The waiting game

The office is in an uproar because early retirement packages may be offered to some people, a group that may not include me.

On a joyous note, I finished round two of SockMadness IV early enough not only to have a place on my team, but to have had a place on any of the four teams, as none of them were full when I finished. The next pattern is supposed to be out tomorrow afternoon or evening.

Glorious

I've not been blogging, but I should have, for:

Life is wonderful!

My elder daughter is home for a couple of days. I made it to round three in Sock Madness 4. The Crown Corporation I work for is not being sold. I'm going to Spain in July. I've got free-lance projects coming out my ears.

Now to quit procrastinating and get some work done.

Nothing like depression

I'm just back from the second trip to the funeral parlour this week - the father and grandfather of friends.

 They should give Air Miles for frequent visitors.

Now, if I can manage to finish up some freelance work this weekend perhaps I can also find a few hours (minutes?) to knit or embroider or something. Must finish that second monkey sock before SockMadness 4 officially starts.

Qualified success

1st Monkey sock done, using the yarn that did not make a wearable sideways sock.

Waiting for Sock Madness 4 to start.

Have finally decided to unravel the Filigree sock from Red Bird. I'm definitely intending to knit it someday, but with different yarn. The two colourways unfortunately have a few shades in common. Every so often they end up together, and it's very difficult to figure out which is your "dark" and which is your "light". Also, I need to use larger needles or a different gauge or something to get a sock that will even possibly go on the foot of any adult I know. The gorgeous yarn will go for something else, perhaps even something Sock Mania-ish.

Surfacing

Surfacing from a funk here. Had to take apart the sideways sock I'd knitted. Wouldn't fit even my skinny 17-year-old. However, that yarn is now half of a Monkey sock and I now understand why Cookie A.'s pattern is so popular. It's easy to remember and looks like it's going to be beautiful. Of course, I'm now ready for the heel, so goodness knows what I'll think in a little while.

RIP

The elder daughter of two of my friends from work is dead - killed in some sort of stupid accident that involved underage drinking and goodness knows what else. I'll probably never know the details, but the scuttlebutt is bad. Kind of makes my epic fail with a knitting pattern seem a little petty.

Sock madness

I've decided to try Sock Madness this year, probably in a fit of insanity.

As for sock confusion, I have the horrible feeling that neither of the two pairs I have on the go will ever fit me. I am working on sideways socks, and at least at night the first one won't go over my instep. Must try it first thing some morning. As for the luscious one I'm making for my Sock of Every Other Month Club, Filigree from Red Bird Knits, I hope I have enough yarn and, again, that it will fit me. My feet aren't really boat-sized, but I do have a high instep. Ah, well, perhaps one of my children, or even my husband (who has smaller feet than I do) will wear them if I can't.

And today it's even warmer

Around -7 C when I went to Mass. Only in Canada!

I must get some order into my needlish pursuits. I have two pairs of socks on the needles. I also have three more of those huge balls of cotton yarn to knit kitchen stuff for my daughter out of before she leaves home in a few months.

On the needlework side, I have started the major project from EAC's 2010 seminar, an Elizabethan whimsy that my Guild is doing and Treasured Beginnings, a cyberclass from Traditional Stitches. Of course I really should do another batch of kissing pillows for the Ottawa Valley Guild of Stitchers, too.

All this and making a living, too.

You know it's February in Canada

When -13 C feels warmish.

Groundhog Day

It was very cold and nicely sunny all day, which means that the groundhog saw his or her shadow and we are in for six more weeks of winter.

However, in this part of the world it really doesn't matter who sees what, as it will be winter for six more weeks, and more than that, anyway.

I shall retreat to my sock knitting.

Stranger things have happened

I was supposed to spend the weekend in Moncton, partly at a conference and partly on a romantic getaway to celebrate my husband's birthday. Well, the weather was horrendous yesterday and we didn't go down. While it's better today, there is enough blowing snow, and it's cold enough, that I don't regret the decision a bit. Sometimes it's nice not to go anywhere.

It's snowing

It's not snowing terribly hard, but there is enough of it to make the roads just nasty enough that I have a good excuse not to go out tonight.

Haiti

Haiti is in a horrendous state since the earthquake, as if it didn't have more problems than enough already. All sorts of organizations are trying to provide aid, and they all need donations.

Two I can mention are Tricoteuses Sans Frontières/Knitters Without Borders, which raises money for Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors without Borders, and Darn Good Yarn, which is donating 5% of its sales of premium recycled silk yarn to the Red Cross until the end of February.

Do what your conscience dictates.

I'm on vacation!

Taking a few days off to enjoy myself in peace and tranquility.

I have several objectives for myself for the week, including jazzing up this blog. Who knows, perhaps someday I'll persuade someone to read it.

And yes, I realize it needs jazzy content first.

My other objectives? Finishing two pairs of socks (one of which I finished on Saturday).