Simon update!

I just got some new pictures of Simon! John's mom went out to visit last week and took some great shots. He's such a cutie!!








I'm knitting him a sweater right now - I was hoping to get it done for today since John's parents are going out to Boise today, but alas - I'm still not done. Just the button bands to go! I'll be mailing it soon and I'll take pictures before I do. They promised to take pics of Simon modeling the sweater for me too :)

Monkey Socks... finally!

I started these socks in June 2007 and just finished them a few days ago. That has got to be some kind of record for longest UFO! I knit the first sock and then put it aside because the way the colors pooled didn't thrill me. But I dug them out again one day when I was looking for a portable project and finally finsihed them off.



Stats:
Pattern: Monkey socks by Cookie A
Needles: Size 2 Addis
Yarn: Socks that Rock medium weight - in Metomorphosis colorway
Mods: I did one less repeat than the pattern called for. I think I would have run out of yarn if I hadn't!



I'm still not 100% happy with the way the colors blended, but I am glad they are finally done!






What do you think? Wearable?

Weekend fun - catchup post!

I've been slack about posting about my last couple weekend outings. Three weeks ago I was actually in Raleigh NC visiting one of my best friends from high school, Marc.

The best part of visiting - was spending time with his animals! Here they are:



Brit, Mia, Gizmo and Rex the cat. They each have such different personalities! Brit is a bundle of energy and a snuggler and has the coolest eyes ever - one blue and one brown, Mia is the shyest dog you will ever meet, but sweet once she warms up, Gizmo is a belly scratch hore, and Rex the cat is more like a dog - loving people and attention.

I was there the weekend after St Patricks day - but due to rain their St Patty's day parade and Irish festival were delayed a week - so I got to see the festivities! They really know how to do a parade - it went on for over an hour! After the parade - we hit the Irish festival - we saw bagpipers and Irish Wolf Hounds everywhere!



It was a fun event. After the parade - we checked out the rest of Raleigh's cultural events - town hall and their musuem.

At city hall - there was actually a rally going on - I was joking around and called out "Go Obama!" to the anti Obama rally... Marc got all nervous - he told me I was in the south and had to keep it down - someone was likely to shoot me! Can you believe it!



Once safely inside - we looked around at the beautiful architecture...














After the town hall - we went to the art museum:


Here we are with an Indian princess!



We had a great weekend - thanks Marc!!

Last weekend - I went out to a coworker's party. His weeping cherry tree was blooming and he wanted to celebrate spring.

Just look at that beautiful tree!


His wife is quite an artist and one of her specialities is mosaics. Just look at this awesome dragon:


And I couldn't resist this cool birdhouse:



Unfortunately I have no pics from my recent trip to New Orleans for work - I was too busy!! Maybe next time!

Homespun Yarn Party

Better late than never! Here are the few pictures I took from the Homespun Yarn Party last month:



It was so great to see friends old and new - I even got to see a preview of Karida's new book Pints and Purls! It's awesome by the way. I bought one skein of yarn and three skeins of fiber. I already spun up two of them - and I am excited to start the third!

Navajo Plying

I finished Navajo plying half of the BFL I’ve been working on the past few days. I was planning to spin this into thin singles for a three ply fit for socks. I think I may have been a little too thick - because I ended up with 136 yards for 2 ounces. I’m still going to finish the second half and I will still knit socks with it, but I will have to use another yarn for the cuff, heel and toes. I think a nice solid blue or green will set it off nicely.

Here's a mosaic of the life cycle this yarn went through: Roving, singles, and Navajo plied:



This is Three Irish Girls roving - purchased at the Homespun yarn party. Speaking of the Homespun yarn party! I just remembered I never posted pics of the fun! I think it's probably because I took my "small" camera. I have to hunt down the cord and upload those soon!

6 years!

I survived 6 years of being married today :)

I came home from work to the scent of flowers...









Happy Anniversary to me!

Need a little sunshine...

I'm sitting in the Birmingham airport... waiting for my plane which is an hour delayed. I originally had a 1 and half hour layover - and now it's 2 and half hours! I spent the last few days in New Orleans for work. It rained or drizzled or fogged the entire time I was there. And now a huge storm is delaying me more! Ack!

I could definitely go for a little sunshine. - So I thought I'd share some of the Spring that has been popping up around my house... before all this rain of course!

My neighborhood cherry trees are blooming!



The hyacinths are popping out...



And the daffodils are blooming...





And another little piece of sunshine... I bought these daffodils from Trader Joes to brighten up my table... aren't they gorgeous!

Actual Knitting!

Don't faint! I know it's been a while - but I actually have knitting to show you!

I dyed this yarn with Sarah two summers ago and I knit the socks in February, but I'm just getting around to showing you now:

These are just plain jane socks - basic top down and comfy.



Stats:
Pattern: Basic top down sock
Yarn: Hand dyed Louet base yarn
Needles: size US 2


I am still not sure if I will get to keep these - my mom had her eyes on them the last time she was over!




But she doesn't have cutes shoes to show them off!!

I'm an Auntie!

My sister in law (John's sister) had a baby boy today!

He arrived this morning at 2:02am. He is 6 lbs. 14oz, and 16 inches long. Here he is on the scale.



He doesn't have a name yet - but he sure is cute!
Both he and Mom are doing great!



Stay tuned for more pictures and a name!

***Updated! His name is Simon :)

Tap tap... this thing on?

It's been a month since I've last posted! I can't believe how quickly time has gotten away from me. All I can say is - I've been working long hours. It's no excuse - but it's all I've got.

John has also started chemo again - he's done 2 rounds and has 8 more to go. He's been extremely tired and it's very frustrating to watch him go through this again. Those of you who read his blog know the details - but in a nutshell - there is still some cancer in his liver. Luckily his colon and entire digestive track is still clear. We just have to get the little suckers still in his liver.

So anyway - I'm doing ok other than my frustrations that I can't do anything to help John feel better. I have been keeping busy - working maybe a little too much though!!

I've been doing some knitting here and there also. Right now I am working on the Shetland triangle. I'm knitting it with the orange handspun I just finished. I'm loving it! I have one more repeat to go before the border. Pictures soon!

I also have new drawings to share! These are my latest sketches for the sketchbook swap.

Giraffes...



Light as a Feather...




Just Hanging Around...




Birds on a Wire...




Coi pond...



Thanks for stopping by!!!