so much determination and will to live . Always a smile and kind word , I love her dearly. She's still knitting socks ; she just finished a pair for Stefanie . Will post a photo later this week .

In an effort to go more green , we've finally got a composter going in the back yard . Mike put it together earlier in the week and we've been using it ever since . I'll end up with great fertlizer for my garden . Happy , happy , happy !

The good and the bad

This is a special weekend for us . Yesterday , Max our younger son , received his diploma , attesting that he successfully completed the construction and carpentry courses that he's been taking for the last year. I've never seen him as happy and eager to learn as he's been since the classes began. He's worked very hard and we're all so proud of him . I believe he's finally found his niche . With him in this pic is Stefanie , who's given him moral support and so much more. They make a great team . The other photo is of Max with his brother Casey . Today they're really good friends as well as brothers . A minor miracle considering how they used to fight when they were kids . They're almost exactly 2 years apart so I suppose it was normal sibling rivalry , but I can remember many a day of me tearing my hair out , thinking I must be doing something wrong . I can't believe how fast the time has gone by , it seems like a blink of an eye , and they're men not boys.

Here's the bad ... I've given up with the crosshatch socks and Lorna's Laces . I've come to the conclusion that I won't be happy sending these socks to my pal .The pooling was taking away from the pattern . I mean it's not as if I have no other yarn in my stash so I'll try to find something else that I think my pal will like .



Going to try and get some garden work today , have to take advantage of a few rain free hours . It looks like it will rain most of this week . Think I'll get Max to build us an ark