Second Sock Syndrome

Sock one. Dog in the background
hoping for a treat.

I love knitting socks, and have never suffered from second sock syndrome. Until now.

I am forcing myself to make the second sock. I don't like this pattern. It's not a bad pattern. It's well written. It's creating a very pretty sock. Great designer. But it has a yarn over at the end of two of the rows in the lace pattern. I hate that. It's making me crazy. I was trying to do the pattern as written - needles included - since it's from the Sock Knitters Master Class book. The yo at the end of the row on 4 double point needles was making me pretty stabby. Not a good place to be when you're already holding little weapons. I switched to my standard circular needle and it's better now.

The upside, is that I love the Knit Picks yarn I chose. 

Of course (never fails), the birthday for which these socks are being knit is approaching very quickly. Guess I know what I'll be doing tonight...

Sky Scarf

I'm actually keeping up with the row (ok. Two rows - across and back) a day depending on the color of the sky - sky scarf project. This year so far has been pretty gray. I'll be happy to add more blue!

Blizzard Mittens

So many people got whomped by this storm. We got a mere 5-6" out of it. No complaints! It was a whole lot easier to shovel that last night before the cop for home than it would have been to clear his parking spot of 12+ inches of the stuff.

Finished up a quick pair of mittens for my curly girl so she'll have toasty hands when she goes outside to throw snowballs at the dog.

She's baking a cake today and getting ready to play with some decorating icing. Good times!

WinterFest

My BKF and I took our kids (Well, I took the younger of my two. The teen declared that it was just too cold out for her to go.) to Winterfest at The Lands at Hillside Farms. Alpacas were pet, chickens were chased, ponies were ridden... the girls even braved the "stinky" cow barn and were rewarded with calves!

There were ice sculptures and ducks to see, and even a woman spinning some Alpaca fluff. L, who is nearly 10, was quite pleased to be included in the "oh, we're spinners, too" statement.  She was thrilled with all the animals - from the cows to the barn cats. We'll be watching for more programs from this farm. It was a lot of fun for all of us - moms, two year old and pre-teens alike.

Love this chicken. Makes me want a backyard coop!

One of the ponies near the barn - not the one L got to ride.

This old greenhouse made me want to shoot artsy photos!

Monster time

Met up Saturday with my BKF for coffee, chatting and a book exchange. She loaned me The Big Book of Knitted Monsters. I was able to *finally* finish Irving. He's nearly done - just waiting for a belly button and a mouth.

Cold

Close-up of the reverse stockinette
of the toasty-warm sweater.

It's cold here in NEPA. Really cold. Freeze your nose hairs when your take a breath cold. It was a whopping 1 degree out this morning when I took the brats to school / bus stop. At least the high school had taken care of the mess that was their drive way. I made it in/out yesterday with the 4wd (I lurve mah Jeep!) but apparently, many people got stuck. Janitors had to be called to help get folks out, and C's fav teacher was late because traffic was so backed up.

I'm in the office today. The cop fixed the heat in the Jeep last night after we froze on the way to/from the movies.*  It only needed some antifreeze (pfew) and now it's all toasty again. Would not have enjoyed 90 minutes each way with no heat.

The only upside to the cold is that I get to wear my lovely wools. Today it's cold enough to warrant the reverse stockinette stitch sweater made of kitten-soft Cascade 128. I adore this sweater. It's boxy and short and has a lovely cable/twist on the back. Maybe I can add a photo of the back later. I love this yarn. I have one skein left, I think. Oh... what to make. I'm thinking a cowl of some sort - it's just SO soft - it begs to be against skin.

*Saw The Hobbit. In 3D. It was amazing. The casting was perfection. They could not have done a better job with Bilbo. Now I have to go back and reread the book. It's been ages. Can't wait for part 2 to be released.

Slip-n-Slide

The call of the Sock Knitting Master Class book was too great. I'd drooled over it for too long. The Hitchhiker shawl only used about 8 rows of the 2nd skein of yarn, so what else do you do with the 'left over' yarn but make socks! I'm a bit farther than that now - after last night's Bones marathon with the cop who was unexpectedly off work last night. I'm about to start the heel. Exciting stuff.

Of course, these days, Slip and Slide is more than the name of a fabulous sock pattern. It snowed last night. Again. Happily, it was only a few inches of powdery fluff - stuff I could sweep off the steps with a broom. Miracle of miracles, our road is in better shape than most in the city right now. This never happens. Usually we wait for days for the appearance of a plow. I am just really happy that the cop gave in and allowed me my 'dream car'.  I'd missed my Blazer a lot. ::a lot:: I've used the 4wd on my new baby many times already this season - including today - just to get traction on the slick snow-covered high school driveway. I'd had a bad feeling about weather this season. The last few years have been too tame. We're due. At least I can enjoy it a little again now that I have an appropriate vehicle.