New Socks

First though, I wanted to thank all of you, who left comments and those who emailed me privately about John's heart. I felt hugged through all of that, Thank You!!

Spoiler alert at the bottom for the most recent Rockin' Sock Club shipment.

But first, I realized that I hadn't posted a picture of my finished Solstice Slip socks from the last club shipment. They are super comfy, and the pattern was easy to follow.



I followed the pattern, but went down to my usual size US 0's and did in between the small and medium size. The pattern had a 5 stitch repeat so I could do that and not mess it up. The heels and toes are garter stitch short rows. I like the garter stitch, but so far they don't fit in my shoes very well, so I may not use it again, I'm not sure yet. The colorway is Firebird, STR of course. The pattern is by J.C. Briar, and is called Solstice Slip.

No other finished socks, but several recently started. Knee High to a Grasshopper, the April Sock Club socks by Chrissy Gardiner. They are also easy to follow. They are toe-up which is a first for me. I went to YouTube and found Cat Bordhi's videos for Judy's Magic Cast-On and followed that. It was great!! Cat has numerous other videos there as well.



This was my knitting area this morning. New books, needles and lots of yarn abound!!





I have finally gotten the ball rolling on something that Kim has wanted to do for at least 3 years now. I told her she could do it once she was done with her piano lessons, and that was in January.


We like this picture the best!! We are able to rent this harp until we know she is really in to playing. They are expensive to buy!!



Now on to spoilers:


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I spent two days early in the week helping get this yarn and pattern to the masses who were chomping at the bit. I think most everybody has it now, even the internationals (theirs went out the week previously). The colorway is Flower Power. It is very pretty!! In the picture above you can see it kind of in a ball.




I test knitted this pattern earlier this year so I know it's not too difficult. I cast on this morning and I now have the cuff done for both socks. They are fold down anklets with this vine lace cuff. It is another pattern by J. C. Briar.

Finished Skirt and other items of interest....

I really like this skirt!! I started it August 9 and finished August 16. I wanted to get it done quickly so I could wear it to a book signing that I was helping with. Cat Bordhi came to town! Anyways, I did, and I got a lot of compliments from it.

I used KnitPick's CotLin which I like very much. I knit very loose so I used a US 3, woodens, then switched to Addi Lace Needles for the lace section. They helped a lot with the K3tog. I decided to go ahead and do those even though I know there were other options. I started the second size, got about 2-3 inches into it, tried it on and it was too big, so I went to the smallest size. I think it's because cotton expands on you.





In other news. We saw a cardiologist on Friday for John. I have had a heart murmur, mitral valve prolapse since I was a child. I was checked every year until I was about 15 when we moved and didn't keep up with it. When John was 1, his grandpa went in to have a physical and they found he had it very severe and needed surgery with a couple of months. They couldn't repair the valve so had to replace it. At the time I was not seeing any regular doctor because we didn't have insurance unless I was pg and it was Oregon Health Plan. When I became pg with Kim the OB told me to start seeing a cardiologist. I did and they checked me every year, etc. So we move to Beaverton, got really good insurance and had every thing checked out here. Within two years, they told me I needed surgery to repair my valve. Thank goodness for good insurance. It was a massive bill (we happened to get all of the printouts for it) and insurance covered every single bit of it except office visit co-pays. So, we started thinking about the kids, had their doctors listen carefully EVERY year and they knew the story. Finally about 4 years ago, we asked for referrals to a cardiologist. We wanted to have baseline on the kids. All seemed pretty good, Kim does have the murmur, we watch her. John has a functional murmur, which a lot of people have. SO, when we went to the pediatrician last week, he said, "Did you know John has a murmur?" "Um, not audible.". "Well, I can hear it now, hear listen." So we all took a turn and sure enough it's the same sound mine made. So, off to the pediatric cardiologist this week. It turns out that John's murmur is progressing to mitral valve prolapse like mine. We take him back in a year for a check up, just like when I was a kid. He can exercise however he wants, except no body-building, bulking up, or competitive sports. At least they are on top of it now. Kim goes in a couple of weeks. If hers was more severe the first time, it could be something we need to be on top of as well. Faulty genes of my family!!

I thought I'd be Knitting Today........

But, I have been on Ravelry most of the day. Exploring, adding stash items, completed projects and just spending way too much time on there!!

I did spend all weekend knitting on the Indigo Ripples Skirt from IK Spring 2007. I saw the skirt in person at Black Sheep this year and just loved the way it looked. I am about half way through the lace section, then there is a ruffle to do. I am doing it in Knit Pick's Cot-Lin, Nightshade, but have some Royal Plum for a second one. I started this on Thursday morning, and have really enjoyed knitting it!!


We have an apointment with the Oral Surgeon this afternoon to figure out why John's jaw is sore. It kind of sounds like TMJ, so we aren't sure which direction to go with it. The pediatrician wasn't too much help last week, and the regular dentist told us to start at the ped's office.

Screaming Demons

Urr, I suppose that should be Angels.

This is what you get when they are screaming right over your house!!

Or about a mile away and you can see them perfectly!!



This weekend is the Oregon Air Show. About every other year or so the Blue Angels come. They practice for two days, then do their show for two days. There are other aspects to the air show, but these pilots really are awesome!! Some years it is the Thunderbirds.












You think you have them on your screen, then poof they are gone and you are left with blue sky or tree branches. It makes for an interesting Saturday Sky if nothing else.











Spending my last two years of high school just miles from an Air Force base, this brings back those memories of Sunday mornings, knowing I could sleep in and having the jets take off at 5 and 6 in the morning for their practice. They would swing around and do touch and go's, just touch down, then swing back into the air. It would literally rattle the windows.

A Little Antsy Here

Found you!

• You signed up on June 12, 2007
• You are #8571 on the list.
• 336 people are ahead of you in line.
• 15317 people are behind you in line.
• 34% of the list has been invited so far

This is my Ravelry update for this morning. I think it's going to suck up a lot of my time. Can you say addiction?

Fire on the Mountain

We've been spinning this up. It's a Sheep2Shoe kit from BMFA. This is what the sock yarn really looks like. The first three photos are of the same skein. I tryed Navajo plying it. It was so tightly twisted that I thought it was ruined. Once we got it into a bath and hanging with weights, it looks pretty good!










These two sets I plyed regularly. I think all three came out pretty close to the same weight, maybe a heavy worsted.

A Day at the Beach

We went to the beach last week with friends. Total of three moms and 8 kids, most teenagers. We had a great time, the weather was perfect, not too hot and not to windy.
Even though we sunscreened ourselves, we missed spots and got a good burn. Mine is finally healed and it has been 4 days.

My daughter.


Her friends.

Moms.

The 4 girls are ours.


Pelicans flew by about every 10 minutes or so, headed toward Haystack Rock.



Our kite that hasn't seen action in years!! I think it looks like a butterfly.

This one was a dragon kite, further down the beach.

One of our boys had the opportunity to fly this one. It looked like a competition/fighting kite.



Playing in the icy water.

The one on the right is mine.

Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach, Oregon.



The sock from H@#! As I am calling it, saw some action. This is actually the second sock, and I am on the heel this week. It is Regia Silk, which is a nice yarn, but I am spoiled by STR, which is a bit thicker.



The girls as we were packing up to head to the cars.
We wandered around town and did the touristy thing. As we were making our last stop at the bathrooms, it started sprinkling heavily and we saw this rainbow.