Dave's New Toy

For the longest time, Dave has been wanting a flat screen tv.  For just as long a time, I've been telling him to get one.  He finally took the plunge last week, and bought a 55 inch flat screen tv from Sears.  I guess he finally decided the price was right.  We cleared everything off the coffee table, and pushed it into the corner, so he could set up it all up (we plan to get a real corner tv table, with a back mount, just haven't found one yet).  He loves it, and I must confess I love it too.  We turned to The Learning Channel hoping to see what a nature show looks like on it, and we were not disappointed.  They were playing one of those deep-sea fishing shows, and the waves of the ocean looked simply amazing!
Later, Dave decided to register for the free trial of NetFlix that comes with the tv.  Out of their vast sellection of programs, you'll never guess what Dave chose for his first show to watch...Futurama.  Really, Dave?  What is it with men and these cartoons?
After we find just the right tv table or cabinet, I'll share a picture using MY new toy, a new Cannon camera!  After we had decided to buy the tv, as we were checking out, I noticed this camera locked up in a glass case.  Turns out, they were selling last year's demo cameras at quick sale prices.  I got this beautiful camera for only $87.97!  Yes!  A Cannon camera for under $100?  You bet, I want it!

Change Of Plans

Yes, folks, it's only been two days, and I've already changed my mind about finishing the tee shirt.  In fact, I had changed my mind almost immediately.  While going though my WIP's to find the shirt, I was distracted by a lovely blanket I'd started two months ago.  I can't tell you much about it, because if I can finish it in time, I'm going to enter it in the crafts exhibit at this year's fair.  According to the rules, if the judges know who crafted an item, the item is disqualified.  I don't know who the judges are, but in case any of them are reading this blog, I don't want to give it away.  I'll tell you all about it, pattern and yarn, after the judging is over.   Of course, that all depends on whether or not I finish it in time.

Overwhelmed

I don't know what's going on with me.  For the last couple of weeks, I seem to be frozen in an unsettled daze.  I need to get my knitting needles back in gear.  I just know that's the key to getting my spirit back. I love my books and magazines, my yarn and needles, my hooks and threads, but none of that brings me joy if I don't use them.  Instead, they become a sourse of guilt, and a reminder of goals unrealized. 
Last year, when I planned my Woolie Ewe year end sale shopping trip, I did it differently.  Instead of going in there and buying for the sake of buying, I played it smart.  I picked out several projects from my Ravelry queue, figured out the amount of yarn I needed for my size, and entered that amount on my list.  Using my Ravelous phone app, I was able to recall that list as I shopped.  I used this app to buy only the yarn I needed to complete the three sweaters I most wanted to knit, plus a cardigan for Dave.  Yay!  A plan, right? Guess what?  I started one of the sweaters, got distracted, started a scarf for an instant gratification fix, set that to the side, then started haphazardly working on different unfinished WIP's (for those non-Ravelry members out there, a WIP is a work in progress). 
Before I knew it, Summer was here, and I hadn't finished anything.  Having lost my desire to work with wool yarn, I decided to start a summer project.  I found a simple top-down, one piece in the round tee shirt pattern on Knitty.com, and ordered some Cotlin, a beautiful cotton/linen yarn from Knitpicks.  I almost made it with this project, but once again, my work remains unfinished.  There's really no excuse for this one.  All I have to do is finished the sleeves and this one's done.  Hmm...maybe I should get this one back out.  Finishing a project might be just the thing that gets me past this slump.  I'll let ya'll know...

Independance Day

Last night, Dave and I went to our city's annual Celebrate America event and fireworks show.  Today, we're spending a nice, relaxing forth of July at home.  While he's grilling up our steaks, I just wanted to pop in here and wish everyone a very happy and safe Independance Day! Have fun, but please take a few moments to reflect on what this day really means for Americans.

Dave's Hand Knit Socks

Since the year I learned to knit socks, a new tradition has formed. Dave gets a new pair of hand knit socks every Christmas. It didn't start this way. I knit my first pair of socks using Silver's online sock tutorial. I was so mezmarized by the process, and beyond delighted with the fact that I had knit a real sock...with my own two hands! Words just can't describe the feeling of accomplishment that gave me. For the next several months, socks were all I wanted to knit. By the end of the year, I had knit socks for all my sisters, nieces, and, of course, my husband. I had finished Dave's pair as fall was approaching, so he wore that first pair a lot. Each night, before he settled in to gather his news for the next day's broadcast, he'd put on those socks. He loved them so much, I made him a pair for Christmas, and that was the start of our new tradition. Below, are photos of the socks I've knit for Dave though the years.

It all started in 2006. Sadly, I don't have a picture of that first pair, but if you'll imagine these socks in green with tan heels and toes, you'll have a mental picture of Dave's first hand knit pair of socks.  I made the pair pictured above in 2009 for our anniversary, using the simple stockenette starter pattern from the book, Knit socks.  This book, by Betsy Lee McCarthy is the perfect book for beginner sock knitters.

By Christmas of 2007, I was brave enough to knit dress socks, and using thinner yarn.  This pattern, called  Gentlemans Sock with Lozenge Pattern, is from the book, Knitting Vintage Socks, by Nancy Bush

I knitted this worsted weight pair in 2008, using a pattern from Favorite Socks, an Interweave Press book, compiling patterns from several different designers.  This pattern is called Two Yarn Resoleable socks, designed by Wayne Pfeffer, adapted by Anne Merrow.  I highly recommend this book.  Sometimes I get it down just to look at the lovely photography (yes, pictures of socks can be quite lovely).

2009 was the year for another pair of dress socks.  I knit these using a pattern I found on Ravelry, called Gentleman Socks, published in the blog, Fiber Fool, by Kristi Shueler.  Beautiful pattern, but this picture doesn't do it justice.  I was saving these for Dave's Christmas gift, but wanted a photo for my Ravelry project page, so I modeled them myself, thus the ill fit.

Another worsted weight sock for 2010.  This pattern is called Bulky Boot Socks, and can be found in The Little Box Of Socks by Charlene Schurch and Beth Parrott.  This, so far, is Dave's favorite pair.

This is the latest pair, and happens to be my favorite.  In fact, I'd label this as another pride and joy project.  The pattern is called Best Foot Forward, another design that can be found in the book, Knit Socks, by Betsy Lee McCarthy.  I modified this pattern just a little bit, by using larger needles than the book calls for.  The largest size is a mens medium, and Dave needs a large.  The size 5 needles and worsted weight yarn made that possible.

Hoya Bloom Share

As promised, here are the photos of my different blooming hoyas.

Hoya Shephardii (String Bean Plant).  I bought this one from ebay, along with two other varieties.  Sadly this is the only one that survived, but the good news is that its growing strong, and has now began to produce blooms.

Hoya Carnosa (Wax Plant).  This one is the most well known of the hoya plants, and the most readily available.  I think I got this one from Home Depot, but they also sell them at Lowes and Walmart.

Hoya Carnosa Compacta (Hindu Rope Plant).  Hindu Rope plant blooms are very similar to those of the Wax plant.  I'm assuming it's because they're both from the Carnosa family, but that's just a guess on my part.

Hoya Pubicalyx.  As beautiful as ever.  I got this plant from a fellow davesgarden.com member, when I first became interested in hoyas.  Gardeners are such generous people.

Leaving you with one more Wax plant picture, just cause it's purdy :)

Hope you enjoyed seeing them as much as I enjoyed taking them.

Almost Done!

We haven't put the pictures back on the walls yet, but the painting is finished, and the furniture back in place!  Love it!!