To read or to knit...

that is the question.

I've been doing ALOT of reading lately and some knitting. Pair 3 of the 52 pair plunge is on the needles as I type...a few more hours and we can called it finished. Now, when to get those few more hours in.

Thanks SP10

Another postcard from my SP10 spoiler, wishing me a good day.

Her cards have brightened my post office and I thank her very, very much.

Another stash reduction pair of socks

Yet another pair of Cowgirl Slipper Socks. 2nd pair of the 52 pair plunge.

Project Stats:

Left over yarn from a previous sweater

Cow Girl Slipper Socks pattern from IK Winter 2006

Started: April 20, 2007

Completed: April 21, 2007

Silly Socks

What's the ol' motto....

"Use it up, wear it out,

make it do or do without."

I used up some superwash merino wool in my leftover yarn stash drawer to make another pair of Cowgirl Socks from IK Winter 2006.

I also joined the "52 Pair Plunge"... silly me...silly socks.

What wonderful things await at ones post box...

A very lovely package was in the post box tonight from my SP10...from Montana.

Thank you, Pal! The hand dyed yarn is beautiful! I love the little card with the sheep on it. The lovely sent from the muslin bag was delightful...my oldest daughter was loving it too...a bit too much, as in, trying to take it for herself. :) The girls and I think the magnets are cool. I gave each of the girls a few to use in the school lockers (you know high school, we must have "hip and cool" things in our lockers).

Now...what sock pattern to use with this gorgeous yarn.

Thank you very much! You are a gem!

A gift in the mail

These beautiful socks are from a lovely sock knitter, aka: the SP10 I have been selected to send to.

Wow...I was so impressed when I opened up the package to find hand knit socks and a notecard of thanks today at the post office.

Over the past few years, I have learned quite a bit about SPing, what has worked for me and what hasn't. What is good to send, things I like, things others like and so forth.

I've had great SP's to send to...Shelley was the start of my "theme" packages as she was only 40+ miles away. It had been a bit harder with my SP's overseas, the costs the USPS charges for larger packages that are not going by the two month slow boat can drain ones pocketbook.

So...here's a hearty cheer to the SP's past, the SP's present and the SP's in the future.

Happy Knitting.

Postcards from Montana

Here are few lovely postcards from my SP10. My knitting pal lives in Montana! Beautiful country. She has also lived in Washington State.

A big shout out of thanks to my pal for sending postcards, cards and wonderful emails. She's a gem and the best part, she loves chickens too!

Thanks SP!

Sheep Door Hanging Pillow Thingy

OK...I don't have a clue what you would call this...a door pillow? A door decoration? Hanging embroidery?

I made this today to send to my SP10. She has a thing for sheep as well. I had fun making it...may need to make one for myself.

Happy Easter!

Resources & New Tote

I drove in to Tacoma today to have lunch with my knitting buddy, Mary. Lunch was excellent. Fish & chips with a caesar salad. It was a great big plate, so we shared one and felt great when we left.

Fibers Etc. was closed as I drove by, not opening until 2 p.m. It was not yet 12:30 p.m., off I drove.

Bright Idea: Call Ben Franklin up in Bonney Lake and see if they carry AddiTurbo Circs. Yahoo, they do. I took a drive and not only purchased a new US size 7 circ, but this great little take-along-craft-tote. Love at first sight. They had it on a display with lots of knitting supplies and yarns stuffed in it. A price tag was also on it, so I guessed it was for sale. I didn't see another tote around the area. Mine, all mine.

Milk chocolate brown and a deeper, dark red. Made of very, heavy duty canvas. Lots of pockets and a few secret compartments too!

Below in the picture is another Boogie, but with a change on the cable pattern and in the round. So, I guess it's really not a Boogie after all. We will just call it "Boogie Wonderland".

Wicked

Project Stats:

Pattern: Wicked by Zephyr

Started: March 11, 2007

Finished: April 4, 2007

Yarn: Online Gaucho 1005 Merinowolle superwash in "Cedar Grove"

Needles: US 7 circs & dpns

Size made: Worsted Weight "40-43"

I enjoyed this pattern, loved the "crossover" pattern in the ribbing and it feels great on.

SP10 & Musings

A big thank you to my SP10...I received a lovely card (oh so girlie) and a much needed tazo "Calm" herbal infusion (tea for laymans term). Perfect timing dear SP10...today was a day that I would rather not repeat.

My day didn't hold anything other than self-doubt and wanting to shut down to forget everything. I was going to drive to see son (yes, who just left on Sunday back to college) then decided against it...will do so at a later date. He wants the guitar and I want the overage check from the loan I took for tuition/room/board. I'll drive five hours round trip for that exchange.

I started to drive to Ikea this morning, knowing I needed to get back into town and mow girlfriends lawn, as I had promised. Two miles into trip I asked myself what I was doing (starting the self-doubt at 9:45 am) and turned around, drove to post office then back home. Loaded mower into truck, drove to said girlfriends place to see it was already mowed. Called girlfriend, who obviously didn't remember that I SAID I would mow today.

Home I go, another wasted road trip. I proceeded to stumble through little bit of this, little bit of that, straightened up my closet, my craft loft, only wanting a nap but knowing better as if I nap my nighttime slumber will be shot to h#%!.

I sent a third email to join the SKC (Sexy Knitter Club). Wow...talk about self-doubt again, if I can't get into the SKC KAL online, I'm in serious trouble, folks.

Do I need to go to store tonight for dog food (since poor Maxamo is now out) or do I get up bright and early tomorrow to get it? I took a shower to think about it and then headed out to store. Damn, was it hot in that store or what.

I think I have PMS...usually get it a week before...tired, mood swing (big mood swing), yada yada.

One more thing I have noticed, alot of knitters are stepping down from blogging. One is holding out till the end of April (she's more crafty than knitty) and two wonderful ladies are stepping down from moderating Knit the Classics after two plus years.

Maybe this blog thing has not made anyones life simplier. Maybe more complex. I love to read what everyone is doing all around this planet of ours, yet the time it takes to read all these blogs could be spent reading a book, pulling weeds in my garden, not spending money on cool yarn and patterns that keep making themselves known to me.

Elizabeth, of A Mingled Yarn, wrote of a book that sounded interesting, so I put a hold on it from the county library. "Not Buying". From what I read of her review, it's written in a diary like text about one full year of trying to live only on the essentials...trials and errors are sure to happen. I am looking forward to reading it...maybe it will put me in a less-self-doubt way.

This is Spring Break...I'm suppose to be enjoying this time. I am, but yet, I am not. Maybe tomorrow will be a lot better.