Saturday, June 17, 2006

We Will, We Will, SOCK YOU!

Apologies to Queen. I've been spending too many nights at the ball games this week, hearing the "thump-thump-clap" over the loudspeaker. The baseball's been good, and the knitting even better. Here's the latest finished pair of sockies...

Ok, I know that's only one anklet, but trust me, there's another one. I just thought it would look better photographed "on-foot", and it was tricky enough getting that shot! Not to mention I had to crop off my "Little Lotta" looking leg. Ma, these socks make my legs look fat! Maybe it's just me. Anyway, they are comfy, and right in time to have something to wear around the house. The yarn was Plymouth Sockotta, and I've got plenty left from one ball to make another pair. And I picked up a similar looking yarn this week in several other bright colors to make more anklets. Good summer knitting!

Now on deck, I mean "on the needles" is a pair of regular socks made from Trekking. Which reminds me, I have to pick up stitches around the heel flap before tonight's game. I got that far last night and it was too dark in our section of the stands to see very well. I actually had to stop knitting and fully concentrate on the ball game. At that point it was pretty much a blow-out, with the Loggers winning 14-2.

More tomorrow, when I will actually have a day where I don't have to be anywhere and do anything. Well, anything except dishes, and house cleaning, and other chores. Sigh...

Sunday, June 11, 2006

Here a Sock, There a Sock...

Hooray! I finally finished something! It's been a while. These socks are made from Lion Brand Magic Stripes yarn. They actually took 1.25 balls of yarn. I guess I made them a little longer than usual, or maybe it's the ribbing that eats up more yarn. About halfway through the knitting, I remembered that I had actually bought this yarn to make a fun baby sweater. Oh well, I'll try that another time. I used some of the heavier Regia yarn to make this baby sweater a few years ago, and I really like how it turned out. So, another fun sweater like this will have to wait until I can find some more fun stripey yarn. The Magic Stripes took forever to make a repeat. Everytime I thought I had it figured out, a new color came out of the ball. I shouldn't complain though - my current socks on the needles are in Trekking, and I understand that it "never" repeats!

I'm getting a lot of knitting done at the ball games. The last two nights it was cold in the stands, and when I finished a sock I seriously thought about wearing it as a mitten! I'm working on a pair of footie type socks now in Plymouth Sockotta. Not sure if I like the Sockotta, but the socks are turning out nice enough.

Finally, here is a picture of the new kitty, Lilly. I was thinking it was going to take months for her to get adjusted to being here, but just look!

She's making herself right at home, and is even coming around for petting. Rusty and Rollie are still not sure what to make of her. So far she's stayed out of their hair, but the more settled in she gets, the more interaction they're having. Sometimes it's good, sometimes noisy! At least the house is big enough that they can each claim their own space. Not the best picture of her, but rest assured, more will follow...

Sunday, June 04, 2006

Take Me Out to the Ballgame...

Baseball season in our area has officially begun. My brother and I have season tickets for the LaCrosse Loggers, a team in the Northwoods League. This league is a summer baseball league, made up of college ball players from across the country. Each team is operated similar to a professional minor league team, providing players an opportunity to play under the same conditions using wooden bats, minor league specification baseballs, experiencing overnight road trips, and playing nightly before fans in a stadium.

This is the fourth year for the team, and the games are fun to watch. They have the style of pro ball, but a hometown feel. Unfortunately, the team is not off to a great start this year, losing two out of the first three games. But it's early, and there's a lot of baseball yet to come.

Of course, I take my knitting with me to the ball games. Usually socks or other small projects. I almost have a pair of Lion Magic Stripes Socks finished, and hope to complete them at today's game. A picture will be posted as soon as they're done. I'm also working on some footies in Sockotta, which I'm not sure I like (the yarn), but they seem to be turning out all right.

The other big news is that I'm adopting another cat from the Coulee Region Humane Society. I thought that two cats were just fine, but I've always said I'd get another British Shorthair if I got the chance. This week, one showed up on their website, and I knew I had to rescue her. She's a pretty girl named Lilly. Her humane society photos don't do her justice, so look for more photos once she's here.