sockapalooza sock #1

One down, one to go. Two days to send off. I think I can make it. These are Crusoe sock pattern using tvyarn in CSI Miami colorway from my etsy store.

I really like this pattern - it's a fast knit and easy stranded stitch. It works wonderfully with variegated yarn.

Next week I am on vacation. Again. This is for our family reunion in Michigan. We're staying at a cottage on Lake Michigan near Saugatuck. It's not exactly a carefree vacation for me, since I'm the "middle" generation and it's sort of my job to be "cruise director", as we like to call it. I plan activities and meals and "take the emotional temperature" every once in awhile to keep relationships running smoothly. Sometimes it's a challenge since we have folks from 2 weeks old to 85 years old! Mostly it's wonderful and this year we even have air conditioning so that will feel like a luxury.

My goal is to finish my sockapalooza socks while I am there! I am actually feeling too tired to get ready to go on vacation again, but somehow I'll pull it off and I know it will be worth it. See you in a week, Jana

My backyard

As promised here's some photos of my yard, which I really enjoyed this weekend. These freshly-painted, chartreuse shelves are going in my dye studio. My studio is in the basement on the far right. And I love my adirondack chairs, in hot pink. We washed our windows last week - a big once-a-year job where the whole family helps!

thanks Lora!

Lora did a great job "gifting" me for the June BLUE knitting swap. Gorgeous blue sportweight yarn from Sereknity. A beaded bracelet, did you make it Lora? And lots of other blue goodies. And a photo of Starsky!! yay!

slow, lazy, kick-back summer

It's almost the middle of July. I'm trying to truly savor each day of the middle-of-the-summer. We finally had some rain here and I loved the dark evening of rain. And the garden enjoyed it even more.

I had made a bunch of stitch markers so I decided to take some photos and sell them on etsy. To sweeten the purchase and provide more functionality (I'm always misplacing stitch markers myself) I ordered some summery beach-safe screw-top containers and they will sell as a package along with the stitch markers.

I'm really enjoying making my socks for my sockapalooza pal. I had a rocky start and some panic-y moments with the first pattern I tried but now I've got yarn and pattern that I love. I'll post pictures soon. The pattern is from Knitty and has some bad errors and since no one has posted the solutions (only lots of posts about the problems) I am hoping to post the pattern WITH the solution so others can benefit.

So I need to take and post photos of
- my garden which is now refreshed - today there were two goldfinches and a cardinal at the birdbath (really a bird fountain with water I keep fresh for them) at the same time! I loved the color!
- my sockapalooza socks and pattern
- my studio which will have new shelves that my son and I painted today in LIME GREEN :-)
- my lab Scout who has a fancy-shmancy hairdo after a bath and brush this week, she is gorgeous

I am also having a wonderful time getting in a lot of reading time this month. I'll update my reading list on my sidebar this week. Our library has a wonderful webpage where I can just "order" the books I want and they send me email when they have transfered them from another county library to my local library. Then I just stop by and pick them up. Same for renewal, automatic email that a book needs to be renewed and the 'click' I renew it! The libraries in the U.S. are just wonderful.

A new addition to the family

About a month ago, my husband phoned me at worked and said excitedly "a friend of mine will sell me a 1965 Mustang for 3K below blue book. Can I buy it?".
I replied "Uhh, no.".
A week later he asked "I really want to buy that car. ok?".
I said "no".
Two weeks later same thing.
Last week it made its grand entrance into our garage. Sigh. I did get a car stall full of hubbie's junk cleaned out, at least. Or did I?!

thank you secret pal!

thanks for the great package of goodies, secret pal! I'll post a photo soon. Hmm... I know you gave me a hint but so far I haven't figured out who you are. But I will keep trying :-)