A Sock State of Mind

This fall I have been trying to finish any socks that have been set to the side while I did the baby knitting and the hat knitting. I am coming along on this mission. I have not been working on CookieA's Monkey sock because I have to think a little more and not be interrupted. So I have been knitting on the socks that I am using Yarn Harlot's Basic Sock Recipe pattern. These particular socks are a redo of the second pair of socks I made while learning how to handle four needles at one time. That was back in 2004 when I used a pattern out of a magazine and size 3US needles. Yes, we have had the discussion on these before when I made the orange Regia redo socks last year. These socks were ginormous and sat in the drawer never worn. So in my quest to use up the sock yarn I have in my stash, this simply to make room to go get more sock yarn, I got out the Regia blue stripe socks that I had ripped out and put into balls. I knew there would not be enough of the original blue, green, black yarn to make two complete socks. So I went to Shabby Sheep and got a blue in a very close match. I decided to make the rib, heel and toe blue and the body of the sock the stripe. I think the first one came out really nice. It took me 6 days to knit it. That must be a record because usually even with concentrated knitting it takes longer. The second sock is cast on and already halfway down the leg. I used my favorite 2.5mm needles. The blue is Regia 4 Fadig #1988, Royal Blue. The stripe is a mystery. I do not have the label to check it and I looked in my stash and my knitting journals and there is not record of the color. I looked on the internet but it must have been discontinued by this time. It was a Regia 4 Fadig too but I have no color number. If you happen to know the name/number of the color let me know as it has been bugging me not to be able to add it to my list.

Home

Joseph made it home from Ft Benning yesterday. Amazingly he arrived in the middle of the night and I awoke to find his truck in the driveway and him in his bed. How this could have happened without me hearing him I do not know because I sleep very lightly and hear everything. I think it had to do with the rain, the busyness earlier in the day and the fact that because of the weather my RA was "speaking to me" and I had taken some Tylenol before I went to bed. All of that plus the fact that he was not supposed to leave Georgia until Thursday. But he is home and everyone is excited. The nieces came down to have lunch and as Jo told him, "We have to take you to Braum's". I did not take any pictures of the day because sometimes you just have to wait but this was earlier in the year. It is great to have him back in Texas.

Still Waiting

Yes, I am still waiting for the soldier to get to Texas. So since that is a little shall we say stressing I decided to put pix of the hats for the girls. First is the redo of the Surprise Stripe hat for Scout. I like it much better. I ripped out the first one and will use that yarn for something else. Secondly, Jo wanted the Jazz Stripe hat so here she is with hers. It is just the standard pattern I use for her. Fortunately she has not outgrown that size and it can be knitted up in a couple of hours. Lastly are the Fixation socks are finally finished. I started them I think in June and they got put back for some other things. I am not one to have only one project on the needles but on my Ravelry projects page I am down to three. Of course this does not count the couple of other projects I am finishing up. So I am off to work on another project as I listen for the sound of the soldier's truck to roll into the driveway.

Hurry Up and Wait

Well, here we sit. I guess with the military it is always hurry up and wait. I got a call from Joseph and he is still at Ft. Benning. There was some paperwork snafu and he may be here tomorrow but it could be Friday. So the chicken and dumplings were done and the apple pie in the oven (more on that later). Allison and the girls were already here and Matthew and Courteney were already on the way. So though we were disappointed we ate the dumplings anyway. There is nothing you can do if you do not have your info in order. So now to the pie. Allison made the apple pie, put it in the oven, and nothing happened. By that I mean my oven died, literally with the pie in it. So she took the pie out and is going to bake it at home tonight and I am headed to Lowe's to get a new oven. We were disappointed because once you get it in the oven you are supposed to be able to eat it. But the dumplings were yummy and I have enough left over to feed an army, ha ha. I gave Scout her two hats. The first one in the multi-stripe fit great. The second, the black and pink, was as I thought too short. The first picture of it the brim is not turned up and the second it is only up a little. I won't use that pattern again but will remake it in the other pattern. Jo ordered a hat in the multi-stripe too so I will whip those up tonight. Hopefully we will be seeing Joseph tomorrow. Sigh.

Knitting, Knitting, Knitting

I have been knitting like crazy lately. Mostly to keep my mind off the fact that Joseph will be arriving soon and due to the fact that all the grandkids seem to need hats. We have had a lot of rain lately and I have been fortunate that the RA has not been affected by that and all the knitting. The top two hats are for Scout who has outgrown all her "baby" hats and at 7 months old needed a larger size. Both are out of I Love This Yarn. The first is called Jazz Stripe (my favorite) and the second is called Surprise Stripe. The blue and red hats are for the twins. They apparently like hats right now. I made them the same not because they are twins but so there would be no arguement over who's is who's. Apparently they are real boys, always playing rough and tumble. Their hats are a little different than Scout's. Her's has a brim that can be turned up and their hat can be pulled straight down. The last picture is of my Tofutsies that I finished, finally. All the other knitting I have done caused these socks to get put in the bottom of the basket. They are Tofutsies #921.

Well, tomorrow is the day. Joseph will be back home in Texas after four years active duty with the Army. I am expecting to hear the truck roll in the driveway sometime between noon and one. The chicken and dumplings should be ready and waiting.

Five Days

This is a picture of Joseph while he was home on R&R from Iraq. In five days he will be back in Texas. He will no longer be on active duty with the Army and is planning on going back to college. Five days.

Fun Lunch

Today was a fun lunch at Steak and Shake. Scout looks so serious but she was having a good time watching all the people coming and going. Jo always loves lunch there. She is counting down the days until Uncle Joseph is back in Texas. 12.

The Hats Arrived

Ok, humor me. I have the YoYo hat on this morning. Oh, I am so funny. The grandboys received their hats yesterday, story of mailing those in the last post, and I received pictures this morning. I tried to decide which ones to use and in a grandma fit of "they are soooooo cute" I just said they all have to be chosen. These are the matching hats I made for them when I made the baby hat and afghan for their new brother due in December. One of the reasons these are good pictures is not just that they are cute kids but also the pictures show how the hats fit. I mean we even have a back view. These are just the standard K2P2 up until the decrease which means they are nice and stretchy. I love the expression in the last picture. what is that kid planning?