I was planning to cast on two pairs of socks. Instead I cast on one pair. twice.

I LOVE this yarn but I may never find a sock pattern that is a good match for it. I keep trying.
Dianthus Superbus Socks – Take 1 in yarn hand painted by me. ew.

Dianthus Superbus Socks – Take 2 in Deep Ocean Dragonfly Fibers Dragon Sock. ahhh. much better.

The pattern makes me think of waves, so this yarn really is a much better fit all around.

Also on the needles is a Gentleman’s Fancy Sock for The Husband in Solemate

Colorway is “Bigger on the Inside” but I tried it on his foot and it fit just fine.

Ps. To see what other folks are working on, go check out Tami’s Amis.

Tags: Dianthus superbus Socks, Gentleman's Fancy Socks, hunter hammersen, knit, knitting, Nancy Bush, socks, WIP Wednesday

According to the blog, it looks like I may not have done resolutions in 2012. How unlike me. But, I guess that means I did them all, so yay!
This year, I’d like to:
1. Knit one pair of socks two at a time.
2. Knit with 5 yarns I’ve not tried before.
3. Learn to cook 10 new healthy dishes.
4. Increase my machine sewing comfort level (from you know, almost none).
5. Work on hand quilting. My current skill leaves something to be desired and I’m thinking about something like these for a 2014 project.


6. Do NOT buy any more items for wrapping gifts. My gift-wrapping supply inventory is starting to make my yarn stash seem sane.
7. Continue to enjoy driving my all electric Nissan Leaf. Spend all the oil change and gasoline money saved on more yarn!
8. Pay more attention to the garden. More tomatoes. Less basil.
9. Read a few classics (3+) via audio books from the library.
10. Blog at least 6 times per month.
11. Optional: Hunt down and buy a hank of Schaefer Yarn (leaning Heather) since there will be no more.
12. Optional: Knit a cranberry and popcorn garland for the tree next year. (might just end up making a real one if I run out of time. ahem. you know, like, if I spend the whole year knitting socks.)

13. Have a very happy 2013! I wish you all a fantastic year!!!

Ps. If these are your photos and you’d like them removed, pls just let me know. I did link back to what I believe are the original owners so check them out if you’ve a mind. :)

Tags: cathedral window quilt, knitting, New Year's Resolutions, popcorn and cranberry garland

Ran and walked the Zombie 5k last Saturday. To summarize, you are wearing 3 flags on a belt and you run through “kill fields” where zombies try to steal your flags and do obstacles (crawling under things, going through a building with live electric wires hanging down, wading through water/mud). If you get to the end with at least one flag, you “survived”. If not, you’re a Zombie! It seemed like a good thing to do just before I turned 35 to say, I’m hip, I’m young, I’m in good shape and if there’s a zombie apocalypse, I’m at least partially ready.

I was able to check a few things off my life list:
1. Shower in muddy water with 30 other mostly clothed people. The guy shampooing his hair in the muddy stream of water will forever mystify me.
2. Change clothes in a tent with 30-40 women I don’t know.
3. Use a port o’ potty in the dark.
4. Get electrocuted (I did not realize the very last obstacle was electrified, so, as I crawled on the ground under a fence, I felt something and thought, “was that barbed wire against my back?”. It happened again and I realized “nope, that’s what electricity feels like”)
5. Complete the majority of Zombie 5k with my plastic-bag covered wallet in hand (I just could not be comfortable leaving my credit cards, drivers license and cash at the gear check).

6. Make peace with the fact that I’m like that.


I also learned a few things:
1. If you’re running in mud and you want to pull your foot out without losing your shoe in the mud, turn your foot from side to side to loosen it/release the suction before pulling it out.
2. As a child, I climbed trees. I did not practice running up steep muddy hills where there is nothing to use for traction. If you plan to survive the Apocalypse, this is a skill you should work on. Also, cleets and gloves are not a bad idea.
3. I thought that I was going to be really competitive, but it turns out that when faced with the choice of giving up a flag and thus maybe not “surviving” the race, or certain bodily harm, I opted for “death”. Thus, I lost all my flags by the end of the second mile and finished the race having left no blood on the course.
4. I wore all red to try to hide my red flags. This strategy did not work. I think it attracted the zombies….just a little tip for the apocalypse from me to you.

5. Trying to meet up with friends in a place with no cell phone reception is no picnic. Thus, when I saw them (they were screaming my name), there are a lot of pictures of me running towards them looking like I’ve just won a gold medal. Also, they were nice enough to take my wallet prior to this.

After a mud-shower and fresh clothes, we got a bite to eat. Turning into a zombie made me hungry…for BRAINS!!!

Tags: Run for your Lives, zombie, zombies