Happy Hour

As I've mentioned earlier this week, I've gotten some beautiful yarn lately. This lovely arrived yesterday, with the sleet and snow. It's the inaugural installment of Yarntini's Happy Hour Sock Club. It was like happy hour when I found out that I was able to participate in this club, as I love Jesse's bright colors and yarn base! YUM!

As I continue work on the super secret project, please enjoy the view of "Mint Chocolatini." This is surely a sock yarn that practically begs to be knit!
PS - Is it Friday yet?

Super Secret Project

I love secrets! For me, that's one of the best things about the Holidays. It's great keeping secrets about gifts bought, or things done anonymously for people.

This super secret project (which is somewhat identifiable from the photograph), is for someone very special. Someone who lives in my house. I think this person will love this project. My only qualm about knitting this project is that there is a pretty short deadline. I'm hoping that last statement won't give it away. I realize that this person sometimes reads my blog, so I'm not saying anything more. But I'm taking this project everywhere. I knit on it underneath a blanket today while watching "Dances With Wolves" for the 20th time.

I have one last thought about this project. Have you ever noticed that it's super hard to knit a super secret project for someone who lives in your house? The recipient has a way of coming upstairs quickly, nearly catching me in the bathroom winding the skein (the only private place in our home), or even waking up at night to go to the bathroom when I'm knitting in bed. WHEW! Hopefully I can keep this project a secret and finish it in time for the deadline. Wish me luck (and a lot of free time).

Here's hoping everyone has a better week this week! Last week seemed to be pretty difficult for most people, in reading your blogs. It's near the end of January, and I'm excited about exodus of another winter month. I'll try to post mid-week this week, if possible. It's time to share some recent yarn aquisitions. I've gotten lots of yummy yarn lately!

Lettuce Knit

Here's a quick shot of the first sock of 2009 (notice I didn't say the first PAIR of socks). I've already cast on for the second sock, and hope to finish it sometime this week, or maybe this weekend. (Garger Rib Stitch in STR Lettuce Knit colorway, medium weight - for all you fiber folks). I love the foot of the sock. The striping is really pretty nice there.
We've been busy as a family, having strep throat (youngest), hosting birthday parties (for the youngest, work done by the elders), working overtime (again the eldest - hint, that's me), taking mid-terms (eldest child), playing volleyball (the eldest - we started our league on Saturday night), and just generally being tired (all of us). I'm pretty sure I'm one of those fair-weather people who favor warmer weather. Although, winter is just great for knitting, and showing off all of one's hand-made items!
Today's bright spot was sponsored by my hubby. He brought home a surprise today - Wii Fit! I'll let you know how we like it. So far, it's a little slow, but then again, I'm a little hyper. The yoga will do well by me, I'm sure. By a little slow, please don't think that I'm in great shape. I'm just used to more contact sports and fast paced things when I exercise. The Wii Fit will be good for muscle toning, which I so desperately need!

Well, knit on my friends! I've been enjoying your posts, sleepily gazing at your gorgeous projects (I usually read blogs early in the morning or late at night). You all inspire me to keep on going, even when my head hits the pillow! Lettuce knit onward and upward! :)
Happy Monday!

New Year, New Projects

I'll let the pictures do most of the talking for now (Come on, you didn't think I'd be totally silent, did you?). I've only got another half an hour left until a beeper is permanently attached to my side for 72 hours, and any free time is shot to pieces.
Here's what I'm currently working on:


A pretty scarf for my SIL - It's Yarn Pirate in the Neptune colorway (Booty club colorway), and I can't recall the name of the pattern, something like falling water lace. I know, the colorway is bold, and it's obscuring the pattern a bit, but my SIL has a fabulous green coat, and I am done fiddling with patterns trying to make this work. Anyway, it's my foray into lace knitting. It has 32 stitches across, and 16 row repeats. I have decided to do one set of repeats each day, which for me takes about 1/2 hour. Hopefully, in twenty days, I'll have a scarf, and my sanity as well. Lace knitting still frightens me. I'm too much of a perfectionist to leave many mistakes in my work.


Another Noro Silk Garden Striped Scarf. My last one was so enjoyable, and I've ordered quite a few skeins of this yarn for scarves. The in-laws loved them so much, they've asked for them as presents. I figure I can start working on them for next year. It's a nice take along project, and mindless knitting at its best.


And lastly, after the big barn sale at BMFA - I had to cast on some STR. This is Lettuce Knit in a simple garter stitch rib sock destined to be mine, all mine. I don't know about anyone else, but STR always seems to pool for me, even in different size needles, patterns, etc. However, that's its only downfall, and I really love the tight twist of the yarn. Tina's colorways are just fabulous.

Here's hoping that your New Year is filled with many blessed things. I'm off to commit myself to the beeper. Here's hoping it's quiet (I'm trying not to laugh). We've got a pretty good-sized snow storm predicted for tomorrow. Of course, that's when everyone will page the on-call nurse!