knitting away again

Work just hasn’t been that busy so knitting is making progress. On The Needles right now:

1) still working on Mom’s Not Pink Stole 2) Holly Red and Green Snowflakes

I’ll be writing up the free pattern for this pair shortly.  The ’snowflakes’ are pretty easy and can be placed wherever suits you on the leg portion.  The heel is your somewhat standard sl1 type heel and the turn will be fairly standard as well.  At the moment, I’m planning the instep and sole to be plain green and toe plain red but that is subject to change.

3) Blackrose Wristlets

The free pattern for these pretty wristlets is from Knitty 2008 by Knittyspin. I like the way these are working up in Knit Picks Imagination.

This afternoon I took Marci shoe/cosmetic shopping.  omg….  How does one spend that much money so fast?!  yikes.  But, she really does need the shoes.  One of her close friends is getting married next Friday (yep, day before Halloween) and Marci needs shoes to wear to the celebration.  I ended up getting her a pair of flats, pair of heels, a warm winter hat and some mittens (she DID ask if I could make some for her which of course, I all ready have started but she needs some this week so….)  I even bought myself a $6 pair of blue shoes with black heels and we decided $2.00 on vintage type clutchish handbags was a fantastic deal so got one red one and one nude/black lace one to share.

David needs new shoes too so…. going to have to get some next week along with a couple pairs of jeans.

Mint Green Fraternal Twin Socks

And finally here’s the Fraternal Twin Sock pics.  It’s been several months since they were finished but I just got around to photographing.  As you can see, I got bored and changed the foot design a bit on the second one. 

The heel is WAY too shallow but they fit fairly well anyway.  It’s my own fault, I was making up the design in my head as I went – oops.

I also did my own nails (as in acrylics) and toes.

Stash additions – fun stuff!

The olive drab Regia Stretch arrived from Sarge (Kim Opperman, President of Socks for Soldiers, Inc.) on Saturday and my KnitPicks order arrived today!!! The Regia is well… drab… but I’m knitting away an hour a day as promised.

KnitPicks rocks! They have great wool and silk yarns are very affordable prices; perhaps not top of the line but well within budgetary constraints and soooo fun to work with. I’ve got a couple skeins of Jay Kettle Essentials which will eventually be a pair of soft socks for B.

A couple skeins of Essentials Glacial which are mine, mine, mine for socks and… several balls of Fog Palatte just waiting to be turned into a lace piece. I also bought another pair of double points from them, seem to be needing more all the time. I also found a previously stashed ball of acrylic multi color that will be turned into toys for grandkids – no, NOT mine, none of those yet thank goodness.

Currently on the needles are Socks 4 Soldiers leisure pair 2, roll top pearlies socks for me, grylion’s socks, lace scarf, rib scarf and some handwarmers.

This weekend B and I went to O’Sushi again, we love that place.

O'Sushi

We’d planned to go to a show at the planetarium but I managed to lose my phone so we spent quite a while trying to track it down. He’s such a good sport and is constantly amazing me. The rest of the weekend was pretty quiet and thoroughly enjoyable.

Knitting away

What a weekend… and a Monday!  I was able to get just about to the toe turning stage on WRT sock 1.  The rest of the projects are coming along as well.  If we could somehow add about a week between tonight and Christmas, I’m pretty sure I’d make it!

My company has gone through a buy out since I left (which I was aware of) but so far it won’t make changes in our department.   I have no idea what my ‘real’ schedule will be other than something between 6am and 7pm.  Guess we’ll just wait and see.  The problem with training right now is no knitting during work hours!  yikes!!!!!

And… it’s snowing!

speaking of socks:
see more pwn and owned pictures

Snowing = knitting, Detente

Cast on two  toe up pairs of socks last night, stopped around 3am.  Had the weirdest dream about knitting socks and House.  (not mine – the tv show) Kept dropping stitches, somehow figured out how to crochet with dp needles, yarn was incredibly strange pink/yellow color and scratchy beyond belief.  I was knitting in class at medical school.  Strangeness on steroids.

Watched most of the election returns last night.  In some ways, I’m proud that we (as in general America) have finally progressed enough to elect an African American to the presidency.  I don’t agree with his overall politics but was impressed with how he mentioned McCain in his acceptance speech.  I more impressed with McCain’s most gracious speech.   Both my kids wanted Obama to win.  OMG, I’ve raised independent thinking children – go me!  Enough politics for now.

Hubby and I finally discussed some urgent issues last night.  This separation thing with no obvious direction is beyond ridiculous.  He stated that he wants a life revolving around his alcohol addiction (addiction is my word, he said alcohol). I don’t.  He has no concept of the changes/forward movement I’ve made in the past few months.  That’s okay, he doesn’t have to.   He has no clue who I am anyway.  He wanted a marriage that was effortless.  I don’t think there is such a creature.  I told him watching him dying is difficult.  He wants to be alone when he goes.

Should we delay divorce?  Kind of have to financially and I feel he needs someone more than a long-term acquaintance around.  Then again, as I detach even more and work on the al-anon steps, I’m not sure that’s what is best for either of us.

We’ve verbalized the detente needed to co-exist in the same space a while longer.  We’ve agreed to focus on the things we like about each other to achieve that.  We agreed that some fairly serious mistakes have been made.  Then he bought my son new RAM for his puter and went to the bar.  This morning he wore my favorite shirt – because I like it.  I find him confusing but hey…. he confuses himself.

I knit.  Worked on Socks for Soldiers for about 45 minutes, cast on a new pair of socks, cast on another new pair of socks.  Decided to stress over what I’m making for myself.  How hard can it be to decide what I want to make for me?!?

Woke up to snow and it’s still snowing.  That means it’s time to knit obsessively until I hear back from some of the companies I’ve applied with.  I’m STILL waiting for my 2 October paycheck.  Decided I’ll pay some more bills and buy some supplies for Socks for Soldiers.  Feeling guilty about how long it’s taking me to get my first pair of BTS done.  Mailing the leisure socks I made for a lady soldier (ok, in the Army it’s a ‘female’ soldier but the socks are lady like and hence shall go to a lady) on Friday.  They’ve been sitting here since May waiting for me to finish the re-worked numerous times Big Tan Socks.  They are needed elsewhere.

Have really been wanting to go back to England and Israel lately.  England has been my ‘run away’ place for two decades.  Israel is my ‘get lost/become found’ place.  Shall we revisit the whole lottery thing?

Christmas Stocking

Finished my Christmas Stocking this morning, even got it felted.  It started life with the intention of making a pair but I didn’t like the way my gusset mods turned out and decided rather than frog (unravel) back to go ahead and felt it.  Now I have a smallish Christmas Stocking to hang!  Perfect size for jewelry, circular needs, gift cerficates… wish list….

It’s raining/snowing, rather gloomy yet oddly cheery.  Or perhaps, it’s me – have that “finished object glow” hehe.

Christmas Stocking

I may write up pattern and post at a later date.  Right now, I’ve got to go cast on another pair and start another Christmas present then work on the S4S socks.

—————–

Someone asked me if I ever knit anything but socks, I felt flattered.  I’ve only knit socks about a year now.  Before that it was sweaters, a few bags, scarves, pillows, and a few odd things.  Emphasis on odd.

By the way, check out Six Sox knitalong

Socks, socks, socks and Stole

Work is going well, team leader actually encourages activities such as reading or knitting past 8:30pm or so (work until 10:30 M-F now).  It’s difficult to knit two straight hours (for me, know those who think it’s a breeze hehe) so working on socks off and on right now.  Trying to get a solid hour of Socks for Soldiers in every day but with the frogging I had to do  – ripping out that is – got fairly far behind.

Socks 4 Soldiers

Getting there… and so far away

TJ’s first sock is nearly finished now, then going to start on her 3 year olds socks since she asks nearly every day if they’re done yet   The former DH’s current pair of socks has the foot worked up to the gusset, told him he’d get two pairs of socks out of this.  Just didn’t say when!

The current socks for soldiers is going sooooooooooooo slowly!  But am plodding along one k2p2 row at a time. 

It looks as though could have to move out this weekend without much notice so keeping this brief.  Move where? you say?  uhmmmmmm idk, very good question though, thanks for asking

I filed a petition with the courts to mandate counseling and/or mediation.  Regardless of what does/doesn’t happen between us, he needs help.

 

————– Update on the dangers of knitting—————————

 

Recently I’ve noticed a series of small bruises on my upper right arm.  It took me over two weeks to figure out how on earth they happen!  Then it hit me, I tend to lean a bit towards the light when I knit… can you say UNDERWIRE?!  *laughing hard at myself*

Moving Forward

4B and I have decided to separate.  Although it was not an easy choice, it really is the only logical one.  Then again, it wasn’t that difficult.  The decision part that is.  We haven’t discussed the next step ~ that will come in time.  Tonight he’s out fishing with my son and some friends.  I’m glad that he’s chosen to keep an active role in my son’s life; perhaps that bond may help him keep some of the real family he has.

This is a time for reflection and growth.  For continued learning, progress without fear, and renewed sense of self.  When nothing is certain the possibilities are unlimited.

As much of this blog is dedicated to knitting and that’s my sanity right now *cheesy grin* I started another new pair of socks today.  I FINALLY learned how to do toe-up; still using DPNs but it’s major progress!  WOOHOO!!!!!  I moved the BSS over to one circular; TJ’s first sock is nearly finished. 

I LOVE progress!!!!!!!!  (enough exclamation points for ya?)

Father’s Day and Knitting for Family

For Father’s Day the ex and our two children went to Mom and Dad’s (“D” H chose  not to go guess where instead, ex went since DH wouldn’t).  It was wonderful to spend time with my sisters and their families and discuss the upcoming family camping trip, past events, remembering the good times and a few not so great that we survived.  (even laugh about now!)

My sister loves the KnitPicks Gloss that I chose for her stole, I’m so relieved!  She has a hard time with many fibers and textures so was trying to choose very carefully.  Dad was pretty impressed with the whole Socks for Soldiers concept and relayed a few stories about his Air Force days as a chaplain during the Korean Conflict.  I showed him the socks I’m working on and he seemed to want a pair for himself although he’d never come out and ask   so……  adding Dear Dad to the list of sock recipients for the summer’s knitting. 

Same sister that I’m making the stole for also requested a somewhat lacey cardigan so thinking that will be a Christmas present.  She does so much for others and fights her own physical and emotional battles.  We’re closer now than we have been since we were children.  I’m happy to be able to do something for her that she finds meaningful.

 

Projects currently on neeedles  -

Have quite a bit more done on these socks since pic was taken.  Hope to finish by the end of the month – they are freaking HUGE socks though!

 

 

 

 

 

Socks for TJ (Dear Friend).  Again, have a fair bit more done since the pic but have this pair, a pair for her 3 year old and a pair for her baby to do as well.