Frogging (sorry Fredrick-no offense)

After THREE trips to the frog pond, I am finally getting a good start on my Harvest Sock Swap pal's sock!! I finally gave up on all of my patterns and made a trip to one of my favorite LYS's and looked at patterns, and--the trip was well worth it!! I found THE pattern! It is knitting up beautifully with the yarn I picked!! Unfortunately, I have to work tomorrow, so won't get to knit anymore until tomorrow night when I get off work :( I can't wait to start a pair of these socks for myself, as I bought myself a skein of the same yarn. I wish I could post pics, but the pattern and yarn must be kept secret until my partner receives her package...sigh!!

Harvest Sock Swap Revisited

Now that the shower is done, and I have finished all of my projects for our Lyllie, I can start my sock for my Harvest Sock Swap pal. I went and bought the yarn today, and it is so pretty, I had to buy a skein for myself as well. It reminds me of driving along the Mighty Mississppi in fall and looking at all the beautiful colors of the leaves. OK--that is the only hint I am giving as to the yarn. I cast on tonight, and got through two rounds of the pattern, and hated the pattern--so off to the frog pond that went. Now I am delving back into searching for a pattern. I have a couple in mind that I think will work much better with the yarn, so tomorrow I will cast on again!! I want the yarn and pattern to be a surprise, so will not post pictures until after the package is received by my swap partner. I also found the neatest gifts to send her that I think she will love!! So sock partner Sheryl--hang on--your package will be coming fairly soon!!!

I have also cast on a beautiful cable sweater for Ryder that I am doing in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK in a teal color. It is so pretty--well, handsome--guess I can't put pretty on a boy, right? LOL!! Will post pics of that soon! But for this next week I am going to be working on the sock. I also have four pairs of socks for myself right now that don't have mates, so gotta work on that Second Sock Syndrome once I get my swap partner's sock done.

Also, I just checked my status on Ravelry, and there are 1472 people in front of me, and 13,251 behind me, so....I am moving up in the line...I wonder how much longer it will be...
I signed up on September 14, and was #32,814 on the list...so I feel I have moved up fairly quickly. Bless whoever took on that huge project!!!

Autumn

I really love fall--I think it is probably my most favorite season. and I am loving having my deck and balcony...I have embarked on a new hobby--birdfeeding. My grandma used to love to feed the birds and watch them all through the year, but I think she mostly enjoyed them in the winter. My mom and dad also have feeders in their yard, and when we were down visiting them, it was so fun to watch them come to feed--they had some beautiful yellow finches that came by everyday. So last week, I went shopping for birdfeeders and birdseed. I have never had a place before where I could actually put up feeders and be able to see the birds, so now I have my deck with my big sliding patio doors right off my living room, and I can see my little feathered visitors from my knitting spot and from my computer desk. So far I have had a few wrens and a couple of black capped chickadees. I know I will have cardinals at some point, because I have seen a pair of cardinals around the apartment building off and on all summer. I have also had squirrels. I didn't think they could get to my feeders, but this morning one was sitting right on top of my barn feeder!! I know from searching the internet it is hard to keep them away from birdfeeders, so I thought the next best thing would be to set out a bowl of squirrel feed and peanuts for them--if I keep them happy on the ground, maybe they will leave my feeders alone. There are two that have been running and playing and eating on my deck all day. When they first saw the cats and the dog, they would run away, but they have already figured out that the cats and dog can't get to them, so now they sit right in front of the window and play and eat. It has had Roxy in a tiz all day...she is going nuts wanting to get at them. I figure it's enjoyment for Roxy and the cats as well as for myself. Anyway--the pics of the birds and the squirrels are not the greatest because I was taking them from inside my house through the sliding doors with no flash on. I really love the pic of my little black capped chickadee, and the one of the cat watching the squirrel.

On the knitting front...I am off for the weekend, have my house cleaned and my laundry done...so this weekend I am going to get all the baby stuff done for Aimee's baby shower. It is next Saturday, and I have to work 3 12 hour shifts in a row next week, and then get the house ready for out of town visitors...Aimee doesn't know it but my mom and sister-in-law are coming for the baby shower, as well as my best friend who lives in southern Minnesota--we have been friends for 20 years, and our kids all grew up together--so I will have a house full in my little one bedroom apartment!!! Anyway--this weekend is for knitting.

After the baby shower, I can start my sock for my Harvest Sock Swap 07 partner. I have the pattern picked out, but have to find the yarn...so once I get all the baby stuff done--I get to go to my favorite LYS and buy yarn--YEAH!!!!! Not like I need an excuse to go there-LOL!!! I have been collecting other goodies to send in with the sock and yarn...I'm glad she is so understanding and patient with me that I haven't started her sock yet.

That's about it for an update this week...I hope that by tomorrow night, Iwill be able to post pics of the other sweater set I am making for our little Lyllie!!!