Finally found an outlet for my sock leftovers. I'm knitting baby squares and I'm either going to make a cat rug, lap blanket or afghan - it depends on how long it takes me to get bored.Right now I'm having a blast going back through all the socks I've knit as I make squares from their remains. I imagine myself draped in this multi-coloured monstrosity while watching tv and glancing down every once in a while to remember a Birthday gift, the first time I tried the after-thought heel or how I really need to get my hands on more Mountain Colours Bearfoot ;)
Ever since the temperatures rose back above 0 degrees (Kelvin!) I've been spending as much time as possible in the garden (and cellar and wool room and am even re-arranging the kitchen). I decided to take the motiviation and use it to its fullest advantage before it's gone again ;)The rose bushes weren't too excited about being trimmed (as the condition of my hands can attest). And the wool room proved to have less storage than I remember from last summer. On the knitting front, I started the Maple Leaf socks from the Townsend Knit A long, but progress is slow as my hands have been continually full of dust, dirt or tools. But the house looks mucho bettero!
We made an emergency trip to Ireland last weekend. Dave's grandmother passed away and we went for the wake and funeral. I didn't realize people still had wakes for the dead. She died Wednesday morning, was brought to the house and there were people sitting with her until the funeral on Friday. The coffin was lifted onto the shoulders of her sons and grandsons and carried down the street to the church for the funeral mass - with all attendees walking behind. The funeral mass was very touching and at the end they played the song Dave's Granny used to sing at parties, (I think it was) The Little Isle. There wasn't a dry eye to be found.It was all a bit surreal for me - a wake/funeral like that was something I had only seen in movies. But I must say it was very comforting to think that there was someone with Rosie all day and night until she was buried - it was a very warm and family-ish.Luckily there was also happy business to be conducted on this trip. Owen finally got his Aran Sweater. And (talk about luck of the Irish!) it's a perfect fit. Here is a picture of him wearing it on Saturday - his son Adam is very jealous (can't you tell?). 
I have been kicking some serious sock butt around here lately. I finished the monstrous pair for the Irishman (returning home tomorrow morning!!), a pair for sister #1, a pair for sister #2 and now finishing a pair for my most favourite doctor-lady.
I was so excited with this sock yarn when I picked it out 2 weeks ago. The blues are just the coolest - a stormy-sea blue, a thin strip of pale-sky blue, a distinguished-navy blue and a royal-purplish blue among others. There was some sort of brown colour in the mix,but it didn't bother me...until I start knitting the socks and saw the brown colour away from all the others, running through my unprotected hands. And it looks like doggy doo doo. I tried squinting my eyes and imagining it as a vintage rust, toasted-cinnamon, or even a Georgia clay - but my eyes couldn't be tricked. No matter what the lighting, these brown streaks look like something squishy I stepped in at the park. I'll try not to mention these thoughts when I hand them over to the recipient, eh?
I like the pattern, though - another pair out of the Vintage Sock book from Nancy Bush. Erica cast them on as well, in non-poopy colours. I have to admit, I tend to follow her around the shop when we go out together. I get distracted by big SALE signs and shiny things, she finds all the real deals and soft yarn.
*sigh*
my hero ;)
Helen surprised me with pictures this morning and one of them has Erika in the sweater I knit for her a year or so back (man! was that already 2 years ago???) It's the Imp sweater from Rowan's Pipsqueaks. I've been thinking about knitting the other one up (the Little Star version) for Bobby. If this isn't inspiration, what is???
