What I Did While the StinkerBug was at Preschool!!!!

I picked up the living room and vacuumed. Yes that is a floor without toys, dolls, blankets, books, and shoes. I am sure it won't stay that way long. Yes my wonderful husband, I don't just sit and knit all day.


I made supper. It is a chili day here in Minnesota (pun intended) and I thought it would be perfect to make a big crockpot of chili so I can knit this afternoon.


I washed dishes. I am still waiting to win the lottery so I can have a full time housekeeper to do this but it has to be done. I guess I need to play the lottery to win though huh???


NO, I haven't knitted in almost three days. This is a current picture of the blanket I am working on. I plan to work on it this afternoon if all goes well.

A Project Revisited and the Marshmallow Thief Makes an Appearance

Since school is starting next week, I decided to see if I could finish this baby blanket. It is for Miss I Cut the Yarn's teacher. She doesn't go back to preschool technically until September 10th so I have a little extra time. I have made one in nine days so I think I can do it if I can stay away from sock knitting and searching for sock yarn.



This is the sock that she cut the yarn on. I switched to my Addi Turbo's (the only ones I have) to finish it. It is not nearly as splitty since I switched. I think I may actually make the other hank of the yarn into socks also. We shall see. I turned the heel last night and this morning I picked up all the gusset stitches and I am working on the decreases now.



I also thought I would show a picture of the Marshmallow Thief. It has been awhile since he made an appearance. He is growing so fast. He has learned to say Yeah and ball. He likes to wander around the house aimlessly. I think he does it just because he can walk and tends to take after his dad that he can't seem to stay still for long. He was pretty tired in this picture, he is so quick now that it is hard for me to get a good picture. I think I might need a new camera.

I have also started working out again. It is just a start but hopefully I will keep it up. I am doing the Walk Away the Pounds videos. I am also throwing in some Core Secrets with it too hopefully.

A No Pictures Post

I have learned a big lesson. Never buy more than one hank of sock yarn from a company until you decide if you like it or not. I have two hanks of the Perchance to Knit and I am pretty disgusted with it. It did not help that my daughter cut it either. I am so tempted to swap with someone if they are interested. I know that the sock fits so far, I am just really unhappy with the yarn splitting so much.

I was able to find jars. Dh picked them up for me at the Wal-Mart in the town where he works. I have 27 jars of salsa canned so far this year plus I have about 50 more tomatoes that are ripe that I need to turn into something else.

Happy Knitting

Warning Rant Ahead!!!!!!

Well, my not so secret project had a mishap, I had to rip it out. I was almost through with the leg on my beautiful Fall Sock Club package from the Loopy Ewe when I discovered a mistake. No one would have probably noticed but it was bugging me so I tried to fix it. Unfortunately, that didn't work. So it is in the bottom of the frog pond until I feel the need to cast them on again. This sock that I am knitting fighting now is out of Perchance to Knit yarn in the Pond colorway. I am not impressed with this yarn at all. I find it very splitty and not very soft but the colors are gorgeous. It might just be that I knit tight and I am knitting with the wickedest needles in the United States. I love my Options though. I just need to loosen up I guess. I am using a pattern out of the Sensational Knitted Sock Book.




My Canning Law says that if you have 66 ripe tomatoes (yes I counted them) and only five pint jars you probably need to buy more jars right???? Guess what??? The grocery store and the hardware store are both out. Also I called another store to see if they had some and they never called me back. Grrrrrrr. I highly frustrated at this point and on top of that the Stinkerbug daughter is throwing a fit about something because her sister made her mad.

Jaywalkers are Done

Well, the Jaywalkers for my wonderful sister-in-law are in the mail. I messed them up a little but I wasn't going to rip them out again. Somehow some peanut butter cookies got in there for my wonderful brother. I am not quite sure how that happened.

I did cast on for something else but I will share that in a later post. I want to see how far I can get by Friday or so.




I am starting to worry if my iPod is in danger of becoming kidnapped. Our little Stinkerbug has turned into a little music fiend. She loves music. Her dad let her listen to my iPod the other night and she just looked so cute.



Although, I am thankful that she has her own FP3 player. She thinks it is neat to listen to music that she likes (Rascal Flatts' Me and My Gang and Sheryl Crow's Real Gone) over and over and over and over and over. I am sure you get the idea.

Happy Knitting

A Punkin Has a Birthday!!!!!

It is hard to believe that seven years ago today, I was laying in a hospital bed with a brand new baby. That baby is not a baby anymore. She is a big 7 year old. She is so excited about being a first grader here in a couple of weeks. I am very proud of her. She can read, take a shower all by herself without having to be told, can help her sister get snacks and loves to play with her little brother. The first picture was taken when she was just a few days old and the second one was taken today. I love you Punkin. Thanks for letting me be your Mom.

On the knitting front, I am almost done with the Jaywalkers for my sister in law. I am so excited. I am so ready to cast on a new pair of socks for me. I have lots of beautiful yarn to choose from. I was so certain that I wanted to start the Loopy Ewe Fall Sock Club but I just got the Loopy Ewe Anniversary Socks so I am torn. I guess we will see what shows up on the needles next.

Dishcloths are so Cool

I have to admit that I love to knit dishcloths. They make me happy when I use them (yes I do use them and then when they are worn out I throw them in the trash and make more) to wipe counters and wash dishes. My daughters have been known to use them for little baby blankets. I knit these two in the last couple of days. I used one ball of yarn for both of them and I even had a "little" bit left.





This is some pretty sock yarn that I got from the Simply Socks Yarn Company small indie dyer sock club. It is Sleeping Dragon in the Ramble colorway. I can't wait to knit it but it is farther down the list.

Happy knitting

Now with 50% More Knitting and 15% Less Frogging

I feel like an advertisement for a new product. The New and Improved Perky Knits, more knitting and less frogging. I know I have just jinxed myself but lately I haven't had to frog much, which tends to lead to a much more pleasant knitting experience.




I was in the mood for a little mindless knitting this afternoon and I have a friend that is having a birthday later this week so I thought I would make her some dishcloths for a little gift. This is the first one, it is a the Pinwheel Dishcloth from 1870 Pearl. It is a pretty fun knit that goes fast. You have to love a project that goes fast right????




I am still working on the Jaywalkers. I am about ready to turn the heel so I hope to have them done soon.





And the reason I want to have them off the needles so bad???? This. This is the Autumn sock club package from the Loopy Ewe. I received it last week and I am in love. I would love to be able to wear them to take the kids to school on the first day. I have a few weeks maybe it will happen.

May all of your knitting PERK up your spirits.

Always Behind

I can't believe it has been three weeks since I last posted. It seemed all I did for about a week was frog stuff. I have been reading alot too. I am probably the only person in the world that wasn't all over the Harry Potter book when it came out. I have only read the first two. I read those a few years ago so I started over at the beginning and now I am on the second book. It will be a while before I get to the last one I think.





I have been knitting on a pair of Jaywalkers, (yes I know I am behind everyone on those too). I am making this pair for my sister in law. I am using the Socks that Rock lightweight in Chapman Springs. This yarn is holding up well considering how many times I have started over.






I have finished the first one and I am almost to the heel flap on the second. This yarn is great for this pattern. It really shows off the yarn without a pattern getting lost in it.

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I have also made salsa. I love making salas but I wish my recipe made more at one time. I never seem to have enough tomatoes at one time to make more than a few pints at a time, but the husband claims it is the best salsa he has ever had so I will trudge on and make more throughout the summer and fall.




Some really pretty yarn came to live with me. It is a hank of Seacoast Merino/Tencel in the Autumn colorway and a hank of Dream in Color in the In Vino Veritas colorway. Now which one to knit first????

Happy knitting.

The Adventure is Over!!!

Well, our Horcrux sock adventure is over. I completed the last sock last night. They are a little small but I like my socks to be snug but I probably should have added a few more rounds. I like them though. They were the first pair I started for Summer of Socks 2007. They were started June 21, 2007 and finished July 19, 2007. I used Fleece Artist Tiger yarn. It was a little splitty but not too incredibly bad




Of course I had to start another pair. I have decided I do better with two pairs on the needles at a time. If I don't want to work on one I work on the other. I started the Victorian Lace Six Sox today. I am way behind but at least I got this pair started before the two months were over this time. This pair has also confirmed for me that I don't like bamboo needles. I knit too tightly and the tips just are sharp enough. I am off to work on my socks.

Happy Knitting

The Adventure reaches a Standstill!!!!

I am so excited that I have finally finished the hubby's socks. He says that it took me forever. I had seriously started to believe that this yarn might be cursed. It took several froggings and I even frogged one after the heel turn because I didn't like them. Thanks again Linda for the advice. Here they are in all there glory. They were started June 28, 2007 and finished July 17, 2007. The yarn is Cherry Tree Hill in the Slate Colorway.









I have restarted the socks again for my sister in law. I frogged them when I frogged the hubby's sock. I cast them on again last night and I have the ribbing done. I will be working on them later this afternoon some more.











Last but not least, the Horcrux sock adventure is almost over. The little sock hasn't been doing anything exciting because I have been working the hubby's sock. I hope that it goes on a couple more adventures before they are finished. They will go on lots when they are on my feet.

Happy Knitting!!!

The Adventure Continues!!!!

The adventure continues as Horcrux 2 is drying onions in the dehydrator. The breezeway reeks of onion right now but it is really neat to cook all winter with the dried onions from the garden.






Our little socky decided that it wanted to pull weeds but the absent minded knitter thought that wasn't such a good idea. After all Horcrux 2 is a hand knit sock and doesn't belong in the dirt. She did let sock get its picture taken with all the weeds that we finally got out of the garden. Note to absent minded knitter remind husband to weed while she is gone!!!!!!




Horcrux 2 wanted to show you all the onions, so socky posed with one for everyone's enjoyment. The absent minded knitter planted 138 onion sets this year.




And last but not least, by any means, is the non weeding husbands sock. I was starting to think that this project was DOOMED!!!! I had the hardest time with this pair. I had decided that I hated this yarn too, but alas I have changed my mind. It is in Cherry Tree Hill in Slate that I purchased from the Loopy Ewe. The second one was cast on this morning. I am hoping to finish before the anniversary later this week.

On This Episode of the Horcrux Adventure

Well, it seemed like this little Horcrux sock in the works was going on reasonably well. Last night, our little addition to the sock world watched Princess Stinkerbug and the Punkin light some fireworks that were reasonably safe for children.








Then the little sock did a bit of grilling because you have to grill on the 4th right???






Got a good nights sleep. The little sock just loved the Sleep Number Bed and pillow. I think it was set on 45.






Went on a trip to the Tractor Supply, hubby forgot something and the batteries were dead in the camera because the absent minded knitter left the camera on all afternoon.




And then tragedy struck, the absent minded knitter threw in an extra yarn over on the first round of the pattern. The absent minded knitter tends to knit a little tight and therefore it is difficult for her to get ribbing back on the needles if she rips part of it out. So the little sock had surgery.



Stayed tuned for the next episode of Horcrux Adventure. Will the little sock get back on the needles???? Will its twin end up a lonely sock a la Sheri??? Will the absent minded knitter ever work on that baby blanket???? Who knows????

Happy Knitting

An Adventure Begins!!!!

First, I want to say Happy 4th of July. Second, I want to show you what has been happening in the way of knitting around here. I haven't been knitting a large amount but I have been reading some. After many false starts and a moment when I had to ask my knitting guru Linda if I was crazy for frogging a sock that was two thirds done, I think I have gotten Brett's sock to a point where I am happy with it and won't be frogging again. I am even starting to like the yarn.






Hi, I am the second Horcrux sock in the pair. My knitter thought that the other one was getting lonely so she cast on for me this morning. She is into the pattern, barely, but she has been busy taking me on an adventure that she will share with you over the next few days. It is the Horcrux Adventure so please stay tuned.

I am making a little progress on the baby blanket. It is going to need some serious attention in the very near future.

Happy Knitting

A Sock Finished, A Sock Frogged

I finished the first Horcrux sock today. I am very happy with the change that I made and it is a good fit. It is a bit snug so if I was ever to knit them again I might go with the 70 stitches but it is fine for me this time. I am also pleased with how the Kitchner stitch on the toe turned out. I also finished it in six days which is a new record for me. Woo Hoo!!!!!




I had to frog my hubby's sock. It was just too tight. The sock stood up all by itself without a foot in it. Needless to say, it has drowned but is now resurfacing at the top of the pond since I cast it on again and have knitted five rows on the ribbing. I think I will be much happier with it and my hands won't hurt as I knit it either.

I have also done one repeat on the baby blanket so only nine to go before Friday. I haven't worked on the Mad Color Weave sock. I am pondering ripping it out since it has some mistakes and has the same kind of heel that I changed on the Horcrux sock. I will ponder it a little further before I decide.

Happy Knitting

What A Way to Start a Monday Morning

No noise, knitting and coffee just seem to go together, as long as you don't spill coffee on whatever it is you are knitting. I was able to work on my Horcrux sock some more this morning. I know that it looks like I ripped some out and had to make a change that is better for me. I am so proud of myself for realizing that I didn't like the heel in the pattern and then changing it to suit me. I am usually a little freakish when it comes to following patterns. I guess I expect the Knitting Police to show up and come get me. It is kind of a liberating feeling when you realize that you can change it.

I am also amending my things to get accomplished by Friday by adding ten repeats to the baby blanket I am working on.

Happy Knitting

Sock Stash Enhancement and Progress

When I went on my trip, I was on a mission to find three sock yarns that I wanted to try. I found two of the three. I found Mountain Colors Bearfoot and some Colinette Jitterbug. The one on the left and the third one over are the Mountain Colors and the Jitterbug is between them. The other hank of sock yarn is some beautiful J Knits, in the Alaska colorway, a gift from my friend Linda.




I have found myself in a position where I feel the need to finish up some socks that I have on the needles. I have three pairs going and that is a little too much for me. They are all three in the post heel turn stage so it shouldn't be too much of a stretch to try to complete all three socks this week. So by Friday of this next week I hope to have three completed socks to show everyone. I will still have to make the mates for all three pairs though. The first one here is the Mad Color Weave sock for my wonderful sister in law.






The second sock I have here is the pair for my wonderful husband. I actually worked on it a little today so I am making some more progress.




The third sock I have here is my first sock in the Summer of Socks. I have completed decreasing the gusset and now I am just working on the foot. I hope to finish this one this weekend. The fastest I have ever made a single sock is a week. I think I can beat it with this one.




Since I haven't shared a picture of Marshmallow Thief lately, I thought I would throw one in. He is growing so fast. He is almost 17 months old. It just doesn't seem possible.

Happy Knitting

Summer of Socks Begins!!!!

I am one of the many participants of Summer of Socks this year. I am really excited about it because I am excited to see how many pairs of socks I can start and finish in a season. I cast on the first pair today. I am knitting the Horcrux Socks. I am using some Fleece Artist in Tiger. I am really enjoying the pattern and I am already about a quarter of the way through the leg. I hope to turn the heel today but I am not making any promises.





I have also started Teacher blanket #2. This blanket is for Princess Stinkerbug's teacher. She is due sometime next month. I am using a pattern called Cables and Crowns. The yarn is some Caron Simply Soft Brite in Lemonade. It is going rather well, not nearly as frustrating as the last one I did.



I will get to taking pictures of my vacation yarn acquistions soon I hope. I bought some really beautiful yarn. I have to show it off.

Happy Knitting

Call Me Toolbelt Diva!!!!!

Watch out Toolbelt Diva here comes Robin. I made my own yarn swift today. I am so excited. I found a pattern at this blog. I have built things before but this is so neat and I loved using it for the first time.

Here is the first hank of yarn that I wound up with it. It is some Lorna's Laces in Shadow. I got it from Sheri at the Loopy Ewe.


Here is the sock that I am working on now. It is in Socks That Rock Chapman Springs. I love this yarn. It is incredible. The picture isn't very good since the light was not great but I will post another picture soon.

Next time I will share the adventures that I had on my vacation. I didn't take pictures but I did acquire some yarn. Surprised???? Probably not huh???

Happy Knitting

It is Finished!!!!!

I finished the baby blanket last night. I wove in the ends this morning. It took a journey down to the school where the expectant mother was working diligently to get her room finished up for the end of the year. It is now in her hands. I think she really appreciated it. I deleted the whole picture of it that I took for some stupid reason so this is just the close up of the stitches. I need to make one more blanket but I have decided that I won't start it until I get back from visiting family in Kansas.


I just cast on a pair of socks in STR Chapman Springs. This yarn is AWESOME!!!!!! I am loving knitting with it. I will see what kind of progress I make on them this evening and if there is enough I will post a picture before I leave tomorrow morning. If now I will see you all when I get back.


Happy Knitting!!!