Major Knitter

What My Sock Did Today

I took my nieces back into the city again today.  This time I took my socks... but managed to leave the pattern at home.  I think this was God's little way of telling me to give my right wrist a break.  I irritated it last night and even iced it.  I think knitting for a few hours would have been a very bad idea.  So instead of knitting, my socks went to the Central Park Zoo

Secundogeniture took this picture of Ms. Judy near her CPZ photo of the red panda.  She has a handful of photographs currently being used by the zoo.  She's amazing!  You can see more of her zoo photos HERE.

Here's my sock at the Children's Zoo with the recently shaved alpaca.  This furry friend was quite interested in my Chutes and Ladders sock.  

Finally, I'll leave you with neither a Finished Object nor a Frogged Object, but rather a collection of my favorite animal pictures from Secundogeniture's shots of the day.  He keeps getting better and better at this photography thing.  His latest questions generally involve salary figures for budding photographers.

All This Tourism Is Great for Sock Knitting

With my nieces in town, I'm getting a lot of sock knitting done.  We went to Manhattan on Tuesday for dinner at a nice restaurant.

Here we are before heading into the city.  Of course, I took my socks with me for the train.

Last night we went to a Mets game - once again, my sock got a lot of attention on the commute.

Today we went in to the city to check out NYU Law School for my niece.  And thitherto went my socks. 

So you're not surprised, what with all this focused knitting time, to see that my Chutes and Ladders Socks are finally up to the gussets on both feet.  Here are the details  

• Chutes and Ladders pattern by Danni Conway of DanniKnits
• US Size 1 needle - Magic Loop method
• Lorna's Laces - Shepherd Sock Yarn - Woodlawn Color 118
• Cast on October 17, 2008 

Sock Summit 2009 - Here I Come!

Guess what I'll be doing for my summer vacation?  Yes - I'm going to the Sock Summit.  Whew!  I was a little late (and by late, I mean, one hour after registration opened), but I managed to sign up for two classes at Sock Summit 2009.  I can hardly wait.  

I will be taking a Thursday class and a Friday class:

• Making the Next Monkey
• Podcasting for Amateurs

I'll confess that these two classes weren't on the very top of my list of classes to take (those were classes by Barbara Walker, Meg Swansen, Lucy Neatby, Charlene Schurch and Ann Hanson)... but they were on my top 10 list... so I consider that a win-win.  I'm bummed out that the Thursday Opening Reception is sold out.  Drat.  But I have my plane ticket.  I have a hotel reservation.  And now I'm registered for classes.

For those of you who can't fathom the frenzy of the Sock Summit, just keep in mind that I signed up for the Sock Summit a mere one hour after registration opened, and most things were nearly sold out!  Check out Tina of Blue Moon Blog for a sad, frustrating and hilarious (all at the same time) post about trying to get people to understand the frenzy that surrounds sock knitting.  Then you might start to understand the fever of this.  I actually planned my summer around this event.  Really.

My Monkey Bag

My package of goodies from Bea Binney's Going Out of Business Sale arrived this week.  Look at these terrific treasures:

I have a soft spot for monkeys, so I purchased the sock monkey knitting bag - plus four gorgeous sets of stitch markers to have on hand and to give away as gifts.  Such fun.

Thanks Bea!  

Happy Memorial Day

Hope you have a wonderful weekend.  

Today I marched in the Westport Memorial Day Parade with the Scouts.  It's such a wonderful way to celebrate this holiday.  Plus, we get to see all our other friends waving at their children, too.  Such fun.

Here's wishing you a very Happy Memorial Day!

Sleeves Done. Check.

Who knew that finishing the four different parts to my Ribby Cardi could be so uplifting?  I'm finally done knitting the front, the back and both sleeves.  In fact, here are the sleeves lounging around in my Knit Nook to prove that fact.

Please note the strategic placement of the American Flag pillow in honor of Memorial Day weekend.

Now I have to block my four pieces, sew them together and then decide which collar to knit for my Ribby Cardi.  There is a 1) Rolled Neck Version; 2) a Mock Turtleneck Version - 2.5" and a 3) Collar Version - 5.5".  I don't have pictures.  If you're a Ravelry Member, you can check out the photos of the 400+ Ribby Cardis for ideas - click HERE to see those pictures.

Please VOTE for your choice now.

Survey Results - GlowDay.com

Fleet Week 2009

My nieces arrived in town for a kick-off to summer vacation.  A mere six hours after they arrived at our doorstep, the boys and I took them on a tour of Fleet Week with the Scouts.  It was a blast.

We had so much fun.  And the boys enjoyed their tours of the ships, Marines, sailors and all the static weapon displays.  

Of course, the MRE lunches were a hit with everyone.  

I asked the Marines aboard the USS Iwo Jima if they were be treated well in New York, and everyone replied with a resounding YES Ma'am.  Some were treated to baseball games (regular seats and even fancy box suites), some were treated to dinners or shows, some were just thrilled with New Yorkers' gratitude to the military.  It was a great thing to hear.  Thank you New Yorkers for showing your best hospitality!

No knitting for me on this trip - but I have managed a bit more since I got home.  More pictures tomorrow.  In the meantime, don't forget to thank someone in uniform for their service to country.  

Neither Finish Nor Frog It Friday

I had hoped to have two sleeves finished on my Ribby Cardi by now.  But unfortunately, I have two partial sleeves - so no Finished Object to share with you this Friday.

I think the K2, P2 ribbing is slowing me down a bit.  Plus, it's been so busy these past few weeks that it's hard to do any marathon knitting.  I am enjoying my Ribby Cardi, though, and anticipate finishing it up pretty soon.

Here's wishing you a very happy Memorial Day Weekend!

KoalaCaddie

I just received my new KoalaCaddie - Yarn Craft Apron designed by Mary Shooshan.  I'm delighted with my purchase and am going to give it a try today.  I especially like the added benefit of "No Pet Fur On Your Project".  What a novel idea.

Wilma's not too sure that she likes that remark.

I plan on test-driving my KoalaCaddie out with the chocolate brown Ribby Cardi.  The dark brown Cascade 220 yarn is getting riddled with Wilma's bristly fur.  I'm hoping the KoalaCaddie will solve the problem for me.  Thanks Mary for a great creation.  

How Does Your Garden Grow?

I love flower gardens.  I love to see the colorful beds of annuals brightening up yards and houses.  Every time I see petunias, geraniums, marigolds, and other annuals, I think of my Mother who loved to patiently water and deadhead her flowers every evening.  

But me?  I'm more of a perennial girl myself.  I like to do the major work once, and reap the benefits year after year.  Our Westport Garden Club has an annual plant sale as their major fundraiser.  Basically, the gardeners sell plants they have grown from seed, or split from plants in their garden.  Unfortunately, I missed this year's plant sale, but it looks like I could do a little plant splitting and redistribution of my own.

My elephant hosta is really out of control.  I have some other places in the yard that could use some leafy green ground cover, so it looks like I might be busy for the next few days playing the part of Ms. Green Jeans.

And while I like a pristine looking garden (like the one I saw at a fundraiser tea yesterday), I've been gently steered away from pesticides from a green friend whose child suffered from leukemia supposedly from these chemicals.  So while the "wildflowers" take over my yard inch by inch, I like to think that I'm doing the right thing for my family.  Yet, yesterday's gorgeous flower and vegetable gardens inspired me to spend some time in my yard today.  Who knows, maybe I'll have to add Major Gardener to my byline.