100th Post!

It's hard to believe that this is my 100th post. I have been trying to post at least one time per week this year. I have been doing pretty well. The weeks I can't get a post up, I have posted more than one time per week to make up for it.

I thought I would show you my back porch since I really love to spend time out there during the summer. Here is a picture:

It is screened in and shaded so I don't have to deal with bugs and the sun. I have several fans going too so that helps when the temperature gets up there.

Here are some pictures of my view:

I live at the base of the Poconos and while I am not really in the mountains, the Blue Mountain is the mountain that you see in the picture. It is amazing how that mountain protects us. The weather can be so different on one side of the mountain versus the other side. I also live in a community that loves trees.

Here is also a picture of my Black Eyed Susans. I had these planted for the first time this year and they came in really well. If you look close, you will see an insect on one of the plants.

I just had to share this picture of Maggie May. This came out well from my cell phone and she just had a visit to the groomer.

And, just so this post has some knitting in it. Here is a picture of the socks I am currently working on using Trekking Zitron yarn in color 167 with size 2 needles.

I have been Loopified!

I love the Loopy Ewe, so much so that I have ordered quite a bit of yarn from them lately.

From left to right: Pagewood Farm in Turquoise, Sanguine Gryphon in Oznopa Ponton, Enchanted Knoll Farm in Juniper, Trekking Zitron in color 315, and finally Noro Silk Garden in color 5252

From left to right: Scarlet Fleece in poodle skirt, Creatively Dyed Yarn in Watermelon Juice and Winds of Change.

From left to right: Pagewood Farm in Forest Camo, Perchance to Knit in Peony (note the charm or stitch marker attached to the yarn), and Hazel Knits Artisan Sock in denim blues

Of course I had to buy their second Anniversary kit that consists of Handmaiden Casbah yarn, a sock pattern, two tatoos, a pin, and a Loopy Ewe mug.

I am in heaven with all of this sock yarn and I really love the Loopy Ewe (can't you tell?)!

August.... Summer is almost over

It's August. It seems that once August gets here the summer is just about over. The way the weather has been the last couple of days, it almost feels like fall. Today it was cool and we had some severe thunderstorms with hail. The temperature is currently 64 degrees. This is the first time in awhile that I haven't had an airconditioner on and felt as if I needed to lay under the covers to get warm! I like the cooler weather, but I'm not looking forward to winter.

I have started teaching taxes again. I'm enjoying it but will be glad when the classes are over. It's taking time away from knitting.

I did finish the socks I was making with Vesper sock yarn. I really liked the yarn and how it striped. I also enjoyed using the Knitpicks double points. I used these because I decided to use size 1 - 1/2 needles.

I have some more skeins of Vesper Sock Yarn, but just had to order more. I got Neopolitan:

And, Hot Metal:

I started another sock using Trekking Zitron in color 167. I'm also using the knitpicks metal double points with these.

I think I am going to be brave and try two socks on two circular needles. I first need to order some needles from Knitpicks. One of my knitting friends used one of the knitpicks metal and one of the harmony needles when she knitted her first pair of two socks on circular needles. She found it easier to keep track of the needles.

I finished the August KAL in my dishcloth group. The pattern is Redbud Leaf by Sue Mrenna. I used size 6 needles and Peaches and Creme yarn in Burnt orange. I enjoyed this pattern.

I am also trying to finish up a beach tote that I started last year using Fantasy Natural yarn. I just need to sew it together and will post pictures when it's complete.

Do You Only Knit Socks?

Jeez am I on a roll knitting socks. I completed the Jitterbug sock using a basic sock pattern with size 2 needles in the Raphael colorway. I love working with Jitterbug yarn.

I started a sock using the Spring Forward pattern from Knitty.com. This is a great pattern and I am enjoying it. I'm using JKnits yarn in the Boston colorway with size 1 needles.

I couldn't resist the Vesper Sock yarn in the Crew colorway. It makes me feel cool (rather than warm) knitting with this yarn. I am partial to green. I love the striping. I am using a size 1-1/2 needle. This is the first time I am knitting with my Knitpicks doublepointed needles and let me tell you, they are really nice. I am a bamboo fan (preferably Plymouth bamboo), but I may just switch to these needles all of the time.

I really need to knit something other than socks, don't you think?

Quick Post

A quick post to show another pair of socks completed. These are the JKnits Superwash Me sock in the Reno colorway using size 2 needles.

I also started another pair using Colinette Jitterbug in the Raphael colorway.

And, I thought I would post an updated picture of Maggie playing with her new toy. I dare her to rip this one up. She really loves it.

Summer Heat makes me buy more yarn?

I hate the heat. I guess Summer is not for me. It's too hot right now and I don't feel like doing anything when it's this hot. It's too hot at work (we have a broken air conditioner). At least at home I can turn on the air conditioners. It's too hot to sit out on my back porch (even with the fans) and I love to sit out on my back porch and knit.

I did finish another sock. I used the basic sock pattern with The Sanguine Gryphon yarn in Pythagoras colorway (blue) with a size 2 needle.

I loved this sock yarn so much that I bought two more skeins directly from the Sanguine Gryphon. I got O'Peirates:

And, I purchased Phaedrus:

I also knitted a dog leash using Sugar and Cream cotton in Wine with size 7 needles. This was a great project since I got to try out my first project with beads. It knitted up quite fast.

I finished the July Mid-month KAL. The pattern is called Summer Breeze. I used Peaches and Creme yarn in the Fairy Tales colorway. I like the pattern, but the dishcloth is small. I think I should have knitted another repeat of the pattern.

I bought more yarn (yes, I know that I am bad, but I just love sock yarn). From Hello Yarn, I bought the colorway Fruit Bowl in her Handdyed sock yarn.

From the Loopy Ewe, I got three skeins. From left to right: Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Select in the Gypsy Rose Colorway, Perchance to Knit in the Irises colorway and, Hazel Knits Artisan sock in the cami chic colorway.

From Patternworks, I got their Bretton sock yarn in a grey colorway (thinking I may make a pair of socks for my husband).

I got the Booby sock kit from the Kraemer Yarn Shop. I think this is a cool sock pattern and some of the purchase goes towards Breast Cancer.

Last but not least, I got my Plucky Knitter Classics sock club yarn. It is 80% Merino, 10% Cashmire, and 10% Nylon in the Colonel Brandon colorway.

I'm waiting for the next Loopy Ewe sneak up to buy more sock yarn. She is going to have The Sanguine Gryphon and Enchanted Knoll yarn. Yum! Maybe the heat makes me buy more yarn? Now that is something to think about.

Yarn Slut

Going back to work has been an eye opener. I only work one day a week, but it is so intense that it wipes me out. What may not be helping is that the airconditioner isn't working and although it hasn't been real hot, it is warm. I sure hope that this doesn't continue. It doesn't feel as if I have been gone, so I guess I'm back in the swing of things again.

I have been knitting socks, but have slowed down. I had hoped to have another 2 pair completed by Friday, but I will be lucky to get one pair complete. I am working on a basic sock pattern using Jknits Superwash me sock in the Reno colorway with a size 2 needle. I love the feel of this yarn and like how it's knitting up.

I am also knitting the basic sock pattern using The Sanguine Gryphon's Eidos handpainted sock yarn in the Pythagoras colorway using size 2 needles. I really love this yarn. It is soft and has a tight twist to it. I couldn't resist, so I ordered more. You will just have to wait until a future blog post to see the colors.

I finished the July Monthly Dishcloth KAL. The pattern is called Love to Knit. I used Peaches and Creme cotton yarn in Teal Blue with a size 6 needle.

I have been on a sock buying binge (I guess I never stop buying sock yarn), but I can't resist.

I got two skeins of yarn from Scout's Swag. They are both a Superwash merino yarn. One colorway is Powercouples

The other is a colorway called Orchids - This is a favorite colorway.

I purchased more JKnits yarn from Knitwitz and sew much more. The colorway is Providence.

I couldn't resist Cherry Tree Hill's handpainted yarn using Louet yarn. It's 100% superwash fingering merino in the Old Rose colorway. I purchased this from Kraemers Yarn Shop.

Also from Kraemers Yarn Shop, I purchased Indie Dyer's 100% Superwash fingering merino. I don't know the colorway, but it's really a pretty color. Apparently, Indie Dyer is the daughter to Cheryl from Cherry Tree Hill.

More Whitewillow yarn tempted me. This is 75% superwash and 25% nylon in the rock candy colorway.

I couldn't resist adding these yarns to my cart from the Loopy Ewe (this is my very favorite online yarn store). From left to right is Neighborhood Fiber Company in the colorways Brookland and Brightwood, JKnits Superwash me Sock in Providence and Spindle City Yarns in Copper Pot.

I know, I know ..... I am just a Yarn Slut. Stay tuned for more yarn to come.

Happy Fourth of July

It's a lousy day for the Fourth (rainy, cloudy and cool), but a great day to knit. I finished up two pairs of socks this week for the Summer of Socks. I am so excited.

For my first sock, I used BellaModen's superwash merino in the black beauty colorway with a basic sock pattern and size 2 needles.

For the second sock, I used Lisa Souza's Sock Merino in the little devil colorway with the no purl monkey pattern and size 2 needles.

I am ready to cast on for my next two pair of socks. I am going to use a basic sock pattern with both and size 2 needles. The yarn I will be using is The Sanguine Gryphon Eidos handpainted sock yarn in the Pythagoras color and J Knits Superwash me sock in the Reno color. I just recently got the J Knits yarn and I'm anxious to try it out.

I am thrilled because I reached the halfway point in my goal for reading 65 books by the end of the year. By the end of June I read 34 books. I recently finished the following:

Full Bloom by Janet Evanovitch and Charolotte Hughes

Q is for Quarry and R is for Ricochet by Sue Grafton

Married Lovers by Jackie Collins

Demon Rumm by Sandra Brown

Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

Monday I start back at work. I will only be working one day a week, but I am still sad. It will cut into my knitting time and soon I will also be teaching two days a week. It really is great to not have to work, but I am kinda looking forward to getting out in the working world again.

Second Sock Syndrome - Not Me!

Summer of Socks has begun and I'm off to a great start. I started two socks on June 21st and I finished one pair of each today. I'm really excited about these socks too because I just love the yarn!

The first sock is made from Bellamoden's Superwash merino in the color Black Beauty. It's a beautiful color (although I am partial to purple) and the yarn is really yummy. It has a sheen to it and it is so soft and I love how it striped. I am using my standard size 2 double pointed needles with a basic sock pattern. I can't wait until the Loopy Ewe gets more of this yarn in stock.

I finally pulled out a skein of Lisa Souza's yarn that I ordered awhile ago. The yarn is a Superfine Merino Superwash called Sock. The color is called Little Devil and I just love how it striped. I used the no purl monkey pattern. This was really a nice pattern to use. I love the monkey sock, but the no purl monkey sock was even easier since I didn't need to purl. I am using the standard size 2 double pointed needles.

I am working on the second dozen of comfortghan squares for my Dishcloth group and I finished another square earlier this month but didn't post a picture. The pattern is the Belt Welt Cloth by Deborah Mason. I used a size 7 needle with Red Heart TLC Essential Yarn in the Jungle colorway.

Of course I had to buy more yarn. From the Loopy Ewe, I got Trekking Handart in Karicik and the Sanguine Gryphon 100% merino in Dragonfly.

From Enchanted Koll Farm I got a fingering sock weight yarn called Tiam Dalma. Can you tell I like the color purple?

From Whitewillow, I got a machine washable sock yarn (it has 25% nylon in it) in the color Ruby Slipper. This yarn is really nice and I can't wait to knit up a sock with it. I did order another skein in a different color.

Last but not least, I just had to buy Lanas Puras Melosa yarn in the Desert Bloom color. I got it from One Planet Yarn and Fiber to make the Boing scarf from Knitspot.com. I got the kit which gives you the yarn and the pattern. They were great to deal with. I just have to find the time to cast on for the scarf.

Well, back to the socks tomorrow and hopefully I will finish the second pair of both by the end of next week. Second sock syndrome? Not me!