We are having a cool, but lovely spring this year. This suits me fine. Erwin and I enjoy taking  lunch hour walks at nearby trails, and all kind of little springtime babies have been popping up over the last weeks. Unfortunately I’ve been having knee problems and we have not been walking as much as usual - but, we’ve shortened our walks and we can still get in tune with nature - a little. Physio seems to be going nowhere - I think I’ve just been too hard on this old bod.  But, I just love getting out of the office for an hour or so. That little break just seems to re-energize enough to tackle the afternoon work.

On the knitting front, I hear that RSC has shipped out the May sock kit, and some lucky people have received theirs. I won’t give it away, but apparently something to do with Fraggle Rock.  I’ve got my fingers crossed that mine will arrive soon.

Even though I’ve been knitting every day, progress has been slow since I am so caught up with knitting the Flame Wave socks from Interweave’s Favorite Socks: 25 Timeless designs book. It’s taking forever. I read on Ravelry that this pattern knits up quickly. So, I don’t know why it’s taking me an eternity. I think that the one little M1 is driving me crazy. I mean, I thought that this sock was going to go quickly, being that the needles are sz 3.75 & 3.50 mm versus the usual 2.5 I usually use. And the Cascades Fixation is a lot thicker, but it’s stretchy and doesn’t slide on the needles as well. I’ve got one sock completed and about 1/4 on the other. I’ll get a picture up soon.Good news! The Spring Foward socks recipient, and I can now name names, was Anna (my son’s girlfriend). I sent them to her for her birthday and she loves them!! I am so lucky to have such great sock and quilt recipients.  Anna phoned and was so thrilled to have gotten them, and she said that she has them on all the time. Chris then spoke to me and he told me that she wanted more! The list grows and grows….Does it get any better??

Okay, I think that we can safely say that spring has sprung! And how appropriate that I’ve just finished two pairs of  socks — one,  a pretty blue/green Fleece Artist 100% merino knit up in the “Spring Forward” pattern .  And, two, finally - and I mean FINALLY -  I got around to finishing those “bad” Jaywalker socks (read the post about the good, the bad and the ugly). Justine  put dibs on those Jaywalkers, and who else but Justine would love these…hmmm…not-to-my-liking weirdo socks. I guess that is what artsy twenty-one year old daughters are for hehehehe.

But, what a strange colour combo & unsymmetrical patterning (did I ever tell you I like symmetry?):The socks are from the same skein….how the heck did they turn out like this?

I am much happier with these Spring Forward socks knit up with Fleece Artist (AND, symmetrical):These are a pair for a someone special whose birthday is coming up. I love this lacy pattern and it was quite easy to follow. This is the first pair of semi-solid knit in a pattern that I’ve done - and I’m quite pleased with them.

I’m also happy to see some flowers finally blooming in the gardens.

Bleeding Hearts

Mini Daffodils

very invasive Violas growing where they shouldn't be

violas somewhat controlled

Primrose

Another sock club Toto?

Found out yesterday that Woolgirl is running yet ANOTHER sock club! This one is called the “Oz Sock Club” and starts in May09 and will run through until December 2010. The installments have terrific themes such as “over the rainbow”, “ruby slippers” and “flying monkeys” (Halloween theme). There are only 100 spots available and you have to make an application and by this Friday they will let you know if you “are in”. I really had to think about whether I wanted to join another sock club this year — but, geez…outside of work hours, knitting and quilting is what I do. (From Curb your Enthusiasm: Leon to LD “that’s what I doos, Larry”).

As a matter of fact, I don’t:  smoke, booze, gamble, go to malls, do a lot of travelling, buy jewelry or makeup, buy expensive clothing or shoes, etc.

By request, I make all gifts for family & friends, my husband and I shop frugally, we don’t go out to a lot of restaurants (I even hate fast food). Even my exercise program is el-cheapo –> walking, snowshoeing, biking, hiking.

I’m basically a homebody - and thank goodness my hubby is as well.

But, can I justify another sock club this year?After thinking about it for, hmm..about 5 minutes,  I sold myself on the idea and put in my application. So, it’s all a  waiting game now….

Yep, I’m in trouble…deep doo-doo…
I was happily knitting along on the Apple Laine socks and have encountered a big tangled wool mess….Spent most of last evening trying to unravel it. I gave up and started on a new pair of socks.
What’s on my needles now? OnLine Supersocke - colour “living”. Not sure who these socks will be for — but, I need to knit and couldn’t deal with hitting the snag with the other pair on my needles.

Shakespeare (1564-1616)

from Macbeth

A dark Cave. In the middle, a Caldron boiling. Thunder.

Enter the three Witches.

1 WITCH. Thrice the brinded cat hath mew’d.
2 WITCH. Thrice and once, the hedge-pig whin’d.
3 WITCH. Harpier cries:—’tis time! ’tis time!
1 WITCH. Round about the caldron go;
In the poison’d entrails throw.—
Toad, that under cold stone,
Days and nights has thirty-one;
Swelter’d venom sleeping got,
Boil thou first i’ the charmed pot!
ALL. Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and caldron bubble.
2 WITCH. Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the caldron boil and bake;
Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,
Adder’s fork, and blind-worm’s sting,
Lizard’s leg, and owlet’s wing,—
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.
ALL. Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and caldron bubble.
3 WITCH. Scale of dragon; tooth of wolf;
Witches’ mummy; maw and gulf
Of the ravin’d salt-sea shark;
Root of hemlock digg’d i the dark;
Liver of blaspheming Jew;
Gall of goat, and slips of yew
Sliver’d in the moon’s eclipse;
Nose of Turk, and Tartar’s lips;
Finger of birth-strangled babe
Ditch-deliver’d by a drab,—
Make the gruel thick and slab:
Add thereto a tiger’s chaudron,
For the ingrediants of our caldron.
ALL. Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and caldron bubble.
2 WITCH. Cool it with a baboon’s blood,
Then the charm is firm and good.

wollmeise

Have I just gotten my hands on a  skein of Wollmeise? I am not sure. I’ve been scouring the internet and ebay - and have not been able to buy a skein of this elusive yarn. I must get my hands on some to see if what “they” are saying is really, really true…From the wollmeise web page I ended up at an online store called Yarnissima , that I think is in the Netherlands - and although they did not have any skeins of wollmeise, they had a kit - they claim that the yarn in the kit is wollmeise - I’ve made the purchase, got a confirmation email - and I guess that now it is all a waiting game!

So, I MAY just have gotten my hands on some elusive Wollmeise!! Stay tuned….

Finally got Erwin’s fourth pair done. These were knit with Regia Strata - Very nice robust yarn! The strands are a little thicker than the usual Regia and Opal that I have used - so it makes a nice, ever so slightly thicker sock. Needles used: Knitpicks Harmony 2.5 mm.

Regia strata