Shamrockknits

New Holiday Traditions

2011-12-27T15:57:00.002-05:00

With mom passing at 89 this September, it's been a few months of new traditions for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Although I don't miss the hour drive to New Castle to visit mom twice a week, I do miss the "car" time that I used for thinking, planning, and singing at the top of my lungs to the radio or CDs.

Thanksgiving: Made chicken and noodles on my own--I fretted about them, but they turned out well. Still went to cousin Sandi's house and had a great time playing angry birds with 3rd cousins that are 4 and 7.

Christmas: Just Barb and my two nephews at Joe's (oldest nephew's house) with grilled steaks. Totally terrific. Also got to see Maroon 5 in 3D. Yup, the glasses are dorky.

It's what we did when dad passed away suddenly at the age of 52 in 1977--new traditions. Can you be a motherless child at the age of 61 LOL????? An iPod nano filled with all of your favorite Christmas tunes except for "Momma needs new shoes to meet Jesus" or whatever the name of that song is that has always made me cry gets you thru the week prior to Christmas. It was the worst! Too much time to think and remember I guess.

Weekend Knitting with Amy Detjen

2011-11-14T13:01:00.000-05:00

Had loads of fun at Amy's classes with the Indy Knit Guild. I even joined! A few friends in the group and I made a couple of new ones too. Wore my mermaid sock (Lucy Neatby) as with a broken toe, it it easy to wear only one sock especially since I never made the 2nd sock. I do need to find that book so that I can start the 2nd and finish the pair.

9/11

2011-09-11T21:49:00.001-04:00

Wow. 10 years since our sense of well being was shattered in the USA. Difficult to believe. Isn't it wonderful how kntitting, quiltin and all kinds of crafts help us work thru our anxieties and tension. Definitely a zen thing

The summer is flying by.....

2011-08-12T13:44:00.002-04:00

have knit a couple of shawls with a KAL (Knit a Long in Ravelry.com terms) on the knitting website. Lots of fun and the results were cool. Have to post pictures of what's done!

Starting a 3rd shawl and need to dig out the others that I have bought yarn to knit (a couple of years ago, everyone was going to get one for Christmas LOL).

Miss Phoebe June is getting old--11 years and she's starting to fail. I love golden retrievers and I'm going to miss her when she's gone. She has a fun personality and a definite sense of humor. I like her better than most people for company.

Mom is in hospice for congestive heart failure and has been since January. The hospice people are taking really good care of her--she may live forever.

2011-03-11T15:06:00.002-05:00

It's finally Friday. Haven't cast on anything new to the needles, but I did dig out some socks in process. Am looking forward to some knitting time over the weekend.

EEgads how time has flown

2011-03-09T13:42:00.002-05:00

It's been more than a year since I've posted.......it has been a strange year and I haven't knit very much at all. I'm getting back into the swing of things, so I'll vow here to post weekly. My mom is in hospice--congestive heart failure and being 89 the big contributing factors. She's hanging in, but I see the steady decline. At least the fluid retention has been alleviated and she's comfortable again. More later....

Winter Knitting

2010-03-01T12:26:00.003-05:00

I only seem to be knitting scarfs this year. A couple for the family across the street that have helped me with my driveway after we've had snow, blue & white Colt's color scarves for the 2012 Super Bowl volunteers to wear (I have 3 on the needles), and a chemo turban scarf for my cousin who is recovering from mastectomy surgery. I'm going to finish these and then start on a cowl--birthday cake one to be exact. March has come in like a lamb, so I guess winter knitting will continue until it goes out like a lion.

2012 Super Bowl

2010-01-31T18:43:00.002-05:00

I guess they're trying to create some excitement among the Indy knitters by asking us to knit 8,000 scarves for the volunteers to wear at the 2012 Super Bowl. Want us to use red heart or cascade yarn. We have to buy the yarn ourselves (limited kits are available for free at the Marion County Libraries) and they will have free knitting classes.

I don't mind knitting for charity, in fact I love that someone benefits from my work. However, I'd like to make several scarfs for this project but it's going to get pricey. Have had cutbacks at work , and I don't have the disposable income that I had at this time last year. (The real estate market sucks big time for residential developers) I'll quite my bellyaching and start on some scarfs. I'll have to use the red heart even though it's not as nice to work with and won't be as warm for the volunteers to wear. Such is life!!!!!

Good reads with knitting, mysteries, or whatever..including vampires

2009-09-21T12:53:00.002-04:00

Have just finished Barbara Bretton's two books Casting Spells and and Laced with Magic. They're both romances and those that know me well know that I usually stick to mysteries. Since I'm knitting addicted and proud of it, these two books jumped out at me at the Westfield Library. I read Laced with Magic first and then backtracked to Casting Spells. I love writers with imagination, and Bretton has plenty. Since the stories are based out of a magical town the seems normal to all of the "normal" people, the story of a yarn shop owners whose sweater projects always have matching sleeves and no dropped stitches, I found the books engrossing. While I would rather have been sock knitting watching a good old movie, I truly enjoyed these books

100 things to do before you die

2009-06-25T12:45:00.002-04:00

Someone else's bucket list.
Copy and bold the items you have completed.
Have done 52 out of 100. Some I'll never do. LOL

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii Judy Lewis Lived there
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo-Freshman Glee Club & it scared me half to death
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Gone rollerskating
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill-Mental health days
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon-Walked and Knitten in one
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Acted in a play or performed on stage
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies-Camp Fire Girl's candy
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible once
86. Visited the White House
87. Won money
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Had to put someone you love in Hospice Care
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Westfield Relay for Life

2009-05-04T12:28:00.002-04:00

I'm participating in the Stitches and Scones team in the Westfield Relay for life. We think that we are the first knitting team in these nationwide relays. We are going to do charity knitting during the entire event--from the high school where it's headquartered to the shop when it's too dark on the track to knit. I'll post the website where you can support me in my knitting efforts in my next posting. Thanks!

Eeek! Too long between posts!

2008-12-16T15:30:00.001-05:00

This is way too long between posts. Have been busy, haven't taken any pictures of any projects, but I have been knitting. Will try to get everything updated this weekend.

Happy Holidays!!!!

Where do you knit?

2008-09-01T16:52:00.003-04:00

I got suite tickets for a pre-season Colts game, so here I am knitting at the new Lucas Oil Stadium.

Work In Process

2008-05-18T21:18:00.002-04:00

Mountain pine shawl designed by Two Old Bags has been on the needles for awhile. I have half of the border completed, and I have my camera again. Yeah!

Pictureless Posting

2008-03-21T09:27:00.003-04:00

I have misplaced my digital camera and I feel lost without it. No pictures, but I have been finishing things up:

Twisted yarn shrug--on the needles since Christmas 2006 I finished my sister's but didn't get mine done. It only needed 8 rows of border and binding off. I still have to work in and tie off all of the loose yarn end (there are many). I blocked it, so it's almost ready.

One Jacobean sock for the Sockathalon--toe up--a new technique learned. I have to frog the cuff back 'cause it's too tight--going to use the sewn finish, so one sock, two new techniques

My knitted shawl is progressing. Have about 1/3 of the basic rectangle done and then I have to do the outsides. Knitting from a chart is a bit distracting, but I'm progressing at that as well.

UFO remaining: Mystery sweater in black and greens. OTN since 2006. Just have to finish the bottom, front and neck bindings and it will be ready to wear for next fall.

Size 13 black Socks for Soldiers Done!

2008-02-22T16:29:00.002-05:00

I finished them up this afternoon. I'll post a picture when I've woven the ends and tidied them up a bit. They are huge! But some soldier with large feet will like the 12" cuff under his heavy boots to protect his legs and feet. I feel like I've knit 4 pair of socks during this pair of socks. It's for a good cause, so I'm happy to do it.

Walking Zombie???

2008-02-12T19:57:00.000-05:00

Here I am in my green hat bomb. My assassin, VeryBadDogs, read up on my ravelry site, and made me this wonderful hat complete with a pinwheel pin. Also included in my package of doom was a great treat for Phoebe dog, green m & ms (yummy), a tote from River Knits, and key skull caps. I have to check the delivery time on the package. My target received her package at 11:24 am EST in New Jersey. My mail may have been late as we had a snowy day.

2008-02-09T21:20:00.000-05:00

I started this morning. Got 3 rows done and found I was doing it wrong. Frogged the rows back and stared again. Went to an Indiana ravelry event at Stitches & Scones today, so I had lots of knitting time. Finished a little bit ago. It has to go to New Jersey, and my assassin is only an hour and a half from my doorstep in Indiana, so I'll have to sent it overnite first thing in the morning.

Stars - Philosopher's Wool

2008-01-21T20:40:00.001-05:00

OK--here is a picture of the Philospher's Wool sweater kit that I bought--I can't wait to get started on it. I'll have to buy a hat and get a red scarf to put on it. It will be my first attempt at Fair Isle Sweaters. I got the kit for Christmas, but I have to get one pair of big black socks finished (I have one size 13 sock finished and the 2nd one cast on--these socks are BIG) for Socks for Soldiers, Inc. I joined thru Socknitters.com. It's a worth while organization to support our troups--more than a bumper sticker as they say.

2008-01-04T10:43:00.000-05:00

"Borrowed" this from the simplysockyarn blog and she borrowed it from another person. Not original by any stretch of the imagination

1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before? I started my own blog
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I didn't make any resolutions, and I didn't make any this year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? no
4.Did anyone close to you die? No.
5. What countries did you visit? None.
6.What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007? More time to quilt. Have been knitting
7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? The day after Memorial day when my mom called to tell me that she had a stroke around 3 am
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? 8 pairs of socks were completed
9. What was your biggest failure? My office is still a mess
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? No
11. What was the best thing you bought? Portable DVD player
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? ???
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Anna whatshername who didn't even know or didn't divulge the father of her child and all of the hoopla. Ugh
14. Where did most of your money go? Yarn, yarn, yarn and insurance rx etc etc etc
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Participated in a tea swap and got a new friend
16. What song will always remind you of 2007? ????
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:  a) happier or sadder?  b) thinner or fatter?  c) richer or poorer? I'm just ok--anxious about my mom's health, a little thinner, sleeping better and still eating chocolate
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Sitting in the sun and reading
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Eating.
20.How did you spend Christmas? with my mom, sister, niece and nephews. It was fun.
21. Did you fall in love in 2007? no
22. What was your favorite TV program? Bones
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? Nope
24. What was the best book you read? The Book Sellers Promise (or something like that)
25. What was your greatest musical discovery? Josh Groban
26. What did you want and get? healthier
27. What did you want and not get? ????
28. What was your favorite film of this year? Didn't have one
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? 57
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? My mom to be in better health
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007? Quacker Factory Bling
32. What kept you sane? Having a good friends to talk to when things were a mess.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? None.
34. What political issue stirred you the most? The death of Benazir Bhutto .
35. Who did you miss? ???
36. Who was the best new person you met? Judy Wise
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007. Live each day to the fullest
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. On the road again

2007-12-28T21:19:00.000-05:00

Here's Phoebe June under the tree, Phoebe and I during a knitting break while trying to finish up the Christmas socks that I knit for everyone, and Phoebe on my coat, and some yarn added to the stash that coordinates with my coat for a scarf (Noro) and socks and mitts (Kiugu closest to Phoebe's nose.

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-25T20:17:00.000-05:00

Hope you all are having a cool Yule. We had a quiet Christmas with my mom, sister, niece and nephews. I got all my socks knit, so now I can start on something for me. Joined a socks for soldiers group at Yahoo through socknitters.com. It should be fun 'cause I'm running out of people to knit socks for. The soldiers in Afghanistan truly need them.

My youngest sister put together some of our old home movies from the 60s. They were pretty funny.

Have a wonderful holiday, and don't shop the after Christmas sales and not leave a few things for me please

2007-12-16T14:57:00.000-05:00

You can see Phoebe tracks in the snow. We got about 6" but it's been blowing around in the strong winds that have now subsided. Phoebe has been making dog angels in the snow, but she decided not to stay out for the picture

Snow!

2007-12-15T12:45:00.000-05:00

The snow started around 8 this morning. Haven't checked to see how much we're to get, I'm stocked up with yarn, chocolate, diet drinks (you have to cut back somewhere) bread and milk. The grocery store was a mess last nite. This is supposed to go on until tomorrow, so we could get some accumulation for sure. Have 5 socks that need to be completed by Christmas, 3 books I haven't read, and my trusty cyber buddies to keep me company. I finished my Christmas cards, and mailed out 2/3 of them this morning. Looked up all of the addresses that I didn't have in my rolodex and got it all updated. The mail lady has already been here, so they'll go out on Monday. Can't keep my golden retriever inside; she loves the snow. Hope we don't get as much as we did in February (see picture below), but we're ok if we do. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas here in Indiana!

Ravelry Get together

2007-12-08T18:14:00.000-05:00

Had fun today at Mass Avenue Knits with the central Indiana ravelry ladies. Susan (the owner) gave us Mass Avenue bags and a 10% off coupon. It was nice getting to meet and put faces with names. Finished up a few socks while I was there. It was good to knit and chat. Cindatree took pictures of some of the beautiful shawls, scarves, etc that everyone brought to show to us all.

Gremlins in the Blogworld

2007-11-29T22:32:00.000-05:00

My blog kept coming up blank. I finally went in and revisited the settings and didn't find anything weird. When I saved it, my blog came back up. What's up with that? Nothing has been monkeyed around with, so I don't think it's been hacked, just a little twisted.

Happy Thanksgiving

2007-11-22T09:29:00.000-05:00

I'm thankful for my tea swapper, Angie this morning. I'm drinking a British cuppa Builder's tea--the thirst quencher. I've tried my Earl Grey, and I haven't tried my thistle tea as yet. Working through all of it. This black tea is very good. I found a small tea pot that I had back in the cupboard--makes about two cups. I'm becoming quite the tea drinker. It's helped with this crazy sinus infection that I picked up last week. We're staying home today, but may head to my sister's for a turkey sandwich later on this afternoon since we had our turkey day with my nephews and niece last Sunday. We were going to a cousin's house, but since my sister and I both have this ugly stuff that doesn't want to vacate our sinus passages, we decided to stay in Indy rather than traipsing around today.

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!

Tree at the Big Basket

2007-11-19T19:35:00.000-05:00

All right! This is the huge tree at the Longaberger Company's main headquarters in Newark, Ohio. The building is shaped as a big basket and this is their Christmas tree decorated with--what else??---baskets. It has a 7 story atrium up the center of the building. So that you get the perspective, I'm only 5'2" tall standing in front of this tree!

Visited the Big Basket

2007-11-18T20:44:00.000-05:00

Took a bus trip yesterday to the Big Basket, Longaberger, in Dresden, OH. I sell the baskets, so it's always fun to go over and visit their tourist trap and see what's new. We had a great time. Eating, shopping, and browsing. Picked up some selling supplies and had my picture taken in the atrium of the Basket Building next to the basket tree. I'll try and post the picture tomorrow. I'm tired this evening as we had a Thanksgiving dinner today with my two nephews and niece since they won't be with us on Thursday, the traditional Thanksgiving Day. (I have a friend who lives in Bristol England who reads my blog, I know the rest of you know when Turkey Day is). Well, I'm closing up shop tonight. I did knit on the bus yesterday, and the Colts did win their game today. They needed a win badly to say the least.

New Sweater Kit--Yeah!

2007-11-13T20:46:00.000-05:00

Alright, this is now a no whining blog--not about the Colts or any crazy election. Got my Philosopher's Wool kit to knit the stars sweater in the hollyberry colorway. I also got enough extra to knit the matching socks. Now I just have to find my sock book--I bought it this summer while I was traipsing back and forth to my mother's house since she had a stroke the end of May. I need to go through some of my bags with knitting in them. I don't believe that I have so many of them!

Monday Morning.......

2007-11-12T08:49:00.000-05:00

We don't get today as a holiday, so I'm here. Got a late start. Got up at 7:00 and I usually LEAVE the house that time, so I'm dragging a@@ this morning. Thought I'd better check and see what I typed last night when John Madden was on my last nerve and my Colts were being beat. AAARRRGGGG..... Had trouble falling asleep as I was too wound up over the game. Read for awhile and finally my Benadryll kicked in. Scratchy throat this morning, so I'm going to have to get after that. Don't want to be sick. It was probably started by me yelling at the tv and John Madden last night.

2007-11-11T23:33:00.000-05:00

This San Francisco Colts game is driving me crazy. I want to go to bed, but not until I know what the outcome is. I have rambled about everything but my knitting probably because I haven't been knitting. To be sane I must knit this week. I have spoken.

2007-11-07T08:14:00.000-05:00

With the Colts loss last Sunday and Bart Peterson being voted out of the office of Mayor yesterday, it's been a sad day in Mudville (reference to Mighty Casey has struck out poem) for two days in a row.

Bart is a good man and got caught up in the uproar over real estate taxes and it took him down. I don't think he'll run for any other offices in the near future. He's an environmental attorney, so he may go back into practice (pure speculation on my part, no reality). Several of my friends are Bart's staff, so I'm concerned about them too.

No knitting last night--just worked sudoku puzzles on-line.

2007-11-04T17:25:00.000-05:00

No knitting this weekend. I did my mom's shopping, fixed a Stouffer's Lasagna last night and a meatloaf for lunch today. Got 2 batches of pumpkin bread finished last night. Yum! Watching the Colts/Patiots game, so I can't concentrate on knitting now. Go Colts!

Pumkin wax tarts

2007-11-01T19:13:00.000-04:00

I knew that I left out something! I got the best smelling package of wax tarts with pumpkin & spice scents. The package smelled wonderful when I opened it Angie!

Tea Swap has arrived!

2007-11-01T18:53:00.000-04:00

My package from Angie has arrived from Bristol England. How cool! Beautiful yarn for socks in a blue, red, yellow combination with matching red accent yarn, a cute knitting card, postcards of Bristol, a cute tea mug, thistle tea from Edinburg, and a wonderful bar of dark chocolate with orange and spice flavoring. Yum!!!!!

Happy Halloween

2007-10-31T10:48:00.001-04:00

Happy Halloween to everyone. Here's what the crew at worked looked like today. I'm Marge Simpson

Tea Swap Package Sent

2007-10-29T10:37:00.000-04:00

Just catching up on a few unfinished things--should have posted this last week. Angie, your package is packed up and on its way to you in Bristol. Hope you like the things that I picked up for you.

2007-10-21T18:49:00.000-04:00

I finally got pictures taken. I worked on the pink/blue/gray socks during my continuing ed classes as well as the 2nd moss green sock for my nephew.

The green/maroon/blue picture of 2 socks alike I started using a method knitting both socks at once. It was easy to keep the stripes matched up--I used it on the cuffs and heel, but I went to individual needles when I got to the insteps.

2007-10-16T19:11:00.000-04:00

I haven't got pictures taken. Just lazy I guess. I've started another pair of socks --two at a time on one circular needle. I had 2 needles going, but ended up just using the magic loop technique when I knitted myself off of the 2nd needle. Will post pictures tomorrow. Have to get some yarn picked up for my tea swap pal--maybe tomorrow. At the moment I have finished one pair of socks for my nephew, a half pair for my niece, and a full pair on the needles. Knitting daily asked us how many UFOs (UnFinished Objects) we currently have going. I decided not to count, but I do have 2 sweaters that are about 1" of border and cuffs and front tabs away from being finished as well. There are probably a couple of others lurking around in a Longaberger basket around here somewhere.

Weekend is here and gone

2007-10-14T15:51:00.000-04:00

I accomplished a lot this weekend--got the 2nd 8 hours of continuing education done, so I can renew my Broker's License. Finished a 2nd sock for my youngest nephew (25) and worked on a sock for my niece who's 29. I don't actually sell real estate, but I work for a commercial and residential developer in Indy. I keep up my license just in case. Have had it since 1975, and I would't want to go back, sit thru classes and take the test again if I let it lapse. I also took a quick trip over to my mom's (about an hour away to see one of my cousins who is in from Texas).

It's my sister's weekend for mom duty (mom had a stroke in May and is doing well). I take my turn next weekend to do her shopping, pay her bills, and visit. Mom's 86, so this isn't a chore thankfully. I've been doing everything but what I'm supposed to be doing: laundry.

I have my tea swap buddy and she's from Bristol, England. Am loving this new adventure. Have picked up a couple of things for her--she's going to bike thru Cuba for a fundraiser for breast cancer and women's health. Told her that I'm nervous about sending tea to an Englishwoman, but she's assured me that anythings ok with her. We've exchanged several e-mails, and it's fun. I think I turned her on to circular needle sock knitting. It's adictive--I forgot to warn her about that aspect.

Continuing Ed Knitting

2007-10-07T19:45:00.000-04:00

Signed up for my 16 hours of continuing ed for my RE Broker's License, and put in 8 hours yesterday. Took my Socktoberfest socks with me. The time passed more quickly since I knit during it all. I'm going to knit thru the classes from now on!

My Broad Ripple socks are done!

2007-09-06T21:13:00.000-04:00

These socks have been hanging around since the 9th of August through the Indiana State Fair where they visited Peyton Manning and the Super Bowl Lombardi Trophy while they were in the process of being finished. Since it's opening night and the Colts are playing the Saints, what's more fitting than for these Indy socks to be completed. The pattern was designed by a knitter at the Broad Ripple Art Fair this last May. It's from knitty.com if you like the pattern. (David Letterman is an alum of Broad Ripple High School) So this is an all Indy pair of socks that I've completed. Here are picture of the visit with the Colts at the State Fair and the completed socks. I added some extra stitches, so the left sock actually fits better than the right one unless I develop a bunion in the near future. The yarn is a Regia stripe that I got at the Knitters Mercantile in Columbus, OH the end of July.

Knitting Mojo

2007-08-23T09:56:00.000-04:00

I've got it back! I found my monkey socks that I started in June and misplaced. I've also finished one of the knitty.com Broad Ripple socks. Fun pattern and used some bright yarn. Will post picture tonight after it cools down (supposed to get up to 97 today in Indy). Have the 2nd sock started as well. Broad Ripple was designed by a guy who attended the Broad Ripple Art Fair here in Indy. David Letterman is an alumna of Broad Ripple High School here in Indy, so these flashy socks had to be made!!! Stay cool everyone!

2007-08-07T10:43:00.003-04:00

I never posted my finished first glove--still haven't finished the 2nd one, but here it is. I guess I've got one-glove-itis as well! I'll get cracking on the 2nd one after the Summer of Socks is over!

2007-08-06T10:47:00.000-04:00

I updated this blog yesterday, but it hasn't shown up this morning. Will have to figure out what happened when I get home. I want y'all to see the finished regia striped stocks.

Now it's showing up. D'oh!!! Oh well, at least it's not lost in cyberspace!

Another pair completed and I've been Simpsonized

2007-08-05T18:59:00.000-04:00

I finished the green stripes. I know, I'm not anal, so my stripes don't match up and I like them that way. My first pair was easily matched up, but I did this pair for fun. I had to slow up a bit while I finished the new HP. Then I had to Simpsonize myself. Not quite Aunt Selma, but close. Have stayed with my mom all this last week. She is doing much better--she stayed by herself while I worked. She's definitely making lots of progress. She wants to live in her house by herself, so she's made some giant steps since her stroke the end of May. She came home from the rehabilitation center on 7/19, so she's doing well.

To Simpsonize yourself, go to www.simpsonizeme.com. Make sure you have a good head shot of yourself (not that it really will look like you), but it only works with good head shots.

Successful knitting

2007-07-22T21:36:00.000-04:00

Completed one regia striped sock using magic loop. Even with cheap needles, it was easy to follow. I'm going to try a trickier pattern to keep learning new techniques. Am trying to keep myself from being infected with onesockitis. Had a bad case of it last year, and have tried to take all preventatives to keep this disease from developing this year. Am going yarn shopping later in the week and may find some cool yarn to get my count up.

2007-07-18T18:48:00.000-04:00

Forgot to post the picture!!! DUH!!!!

Regias for SOS

2007-07-18T18:31:00.000-04:00

Regia crazy colors -- three socks in process from no brainer to have to count. I can take them to whatever I'm doing. The green ones are being knit using magic loop, and I really like it.

2007-07-17T12:16:00.000-04:00

Have cast on for 2 Cat Bordhi's basic socks using Regia yarn that I got a couple of weeks ago when a local yarn shop was closing. I'm doing one using magic loop and one sock on two needles. Once again I got seperated from my knitting while traipsing back and forth to check on my mom. Will post pictures of the 2 socks "in process" tonight if it quits raining and I can find my camera!!!

The monkeys are off my back!!

2007-07-12T21:39:00.001-04:00

One pair done for the SOS! Yeah!!!

I didn't make the cuffs as long as the pattern as I thought they would be too tight around my calves. This height is great and this pattern is fun. Love these colors as well.

One monkey down, one cast on the needles

2007-07-04T20:28:00.000-04:00

It's the 4th of July and one monkey sock from Cookie A. (knitty.com) is done. The 2nd is on the needles. Yeah!!! :<}

Still haven't found my missing yarn, cast on monkey sock, and needles. MIA for 10 days now. Hopefully they'll show up soon.

I usually have onesockitis and cast on something new after completing one sock, but I've held myself in check. Last time I ended up with three socks with no mates and had to stop a gypsy sweater to get those babies done. I wanted to wear them. (You know, you talk about them and people expect to see them on your feet especially during winter--see the picture nrloe of the snow we had last winter freakish)

Disappearing Monkey sock

2007-07-02T12:49:00.000-04:00

I have now started two Monkey socks. The first sock was cast on while staying at my mom's house on 6/22-6/23, and I took it to the rehabilitation center to show it to her. (She's 86 and recovering from a stroke that she had on 5/29) I have weekend duty, and my sister who's a teacher visits her a couple of times during the week. Somehow with all of this traipsing around, the first sock--yarn, needles, and everything--has hidden itself from view. Have searched my car, my house, and mom's house to no avail. So, I cast on for a new pair on Friday nite and they made it back to Indy with me this trip (my mom lives about an hour away in her hometown where about 100 of our other relatives live). Will post a picture of the new sock when I figure out what I did wrong when knitting the YO2 through the back loop. (I lost about 3 stitches on that row, so I did it right once and 3 times wrong. ) Have frogged back and will concentrate on it this evening.

Mom is progressing well--no paralysis. She called 911 herself at 3:30 am, gave the guys on the ambulance directions on how to get into the house, and talked them into giving her her cell phone so that she could call us and tell us about what happened. She's about 32 days into a 90 day rehabilitation program. It might not take that long. Her physical therapist told her to walk twice with her walker on Saturday & Sunday with me accompanying her down to the nurses station and back. (Bare in mind that when she got there on 6/1 she was in a wheelchair and required assistance to use the bathroom, get to meals, etc., so she's come a long way) She did well, but she forgets about the hand brakes, so I practiced jumping out at her so that she could steady herself and hit the brakes (not really much of a surprise). My family has a strange sense of what is funny, so keep this in mind.

Will post a picture of the correct socks tonight.

Summer of Socks

2007-06-14T19:47:00.002-04:00

ok--it's over 90 degrees here and I'm photographing my foot in a wool sock. My neighbors already think I'm ecsentric (mispelled for sure). Here is my first mermaid sock in Opal Peacock.

2007-06-14T19:47:00.001-04:00

Summer of Socks 2007

2007-05-18T09:24:00.000-04:00

I have to admit, I'm addicted to knitting socks on two circular needles and I've done my gloves on 2 circulars as well.

I want to make a pair of Mermaid socks and use Cat's new mobius pattern that was on knittygritty, so this will help me get started. I'm going to make some socks to match these gloves.

Well, I'd better get back to the real work that enables me to buy yarn. Have a good weekend everyone!

End of the week progress

2007-04-20T19:06:00.000-04:00

Moving along--almost ready for thumb gusset

shamrockknits..

Jo Ann in Indiana

KAL Gloves

2007-04-17T17:32:00.000-04:00

I probably have the colors backwards, but I do like how it looks! Jo Ann