Couple books ...

Since I've last posted I've listened to two audiobooks. Since I've gotten an MP3 player I've been requesting audiobook CDs from the library like crazy. I absolutely *love* listening to them when I go out on walks, while I knit or when I'm cleaning. They are *the bomb* (inside joke :-) ) Between those and podcasts I'm in Seventh Heaven :-)

The first one I listened to was "Life of Pi"
This book took a while for me to get into. It was such a slow start; explaining about the zoo, his family, and how Pi came to practice 3 religions. Then it seemed to move so quickly into the shipwreck. Then when it got to the part of him being in the lifeboat with Richard Parker it made me really think. I suppose this will be one of those books that will be a profound impact on my life but I'm not sure how just yet. When I got to the end I just stopped and thought about it. Then thought about it some more. I'm still thinking about it and it's been a few weeks since I've listened to it.

Ahhhh, but I digress, lol. I seen that there will be a movie made on this book. I wonder how close they will keep it to the original story. I'm sure the actors and the animals will be nothing like I've imagined them.

The next book I listened to was "The Red Tent"


Here is another book that I think will have a profound impact of me. What a wonderful story. I could not wait until the end. I found myself amazed at what women went through during biblical times. The hardships they had -- especially during labor and giving birth. Thank goodness for pain relief nowadays. I had always known that before modern times giving birth was somewhat like Russian roulette but this really opened my eyes to that aspect.

I cried right along with Dinah when she lost her love. I weeped when she gave birth and ultimately "lost" her son when he was sent to school. That would be absolutely awful to give birth to a child and not be acknowledged properly as the mother and treated like a second-class citizen. I got weepy-eyed when I realized she would eventually marry a carpenter. The ending was perfect too. I don't think the writer could have done a better ending.

On the needles I've got the third square of DS's blanket. I'm also going to make him a pair of mittens with extra long cuffs. One of the things that put a damper on winter fun last year was that his gloves didn't protect him like they should and he was always getting snow in his gloves/mittens. People in one of my knitting groups directed me to some great-looking mitten patterns that you make with two needles rather than in the round. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to work with DPNs again but I was thinking flat mittens would be quicker. Oh well, lol, we will see.

My first pair of socks

Aren't they gorgeous!? They fit DS perfect too.


I actually the second sock a little more than a week ago. I'm just so proud of myself.

Now I'm working on a 9-square blanket for my DS. I've got the first square done. It's the country cousins pattern from Lionbrand. So I still need to decide what color should go with "apple red"




And since I'm on here I thought I would post my recent projects. I made a flat panel hat for DS. It's a pretty lemon yellow. The model is Sad Sam. :-)



I made this scarf out of homespun yarn. I didn't have a particular pattern. Just wanted to practice my purling.


This was my third scarf. It was made with Paton's Yarn.



I can't remember the "type" of yarn but it was a furry type yarn. Oh it is so soft. I would love to make a bolero out of this yarn but I fear it would be expensive. :-) I do remember that the color was platinum.

I did it!

I finally finished my first sock. After having to frog it at the end of last week and being able to do a marathon knitting session this weekend I finished it this morning. I think considering it was my first sock and I don't have a lot of knitting experience I kicked butt! LOL.

The second photo is my DS wearing his sock. Not sure if he really likes it but I'm sure this winter he will! :-)

I frogged it :-(

I was *thiiiiiiis* close to being done with that sock, but I dropped some stitches and had to tear out some rows. Since I'm not so good at picking up those dropped stitches I had to take out another row and was using almost all my DPN's to hold stitches and then went to put them back on the proper DPN's. Well, then I somehow got my yarn wrapped around the sock so it was going through the inside of the sock and I couldn't fix it. Then I noticed I had accidentally knitted the working yarn into the sock :-( OMGosh, but the time I was done untangling the mess I was so little of the sock left that I decided to tear it all out and will just start from the beginning. It had mistakes in it anyways. :-( I'm just so bummed cause I've been working off and on it for near a month.

My first sock

It's been a bumpy road for my first sock. I already know that the second one will go so much more smoothly. First I couldn't figure out the ribbing, then I couldn't figure out how to short row the heel. Then it took me a little bit to figure out what it mean by "picking up the stitch" Now I'm in the home stretch -- finishing up the gussett and I realized I had the sock inside out, lol. Patience, that what I keep telling myself.

I showed a coworker this sock yesterday. She was impressed that I've learned to this on my own. I told her I've had help from a knitting board and have done LOTS of research on the web and in books. I told her when she was ready to try sockmaking I would borrow her my pattern.

I cannot wait for DS to try the socks on. DH already said "make me a pair with cashmere" LOL. He may have been joking but that's okay. I will look for a cashmereblend of yarn after I found out if cashmere blend is good for sockmaking, lol.

After this pair of socks I think I will make a second hat for DS. The first one I made ended up being too short. He likes it but it's just not long enough.

*sigh* One of these days I'm gonna take pictures of all the projects I've finished since the knifty knitter hats and post them. I'm very proud of what I've accomplished so far.

Breakfast at Tiffany's ~ The book

I read "Breakfast at Tiffany's" this month in my online book group. I have never seen the movie and didn't have any idea as what to expect. Never knew that the movie was based on a book.

I was amazed at Capote's style of writing and the frank writing of stuff that we today consider "normal" but back then was considered in bad taste. I enjoyed the book. I thought it was a sweet story for a love that would never be. I was a bit sad at the end when she let the cat go but I've always been a sucker for a cat. :-) But was pleased when she tried to go back and find it.

It kind of reminds me of a Michener novel. The one in particular is "Caravans". That I have read twice. I am profoundly amazed at the fact that a young woman took charge of her destiny, left her home country, left her husband and joined a caravan in the dessert and was ultimately kicked out of the country. To not worry about tomorrow or the day after is definitely not something I could do, lol.

In the Big Boy bed (and some other rambles)

Never thought I'd see the day, but that's where DS is right now, lol. I actually got him to take a nap on that bed too. :-) But right now he's in his room, on the big bed, with the door open. I'm a bit apprehensive as to how this is gonna be, lol. He was upset at the thought of the door being closed, even though he's the one who usually closes it. He is most definitely feeling better. He refused medicine today after the first dose was given this morning. We ran up to Michael's and I bought some of that homespun yarn to make him an afghan. I have no idea if I will be able to make him one out of two skeins but I'm willing to at least start it. I can always get more yarn. :-)

I also ran to the LYS to ask for help on the start of the heel of the sock I am working on. I have no idea how to do a SW (slip & wrap). One of the women on a knitting board I to do referred me to a woman's blog that explains it in more detail. I will check into it this weekend.

Well, turns out that the pattern I got didn't give a good explanation of what that stitch it. The woman at the LYS was very nice in showing me the stitch, but admitted she's never made a sock with that type of heel. She showed me a pattern that has the kind of heel she usually does. Even though I'm sure I could have gotten the pattern or one similar online I bought it just cause she was so helpful. DH seems to think this is gonna be a pricey pair of socks, but I said "Remember what the woman said about it being entertainment?" He said "That's what the TV is for." LOL He's so cute! :-)

This Sunday is the Bishop's installation. So looking forward to that. I think it's gonna be exciting and all that good stuff. Then, hopefully, after this it will be quiet for a while. :-) I think we all could use a breather. The last three months have been kind of a whirl.