My Sock Obsession

I've decided to come clean and show you how this sock in progress is taking over. Let me introduce you to my socks.

1. The white one with stripes is a cotton/wool blend that I started so I would have something to knit while watching Harry Potter #5. (Yes I knit during the movies, in the dark)

2. The pair at the bottom right hand corner is a pair made with Patons Kroy for my sister. With any luck she'll get them this Christmas.

3. The sock at the bottom in the middle has an intricate cable pattern so it is unsuitable for movie watching or while driving over speed bumps and pot holes. One day I'll get to it.

4. The unusual sock at the top is what happens when your teen DD tells you that mismatched socks at the in thing at school. Remember all that small ball of sock yarn left over from knitting a pair? I told DD that I'd make her a pair that was really mismatched. This is the second pair of socks from the left overs. I call them my memory socks as I remember each pair of sock that I knit with the leftovers.

5. The blue and gray sock sticking out is part my Ravenclaw Socks that I'm making for my swap pal. Gotta keep it hush hush :) But I will say that the rest of the sock is MUCH nicer than the bottom of the foot.

6. The bright sock, on the left, some of you may remember as my official traveling sock. I started her while in Aus this past May. I finished her yesterday so now I'll need another traveling sock....problem is... I don't travel that often.....

I've given up expecting socks made from hand painted yarns to be identical. Perfection is only a matter of perception and true beauty in is individualism. That and next time I use hand paint yarns from 50g skeins, I'll be sure to cast on both socks at once.

Okay, I've got 6 socks on the go.....5 really since you remember I finished a pair. So do I have a problem? Should I seek help? Has reading the Yarn Harlot's blog on a regular basis done something to me? Do I just have a bad case of startitis? Is this normal??? I ask myself all these questions then I remember........

Yes....you are not imagining this....two more pairs of socks in progress. AND if I'm really honest, somewhere in this house there are two pairs of socks that I started for DH. This list doesn't even include non sock WIPs......... I blame Georgie for this need to reveal my WIP....I really hope that DH doesn't read this entry......cause he'll be looking for those socks of his.

Until next time

Yours in Yarn,

The Fibreholic

Bloomin' Onion Revealed

I was supposed to go to dinner and a movie last Tuesday. But it didn't quite work out that way. We saw Bourne Ultimatum...or rather I saw it. The camera work was quite jittery....meaning it looked as if the camera man was running down the street, after the car chase, while filming. He was able to watch about 40 minutes of the film before he had to leave. At least he didn't get sick like the time we rented The Blair witch Project. Needless to say, we didn't go out to dinner.

Fast forward to last Saturday night. I took him to see a non jittery movie (I wanted to see Harry Potter again). And then on to the Outback. While this restaurant would leave you to believe they are and Australian themed establishment....they don't fool me for a moment. Other than the didgeridoos all over the place, the photos of Aus on the walls, the creative food names and the posters of prints from the National Gallery....there is nothing Aussie about them....Oh wait, perhaps in the world of restaurants that is enough.

I had a Bloomin' Onion. It is a large onion creatively cut into a flower shape, battered, deep fried and served with horseradish sauce. If onions are technically a vegetable, then I suppose it was a healthy choice.....

Yes I took pictures of my food. I guess that DH is used to my crazy blog addiction now as he turned the plate around to give me the best shot. After 18 years with me, he has come to just accept my oddities.

Now for the best part of the meal....dessert....I don't care if it's not Australian....it's so good. I present to you all.....The Chocolate Thunder from Down Under!!!!!!

Sitting in a pool of chocolate sauce is a brownie topped with a scoop of ice cream and then a scoop of whipped cream. Silly waitress asked if we wanted two spoons with this. I married a man who doesn't like chocolate...yes it's true...he is part alien.....but it also means I don't have to share.

Back to the needles for me today, I'm designing a shadow scarf for a class that I'm going to teach this fall.

Until next time

Yours in Yarn,

The Fibreholic

Sun, Sand and Surf

What a day we had. First thing in the am DH loaded up the cooler with enough sandwiches to feed an army...how he thought we would eat all those is beyond me. I'm glad that I forgot the can opener so I wasn't tempted to make the 5 cup salad on the spot.

On the road to Sandbanks Provincial Park. With a little rearranging of seating assignments things went a little more smoothly. Putting the younger two behind the teen in the van eliminated many problems.....for the most of the trip.

Then came the last mile (or several miles....sorry I should say kilometers). I should start off by saying....young teens are weird. I should know....I was a young teen once and I was weird. During the last little bit of the trip.....she decided to get VERY weird. But on the good side she wasn't fighting with the 8 and 6 year old.

So planning to spend the day in the sun you would think that sunscreen would have been on the shopping list. No. Not to worry we'll just stop along the way. In order to get to the park you must drive through the town of Picton. That's okay we'll stop here for sunscreen. DH is doing his best not to hit the tourists/lemmings crossing the street. We arrive at the Park....you guessed it...without sunscreen.

Teenage DD: If we die of skin cancer, it will be both your fault. It will be more Dad's fault than Mom's though.

I'm feeling that somehow I should take comfort in this. DH and I are saved as there is a grocery store in the park selling overpriced sunscreen.

We found a spot in the shade where I could sit in my chair and knit. Normally, at home, I would be disturbed several times. But the kids spent most of the time in the water and couldn't care less that I was enjoying myself thus feeling the need to ruin my fun. I did go in the water once but having to walk a mile to get deep enough to swim, isn't my idea of fun. (okay so I didn't have to walk a mile...but you get the idea)....Even the sock had fun. (I took this while the teen was in the water to avoid any emotional scaring.)
A wonderful day was had by all. That is until the teen took a shower before bed to get the sand out of her hair. She came downstairs.....
DD: AHHHHHH! Look at how red I am. I'm burnt all over.
ME: Did put on any sunscreen?
DD: No.....
ME: Well then......

Now I know that you are asking yourself....Isn't she the one who was going to blame her parents for skin cancer....Yup...that's her!

So until next time
Yours in Yarn,
The Fibreholic

Visiting my own City

You've heard all the tourist ads...be a tourist in your own town...well this summer we've got to. If you are wondering why. check out what it costs to fly to Aus.

Yesterday we went to see the changing of the guard on Parliament Hill. This is done by the Governor General's Foot Guard. You can see their official website here.

The procession is headed up with the band followed by the rest of the guard. The Sock wanted to see what was going on.

While you can't really see it, behind all those furry hats, the parade square is lined with people. The show lasts for 30 minutes and my DD who has learnt drill in cadets decided to inform everyone around us what maneuvers they were doing whether we wanted to know or not. The changing of the guard is quite popular in Ottawa (I think that fact that it's free has something to do with it) so everyone was out that morning.

If you look very close....no closer I don't have a zoom feature on my camera....there is a brown spot in the grass. That is a gopher who appeared from no where and freaked out. It ran along the edge of the parade square in front of the spectators finally scaring one poor lady by running pass her. Parliament Hill is very close to the Byward Market so I think that the poor animal just wanted to go to some trendy cafe for brunch before picking up the concert tickets he won on the local radio station.

Not wanting to deal with the line-ups for tours of the Parliament buildings, we headed down the East side of the Hill to go to our next stop. Along the way we found The Famous Five. They are statue number 3. "These women won the "Persons" Case, a 1929 court ruling which legally declared women as persons under the British North America Act and made them eligible for appointment to the Canadian Senate." And as we're now legally declared persons, if we want to knit....we can....

On it was to the Royal Canadian Mint. BAH!!!! they had to take a vacation when DH does so the tour would consists of looking at machines just sitting there....doing NOTHING. What's the fun in that? Woolworth was hoping to get his picture taken with the solid gold brick in the gift shop. (they let you touch and try to lift it). But taking photos is not allowed and the big burly guard was not one to be crossed. So Woolworth had to be content with getting his face on an RCMP quarter.

Back to the car, then we're homeward bound. On the way we passed by the entrance to the National Gallery of Canada. There is oldest DD off to the side because she's too cool, DS trying to climb the spider's leg (another burly guard told him to get down) and this is what DH and second DD were looking at in the middle. A spider complete with egg sack. Okay that's enough of Ottawa for today....

Until next time,

Yours in Yarn,

The Fibreholic

A Day of Surprises

Yawn!!!!! I roll over and snuggle up to DH........

DH: Happy Birthday

ME: Happy Anniversary....(yup we got married on my birthday)

DH: There is someone staring at you.

I look around wearily expecting to see one of the kids.

ME: There is no one here. (Go back to snuggle position)

DH: There is a pair of brown eyes staring at you.

Now you've got to remember that I'm half asleep and can't see straight yet. I again look around the room.

ME: There is no one looking at me.

DH: There is a pair of brown eyes staring at you.

I rub my eyes, determined to find this pair of brown eyes. I roll over and sure enough I found the pair of brown eyes staring at me.

I start laughing my head off because this is what DH got me.

Sheep:HI

ME:Hello?????

Sheep: My name is Woolworth.

ME: Woolworth?

Woolworth: Yes, that's right. I should also let you know that I'm a merino sheep.

ME: I don't believe it.

Woolworth: Honestly, my name is Woolworth.

ME: No, I don't believe that you're a merino.

Woolworth: Perhaps not, but I'm cute enough to get away with it.

DH adopted a Serta Sheep in my name. The money goes to the Children's Hospitals in Canada via the Children's Miracle Network. It looks like the adventures with Woolworth begin.

As I mentioned in my last post, I spent the better part of the day at the Knit-Out in Ottawa. I volunteered to help out at the Learn to Knit table. I taught how to cast on, changing colours, and a few other techniques but what made my day worth while was ten year old Jacob.Jacob picked up how to knit straight away and knit several rows while he was there. I was so impressed....sniff sniff He just made me so proud. His mom put in an order for a scarf this Christmas.

Woolworth had to get in on the action, so I pulled out the sock...

I introduced Woolworth to a couple of knitting friends and the conversation went down hill from there. From the topic of misbehaving Serta Sheep it went to knitting names for cats to rudely placed bobbles on sweaters. I have a feeling that Woolworth and Lulu are somehow related.

The day ended all to quickly and my clan came to get me. While DH and the kids prepared kabobs for the BBQ, I put together my other gift...a Muskoka chair. This is something I've wanted for a while as it's nice and roomy with a place to put my drink on the armrest. It's my knit outdoors in comfort chair.

On Tuesday DH and I will head out to see Bourne Ultimatum. Because one....I loved the other two movies and two (and perhaps most importantly) it is starring Matt Damon. He is also taking me to dinner to the Outback. This is an Australian themed restaurent complete with didgeridoos along the wall. Funny this is their signature dish is a blooming onion which I'm told by Taph is NOT an Australian dish......but it is GOOD!!!!!

So the secret to a good birthday......spread it over several days. :)

Until next time

Yours in Yarn

The Fibreholic

Happy Un-Birthday

Today is my Un-Birthday....tomorrow I turn 29 .......again.....Yeah, I'll admit it...I have an "issue" with my real age. So what will I do???? I'm glad you asked....

The Sock and I'll be at Ottawa's second annual Knit-Out...What a way to celebrate my birthday. At the last guild meeting, I sat down with Wendy (the special events coordinator). She handed me a flyer and I said "I can't think of a nicer way to spend my birthday." She wrote my name down on her official clip board.
ME: So what did I volunteer for?
Wendy: Any number of things....
I'll be working at the teaching table for new knitters...bringing new people into the fold.....brainwashing them to convert to the strange stash accumulation cult......shhhhh...better not go any further in case I divulge too much information.

DH bought two cakes today....not sure why....but in cases like these I don't ask questions especially when chocolate is involved. I wonder if this means I'll get two presents???????

So here's to the just thinking about me day tomorrow
Yours in Yarn
The Fibreholic

S.E.X in Australia

Well... I thought that it was time to let everyone know just what I did/spent my money on during my two weeks in Canberra. DH goes off to his conference and I went shopping. As you can see, or maybe not, the vero has already been started into a scarf.....but since I needed the needles for something else....the scarf has been put on the back burner. One day I may fess up like George and admit to all my WIPs. Let's just say....there are many!!!Okay now I've got this bus thing down so I do some sightseeing the next day. But there is another Siren of wool calling me...so what could I do?????You'll notice that I've already started my sleeve......no....I meant swatch......Changing the subject.....after this batch.....here's what I bought, on DH's suggestion. It comes with a strap or I could use the handle on the end as there are wheels underneath. The bag folds down quite nicely so I'll be able to lay it flat in our suitcase the next time we travel. I was lucky enough to be in Canberra for one of the SnB meets where I was kindly invited to a tour of the city where I saw some of the sites. I, of course, helped out the local economy.

Check out that cone of white stuff. I bought it at an Op-Shop in Manuka for $1.00...just because. Now picture me on Mother's Day with about 10 hours of broken sleep in the last 48 hours (not a pretty sight) doing the burn test (it passed), doing the bleach test (it passed)....then I turned the cone over and you'll never guess what I saw.....A label from Bendigo Woolen Mills. Needless to say, I didn't bother with the felting test. Not content with only ready to knit wool, I crashed a meeting of....I mean... I visited the Canberra Weaver's and Spinner's guild.Taph took me out to see the sites. There wasn't a lot of stash enhancement opportunities, but I wouldn't have missed the trip for the world. Here's what I bought....

The Alpaca will feel nice on my toes this winter. DH will appreciate the no more cold feet being warmed up against his legs at night. All good things must come to an end.....vacations and yarn shopping.....my last day in Canberra DH and I headed over to Lincraft to spend the last of our Aussie $$$$ (less what we'd need to buy lunch the next day).

And much to my delight......guess what arrived in the mail.......mind you it did arrive at the 11th hour....but who cares....it still came..... My Bendigo order.....and it's all destined for the dye pot.....I ask you...could life get any better than this....

Living the good life, Until next time

Yours in Yarn,

The Fibreholic