this and that....

In order to stay focused on the projects I'm doing, I put each pattern and WIP in a specific bag so I can either grab it when we head out for a long drive, take to work for lunch, have one next to the TV so I don't have to stop and search for my knitting before we watch a show/movie, etc.

So... I'm working on tiny baby socks for Afghans and today I'll be starting my Sock It to Me socks out of Cherry Tree Hill sport yarn in Cabin Fever (my match likes autumn colors). I've also got both my second STR Ampersand sock and some red yarn for a scarf ready to go in my project bag downstairs.

Every time I fill out a questionnaire for a swap, I have to be pretty emphatic about no chocolates or other decadent treats since I am on a highly restrictive diet. But I finally found a no-guilt treat that I absolutely love (that also is permissible on my diet): green olives stuffed with jalapeños! These are insanely good and low in calories/carbs, and they are so flavorful that I am satisfied after 2 olives.

I'm in full-steam job search mode, and a bit overwhelmed at the number of opportunities. I don't have children or a current relationship, nor do I own a house so I can pretty much pick up and move anywhere. In my adult life, I've lived in three regions in Texas, California (Santa Monica), Northern VA (DC metro area) and now WV (and I can't wait to leave). So relocating is not a problem but trying to decide where to relocate is a mixture of excitement and nervousness- I don't want to end up in another area I dislike as much as this one. Ideally, I'd love NH but there's a lot of opportunity outside the area that might be a better fit.

SP questions :)

Posed by my Hostess, Shelby :)

1. What is the one knitting accessory you could not live without?
I tend to lose all my accessories. The one I could not live without is a tapestry needle for my kitchener-ing (which I have to hunt for every single time I get to that point in my sock), followed closely by crochet hook and needle gauge. I've been meaning to buy a new needle gauge for the longest time.

2. If you're heading on vacation, do you take knitting with you? If so, how much and what type of project?
I haven't had a vacation since I started knitting nearly two years ago- I spent all my free time working on my Masters in the evenings and weekends while I worked fulltime. But I am planning a roadtrip and I will be taking a sock project.

3. Where have you traveled to that you'd consider your favorite spot?
Tied between Mont. St. Michel in Normandy/Brittany and Austria where it was so gorgeous we kept having to pull over along the road every ten minutes to just take in the beauty of the landscape. Le Mont St Michel is absolutely amazing- not only for its unique nature (tiny tidal island built on granite) but for its history and incredible architecture of the Gothic church at the top of the Mont.

4. What is your favorite knitting book at the moment? Do you own it?
Favorite Socks and yes.

5. Do you listen to podcasts? Which is your favorite(s)?
I've been meaning to, but have not had the time.

Was it something I said?

I have not heard from my sock knitter. Just let me know you are out there, somewhere. I'm stalking my postman and he would like it to stop. I'm not sure he is understanding my babble about sock exchanges. :)


Finally, I can breathe: My socks have arrived to their destination! Woohooo!

Here's the packaged version:




And the other pic with specs

ooooh shiny!

A yarn I've wanted but thought they discontinued has just shown back up...
elann.com Den-M-nit Pure Indigo Cotton!!

I love the medium Indigo. Love Love Love. Well, that and the deeper Indigo....

I've wanted to try this out ever since I saw this gorgeous sweater.

A little worried...

My Sockapalooza Pal's only one state away but I have not heard if she received her socks I sent last week. No socks in my mailbox yet, either. I keep checking,
just in case.

However, I have received my match for Secret Pal 11 and am excited to get started with that.

In other news...



I've also got some red yarn set aside to make at least one scarf for the Red Scarf Project
Caron Simply Soft in Autumn Red (this picture doesn't do it justice... the color is gorgeous) and Knitpicks Swish in Fired Brick.

They are accepting scarves between Sept. 1 and October 15, 2007, so that will be the project that breaks into my trend of only doing socks!

Here's hoping tomorrow will bring better news on the Sockapalooza front.