Happy Valentine's Day!

I don't know why I should be surprised by this, but I was looking on the web for a nice Valentine picture to post and found there St. Valentines Day has it very own web site. It is: www.stvalentinesday.org It gives history information, tips on what to do, what to buy for him/her, party decorations, Valentines Day for singles ideas, etc. You name it, I found it there. So for a little extra history lession, go ahead and click on the link.

Hope you have a good Valentines Day!

Magic Loop Socks

Here is the progress on my first pair of Magic Loop Socks. This is the Crosshatch Lace pattern from the book "More Sensational Knitted Socks" by Charlene Schurch. I'm really liking the way this colorway is turning out. It is Grandmothers Flower Garden and the yarn is Socks that Rock-lightweight by Blue Moon Fiber Arts. I have finished 2 repeats of the pattern. The sock in the book has 8 repeats, if I have counted correctly.

A Drama Unfolds, Starring 2 Bobs, Moe, Java & Jasmine

I just wanted to share a few more pictures of Moe that I took.

Here is Moe, channel surfing on our day off last Friday.

Of course when you don't have cable or a dish, there isn't anything too exciting happening around the house. Because daytime TV will rot your brain with its mindlessness. Although something interesting just may happen when a tall, dark, handsome fella strolls by. Although he doesn't seem too impressed with her attempt at making googly eyes at him, looks can be deceiving as we later find out.
I wanted to save these last photos until my Hot Chocolate swap pal got her package, but I just can't wait. I have tracking confirmation that her package is out on a UPS truck for delivery right now though. So hopefully she won't see this until she opens her package.


Meet Aqua Bob and Blue Bob. I made Blue Bob first and he was just not peppy enough to be a blah buster buddy. Being 'blue' and all. So I did Aqua Bob instead. Here they are doing the secret hand shake before Aqua Bob climbs into he package and leaves town. And lest she be excluded, here is Moe getting in on a little secret hand shake action herself. You will notice the tall, dark, handsome fella peering down on them. Java's wondering what Moe's doing shaking hands with the 2 Bobs after making googly eyes at him!


Maybe he should get a closer look at Aqua Bob. There just might be something Aqua Bob has that Java is lacking. He confers with his sister, Miss Jasmine. She doesn't know what Moe see's in Aqua Bob, but she definitely sees something that she likes just as well. For just seconds after I snapped this picture, she snags Aqua Bob by the tail and tries to make off with him. Luckily in her mad dash, I startle her enough that she drops Aqua Bob and I am able to rescue him from certain disaster. Boy was he more than happy to be on his way.

Magic Loop Socks

I started my next pair of socks today using the magic loop method. I have only done 4.5 rows on sock #1, but so far everything is going real well. I am using the Addi Turbo needles in size 1 (really 1.5) with a length listed at 47 inches. I am knitting the Socks That Rock yarn that I got from the Michigan Fiber Arts Festival last year. The pattern I am using is from the book, "More Sensational Knitted Socks" by Charlene Schurch. It is a Cross-Hatch Lace sock. I'll post pictures tomorrow, as I am at work today.

PS: I delivered the RPM Socks yesterday to McKelle. And I got to see the progress they are making on their house. Her and her husband, Eric, have been building their own home for the last year to year and a half. With a lot of help from her Dad, Mom & Brother. I am amazed at the progress they have made. All the painting is done. The hardwood floors are down in the kitchen and the cabinets are hung. The counters will be delivered soon. Her cousin was supposed to be there today to lay down the flooring in the master bathroom and he will install the carpeting when it all arives. The master bathroom has this tub, that I just drool over. It fits in the corner, and is about the size of a small jacuzzi. Awesome. I just love the house. It has this wonderful wrap-around deck/porch. Eric even installed speakers into the roof of the porch, so you can have music outside. It is a really cool house. I know she is chomping at the bit to get into. But I'm sure they'll be in sooner than she thinks. I'm thinking early spring.

Personal Rant

Why is whenever I get a flat tire it is always while on my way to work. And there is always ONE lug nut that is too tight for me to get off!!

As you can guess, that is exactly what happened this morning on my way to work. I was on the bypass, driving about 65 mph. I say about, because that is posted speed limit and I wouldn't want to incriminate myself by admitting to anything over and above that. By the way, hot smokey flat tire rubber really stinks. So anyway, I pull over to the shoulder of the road; you know the routine from there. Pop the trunk, Hazard lights on, get the spare/jack out. Realize you have to back for the lug wrench. Hunker down and try to find the perfect spot for the little scissor type jack. Give the jack a few experimental turns each way to try to figure out which way makes it go up and which goes down. All the while silently repeating "Righty tighty, Lefty loosey." Only your too rattled by all the cars/vans/semi's zooming past and shaking the car to realize which way is right and which is left. Once the jack is in place, but before you raise the tire off the ground, you loosen the lugs right. So you try the top one. It's the top one, so that is the logical place to start right? Won't budge. Okay, get sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach. Figure your just feeling a little weak, let's try the rest. While making little grunting noises, you manage to get the next 4 loose. Sinking feeling abates. Realized you didn't put enough effort in trying to get the #1 lug nut off. Go back to it. Nope, nada, nothing. No matter how much grunting, and cursing by this time, Lug nut #1 refuses to give up.

Thank god for cell phones and the fact I wasn't too far from work. I called the maintenance guy and asked for help. While I was waiting for him to show up, I tried twice more to loosen that damn lug nut without success. But the good news it that the Maintenance Guy had trouble loosening it too. So I at least I knew it wasn't just me being a wimp. Dennis kind enough to mention that I could have picked a nicer day to get a flat. But you know it wasn't raining when I got the flat. It only started while I was waiting for him to get there. So if he had driven a little faster, we both would have stayed dry.

Hot Cocoa Swap Package Received

I just wanted to let everyone know that I received my swap package on Saturday. My YSP, Sarah from Nebraska spoiled me rotten. I just love everything!

Here is a photo of all the wonderful stuff.

I got 2 skeins of Reggio Bamboo yarn. The color is so bright and cheerful. I can't wait to try it out. I also received a skein of Cherry Tree Hill Sock yarn, and you know, I have yet to make myself a pair of blue socks, so I think I really must do those next. And to confuse matters, she sent this great book about knitting 2 socks on circular needles. There are some really neat looking socks in there. And now I just can't figure out if I want to do the 2 circle needle method or the magic loop method first. I must decide soon, since I finished the 'neverending socks' on Friday, because I want to start another pair as soon as possible. Sarah's friend at her local coffee shop recommended the Mexcafe Mexican Hot Chocolate. OH MY! It is delicious! I made it with milk and added marshmallows. Major YUM! I need to find it locally for when I run out. You will me amazed to know that I still have not eaten the Dove Chocolate bar yet. I know as soon as I open it, I will devour the whole thing, so I am waiting a bit. I wanted to savor it for awhile.

And lest I forget, here is Moe, sitting in my coffee mug on a desk at work. I say "a" desk, as mine was way to messy for a good photo. Moe is adorable and so cuddly. Sarah said she started calling her Moe, because that is what she just looks like. I agree, so I am going to continue to call her that. I have to admit that I am glad Sarah let me know she's a monkey, because for some odd reason at first glance I thought she was a horse, until I saw the long tail. Don't know where that idea came from!?!? Sarah said her daughter liked Moe so much she has to make her one now.

Sarah also included 4 lovely stitch markers. I have been trying to take a close up photo of them, so you can see the details, but either the flash goes off and it is to white, or it is too dark, when I turn the flash off. I will work on getting a photo up of those.

Thanks again Sarah for the great package!

I am almost finished with my own Secret Pals package. I have a few tweeks to do, but it will be on it's way out the door by the end of the week.

They're Done! They're Done! They're Done!

The Neverending Socks (aka the socks from hell) are DONE!!

They are not delivered yet, although I had planned on delivering them this last Saturday. However, McKelle called late Friday night and said her daughter Brenna was sick with Pneumonia. So I said thanks for the update and I'll see ya next Saturday instead. So here is the finished socks.


Pattern Disclaimer: Just wanted to let everyone out there know there is nothing wrong with the pattern. That is NOT why I was calling them the "socks from hell." The pattern from Knitty.com is actually a pretty easy pattern. But after having ripped out sock #2, I kind of lost interest and had to really struggle to make myself knit them.