All in the Family

DH is off on the first leg of his adventure.  He flew out yesterday and arrived safely at Fort Jackson, SC to “re-green” as the Army quaintly calls the program to bring people who have been

 out for a little while back up to mission ready.  He expects to be there for a

 couple weeks before actually going to Alaska.  Today is a down day because of the holiday, so he is doing a kind of “trip down memory lane” as he visits the site of his original basic training.  His big plans today were to go to the PX and visit the work-out room. 

The kitties and I have been rattling around a little bit.  Zelda has been doing some serious moping and clinging to me, Saucey is more used to the occasional coming and going, so she is more relaxed.  I suspect she and I will start moping more down the road.

BUT…

The toe-up striped socks are finished!  They definitely have their own distinct look.  See?

Here’s all three pair that came from the two balls of Noro Kureyon Sock yarn.  (Colors S185 and S180) 

You can sure see the family resemblance between all three pair, yet none of the six socks are exactly identical.  I love this yarn.  I just recently got hints from someone about getting her own pair…. Is there any better excuse to shop for yarn?

This picture probably captures the colors best...

Since I already wear the other two pair a lot, I’m glad to have a third to put into the rotation.  Now I won’t have to fret so much when I haven’t had time to wash socks!

AND…

I finished (drum roll please)... the Santa Cruz Hoodie for DD#1. Here’s a kind of bad self portrait I took using the mirror.  

This is for you sweetie

This thing is really big on me, but she wanted it big and comfy.  I think it will fit her exactly like she wanted. 

Pattern: Santa Cruz Hoodie from Knit 2 Together by Tracey Ulman and Mel Clark (Largest given size)

Yarn: Cascade Quatro in color 5018 (Body) and Cascade 220 in color 8892 (sleeves)

Size 9 and 11 circular needles / size 9 dpn

Pattern Mods: knit body and sleeves in round to start of raglan shaping

My knitting goals for the week are to finish the other Horseshoe cable sock, finish the MIL sweater, swatch for my top-down sweater and maybe my squirrely mittens.  But maybe that’s a little ambitious…

Basket Making and Finished Socks

Whew! Having my DH around an extra day this weekend is like work. Saturday was all about him. I love him dearly, but he expects me to entertain him sometimes. I got all my pics uploaded yesterday, but he started protesting the lack of attention due to me being on the computer, so I didn’t get a chance to post anything. This morning we got the car serviced and went out to breakfast which was nice. Then we walked around the mall some to work off the breakfast and looked at all the sales.

We had lots of fun basket making. My one friend didn’t make it down because her husband surprised her by coming home on his 2 week leave from his tour on Iraq. We voted on it and decided that was the one excuse that we’d let her get away with. Nonetheless, even DH got into the action at the basket making because our consultant let him make her basket so she could take pictures of everyone else making theirs. The basket actually has handles, but I took this picture before the handles got added and got too busy shopping after. (got some great stuff for gifts!) I'll have to post another better one later.

On the knitting front, I finished the SWS socks and snail hat. The SWS Socks came out with more of the tan than pink. I probably should have knit from the outside of the ball where all the pink was. Oh, well, they are still pretty.
I don’t have a picture of the snail hat since I just finished it last night while the Colts gave it up to San Diego. I decided I probably won’t do anymore of that snail hat pattern because it requires too much paying attention and since I’m trying to make at least 20 hats, that means no fiddly patterns.

Did I mention “entertaining” my DH is basically sitting and watching sports with him? I don’t mind baseball so much, but football and basketball….eeeh.
Right now he’s watching old war movies. I think his lack-o-attention meter will expire in about 20 minutes.

So for those who served our country…. Thank you. If you know someone who served or see someone in uniform-Thank them.