Sock package!

My Sockapalooza package arrived today!!! Take a look-can you believe this?!? Melissa, from London, is a fantastic designer/knitter. Yep, she designed the pattern, too-Cathedral Arches. Isn't it great? The colors are simply perfect for me. Not only did she knit these amazing socks, she sent a super local sock yarn over, along with some Brittany dpns to knit them up! She included a nifty photo of some local scenery and a fun tape meaure card to help me get to know her a little better.


Here's a couple of shots of the socks in action... Not as easy to do as I would've liked, but hopefully, you can get a good idea of why I'm so thrilled :~)
Thanks so much, Melissa! I love them-they fit perfectly. You did a terrific job!

Everywhere

My 5 yo son T asked me why Sugar (our collie) makes that* noise.

"Well, hon, she's talking to us."

"What is she saying?"

"She's saying how glad she is that we are home again"

"Well, how do you know that she is saying that?"

" I just know. God made dogs so that they have a different way of talking. They don't use our words"

"Why?"

"I'm not sure. Maybe we can ask Him when we get to Heaven"

"Yeah. We can ask Him when we get to everywhere...how come dogs don't use words."

"What?"

"Yeah, (walking away) Jesus is in heaven, but God is everywhere-so when we get to everywhere, we can ask Him how come dogs don't use words."

This is the second time he has referred to Everywhere. He's so cute, we're not too sure we want to correct him just yet.

*you know, the happy whine/growl combo

School is now in session!

We started school yesterday. I was really dreading this year; our financial situation being what it is-I was unable to purchase Sonlight 3 for J and C as I had planned. I knew I would have to put in some major time to write my own curriculum and get the necessary books from the library. (Begin drum roll here) A week ago at church another hsing mom asked if we had started yet. I told her that we hadn't, but were planning to begin the 20th. She asked if we were using Sonlight again. I said that no, I needed to write my own this year, and confessed to her that I was not really looking forward to it, as I knew it would take a lot of work to get things lined up in the next week. Can you see where this is going??? Her next words were, "Well, can you use SL 3? I bought it used from a mom in my email loop, and you can just borrow it from me." (Holly faints)

Now isn't that just how He works? Any of you heard Jenny Christianson on Focus on the Family? She said, after testifying of how God had provided in a certain situation, "He's never early, and He's never late. He's always right on time."

I registered the kids for their co-op classes last night. Took the log cabin blanket, freaked some of the folks out by knitting without looking. One of the dads even came up and marveled aloud over the blanket emerging from two sticks and some string. Maybe he should come by the class a friend and I are teaching this semester. For the first class, I am bringing raw wool. A hogget Corriedale fleece from Cary. He'd really flip then. Don't worry, dear reader, I'm only bringing the fleece for them to see. They will be making a CD spindle and spinning some roving for a knitting/crochet project, though. Yay!

I knitted a dishcloth over the weekend. (Found it on Ravelry, which by the way, is back to its tricksy ways! So, if you sent me a message-I am not ignoring you! I can not pull up my messages right now.) Doncha love it?!? I have to get some more made for my mom in time for Christmas. I don't know how this woman was able to get such a clear photo-I've tried and tried and it looks like a plain blue square. Oh, well, I assure you, it's quite lovely! I have way too many dishcloths in my queue, though...
That's all for today-I am getting off the computer and combing up that Targhee!

Did you hear that?!?

That comment from my sock pal??? Yay! My socks are on their way :~)

Re: Ravelry--well, I don't know what exactly happened-must have been on their end-but most of the problems were solved by this morning. I just might get organized with this little system! Love it so far :~)

I've been spinning on the Targhee. I'll need to comb up and spin a bit more before the bobbin will be ready to ply. My goal of finishing by the weekend is out. Maybe next week? I've done more knitting this week. Sitting down and choosing a pattern may help me stay focused. I will take my book to swimming lessons and choose one before I start my knitting. The socks require some concentration, so they are going slowly-this is all I have so far! I like to see what the kids are doing. :~) C is still working on going underwater, J is perfecting his freestyle-more importantly, they are having a blast!

Err....uh....er...

There are days when I simply don't feel very intelligent. This is one of them. See, I finally received my Ravelry invite! However, since I know very little about how this box in front of me actually works, there've been a few problems. Oh, well. I've submitted a question to the experts outlining all my ignorance, and until I receive a response, I have determined that I will be content with my lovely blog. Ravelry will have to wait.

Real quick

Take a look at this cantaloupe from the garden! And let me tell you-it was fantastic :~) We have had an unusually dry 4-6 weeks, but the plants are doing well just the same. I've only watered twice. My neighbor said the other day that his tomatoes were all very small-about golf ball size. Mine are as big as ever. Could it be my raised beds? I know he is watering way more than I am.

In other news, I've been spinning more than usual. This is some of the latest. The natural white is Merino plied with Merino/Great Pyr/alpaca, the rose is some Merino/silk, the lavendar is Romney, and the red is Romney/mohair.

On the knitting front, I am one and a half repeats into the ribbed lace pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks. I'm using KnitPick's Essential in some light tan shade-Fawn, maybe? I'll be taking it with me this evening when I take my oldest two to their very first swimming lesson. Wonder how much I'll get done?

Nope-no sockapalooza sock pictures. I didn't figure out the camera problemo until after they had left the building. But...have you seen these? OK, now picture them in a dusky blue with a bit longer cuff. There ya go!

I'm looking forward to getting my own socks in the mail now that I am done with knitting my pal's pair. I really had fun with this swap-it just may be my favorite! Since, you know, I've been in SO many swaps and am a total expert. snort!

I finished spinning the Romney today. I just plied it back on itself-haven't put it on the niddy-noddy/counted the wraps to determine yardage yet. Yes, it's true, I'm a dinosaur. What's worse? I actually HAD a skeinwinder and one of those fishing line counter thingys to make things easier. Got rid of them. Oh well, what can I say? I love turned wood!

OK...

For whatever reason-I am unable to edit my posts...Weird.
Anyway! I fixed the camera after a little trip over to the Canon site. Ridiculously easy. I had hunted the house over for the user guide and found literally everything BUT that. What a relief to see my problem addressed on the site. My LCD/electronic display was not working-but after a few hits to the right buttons-we are back in business! Whoo Hoo! Now I need to re-check and see if the pics that I added in to the previous post are still there.

Fixed it!!!

My camera, that is! I received the neatest package from my tea swap partner.
First-the tea! Some of my favorite summer tea-Wild Berry Zinger by CS, and another CS that I haven't tried-Perfectly Pear White Tea. I can hardly wait to try it-I love white tea :~) Two individual boxes of Revolution's Sweet Ginger Peach-I already know I love that one! Whoo-Hoo! And then some honey straws-I think-I've never used these before, but am pretty sure that's what they are-sure look like it :~) One of these will be perfect for the double whammy of Sweet Ginger Peach I'm brewing up this AM.
I also got some chocolate topped butter cookies and Ghirardelli chocolate/caramel squares. Neither of those will last long ;~)
Two skeins of Tiffany novelty yarn-perfect for winter accessories-one in a lovely purple and one in soft brown.
A super cute notebook that was instantly designated for knitting notes. I do have a three ring binder where I am supposed to write down all the pertinent info for my projects. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. This year I started a gardening journal, though, and have found that I use it a lot. Maybe I just like the rambling wordy entry type of system better, ya think? Heh.
A nicely sized bottle of hand lotion from The Healing Garden for my knitting bag...
And--The Most Adorable Little Pillow ever. It stands up on a little oval base, has a tone on tone back of rust print, a darling trim around the top and sides of novelty yarn and tiny peach rosebuds, AND, on the front, a cross-stitched 'bunny in a garden' scene. It would make a great pincushion for sewing, but I doubt I can bear to put holes in the back to do it. I'll just display it on my sewing machine!
This was a great package-Kim really outdid herself! Thanks so much, Kim!!!

Socks, etc

Today, I sat down and did a little spinning. More gray Targhee for the Journey to a Shawl project. And then just a little Romney/mohair for socks.
I did get the Sockapalooza socks finished and mailed. I intended a surprise reveal-what with you guys thinking that here I've been knitting those fantastic Cablenet socks and then making you wonder if you'd lost your mind when you saw the completed socks and they were Fool's Rush. Heh. Oh, well, not having the trusty digital blew that one. Sooooo-yep, I gave up in despair on the Cablenets. They were never gonna be done on time. They're still waiting to be frogged/finished-whatever it will be-in my sock bag.
The Fool's Rush were a fun knit. Just enough pattern to keep my interest but not so much that my often overwhelmed brain went into utter collapse. Boy, I hope they fit!!! And that my pal likes them.