Two Black Sheep

Hello Goodbye

My recovery time after a flight is a couple of days.  I'm not sure how the Flyer does it.  I'm positive that those presidential clubs dotting the terminals help.  I kept thinking maybe I could sneak in, but I noticed that there was a woman sitting just inside the door checking credentials.  I thought about just letting myself leak all over the place & then plead to her womanly side.  Maybe Flyer does it well because he isn't sitting on toilets pumping every three hours. The sight of Flyer pumping isn't a good way to start your Friday morning.  I tip my hat to you Mr. Flyer.

One fabulous reason to fly, tons of reading time.  I finished A Simple Prosperity during the first leg.  I was so happy with this book.  This is the first time in a while that I wasn't reading a book about food.  However there was chapter dedicated to food, the importance of a garden & eating whole foods.  I'm trying to get SK to read the book.  We like to call him Old Man SK because of his elder rants.  The book has that flavor in the very beginning, but then provides a number of reason why a sustainable lifestyle makes sense.  When I picked up A New Earth, I thought it would read like S.P.  While it is a good book with an almost religious feel, S.P. has real-world examples that work in my head.  I'll go back & finish reading A New Earth, but the library emailed me that my copy of In Defense of Food is ready.  Back to food, but I'll stop after this one.  Promise! 

What's a girl to do as she counts the minutes to her next pumping jag?  Something!  I was digging through my purse looking for anything exciting.  I have children!  Shouldn't I have crayons or little cars hanging out in the bottom?  A old container of Cheerios even?  Nope.  But then just as I was moving my second pack of old receipts, there she sat!  You know that scene in Goonies where they find Chester Copperpot's treasure?  That's how I felt hanging out in the airport.  I had found my sock bag sitting in the bottom of my purse!

I've been knitting this sock since before Tuck was born.  I love the color, but when I knit with the yarn it has a squeaky feel almost like an oiled yarn.   But I had something to do, so I sat & knit for the remaining flight.  The pattern is Jeweled Steps from New Pathways, but I think that it has a "Dixie Chick" feel.  I remember hearing that the Chicks got chick feet tattoos to mark milestones.  The wrapped stitches are staggered & look like little footprints.  Fortunately I'm singing Chick songs every time I pick up this sock.  It's usually Good-bye Earl or Sin Wagon.  Occasionally Top of the World  or Godspeed pops in & then I'm crying (yep just started right now).

Have you gotten your Summer IK yet?  Summer is always my least favorite issue, so I'm not real surprised with my reaction.  Once again about 2 likable patterns & the rest make me shake my head.  At this point, I'm not sure that I'll renew my subscription.  At least throw in a couple articles, Eunny!  I think that there's 2 articles in this entire issue.  At least that's all I could remember & that isn't a good thing since I've looked a the magazine 3 times.  I miss the staff projects a lot.  I didn't realize that I enjoyed seeing different project takes until it was snatch away from me.  Free the staff!  Unlike most people, I like the photos.  I know that there always seems to be a big controversy over the photographs.  If the projects were nicer, would people be bitching about the pictures?  I'd say, "NO" but in those same forums everyone is still raving about the magazine (sans the pictures).

Today is a big day in our house.  The new counter-tops are coming!  When we bought the house, the kitchen still had the original pink tile & glittery Formica counter-tops.  I was going through a pink phase, so it was fate.  But 4 years & lots of hard use, the counters had to go.   I hope the installers won't flip out when I hug them at the end.  That's happening, people.  SK is seeing Iron Man tonight & I'll be watching my counters.  Oh the muffins I'm going to make on you...

L

p.s. Ava is trying to decide if she's going to be able to use some personal days & come to Lola-land.  She still has to check a couple things before she commits.  I hate those couple of days because my fingers ache from being crossed.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered

Our family has had political discussions at the dinner table for as long as I can remember.  We know that it's the biggest No-No a group can do, but it still happens every time we gather round that table.  We've got hard core Democrats.  And we've got hard core Republicans in the extended mix.  It's funny & irritating to listen how they talk about each other.  I've learned to keep my mouth shut because it doesn't matter unless you agree with them on all points.

Brother called on Saturday night to say that he had an extra ticket to a Town Hall meeting for Obama.  When he asked our mom if I'd like to go, she said "Absolutely not.  Call at your own risk."  Because I don't agree with them all the time, they think that I'm a huge Conservative.  The opposite, but I don't think that one party has all the answers.  Why wouldn't I want to go to the meeting?  I've been moved during his speeches.  Felt that he's held his own during debates.  Just because I don't tell them on every phone call "Go Hilliary.  Go Barack."  doesn't mean that I don't care about what happens to our country.  You'd think that they'd understand this.  Our father has never EVER told our mother who he's voted for.  Never.

Since I made the enormous mistake of leaving Tuck at home, I had to take care of the Gals.  I was only able to pump once, so I left the meeting looking like Scarlet Johanson.  If I saw him kiss one more baby, I was going to pop my boob into the next tot's mouth.

I'll have some knitting content later in the week.  I'm sort of burnt on knitting right now.  There's some non-knitting stuff going on in the Lola household.  I'll post about all that later this week.  Nothing exciting or horrifying, but still consuming.

-L

p.s.  Whoever you choose to support, get out there & vote tomorrow.  It's important.

Learning to Crawl

No, Tuck hasn't taken off at record speed . . . I'm just going through a retro phase and enjoying The Pretenders for a change (that and The Peoples Court . . . thank you, snow day). The Flyer is leaving his heart elsewhere for the weekend and "struggling" with 50 degrees and rain; meanwhile, back at the ranch, we're looking at seven inches of snow today, so I am blogging before I shovel and grade. These are the days that I detest being an English teacher since very little of it is multiple choice and the like.

Whenever I finish a knit project, the high that I get pushes me into the remaining projects with renewed gusto for about a day. Then reality (and life) sets in and I realize that I have so far to go on those projects that then end is no where in sight. I finished the Veil of Leaves (her explanation is more elegant than mine) socks on Sunday of last week and refused to wear them until I had a great FO shot for the album. Silly, I know, but still, I have to keep some standards. The Flyer tried to take some for me, even going so far as to army crawl on the floor for the "artsy" shot. Needless to say, Veronica took one of the photos and I did the other two. I can't say enough nice things about the yarn: it's springy, has a gorgeous hand, comes in a variety of colors, and makes other yarns pale in comparison. The pattern? Still not sold on this book and I really, really wanted to be. These socks came out a bit on the big side, and for once, I can't blame my gauge since it was spot on. I wore them to work on Wednesday and the slouchiness may be enough to do me in. The heel doesn't stay in place and works it way down into the shoe. UGH! Ironically, the thing most people like best about these socks are the toes, which were a total mistake since the cobblestone cuff ate up so much yarn that I ran out of Mustang Sally and went for Oregon Red Clover Honey to finish it off. I have two other patterns dog-eared in this book, but for now, I think I am running with a lame sock in the new Kaffe Fassett yarn since I really want me some striped socks. Now if someone could just tell me how to pronounce Kaffe's name, it would all be good.

Lola and I really try to have a tit for tat (not tit tats . . . that would be too much) on the blog since our mother taught us to share well as children. We take turns, pick up the slack when the other isn't able too, and even signed up for parallel "alongs" . . . the ABC Along and Project Spectrum. At some point this week, I'll get all my lovely reds, oranges, and pinks together and photograph the hell out of them. Luckily the Veil of Leaves can be counted as part of PS. So could Ariann for that matter . . . maybe I'll bring her out of the project bag and knit a while . . . after I shovel . . . and then grade . . . and finish Beaner's sweater.

Speaking of Beaner - she's fiery so this is great for PS, the Other Sister is going through a rough patch with our little shit pot. Beaner, who looks surprisingly like her Aunt Ava (remember OS makes me accept it) but acts like her own little person. Apparently she will now run past her brother, shouting, "Mommy gave me candy," and make a quick exit, knowing that it will piss her brother off. I like to call her Sassafrass because it beats calling her Piss-and-Vinegar . . . both of which she seems to be filled with. Maybe she inherited too much of the German streak from our Mom's side, maybe she knows how to push her older brother's buttons, or maybe she is just a four-year-old. Suggestions? We'll pass them on . . . but we'll have to figure out how to say, "Hey, our Internet friends said that . . . " since Mom and the OS worry about us being abducted, you know since it is the Internet and they wonder why people "talk" to us on the Web.

Off to shovel, grade, clean, and knit . . . in that order. I think I need to get dressed first. Oh crap, this makes for a great beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Ava

Dream

Attention clothing designers!  Please won't someone create a postpartum line of clothing? 
Can I get a "Hell Ya"?!

With Gus, I was shocked that the belly didn't just go away.  I thought with Tuck I wouldn't have the same surprise.  Nope.  I have a baby shower this weekend & I need to find something that won't make me look four months pregnant.  I won't even dream of trying on regular pants yet.  That'll send any strong woman right to the bottle. You'd think shirts wouldn't be that bad, but you'd be wrong.  Earlier this week, you would have found me in a dressing room throwing shirts over my head, ripping them off, tossing another "good" option on, & almost stomping them to a pulp.  It didn't help that the day before a hostess was explaining the drink specials to us, she stopped & said to SK, "I'll look at you since she can't drink."  My mom, who was kind enough to watch the boys, asked "Well, did you get a beer?  I wouldn't have."  You bet my sweet non-pregnant ass I did!

Today would be a good time to show off FOs that don't really need to fit.  First up, my Buckeye Blast Coriolis socks.   So far, this is my favorite pattern from the book.  On Raverly, people complained about the fit.  I finished the first one & couldn't understand people's complaints.  It fits perfectly!  I started the second one & went to try it on after the heel was finished.  I was very pregnant when I was tugging & pulling very hard to get this one on.  I thought maybe I was retaining water & everything would go back to normal soon after Tuck was born, so I kept knitting.  I kept excellent increase notes from the first sock.  When I got closer to the ribbing, I realized I was off by 2 stitches.  Could 2 stitches make that much of a difference?  Must have, but I still love these socks.  And I have a lot yarn leftover!  I need to start a Leftover Sock Yarn bag.  Someday I'll find another good use.

Finally, the beautiful Honeybee stole is done blocking & ready for use.  With no proper place for the camera to sit, Gus' easel will have to be a stand-in model.  I could have cleaned up, but that's my life.  Spiderman stickers & all.  I fell in love with this pattern during a late night of Internet surfing.  The pattern & charts were well written.  I'm looking forward to her upcoming Interweave pattern.  The yarn makes me yearn for more orange in my life.  When I picked this pattern, I had visions of using this shawl as a chic breast-feeding cover-up.  I had the same vision with Lady Eleanor Entrelac Stole when I was pregnant with Gus.  I should have remembered that I have no problem nursing in public without a proper cover-up.  I nice big receiving blanket will do just fine.  Back to the Honeybee.  She'll be beautiful when not being used for Tuck's nursing jags. 

There's some fall weddings that she'll make an appearance for & I'm going to use it as a scarf until then I promise that I'll wash up & put on some decent clothes.  But why dress when I'm not leaving the house or if I'm going to leak all over the place?  I'm very proud of the finished result.  It's just gorgeous!  And I feel great about saying that.  There are virtual no fuck-ups in the second half & I doubt that most could find the fuck-ups in the first half.

With this one off the needles, I feel like I'm in need of another large project.  I still have the Aran Saddle Shoulder rocking some needles, but perhaps something else will come along & tickle my fancy.  I'll just wait for some naughty influence to fly into town... -L

Who Are You?

Isn't Ava being a sneaky little one?  She's being secretive & I'm coming clean.  I've been lying again & that's no way to start off the new year.  If you look at my WIP list, I've got 2 things.  It's kind of true, but not really.  My WIPs' haunt me.  Especially if they aren't listed in the sidebar.  But sometimes I can't write them in.  It's like waiting for a call from your doctor to tell you if the burning sensation is normal or something from the dirty frat boy you "talked" with last weekend.  You'd rather not have to think about it.

So let's get it out.  First, Babette still sits in a bag that hangs on our bedroom door.  I see her every day & even moved her when the bag is needed.  Since it's an afghan, I don't really count it.  But I would like to fall back in love with her in 2008.  So she'll stay put.

Second is an owl that I bought from this esty seller.  I still really love the pattern, but I chose the wrong yarn.  I've hardly made a dent in the project, so I'll rip & find something else.  At the same time I bought this pattern & after seeing her finished one, I'll rush to the stash soon after my needles clear.  Or if someone needs a quirky gift.  You know?  Whichever happens first.

And the one listed on my sidebar that isn't getting any action, the Knee sock.  Well, I'm putting her out of her misery & sending her to Sock Heaven.  I'm not sure why I started a pair of knee socks.  Years of Catholic grade school can cripple a gal.  Topped with having to wear them everyday for 9 years & hating you legs is no recipe for finishing a perfect pair of knee socks.  I inherited my mother's bowed legs & for years I hated wearing skirts or even shorts.  I've come to term with my crooked legs, but my love for skirts never really returned.  But if you've read the blog for any amount of time, you know that I hate to shave my legs more than anything else.  OK not as much as bubblegum, but I'll save that for a 2008 What you Don't Know about Two Black Sheep post.  Freeing up the my favorite needles will leave me free to start a very vanilla pair of socks.  Ones that can be accomplished while in a medicated haze or in the company of visitors.  Now which of my 2 newest pretties to choose?

So that brings us to the newest ones for 2008.  There's one WIP that has been on the needles for a while & it's only fair that it gets some recognition.  It's my Buckeye Blast Cordelia sock.  This was the yarn that Ava traded & then graciously sent my way.  I love Cider Moon & wish they'd come back.  I had  success with my Sock Pal's yarn, and I'm looking forward to seeing TBA in his EZ ensemble.  But this yarn is no friend of mine.  It splits more than any other yarn I've ever knit with.  The swirl is made by statically placed k2tog's & k1fb.  The yarn makes it a challenge on every round.  But so far the yarn hasn't really pooled & I like how the swirl shows up in my favorite team's color.  I adore the pattern & can see why Bordhi loves this architecture the best.  I just keep trucking away on the sock.  I still have a ton of yarn left, so I'll knit until I run out.  The problem is, I'm getting to the point where I can't try the sock on to plan some increases.  So it may have to wait until after TBA.

But the big one that's been occupying my time has to be my Saddle Shouldered Aran Cardigan.  I plotted & planned for this one.  I made my swatch cap & settled on 3 cable patterns: Sheepsfold, Ensign's Braid & a 12-stitch Horseshoe.  I wanted a tighter fit sweater than the one featured on the pattern.  After the swatch cap, I did some math & now I'm just praying that it'll fit.  Just like Meg Swanson recommends in the pattern, I'm keeping my swatch as a reminder that the pattern will stretch & flatten with a good blocking.

I think my plate is pretty full with good solid knits for 2008 (can't forget Honeybee).  Tomorrow night, you'll find my sitting on the couch flipping between a Cops marathon & CSI marathon.  With Gus, I was addicted to Law & Order, SVU.  We almost gave him Elliot as a middle name, that's just how obsessed I was with the show.  This time, CSI (the original only) has gotten into my pregnancy hormones.  I'm not sure that TBA's first name flows well with Warrick, Gil or Nick.

Happy New Year!

Lola

You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch!

Here's how our night began...

And here's how it ending...

Notice, there's no divorce papers next to the book!  That's because if you look at the first picture, it's a very lovely, but very fake Christmas tree.  I believe that this is the secret to our holiday sanity.  There was once a time when I thought it was quaint & romantic to have a real tree.  And we did that for a number of years, until I swore to SK that I would never again visit the Tree Farm with him again.  I'm pretty sure I threw the "Dead Body" card.  I'm pretty sure there was a very festive "fuck" thrown in.  I'm also pretty sure that it was in front of a very happy 2.5 family that was sipping fresh hot chocolate while dragging the perfect tree to their hybrid station wagon.

So the tree is semi-up (SK is still tweaking), the lights have been tested, & the holiday books are starting to show up.  I couldn't resist picking up Twas the Night Before Christmas again.  This is our 3rd copy, but how can anyone resist Gyo Fujikawa illustrations?  This time Thursday night, our house will look like a geeky Christmas threw up all of it.  I once thought that I'd love a very matchy holiday house.  That got tossed when SK & I started living together.  Geek meets Homemade is what Nate Berkus would call our style.  SK brings the Geek (Star Wars, G.I. Joe, & Super heroes) & I bring the Homemade.

This advent calendar has been in the works for a long time.  Almost all of the little socks are a result of some larger socks.  #8 is Vesper in the Knit n Tonic color.  This was my first web purchase & the color was inspired by one of my blog reads.  Oh how we've changed...  #7 is from Yarn Love & was purchased this summer when I was barely pregnant.  Anyone who says, "You can't be barely pregnant.  You either are or aren't"  is full of shit.  I wasn't sprouting elbows from my belly, so I was barely pregnant.  I bought the yarn because its name is Fancy & I want that song on loop at my funeral.  It is also the only little sock that doesn't have a big sister pair.  Let's say, it doesn't knit up to its name.  Too much like Care Bear puke.

I've filled each sock with only a couple options this year.  We've got some little animals, stickers, a couple of cars, & a few chocolates.  Next year I'll get more creative on the fillers, but I just wanted the sucker done.  I didn't envision string it up, but this is what it is.  I really wanted to have a panel that we could hang on a door.  Each stocking would be clipped into place & then removed each morning.  I started that damned panel, but I knew it wouldn't work.  The clips were difficult to use & the loot might be heavy for the panel.  In the end, I'm happy with the pom-pom garland look.  Adds more whimsy to our front room & it saves me from having to create pom-pom garland for the tree.

These two are my favorite socks of the bunch.  Both are made from BMFA left-overs.  There's a little G-Rocks, Lucy, & something Ava tossed in.  I was so satisfied that I didn't have to waste any of this yarn.  My little socks are done toe-up on Addi's 1.  I did a Magic Cast-on of 12 stitches & then increased to 28 stitches.  Knit plain for 3 inches & completed a short-row heel.  I got creative with the leg & knit for a total of 3 inches.  Used an EZ bind-off & tossed it in my Stocking basket.  That's it.

I owe Ava a huge "Thank you!"  She traded on Raverly & shipped me her trade.  How can you not love a sister that send you this package?

And already separated into 2 perfect balls?!  As soon as Geeky Christmas is set-up, I'm going to start a pair in honor of the Buckeye's upcoming BIG game.  I'm also thinking that I may need something mindless for the delivery room.  Please don't let me go into labor during the game!  Maybe it'd score me some drugs faster and that's the important thing.
-Lola

Music Is My Hot, Hot Sex

Only because Lola hates that song did I pick the title . . . that and it can't hurt to have 'sex' in the title. Obviously if I am posting at 9:40 AM on a Monday, there is something amiss with the weather. This being the Poconos, that could mean rain, snow, sleet, hail, or sun . . . today it is a combination of the first two and a half. Lucky for me, I can post before the holidays and parent/teacher conferences, which begin tomorrow at noon.

I probably should have guessed that this wouldn't be an easy trip when I sat on the plane in Newark for 45 minutes waiting to take off and then another 30 for reasons unknown. Needless to say, I was thrilled to touch down in Columbus and see Lola in all her big-belly glory. Yes, sweetie, you are big . . . but only in the tummy. Betty likens it to how Bridget Moynahan looked before her little one hatched. From the back, you would never guess Lola was pregnant, even when she was running after Gus in the fabric store on Friday morning (question: why would a store in Columbus, Ohio, invite Amy Butler to town for a trunk show/book signing on the day of the OSU/UM game?). Mom was suitably surprised when I rang the doorbell so that was nice. The Other Sister was also surprised as were her kids. I think I had more fun this weekend playing with the kids (or getting them riled up with "disgusting" talk of farts and poop and burps). Beaner, our niece, wears a lot of pink, but she is as rough and tumble as they get. I started a "Sassafras" club with her, probably because I knew it would irritate the Other one. Gus was as hilarious as ever and made ups songs for every occasion ("Grandpa said 'Lay back down and go to sleep' then Ava came and got me up") and continues to make me laugh on a regular basis. Lola, you have a great kid there and TBA already has a very loving brother.

On the knitting front, I actually finished something - amazing, isn't it? The first Veil of Leaves sock is done and was autumnal in nature. I had just enough to get to the toe so that's where I started with the Oregon Red Clover Honey. Not surprisingly, I forgot to write down the directions for the star toe, but Betty rescued me with a quick reading of the directions. Thankfully I brought along the Plane Project from the summer and got through about four repeats. Amazing how this project comes back to you. Because of the three hour delay, on and off the plane, the knitting kept my attention away from all the bumps and ill-behaved fliers with me. Note to other passengers: a shrill laugh is not charming, neither is making comments about how much the carrier owes you for your wait. For the young lady who had a panic attack, I felt your pain, both for the situation and for the stares of the other passengers. Thanks to the pilot who said he would get us there before the day was over and just call it "same day service" - much appreciated. To my seat mate who merely smiled, said how pretty the yarn was, and then never said another word - THANK YOU!

Meijers in Springfield had a bevy of British candy bars; many literally jumped into my shopping cart. The kids and the Flyer got some candy . . . I had some nifty tees waiting for my arrival! If I don't post before Thanksgiving, may you all have a happy and stress free one. Enjoy your families and take some time for knitting. Since it will be a traditional Ava Thanksgiving, that means ordering most of the food from Wegman's and spending time without washing tons of dishes. The girls leave the day after Turkey Day for Orlando with Bunnylips and family, so the Flyer and I are considering a quick run into the City when we drop them off at Newark - crazy, don't you think?

Ava

PS - Happy birthday, Tricia! Lucky you - getting to spend it with your kids on a snow day!

Lazy Eye

Talk about a rough week! Lola is on the road, which is bad enough when she is not big and pregnant (thought you would like that, sweetie), the Flyer is in the city, which isn't that far but he is still away, and it is the end of the quarter, which means I am pulling my hair out. It's the "perfect storm" of non-knittiness! Only a sock can save me, in this case, the Veil of Leaves.

In lieu of current progress, one of the sights from our hike

Currently, I am down to the straight knitting on the foot, the easy-peasy part. The big question is will I have enough to make it to the toe or will I combine some of the Oregon Red Clover Honey and make it a  autumnal theme. Hmmmm . . . I have a sneaky feeling it is a fall theme here in the Poconos. I'll post photos of it later this week.

A new favorite photo of Betty and Veronica (flip the names, you'll have them straight)

I didn't talk to Lola today, which is just as well since this is the gist of her voice mail message. She dropped off her rental car and was picking up her own car. Keep in mind that she is pregnant and looks as if she is smuggling a basketball under her sweater in a sort of "Look at me! I'm not shoplifting" kind of way. A woman driving by rolls down her window and says, "You need to smile, mommy-to-be." Lola said she was very tempted to introduce the woman's toddler to a whole new vocabulary, one filled with colorful adjectives describing the lovely woman who just wanted to make my sister happy. This should be a memo to everyone: if you see a pregnant woman and she looks utterly miserable, schlepping to her car, don't roll down your window unless you are handing her some sock yarn.

Ava

PS - Did I mention that my Norwegian Sugar Maple in front of my house is still a beautiful shade of green? Yup, I should be raking in December.

Price is Right Theme Song

Great Cabling Gods!   Thanks for all of the suggestions.  Either you've gotten my cable bug under control or I'm running to the stash just to see what I can turn into a twisted mess of fiber.  I'll let you know next week.  But time for a winner.  I always plan on having Gus draw a name out of the hat, but tonight I needed him in bed more than I needed the drama of a 2.5 year old pulling names.  So thanks to the Random Number Generator, Em is our lucky winner (I've always loved her blog's name.  There are a shitload of knitting blogs).  Send me your address & I'll ship out a prize.

This post was probably more appropriate in the month of Socktoberfest, but I'll chalk it up to holiday jitters on why it falls in November.  I was doing a training today & when I looked up I noticed the entire store was decorated for Christmas.  That's plain ole disgusting, people.  Anyway back to my project... Before I tried a big pair of socks using the ML method, I made a baby sock.  That one baby sock hooked me.  Since that day, I've made one pair of socks on DPNs & I probably could have used ML (really not sure why I didn't).  A couple weeks of moving & cleaning around this sock, I had to come up with an idea for what to do with her.  I couldn't throw her out, but the yarn wasn't suitable for baby toes.  Maybe inspiration hit me from someone's website, I'm not sure, so I can't credit anyone in particular.  I just remember thinking that an advent calendar would be fun & awful cute.  Our Mom had one that by today's standards would not be safe.  It was a wall-hanging with pockets for little ornaments.  I'm sure that they were choking hazard filled with lead paint, but I remember getting really excited about hanging the day's ornament.  28 years later,  I wanted my own version of the holiday calendar.  And, really how can anyone resist miniature socks?  The socks are easy to crank out, but I didn't want to just sit & knit socks for the next couple weeks.  I also didn't want to buy yarn just for this little stockings.  So as I finished a pair of socks, I cast on immediately for an advent sock.  In the beginning, I was able to get a sock out of leftovers.  Lately, I'm having to mix it up with the heels & toes.  I should have enough yarn for 3 more socks, and that would bring the total to 25 socks.  My original plan was to knit to 31.  Do most advent calendars have 25 or 31 windows/doors?  I have no idea how I'm going to finish the project, but I'll worry about that when the socks are done.

Congrats again to Ms. Em & thanks to all of the suggestions.  I've got a couple books waiting for me at the library, so maybe I'll have a cable project by tomorrow.  Back to my socks!

-L
p.s. I think that we're watching Black Sheep tonight.  How fitting.

SexyBack

Finally cast on for a successful (is it too early to say that?) pair of socks from Cat's book. Sadly, there are no pretty pictures, but the Veil of Leaves socks look particularly lovely if not a bit sexy in STR's  Mustang Sally.

I had to type out a declaration of sorts, sign it, and have it witnessed by the girls vowing to purchase no more of the following: yarn, knitting related books, rubber stamps, or handbags. Lola wondered if I posted it, and when I said, no just typed it up, she declared it sad, sad, sad. The first step to solving your problem is admitting to it. Look for a post on the new Destash soonish.

Ava

PS - In response to my perusal on Wikipedia about Edward the Second for a book project, Betty expressed surprise that I wasn't reading up on Eleanor of Aquitaine. "I swear, Mom, if you were a time-traveling lesbian, you would so be all over Eleanor of Aquitaine." Ah, the imaginations of my children. So, any imaginary crushes you feel like sharing?