Just Keep Going!

My computer has been the bane of my existence (honestly I feel a bit guilty saying that since are much worse things out there, so don’t pitty me too much). It’s been crawling along loaded down with pictures and obsolete programs. I do loves me some photos, as you may have noticed. Dad said to buy a massive external drive, 40 times the size of my computer to put archives on. I spent 4 hours moving things and now the computer is below 50% full and it’s flying along again! Yay!!!

While moving files I was knitting along on my Perrin socks. I finished them at 8:54 tonight. Just over a week after I dyed the yarn. That’s definitely a Sock-Toe-Bar record. I even did the picot crochet edging. I really enjoyed working with the yarn. It’s the Knit Picks Gloss, 70/30 wool silk blend. It definitely knit up well on size 2s. But really I’m ready to cast on for the next pair.

This weekend I visited the University, had girls weekend with Mum, Aunt, & Cousin, and of course hit the local yarn shop. I bought two skeins of Araucania Ranco, a denim blue variegated and a lime green variegated. I’m feeling a bit guilty since I already have two pairs worth of this yarn and bought more without ever knitting with it. I think that should be the next yarn on my needles. The Boyfriend says that the Lime color would look the best for cabled socks...

I just have to share these lovely photos of my mother and cousin. They were being thrilled by the messaging chairs at the mall and later as we giggled our hotel room, my little cousin decided to demonstrate her abilities to hop like a mermaid with a tail in one leg of her pants. On my way to meet the family I called Mum, below is a snip-it of the conversation, verbatim….

Me: Mum I’m Lost
Mum: Just Keep Going!
Me: But Mum you don’t know where I am.
Mum: Go past the intersection.
Me: Mum! I don’t even know the name of the hotel or if I’m on the right road, so how can you tell me to just keep going?!?!
Both: hysterical laughter

“Just keep going!” was our mantra the rest of the weekend.

"I'm a Rock Star"

P!nk has a new song, well at least it’s new to me. “So What” It’s been out since August and I just heard it the other day on my way to knitting class. It was actually played on two stations during my 10 minute drive. I remember when I worked at the University gym, I knew every pop song and quickly tired of all of them. I’ve always loved music and received an excellent “musical education” from my father. Combined with a musical memory like a photographic memory, there isn’t much on the radio from the past that I can’t recognize in 10 seconds or know the words to. Note to reader: don’t play musical identification games with me, you will lose.

In high school Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, and The Grateful Dead that got me through what would’ve been dark times. In College, surprisingly the depressing Pink Floyd and slightly brighter Dave Matthews Band made me sway to the music. And of course we can not forget the bubble pop blasting at me 20 hours a week at the gym. O-Town anyone?

Now it’s Audio books, podcasts, and only my absolutely favorite songs loaded on the I-pod. Unless I forget it, there is no outside influence on my musical choices any longer. So there I am driving down Main street and within 5 seconds of hearing “So What” for the first time, I’m drumming along on the wheel swaying to the beat. Not just a finger tap, really banging out the beat. I don’t know why I’m surprised but I hadn’t expected the pop-virus to bite me or take hold so quickly anymore. I’m not as immune as I thought. SO yeah, “So What” is a great song. It’s about splitting with her husband, going out, and feeling like a rock star. Typical rebellious P!nk but you know I love it! Because I am a Rock Star…always have been. (smiling and swaying to the beat) Hold on, musical break, I have to go listen to it. Well yeah, it’s on my I-pod now…

Linus is imitating a dragon, his ears are out flat and back, Mac has gone to the kitchen away from the speakers. I don’t think they like the song as much as I do. At least not as loud.

But really you didn’t come here to hear about my musical tastes, lets talk about painting. Yes, the bathroom is done!!! The Boyfriend gives it two big thumbs up. I really like it and am shocked that I lived with that hideous blue for so long. I didn’t realize just how loud it was. Now this mellow mauve color really blends and looks great. I know it's cheesy to take a picture of the toilet paper but I wanted to give you a sense of color since I'm sure you know what color tp is. I need to reassemble the bathroom elements but the walls are done and look great. No major catastrophes.

Although... I had to laugh,

while I’m standing on the step stool in the shower painting about the shower head with the roller, I smeared a 3” strip across my freshly painted ceiling, %&$#!!!!! So I turn to get down and get a drip towel to wipe the ceiling only as I’m getting off the stool I put my hand against the wall to steady myself on the wet paint, $%#&!!! Again!

Painting really cuts into knitting. But I did slip stitch heels for both of the Perrin socks. I’m considering forgoing sleep in favor of knitting the exciting Lace part of these socks. We shall see.
Hope you’re enjoying your thirsty Thursday night.

My Friends

I wish I had written this. My mother actually sent this to me the morning after the debate... I did add my own little something to it, though.

"My Friends",
Let me tell you how I am going to save money in my household budget. First, "My Friends" I am going to begin by cutting My Husband's (my dad's) spending. If that is not enough "My Friends" I am going to decrease Simon's (the dog's) food allowance since he is overweight anyway. Next "My Friends" Simon's dental health care plan will have to stop since the costs are just too great. Then "My Friends" we as a family need to stop paying taxes. I believe, "My Friends" that taxes are too high so "My Friends" I will not pay anymore. Let me tell you "My Friends" what I am going to do about housing. I am going to get a new mortgage "My Friends". Yes, I am going to talk to Fannie and Freddie, or is it Eddie, one of them, "My Friends" and I am going to stay in my home. Also, I want to add "My Friends" no matter how bad the economy is my patriotism assures me it will get better.

My Husband's going to get some on the job training "My Friends" that will create a surge in our economy. So "My Friends" if you think I am laughing at "that guy" - NOT - then you are right "My Friends" because the truth is "that guy" is way ahead. Therefore in closing "My Friends" I need to close quickly and leave this email quickly even if "My Friends" are all shaking hands with "that guy". OK, "My Friends" that is all I have to say.

Good Night "My Friends",

The Samurai's Mom (Bet you are surprised it's me - I bet you all thought it was John McCain writing to you)!

p.s. if you do not "get" this email then you "My Friends" need to go and watch the debate again!

Oww My Neck!

Owww my neck, owww my back, oww my neck, oww my shoulders! I spent 8 hours scraping, sanding, priming and painting the ceiling around the skylight in my bathroom yesterday. Turns out that when you slap some old white paint, lying around in the garage from who knows when, on top of chipping green paint, in a moist environment you get even more cracking, and flaking.

While I worked I listened to Robert Jordan’s The Great Hunt, which is a decent book. He doesn’t write as well as Steven King, but he has created a wonderful world that I can’t wait to get back to.

In fact the socks I cast on during the game the Monday night, are named Perrin after one of the main characters, but I digress.

I spent most of the day up on this ladder contorting myself and stretching to my fullest height to be able to reach the top. I was completely exhausted by the end of the day. But, of course I’m never too tired to knit.

I’ve cast on the other sock Perrin Sock for the Lace Cuff Anklets. They are flying by going toe up as I’m anxious to get past the heel into the detailed lace work and changing needle sizes.

I cast on 60 sts instead of the 56 in the pattern, that just seemed too small. I’m also going for 7” before starting the heel. The last pair of socks I did had an 8” foot before starting the toe (thanks Heather for pointing out that heels and toes should both be about 2” and are therefore interchangeable when measuring for toe up or cuff down). The 8” foot is a bit long. Maybe I’ll go for 7.5” since it’s not that long.

Do I have to paint again tomorrow???? The walls are all taped and it should be easier than the skylight and ceiling but I’m just too sore!

Couldn't resist!

Alright alright, I couldn’t resist. The Activist was right! I thought I’d be happy just gazing at the newly dyed yarn while I knit my current projects. That lasted through dinner, and then I was over come. I cast on for the Lace Cuff Anklets but toe up. Since it’s a straight stockinet foot I’m feeling guilty. I’ve added *S1, K1* rounds to the ball of the foot for some extra padding. I’m considering decreasing around the arch as well, but perhaps I’ll just continue on with this mindless knitting as I drool on my yarn. Even The Boyfriend likes it!
Also Go Socks!

Apple Picking

Yesterday was the third annual apple picking day. The weekend before we were married, our friends K&K took us. We’ve gone every year since. The four of us do not change but the difference in their daughter is amazing. The first year she was strapped to her mother’s chest and spit up all over her. Last year she road in a stroller biting an apple with just two teeth.

This year she walked along eating an apple and holding her father’s hand. At one point she informed him, “Daddy your hands are cold!” We had a laugh at how well she constructed a sentence at such a young age. And of course political jokes followed, as they always do when The Boyfriend is with K&K.

That afternoon as we made apple bread and apple crisp, MacOban proved that he is in fact my son. After the baking it was time to watch sports…7 hours of football and baseball = sleepy Samurai. I called it a night early and dreamt about what I could knit with my newly dyed sock yarn. I skienned it up this morning but am feeling compelled to finish the light blue sweater that I ripped off the bottom 4” so that I could lengthen it.

I’m about ready to turn the heel on the first of the Diagonal Cross-Rib Socks. One sock cables left while the other right. I’m a bite concerned about knitting both at once and ending up with two socks that do neither.

Now I’m off to attempt, Nakid-Knits “Tofu Jerky”. I’m skeptical yet curious…

Will the blue ever come out?

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Although I used gloves during the dying process and I was very careful not to touch anything without them, I still miraculously ended up with blue dye under several of my finger nails. .
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I dyed two skeins of merino-silk sock yarn. I was definitely going for the cool colors as you can see. I was surprised by how long it took to dye, but then again we did at least 20 skeins.
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If I were to do it again, I would mix 4 or 5 dyes all in the same color family rather than having so many options. What do I mean if, when I do it again is more like it. The dye was absorbed really well and some of the girls got some vibrant yellows and chartrus colors. I’m not sure how you’d get a lighter shade of purple? Less dye I guess.

Paint?

So here I was all ready to paint. Supplies and primer purchased. Three quarts of the three most likely options to splash on the walls and see what hits us. Painting clothes on. Drop cloth and music ready. And then I climb the new ladder to begin scraping and priming the area around the bathroom skylight only to find I’m about 4 feet too short! 4 FEET! Ahhh. So frustrating. So I arranged to borrow a much larger ladder and proceeded to test the colors of paint which led to a whole other issue.

The Boyfriend and I do not agree on how to choose color. For him, a bathroom should be bright and cheery to wake you up in the morning (which is why we currently have an extremely bright periwinkle color). For me, a bathroom color should match and blend with the color palette of the rooms around it, but also be a light color so that the space doesn’t look small (which is why we currently have a light peach bathroom off of the terra cotta entryway).

Presently we’re thinking the middle green for the downstairs and the mauve color for the upstairs. But that’ll have to wait until Monday. Today I’m heading off to Bat Girl’s house for a dyeing party. I’ve got a giant pot, 6 gallons of vinegar and 10 pounds of yarn. Granted, that’s not all for me but it should be a great time. Tomorrow is the annual apple picking expedition with K&K. The weekend before we got married, we went apple picking with them and it’s been a tradition ever since.

Socks Are Finished!

For socks that I intensely disliked knitting, it was so funny how excited I was to finish them. I danced around my parents house holding up the legs of my pants singing. I was more excited them when I finished the Ivy League Vest. Ok maybe I exaggerate but I’m very very pleased that it’s finished.

I’ve already cast on the next sock, they may be for someone else with the same size feet. But then again it’s a tricky pattern and I may not want to hand them over. They are the Hidden Passion Socks. Since I’ve felt like I need more knitted socks (6 pairs just isn’t enough) October will be Socktober. Actually it’ll be Sock-Toe-Bar which is a lot like Febtober as heard on Celebrity Jeopardy. Rather than my usual 4-5 weeks for a pair of socks, I’m going to attempt to do two pairs in a month.

And for your viewing pleasure, here are Sophie and Sky.
Sky attacked Sophie, Sophie retaliated and grabbed him.
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And then they sat nicely. Sky has that cute white nose.

SOCK HELP NEEDED!

SOCK HELP NEEDED!
I’ve knit 5 pairs of toe up socks. I love toe up but I wonder if converting patterns changes them. So I decided to follow the instructions rather than being stubborn and doing it my way. Maybe there was something to learn in a cuff down construction. This was my rational. Previous rational had been that The Knitting Samurai is not patient. Chances are that I would be anxious to finish the project and make the socks too short. Too short in the cuff and too short in the foot. At least with toe up I’d have a foot the right size since I typically don’t get bored with a project until after the 60% mark. So there is the back ground.

Now this current pair (really I’m much further along than the picture but it’s too gray and rainy out to take photos presently). I’ve hit 7” for the foot length, lying flat on the table, unscratched. When I put it on, with a little gentle tugging it reaches the 2” mark when the toe can begin. Did I mention I wear a size 11, but I do like snug socks. So can I start the decreases yet? How long do you typically make your own sock foot? What size shoes do you wear?