Played Hookey and Went to Jail

We played hookey from (a half day) work two weeks ago and took the kids to Jim Thorpe to see the old Jail and the handprint. {Cause yeah. That's the type of parents we are - it's summer - let's go visit historical sites! Yay!} It was actually very interesting to the kids. Miss L had done a report on the Molly Maguires for school, and we'd wanted to take her then, but it was winter and the Jail was closed. It was worth the trip.

The Old Jail in Jim Thorpe

A small cell window seen through the cell door.

The front door of the old jail.
The door is made up of a layer of oak, a layer of metal,
and another layer of Oak. 

Miss L goes into a cell. 

Fred and George have a bath

Fred and George have had their bath (much to Molly Weasley's delight, I imagine) and are drying outside. I say that with great optimism, because the weather is foolishly humid, and it might take quite some time before they're dry enough to take their place in my sock drawer. I really enjoyed making these socks (once I got past worrying about how much slack to leave on the yarn carry-overs.) They went quickly, and will be a joy to wear this winter. I plan to break them out December 1 and wear them, often, all month. Next up... Dragon's Egg Socks from the same Unofficial Harry Potter Knits magazine. I've cast on using KnitPicks Stroll Fingering in Sunset Multi. I made a huge mistake, thought. I cast on last night, did the suggested inch of cuff and jumped right into the Quidditch chart. After doing an entire 25 rows of the chart, I went back to see when the 2nd chart was to be knit - the one on the following page. Whoops. That "next" chart was supposed to be knit BEFORE the Quidditch chart. Rip rip rip rip.   Oh well. It's all fun, right?

Fred and George Socks Dragon's Egg Socks, after the ripping

Weekend happiness

Not much better than Sunday brunch followed by more coffee and knitting. The heel is turned on sock 2 of Fred and George and I'm about to pick up the stitches on the flap. I love how these socks are turning out. 

Mug by my unbelievably talented cousin, Kate Johnston. http://ktjohnstonpottery.weebly.com

All the Unofficial Harry Potter Socks

I am nearly finished with sock #1 of Fred and George from the Unofficial Harry Potter magazine. I love it.  Can't wait to do #2. The color work always gives me pause - I am still learning how much slack to give the carried-behind yarn so that the sock will still stretch enough to go on. 

I think I want to do the other 3 socks in the magazine, too. Sock Summer!

It's All About the Socks (Apparently)

I have finally finished my Narcissa socks. They were an adventure, to say the least. I do not love doing the picot cuff, but it looks pretty. The pattern repeat didn't work too well with my usual method of sock knitting - magic loop on circular needles.

It just didn't divide well, so for sock #2, I sucked it up and got a set of dpns (lovely ones from KnitPicks - Caspian - loved working with them) and put each repeat on a needle of its own. Having the work divided over three needles did the trick, and the leg of sock 2 went very well. (I'll admit that I switched back to my trusty Sock Rockets for the heel and foot... )  They've had their bath in Soak Wash and are blocked and dry and ready to wait for cooler weather.

Next up... Fred and George, also from the Unofficial Harry Potter magazine.

I Can Pickle That

First it was strawberry jam. Love! I hadn't canned since moving up here - probably since before the kiddos were born. I'd forgotten how much fun (and work, but mostly fun) it is to can. 

My favorite farm at the South Side Farmers Market had pickle cukes yesterday. I'd been thinking about trying pickles - perfect opportunity! Those two little containers I bought had more in them than I thought. I now have 7 jars cooling on the stove. All the lids have popped (a happy sound, indeed) and now we just have to wait 6 weeks to see if they're any good. 

Perils of magic loop

And then there was the time I accidentally caught the cable in my hand after brushing my hair out of my eyes and ripped the needle out of all the fussy stitches. Fortunately, I was able to pick them all up properly and continue.