Done!

The Berrocco Sox socks are done! In fact, I am wearing them as I write (we had 6" of fresh snow today!!!). I love them, I am very pleased with the yarn, and I REALLY enjoyed the needle from Knit Picks http://www.knitpicks.com/ .

About the snow - we live on a dirt road. It leaves the paved road at the top of a hill and we live at the bottom and around a curve. We have had 2 days lately of above 50-degree temps. which has softened the road to mud. That means the plow truck can't come down the road, and when it freezes again (which it is supposed to do) the ruts will be worse than the mud. Ah, the joys of spring in Maine!

Anyway, I have also finished the watch with the woven band. I'm not happy with the way it looks with the thread showing. Must do some more planning to be rid of that. Any suggestions?

While waiting for my new 40" needle and sock yarn I went rummaging and found this skein of Opal from many years ago when it was first available. I hated it then as I knit it up and ripped it out. Decided since I had it, it should be used and not wasted. I am working on the heel flap now and as you can see from the pic, I still haven't knit up all that I ripped out. I still hate it, but will finish it. It has no pattern - just looks like my eyes are dizzy when I look at it. At least I won't have to see them when I wear them - I'll only wear them under boots! Wouldn't dare give them to anyone - I'd be afraid of losing a friend!

E (granddaughter) turns 3 on April 2nd. Her party is Sunday. She's a sketch - has told everyone in every store she's been in that she wants Princess Barbie for her birthday. It's about the only thing she's asked for. Hope she doesn't change her mind before Sunday as that is what we got her.

On to dinner and other wifely pursuits.

Have a great day.

Pea Soup

I had a friend in high school whose nick-name was Pea Soup - but this is not about him. Our winter has extended so far - and snow had been predicted for today - that I decided to make pea soup with the ham bone from Easter. A great warm cozy meal for a cold day. Got up this morning and started it right off in the Crock Pot. Then the temp. proceeded to rise. Hubby and I decided to take a day for ourselves and go riding over the frost heaves of Western Maine. After sufficiently jostling our insides for several hours we arrived home with the temp at 53 F!!! and had our soup and "johnny cake" which had been planned for the cold day we were expecting. It was delicious, and we really enjoyed it as I don't make it often.

Almost finished the "Sox" socks as we rode. Will photo them when done. We saw several barns and other buildings that have collapsed under the weight of this winter's unusual snowfalls. We have managed to keep enough off our roof that we have no worries there.

Today I recieved in the mail a watch face that I have been waiting for. The band has been woven and waiting for a week or so. The pic shows all the parts and I'll photo the finished watch soon.

Enough for today. Have a great one!

New Computer

Yesterday we picked up the new laptop we bought on Saturday. It is so-o-o touchy! We have some relearning to do after the laptop we've had for I-don't-know-how-many years. We are acustomed to nothing happening until you actually TOUCH the touch-pad, but with this one if your hand stays suspended above the touch-pad more than 3 or 4 seconds you get taken "someplace else" (sounds like Mr. Rogers' neighborhood) that you didn't intend to go. Hubby told me that but I didn't believe it until it happened to me, too!

When I read the paper I'm given the opportunity to send stories I haven't even read to someone else. And this right in the middle of reading a story that I AM interested in. I'm slowly learning to keep my hands in my lap except when I am actually navigating or writing. By the way, I am writing this on the OLD one!!!

Enough of the computer! The second SOX sock is almost done and I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my 40" needles so I can try knitting both socks (of my next pair) at the same time on the same needle.

I also just found 20 some odd hat patterns that were in a Woman's Day magazine back sometime in or around the '70's. They are knit on straight needles (which means more purling than I can comfortably do) so I'll translate them to circular and use up a ton of leftover yarn knitting hats for my favorite charity - The Root Cellar - in Portland, ME. Should be able to knit a bunch before next winter - although I wonder if this winter is ever going to end. The calendar says spring but We're expecting snow tonight and tomorrow then again on Friday!!!! Maybe I'll knit them for THIS winter!?!

Speaking of The Root Cellar, their annual auction is early May so I'd best get busy making something to donate. The pictures above are of a couple of previous donations. The dragonfly is 14k gold with peridots and other beads. The necklace is pearls and Swarovski crystals. Have a great day!

My New "Favorite Needle"

Today (Easter) I knit on the way to church and again in the afternoon. Now I have finished my first sock on my new "favorite needle".

The needle is a colorful laminated birch needle from Knit Picks http://www.knitpicks.com/ . It is a 32" size 2. I love the smooth feel, fine points, and the very flexible cable! The yarn for the socks is Berroco Sox yarn - 75% superwash wool and 25% nylon. The color # is 1425.

An aside to this story: I found it very interesting that the yarn is made in Romania, because a pastor friend of our (whose church we attended today) is on his way on April 4th to Romania with a group on a mission trip.

Back to the needle - I liked it so well that I've ordered 2 more. Both are 40", 1 a #1, and the other a #2. The 40" length is so I can try knitting both socks at the same time on the same needle. My daughter has done it and is not sure she would again, but I want to try it for myself. I kinda think that the yarn balls probably get too intimate with each other and that is her objection. Will let you know how it goes for me.

Also ordered from morehouse farm www.morehousefarm.com their Alligator Scarf pattern. Our last name is Clockedile so the alligator (crocodile) has become our family's mascot. We have an annual family reunion and one part of the day's activities is an auction to raise money for the next year's reunion. I plan to make some for the auction.

While looking at their patterns I saw a Jester's Hat. My granddaughter (about to turn 3) loves hat's like that so ordered it, too, and will make her one (?some?).

Watches, my current passion

I enjoy making things with my hands, and right now that would be WATCHES!! Many WATCHES!! All kinds of WATCHES!! The latest 2 that I've totally finished are woven with e-beads. They are pictured above. All of the watches I make are for sale and I am looking for gift shops, etc. to sell them in. This is an interesting process as I have a hard time walking cold into a business and trying to sell something to someone.

I used to own a yarn shop and selling something to someone who comes to me is no problem at all! But even there, when I began to design knitted garments, etc. I had a hard time going to other shops to sell my kits and patterns. I finally began sending out brochures and following up with phone calls and visits. I guess that is what I should do with the watches and other jewelry.

Enough about my "insecurities". I really enjoy working with my hands, but I have had carpal tunnel surgery on both wrists and an extensive hand surgery with a rebuilt thumb joint on my right hand. The recovery from that one was 18 months!! and it has effected what I am able to do. I can knit, but purling is painful - so I knit mostly socks these days because there is not much purling in them. Beading does not seem to bother nor does needlework done by hand. Since my favorite beading is done with needle and thread and is actually weaving, I get along just fine making interesting watchbands.

Later I will post more pictures of watches, etc. that I have made. Right now it is time to do some laundry - oh, the drudgery of it all!

Dreary Winter Day

Is Spring ever going to spring? We have been dumped on (snow, that is) ever since we came home to Maine in early December! Today it is rain and there are flood watches out due to the high amouts of rain, the warm (comparatively) temps, and the snow melt that accompanies it. In addition to that we are both feeling low with colds and sore throats.

Good time to lay low and do some beading. My latest beading interest has been watch bands. I started out just stringing beads of various sorts on elastic, but have done much more experimenting and really like weaving seed bead bands. I'm including a few pictures.

Have a good day.