A Knitting Not-So-Stay-At-Home Mom
We found a fantastic new park, less than 5 miles from home. Its brand spanking new, not even landscaped yet for the most park, and its PEFECT for Andrew's age at the moment. We'll be frequenting it over and over. There are 2 play areas and this huge rope mountain maze you see above, as well as rocks and rock walls to climb. Ultra nifty and every 4 year old's dream!!!
Don chased Abi around a good bit while she enjoyed the play and I sat and knit a bit in the beautiful sunshine and cool breeze. I love family Saturdays. Heck, I just love my family.
Socks That Rock got 7 votes, and Cracked Canyon got 4 votes specifically... plus it is Andrew's fave.
So Cracked Canyon it is... I cast on (size 2 dpns) the Monkey sock by Cookie from knitty.com. I've been eyeing it up for a long while and decided to give it a go. I'm 2 repeats of the lace detail into the leg and LOVING IT. Here is the WIP resting atop my hand wound center pull cake. This lace pattern that seemed very intimidating is WAY easier that I'd guessed, and I'm very pleased at how its knitting up in this autumn colored yarn.
I originally started this sock on size 0s Friday evening while watching The Weatherman with Nicholas Cage (most depressing movie I've ever seen, don't bother). On Saturday some of my SnB girlfriends and I spent the day at the Mannings in East Berlin, PA... the closest thing to a yarn mecca I've ever seen.
We sat out in the cool breeze, with the heat wave FINALLY breaking, under the pines and knit, seriously, all day long. With fun conversations, yummy snacks and serious yarn shopping at hand it was simply a slice of heaven. I knit on this sock, along with Abi's hoodie, through the day, only to find out that the darn thing was too small. So a frogging I went and ripped it all out this morning with the kids in my lap and coffee in hand. I bumped up to size 2 dpns (just what the pattern called for... yeah, smack me on the head) and its been smooth sailing all day. The stitches are much easier to get into on 2s, so its moving super fast now. And I'm loving it!!
September IS around the corner... they will be done just in time for hayrides and pumpkin patches. Ahhh, I can already smell the season coming.
We were at Don's parents over the weekend and out playing with the children... I happened to notice how large the acorns are this summer. Astounding really, because its been a pretty dry for several months now.
The trees are really laden with nuts... a good year to be a squirrel I suppose. They should be fat and happy all winter. I think the old wives tail says this means a lot of snow.
Snow would be great right now. The heat index today was over 100 degrees farenheit. (faint)
Help me decide which socks will be next! I want to do them all NOW!!! but I must choose.
Which would you reach for FIRST?? L to R:
Vesper in Afterglo
Regia in Rio Red, self striping
Cherry Tree Hill (cake) color unknown
Lorna's Laces in Vera
STR in Farmhouse
STR in Flourite
STR in Cracked Canyon
I cast on for a fall/spring lightweight hoodie for Abi this week.
My girlfriend knit this adorable hooded sweater for he son in the spring and I was so smitten with the deliciousness of Artyarns SuperMerino she was using I quickly found some things to sell on Ebay so I could generate some paypal. LOL
I snagged this gorgeous yarn from Sarah's Yarns (gotta love Sarah's deals), color #127 in muted pinks and limes so I could make the same sweater for my Abigayle. I'm about 5 inches into the hood, knitting the size 4 so she can wear it as a top outer layer, and I just can't get enough of it!
I can't wait to see my girly sporting this sweater once the weather cools down.
I'm all done with my consolation socks, after loosing a zipper bag containing my Peaks and Valleys socks between a playdate and home (don't ask... maybe they fell out of my purse?).
I cast on these Regia sport weight 6fadig Crazy Color #5264 Lettuce in a simple 56 stitch, double ribbed socks just 2 weeks ago. I wasn't so sure when I started how I'd like the sport weight sock, but they are so yummy and delicious and promise to keep my tootsies warm around the house when the cold sets in in the late fall. Hopefully I'll be wearing them when these pumpkins are ready to pick and decorate my front porch in October.
Andrew's fall pumpkin, which he decided not to carve, from last year gave us a back garden nook full of vines and the bees are super busy pollenating the blooms. COME ON GUYS... grow us some lucious pumpkins!!!
This is a follow up to a previous post (Marigold Class Project) to report that Andrew's seedling marigolds have grown in to the most beautiful pot full of orange marigolds. ORANGE! His favorite color. He could not be happier.
I am so proud of him. The make our porch cheery and greet us with a smile each time we go out.
We've been home almost a week now and we're still recovering from our summer vacation. It takes a week to get ready, a week to be gone and a week to recoup when you go away.
All very much worth it however as we all thoroughly enjoyed every moment of our trip down to Willamsburg, VA last week. We had intended on spending some time at Colonial Willamsburg, but the kids were just so smitten with Busch Gardens and Water Country, USA that we decided to put the historical portion on hold until Abi and Andrew are a bit older. No one felt slighted however... it was a total blast.
Both parks are designed with family in mind with plenty for the little ones, like Abi and Andrew, to keep busy with while the older ones have 5 of the most fantstic roller coasters around to keep them spinning. Including the brand new Griffon, which opened last month, the world's tallest dive coaster sending the riders on a 205 ft plunge straight toward the ground. Mary Grace just loved all of them as well as the water rides and virtual 4D rides. So much fun.
You can view all of our vacation pictures by clicking here.
Abi, modeling her new haltar top that I knitted for summer. Its a little big to grow into but better big than small I suppose. I really liked this quick knit and altared it to knit in the round instead of 2 pieces... it just made sense to do it this way.
Pattern: The Monica by Knitty
Yarn: Shine Worsted from KnitPicks in Sunflower and Watermelon
My 3 this morning, painting with water colors. The action starts early over here. Andrew wanted to paint, then MG joined in. Of course little bit couldn't be left out. There were some tense moments when colors got mixed, but no one came to blows thankfully. We did suffer one fat lip when Abi stood up and then fell off her chair. But she's a trooper and has already forgotten about it.
Abi: Cars picture of Sally and Lightening McQueen
Mary Grace: Bratz dolls (cringe)
Andrew: 2 Buzz Lightears from TS2... his current fascination
Terrible lighting, but the moment was to beautiful not to share. These 3 on the same task at once is a miracle in itself!
I pushed myself to finish these summer cotton socks as part of Lolly's Project Spectrum II. The colors for project inspiration during the months of April and May were pink-green-yellow. I had this yarn, from my birthday yarn extravaganza, and it fit, perfectly incorporating all three colors. Hooray!
A pair of socks in two weeks seems like a real accomplishment to this mom of three, so pardon my pat on the back. Its so nice to set a goal for yourself, even if it is a small one, and succeed. Funny how a simple pair of knitted socks can make you feel so fulfilled.
But enough about me... the socks!!! The pattern is a simple 64 stitch cast on, fingering weight on size 1 double pointed needles, slip/knit heel picking up 17 for each side of the gusset. I adapted the rolled top from a pattern in Knit Socks! by Betsy McCarthy. The yarn is cotton from Norway by SandesGarn, Mandarin #2406, SO soft and luxurious. They are the perfect sock for summer heat and for wearing with Crocs. These happen to match 2 pairs of my own. Weeee!
All that said, there is something troubling me. I finished these socks yesterday, May 31st... the last day of this color triad for Project Spectrum II... and wore them to my knitting circle last night. I was showing them to two friends and of course they were happy for me... its what we knitters do. When another knitter, who is a bit on the fringes of our group (hasn't come very often, hasn't made an effort to really get to know anyone) asked, "you're wearing socks?" with a bit of a snarky face. I replied, "yes, I knit them in light cotton, just for the summer. She let out this most evil laugh and tossed head back, "socks in summer? hahahahahhahahaha!" I was floored. First of, I know I'm not the only person that puts socks on in the summer time occasionally, BUT that someone who is coming to socialize and supposedly strike a common chord with a group of women would be so rude to belittle another person. And openly, for crying out loud!! It was quite possibly the most eye-opening event of recent days for me, regarding the spirit of some people.
Many of us in our very small SnB have tried hard to get to know her, and have been hurt by her snide personality on several occasions. It just makes me sad that someone can be so cruel and manipulative. Its a good thing I'm a fairly confident kind of gal... or she would have crushed me like a bug! Perhaps that was her intent. What a meanie!
I often ask myself how I can possibly have three children. I was SO done when Mary Grace was born. I was in my mid-twenties and deep in a career and a social life. Having a baby really threw me for a loop. I knew immediately I didn't want any more.
Fast forward 11 years. My baby girl, precious and perfect, is racing toward adulthood, more than halfway there now. (tears) How can Mary Grace be 11? And how can it be that I have two more children now? I mean really, how can all of this be?
I was just saying to Don that she is becoming more graceful, after a few years of tween clumsiness due to radical growth spurts. She's looking more proportional to me, more and more lady-like.
Of course and I type this, she's upstairs playing with her two younger siblings, laughing hysterically and squealing. There is still a lot of kid left in her... but less that I'm comfortable admitting.
She's growing up. How does that happen?
For Christmas, I knitted this Bucket Bag for Mary Grace. I never did get a picture in the chaos that was going on with the holiday and mom's passing.
So here it is now. I adore how she's personalized it with her softball photo keychair... she played outfield for the Summerdale Cardinals this spring. *big proud mama grin*
I added the single strap to turn it into an over the shoulder backsack. This was the start of it, way back in November:
Andrew planted seeds before school ended, just a couple weeks ago, for these nice Marigolds. He has been petting them and watering them and they are finally strong enough to find a home in the ground.
We plan to transplant them tomorrow. Andrew is so proud of them, and I'm so proud of him for keeping them going.
More later once the bloom. :)
I started a new sock this week, for me. Just a simple sporty sock, in cotton for summer. The first time I've chosen a knit, not by accident, for Project Spectrum 2. GREEN PINK YELLOW! We shall see if I make it to completion. I'm going to try, I have 11 days left. ;)
Pattern: standard stockinette sock with 1 inch of purl at the top so it will look rolled. Cast on 64, 32 for the heel in slip/knit. Love it!
Yarn: SandesGarn from Norway, in Mandarin Petite #2406, 100% cotton it is SO soft and luxurious.
~~~love~~~
Knitting with this yarn makes me crave sherbert!!!
Today is Andrew's last day of preschool so I'm sending these along in his backpack as thank you gifts for his teachers. Its been a wonderful year!
I can't believe all he's accomplished this year and how much he's blossomed. I'm so proud of my little guy and very thankful for his teachers.
These are simple dishcloths with English lavendar soaps wrapped in hand-knit dishcloths. Patterns: Flying Geese and Open Star I'm so please with how they turned out. :)
My first completed Men's Lozenge Sock from Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks.
In Lornas Laces Shepard Sport (Aslan colorway).
Altered cast on from 72(0s) to 60(1s) as pattern was for fingering weight, also altered the heel to a slip/knit heel, to strenghten it.
The sock fits Don well! Now he just needs the match. This sock feels HUGE compared to a women's sock. I feel like I could have knitted 3 pair of women's socks in the time it too for me to do this ONE. But I love it! I enjoyed doing the Weldon's wide toe, and am very happy with the look of it.
My knitting circle is doing a monthly knit-a-long of dishcloths. Each participating member gets to choose the pattern one month and a yarn theme. This month was "Cinco de Mayo" for May. The pattern was Open Star and the yarn theme was something in the fiesta realm. I chose Peaches and Cream in Fiesta Ombre.
Our first month in the knit-a-long was "April Showers." I knitted the Chinese Waves pattern in Peaches and Creme Spring Rain.
All done and drying out back. I'm in love! This is my drag everything to the park bag. (happy dance) Its a very quick knit... only 2 weeks for this SAHM.
This is my second time to knit Maia's Baby's Got A Brand New Big Bag. The first was from a recycled Alpaca sweater from my girlfriend Lauri. It was a very enjoyable knit... and the bag is incredible. So incredible that I wanted one for myself!
I used Original Lopi by Reynolds and the only adjustment was that the yarn not doubled worsted... its chunky so I knit single yarn.
Other pics while in process:
Fox News
Ovarian Cancer Coalition
ROLL TIDE ROLL!!
Baltimore Orioles
Lancaster Barnstormers