One is more than enough

It's still not here. Fall that is. For a couple of days after my last post, I honestly thought that it was working. The weather started cooling and I actually put on long sleeves in the morning while I was walking the kiddos to school.

It is now a couple of days into "Fall" and I am still wearing shorts and tank tops, with no need for knit caps or socks...yet.

This is a pic of one of the things I had worked on over the summer. It is China Doll from Interweave Crochet Spring 2008.

It is actually finished but I don't have a pic of me in it. So that is all you get.

Oh, I almost forgot. I was at the dentist with Big Monkey a couple of weeks ago and as usual, I was knitting in the room while he was having work done. The dentist who was working on Big Monkey is relatively new to us since he has only been with the practice for a few months noticed that I was knitting and asked what I was knitting. I told him it was a sock, to which he replied, "For a set or are you making just one?"

What I wanted to say was, "Usually when I wear socks I like to wear one on each foot, just like my shoes. Doesn't everyone?" Though I didn't dare because for all I know my sarcasm wouldn't have been taken to so kindly and then I would have pissed off the person who was working on my son.

If I Make it....

...fall and winter will come.

At least that is what I am hoping. The weather over here has been in the high 80s and 90s. I am so over the heat and can not wait until we get fall weather. Not So Cal fall/winter weather either, I want it so I can wear my hat without busting a sweat by the time I get to my front door. The chances of that happening are pretty slim, so I guess I will just wait until snowboarding season.

Inspiration

Inspiration (in-spe-ra-shen) n. 1. stimulation of the mind or emotions to a high level. b. The condition of being so stimulated. 2. One that inspires. 3. Something that is inspired.

Inspire (in-spir) v. 1. To fill with noble or reverent emotion; exalt. 2. To stimulate to creativity or action. 3. To elicit or create in another.

Lack of the above is why I have been out for so long. I have still been knitting and have even done a bit of crochet while I have been gone. Though I have had the lack of inspiration to blog about it for a couple of reasons. One being that some of the things that have been made I have to keep a lid on for now. The other is because I have to keep a lid on things. I have no less than six FO's that I would love to share but can't. That's right six, maybe even ten.

The summer has been super busy with the kids. This past spring was the first season that Big Monkey played kid pitched baseball. I was the team mom, which kept me busy scorekeeping during the games. It was a fantastic season! Their team won their division championships. During the same time he decided that he wanted to also play flag football. That is in addition to all of the activities that Little Monkey, Hubby, and I are involved in. I think at one point in the last few months we counted ten games within one week.

There were times when I wanted to blog, but because of the lack of craft content didn't. I'm hoping with the kids going back to school next week, I will be able to be a little more dedicated to blogging. That's right both of the kids are going back to school. For the first time ever both of my kids will be at the same school. Little Monkey will be there for half day and Big Monkey for full day. I can't wait, though I am a bit sad at the same time. Where did the time go? It seems like it was yesterday that they were brought home from the hospital.

With the kids going back to school, I'm hoping there will be a bit more time for some of this:

and maybe just maybe, I'll be a little more inspired.

I do, I do...

...still exist, that is. I never have the intentions of staying away from this here blog for so long. I know you've heard that from me probably a gazillion times if not more from me, but it is true. I really don't like to stay away for that long, but life as it is has other things in store for me.

I guess it doesn't help that the kiddos are signed up for a million and one activities. Each time they ask to sign up for something else, I initially tell them no, but then end up changing my mind and letting them, which means that I have that much more on my plate. Though I am not complaining or anything like that. Afterall, this is what I signed up for and I wouldn't change it for anything.

Remember when I made these last year?

I finally put the pattern together and now have the pattern available for you.

The pattern is called Twist and Shout and is made from the toe up, but don't worry if toe-ups are not your style. The pattern can easily be adapted to be worked from the top down. The pattern includes the written stitch pattern as well as a chart. They're made on US 3/3.25, so they knit up pretty quickly.

If you are so inclined, give Twist and Shout a try. I think you'll like them.

To purchase Twist and Shout, click on the button.

Finally...

...I have some knitting content to post. The last couple of weeks have been so crazy. I had been sick with a very bad sinus infection for at least a week before I decided to go to the doctors. When I did I was given some antibiotics and a few days later I was better.

I probably should have gone to the doctors much sooner than I did, it's just that things were so busy over here I hardly had the time. Big Monkey is playing baseball as well as football right now and so between games and practices and all of the other stuff, I didn't have time to take better care of myself.

Funny thing is, if I would have taken better care of myself, things probably wouldn't have gotten to the point they did. It's a vicious cycle, I tell ya.

Anyway, because I was so sick and busy at the same time, I did not have much knitting content to post about. And I'm pretty sure you didn't want to hear about all of the interesting things that happen to come from me while I am ill (if you know what I mean).

The important part is I am better now and hopefully will be better focused and consistent on things (this blog included). I was able to go for my first jog since this whole thing hit me yesterday and I felt pretty good.

So for now I will leave you with this.

Warm Hands

About two weeks ago Big Monkey had his first baseball game of the season. This is his first year of Pinto, which means that this is the first time the kids are playing a little more closely to the rules of baseball. Last year all the kids that were playing would bat each inning regardless of outs and there was no official score for the game.

Now that he has moved up to the next level, we are required to have an official scorekeeper for each of the games. Seeing that hiring a scorekeeper for our home games would add a couple of hundred dollars to the team bill, I agreed to do the job. What I did not realize at the time was how cold those night games would be. I mean, I knew that it would be cold, but I didn't think that my hands would be that cold. At the end of the evening I could barely hold my pencil it was so cold.

The next day I decided that I would cast on for these:

They are a heavily modified version of the fingerless mitts from IK's Fall 2005 issue. Click on the pictures for more details. They are so comfy and fit perfectly. The best part, I finished them just in time for his second night game. Now I am able to stay a little warmer during the games and able to hold my pencil without it being all funky.

Granny Square Baby Blankie

I never realized how quickly I would finish the Granny Square Baby Blankie until I was actually done. I mean, I had read somewhere that crocheting was faster than knitting, but I took that with a grain of salt. Afterall, everyone does their crafting at different paces. And for all I knew the person who wrote that crocheting was faster than knitting could have been a super speedy crocheter and just a so-so knitter.

Anywhoo, I finished the entire blanket in less that a week, edging and all. The only thing I didn't realize, or should I say forgot, was the fact that crochet uses up so much more yarn. Not bad if you want to destash.

Enough of the rambling. Here is what the finished blanket looks like.

I really enjoyed the quickness and almost instant gratification of crochet and even have a couple of things in the queue that are for crochet. But the next few things I make are going to be with needles and yarn.

Houston, we have some Granny Squares

I first learned how to crochet many years ago when my age was still in the single digits. Though I don't know if you can exactly call what I was doing crochet, unless you consider a chain of stitches a mile and a half long crochet.

I have always loved the look of the granny square but for some reason, I could not figure out how to do one. It wasn't for the lack of trying either. I just had some type of mental block which prohibited my hands from completing one.

About a month ago I was talking with one of my girlfriends, a crocheter, about how much I wanted to make a granny square and the difficulties I was having. During the conversation she said the granny square is all about counting. At that moment something clicked. Last night I finally decided to give it another try.

I'm thinking it is going to become a blanket for my best friend's baby, she is due in the next couple of months.

Look what I found

When I first learned to knit, I did what I think many people did. Made scarves. I think I made about six scarves and a blanket before I really dove into knitting and made my first pair of socks which were knit flat and seamed up the back.

Back then it didn't even dawn on me to take a picture of the socks or of any of my finished work for that matter. Heck, at the time it never even occurred to me to use the internet as a tool to learn more about knitting. And blog...what the heck was that?

Now don't get the impression that I have been knitting for decades or anything like that, I have only been knitting for about five years, seriously knitting for maybe four. When I first learned how to knit it never dawned on me that this here internet would be such an integral part of my knitting. Back then all I would use the computer for was email and the occasional shopping. My how times have changed.

Why am I being so nostalgic? Well this weekend as I was helping the kids clean their toy room I came across one of the first scarves I made.

I don't think I made it for myself as the scarf is much shorter than my arm span. Since it was in the toy room, I'm thinking I made it for Big Monkey.

tap...tap...anyone here?

Wow, I never had any intentions of being away for so long. Things had been quite busy and interesting after my last post. Next thing I know it's been over a month. During that month, I finished a pair of socks for my Grandmother, which I forgot to take pictures of before giving them to her...typical me.

Other than the socks, not a whole lot of knitting had been going on here as the kids were home from school on winter break for three weeks and they have just returned yesterday. So, I am hoping that I can resume to things as normal.

I did however manage to dye some yarn.

It's being worked into some socks for my friend Camille.

Yummy!

So, so sorry. I didn't realize that it had been so long since my last post. I have been knitting, it's just I haven't been able to post pics in fear that someone who is on the receiving end would see. So soon I am hoping to have some FO's to show...but no promises.

There is something that I want to show.

I won this from Heather from the Fall Ravelry Running Challenge. The pic doesn't do the yarn justice. It is such a gorgeous deep red. It's so beautiful I almost want to eat it.

I still have at least two pairs of socks that I need to finish before the holidays....wish me luck.

It could be worse

Things sure have been interesting around here.

Yesterday I had kept Little Monkey home from school for what I thought was the stomach flu. Turns out he has Scarlett Fever. That's right Scarlett Fever or Strep-Throat with a rash. I so know what he is going through.

Good thing though, the Dr. said we don't have to cancel Thanksgiving this year. Although, I wonder what would happen if I had to call everyone (about 30 people) and tell them we couldn't have it here this year. I'm sure they would all find another place to congregate, though I would miss having all of them.

Enough about that. I have a FO for all of you.

click on pic for more info

Have a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!

Where my Stitches

I'm just a little excited and wanted to share.

Woohoo! I know, I'm a dork, but I know where my stitches at.

it's all I have

First let me start off by saying thank you to all of you who held us in your thoughts during the fires. The smoke has cleared and things are back to normal...whatever that is.

I have however still been knitting.

This was taken a couple of weeks ago, but it's all I have to show. I can't tell you how much I love love love the colorway, I think it's perfect for these socks too.

I should be done with them within the next couple of days, but you know I'm not going to hold my breath.

Fire

Just a quick little post. As you may have heard Southern California is pretty much up in smoke. One of the fires are about a mile from our house, but we are not in imminent danger. The news is saying that the fires may not be contained until Halloween and that three of the fires may merge to make one huge fire. I hope that is not the case.

Here are a few pics from the "Magic" fire as seen from our house.

Thank you to all of the firefighters!

Better late than never/ Eye Candy Friday

I know it's late, but it has been a long one.

I am starting to feel better, but the voice, well, lets just say that it is here, but I can't cheer or give a WOOOOHOOO without getting a funny look.

K had a field trip on Wednesday and this was a result.

Have a great weekend!

It's all good/Eye Candy Friday

I think I am finally at the tail end of the cold...yay for me! But it will probably be several more days until I am back full force.

As for my sockpal. Thank you for commenting on my last post. I don't think you are a crummy pal, I just hadn't heard from you and was getting worried. Now I know that you didn't forget about me and all is good. I can't wait to see the socks I know you are working so hard on.

And now for some eye candy. I did this about two weeks ago but forgot to post last week.

Have a great weekend!

winds of change

Every year around the time the weather changes, I seem to get a little something I wish I didn't, a cold. The thing is the cold is not bad enough to warrant me taking anything for it, but bad enough that I can't do all of my regular exercise type things, like running, biking, and playing sports.

One thing it does afford me is more knit time.

Though I finished these a while ago. It just took me a while to photograph and upload them. I should get better at photographing my fo's because I just got a remote for my camera which makes taking the pictures sooooooooo much easier.

Also, I am starting to get a little worried regarding Sockapalooza4. I haven't received my socks yet and am getting bummed. I did get an email from my sockpal around the time the socks were supposed to go out saying that they were almost done and would be a little late. That was over two months ago. What do you think I should do? Wait a little longer? Request a sock savior? Forget about the whole thing?

So proud

I think it is fair to say that as a family we are casual and dress up only when the situation calls. Now don't get me wrong we are not running around looking as though we don't care about our appearance, we just don't go all out all of the time.

I think B would like that to change though. A few weeks ago, I took the kids shopping for an outfit to wear to my cousin's wedding. After trying on the clothes, B tried to convince me to let him wear the outfit to school because, "I look soooooo handsome mom."

Well, I didn't let him wear the outfit to school. On Saturday he was so excited to wear the outfit he tried to put it on first thing in the morning. The boys looked absolutely adorable. Unfortunately we didn't get a pic of them.

So Sunday morning after breakfast, B asks me where his tie was. After I told him, he comes to the kitchen looking like this.

And then he asks me to help him put the tie on.

I couldn't resist.

Also look what I finished.

He gets me/Eye Candy Friday

While we were watching the Dodger game earlier this week, B asked if I could take him to last nights game. He had seen the advertisement for it and they were giving away Dodger blankets. Unfortunately I had plans and was not going to be able to plus it was a school night and they had enough trouble the last time we tried that. While he was walking up to bed, he says, "I know, you could just knit me a Dodger blanket."

A couple of weeks ago Hubby was out of town for the weekend. I decided to take the boys hiking. While B was eating his snack he said, "Here mom, take a bite it is soooooo good, oh wait, take a picture first"

He knows me so well.

Have a great weekend!