The speed with which we work

Did you ever notice that when you want time to fly by, it never does? or when you pay attention to how much you have knitted, the piece never seems to grow? I know it's like the "watched pot" thing, but sheesh! I have been knitting away on my PJ top, and it was not growing at all. Suddenly, it has exploded in length. I'm not complaining, mind you, just saying. Hopefully, the momentum will stay around, and the top will finish up relatively quickly.
Ravelry is totally a giant time suck. I've been spending far more time over there than I should be. But, it's all cool. If someone knows better, please tell me, but I think I can upload a butt-load more pictures in the next two days, then my "% allowed per month" should reset in September. I'm only at 30% for this month, so I should be able to go upload crazy tomorrow.
Lastly, I need to give a shout out to Poops! She is an illustrious member of the knitty board, and RAKed me today! She sent me a skein of Koigu Kpm in a lovely Burgundy color!

I've only used this yarn once, and it was for a gift. I'm very excited to make something for me out of it! Thanks again!

Unmentionables

I could be very Victorian, and not discuss my pettipants at all.
I'm not Victorian in the least.
(Well, not in attitude anyway. I love the clothes.)

Specs:
Pattern: Unmentionables from Knitty.com
Yarn: Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, in "blush"
Needles: KP interchangables, size 6 & Susan Bates DPN's, size 7
Notes: Super easy knit, great for TV watching and beach going. The edging took a lot longer than I thought. I didn't modify the pattern at all, but I didn't use nearly the amount of yarn the pattern called for. I came out with an extra 2.5 skeins of yarn. I'm not complaining, as I have enough to make a pj top to match my pettipants! You will notice that I have not run the cord through the eyelets yet. I am waiting until I have the companion top finished. I want to make sure they match. Call me crazy.
Just to prove there is a lot of lace edging...

This is my top so far.

Doesn't look like, but I've got big plans!

New and Exciting Adventures

So I am now part of a new and exciting adventure. well, actually 2 new and exciting adventures.
1. My Ravelry invite came today!! I've started loading projects and yarn, and omg. SO much stuff to do! and play with! I really need to get that laptop so I can work on this at home. I am not going to be able to load my stash and projects into Ravelry on my down time at work. Good excuse to get the computer, no?
My name is Costumechick over there too. Stop by and say "hi"!
2. I joined the "Secret of the Stole" yahoo group. It's another mystery stole! This one starts in October. Plenty of time to finish off the MS3. The host is limiting membership, so sign up early if you want to join the Lacy fun! The only thing we know so far is the start date, and that the stole is in lace weight! Yay!
In other news, I finished up the Unmentionables. I have cast on for the shirt - 3 times. You know how it is when you're winging it! I think I've got it down now! I am going to post pictures tomorrow, but for now you just get to imagine.
close your eyes...
wait!
Don't close your eyes! How are you supposed to read with your eyes closed?
close your eyes, most of the way....
Imagine this: co 68 stitches for the front. knit in 2x2 rib for 3 rows. do an eyelet row. knit 3 more rows of 2x2 rib. switch to stockinette. knit until piece is 3". Cut yarn. repeat for back. Now, knit across back, cast on 6 sts, knit across front, co 6 st. join. work in the round until as long as I want. (No more than until I have only 1/2 skein of yarn left) Knit edging as for Unmentionables. Tada! The eyelets will have cord run through, then up and over the shoulders - making straps. The whole business will tie in front.
Ok. Open your eyes again.
Will it work? I hope so! I'm only on the 2x2 rib in the back. Cross your fingers!
I've gotten a bunch of requests- including two e-mails- for my WLAE socks. I've never done such a thing. I'm going to work on this, but I want some opinions. Is it better for me to write out the whole pattern, or just publish the stranding chart with a stitchcount? I just used my plain ole' sock and instered the colorwork. How would everyone feel about this?

I need to get out more

This is fun. I've bolded the states I've been too, and italisized the states I've lived in. hmm. I need to fix that Hawaii thing!

Alabama / Alaska / Arizona / Arkansas / California / Colorado / Connecticut / Delaware / Florida / Georgia / Hawaii / Idaho / Illinois / Indiana / Iowa / Kansas / Kentucky / Louisiana / Maine / Maryland / Massachusetts / Michigan / Minnesota / Mississippi / Missouri / Montana / Nebraska / Nevada / New Hampshire / New Jersey / New Mexico / New York / North Carolina / North Dakota / Ohio / Oklahoma / Oregon / Pennsylvania / Rhode Island / South Carolina / South Dakota / Tennessee / Texas / Utah / Vermont / Virginia / Washington / West Virginia / Wisconsin / Wyoming / Washington D.C /

Walk like an Egyptiiiaaaannnn

The Bangles
Walk Like An Egyptian
(L. Sternberg)
Vicki, Michael, Susanna

All the old paintings on the tombs
They do the sand dance don't you know
If they move too quick (oh whey oh)
They're falling down like a domino

All the bazaar men by the Nile
They got the money on a bet
Gold crocodiles (oh whey oh)
They snap their teeth on your cigarette

Foreign types with the hookah pipes say
Ay oh whey oh, ay oh whey oh
Walk like an Egyptian

Blonde waitresses take their trays
They spin around and they cross the floor
They've got the moves (oh whey oh)
You drop your drink then they bring you more

All the school kids so sick of books
They like the punk and the metal band
When the buzzer rings (oh whey oh)
They're walking like an Egyptian

All the kids in the marketplace say
Ay oh whey oh, ay oh whey oh
Walk like an Egyptian

Slide your feet up the street bend your back
Shift your arm then you pull it back
Life is hard you know (oh whey oh)
So strike a pose on a Cadillac

If you want to find all the cops
They're hanging out in the donut shop
They sing and dance (oh whey oh)
Spin the clubs cruise down the block

All the Japanese with their yen
The party boys call the Kremlin
And the Chinese know (oh whey oh)
They walk the line like Egyptian

All the cops in the donut shop say
Ay oh whey oh, ay oh whey oh
Walk like an Egyptian
Walk like an Egyptian

Gotta love the 80's!
Why am I posting the lyrics to a song that is going to be stuck in every one's heads for the next 6 hours?(!) Because, I finished my "Walk Like an Egyptian" socks! These were ceated for Socktopia, August edition, and I'm super thrilled with them. SO much fun to knit, and I love the yarn, too!

Stat:
Pattern: my own, baby!
Yarn: Regia Silk (yellow), and Lang Jawoll (Brown).
Needles: Knit Picks, classic circs, size 0
Notes: With themes revolving around great 1980's songs, my choice was a hard one this time! I looked to my stash for inspiration. I bought the Regia Silk during a Super Bowl sale this year, and was drawn to it. I wanted to knit either the "Walk Like an Egyptian" theme, or the "Eye of the Tiger" theme. Now "Eye of the Tiger" is the theme song from Rocky III - one of my all time favorite movies. I considered using the yarn to knit a "boxing shoe", a`la the "Italian Stallion - Rocky Balboa". I decided against it. How many people in Socktopia are really that big of fans of "Rocky III"? Who wold know why I made a boxing shoe? Also, it would be kinda weird to wear a shoe inside a shoe anyway. So instead, I decided to go with "Walk Like an Egyptian". I created some little stranded color work dudes, doing the "walk Like an Egyptian" dance, and went to town. I really like these socks. The yarn is so scrummy! Can I just wear silk all the time? oh, and Pheobe, from SnB, pointed out that I can assign the little sock dudes names of the people I don't like, and walk all over them when ever I want. :)

I am still firmly in my Stranded color work kick. I thought maybe the threat of all those ends in these socks would dissuade me from continuing on the "stranded color work road of doom". Not so. I'm already dreaming of more....

Swan Lake

I blocked my beautiful MS3, "Swan Lake", last night. I love blocking. Sure, it may take forever, but it is so worth it. OMG. The lace opens up, the yarn looks so delicate. Drool.

I got my Assistant, Lesley, to model for me. I had big plans to get some shots of my handiwork, but it is, of course raining. I couldn't wait, so I took some pics anyway. I'm sure if you want to see better pictures than mine, you can surf the MS3 ring and find some. Blasted rain.
so, without further ado....


Lesley is a card, as you can tell. She was doing her best "America's Next Top Model" impression. I think you get the idea.
The stats:
Pattern: "Swan Lake", aka MS3 by Melanie of Pinklemontwist.blogspot
Yarn: WEBS, Valley Yarn Alpaca Silk Lace weight, about 1/3 skein
Needles: KP options, size 4
Started: Friday, June 29
Finished: Sunday, August 19
Dimensions: 76" x 20"

Notes: I LOVE the wing. You cannot believe how cool it looks in person. The wing just drapes around the shoulder like, well, I don't know what. Costumers love Bias, and this is why. The wing is just meant to flow over the shoulder. Also, It looks awesome hanging straight down, and not flung over. The "row of Yo's" that everyone is worried about is not even an issue when you see it on. Seriously, It's almost like a shoulder seam in sweater, you don't even notice it, and if you do, it's not unexpected. I know that sounds weird, but you have to trust me, once it is around a body, the "seam" is a non-issue. Let me say again how much I love the WEBS Alpaca Silk lace weight. and my KP. Nothing about this project put me off. Big happy faces all around.
Finally, the picture of Lesley doing her "school photo day" pose.

hee!
Next non-rainy day, I'm taking better pictures.

I finished her up!

I finished the MS3, "Swan Lake Stole" on Sunday. The final 10 rows were l o n g. I was getting a tad antsy, waiting for the end. Finally, I got to the final three rows, and they flew by! There is beads along the whole row in each of the last three. That means, plenty of stuff to do while chugging through the sameness. I can't wait to block it tonight, and get some action shots tomorrow!

The end

The end is drawing near for the MS3. The last clue came out today, and is prepped and ready to be knit. I should have a finished and blocking picture for you early next week!
No new knitting excitement to speak of, really. I am on leg #2 of the August SOcktopia socks. I should be able to finish them up in pretty short order as well.
The edging on the "Unmentionables" is trying to kill me. I am FINALLY on leg #2. I can really start to move on the edging when I reach that "zen place" where my fingers are moving, but I'm not really paying attention. I must find that place for an evening or two next week if I am going to ever finish them.
So what, you may ask, am I even posting for?
Well, I went shopping!
I KNOW, Right?!

Denise, from work, and I drove up to the farmhouse sale yesterday. We split a "fill a bag". Each of us got a mess of yarn - totalling somewhere in the $700 worth range. This is what I got:

5 skeins of buppy cottony goodness

3 skeins of grey summer spun. I needed a bit more for a sweater.

2 skeins of fat sheep for a contast design on a sweater yoke

10 skeins of super soft 2 ply

10 skeins of rayon/wool fingering weight yarn. I see lace....
Then, we went to Saybrook Yarn. Dude, Denise has never been! So we HAD to go! Could I resist a bag sale? No I couldn't:

1 bag of Cascade Sierra. mmm cottony

3 skeins of Heirloom Argyle sock yarn. These will most likely turn into DH socks.
Drool, drool, drool, my payola! (Dead Kennedys reference)
Anyway, we finished our adventure with lunch at The Paperback Cafe, and headed back to town. I didn't spend too much time at work, because it was time for SnB!
We've been having really big groups recently, so I thought I'd snap a picture.
A whole day full of yarn and adventure. Now I just need to actually knit it all up!

you wouldn't think

You wouldn't think I'd be persuaded by yarn sales. "you have enough yarn, don't you?" umm. no. Evidently, not nearly enough.
An online yarn store was going out of business, so I took advantage.

I bought three more pairs worth of sock yarn. (kinds I haven't tried, so I can count it as research, right?)Two colors of Reynolds Sea Wool, and one colorway of Panda Cotton. The panda cotton is called "chocolate almond" - how could I resist that name? I also picked up some more lace weight yarn. Karabella Lace weight Mohair. I love half off sales. :)
I'm still working on the lace edging on the petti-pants. When will it end?! I do like doing it, but I think the leg is growing. Seriously. The needle is not getting any more empty! Conspiracy I tell you.
I didn't get much knitting done last night. I am kind of disappointed about it, too. We went to IKEA after work - well, that explains it right there, doesn't it? anyway, we were out to buy our bed.
You wouldn't think I would be dumb enought to assume I could just "go uy my bed", would you? The computer said they have them in stock, but they are nowhere to be found in the warehouse. ok.....? They have a "missing pallet". Could we just call tomorrow and see if they have them? No problem. We only live 10 minutes away. After leaving, DH and I got to discussing this. People regularly drive to this IKEA from Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Why did the wearhouse person assume we could come back tomorrow? What if we had checked the inventory, rented/borrowed a truck, drove an hour, then found out they "lost a pallet"? I would have been so pissed off! She didn't even ask us if we minded waiting for a few minutes so she could find a supervisor or stock person to look for the missing items. We would have waited for a little bit. ugh. I really like this bed! So I called today. I told the real person I eventually got to speak with about the problem. She told me, "the computer says we have them." I know. But they weren't there last night. Can someone go and check they are in the bin, before I come there to buy it? hold on...
"i can't get anyone in bedding"
"well, I just need someone to look in the WAREHOUSE, not the bedding department"
"I'll try again."
"No one is picking up in bedding."
ok. fine. I will just come over and look myself.
I decided to look at getting it online instead. I wouldn't have it until next week, but, at this rate, at least I won't murder someone in the process.
click click click.
Ok, let's checkout. ok must enter shipping info before I can see how much delivery charge we are talking about. click click click.
WAIT, WHAAT! MY ORDER IS CONFIRMED?! How the Hell did that happen?! I didn't enter any credit card info. I was just trying to see how much the shipping is!
"you will receive a confirmation e-mail within 12 hours. you must cancel orders with in 24 hours for a refund"
open email! OPEN! "System Error has occurred" "computer will self destruct in 3 seconds." (ok that was an exaggeration)
Shut down the computer, start her back up.
open e-mail. "system was not shut down properly, doing absurdly long scanny thing"
ok. IKEA confirmation e-mail in inbox. (at this point I am kinda hoping they farted it up, and I get it for free) "no credit card info was provided. A representative will contact you with in 12 hours to confirm order."
great. now I get to be the jack ass that says, "what?! $60 to ship it! No way! I'll just go buy it at the store!"
(sigh)
I need to go pet some yarn.

what a weekend

WOW! I had a very full weekend! Both of knitting, and of other randomish things.

On Friday -hey, it's summer. might as well be the weekend! - I put together my yarn wall. Impetus being, of course, the fact that I haven't done anything further to finish moving in since the last parental visit in June. DH helped me put it together, then we cleaned like bunnies before he had to go to work.

Cool, no? It is actually supposed to be a closet organizer. This brand, Closet Maid is from Target, and was on sale. Can't beat that! I also found them today at Lowe's, in more color choices, but way more expensive - for the exact same thing! ALL of my yarn isn't in it. Just the overflow from the other storage baskets for now. DH said it "has room to grow". I like the sound of that.
The rest of Friday was spent working on clue 6 of the MS3, and watching Friday Night Smack-Down. Well, until parents show up.
Where is dear brother, Mark?
"Oh, he is coming up tomorrow with Mr. Yoder"
umm. ok. A little splaining: Paul (Mr.) Yoder is a year younger than me. It is hard to call him Mr. anything. He is also a diesel mechanic, and a firefighter. He is along to help Service the fire engine before setting off for PA in it.
"oh", I said. They are driving up in the morning? (odd, my parents wouldn't wait and come then, but whatever.)
"no. Yoder's dad is flying them up in his plane".
dude. I kid you not.
we then went and ate some late dinner.
Saturday:
after figuring out where the airplane might be landing in New Haven, and giving my parents directions to the airport, I thought DH and I would be called upon to see the firetruck. We got up earlier than one really should on a Saturday. we waited and waited. I knitted and knitted. Finally, parents call. They are finished with the test drive, and are headed to meet us at the theatre. Cool. we meet up, get breakfast, then head back. This is when I get to ride on the firetruck!

Jealous, aren't you?!
I didn't ride on the side, i only got my picture knitting on the side. I rode in the cab. But, my brother now not only owns a firetruck, but is in possession of a firetruck. The hardest part was finding insurance for it. My Dad could get it really easily, but a 19 year old is hard to insure. I wonder why an insurance company would not want to cover a 19 year old with a firetruck? hmm....
Well, after all that, I was tired. SO, I went home to knit. GUESS WHAT?!
This was waiting for me!

My SOckapalooza Socks!

The are made of Fleece Artist wool, and are the monkey pattern! I LOVE THEM! Also included was a cookie cutter of a buffalo, filled with chocolate, a vintage recreation card of downtown buffalo, and another chocolate treat that looks like buffalo wings! SO awesome! (oh, my pal is from Buffalo!) Thanks!
then after that, I...knit. Surprised? Me neither. I finished up one WLAE sock, and got a big chunk of MS3 finished.
After DH was finished with work, we went to see Rush Hour 3. another great "cerebral" movie. I highly recommend it!
Sunday:
As promised, I went to SnB. I finished up clue #6 on the MS3.

and then, when I got home, I worked on the Unmentionables.

The edging is not a fast project. I took this picture about a half hour into the process. 5 hours later, I still have 45 repeats left - on the FIRST LEG!. At least it's pretty!
Phew. What a weekend!

*butt shaky dance*

When you get good news, do you do a little dance? I bet you do. Almost everyone seems to do it. A celebration dance, if you will. I did one today! I read my replies to yesterday's blog post. Did you?
I'll wait.
Did you see?!
My Sockapalooza pal has mailed my socks!!!! WEE!!!! I cannot wait to model pictures!
The butt shaky dance is my personal celebration dance. It makes me happy, and it has a song that goes along with it.

I'm still working on the same projects. I am still unpacking. I still have not built the yarn wall. DH said he would do it today. (crossing fingers)
I've had a very uneventful day.
So, I'll leave you with another blogthing quiz:

You Passed 8th Grade US History

Congratulations, you got 8/8 correct!

Could You Pass 8th Grade History?

I'm rockin'

As if you didn't know already. Really, thanks Phoebe! I have to pass the award along, so the following people, consider yourselves "AWARDED'!
KnellyBelly
Jen

Not too much news in knitting land. I spent a good part of the evening yesterday preparing for Friday. I did knit about an inch on my new socks. Not really exciting.
Oh, and i bought my yarn wall. Maybe DH and I can put it together tonight so I an show pictures! I can't wait to be organized!
ok. Side bar for a minute. anyone know what's up with the blogger pictures? Yesterday it did this to me to, and I thought I knew why, but evidently not. What happens is: I up load a picture to photobucket, load it onto blogger - just like always. everything is fine. The little box pops up with the done button and the picture. I click "done" and it goes back to the blog. what usually happens, is that the picture pops up in the text box. The last two days it has been the html code for the picture. I know it doesn't really matter since the picture shows up in the post, but it is irritating to me. oh, and I thought it was because I inserted the pictures yesterday into a "draft" that I saved earlier in the day. Not the case. I didn't pre-save a draft today. anyone have ideas?

SO, I thought I'd update my "to knit" list. 'cause I can, and well, I don't have much else to blog about. This list is from June 13, FYI
1. sockapooza socks - WIP *UPDATE- FINISHED
2. tomato sweater - WIP *UPDATE- FINISHED
3. DH sweater of Doom - UFO yeah. I'll get back to it
4. MS3! *UPDATE - WAITING FOR CLUE #6
5. Bathrobe I won't shut up about
6. knit petti pants - *UPDATE- WIP, ready to do lace edging
7. shirt for with knit pettipants - *UPDATE - found a pattern
8. elbow length gloves in cashmere for me
9. rayon table cloth - OMG! This yarn might work for Coachella! bad bad bad
10. log cabin bathroom rug
let's stop at 10. I don't keep a written list anywhere. I just put down the first 10 patterns that pop in my head. Obviously, they are the 10 I most want to make. or at least the 10 my wanderlust brain is centered on today.
I guess I can update!
1.DH sweater of Doom - UFO yeah. I'll get back to it
2.MS3! WIP -WAITING FOR CLUE #6
3.Bathrobe I won't shut up about
4.knit petti pants - WIP, ready to do lace edging
5.shirt for with knit pettipants
6.elbow length gloves in cashmere for me
7.rayon table cloth
8.Lace something form Victorian Lace Today for my Aunt Helen
9.August Socktopia Socks - WIP!
10.DH's Syncopation Hat
I took the bathmat off the list. i do still want to knit one, but since I have new bathmats from my Mom's last visit, this is less pressing. I also notice that I never even got the Shaped Lace Tee, Pirates hat, 1st syncopation hat, or the July Socks on the list. They managed to circumvent it completely.
Will I stick to the list? Right. You know me better than that.

How often can you say...

"My brother bought a firetruck?"
I can now say it often. 'cause my brother did. A real life firetruck. He lives in PA, but the truck is in East Haven, of all places. He is coming on Friday to pick it up. I get to see my Brother on Friday, and ride in a firetruck! I hope he comes to the early enough that he can swing by the theatre in it. No, I don't know what he is going to do with it. He has lots of ideas....
I will get a picture on the firetruck, knitting. I promise.
I hope I also get to say, at some point, "I'll get my brother to bring his firetruck." sweet.
FYI, this is the brother that does the Elvis Impersonation. man oh man! Elvis on a Firetruck!
eh hem. back to your regularly scheduled knitting.
I did remember to take pictures of my new sock yarn!


First up is Dream In Color "Smooshy". hehe. smooshy. It really is smooshy, and I must say, I cannot wait to knit it up.
then, to continue on my pink binge, I bought two skeins of "Maizy".

It's made from corn. Yep corn. It doesn't smell like corn, but it is so silky. It really feels like silk. I am really starting up a collection of "exotic" yarn. I need to get knitting!

Also as promised, a picture of the completed "We call them Pirates" hat. It is too small, well, it fits if my hair is down, but not if I have it up. Since I wear my hair up 9/10ths of the time, this is a problem. poop. well, I think I will try again, after I knit a few other things.
My August "Egyptian" socks are coming along nicely.

Do they look like people walking like an Egyptian to you? DH was not convincing when I asked him last night.
One more row to go of SS on the sleepin' shorts!!!! Then it's all about the edging!
I have a feeling I'm going to miss out on the ten bucks though. Since the brother bought the firetruck, and at least my Mom is coming with him to pick it up, you know I'm going to have people over to my house for at least a little bit. SO, I need to clean, and ummm make more progress on the office than was made the last time my family was here- IN JULY! I suppose it is the "finish unpacking, lazy!" kick in the pants I need, but it will cut into my knitting time!
Anphoe commented yesterday that I should have gone to SnB on Sunday, instead of knitting by myself, literally, around the corner. I know that SnB was going on. I was fully intending to knit for an hour at Koffee, Too, then go over to SnB. well, I was merrily finishing my hat, realized it was already 1/2 hour into SnB, and, well, said, "screw it." I was comfy -seated in a big leather couch - and hadn't even drank most of my drink. I think I was feeling a bit antisocial as well. SO, if you are going to go next Sunday, Anphoe, I will be be there. I promise. You might have to walk around the corner and knock on the window so I know I need to pack up, and don't lose track of time, but I will go.
I was over visiting Knellybelly's blog, and I saw her "Simpsonized" portrait, and felt I should share mine as well. I did this a little bit ago, and wow is it fun. And oddly acurate....

I'm losing my mind in my old age

I got up this morning.

I went to the bathroom.

Thought, "I must remember to take a picture of my new sock yarn"

Got my clothes ready for the day.

thought, "must take a picture of MS3 - should really have done that yesterday."

Brushed teeth.

thought, "how am I going to take that MS3 pic?"

Took shower

thought, "can't forget lunch, must take pictures"

Got dressed..

Said, "DH, are you going to spend the whole day in Hartford?"

Moisturized, dezitified, deodorized

thought, "what was I going to do?"

Pretty typical these days for me. I did remember my lunch, and I got the MS3 pic, but totally forgot the sock yarn pics. *roll eyes*

I finished up clue #5 for MS3 on Saturday. I love the wing. LOVE it. All the "I don't know how I'd wear it" and the "it's too odd for me" people are crazy. It's so cool. You need not be spectacular to wear it. Wearing it will make you spectacular!

Speaking of Saturday, I spent a good portion of it at Starbucks. I tried the sweetened blueberry white iced tea. It was REALLY good. I've been thinking about it ever since. I decided to spend some time knitting NOT at Panera. I've noticed that a few of the people who used to work there now work at other restaurants in the area. Those people recognize me, and know me by name. When that starts to happen, you know you have gone to a place too much. I love Panera, but I thought a change might be in order. and, it's air conditioned. Saturday needed air conditioning.

I finished up the Pirates hat on Sunday... at Koffee Too. Yes, I went to another coffee place to sit and knit all day on Sunday. I might not have gotten a lot done at home, but I got a lot of knitting done! I still have to block it, but I think my fears are correct. It will be too small. It *just* fits. Maybe a funky kid out there will want it. I'm not going to frog it, I'll just save it, and find a hat less very small headed person to give it to.

Oh, and another thing I didn't take a picture of - my Sleepin' shorts. They are nearing the end now. I am only the last stretch of SS, and getting ready for the edging and finishing! I think I found a good pattern for the companion top to my shorts as well.

It is from the Summer 2007 IK - the Summertime Tunic. I plan on knitting the same trim as on the "Unmentionables" under the ribbing section of the pattern, and instead of the sewn down casing around the neckline, I am going to do an eyelet row like on the pants. I also need to fudge the numbers a bit, since i need a little more bust room. so basically, I'm rewriting the pattern into a new pattern. But it WAS inspiration! I don't think I have enough yarn though. I probably need one more skein. Maybe WEBS has it still...

I have also cast on for my August Socktopia socks. I chose "Walk like an Egyptian" as my theme. yeah. No pics of that either. I suck today!

I designed these socks to be a bit labor intensive for the first 3" of leg, then smooth sailing generic socks. The yarn is wonderful - Regia Silk. It is so smooth and lovely under the fingers. Drool. I love silk.

i came across this earlier today.

You are Bettie Page

Girl next door with a wild streakYou're a famous beauty - with unique lookAnd the people like you are cultish about it

http://www.blogthings.com/whatfamouspinupareyouquiz/">What Famous Pinup Are You?

well, duh

Well, must go. Maybe I'll actually remember to take a few more pictures for tomorrow!

I can't believe it.

I forgot to take pictures of the sock yarn I bought yesterday. It was two kinds I've never even heard of before, and I was so excited to share them. Pre-coffee blur strikes again. oh well. Monday, I guess.

I shipped my Sockapalooza 4 socks off yesterday. I'm so excited for my pal to get them. I really hope she likes them! I asked her to take a picture of her in them for the blog. Cross your fingers!

Incidentally, I'm excited to not have to type the word "Sockapalooza" too many more times. Spell check really hates that word.

The new MS3 clue is out! OMG! I has a wing! It sooo cool. and a bit of a challenge. I'm all shaky with anticipation! Why can't work be over faster? I want to go home and knit! (True, I always feel this way, but it is a bit heightened today)

My Pettipants, also known as sleepin' shorts, are coming along. S l o w l y. I was all excited about being done with the SS. I really should have read further in the pattern. I still have 5" of it to go. Fart. I think I need to go to the beach this weekend, or rent some more movies. Oh, and I did the crochet cast on wrong. I had to cut it out, instead of "unzipping" it. Someday I will do this right. Every once in a while I do it perfect and ZIP- out it comes. I don't know what I do wrong the other times. I keep trying it, instead of the provisional cast on I really like, because I can't stand that there is something I can't do. It's one thing if you can do it, but choose not to. I WILL get it right!

That was a window into my brain ya'll probably didn't need.

The Pirates hat is mostly finished. It, unfortunately, also has a crochet cast on. I am a bit hesitant to try and unzip it after the pettipant disaster. It's also just a wee bit too small in length. Instead of the faced edge the pattern calls for, I think I am going to do a ribbed edge in just the black. It shouldn't take more than an hour or two to finish this up. I'm hoping to knock it off this weekend - providing I can put down the MS3!

It was great ot be back at SnB last night. I'm sad I missed Erin's last Thursday - she's now in NYC attending Grad school - but I hope to still see her now and again. Phoebe is going to start her new semester soon, and the University people, for some crazy reason, scheduled a class she needs on Thursday night! How dare they! I will need to start SnBing on multiple days so I can visit with her. We had two new people last night. They were really fun. I hope we didn't scar them for life, and they will come back! I just realized I was going to list what is going on in every body's life - not really why I started typing this train of thought. My point was going to e the end of summer. It seams to happen every year in August and May. SnB, and frankly every club I've ever belonged to, has a turn over during those months. Right now, people are going off to school, or new jobs, new people are moving to the area. Kids are getting ready to head off to grammar school and Mom's get a bit more time to themselves - if they are lucky. The world always seams to flux in August and May. I like it. New people, new adventures. :)

'till Monday!

Socktopia August

OOO. We have good themes for August.

The Tide is High

Ebony and Ivory

Eye of the Tiger
Karma Chameleon
Walk Like an Egyptian

I like all of these songs except Ebony and Ivory. I do like the theme of Ebony and Ivory - just not the song. Eye of the Tiger is the theme song from one of my Favorite Movies. The Tide is High is an all time favorite sing along song. Karma Chameleon - well, what more can you say! Awesome! Walk Like an Egyptian was I and my friends' favorite song in elementary school. We even choreographed our " Grade 4 P.E. gymnastics routine" to it!

This will be very difficult this month!

I'm finished with the body of my Unmentionables! Woot! This pic is from when I started on the Waistband. I managed to truck through it during the "Reno 911" movie, "23", and the new Harry Potter Movie. We rented the first two, and saw the third in the theatre. I know some people might think it sacrilege to knit during Harry Potter, but I don't like the franchise that much. The movies are enjoyable, but I won't "JUST DIE" if I miss a second of the movie while I look down to see if all is well in my knitting. Frankly, two hours that I am not actively paying attention to knitting 200+ stitches in SS per round is a great thing - no matter what the movie is. Now to the lacy leg bits. ahhh. Finally.

I started my Pirates hat - just 'cause the boredom of the SS was killing me. Now, the hat is in SS, but at least there is color work! And, pink skulls are funny.

(insert stream of thought)

I just realized that in less than a week I went from two active projects to 4. WTH! I'm supposed to be cutting back on my WIP, not ADDING them!

I think the game plan will be, work on the Pirates hat AMAP tonight. Make sure I have all the bits I need to work on the Pettipants at SnB tomorrow. I think I can finish the hat tonight, but if I don't it's not good SnB knitting. I can finish the hat before the next MS3 clue comes out on Friday, knit the MS3 clue this weekend - taking lace breaks with the relative ease of the pettipants. As soon as I finish the hat and the MS3 clue, I'll start on my August socks. Sound good? Right. As IF I have this kind of control.

(stop stream of thought)

Well, I must go. I have to get some work done! If only I wanted to think about work, and not about knitting...

Pittsburgh

My kitty "Pittsburgh" died today. She was a fun loving fluffy white chicky with more sass than you could shake a stick at. She chose us to live with one day when we lived in Pittsburgh - hence her name. I don't think she ever really liked her name. She only ever responded to "Cat"

Cat was about 16 years old. Much to young to be taken away. Alas, her health problems, starting with pyrometria about 6 years ago, have taken us to this day. We will miss her a lot. So will Kitten. They might have hated each other when they first met, but they really are friends now. I feel most sad for her. She has never been the lone cat. It is going to be a lonely few weeks for her until she stops "looking" for the cat.

I wish I had more pictures of her before she was sick. I do, but none of them are on my computer. I really want to share the happy pictures with you. This one looks so sad for some reason. It was taken about 2 months ago. Maybe she knew her time was coming.

Everybody give your kitties and doggies, and fishies, and other fun petties hugs and kisses. It's hard to know they might one day be gone. Spend as much time with them as you can. Don't take a single day for granted.

This is hard for a farm girl to write. I am used to pets and animals being temporary. I really was not prepared for the kind of emotion I feel right now. We really are losing a family member that has been part of our family for 10years. Just slightly less time than we've been married. She has lived in 4 states and 6 apartments. Some of her hair has been knitted into everything I've ever made, and probably stuck into everything I've ever cooked too.

I was just thinking , "I wonder what I'll miss most..."

Maybe the way she would run over to protect me when DH tickles me.

Maybe the fact that any paper or plastic bag on the ground was "hers", and she would lay on it until she was good and done.

Maybe the immense hair wads that came off her when you brushed her.

Maybe the way she always knew I was sad, and would come over for a cuddle.

Maybe sitting on DH's lap in the car. She hated the carrier, but was happy on lap.

Maybe it'll be the way she stared down a Buck in Michigan.

Maybe her Mouser instincts.

Maybe her aloof way of laying on the floor with her paws crossed.

Maybe.

I have a feeling it'll be the kitty head butts when she wanted to be petted or given a snack; and the rubs on the legs. Kitten never really figured out rubbing. I'll surely miss that.

Bye Bye Cat. I'll miss you.

Hello again!

I have made it back from my trip- all in one piece - go me! I have so much to share, I can hardly wait!

First, a project update:

Mystery Stole #3 - clue #4 complete. Wee! Clue 5 is supposed to reveal the theme!!! Friday is sooo far away!

My "Unmentionables", i.e. petti pants. I have finished the waist decreases, and am working my way up to the waistband. Good beach knitting, btw. Didn't have to pay much attention at all to this project. I took 3 skeins of yarn with me - out of the 8. I was right on target. I left my vacation with only about 1/4 skein left. I'd have felt a bit dumb if I ran out or brought way too much. I love my stash, but it does not need to go on vacation with me. If I miss it, I'll add to it.

And, add to it I did! I managed to not buy yarn for 2 weeks, and treated myself at the yarn store in Ocean City. I got 2 skeins of Froehlich Woole Special Blauband for socks. It's a good old school sock yarn. I have some vintage socks I want to make from it. I also got Austermann Step with Aloe. This might be for DH's Syncopation hat. He's a little unsure about the aloe. He doesn't think his head needs anymore moisture than it already has. The Atacama Alpaca is the back up yarn. Either will work, but I hope the step works best. I think Alpaca will be too hot for the walking furnace that is DH.

The yellow needles are from an antique store. I saw an article about making bracelets from old knitting needles. I can hear people fainting at the idea of "ruining" a pair of vintage needles to make them into bracelets. Sorry, but I don't use straight needles, and I love jewelry.

Now, some vacation highlights:

Day 1: Drive to Ocean City New Jersey. This should take about 3.5 hours. It took 5. we sat in immense traffic. I was worried that our room would be absconded with by some other family member. DH said that it wouldn't happen. Whoever wanted our room would have to be able to move him to get it. (We got our room) Somehow, everyone got stuck in traffic, and we still ended up being first to arrive. Usually we all arrive around 11am - 12pm. We didn't get there until 2. We were STARVING. My mom and Dad came next. Cool... except they didn't have the food with them. They only had luggage. My brothers had the food in their truck. We went and got lunch. Till we got back, the rest of the clan was there. all 14 of us!

Day 2: Church. at least DH and I didn't spontaneously combust. We high tailed it back to the house and went to the beach!!!

Kaiden was in love with the sand and the art of digging holes. Last time he was at OC with us he was 1, and afraid of the sand and water. He wanted nothing to do with getting any sand on him at all! Not so much this time. Kaiden is the most talkative and kind 3 year old boy I've ever met. What a sweety my cousin is raising!

Day 3: Rainy day. DH and I went to the yarn store, and the antique stores on Asbury. Asbury is a little downtown shopping area. We had a good time looking around - and it wasn't too hot! By the late afternoon it cleared up, but it was too late to beach it that day. we spent a lot of time just hanging out with the family.

Day4: Jet Skiing! Aside from the scary video, lots of fun. No forced water entry. (grin) Then off to the beach again!

My Brother David and his girlfriend Kate buried my other brother, Mark. Of course they drew boobs on him.

Mark and Megan found a crab for Kaiden! He named it Mr. Krabbs. Guess what show he likes?

Day 5: Mom and I went to the nail salon. Mani and Pedi time! Then we went shopping. we love shopping. we considered sending for reinforcements to take our packages back to the house so we could shop more, but decided not to. If we wanted to get any beach time in that day, we had to cut our shopping trip short.

I officially attached the legs together on my Unmentionables today!

Mark is the tube man. My family has brought a tractor tube with them every year for 25+ years to the beach. Lots of families used to do this, but we seam to be the only ones left that still do. Why is it beige and striped? Regular black rubber inner tubes cause "tube rash" - basically a rash from rubbing on the rubber. To prevent this my mom has come up with a way to cover the tube with canvas, thereby reducing the tube rash. The cover also seams to help prevent holes. Our tube is about 5'5" across, and has held up to 10 people at a time. You should see the mouths drop open when they see this big striped tube headed down to the water.

DH and I enjoyed our seafood night. I don't like the one traditional meal my mom serves - corn soup. We go out to eat on Corn Soup night every year - usually for seafood. mmmm. This year we chose wisely.

Day 6: the last beach day. we all were up early, and headed down to the sand as soon as we could.

Our biggest house full reached 24 people. This line up is small in comparison. We are really good at forcing other beach goers from our midst. We take up lots of room, and have lots of stuff. We also dig really big holes, which means large sand piles.

Kaiden really liked jumping waves with his mom.

I really liked watching my Dad on the tube. I didn't get any pictures of me on the tube, but I can tell you, I had fun!

Day 7: Time to pack and go. :( We said goodbye to the Kentucky family, and the Pennsylvania family. DH and I decided to spend a few more hours on the boardwalk. It doesn't really matter what time we leave. Going across the GWB is a nightmare anytime of day. OC's boardwalk is a great old fashioned boardwalk. It is 2 miles long, and filled with food, souvenirs, and games.

We make the trek every night, since night is the best time - all the lights are amazing. We had all our favorite treats - Cotton candy, funnel cake, salt water taffy, Mack and Manco Pizza, Boardwalk Fries, Frozen chocolate bananas, Johnson's Carmel popcorn, and Khors Brothers custard. All of those treats take me back to being a little kid. We got home to CT around 7pm, with a stop for dinner. Our clothes all smell like OC, and I love it!

Some yearly vacation constants:

No matter who comes, or how many of us there are, we always do a few things. 1. Bring food for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner - and snacks. We only eat out for our "boardwalk snack" each night. 2. We say 1 block form the beach and boardwalk, and never move our cars - unless it is to move closer to the house. 3. Bike riding on the boardwalk in the morning is awesome, and bike riding around town all the time is the norm. 4. Someone always has to sleep on the porch. 5. We see at least one movie - this year it was the Simpsons.

That's it! If you made it to the end of this Post, congrats!