X is for

eXtra. I need some extra knitting time. I am not a "Christmas Knitter". If I give something to someone I have knitted it is usually "just because". So none of these are on a deadline. I am just doing my own thing.



Word of wisdom: Rows of 300 stitches plus take a while to knit. Even when you knit 10 to 20 of these rows it still doesn't look any bigger. I am down to the last two repeats and the edging and then I am done with this project. I am already thinking about the next one.



Haven't been knitting on the Noro socks since Saturday. They are coming along nicely. I think I won't have to rip them out again. I have a feeling when these are done they will become one of my favorite pairs.




I gave into the Monkey again. I have the cuff done and I am working on the first repeat. I think just casting them on has kind of let some of the intensity behind knitting them lessen a little. Hoping to wear them on Christmas.




This is my second attempt at a sweater. If I knitted one, I wanted to be able to wear it when I was done so long sleeves was a must, since it is Minnesota.

I must go knit now.

W is for

Want. This yarn wants to be Monkeys. I tried to resist the third pair of Monkeys but I have decided that it is futile. So I plan to cast these on tonight or sometime tomorrow.




This yarn just wanted to be wound into a ball. I think it thinks if I wind it up it might get knit up soon. We shall see. I am still looking for a good pattern for it.




This sock just wants to be finished. It wants to be worn in my Ariat's that I always seem to have on. I am trying to accomodate all three of these, but they are all being pushy.


P.S. If someone knows where my scissors are can you please fill me in??? I can't find them.

V is for

Veterans.

I don't know if any veterans read this blog but I just wanted to say THANK YOU. I appreciate all you have done in the past, present and future. THANK YOU.

U is for

Upon. That would be that fall is upon us. It is windy as all get out here today and chilly. This tree is now pretty bare since the wind blew all the leaves off of it. It is such a pretty tree in the fall and I enjoy seeing it change every year.




Knitting has been pretty sparse around here lately. I have been spinning some but the knitting is taking a bit of a back seat. I am not sure if it is due to the pattern or the yarn. I might just be suffering from sock burnout. It seems that is all I have knit this year. I am enjoying the shawl project but not making much progress as the rows get longer and longer. My friend Linda summed it up pretty good when she said those triangle shawls suck you in with those shorter rows in the beginning. I really think that it will be very pretty when it is done though.




We had a sighting of the Tooth Fairy last night. Punkinbug lost her second tooth last night. The first one she lost at school and didn't tell anyone so it got lost somewhere. She was pretty excited this morning when her tooth was gone and there was a dollar bill in its place. I don't remember getting that much for a tooth. Must have something to do with the economy or inflation.

T is for

Trip.





Last weekend, I surprised the girls and picked them up from school around lunch time. I had the bags packed and we were off. Grandpa and Grandma P. were nice enough to let us come to Kansas to see this.







This being High School Musical on Ice. The girls loved it. Punkin sang and wiggled the whole time while Punkinbug was just in awe. They had lots of fun.





While the three children were spending the night with Grandpa and Grandma P. at the hotel Friday night, I was able to catch some football. Awesome Rose Hill Rocket football. See that number 53 (the second one from the left walking towards the center of the field), he is my nephew, who happens to be one of the captains of the football team this year. They won 56-26, the nephew didn't get to play in the fourth quarter due to the lead they had but it was fun seeing him play his senior year.

S is for

Sundays.


A typical fall Sunday when the husband works, I get up. I make coffee. I drink coffee and chat for a few minutes with my friend Linda and get ready for church. Get the kids ready for church and off we go. We get home around 12:15, there is something great about living in a small town where the church is. Eat lunch.

Then I do a few minor tasks, then I sit, knit and watch football. I am sorry to say that I am not a Vikings fan. My Kansas blood just can't wrap my head around that one. Maybe someday though but don't hold your breath.




This is the pair I finished last weekend as I watched the Chiefs and the Patriots play. Sad to say the Chiefs lost, even though I am not so sad about Tom Brady being done for the year. I feel bad that he was injured I am just glad that I dont' have to listen to every sportscaster tell me how wonderful he is. No offense meant to Patriots or Brady fans.






Yesterday instead of watching football, I couldn't get the Chiefs game and the Colts were losing at the time to the Vikings, I decided to spin for a while. I forget how much I really enjoy it. I started this bobbin.





And I finished this one. I am hoping to get some more spinning time in today between laundry and other household chores.

P is for Produce

The produce is starting to come from the garden here at our house. I picked these a few days ago. I dried the jalapenos in the dehydrator and turned most of these tomatoes into salsa yesterday. I only got four pints but my DH loves it, even though I can never seem to get it hot enough.

I also want to say how proud of our Punkinbug I am. Yesterday she went and got 10.5 inches of her hair cut off. She donated it to Locks of Love. It was so amazing to see her ponytail gone. I asked if she was going to grow it out again and donate it and she said yes. Good Job Punkinbug.

O is for

Outdoor photo shoot.



Since we put all that work in on that swingset I thought it might make a good background for a photo shoot. This is some handspun of mine. I got this fiber at the Yarn Barn in Lawrence when I went on vacation in June. It is a Merino/Tencel blend and it wasn't as hard to spin as I thought it was going to be. I think it turned out pretty good. I have about 238 yards of this Navajo plied yarn.




Before Ravelympics started I started a pair of socks. I just finished closing the toe on the first one of these this morning. I am hoping to finish this pair before the end of August. It's mate will have to wait until Ravelympics is over since I have to get my Go USA socks done for the Sock Put.




This is the yarn for my Go USA Sock Put socks. It is Lorna's Laces in the Liberty colorway. I thought it would make good Olympic knitting. I have actually got these casted on and both are wound into balls for easier knitting so hopefully I will have progress to show in the next couple of days.





One more thing on the O post, does it mean that I am old now that Rick Springfield music is considered an Oldie. I rediscovered his Greatest Hits CD the other night in my collection and have been listening to the songs alot lately.

Off to listen to my iPod and knit.

N is for a NO Knitting Content Post

I am a little behind on the ABC along so I am going to try to catch up in the next week or so.

This is a NO knitting content post.

It is time for Sturgis. That means that the highway is home to a long string of Harley Davidson's going down the road. I went to Sioux Falls today and on my way home I counted 150 Harley's and 15 closed trailers, that I would put money on, that they were transporting the motorcycles. It always amazes me every year when this time of year rolls around that so many people just head to this town in nowhere S.D. to go to a party. It is always fun to look at the bikes though.

Have a great weekend.

M is for

for Marriage. DH and I celebrated 12 years of marriage a week ago Sunday. I am so blessed to have such a great friend and husband. He is the most amazing and sweet guy. I love him so much and I am so thankful that God brought us together. I am sure you are wondering why did she take a picture of a pair of shoes?? These were my anniversary gift. I had seen them at the store and he remembered. They are so comfy and go with just about anything. Thank you again dear, and I LOVE YOU.





I have FINALLY finished a sock for the Summer of Socks 2008. I am not having much luck in this department this year. I am shooting for finishing four pairs finished during the knitalong but it probably won't get done.



I have been trying to spin more often. This is the Bonkerz that I got on vacation. I am pretty close to being halfway done with it. I am planning to Navajo ply it and make a scarf or hat with it.




Saturday was the yearly parade here in our little town. Little Buddy had a great time seeing the fire trucks and tractors. We watched on the corner at our neighbors. The kids love getting candy and one group even hands out popsicles. It rained most of the day but cleared up in time for the parade.



Horse drawn hearse being driven by the neighbors across the street. Did I ever mention that I live across the street from a funeral home??? The theme is always Christmas in July so that is the reason his little boy is wearing a Santa hat.


Firetrucks




Tractors that Little Buddy noticed right away.

K is for

Knitting!!!! Duh. I have been doing some of it too.




I knit a pair of socks in ten days. That is a new record for me. It usually takes me about two weeks to knit a pair for some reason but I was on a deadline so I was able to finish them pretty quick. These were for the Punkin's teacher, Mrs. H. She was an amazing teacher and I hope the other two kids get a chance to have her too.

The details? Dream in Color Smooshy in Happy Forest. Embossed Stitch pattern from More Sensational Knitted Socks. They were knit on 1.5 KnitPicks Options DPN's. Started on May 20, 2008 and Finished on May 30, 2008. Dream in Color Smooshy is wonderful stuff. It has some slubs and thin spots but the color makes up for all the "icky" parts of the yarn. It is a yarn I will definitely use again.




I was "chatting" with my friend, Linda, and I asked her what I should knit next. She said either a summer top for one of the girls or the Noro Sock Yarn. I didn't have any yarn or a pattern for the girls so I decided to cast on the Noro Sock Yarn. I am using the Undulating Rib Pattern from Favorite Socks. The colorway is
S40. I am still deciding if I like the yarn or not. I know some people love it and some say "never again". The colors are amazing like most Noro but I am not fond of the "yarn barf" I keep pulling out. I think I have spent as much time untangling as I have knitted on them. I will wait and decide if it will be repeated in my sock knitting stash after they are washed and worn for awhile.

Rumor has it that this knitter is taking on a new adventure..........

I is for.....

Ice Cream. I love Ice Cream it is the most wonderful stuff in the world. This is my favorite. It is just hard to find in my neck of the woods sometimes. YUMMY!!!!!




On the knitting front, I have finished one of the two pairs of socks that I am making for the teacher and para in the Punkin's class. These two women are incredible. I feel very blessed to have people working with my daughter that geniunely care for their students and wanting to see them succeed. Thanks Mrs. H and Mrs. B. This pair is for Mrs. B.

Basic Sock
Regia Kaffe Fassett
Caribbean Stripe
Knit on Addi Turbo Size 0's using two circular method



This is the pair for Mrs. H. I am not very far yet. I totally forgot to take it with me to swimming lessons last night and missed out on 45 minutes of good knitting time. I am using some Dream in Color Smooshy in the Happy Forest Colorway. Is it bad that I want every color is this stuff?????

Have a great weekend and Happy Mother's Day to all my knitting friends.

E.....

is for ENOUGH.




ENOUGH said.

D.....

is for a DETAINED and DELAYED post. I am a DAY behind on my ABC Along post so please forgive me.





It seems like I have been busy but I DON'T really have much to show for it. I have been bitten by the DYEING bug as this picture will show. I used some food coloring and it was lots of fun. It is fun to come up with stuff that is all mine and no one else will have anything like it.




This is some of the wool that I got when I ordered my wheel. It is a Corridale cross I think and it is called Vineyard. I am thinking of spinning it up for a shawl knitalong but I am not sure. I DO have some yarn that I have spun but I haven't washed it yet and I think it looks better after it has had a bath.





D is also for DISTRESS. Buddy was not very happy with me so I had to share this one. Before the picture was taken he pointed his finger at me and told me "DAT'S not nice". I am sure you will survive not getting another piece of cheese.

C.....

is for CHILDREN. I am very blessed to have three of them that are wonderful. Although this week the have been driving me CRAZY. It seems all I have heard is whining, CRYING, and fighting. I really love them alot and I am thankful that I have them even though sometimes they try my patience.




My two daughters are in school. Punkin is a first grader and Punkinbug is in preschool. I had a great Valentine's Day. I got some great handmade things from my girls and I really love them. I ask them on occasion if they will miss me when they are at school and they say "No, Mom, I will remember you." They are always so excited to share what they make and they are so proud that they made something for us.




Just in CASE you thought I forgot this was a knitting blog. I seem to have gotten a little of the sock mojo back. This is the first sock in a pair of Monkeys that I am making for myself. The yarn is the Posh yarn that has been seen in several attempts in the last month.

C is also for COCKY. I got a little too COCKY in my lace knitting and didn't take the time to move my lifeline and I had to frog about fifteen rows. At least it was only fifteen rows and not the whole project. I am plugging away at CLUE 4 and I hope to get CLUE 5 done this weekend since I think I will have other things to mess with next week.

B is for ........

BUDDY.

No BUDDY isn't his real name. It is the nickname that his dad has given him. I think it will remain his nickname on here as well since he seems to have out grown Marshmallow Thief and Mouse Thief. I will let you know that his first name does start with B also.







When some one told me that having a BOY was different than girls I didn't BELIEVE them. I thought "Nah they are pretty much the same", I was so wrong. BUDDY doesn't do the drama that comes with little girls. He is content just to play with his cars and he does have several now. His favorite is a Lightning McQueen and when you ask him who is that he says "Speed, I am Speed" BUT it comes out a little garbled.






Along with having a BOY, they tend to do BOY things such as try to feed the dog the rest of his macaroni and cheese. I couldn't get it exactly as he was doing it BECAUSE the dog wouldn't cooperate. She tends to have a mind of her own for some reason.




BUDDY doesn't get too upset usually. He is being kind of crabby today for some reason. He got mad at me BECAUSE I wanted to take his picture when he was doing something cute.




I guess graham crackers make everything BETTER huh????

A is for.......

APPLES


Our family eats ALOT of APPLES. ALL three of my children love them. The color ALSO makes me happy. I will ADMIT that living in Minnesota gets you some great APPLES. Can you say Honeycrisp???? Those ARE so AWESOME. I decided to do the ABC ALONG this year. I have decided that I will use it to let people learn more ABOUT me, my family AND my knitting.




A is ALSO for what these socks are being A pain in, but I won't go there. I AM having A little trouble with getting the heel flap just right. Now I know why I don't usually tweak the pattern. I had to mess with it for this yarn AND for the fact that I don't have little narrow feet. I do like the pattern but if they continue to cause me too many more problems they will be swimming the Frog Lake I think.