Livin' La Needle Loca

I was reading sheep in the city's blog and she had a link to a cool site where you can create a favorite CD list. So here are some of mine: Create your own Music List @ HotFreeLayouts! That was fun!

I had every intention of working on my socks this weekend. In fact, I wanted to work on them so much that I went to the yarn store to get a set of size 2 bamboo DPNs so I could work on the heel of the Cedar Creek sock. Notice the words yarn store in that sentence? That's where I went wrong!! I decided to go The Knitter's Studio in Menlo Park because I had other things to do in that area. Little did I know that they were having a sale on Koigu! But that wasn't what got me...it was the class sample they were displaying for a felted bag that snagged me! Now I have seen felted bags before, but for some reason this one really grabbed me. Maybe it's the fact that I could use bigger needles than size 1 and 2...maybe it's the way that the bag shrinks and changes textures through the felting process...there was just something intriguing about the whole thing. I couldn't attend their class because the date and time were wrong for me, but I really wanted to knit one o...

A couple of days ago, I admitted that I was fascinated by the process of turning the heel and picking up the gusset when knitting socks. When I said that, I was referring to the following definition: fascinate : To hold an intense interest or attraction for Since then, I've had to frog back to the heel turn on my Jaywalker due to an unfortunate "hole" that developed on one side where I picked up the gusset (I think I either dropped a stitch or somehow it was just too loose, or maybe both). AND, I started the heel on my Cedar Creek sock and then had to frog back to the beginning of the heel because something was just not right on one of the edges. (At least it was only 4 rows!) So now I have to do these sections all over again! Am I still fascinated ? Yes, but now it's more of this definition: fascinate: To render motionless, as with a fixed stare or by arousing terror or awe; "The snake charmer fascinates the cobra" Guess who's rendered motionless! Yup...

Yesterday I realized that I have gotten somewhat addicted to sock yarn. While I was waiting for a huge PDF to build, I perused various web sites' sock yarn inventory to see whether anything caught my eye. Now, it's not like I need any more sock yarn - I have enough to make at least ten pairs of socks! But there is something very appealing with sock yarn! So what is it about sock knitting (at least for me)? I love the yarns, especially Blue Moon Fiber Art's Socks that Rock and Cherry Tree Hill's Supersock . I love the colors - they are just fun! There's something about watching a sock grow from the cast-on circle to a full-grown sock. (I've only done cuff-down socks. Who knows what I'd think about toe-up socks!) I'm still fascinated by the process of turning the heel and picking up the gussets. I like having a project that is very portable. A couple of things on the not-so-positive end: I don't like to knit ribbing. I'd rather knit a pattern. I ...

...I caught a cold and was out of commission for a lot of the weekend. I haven't been sick in a long time, however, between the plane ride back from Baltimore (lots of kids on that flight) and the three sick people at work, I was doomed. At least I wasn't as sick as some were, but it was really annoying not to be able to enjoy my weekend! While I didn't do much because of the cold, I did finish and e-file our taxes. I also did a little knitting: Added more to the Cedar Creek sock leg and am almost ready to start the heel. Turned the heel on the Jaywalker sock and am ready to start the gusset. I mostly read, napped, and watched movies. I finished Memoirs of a Geisha (the book - I enjoyed it, but wished it was longer ) yesterday and watched my favorite Alfred Hitchcock movie ( Stage Fright ). I'm hoping to feel "normal" soon so I can get back to the gym!

...it was a fast, but good trip. Baltimore was great! We spent Sunday exploring different neighborhoods and generally checking out potential places to live -- we really just wanted to see if it would be a city that she could live in for 3 or 4 years. On Monday, we spent the day at the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University. After our touring around on Sunday, my daughter was 99% sure she would accept the Hopkins offer, but by the end of the day's sessions, she signed her acceptance letter. Everyone, from professors to current students, was friendly and made sure that all of her questions were answered. Each presentation (and speaker) was good and contained lots of information. I was very impressed with everyone I met and with the school itself. I'll miss having her on the West coast, but I know she learn lots and have more opportunities by attending Johns Hopkins. I did manage to get some knitting done, not as much as I wanted, but there's still progr...

...Oh, it's the sun! What a nice thing to see this morning. I know it was out part of yesterday, but I was working and didn't get to see much of it. Between Daylight Savings Time, work, the taxes, and trying to prepare for a trip this weekend, I am dragging . I am so tired, I can't sleep well. I just keep waking up thinking of other things I have to do. Needless to say, I haven't gotten a lot of knitting or anything else crafty accomplished this week. I'm looking forward to having some time to knit on the airplane and maybe sleep. Tonight, I fly to LA to stay with my daughter for the night. Tomorrow morning, we take a flight to Baltimore - she's going to Visitor's Day at John's Hopkins University and I'm tagging along (actually, she asked me to go with her. ). I've never been to Baltimore, so it will be fun to see a new place. As I think of it, I haven't been to the Eastern side of the country since like 1986-87, so it should be interesting! ...

Unlike February, I did not finish a lot of projects. In fact, I really only finished one: my "Secret" project. Worked on: Jaywalker socks Rocking Sock Club socks, AKA Cedar Creek socks (started this month) C is for Kitty Cat (cross stitch) Tried out my Little Si spindle with some "training" roving (I need LOTS more practice!) What a short list! I spent the majority of my time on Secret, but I'm very happy with the way it turned out. This was a lost weekend of sorts for my crafts. Saturday was spent preparing my dishes for the company party that night. Here are a couple of pictures of them. Needless to say, it was a fun party! New Mexican Snake (think seven-layer dip stretched out...) Apple II computer (an Applesauce spice cake in honor of Apple's 30th birthday) Sunday, I had an all-to-short visit with a friend from out of town and then I pretty much collapsed for the rest of the day! In the evening, I worked on our taxes (yuck!). I did manage to do a couple...