Flowers...What a Surprise!

Brandeis, Stratton, Teddy Bear, Patches and Lily sent me these today...with some help from their Daddy. Are't they gorgeous! In celebration of my new job which begins on Monday. I have worked at home for 6 1/2 years and now it is back to an office and being on the road. I was hired by U. S. Senator Bob Casey as a Regional Field Representative. What an honor to work for such a wonderful person. I will be doing a lot of the same things I did for him during the 10 months I worked in the region on the campaign.

This and That

We returned from Orlando last Thursday. Our luggage finished its vacation on Friday. All was accounted for so I guess I can't complain. Orlando was nice...but we don't do the theme parks. I think they are way too costly at $45 per person per day when we don't go on the rides, get tired of the same food and don't buy Mickey Mouse souvenirs. My husband had a conference there for a few days and the warm weather and some sunshine was a nice change of pace.

Didn't get a lot of knitting done but did finish 1 baby sock. Will post a photo when both are complete. Hope to get some knitting done this evening but a 2-hour phone call this afternoon cut into my plans for housework. I am trying to straighten up some things and will have to utilize some of tonight to do that.

Also want to get back to lace knitting. The photo is of a Fir Cone pattern used in a scarf. The yarn is a yummy Schaeffer Anne that I bought on-line at the Loopy Ewe...she is my favorite on-line shop these days.

Am now signing off and closing down the computer...otherwise I won't have any knitting time. Must learn to budget my time at home better since I will soon be returning to work fulltime.

Do Baby Socks Count?

I am making some baby socks for my new great-niece who was born in November at a whopping 2 pounds 7 ounces. She is now almost 6 pounds and came home from the hospital a few days before Christmas. But, she is still so tiny that she can't keep socks or booties on her feet. I found a cute pattern for some fitted ones so I have started them from leftover sock yarn and also will use a little of some full skeins. Look how little the sock will be (see the photo with the cast on). I do like the yarns I have chosen...can't wait to see what the yellow, white and black Opal knits like for her.

I think if I knit multiple pairs of these it should count at 1 pair of my size socks for my personal monthly sock knitting challenge. Don't you?

January Socks

The January socks are done. OK...I admit it they were started in December 2006 but they were FINISHED in January 2007 ... so they count at the first pair for the new year. What a way to begin sock knitting for the new year by someone who insists on matching socks. My first pair of fraternal twins. However, I really like them. Nice sturdy fabric from a heavier weight Opal knitted on size 3 needles. Goes quickly that way.

Next pair is on size 3 and is Trekking XXL...I think OR will it be the Claudia Handpaints from that wonderful yarn shop Knitting Sisters in Williamsburg, VA? Hummm....am heading to FL this weekend for 6 days and the colors of the Claudia remind me of flowers and warmer temps. Maybe I will get off my duff, get out the winder and swift and wind those 2 skeins. Stay tuned...

New Year's Resolution

Happy New Year! OK...I know it is January 7th but with my travels to Harrisburg and to Washington, D.C. this is the first chance I have had to post.

I rarely make resolutions (because I rarely keep them) but I am resolving to knit one pair of socks a month (at least) in 2007. I have so much stash sock yarn it is ridiculous and I am vowing to knit some of it...plus I need nice socks. Tonight I am almost finished with my first pair .... oh, alright I started them in mid-December but I am counting them as my January socks. They are a nice pair of self-striping "ragg wool" looking socks made from Opal. And, they are my very first fraternal twins. I am adament about matching socks, but these were knitting from 1 large skein and the repeat was so far into the skein that identical socks were not possible. So, they are really pretty. Will post the photo in the next chapter...have to kitchner the toe.

Also am trying to knit from stash but AM NOT making the current popular pledge to only knit from stash. I'm not crazy enough to think I won't be buying sock yarn from the Loopy Ewe or from Mad About Ewes. Their selections are too nice to pass up.

I can't wait to get to the PO tomorrow. A box from the Loopy Ewe arrived while I was away. I forget what I ordered but I think some of it is for a shawl. Not that I have finished the shawls or scarf (lace patterns) that I am working on. I think I will take one with me to FL this weekend and work on it. Also will only take along one pair of socks to knit. Maybe I will get something finished! Hold that thought, now will ya....

Weather is supposed to get cooler this week so maybe I can even wear a sweater and my new down coat. Guess that makes my decision...I will take along the lace scarf (from sock yarn) that I am knitting to go with the coat.

See that photo at the beginning of this entry? It is the Victorian Lace Today book that was a Christmas gift from my husband. The photos are beautiful, the patterns wonderful and it is just a delightful book to have in my knitting "library."

Special Box for My DPNs

It is amazing what some people can do with a piece of wood, a saw and some imagination -- my brother-in-law Bob is one of those people. Oh, how talented he is. On previous Christmases I have received wooden items -- a spice box, a jewelry box and a shelf all designed and created with his own hands. They are all very special.

This year was no exception. He knows I am a sock knitter (as is my sister, Sally) and that I wanted something small, sturdy but lightweight to hold my wooden sock needles so they don't break....I'm not as good with wood as he is. He designed a special sock needle box for my double pointed needles!! It fits nicely into my sock knitting bag, is lightweight but sturdy and holds many, many sets of wooden DPNs. Thank you so much Bob for all of your hard work!!! I love my one-of-a-kind DPN box and will treasure it always.

Look at these photos to see how special this handcrafted box is...from the small hinge to hold the lid on tightly, to the smooth sliding lid, to the thin dividers inside...individual slots for each size needle! A true work of art that was especially designed and created for me! What a treat.

Surprise in the Mail

My friend Libby Beiler who owns Mad About Ewes yarn shop in Lewisburg, PA sent me a present today! A thank you gift for helping her select some new sock yarns to sell in her shop. A few weeks ago I took a selection of my favorites to her shop for her to see, feel and compare. I felt like a "personal shopper" for a yarn shop. Libby has added Claudia Handpaints, Autumn House Farms, and several others to her selection. Very nice choices in colors, too. She was so appreciative she surprised me and sent me a sent of row markers she made. Lovely beads in nice mauves, beiges and there is even a cat's eye. This set fits needles sizes 0 to 5. She is also making them to fit larger needles. Definitely on my shopping list for this weekend's trip to Lewisburg. See them in my photo (very bad photo that does not at all do them justice) but really wanted to say "thanks" to Libby.

Santa Dog!

No knitting for this post...just wanted to share Teddy Bear's photos with the world. I took these this morning in the vet office. He hates the hat! Was so embarrassed that as we walked through the doorway he hung his head very low so no one could see his face ... way to funny.

Ssshhhh...It's a Secret

Today I began a new knitting project...but it is a secret at least for a while. However, it does involve this gorgeous Trekking XXL yarn color 78 that I purchased at Knitters Underground in Centre Hall. Don't you just love the rich colors and hues of purple? I do. Stay tuned for updates.

Weekend Yarn Shopping

My husband and I traveled to NJ to spend the Thanksgiving weekend with family member we had not seen in almost a year. It was a wonderful trip, great weather most of the time and really good food. We truly enjoyed ourselves.

Of course on my "to do" list was yarn shopping. Keith and I went to a shop in downtown Millburn. I had high expectations...their new website made their shop really temping. I was there two years ago and although she had no sock yarn then the site claims a "lot" of sock yarn. Well, I do not consider 10 skeins of sock yarn (2 of each color) "a lot" of sock yarn. A huge disappointment. Her shop moved last year and is long and narrow, making it even more cramped than in the past. I also did not like her other yarn choices. I said a nice thank you and off we went to lunch.

On Saturday my SIL and I hit the road for Princeton. We love shopping in all of the small stores, the hustle and bustle atmosphere and the gorgeous weather made the day even nicer. The town...which is always lovely...was beautifully decorated, there were groups of carolers singing in various parts of the community and of course, Santa Claus was greeting visitors in front of the Ralph Lauren shop.

One of our first stops was a yarn shop I visited two years ago. Again, high expectations. Their yarn is lovely, they have Koigu sock yarn (very disappointed there was no other brand), and a lot of patterns. They also have built in shelves that go from floor to ceiling...a very high ceiling. Oh, there is a sliding ladder that customers can climb to get to yarn. Ya, right...I'm going to climb a ladder to look at yarn. NOT! It is my opinion they need to rethink their display method. I found a yarn I really liked for a scarf (as if I need another one!) but alas only one ball in the colorway I wanted. Another nice thank you and off we went to do more shopping other places.

I bought no yarn this weekend. In fact, the only thing I bought was a toy for the Goldens. Hence...no new yarn...no photos in this posting. At Christmas there is one more shop to visit and am hoping for a more successful trip.

Hope all of you who celebrate Thanksgiving had a wonderful day/weekend.

Weekend Knitting

This weekend was made for knitting...rainy and cool. I even took a pair of socks along to the Penn State game. I knew I would be sitting inside in the club house and didn't want to be bored. It was pouring outside and Penn State was stomping on Temple...so I was happy with my hot chocolate and knitting sitting comfy and dry inside watching the game on TV.

I finished the Noro scarf. Lovely colors from 2 skeins of Noro Silk Garden that were a gift from a yarn swap last year. The scarf is simple...20 stitches on a 101/2 needle and a three row pattern: Row 1: K1P1; Rows 2 and 3: Knit. That's it.

Am making headway on the Trekking Socks on size 2 needles but was itching to make myself another pair of heavier socks and really wanted to knit the Opal "ragg wool" colored yarn on size 3 needles. So, I have both started. I think tonight will be devoted to the Opal socks.

Finished Socks -- Finally.........

I got up an extra hour early this morning to finish this pair of Fortissima socks...and I did! Finally....work has taken up a lot of knitting time so I feel good to get these done. Too warm toda to wear them but the weatherman says colder air is heading to Central PA this weekend. They will get broken in as I do door-to-door lit drops for my candidate, Bob Casey who is running for the U.S. Senate.

Am going to cast on this Trekking XXL for a pair of socks for my campaign intern, Elena. She knits a little but as a very, very busy college student she doesn't have time to pursue it now. She loved the socks I was knitting earlier this summer so I am going to make her a pair. Her 21st birthday is the end of November. Oh, that nice fluffy scarf in a recent post is also for Elena. She has a long walk from her dorm to classes and all of her meetings at Penn State so hopefully it will help keep her warm.