Ranting Knitter

Now that I am out of Sock Wars 3, I think I’ll still knit socks. Of course not for me, but as gifts.

Currently, I’m working on a toe-up pair for my mom. These socks were meant to be her birthday present, but that has since come and gone. I’m hopeful that I will finish and get them to her within the month. : )

The yarn is Cherry Tree Hill. This is my first time working with this yarn and I’m loving every minute of it. This yarn knits up great. Not to mention that the colorway is great: so bright and cheery - making the work all the more worthwhile.

I finally finished the Detonation Socks for Sock Wars 3. Unfortunately, not in time for me to be ‘killed.’ I’m officially out of the War. Bummer, I was hoping to last at least two rounds, but I’m happy to have finished the socks anyway.

My reaction: I’m not too impressed. This is more centered on the pattern, as well as the yarn. The pattern was a bit confusing. I spoke with a few other knitters in the War that gave me some pointers and suggestions. I also made contact with my Assassin who furthered these suggestions. At this point, I had already completed one sock. This sock was a complete mess; I was very disappointed with the results. Before attempting the second sock, I gathered the suggestions together and set about altering the pattern to make more sense and thus work for my socks. This helped immensely. I frogged the first sock.

I was not thrilled with knitting the Tofutsies yarn. For some reason, I had the hardest time working with this yarn. Others seem to have done well, which is good. I have no idea what my problem was. However, I mailed the completed socks to my Target, who praised them. She loved them; I’m very happy that she does. Well, enjoy them!!

As for my socks…..I received my socks without my knowing. [A long story that is too warped to tell]. My socks are FABULOUS! I really enjoy them! My Assassin did a truly amazing job - THANK YOU!! I am so impressed and so thrilled. The picture does them no justice. I will enjoy wearing them; you can tell she had fun knitting them, which makes all the difference.

As for Sock Wars, I love it. I think Sock Wars is a great idea that spreads across the globe. I am looking forward to next year. I’ll bring my A-Game.

But there is also Hat Attack…..

Sock Wars. I am also quite confused at this whole procedure.

The pattern was given to us a few days prior to our actual start date. The suggestion was made to be careful about knitting before receiving your Target. So, I waited. I read the pattern, saw that I could technically begin without knowing my Target’s sock size. But I waited.

Now, I stand four days into the War and about three-quarters of the way done with my FIRST sock. Yikes! As I’m knitting the pattern, I’m finding that I’m not seeing the actual pattern. AND, my gauge is off. Double yikes!!

I have read the discussions in the Boards. A few people tend to feel the same way, which is cool. I also heard that the pattern was off. Well, not one to frog, I’m leaving my sock three-quarters of the way done and just going to finish it.

My gauge is off. I can just tell my looking at it. My Target is a size smaller than me. And yet, these socks are looking a bit big. I knitted gauge in the beginning, only to discover that I was knitting too small. I’m now making the sock with the larger needles to no avail. Oh boy….

I am sharing the sock with you. It is knitted with Tofutsies, which is recommended.

I’m also sharing pics of my new Lexie Barnes bag. So cute! I didn’t have time to sew one of my own and then I found this one. Almost the right size!

I am debating on what to do: clean house, put stuff on ebay, knit the socks while watching a movie, or workout. The choices are making me insane!!

Thank God knitting is tonight!

Happy Cinco de Mayo! I am SO happy it’s a decent holiday to celebrate. Not that excuses are needed. I just feel it more when the rest of the world is in on the celebrating. More excitement in the air, similar to that feeling prior to a thunderstorm; lots of negative ions.

I had lunch with a person that is now becoming a good friend. He’s great to lean on for support and good thoughts. And there are NO STRINGS. I love that care free feeling. Him and I are in the same line of work and interestingly enough, have the same feelings and opinions. I find this great, that there are others out there that feel along the same lines as I do. Of course that is always a great feeling to encounter, thus how friendships are born.

After leaving any sort of discussion with this friend, I always seem to ponder certain things in my life, such as what I should be doing, what I want to be doing, and what interests me. On the car ride home, I was stuck on one word: creativity. So, with the music blastin’ and my windows rolled down, I thought long and hard about this one word. I have always wanted to write a book. Not sure where I will go with it when I sit down, however, I always wanted to be a published author with a few books under me. A personal goal of mine for the past 20 years or so.

I should get in the habit of taking a voice recorder with me at all times. There are numerous times I develop this incredible concept, only to have it forgotten when I finally have the time to write anything down.

I recently discovered that SARK is going to be in Massachusetts, which is in driving distance. She will be doing a three-day conference on her upcoming book, ‘Juicy Pens Thirsty Paper.’ I would LOVE to attend this conference. I feel it is what I need to give me that kick start. Unfortunately, funds are an issue right now, and I do not find myself able to attend.

I know I should have posted this blog a bit ago, in celebration of Cinco de Mayo. However, I am proving a point that I have been writing, just not posting. I’ll get on a good schedule soon enough. ; )

I cannot believe that I have not written ONE THING for the month of April. Something Freudian going on? Doubtful. I utilized the past month to concentrate more on me. Yes, I should have been writing all along, but honestly, I wasn’t feeling anything. I came up with a few ideas here and there, but nothing really stuck.

I will tell you what I did find: photography. In particular, black and white photography. I enrolled in a class where I am able to develop my own prints. I am quite intrigued and would thoroughly enjoy doing this for the rest of my life, provided that I gain more of a clue as to what I am doing.

Photography may very well be the next best thing for me. Not proclaiming myself as the next Ansel Adams, I do enjoy art and if I am able to create art (other than knitting) well, hell, then why not?

I am not putting my knitting aside. Actually, I signed up for Sock Wars 3 - I am so nervous!! But, I am thoroughly looking forward to it. I can just hear myself now: turning down a date because I have to knit a pair of socks before I am assassinated! What a great excuse!!

My knitting has picked up some (no pun intended). Within reason. I am sure there are many knitters out there that always wish they could knit more. I am one of them. I’ll be more than happy just to finish at least one project a month. My secret? Netflix and Podcasts. I have a pathetic number of movies in my Queue, as well as a number of subscriptions to podcasts. Of course there are a few on photography. ; )

Speaking of…I need to figure out my gauge for Sock Wars 3….

A few months ago, there was an article depicting the next great place to meet a mate: an Apple Store. I thought this was hysterical. This day and age, there is much possibility behind it. However, how is it any different than the grocery store? Apparently, an Apple Store will determine more of the character of the person, as opposed to the type and kind of loaf of bread purchased.

Hmmm…we could be onto something. And if I were doing a thesis, this would be it: determine the correlation in character based on the individual’s loaf of bread as compared to hanging out in an Apple Store and the products purchased at said store.

I would love to see the results. My guess: we’re all tech-crazed, tree-huggin’ vegetarians that where Birkenstocks all the time. But hell, that’s just my guess.

So now that an Apple Store is the current dating hot spot, and all the store employees will be deciphered by shirt color, where is the man with the fire-engine red shirt that just says ‘heartthrob’?

Okay, my mistake. I had the dates mixed up regarding Earth Hour. My deepest. Seriously. I could easily have looked at a calendar, but I had the utmost faith in the site I was reading. My bad…..

Did anyone honor Earth Hour? Just curious. I did…I was reading by candlelight; which was pretty cool, actually. Then again, I managed to stay up until 3am reading my book. I haven’t done that in ages! Felt good to be selfish for a night.

So tell me what you did while honoring Earth Hour.

Okay peeps. Here it is: Earth Hour.

The details: March 31, beginning at 8pm; shut off all electricity for one hour.

One hour!! Let’s do it!

After having just done my taxes, I realize I am getting a refund. A decent amount, though not as big as last year. Of course don’t ask me where any of that ‘more money’ went. I am still working on paying down debt. Thus, this refund is already gone - it will be used to pay off some debt.

As I was gathering my paperwork necessary for tax preparation, I came across this article. I never realized how taxes are truly bizarre . There are places to deduct gambling losses (I suppose the pro being that you claim the winnings). This got me thinking. I remember a few years back when people wished to claim weight-loss efforts on their taxes, but were denied. As well, those that made attempts to quit smoking were also denied any sort of tax deduction. How frustrating. And sad.

However, the Government is getting a tad better and allowing those that make green purchases to be claimed. Hybrid vehicles are the most popular, however, green improvements to homes is also seeing a rise in being deducted.

So why can’t we claim our gardens? We are not taxing the economy by purchasing and growing our own. We are showing that we are becoming more self-sufficient; something that seems more and more necessary as this economy begins to slowly unwind.

I really enjoy hearing stories such as this one. I also think the time has come for changes pertaining to more greener and cleaner productions to occur. I am quite relieved, actually, that Habitat for Humanities is taking such an initiative. And to discover that building a greener home that has also utilized recycled materials is an added bonus.

I like this type of story….a nice, happy ending for the Earth (which means, all of us).