Week 11 & 12 & 13 - I Must Admit

Okay, there's no hiding it...I am lazy!  I keep telling myself that I'm busy, I have tons of things to do, but in truth, I'm just lazy. That's the only reason I can think of why I can't seem to get the blog done each Sunday.  Yes, I have weekly chores to do. Yes, I'm fully involved in Sock Madness and knitting like a fiend to get the socks done and accepted in time.  Yes, since Sunday is a non-work day for me, I tend to sleep in late.Truthfully, none of those are acceptable excuses.  The only one that makes sense to me is that I'm lazy and that's why I can't keep up with the blog this year.  That being said, I can only try to make sure it gets done in a timely manner in the future. 

Sock Madness Round 1 started a week ago last Sunday...Blackberries is the name of the pattern.  Beading and Swiss Darning are both involved and, let me tell you, both of them are a royal pain!  I've finished my pair, sent in my email, and had them accepted.  For Round 1, they are taking the first 40 people from each team into Round 2.  I finished at # 21.....not bad considering that I was grinding my teeth and muttering all sorts of horrid words as I knit these dreadful socks!  I rarely use that word, but these socks are not ones of which I am proud, nor will they remain as socks as I plan to unstitch the stems and leaves, frog back the entire sock, undo the beading, and rewind the yarn to be used for a pair of socks that can make me proud!  In the meantime, I'm posting a picture of this pair, for posterity!

The yarn for these socks is really quite lovely.  Merino wool with nylon and gold sparkles...dyed a beautiful wild rose color by one of my favorite inde dyers - CelticMemoryYarns.  I've known Jo for a very many years and she's awesome.  It doesn't hurt that she lives in Ireland, in County Cork, and she kinda thinks I'm awesome, too. I just think her yarns deserve a prettier pattern that these awful ones.  

It's raining today, quite heavily.  The farmers sure are happy.  It's expected that we will get between 2 and 4 inches before the weekend.  Mom and I had dentist appointments this morning and there are rivers of water flowing all along the roads and highways, puddles forming in the fields.  I elected NOT to do any more shopping in town once we were done at the dentist...it's just too wet and icky out.  We came home and will spend the afternoon inside, with a nice hot cup of tea and our knitting.  

Again, I'll try to do better this week.  Thanks for stopping by.

Week 9 & 10 - Oops, I Did it Again!

Yes, folks, I lost another week somewhere...how else do I explain not getting the blog post done last week?  It certainly wasn't that I just got lazy, was it?  Nope, can't imagine that happening!!

So Sock Madness, the annual Free-for-All International Sock Knitting Contest began a week ago this last Thursday.  At least the Qualifying Round began.  One has 2 weeks (down to the minute!) to knit a specific pair of socks in order to qualify to get onto a team and actually compete.  I downloaded the pattern, went thru the stash to find the yarns I wanted to use, and cast on....it's a lovely pattern by one of my favorite sock designers...I've finished one sock and am almost ready to complete the 2nd one.  I will definitely make it to a team this year.  My goal is to make it to the 3rd round (of 7).  Any further and I'd need to take time off work and knit around the clock to proceed further.  And that's not happening!  Here's my finished first sock.

The markers are there at the request of the moderators so they can make sure I knit the number of rounds they require.  I'm not altogether sure I like the construction of that toe but it's required so, what can you do?  I don't have to use that toe when I knit my regular vanilla socks.

Our nephew and his wife and one daughter came over yesterday.  He offered to help his Uncle John built a birthing corral behind the barn and we took him up on it!  They started around 8:00 a.m. yesterday and finished after dark - tractor lights pointed at the area they were working worked just fine after the sun went down.  The corral is quite large and made of metal and will be wonderful to keep Rosie and Belle secured when it's time for them to have their calves in mid-April.  That way, John won't have to chase them into the woods if they have problems.  As soon as they weather permits, I can post pictures - it's a work of art!  Our nephew is very good at welding and that corral is quite sturdy!

You know, sometimes I see things on the internet that resonate with me, or make me chuckle, or make me think.  Here's one that made sense to me:

Got it!

And lots of folks post that they are Thankful...thankful for being able to provide for their families, thankful that God is watching over them, thankful they have jobs, a roof over their head, etc.  Here's a good thankful reminder:

I need to knit some more on my qualifier sock so I'm going to finish this for the week.  Keep good thoughts and I'll post next Sunday!

Thanks for stopping by.