Moving Day

Knitting, with Beads has a new home. Come on over! It's at Typepad, and hopefully will eliminate the issues that many have had trying to access blogger. I still have plenty of decorating to do, but for now we're just plain and simple.

Thunder Possible

The other evening, weather.com's forecast read "thunder possible." I think that's a great phrase, don't you? Very majestic, and full of promise.

Look at this cute little guy. He jumped onto my ankle while I was sitting on the ground pulling out a bee sting from my toe. Sister Jane tried to kiss the frog, but when I moved my hand closer to her face the frog startled and jumped away. We were at Daddy's, you know, before my fateful drive home.

My accident happened on the I-65 overpass at Columbus (IN), near where Rob and Matt's ThreadBear shop used to be. My thanks to the FedEx driver and to Chris the truck driver/paramedic who were the first on the scene.

So I'm still pretty sore, and have this incredible set of seatbelt-shaped bruises. If you are squeamish, or don't want to see some bruising, don't click here or here. The bad news is that I can't sit at my torch to make beads. The good news is that I *can* knit.

I completed two pair of socks, meeting my September SAM2 goal. First are the anklets I made with the wool Ruth dyed for me for Dye-O-Rama. I love the way these turned out!

Second pair is the anklets made using Wool2Dye4 Supersock, dyed using my patent-pending kettle/sprinkle/microwave-steam method. I like it because there's no pattern, just lots of lovely random yellow, red, and orange-ness. I used the same method for Dave's KSKS yarn as well as for Jill's August Birthday Swap yarn, so I'm looking forward to seeing how their socks turn out. Of course, Dave can't start his until he takes a *proper* photograph of the yarn. I wonder, will it count if he uses the photo he took when he received the yarn?


Also over the weekend I finished the first Undulating Rib Cashmere blend sock, using some of the yarn I got from Dave in my KS Kit. This sock feels incredible on, and will be a very welcome addition to my sock wardrobe.

Finally, I started my socks for the Mystery Sock KAL. I'm using the Lavender Wildfoote from my birthday package from Joan, and the lacysocks pattern posted to the KnitList in 1997 by JP. It's a simple lace pattern, but quite nice.

Ouch

Pardon me while I indulge in a little self-pity. History: My dad has a 1991 GEO Tracker that I've coveted for over ten years. I told him more than once to be sure to please let me have first dibs when he decided to sell. So he did. And Jane and I drove to southern IN yesterday so I could pick it up. Which I did.

I then proceeded to total it. Less than an hour after finally getting my hot little hands on the keys. I'm banged up, but not seriously. Moving rather slowly today. Dang, I hate when that happens.

ETA: Read Sister Jane's account here. ps. seatbelts really *do* save lives, like mine.

Birthdays

On my 22nd birthday, I received the best gift possible: I went into labor! Isaac was born the next morning just after 9:30 am at Silas B Hayes Army Community Hospital in Fort Ord, CA. How very cool is that?! Happy Birthday, son!

I remember another very special birthday, much longer ago. It was August 31, 1964 and in celebration of my third birthday, my mom let me hold Sister Jane, then almost three months old. Thanks Mom, for another awesome birthday gift!

And speaking of birthday gift babies, my dad's birthday is September 2nd. Happy Birthday, Daddy!

This year's wonderful gift arrived in the form of my August Birthday Swap package from the Fairygodknitter, Joan.

A lovely pile of tissue-wrapped goodies tumbled from the box.


I was frozen with indecision for all of about five seconds - which to open first? One at a time, I began unwrapping these delightful wonders - check out the loot!

Two set of KA bamboo double-points; size 0 (2.0mm) and size 1(2.25mm). Incidentally, the needles I received from Dave are 2.5mm, so how perfect is that? A very clever little pair of snips disguised as a pen, a booklet packed with helpful sock information, an inspirational magnet, a miniature sweater key-chain, a Fortune-Telling birthday book, three packages of toffee, and enough yarn for FOUR pair of socks! You say you want to see a closer view of the yarn?

Two balls of Cascade Fixation in shades of soft green, two skeins of Wildfoote in lovely lavender, Mega-Boots stretch in an autumn colorway, and two hanks of Koigu! I've knit several pairs of footies with Cascade, and am tickled to have more. The other three are all new to me, and are all yarns that I have coveted. Color me one lucky pal - thanks a million, Joan!