little bit of crazy leaking out

pattern:  French Silk Sock from Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush
yarn:  Silja sock yarn - 100% superwash wool
needles:  ChiaoGoo 5″ bamboo - US2
started:  April ?     finished: April 24th
notes:  I think this is the first time I have knit socks with acutal sock weight yarn, shocking, I know.  I was a bit afraid of it I think, but I fear it no more.  I wanted to use the single skein of yellow Silja from my stash so I knit these for my daughter with only one repeat of the pattern in the leg for, what I think is, a cute little ankle sock.

We had beautiful weather today and while the kids were playing outside I sat out in the sun and worked some more on Daughter’s socks.  While sitting outside my knitting had a visitor.

Friday evening while trying to figure out what to feed the children and myself for dinner, Hubby is on swing shiftright now, I was shocked by all the junk in my kitchen freezer.  Frozen bananas I had planned on making banana bread with that were now freeze dried, partial packages of vegetables that were now blocks of ice, freezer burned items, so I decided to clean out freezer.  I turned off the freezer, found a garbage bag and started loading it up, a fresh start as we go into spring.  I pulled out some frozen bread dough and set it out to defrost and rise so I could bake it before going to bed when Hubby got home.   After taking out the garbage I patted my self on the back for just doing it instead of putting it off until another time.   The kids were put to bed, knitting was done while watching some evening tv and the bread was baked.

Daughter had her first t-ball game Saturday morning.  The game was at 8:30am which meant we had to be at the field at 8 . . . 8am on a Saturday morning . . . that is way to early, heck G-d doesn’t even tun on the air until at least 9 or so on Saturdays.  Well, we got up, got presentable and were there on time.  She played, there was drama, but with Daughter you expect at least a little drama.

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I haven’t been posting but I have been knitting, and here’s the proof, a finished pair of socks.

pattern:  CIC Toddler Sock
yarn:  Kraemer Yarns Mauch Chunky - 100% wool
needles:  Clover Bamboo US8
started:  April 18th     finished: April 19th
notes:  Knit as written, but extended 2×2 ribbing down the instep.  Love this pattern, so quick to knit up.

I actually knit up the CIC socks to take a break from the evil socks from hell.  I had a plan: I had one skein of Silja sock yarn in yellow to knit up socks for the daughter.  I knew I wouldn’t be able to make long socks but I planned on making ankle socks with one repeat of the Fancy Silk (Knit Vintage Socks) pattern on the leg, no problem. 

I got stupid. 

I decided I had enough yarn to knit two repeats, so I knit two 12 row repeats, finished the sock, weighed it, weighed the remaining yarn, looked at the sock, “wow” I thoght “that foot looks really long, I bet it’s too long and I’ll have to shorten the foot, then I will have plenty of yarn for the second sock.” 

I had daughter try on the sock.  It. Fit. Perfectly.  It could not have fit better if I had knit it onto her foot, really, it was that perfect.  Shit!  Now I don’t have enough yarn.  I knit up the second sock with ONE repeat in the leg and had to borrow from the first sock to finishe the last few rows of the toe.  Now I have to rip back to the first repeat in the leg of the first sock and reknit the rest of it.

oh, well, it’s about the process . . . right?

Sunday moring was clear so I suggested to Hubby that we should put together the shelves for the shed, instead of just letting them sit, taking up space in the garage.  I got the dear in the headlights look as I could see the wheels turning, trying to find a way to get out of it.  I. don’t. think. so.

Let me just say we put up this shed about two years ago and up intil now everyting has been either stacked on the floor or leaning up against the wall.  First we pulled everything out of the shed.  This isn’t everything, doesn’t show the lawn mower, studded tires, kids’ ride on toys and bikes, etc.

Then we put up the shelves, with the help of the kids.  I was quite pleased at how they turned out.  They fit almost all the way across the back of the shed and by raising the bottom shelf on the right we can park the mower right under the shelf so it takes up less floor space.

After we reloaded the shed, I started looking at the garden beds.  They needed some serious work.  Daughter helped pull weeds, hubby used the fork and loosened up the soil and I broke up the clods and did the finish work.  We were able to prep all but one.  We were thrilled to see hundreds of worms in each of the raised beds, big fat juicy worms.  The ducks were especially happy, the kids were catching the worms and feeding them.   Here is hubby holding one of them:

The kids and I did some planting on Monday.  Peas, summer squash, patty pans, round zucchini, lettuce, carrots, perennial flowers, broccoli; we’ll be putting out some tomato seedling in a couple of weeks and who know what else we’ll end up planting, this is not a planned out garden this year.

Yet another yarn store in the area closed this last weekend.  The owner decided to retire, which is better to hear than they had to close for lack of business.  I went in on Saturday and I am so sad I didn’t know about this store earlier, the women working there were so nice.  I’m sorry to say this isn’t always the case in this area, especially if you aren’t a regular customer. 

I did buy some yarn at 50% off, almost all with a specific intent, some for socks for CIC, some for a purse, some for shawls, my favorite was this:

Patterns, the price on the patterns was 4 for $2 - who could resist - I’m actually surprised I didn’t walk out with more patterns.  The ones I did get were vintage baby patterns or Fiber Trends, including a couple of Evelyn Clark patterns.  I also picked up a couple new tools, including: a darning egg, a hand crank drill for making twisted cords, and a WPI tool.