Another Delay!

Oh, geesh. Another 2 hour delay. This really messes up my week. Not because I have anything really pressing or important to do, just that my whole sense of time is off kilter.
There is a nice new layer of snow. Everything is pristine. Pretty.

Yesterday was not the best day on record. I did frog the sock. No point in pretending. So now I have to figure out what to do with that yarn. I am not in the mood to be designing a sock, so it may just sit until I am.

And yesterday was the 3 year anniversary of our move to Pittsburgh. Nothing more really needs to be said. But, just because she is ultra-fabulous and has timing like that, my friend Kellie (out in Spokane) called just to say "Hey, we haven't talked in a while!" and made my day a good bit better.

Despite the Mister being near the top of an undesireable list, I started the Cobblestone, again, finally. I guess because knitting for my men makes me happy (ier), too.

Have a great Wednesday.

Sock Angst

A red cable sock about to go to the frog pond.

Gauge issues, of course.

That is the one thing about Senstional Knitted Socks, if you don't have the yarn to get you gauge for the size sock that you want... there really isn't room to manipulate the pattern and make it work. Especially the cable patterns.

I was pretending this wasn't true. Even though, I know it is.
Good-bye, red cable sock, it was fun knitting you.
An amusing aside-
I had INBA try it on this morning as I was admitting the truth of the situation, and he said, "Nope, doesn't fit, rip it out and make a new one!"
*ack* Just like it was simple and easy!
Unamusing aside-
2 hour delay again this morning.
I don't like 2 hour delays.
Maybe rewinding that yarn will be a nice distraction.

They're Baaaaaack!

Oh, yes. Thankfully, the mitten was found and you should have seen the grin on his face when the lady at the customer service desk handed it over!

And mine, too, I am sure!And an Adult Flap Cap in Lamb's Pride Bulky.

I look dorky, but warm.
Otherwise, not much to report. I have been tired. Grey days or bug, I am not sure. Still, a couple of naps never hurt anyone.
Oh, and I put my name on the bus list for Maryland Sheep and Wool at Knit One this afternoon.

I asked the Mister for a bus ticket for my Birthday, he agreed when he knew I would be coming back. Awwww. Love you, too, honey.

So, if you are going to be there... let me know! It is my first foray into the festival and I am anxious to see and do as much as I can manage. I am feeling a bit overwhelmed already, though.

Disco Monkeys

Do a little dance, have a little fun...

Monkey

Frotissima Colori Disco Socka Color, Color 01

Ooooh, Sparkle.

Thanks for your helpful suggestions to keep track of kid mittens. We haven't had issue before, but INBA was walking through the store with his 'shark' hat in hand and mittens shoved inside, swinging it around. So the mitten must have flown out without his notice. Usually, he is very good about keeping them in his pocket or the bottom of the backpack.

I am going to get some groceries in the morning, so I will ask one more time if it was found. Then, I guess, I will have to make another.

I am willing to wager that he will be more careful in the future. He was quite upset.

GONE!

And so it goes with mittens.
If anyone sees INBA's pop up paw in the Giant Eagle... please save it for us. I finished it just the other day, he wore them only 2 mornings to school. *sigh* Oh, and they are red, of course.
He cried and cried and then demanded that I knit a replacement.
I sure hope they find it.

Weekly Wrap Up

On Valentine's Day, The 2nd Grand made oral presentations of their biograpy book reports.

Eldest was Abraham Lincoln.

He made the hat... isn't he cute?Whew, what a week. It has been crazy busy around here for about 3 weeks now. For some reason this shocks me, being the dead of winter and all.

The boys have Monday, President's Day, off, too. I don't know what we are going to do with that day, but I feel like we need a fun distraction.

Like, Hawaii.

Or, Key West.

Back to reality.

Laurie is on a quest to make this a better world, one act of kindness at a time.

And because we cannot be trusted to just be nice to one another for the sake of being nice to one another, she has created a contest to entice and enourage us!

Absolutely Fabulous! I believe is how she says.

Go check it out.

And in case you wondered, I gave up coffee and bitterness for Lent. Not one in the same, but go together when I write it like that!

My Number Didn't Come Up

So, I got out of having to go downtown for jury duty.

The roads were nasty again this morning, I was glad not to have to navigate them, especially after driving the boys to their school. We live in a different school district than the one that their school is located in. Our district's bus takes them to school, but our district was delayed and the bus is then delayed even though the district next door is not. Convoluted, I know.

But the boys don't care because the snow is still here, if a bit icy.They are taking advantage of the neighbor's back yard again as I type.

Don't worry, I can see them out the window by the computer.

Who knows what tomorrow may bring, but I am glad for weather that encourages them to be outside running up and sliding down the hill.

Snow Day!

AT LAST! A SLEDDING DAY!!!

Sorry, didn't mean to yell.

But the kids were outside for at least 3 hours today!

They helped me shovel the driveway and then they were sledding.

Here, in our front yard and then later in the back of our neighbor slightly up the hill. Their back yard is steep and unusable- except on a day like today!

I didn't go back in to get the camera because the snow was starting to mix with rain.

They are tuckered out.

YEA for SNOW DAY!

It will be gone tomorrow, probably.

Last night I didn't know what to do with myself. The only thing really on the needles now is the sparkly monkey and a travelling sock that is on the front seat of the car.
So, I made this.
Foliage. (Loft by Zitron, color: herbs, one skein: 50g)
Really quick... except that I didn't go to bed reasonably because I was so. close. to. done.
Isn't it grand?
I was hoping that it would pool more than stripe.
Still, I want to make another.
I have one more ball of the Loft. Maybe a pair of mitts and it becomes an addition to the gift basket... hmmm.

2 hour delay!

It was 4 degrees (F) this morning and windy. There was talk of -25 degree wind chill.

So, the school was delayed.

The boys don't go back to bed though. Oh, no. I think they were up about 15 minutes early even!

I guess that is what I get for staying up late to finish this... He found it laying on the arm of the chair and put it on immediately. :)

Last Thursday Night Knitting (Bloomin Yarns) Dee asked if I was going to have it done for Valentine's Day for him.

Brilliant idea! And the inspiration I needed to crank it out.

Thanks, Dee! 'cept the kid couldn't wait and wore it to school today.

He says he will wear it again on Thursday, anyway.

Do my bidding...

ok, maybe not so much.

But the Mister took the boys over to a birthday party at the Center for Creative Play yesterday and he asked me if I wanted him to stop at Trader Joes.

Torn.

I especially look forward to going to TJ's now because they opened a yarn shop in the same plaza. Dangerous? Yes. Delightful? Definately.

What won out?

I *heart* Spicy Chai Latte.

And I am really busy this week and it would be next week, maybe, before I could go.

That is the thing about having INBA in 1/2 day kindergarten. One must painfully prioritize what gets done in those 4 precious hours. The 2 1/2 between when INBA gets home and Eldest gets home allows for hardly more than a grocery run to Giant Eagle.
Speaking of chores... the laundry is calling.

Hope your week is wonderful (and warm!)

Out of Time-Out

I don't think I mentioned that I got mad at INBA's vest.

It is a "Right Twist Mock Cable" ribbing (#1 from Vogue Knitting Stitchionary 2) in a modified "Basic Vest for Children" pattern by Knitting Pure & Simple.

(I really like this pattern, have knit it several times for the boys. Well, never actually just as written. It is basic after all, and you know how I am. But it is a great place to start.) Anyway, the pattern is only a two row repeat: twist one row, knit even the next.

I separated for front and back at the appropriate length measure and didn't pay attention to which pattern row I was on... yes, I divided on an even row. So when I went to purl back, I couldn't twist on the front. *ACK*

Unknitting or worse, frogging annoys me.

I am much better than I ever used to be about accepting the progress, postitive and negative, of any given project. Still, I was annoyed that the stupid vest let me do that. (Yes, I am blaming the vest. So?) And it went into time out. But only for a week. My love has waned, knowing how it betrayed me, though. Only those 4 measley inches added in the last week.

To make matters worse. My camera doesn't like the color. Red Pepper (Swish Worsted) and seriously the color of red peppers. And it is lovely yarn to work with. *Sigh* I may have to renew my commitments to this project. INBA is pestering me, too. *Sigh* And he wants one with "Big Ropes" now, too.

A Mother's work is never done.

But my Monkey is.

Well, one.

It is fun to knit.

But, I think I am more picky about my socks than I thought.
I only have a bit of the ribbing done on the second sock.

Check out the close up...

Those little bits that look like white fuzz...

S.P.A.R.K.L.E.

On the family front...

My 2nd grader has a baaaaad case of "Mom is stupid, I am king of the world."

This is not pleasing, especially since I have had a headache for the last 10 days (I think my version of the virus that is going around) and my tolerance is about, oh, nil. Parenting is hard. And time consuming. And frustrating.

Of course, it is quite nice when people tell me how charming and warm he is.

I think I need to go find someone to tell me that today.

And the Winner Is...

Some lovely child is going to look smashing in red socks.

There is still plenty of time for you to make a baby warm, too.And another distraction, I mean, rationalization for doing what I do, is this blog.

Fun and inspiration and enabling, all rolled into one.
The Monsoon STR from Last February is finally knit up. I did use the garter stitch short row heel from the Feb. pattern, but that was it. It is nice yarn to knit with and the color is *sigh* wonderful. I am anxious about how these will wash and wear. My other knit up STR is furry and greying... but still warm and soft.

Pinewood Derby 2008

Eldest took 2nd place in his den, but didn't make top three in the Pack Finals. He is thrilled and proud and roaring to go for next year. He is plotting the enhancements already!

Way to go, Eldest!!