Oh, My!

If a hypothetical knitter were to have a stash problem (not that we know anyone with this) would it possibly be a symptom of that problem if that knitter were to find that the nice, new 32-quart plastic container purchased for stash organization did not hold all of the sock yarn for which it was intended? Would it be significant if yarn for 11 pairs of socks needed to be removed to enable the lid of the container to close?

This would all be a nice, hypothetical discussion except for one problem. As the knitter (oh, you know it was me) was working away organizing her stash and putting it into nice, sealed bags (Don't you love the 2-gallon zippered plastic bags? You can store all the yarn for an entire sweater and the pattern in one, handy location!), she was discovered! Mr. Engineer had to work this week (ahhhhhh), but he had announced that he was getting off early and would pick up Young Man from a play day. Working on the assumption that the two gentlemen would be home around 3:30, I was working to a 3:00 deadline. They came through the door at 2:45. There I was, surrounded by ALL of my stash!!! It was dreadful!

After much apologizing and hanging of my head, Mr. Engineer demonstrated one of the many reasons why I love him. He told me to stop beating myself up and he wasn't going to join in and Young Man was not to give me a hard time either. He realizes that many beautiful things come out of my stash and they make many people happy. He also knows that even my yarn habit is cheaper than therapy.

Still, it was a sobering moment to see my stash in all its glory. There were the early missteps and the luscious fibers for which I (im)patiently waited for sales. There were memories of trips taken and gifts planned. In all it was a reminder that I have much and should work with what I have for a time. So, I have resolved to take up the challenge offered by Wendy. I intend to knit from my stash (mostly) through October 2007.

No, I don't think my using stash will result in any LYS going out of business, but I know of three that may see a bit of a dip in their profits for a few months. I'm just really glad that sock yarn doesn't count for the challenge! Wish me luck.

2006 is Winding Down

I fully intend to post again before the year ends, but good intentions oft go astray so I'm making sure that the last pair of socks of 200Sox is up before the end of the year.

Pattern: Gentleman's Socks in Railroad Pattern from Knitting Vintage Socks, by Nancy Bush

Yarn: Trekking XXL in 290 and KnitPicks Essentials in Dusk (for toes and heels)

Needles: US0 DPNs

Notes: Fabulous socks! My modifications were to go with solid heels and toes as I was worried about my quantity of Trekking. I also only decreased 5 stitches for calf shaping and made these a bit longer than the pattern. The recipient is a US size 11 so I needed a little more room. These went to my next door neighbor. He has been quietly watching his wife and others get socks from me. He didn't complain, but he was extremely happy when he saw that the latest pair was for him.

These are definitely the last pair for 200Sox. This makes 15 pairs started and finished in this year (and they are my 26th pair over all)! That is a few less than I had hoped, but I think my expectations were, um, over-eager. Considering that I also finished three pairs of slippers, two scarves, two shawls, two hats, and three sweaters (plus some miscellaneous items) this year, I am very happy! In the rush to finish these socks (they were still damp on Christmas morning, but ready for wrapping by early afternoon), I managed to slightly injure my right ring finger. This is the finger that steadies my DPNs and now the knuckles are very sore. I took two days off and now I can knit again with circulars, but I'll wait a bit before casting on the next socks.

In other news, Young Man's azalea is blooming! This plant was a gift from the in-laws when Young Man was born. I've never been quite sure why an azalea was picked. At the time, we had a plant-eating cat so the plant stayed in our bedroom until we could plop it into the ground. We planted next to some other azaleas and hoped for the best. A few years ago, two of our azaleas died and we thought that this one had also departed. On Tuesday, Young Man came in the house extremely excited by the really pretty flower that he found. We were all quite surprised by the bloom.

Bringing Back the Light

Here in the land of sunny days, it isn't quite as obvious that the days are getting shorter. Driving home in the dark is the biggest reminder. It isn't like the seemingly endless darkness that I remember from Minnesota. Still, there is a difference and the Solstice is coming. I wasn't feeling at all holiday-spirited (whatever holiday you want to imagine) until I figured out the problem. I was giving to people who already have so much.

Thanks to Stephanie and Wendy, I remembered what was missing. Go ahead and join us. You'll feel better for it. Norma also gets a nod for reminding me to get my toys to a Toys 4 Tots donation site.

Maybe the sun is coming out after all....

A Saturday is a Saturday

Right? This is a Saturday Sky, it just happens to be the sky from last Saturday. The sky today is much the same, but the moon is no longer nearing full. The weather forecast is for rain tomorrow. I'm not so sure.

The forecast for inside is for smooth sailing to the holiday. The final touches went onto the handknits bound for eastern destinations. Mr. Engineer took care of packing and shipping and now the gifts are on their way. I am still working on some items that will stay closer to home and there is that FLAK. I am nearing completion of the second sleeve then it is on to the body!

This is my first needle felting project. It isn't so bad. It's even kind of cute.

The clogs ended up very cute. I used some Tulip puff paint to give the bottoms less slipperiness. The last question is will they fit?

Finished is the Happiest Word!

So many projects have come off the needles that I have had trouble keeping up with them. I have finally broken my streak of finished items. Still, the gift bag is looking very good. Here are the latest spread:

Pattern: The project that started the recent furious pace, Felted Clogs by FiberTrends
Yarn: Naturespun worsted (doubled)
Needles: US13 circular
Notes: So cute! A little fiddly, but a very quick knit. Another pair in green is ready for felting. These are for Young Man's cousin. I just hope that I didn't make them too small.

Pattern: Fuzzy Feet from Knitty
Yarn: Lambs Pride worsted
Needles: US 10.5 circular
Notes: Quick and satisfying. These should keep my mother's feet toasty warm this winter.

Pattern: Oven mitt is from KnitPicks, the hot pad is just a rectangle
Yarn: Lambs Pride Worsted (doubled)
Needles: US 13
Notes: I'm still planning on some needle felting on the hotpad. I also need to do some flattening. Felting in a front loading washer is a bit hit-or-miss. Some projects work better than others.

Pattern: Buttonhole Bag from Mason Dixon Knitting

Yarn: Paton's SWS in Natural Earth (doubled) Just over two balls of yarn were needed.
Needles: US 15 circular
Notes: Very fast and easy. I added some rows, but the finished project is still rather small. This one is all Susan's fault, but I'm very glad that she tried it. This yarn felts quite well. It does end up with some bumpies, but that just adds to the charm.

Finally, the long-awaited and now complete Arches and Columns scarf!!!!

Pattern: Arches and Columns Scarf from Crystal Palace Yarns
Yarn: Kid Merino from Crystal Palace (doubled), exactly two balls
Needles: US 7
Notes: A comforting, yet mindless knit. The result is wonderful. After blocking this is 11" by 51" and is light and fluffy. It is a little shorter than I would have liked, but I think it will be a fabulous gift. I started this one ages ago, but set it aside for other projects. When I returned to it, I found that it had a glaring error so I ripped back and then went to work.

Next up, I have returned to sleeve island on my FLAK and have finished the first sleeve. I'm not at all sure that it will be finished in time to ship as a gift, but I am trying. The horns are sprouting again at work and the next two weeks will be a mess. Who will win??? Tune in next time to find out.

I Couldn't Resist

It's Chappysmom's fault. It is. Okay, so I also wanted to brag that another finished object is coming off the needles tonight. I might even get it blocked before bedtime!

What Kind of Reader Are You? Your Result: Dedicated Reader You are always trying to find the time to get back to your book. You are convinced that the world would be a much better place if only everyone read more.
Literate Good Citizen
Obsessive-Compulsive Bookworm
Book Snob
Fad Reader
Non-Reader
What Kind of Reader Are You? Create Your Own Quiz

Where Do We Go?

I had delusional visions of posting each day this month. At some point, it wasn't so much that I ran out of things to say as I ran out of time in the days. Instead of posting, I have been knitting. Oh, how I have been knitting! It all started innocently enough. Shelly, The Heathen Housewife, made some adorable clogs for her daughter. I thought that would make a great gift for Young Man's cousin.

Last Saturday, Suzoo's hosted an arts & crafts sale and that seemed like a good excuse to go pick up a couple of skeins of wool. After chatting with Renata and others, I only picked up a pair of stitch markers from the sale before heading in to fondle yarn. I quickly found the pink and purple shades that I wanted (one was even in the discount rack) and then I spotted someone doing some needle felting. I had resisted this because the needle felted items that I had seen were so cutesy. This person was doing a cow on a hotpad. I'm still a sucker for cows. She was making it for a gift for a family member in Wisconsin. Why, I thought, that would be a great idea for SIL in Minnesota. So, more feltable yarn went into the bag and Knitpicks had an oven mitt pattern link waiting for me in my email box when I returned home.

Since that fateful trip, I have averaged finishing one item a day for a solid week. It's not even noon today and I have my finished item! This is the stash of items that are currently felting away in the washer.

Not too shabby. Of course, instead of hopping from mall to mall on Friday, I did my own version of Black Friday. This is the yarn that followed me home. Hmmmmm.

Oh, well, today is Saturday and we might even get rain on Monday!!!

Thankful

I am thankful for my family. Young Man and Mr. Engineer keep me smiling and grounded at the same time. My extended family back in Minnesota reminds me where I am from and keeps me humble. My chosen family here in California makes this odd, sunny place feel like home. My internet family shares my interests and keep me honest.

I am thankful for my skills and for the fabulous designers whose patterns and instructions have given me so much joy creating with yarn, paint, clay, beads, fabric, and stitches.

I am thankful for health and happiness, and jobs that put food on the table and a roof over our heads. This was a rough year at work. Mr. Engineer was laid off after 19 years, but found a new job within a couple of weeks.

I am thankful for a son who did his holiday homework assignment with only two reminders.

It is a beautiful day and I give thanks to all of you.

Sigh, I Guess There is No Denying Your Roots

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Inland North You may think you speak "Standard English straight out of the dictionary" but when you step away from the Great Lakes you get asked annoying questions like "Are you from Wisconsin?" or "Are you from Chicago?" Chances are you call carbonated drinks "pop."
The Northeast
The Midland
Philadelphia
North Central
Boston
The West
The South
What American accent do you have? Take More Quizzes

Actually, most people can't guess my accent. I don't hold out my o's as long as some from my home town. I also do not call soda "pop," but I do often say "sodapop," to be sure to cover my bases, don'cha know.

But, Where are the Socks?

For the past three days I have been in the odd position of not having a single sock on the needles! I think this is the first time that this has happened in 200Sox. I remidied this problem during lunch when I cast on and started the ribbing for a pair of socks from Knitting Vintage Socks. These are in a fun, tweedy Trekking. I think they are for my neighbor. They might be for Mr. Engineer. They also may have to be paused. I have what I think is enought Opal Petticoat left for a child-size pair of socks for Young Man's cousin. Now for a pattern.......

Another BSJ

Project: Baby Surprise Jacket from The Opinionated Knitter by Elizabeth Zimmerman
Yarn: Plymouth Encore, color 7064
Needles: US5 dpn
Finished Size: I'm not really sure. I think it is somewhere around an 18 month size or maybe larger.
Notes: I made this by the pattern, used I-cord to seam the shoulders, and added a 4-stitch I-cord edging. I love this pattern! I hadn't seamed it when I took it with me to buy buttons. Someone asked about it and it was so fun to show the odd shape and how simply it turned into a sweater. The colors range from pale green through blue and then lavender. I haven't figured out which lucky baby will get this one. It is really nice to have a spare ready!

Remembering

Today was Veteran's Day in the US. Today, we remember. I remember reading about my great-grandfather's regiment from Minnesota as they came in at the end of the Civil War. I remember learning that both of my grandfathers served during World War I. Most of all, I remember my father's stories of World War II.

My father drove an ambulance for an Army hospital unit. The stories he told me were always peaceful stories. He spoke of boot camp in Colorado and his recovery from the pneumonia that nearly killed him. He reminisced about the doctors in the unit convincing him to drive them and their nurse friends to Loch Loman when they were stationed in Scotland. He told of the English girl with the red hair who begged him to take her to the States with him. He told me that she had a temper much like my mother's: the quieter she got, the more upset she was. This story actually helped me out a lot as I was growing up. My father had stories of France and how the French people hated the way the GIs mangled the French language.

What my father didn't tell me was about war. He saved those stories for my brother-in-law, a Vietnam veteran. It wasn't until after my father died that I learned of his other stories. You see, my father was one of the people who cleaned up after D-Day. He never told me about the soldiers who road in his ambulance. He never mentioned the ones who arrived at the hospital too late for the doctors to save. Those were stories that he didn't want his children to hear. He didn't want us to have to remember that. He didn't want anyone to ever have those memories.

Thank you, Dad, for all you did for me and for all those soldiers who never knew who brought them in. We remember.

Scarf Season

There must be a little nip in the air. Well, in Southern California, a little nip is all we get. I do still like making scarves as we get closer to the holidays. These willl make gifts for my friends in colder climates. It is also fun to see how my scarf-making skill has improved. The next big challenge will be bobbles and popcorns as I dive into Forbes Forest. It doesn't look like much today!

The other scarf on the needles is a return to a long-neglected project. This is a very simple arches and columns design with Kid Merino. It is nice and soft and the color is a pleasant pale blue, but the design is boring to knit. It makes for acceptable lunchtime or mindless TV time knitting.

Oh, What a Beautiful Morning!

Mr. Engineer has been leaving the house really early so I'm getting up earlier than usual. This does let me enjoy the sunrise. I guess there is something to be said for mornings.

The other beautiful thing is that I have another project finished.

Project: Traveler's Stockings from Knitting on the Road by Nancy Bush

Yarn: Koigu KPM in color 1005 (a gentle pale blue with periwinkle)

Needles: US 0 dpns

Notes: Well, the pattern is wonderful (as always). The yarn is fabulous. Knitting Koigu on US0 needles makes for a luscious fabric. The next decision is whether these go in my sock drawer or in the gift drawer. Since they fit me really well, I may just have to keep them. Shucks.

Change

We fear change. It must be innate. You can see it in the defiant stance of a toddler when told that the party is over and it's time to go. They never want to listen. I recall one time when we were able to surprise a very nice guy at a toy store. Young Man (who was just a Little Man then) was happily playing at the train table. Mr. Engineer and I traded off watching the play and shopping. We cheerfully gave Young Man warnings at 15, 10, 5, and 1 minute before we were to leave (more or less, his lack of ability to tell time was very helpful). When it was time to go, we told Young Man to say goodbye to the little boy with whom he was playing. Young Man gave out a cheery "Bye, bye," took our hands and left the store without a hint of complaint. The guy watching the other little boy was absolutely shocked. He expected wails and arguments.

So, the key to facing change seems to be getting plenty of warning and to have a fundamental understanding that change is inevitable.

Frogging is just as inevitable as change. That would explain why two days of knitting left me with this. Arwen is my first time knitting a sweater with a turned up hem. I blew it the first time. Now I've got the hang of this. The color is a little off. The real color is a little lighter, more of a plum.

Pins & Needles

While waiting most impatiently for the election results, I have a few more pictures. Here are two in-progress shots of my Nancy Bush infatuation. These are Travelers' Socks from Knitting on the Road. The first shot shows the patterning, but the second shot is much more true to the color.

Warming Up to Civic Duty

If you are a US citizen and eligible to vote, don't forget that Tuesday is Election Day. If you don't vote, you have no right to complain. Mr. Engineer and I completed our absentee ballots (all five pages!) on Saturday and turned the pain of going through the propositions into a civics lesson for Young Man. Our future engineer was quite impressed with the amount of thought that we put into each issue and that we didn't really work together on determining how to vote. We each read the propositions (or at least the summaries) and the candidate statements and came to our own conclusions. So, I won't tell anyone how to vote, but please do go out and cast your ballot.

I even believe in rewards. My reward was to cast on for A Cardigan for Arwen. Your reward is the long-promised photo debut of a finished project:

Project: Interlocking Balloons scarf from Scarf Style

Yarn: Almost exactly four balls of RY Cashsoft DK in Charcoal

Finished Size: 7 1/4 inches by 62 inches (more or less, after blocking)

Needles: US 6 Addi Turbo circular (I LOVE those needles)

Notes: Pretty quick knit with just enough thought to keep me interested through the repeats. I love Cashsoft DK. It just feels so good to knit! This one is a gift and I hope the recipient likes it.

Uh Oh!

Someone may or may not have gone to the Annual Show and Sale of the Southern California Handweavers Guild and she may or may not have started something very dangerous. This was my first time at their show. It was small, but they did a very good job of bringing in a variety of vendors. I lusted over some wonderful alpaca and had a lovely time wandering through the two rooms of vendors. Zona was there. Some Mountain Colors Bearfoot (Glacier Teal) and some Euroflax may or may not have also followed me home. See? I did restrain myself.

Succumbing to the Inevitable

New button, new KAL, new fun!

All this and it's Saturday, too!

She's so Smug

Here I was, minding my own business, when FemiKnit Mafia started going on about the new Kate Gilbert design in Interweave Knits. I thought, "so what?" It's just a sweater. Not everyone has a thing for Kate, y'know (*cough* Clapotis *cough* Sunrise Circle Jacket *cough*). I didn't even look at the yarn requirements on the Interweave website.

Then my issue arrived yesterday. A Cardigan for Arwen is gorgeous.


I'm a total sucker for anything LotR and these cables are fabulous. Still, it calls for 14 balls of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran and I think it is a bit short. Then I remembered. I have 18 balls of Cashmerino Aran lounging in my stash. I picked it up at a closeout sale with the intention of making that sweater. I've pretty much given up on that one until my chart skills are up to Japanese notes. My first instinct was that Arwen needs to be in a mossy green. Still, the stash yarn is a lovely, deep wine color and I already have it! Decisions, decisions.

It's a New Month

It is also the beginning of the holiday gift knitting countdown. I think I'm in denial. Maybe I'm just feeling too good because there are three pairs of socks in the gift drawer. I must get back to FLAK if it is going out the door in December. Instead, I have cast on for Forbes Forest in a lovely yellow-green. It will be a gift, but it wasn't on the original gift list.

In the meantime, here is a November calendar picture from the World Wildlife Foundation Songbirds calendar. I think Chappysmom is right, November definitely gets the short end of the pictures. This tufted titmouse is lovely, but it is, well, brown.

Oh, and the end of daylight savings time does give me a chance to catch pretty sunrises for a bit. Sandy might like this one.

(Un) Inspired?

Maybe it's the weather or maybe it's deadlines, but I am not feeling particularly inspired this week. The navy Baby Surprise Jacket is finished and delivered. The Interlocking Balloons Scarf is finished and ready for a photo shoot. The first of the Travelers' Socks is finished. Grumperina even provided me the idea for my next non-knitalong sock pattern. Everything is going well, but nothing seems worth blogging. At least a finished object always makes me happier.

Project: Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket from The Opinionated Knitter.
Yarn: Lion Brand Woolease Worsted Weight in Navy (I know, but it will stand up to baby drool) - 1 3/4 skeins
Needles: US 5 24" Circular needles by Clover
Buttons: Little baseball buttons from JHB International
Notes: Amazing design. Easy and fun and, well, surprising! This will definitely become a staple in my baby knitting repertoire. Oh, and to anyone who may have misunderstood, Mr. Engineer was not the one who had a problem with the pastel sweater for a boy. However, he was the one who wisely understood the indented recipient family. Considering the wild things that Young Man wears, we don't worry about a little pastel in our house.

Finally, this should make me happy. This was what was leftover when I finished off the Interlocking Balloons scarf. Amazing.

Suddenly I See

We had thunder and lightning last night! It was exciting, but sent a party full of kids into screams. There wasn't much rain after all the excitement, but it was a nice change. The weather also gave us a very nice Saturday Sky moment.

In Socktoberfest news, a pair of socks are complete!

Pattern: Lacy Scallops Socks by SockBug
Yarn: Opal Petticoat 1290 (the original)
Needles: US 1 DPNs
Notes: Great yarn + great pattern = fabulous socks! I do enjoy Opal. The hard part can be finding sock designs that don't fight with the color patterns of the yarn. These two were meant for each other.

Finally, in Zimmermaniac news, there are two half sweaters. I was making great progress on a Baby Surprise Jacket. Then Mr. Engineer pointed out that there was no way that the father of the intended recipient would ever let his son wear pastel. That the pastel had some lavender in it just sealed the fate of the sweater. It will be finished, but it will go to some other deserving child.

A quick trip to the yarn store later, and I was happily knitting away on BSJ #2. This one is in a manly, navy blue. It should be perfect.

Saturday Socks

Life is moving at warp speed again. Wednesday was Young Man's 9th birthday. NINE! Where has the time gone? He is happy and having a great time with his latest Transformer and all is well. The Saturday sky from last week is far more interesting than today's sky, so I am posting this one for Sandy.


Speaking of time moving on, it is already Socktoberfest. Yet another one has snuck up on me. In honor of that, here are my answers to Lolly's introductory questions.

When did you start making socks?
I started making socks in 2005. I never thought that I would enjoy handknit socks. Boy, was I wrong! I love my socks!

Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class?
I am completely self-taught. I used free instructions from an internet tutorial put together on the Knit & Chat Delphi Forum and then went on with books and other instructions.

What was your first pair? How have they "held up" over time?
I finished my first pair in April 2005. I still like them, but I haven't worn them in quite a while.

What would you have done differently?
The biggest thing that I would have changed is that I would have used a stretchier cast-on. At the time I knit these, I only knew one cast-on. The cast-on edges are too tight and the yarn has broken twice when attempting to wear them. They are now in the mending box (a.k.a. The Box of No Return) waiting for me to re-knit the cuffs.

What yarns have you particularly enjoyed?
Oh, boy, I love sock yarn! I liked the Trekking that I discovered this summer and I really adored the Mountain Colors Bearfoot that I discovered last summer (sooooo soft!). I'm starting to become adicted to Koigu and one of my local yarn shops has started stocking Koigu KPPPM. Just what I needed! I also like Opal yarns and how can I forget Wildefoote? Face it, I just love sock yarn!

Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method?
I haven't tried crocheting socks. I used to crochet a lot and was quite good at it, but I really prefer knitting. I also haven't tried using circular needles on socks. I love my DPNs. Okay, so I love them less when I reach into my bag and come out with a stab wound. I need one of those cool needle cover thingies that Stephanie discovered (either wooden or tin).

Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?)
Most of my socks have been knit with flap heels. I've only made one short-row heel. I liked the effect, but I need more practice.

How many pairs have you made?
This question prompted me to do a count. I have made 23 3/4 pairs of socks! Here they are (less four pairs that were gifted out of the family). How's that for showing my socks, Jane?

As promised, this is a better picture of the Koigu Birthday socks that I completed recently. The colors are hard to capture, but the combination of teal, blue, and purple reminds me of our relaxing week at the lake in July. It seems so long ago! The current socks on the needles are Lacy Scallops from Sock Bug. I am knitting them in the original Opal Petticoat. These are bright! They should make a great gift for Young Man's teacher. I love socks.

I Can't Wait Until Wednesday

Even though it is Saturday Sky day and not WTF Wednesday, this just couldn't wait. See this?

I know, it just looks like spots. Unfortunately, those spots are actually holes and they are in my bedroom ceiling!!!! Living in Southern California, we realize that we have to pay the price for the weather and the lack of many pests. Unfortunately, the price this week may be high. Those holes are caused by termites and they are eating through the drywall in the ceiling! Seriously. Mr. Engineer has been tasked with getting the house tented ASAP. What a pain.

At least we have socks.

Project: Simple 60-Stitch Stockinette Birthday Socks

Yarn: Koigu KPPPM, 126,

Needles: US1 dpns

Notes: Just a basic sock here for lunchtime knitting. 60-stitch tubular cast-on, eye of the partridge heel, rounded toes. The color is really darker than this picture. I'll try again after the sun comes up. Today isn't my birthday, but I did pick up the yarn for these on my birthday at Amazing Threads.

And the sky is blue, really, really blue.

Coming Soon: Banned Books Week

Just a friendly reminder (or notice, if you haven't heard it before): Banned Books Week is coming soon. 23-30 September is coming fast. Find your favorite banned book and read, read, read!

Sky, Trash, and Scarf Time

Today was another beautiful day. The California Chapter of Engineers Anonymous participated in one of our annual public works events. Today was Coastal Clean-up day and we took part in the Inner Coastal Watershed Clean-up activities. The idea is to pick up trash from the creeks before it gets washed into the river and out into the ocean. We picked trash for almost three hours and then helped plant some native plants along the banks of our local creek. We emerged dirty, tired, and happy to have made a noticable difference.

We found the usual collection of broken glass, candy wrappers, straws, and cigarette butts. We also found a few more unusual items. Young Man found a new shoe and a filthy t-shirt. Mr. Engineer found sections of pipe and a comforter hanging from a tree. For most of the cleaning, I was feeling left out in the unusual trash race. Then I went to retrieve the comforter from the tree (it was a short tree and I could reach the comforter from the bank of the creek). I found a telecom punch-down panel and several feet of fiberglass insulation batting.

It felt really good to help out and we were rewarded with a cleaner park and creek as well as t-shirts, pizza and a concert. Wow! We would have done it for free! We'll be back to the park next year.

After cleaning up, it was time for some quiet activities like knitting! It almost feels like fall here, but it is warming up again. I still want to get started on some scarves and I found a clearance sale on Cashsoft DK. I love working with this stuff because it is so very soft. I give you a Saturday Sky (blue, of course) and Interlocking Balloons (in charcoal).

Saturday Sky and Fourth Grade Pressure

Saturday Sky at 8-ish:

The clouds are now gone, but it was fun to see some variety in our sky. Young Man and I are having a quiet day together. We disected an owl pellet and have a date to go to Target (where we will undoubtedly add to our Lego Bionicle collection).

Young Man is recovering from his first week of fourth grade. He says that Friday went the best of the four days and that there was too much pressure this week. Besides the new classroom and teacher, he was invited to a birthday party, and he has been the target of the PE teacher's interest to get him to join the flag football team. Yes, it was a rough week. It certainly started well!

Work for the parents continues to pile it on. In the knitting world, I have returned to the FLAK now that it is cool enough to stand to hold it on my lap. I'm almost finished with the first sleeve. All that moss stitch filler is starting to get to me!