Taking me forever or what?

So here it is the end of August.
Only four more days before September 1st.
The final day of the Summer of Socks 2008 KAL.

I just finished my 5th pair of socks. My goal? Well now, what was my goal? Oh ya, I think it was 7 pairs and one pair for a Christmas Gift. So I think that should be 8 pairs of socks. Well I did start the Christmas gift socks and one is done. But it's only my 6th pair of socks in the KAL. I finished the #5 pair just yesterday. So here they are ...

Wings On My Feet

Pattern

Small Wings Socks by Charlene Schurch and Beth Parrott from the Little Box of Socks.

Needle: US 2½ / 3.0 mm

Yarn: Sock Merino Superwash (Seed Stitch Fine Yarn Store purchase)

How much? 1 skein = 463.0 yards (423.4m)

Colorway: Siegfried

Comfortable, yet stylishly wild!




Now can my fingers fly fast enough to finish #6 by Monday, September 1st? Photo & posting has to be done before the day is over in fact.

No doubt you say? Well ... you could be wrong.

Home Sweet Home

We bought our 1962 faded white aluminum sided house about 5 years ago ...



And last year we finally updated to vinyl siding in the color of our choice with green shutters to dress it up a bit. It looked nice but we knew it still needed the protection of a new roof since the one we had was starting to deteriorate also. The old siding was turning gray because the white was turning to powder and the gray aluminum was showing through. Time to upgrade. [kind of how my body feels right now ... time to upgrade]



So this past weekend ... with the help of my wonderful SIL and a good friend [I'd like to adopt him] ... we got a new roof put on. One that matches the siding.



To surprise my DH when he gets home and of course and to protect us from bad weather in the future. But I couldn't resist, I showed the DH some pictures and he said ....



"You made a great choice!"



Boy did that ever make me happy ...
my knitting needles can click away now!

P = Popcorn. My food for thought ...

P is for Popcorn. One of the many different "comfort" foods that I enjoy!

In front of the TV is where I do my knitting these days. Athough I use to enjoy knitting in the backyard. This Summer has been too wet and it's no fun knitting out there right now anyway. I need someone special present ...

Q = Quietly sitting together!




Hope I go back to these days soon.

Shhhh... it might be a Christmas gift.

I intend to finish this scarf for one of my step daughters ...



It's an Evelyn Clark Designs ... the Elvera Lace Scarf.



My DSD loves purple and also lace; so it's perfect for her don't you think? My other DSD loves Red or Pink and if you remember right, I had knit the Scrunchable Scarf in Red for her back in May when I had decided to get a head start on Christmas gifts.

But I have other works in progress also ... such as the Colourscape Grace Shawl knit from the design collection created for Kaffe Fassette's new yarn. I'm loving it so far! But this is definitely for me. I'll be wearing it to the Kaffe Fassette lecture in October being sponsored by Seed Stitch Fine Yarn in Salem, MA. Well ... if I get it done in time that is.



And I did go to Beadworks to pick out a new bead color for the Mystery Stole 4 [still time to sign up] project since the garnet red beads were not going to work because of their shape. I'm told it would distort the design. Sooooo, I picked out a totally and I mean totally different color. I decided to go with a high contrast ... the complimentary color for the Cinnabar Red yarn that is. So here is my choice ...

Do you think I could have it done in time for Christmas ...

for Me to wear that is?

Sign up for the Mystery Stole 4 KAL!

And why wouldn't I be on board? Why would you say I have more than enough to do already? There's only 2 pairs of socks on the needles for SOS'08, a sweater vest called "Grace" to be worn to Kaffe Fassett's Lecture in October at Seed Stitch Fine Yarn [and should I forget about my Hexagonal Bedspread?], and the "All Ruffled Up" for my Mom for Christmas. Never mind the scarf I have on needles and the other miscellaneous knitting projects and Christmas gifts waiting to be picked back up. [waiting for awhile now as a matter of fact]

Of course, the Mystic Meadows Stole is about 3/4 of the way done. That's almost done right? So I'll be itching for another lace project I'm sure, right? So why not the Mystery Stole 4? And why not take the yarn out of my Stash for a change. Yah, let's pick from the Stash.

So this is what I've picked out ...



Jaggerspun Zephr Lace in Cinnabar colorway.
With red 8/0 beads

Just waiting to hear from the designer on whether the oblong shaped beads will work just as well as round.

Do you feel the colors will work together?

Of course, this isn't written in stone and I can always change my mind before September if you convince me I've made a bad choose.
I value your opinion.

Now whether I take it or not is another matter ...


*Added Note:

I just got word that I need to use round beads because the other would distort the design. So tomorrow I shop for beads.
I'm still using the Cinnabar. Just might wear it at Christmas time.

Catching up on the ABC along ...

N = Nesting Wool.

I bought this ball of wool fiber at the NH Sheep & Wool Festival this year to provide warm stuffing for the birds to build their nests with. It gives me a warm and cozy feeling every time I look at it, knowing I'm helping to keep some little baby birds in a soft and warm bed while they grow up.

and

O = Ocean view.

When Bill and I were vacationing in Ogunquit, Maine [oh duh, O = Ogunquit too] one year the weather was stormy the whole time we were there. But it was still beautiful to take pictures of while we walked the Marginal Way, beaches, through town or sitting at our Ocean front Bed & Breakfast. I have fond memories of this vacation while we sat in a tower room reading and watching the storm outside and marveling at the sunset together.






God willing, we must go back there again!

SOS'08 Sock #4 completed ...

And I call it my Cherry Hill River of Tears Socks. I started out with the pattern Faceted Rib Socks by Charlene Schurch and Beth Parrott from the Little Box of Socks. But I started them while I was at the hospital and DH was in surgery ... so needless to say, I started the pattern wrong and hadn't noticed until I was about 3 inches into the cuff. Didn't want to frog and when I took a second look ... well I decided I kind of liked the pattern as is. Kind of looks like ripples in the water. From rain drops or tears. So I finished them as is and changed the name. Here they are:




Specs:
Needles: US 1½ / 2.5 mm
Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill Sockittome from my Stash
How much? 1 skeins = 480.0 yards (438.9m)
Colorway: Water
And the cuffs are 3 1/2 " (so I can wear them in the Summer)



Now I need to get back to some comfort food and relax before knitting the next pair of socks. Or the vest I've started or the Mystic Meadows stole or ...

did you know that I'm one of "six kittens knitting mittens"?

[... that's Blackberry Ridge Mittens we're knitting.]