Contraptions

How cool was I when I came home with this. The kiddos were so excited. Then when I started building something, their excitement quickly turned to disappointment, after all, mom was hogging up all the pieces that they needed.

What was I thinking?

Well, let me show you what I was thinking.

In my mind I needed them more than the kiddos. I think you would agree.

I got the idea for making the Tinkertoy Swift from Crafting Jen. And then I just added the "warping board" to the end.

This contraption has made my life so much easier. Now I can wind hanks of yarn without looking like a contortion artist. And the best part is that when it's not in use (by me), the kids are getting good use out of it without me freaking out that they are going to break it, after all, it is a kids toy.

Though B did tell me that I should have purchased the larger set because then we wouldn't be fighting over the pieces.

I'm in Love, Love, Love

If I could remember the rest of the song, I would add a little more, but for the life of me, I can't remember what comes next. All I remember is:

It's the summer of love, love, love

I got the feeling of love, love, love

You may be wondering what has me talking about all of this love stuff. Well let me show you these lovelies.

They are the Gentleman's Fancy Socks from Knitting Vintage Socks. Me oh my, they are among the most comfortable socks that I have made to date.

I did modify the pattern for the yarn I was using as well as working them from the toe up. I did three things differently this time though. I used the turkish cast on method for casting on which isn't much different than the figure-eight cast on. The needles felt a little wonky at first but the results from my perspective are better.

Did you notice the heel? It's not a short-row heel. If I didn't know that I knit the socks from the toe up, I would have thought that they were knit the other way around. The heel is something that I have been wanting to try ever since I had read about it over at Cara's. I don't know why it took me so long to try it, actually I do. I think I was thinking that it was going to be a lot harder and more complex to do than the short-row heel, which it wasn't.

The final thing that I did differently was the cast-off. While I was working on these socks, Cookie A.'s Knitty Gritty episode aired. She had mentioned that the sewn bind-off was among the stretchiest of bind-offs. I tried it and well can I say...LOVE.

This next picture is courtesy of B.

I wansn't going to post this pic, but after seeing and reading about other people's injuries recently (Stephen, Scout, Melissa), I thougth that I'd add to it.

Whenever our kids have injured themselves hubby and I take a picture. Why? I don't know we just do. While I was talking to K, B comes upto me with the camera and takes the pic. I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

If you think this is bad, you should see my shin where the softball took a bad hop and nailed me. Not only is the shin bruised but it also has a lump and you can see the seam from the softball.

A little bit of this and that

I can take the heat, I can take the cold, but the winds...that is another story. The winds around here have been, well, how should I say, STRONG. It's pretty bad when you are at your kids baseball game and all of the parents have their sunglasses on at night and the kids are facing the wall in the dugout just so they don't get dirt in their eyes.

Though I admit, it was funny.

Speaking of baseball. Is there anyone in the Los Angeles area going to Stitch n Pitch? The one at Dodger Stadium is on May 22, 2007, which is a Tuesday. I really want to go, I really want to take the kiddos like I did last year, but that would be a late night for them and they have school the next day. So if anyone is interested in meeting up and going, drop me a line.

Look what I signed up for.

This is the first time that I have ever signed up for any type of swap thingy and I am really excited.

Speaking of socks, remember the purple socks that were from the same dye lot but not. In all fairness to the socks, I have to admit that the color not matching was one of the only things that irked me and that was pretty minute compared to what I love so much about them. They match up perfectly. Jean noticed as well too.

I give Cascade props with that. Each of the skeins were wound exactly the same. I did nothing except start knitting from the center of each of the skeins and I came out with two perfectly matched aligned socks.

Have a great weekend!

I can finally breath

I feel as though I have been going non-stop.

Easter was great. The boys had a great time decorating and then searching for eggs.

This was one of my favorite eggs. B said that he wanted it to look like the world. I think he did a wonderful job.

We did brunch at our house and then we did dinner at my parents.

After two weeks off of school B went back on Monday. As I was doing some errands, I got a call from the school...B was in the health office because his eye was pink and watering. Me being the loving mother I am told the nurse, "It's allergies, put a cold compress on him and send him back to class when it no longer bothers him."

I did also tell her that I would be in when I cold to get him some eye drops to help with the itching. So, I really am not that callous. Just a little.

After school on Monday, the boys had their semi-annual dentist appointment. The good news is no new cavities....Yay! The bad news is B has a tooth abscess from one of the fillings that had been done previously, as a result, the tooth will have to be removed...BooHoo.

Hubby's brother and family were here Tuesday. Five kids in this house...great for the kids...loud for the adults.

What if...

It is allergy season over here and boy do I get it bad. Though I am wondering is it so bad that I am seeing things?





Do you see what I am seeing?



It is very subtle, but it is really bothering me.

Both socks were knit using yarn from the same dye lot, but the shades are very different. It is like one of the skeins were left in the sun and faded as a result.

I know that when I am wearing the socks that you will not be able to tell becasue there will be shoes on, but what if I was making a sweater or something that used mutiple skeins of this yarn. Would each skein be a different shade?

I guess I should just be glad that is not the case and wear them hoping no one will notice.