Oh boy, who'd of thunk it???

You are all going to be so proud of me!! I have ordered this!!

I have come to the realization that I DO NOT dislike this color as much as I thought I did and I must have a pair of socks to match my shirt.
And, extra bonus, my friend BetteM is the seller!

Back from sister's

Boy oh boy, the trip home from Chicago was much faster than on the way there! The airline must have noticed I was on the 4 hour flight on Friday, because I was upgraded for the trip home! Big, wide seat (more room for knitting)

Did lots of "beveraging" and shopping with sister, it was a nice, relaxing weekend. But that town is expensive! Here is the tab from lunch!

On the road....

Yes, I have FINALLY made it to sister's house. What an adventure!

8:00am - drop boys off at school, drive directly to airport
9:00am - arrive at off-site parking, take shuttle to terminal
9:15ish - get through security with (2) 24" circular needles (bonus)
Plenty of time to sit and knit while waiting to load plane at 10:33

10:20 - no plane, so pack up knitting and buy a magazine and bag of pretzels
10:45 - load onto plane, shut doors, pilot announces: numerous storms in Chicago, we will not be leaving for AT LEAST AN HOUR!!! why the f*&^ did they hurry us onto the plane???, continue knitting on sock, must stop as I'm close to toe decrease and don't know if it is the correct length
11:45 - still storms, will be another hour, eat pretzels
12:45 - should be leaving in approx 20 minutes as now there are storms coming into Detroit and they want to get us out.
1:00 - leave gate YEA, sit in line
1:30 - FINALLY take off (original take off time 11:03)
VERY BUMPY ride, they had to pass out the drinks in 2 different shifts, then you only had 10 minutes to drink before they had to clean up for landing (gotta love those hour flights)
2:30/1:30 local time - arrive in Chicago, find sister, have lunch and beverage

Oh brother 4 hour flight from Detroit to Chicago, I cannot wait for the return flight tomorrow!
Off to explore the city.

I'm A Loopy Groupie!!!!!

Yes, it's official, after my yarn purchase for the MS4,
I AM A LOOPY GROUPIE!!!
I feel so honored to be a part of this group :) I received a great plastic bag with zipper (going to take on the trip to visit sister this weekend), some mints, a heart clip, a sock pattern and some gorgeous Chewy Spaghetti yarn
(in my favorite color GREEN).
Gotta love The Loopy Ewe order Monday BEFORE 10, ships same day, arrives Wednesday. What's not to love??

shhhhhh

Isn't this the prettiest picture?

Our student teacher at preschool, Miss Amanda, went to Mexico City over her spring break to do mission work. She said this was taken on a road somewhere....anyway, I've ordered her some notecards (and some for me and some for our teacher), but it's a secret!

Miss Amanda took so many gorgeous pictures, I've told her she should contact National Geographic!

Another Birthday gift (early)

Many thanks to Mother! As you all know, GREEN is my most favorite color, but I have never had a green purse, I always use my black Coach purse ..... Here is my birthday present, a lovely GREEN purse!!




And here are some beautiful ORANGE flowers I bought myself. I may even break down and buy some ORANGE sock yarn from my friend BetteM.
What is going on here?? I don't even like ORANGE :)

Thank you Thank you LaurieC!!!!

Look at this wonderful early birthday box I received!!!

All wrapped up in green tissue paper - green LL's shepherd sock yarn (my most FAVORITE), green Euroflax yarn, 3 balls of CF in a cute stripey color
(oohhh, 3 pairs of anklets or 1 really TALL pair of socks??) a new book (for me anyway) Hip Knits and a cute notepad.

It came at the end of a very long morning of cleaning (3+hours) and I was enjoying a "beverage" when my mailman delivered it direct to my front door!!

Thanks so much Laurie, you're the best xoxo

Purchasing new yarn OH NO

Another pretty vacation picture:

Yes, I must admit, I did purchase more sock yarn this week!

I have been wanting to make the Garter Heel socks (Vogue), but did not have the yarn specified in the pattern, oh boy, while out with mother for her birthday lunch, we stopped at the LYS, lo and behold, they had the yarn (Louet Gems Opal).

Few days later, taking said yarn to the other LYS to have wound into balls (along with some Lorna's Laces I purchased for mother for her birthday - she is now making socks)I came upon Plymouth Yarn's Happy Feet! I was going to purchase online, but why pay for shipping when it is right there in front of me! So left that, along with the LL and the Louet. Picked them all up on Friday, so the stash has grown.

Back to mother and her socks. She cast on a pair of socks 2 winters ago. Frogged them 3 times, tried 3 different patterns and finally finished the one sock 2 weeks ago. She then cast on the 2nd sock and finished it in 2 DAYS!! (she has been knitting for years and is very fast, but had not attempted socks). She is now making her 2nd pair. I have her hooked on Lorna's Laces. But she only knits in the winter, as it makes her "hot". Now, how can knitting itty bitty socks make one hot? I knit them all year round.

Never mind, I am still up on her by 2 pair this year :)thanks to Socks from Stash.
I have finished the first Monkey sock for MS4, so off to the mate and I can make the swap deadline!!

nothing interesting

Pretty boring week, just getting back into the swing of things, had to teach all week at preschool, so I am TIRED!! Cast on the Monkey socks and was able to finish the ribbing, but not much more. Had 4 books come in at the library, but no time to read them. Here are pretty pictures from vacation, enjoy:

updates

Here are the Flame Wave socks; knit in Cascade Fixation. They were my March socks. Now, I will be able to cast on the socks for Monkey Swap 4!!

Back to reality, returned from vacation on Saturday, did 6 or maybe 7 loads of laundry and grocery shopped Monday at 4 different stores to replenish the shelves!

Yipee!!! Monkey Swap 4

Monkey Sock Swap Questionnaire

The Measurements
Shoe size: 9 1/2
Foot length in inches: almost 10”
Circumference: 9 ½ (at ball of foot)

Yarn Preferences

What are your favorite colors? Green, Pink
What color clashes with your wardrobe? Orange
Do you prefer solids or variegated yarns? Either is fine, depends on the pattern
What are your favorite brand sock yarns? Lorna’s Laces, Koigu, Louet
Is there a new sock yarn you really would like to try? Wollmeise, Dream in Color

Cookie A. Patterns

List the patterns you do not have but would like to receive: Mona, Fliker

Allergies

Do you have any allergies that your pal needs to know about? (animals, fiber, sensitivity to smoke etc.) cats and ragweed
Will you knitting be exposed to animals? NO
Will you knitting be exposed to cigarette smoke? NO

Shipping

What country do you live in? USA
Are you willing to ship outside your country? Would prefer USA pal, but will do it if you need pals

Finally, something finished

Here is My So Called Scarf, it took me 1 day short of a month to finish it. I found it very slow going in the beginning, which is why I set it aside, and for some reason, I took it to hockey on Sunday, and I found the pattern very hypnotic (?)
I finished it last night. It is not too long, and I added the fringe to cover up the cast on and cast off rows. I now have matching hat, scarf and mitts :)

Now, if I could only get the groove going on the 2nd Flame Wave sock. I made sock #1 in about 3 days, they are my March socks, but #1 was finished before the end of February!! I don't care much for the dpn's (I almost always only knit with 2 circs), so it is slow going.

Hoping to have them done before vacation, but if not, I'll take them with me.

February Swap Package - Thank you Marilyn

for the wonderful package...all the way from England!

A coffee mug with hearts (so amazed that it survived the trip in one piece!), heart stitch markers, bookmark, great smelling sachet, valentine card, heart ribbon, felt hearts, chocolate, heart sock pattern, wonderful bag (homemade by Marilyn??)and locally produced and dyed sock yarn!

I think that's everything. Thank you so much Marilyn.

Sock swap anyone??? anyone??? anyone???

My friend LaurieC is interested in hosting a sock swap, but not just any sock swap;
a sock swap where you make 1 sock for your pal & send them the yarn etc to make the mate! No SSS! How fun is that? I have seen these done before (maybe Ravelry)
So what do you think? Does that sound like a fun swap? She doesn't want anything so huge that it's a pain in the neck to coordinate & have people flake on because that's just no fun. Something like maybe 20 people? Small enough to get to know personalities etc but big enough that it's not the same personalities. Did that even make sense?
She's thinking of having signups during March, partners announced 1 April & socks/packages are due by 1 June. Of course dates etc are up for debate.

If you're interested in doing this type of swap, please leave a comment and/or message me or her on Ravelry. She's lauriec and I'm LeslieJ!

Finished!

Here are my No Purl Monkeys with Koigu toe on #2! Who will see the toes when I'm wearing shoes? Nobody, I hope!




Already cast on my next pair, Anne Budd, Flame Wave Socks. I've been wanting to make these since last summer, but I could not find another skein of Cascade Fixation in Fern. I was able to find the 1 other person on Ravelry (Marilynmac) who had a skein. She was more than willing to trade with me. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!

Love and not-so Love

I Love Love Love the The Loopy Ewe
Place web order on Monday, ships Wednesday, arrives Friday! Yea, can ship package to LaurieC on Monday.

Not so Love for KnitPicks. Place verbal order Mon Feb 4...it ships on or about Friday Feb 8...I still do not have my order!!!

It was only coming from Ohio, and oh yea, they ship via U.S. Mail, but with no delivery tracking or confirmation, so who knows where it is... I have called and they are replacing it, who knows when that will show up....
UPDATE: I received the replacement order on Monday, still no sign of the original order.

Oh yes, more Love for The Loopy Ewe...they sell 1/2 skeins of Colinette Jitterbug, so when I run out of yarn on the second no purl monkey, I can order it for the low low price of $11.00. As I am not having any luck finding any stash on Ravelry.

Bad blogger

Yes, that is me! We have been off for mid-winter break (the boys and I) and you think I would have found time to update!
Well, I did finish no purl monkey sock #1, but I am not going to have enough yarn to finish the mate! UUUGGGHHH I have been feverishly posting on Ravelry trying to secure some additional yarn. I cannot justify paying $25 for an entire skein. I cannot believe I may have to frog AGAIN. This yarn has bad karma.

In better news, my friend LaurieC, has decided to move forward on a swap hint from me (yes me!) Check out her blog for the info, she is thinking of doing a sock swap where you make 1 sock and then ship the yarn and sock off to your pal and they finish it up! No SSS!! I'm thinking she is maybe limiting it to 20 people, so go sign up!

Both boys are at sleepovers, hubby is at work, I think I'll go back to bed! TTFN

FROGuary

Ok, I have cast-on and frogged 1 sock (Anklet Heart), I have cast-on and frogged 1 scarf (Samuel's Red Heart scarf).

I am about to frog the replacement sock (Carolina). I am not loving the pattern. I think I am going back to tried and true No purl monkey socks. Does this make me a bad knitter?

The replacement scarf will stay on the needles, I am making "My so called scarf".

I feel bad about the socks, they were my tribute to Momma Monkey, but no purl monkey socks/Momma Monkey, I think it will be ok.

Here they are!

Here are my finished Roundabout socks. I love the pattern, very simple, but these are the UGLIEST color I have ever seen. Don't know if I should keep them, or send them off to an unsuspecting sister?? :)
I have cast on a pair of Heart Anklet socks, my tribute to Momma Monkey. You can't really see the hearts, as the yarn is very colorful....we shall see.
HOLD THE PHONE: going to frog back to the ribbing and doing Carolina instead.

What happened to the socks??

Well, I just can't seem to bring myself to finish that roundabout sock #2! I am totally in love with the Malabrigo yarn. After finishing the mitts, I cast on another Amanda hat, and then I had to have a matching scarf! So, the lonely sock sits there.

I looked through all the patterns I have stashed, and found this one: Samuel's Heart Red Scarf.
The stitch definition is not showing up, but that's ok, I love the pattern and the scarf is super soft!