The Crafty Lizzard

Have you ever had one of those weeks where everything seemed to happen all at once? Of course...Everyone has. This week was one of those for me. Work is crazy, play is crazy...Life is crazy! Now that's not to say that crazy = bad. On the contrary, most of the stuff that's happened this week has been good and enjoyable...most, not all.

Ok, so technically this challenge started last year -- on Christmas Day.

But, I'm counting it as the first of the new year (since that's when most of the work on them will occur)...

This is the first half done of my very first pair of knee socks! I've been wanting to do a pair for a while now and finally started the Treetop pattern on Christmas day. I've had to modify the pattern a bit because I have HUGE calves and TINY feet. These are knit top down so I started with the large for the leg and then added extra decreases around the ankle to give the stitch count for the small foot. The foot fits GREAT and the leg is still a bit tight but doable!

Another change I made was to do an Eye of Partridge heel instead of a ribbed heel. I think that the eye of partridge holds up better over time and I like the look better. (Even if the ribbing isn't continued down the heel!)

I also thought that I would get SO bored doing the super long leg but the diagonal cabling actually really kept me interested. I do have to admit I thought I would also hate the cabling. I've only done cabling on one other pair of socks and I couldn't stand it. Which was very odd seeing as I LOVE cables! However, now that I know someone else who has done that pattern and also hated it, I think it was a case of a bad sock cabling experience.

I'm quite relieved to realize that cables on socks doesn't have to be an excruciating job!

...at least it feels that way... GEEZ it's been a LONG time.

These little guys were introduce last Thursday by K at knit knite as "Diabolical Cuteness". She really is evil (yes, you heard me, K...Evil!). This pattern is SO easy and fun. It's like Lay's potato chips -- you can't stop at just one. It's impossible. This is the perfect way to use up all the little bits of yarn that won't make much of any other project. As another knit knite buddy thought up -- these would also make wonderful catnip toys or even sachets for drawers! How wonderful to have a little alien lurking within your drawers! (She chuckles to herself.)

I have now finished the Diminishing Ribs sweater! It's now washed and blocked (sort of). I'm trying to wait patiently for it to dry....it's hard, really hard.
I made my goal of having this done by the Clambake (more on this later) so that makes me the happiest! Now I need to do a bunch of socks while I figure out what the next big project will be.

In other news, I made the best sandwich EVER for dinner tonight. This is one of my reasons why summer is my favorite season -- fresh tomatoes! This is a beautiful BLT with the first beefsteak tomato from my garden! Nice crisp bacon, tasty Tuscan bread, spring greens...mmmmmmmmmmmm. It was very messy but oh, so worth it! Hopefully, this is the first of many.

Now, a word about the clambake. My family has a clambake every year. This is basically our "family reunion". We steam a ton of clams, have lots of grilled chicken, corn, and tons of other food. (Oh, yeah, drink too!) This party has been happening since long before I was born and I believe will continue for a long time. We always have some family that can't make it and they are always sorely missed. The whole day is spent eating, drinking, playing and just talking. Last year, as we sat around the fire pit (til the wee small hours of the night) we were really missing having some musical fun. (Most of my family are musicians of some sort or another.) So this year I decided that I would take matters into my own hands and have been working up a setlist of simple (like, 4 chord simple) guitar songs so that we can have at least a little sing along. Wish me luck...I have 5 more days...the party is Saturday!

It seems like the Blog-o-sphere and I have not been getting along lately. Maybe it's summer telling me that there are better things than putting your thoughts down for the world to see. (Or perhaps my thoughts just want to turn off when I get home.) Maybe it's the lack of really exciting thoughts...wait...that's not it. (What it would be like to look into the crazy randomness that is my brain!) At any rate, it seems like I'm always doing a catch-up post! Argh! This summer I have averaged 1 post per month! 1! Wow! So far it seems like the summer has been taken up with work (ugh), working outside [ ;) ], and enjoying lots of family and friends (yay!).

Some of the wonderfulness of the summer has been the al fresco knit knites! Sitting outside, watching 3 very energetic kids play, knit, and converse with a bunch of great ladies has made this summer so fun! The teasing, book gossiping, yarn fondling and just all round good times is more than any girl can ask from friends.

On that creative front, I finally am getting to my Diminishing Rib sweater! I'm so ready for this sweater to be done. Not because my tired of knitting it but because I want to wear it and am hoping that it fits and is comfy. I'm making this out of organic cotton and as I work with it, it keeps getting softer and softer. The goal is to have it done in time for the family Clambake. (That's 12 more days -- good thing I only have 1 more sleeve to go!)

And of course, I am never without a sock going so here's the most recent one of those --
These are being called my Lizzard socks. Between the color and the pattern I chose it reminds of lizard skin.

Ok, I will try to get to posting more than once a week. For now, I'm off to go practice (I'm the bonfire entertainment at the Clambake) and start the second sleeve.

Ok, so it's been a while since I've posted. I've actually thought about it recently -- just haven't actually sat down to do it. So here I go:

#1 happy event -- Not your typical high school reunion

Instead of having one class get together for a reunion, we had a band reunion. We even managed to have all three band directors there. For anyone that was involved in high school band you know the friendships that are built during the mega amounts of time spent together. This was an entire day of reminiscing, smiles, sights, smells and laughter. It was also an afternoon that was too short.

#2 happy event -- The garden coming alive.

I come by my green thumb honestly and have loved talking with my dad about the garden. It's been so amazing this year to watch the stuff I planted last year grow exponentially! The flowers are exploding into bloom, the vegetables are slowly appearing, the mint is aggressively taking over, the sage has a lovely fragrance, and the comfrey is slowly turning the waste pile into compost. Every afternoon there is a feast as all the bees come to collect. The other afternoon had an added surprise when I looked out saw this butterfly (or moth....not too up on my insects)!

#3 happy event -- 4th of July

This has turned into the traditional photo taken on a very traditional picnic day. Ever since my parents moved to a house on the parade route the Troyer and Willis clans have worked, watched and feasted at the Troyer house for the 4th of July. (This year marked [we think] the 20th year!!) We have added other clans and friends throughout the years but the party remains the same. After getting our ears blasted by the quarter mile line-up of fire trucks we head to the back yard for some wonderful grillin' and food with some fun thrown in after -- messy sandboxes, lots of kickball, some monkey-in-the-middle, some swinging and lots of laughter!


And because through all this I have not been neglecting my knitting:
This is almost finished and this is the first picture I've taken of it. So sorry. But here it is in all it's soft glory. Soon it will be headed to the intended target. Hope she enjoys it!

So far this has been an awesome birthday weekend! (Well, technically my birthday's not til Sunday but...)
It all started with the awesome ladies that I knit with on Thursday nights. Some were missing because of the all-important Knitter's Connection (stay tuned...) but it was a lovely night. We had a few extra party members (S, L and E) and boy, did they party hard. I know it was very hard for her but kudos to E for keeping this...
a secret! All enjoyed and now I have WAY TOO MUCH cake at home. If I could virtually send some to everyone I would. Really. But thank you thank you anyway.

Much delight and laughter was had over the CPH FO (thanks to K and her FB status) even though it's 100% wool and it was about 85 degrees outside! K had the camera out and was documenting the entire shindig so here ya go...this might be the only time you see me in a wool sweater in the summer.


Today was the wonderful, wonderful class at Knitter's Connection with Cat Bordhi! It was such a fun day with lots of knowledge, lots of laughter, seeing new socks, and praising Jeni's Ice Cream! How can that ever equal anything but a very cool day? Oh, I forgot, a wonderful goodie bag full of yummy goodness and shopping!!Even Bailey had to check it out!

I also have something to admit to the knit knite ladies...after all the talk last night about not doing another lace project...I bought more lace yarn today. (She hangs her head sheepishly.) You have to admit it's pretty. It's hand-dyed merino and was worth the money. I promise to bring for closer inspection. Now just to figure out what to make with it...