Marigold's Finished

These popped up in my sock garden a few weeks ago. Aren't they fun?!

This pattern is easily one of my favorites. Clearly written, you can fly through these in a few days. The repeat is easily memorized, so I didn't have to carry the pattern with me (a big plus in my teenager/pre-schooler filled world). It was not necessary, nor did I want to make any modifications to this pattern. Sizing was dead on for me and once we get some fall/sock weather these will be on my feet!

I see another pair or two of Marigold's in my future. Next time, I think I will use a slightly more solid color way instead of one with so many different colors. My thought being the ever changing colors are obscuring a lovely pattern, which I would prefer to see more of.

So here are the details for anyone who cares about what I do.

Pattern: Marigold Socks by Pamela Wynne of Flint Knits fame
Yarn: Hill Country's Sweetfeet in Shasta Daisy.
Needles: Addi Lace US2 Circular
Started: June 10, 2007
Finished: July 11, 2007

So there we are . . . pair 10 of the 52 Pair Plunge!

What to Say?

Caution ~ extremely long catch up post ahead. Missed you all and I am glad to be back!

Wow, can I get a fabulous guest blogger or what?! My big head is taking up most of my living room right now. Thank you JJ for the kind words, they left me speechless (which as anyone who has ever talked to me knows, can be virtually impossible).

A word about JJ. Don't let her fool you, she is kind hearted, emotional (in a good way), eloquent (check out her new blog, mum's the word if you don't believe me) and the best sister anyone could hope for. Though we haven't always seen eye to eye (understatement is strongly implied here), I will always loved her. BTW - She was not as naughty as she would have you believe . . . dealing with past grief in an uncomfortably tense situation is hard on anyone. I give her substantial credit for staying as cool as she did.


Like fish, family house guests begin to stink after a few days. I'm not certain that's how the saying goes, but it works for me. I'll be the first to say Arizona at 104 degrees, mom having surgery, mom's 70+ smotheringsignificant other, and a three hour time difference and hospital food all add up to Very. Stinky. Fish. Yet Mom is recovering nicely and life is returning to normal. Plus I got to see LG - a lot. I just love him and he never got stinky. His #@&! doesn't stink.

So on to some things I learned while in Arizona:

1. NEVER ride with 70+ people in a vehicle if you need to be somewhere fast. Standard driving speeds . . . 5 miles BELOW the speed limit. Yep, slow, rotting torture in a vehicle with minimal air conditioning.
2. You know it's truly not hot until you have sat on a porch drinking coffee at 6:30 am with temps already in the 80's . . . knowing it will get up to 104+ in only a few short hours.
3. Grass is a truly beautiful thing.
4. Tucson has a drug store on every corner - it's true.
5. When you want to go somewhere with my mom, start getting her ready two hours before so you will only be 20 minutes late.
6. You can get lots of knitting done while waiting in hospitals.
7. Some neuro-surgeons are really good looking.
8. Every house in Tucson is some shade of . . . brown. Call it brown, tan, beige, taupe, camel, whatever it's still all the same. No offense to any Arizona residents, I just couldn't believe all the brown.
9. If you are going to haul a baby from hotel to hospital some seven thousand times, a car seat bungee corded to a luggage cart makes an instant stroller. CJ, you saved our lives on that one.
10. Upon arriving home, my definition of clean and RM's definition of clean are two entirely different things.
11. All sorts of things can go amok at home when I was gone. Toilet repairs, water softener replacements, boards on deck broken/repaired, no-show sitter, truck dies - purchase new one (yea, you heard me right), and install surround sound in the living room. RM was a busy, busy man while I was away.
13. In Arizona there is no time during the course of 24 hours a can person run outside - it's just too damn hot.
12. Purls is a fabulous yarn shop! I did make some fabulous purchases.

Did I mention it was hot there?

In knitting news, I completed the Marigold socks, JJ's Jaywalkers and Mom's On-Your-Toes Socks. Sorting out all the photos I took is taking some time, so they should be posted in a few days.

It's good to be back in temperatures I can stand . . . by the way, it was hot there!

What have I done for her lately?

Not enough, I can tell you that.

Hello, there! JJ here. For those of you who read Trixie's blog, you can frequently find me commenting on her posts. I am Trixie's younger sister (though she would be quick to tell you that most people cannot actually distinguish which of us is the eldest) and I have the distinct pleasure of being her "guest blogger". I really don't know what I did to earn this right, but here I am and I have lots to say.

My primary charge is to let you all know that Trixie is alive and well and will be back blogging with all of you very shortly. As you probably read in her last post, she took a trip to Arizona for a family member's surgery. I will let her divulge what she wishes regarding said surgery; but for now, suffice to say that it went well and the recipient is recooperating peacefully at home. I went to Arizona as well with my 11 month old in tow. Having an 11 month old while trying to care for a loved one in the Intensive Care Unit where babies are not allowed proved to be quite a challenge, but Trixie stepped up. Without her help, I would have done just as well to stay home. Thanks, Trixie.

My secondary duty is to show you the socks that Trixie made for me. (Please forgive the picture placement...I was lucky to figure out how to get the picture there at all!) I dropped as many hints on this blog as possible that I wanted those socks! I saw the Mountain Laurel yarn, seen in "Solid Gold Sweet Feet", and knew that I just had to have them. So what happened? Trixie stepped up. I don't know the pattern or needles she used and I don't know how long they took her, but I do know I. Love. Them! I vowed to wear them in Arizona despite the heat and I did just that! I had those socks on every day and boy, are they comfy!

Those are the things that Trixie asked me to share. And having done that, I can now share an observation of my own.

There are times in life that call you to be all that you are capable of being. This past week was one of those times for Trixie and me. It was a week where the things you do show who you really are and what your character is made of. I can tell you that my behavior left something to be desired, but ...you guessed it...Trixie stepped up.

Now, I am the sort of person who likes to help others. I'll open a door for a frustrated delivery man who can't get the door open. I pick trash up off the streets. I hold elevator doors. I will listen to the venting of my beloved sister. I enjoy giving gifts. But this past week, I was too involved in my own emotions and let them take control of me. But not Trixie. She did all of those things and many more despite going through hard emotions herself. She made volatile situations more calm. She showed who she really is and she can be proud. I know I am proud of her. She made me feel beter, she made me see things in a new perspective. She made me ...look bad! Just kidding. She demonstrated grace and an inner fortitude that I can only admire at this point. So, what have I done for her lately? I posted a blog when she didn't have access to a computer, and I hope that' s enough to tell her how very much I love her.

Bright, Sunshiny Day

I cast Marigold on last night during my shift at our local Hospice residence (I volunteer to answer phones on Sunday nights - it's very quiet). The yarn color way is Shasta Daisy that I first mentioned here. So fun to knit with! Now we can really say I stopped to smell the flowers! Don't you love how the colors seem to "pop"? As with the Mountain Laurel color way, when there is a change from the green, a very fun color appears only for a stitch or two. This intrigues me to no end; I look forward to these fleeting stitches on each round.

The Marigold pattern is clearly written. Pamela left no stone unturned and gives alternate directions for smaller and larger sizes. Kudos to her! So many sock patterns only give you one size, expecting you to know what/how to make adjustments for an alternate size. If you are like me, something like that can be impossible to fathom (my mind is really very simple). The lace chart she includes is clean and easy to memorize, but still gives you enough change to keep you enthralled with this knit (don't fret, she also writes out the directions for those who don't like charts!). All in all, I can't wait for my Marigolds to finish "growing."

I also have a new purchase showing in the photo. Any guesses on what it is?

Whew!

I knit more of JJ's Jaywalkers. The leg is almost finished, so things are moving along nicely. Since I'll be seeing JJ is July, my plan is to hold on to them and personally deliver the goods. This will be especially poignant, as she will be receiving them mid-summer . . . while in Arizona. My guess is they will not get worn during our visit.

Today was a milestone for me. I finished my first 10K running race! Will I do another? You bet! It was fun, a gorgeous morning and I finished almost 15 minutes faster than anticipated. Yea.

Upon my quest to be thin, the 10K race was a goal I set for myself. Originally, I thought that the training for this race would get me to my target weight. Well, let's just say, I am 24 pounds shy of the 30 pounds lost goal. But I can now run for 56+ minutes straight. Live and learn.

Knock, Knock . . .

Who's there?

Trixie.

Trixie Who?!

I know that is what you are saying to yourself right about now. Please know I am sorry for the "slight" delay between postings. Suffice to say, we have been busy around here.

I have started a few socks. Want to see pictures? Good, because here they are.

The sock on the right is a Rainy Day Sock, by Yuliya Sullivan from Magknits. I am using RYC Cashsoft DK in Shade 509. These are knit on bamboo dpn's US #4. The foot came out slightly shorter than I anticipated, so these will make a super gift for someone with say, a size 7 foot. I am loving the picot edge - all very lady like.

The sock on the left is a Jaywalker by Grumperina from Magknits. These are knit with Hill Country Yarns Sweet Feet line in Mountain Laurel (first mentioned here, here and a vague reference here) on Addi Turbos US 1 (or 2, I'm not certain, as I took a slight break and neglected to write certain, necessary details down - oops). I do know that the cuff and leg are knit for the larger size, but the foot is knit in the smaller size. It is my experience that this method makes for a nice fit on my foot. Since most everyone has knitted this sock in the past, you may or may not have found it to work for you. It is my hope that JJ enjoys this type of fit too, as it's too late now.

These are my version of a Junior Whitby for Boo-boo. Jr. Whitby is knit in the left over Louet Gems that I did my Whitby's in. The color is pewter and I love it. Needles are Addi Turbos, US 2. Too sappy to have matching mom & son socks? Yea, I thought so too. But I. Don't. Care. My reality - I don't have the space for a large stash (there was a substantial amount left) and this takes up room I could use for new yarn. On the up side, Boo-boo is not in love with them. So, Jr. Whitby's may morph into matching Auntie Trixie and nephew socks.

These were my peonies that bloomed this year. Pooh bear (my dad) helped me plant them a few summers back. In my opinion, peonies are one of the loveliest flowers of all. The colors and scent send me. My feeling to knit something in the exact color of this peony can not be denied much longer. Maybe I'll knit some Marigold's. Think how sweet my feet would be, especially if I used Sweet feet yarn!

Oh that last bit was bad - sorry.


Last minute addition - JJ, in no way is my vague post about Jaywalkers and Yeti sizes inferring that you have large feet. I frogged the yeti sized one and re-knit it. Your Jaywalkers will fit your really on the small side, normal, human, sized feet perfectly.

Zippo Knitting

I have been distracted by the beautiful iris that are in full bloom.
My neighbor (always my neighbor) has oodles of these around her home. The colors are simply stunning. I put some serious effort out there to capture just the right color. Nothing seemed to work so I ended up using a flash to get the purple "just right." I'm close, but the photo really doesn't do the flowers justice. These blooms had to be a large as my hand, if not bigger. No kidding.

I have some sock yarn mentioned here, that is very close to these colors, though slightly muted. I was coveting it for a pair of socks for myself. Well, JJ left me such a beautiful comment about my weird things, that I couldn't help but think this yarn should be made into something for her. It is my sincere hope that everyone has the opportunity to have someone as special as JJ in their life. She is truly a lifting spirit and gift from the heavens (note ~ she is the eloquent, sentimental, thoughtful one of the two sisters, I on the other hand am the potty mouthed, goofy, forgetful one). Plus she did mention, oh so subtly, that she would cherish a pair of socks out of said yarn.

Decision made. JJ, the yarn is yours. Love ya.

Solid Gold Sweet Feet

New yarn came in the mail last week. With a Birthday, the 5th Third Bank Run, a soccer tournament and Mother's Day thrown into a five day span, there just wasn't time to blog about it. It is Sweet Feet Sock Yarn by Hill Country Yarns. The hank on the left is called Mountain Laurel with the lavender, green and cream colors. The hank on the right is Shasta Daisy with the yellow, green and white colors. Aren't they delicious? These are hand dyed yarns with nice intensity. One hank is approximately 400 yards, so I should easily get a pair of socks from each. Now the question is . . . what pattern to choose? I want to try Marigold when she gets the pattern done. Maybe a little patience on my part? Um, me patient? Riight. But because I fall in love with the pattern every time I see it, I will wait. Unless. . . she would like me to "test knit" it for her (note the shameless plug)?


This is my new love, and it makes me want to shake my groove thing. It also answers the eternal question, "At almost 40, are your grooves really just ruts in the road?" For me *pause* uh, yes they are ruts.

RM and the kids gave it to me for Mother's Day. It's already loaded with high tempo songs for running, cleaning and generally ignoring who is calling me. I am in awe of how light it is to carry. Once clipped to my pocket, I forgot it was even there . . . well, except for the music in my ears. Listening to adult-type music for pleasure is a luxury I had abandoned for the last five years because of all the early childhood music playing in our house.

So last night, after RM and Boo-boo went to bed, I stuck the earphones in, turned up the music and danced in my living room like no body's business. The neighbors probably thought I was nuts. As I tried to channel the Solid Gold Dancer in me, I did dishes, folded laundry and generally had a blast. It was a secret dream of mine, way back in the day, to be a Solid Gold Dancer. The hair, the costumes, the moves . . . all the rage almost *gulp* twenty years ago. Now, um, not so hot. Back then, I would have had at least one out of three - the hair.

Then reality snuck came crashing back in . . . RM caught me right in the middle of, what I thought, was a wicked move. Lot's of laughing, side holding and "Wait. Wait. Stop! I can't breathe!" came from his mouth. Needless to say, I won't be getting my groove on anytime soon. Unless I know they are completely asleep!