Anything is better than nothing

Adjusting to a new routine has been...well, let's just say I'm not doing it cold turkey. Not having my grandchildren every day has been liberating, but at the same time, I'm missing them like crazy and the schedule we had. Like I said though, I'm not going cold turkey. I have seen them every day since, just not having them under my care. There are big hugs, kisses, the "I miss you, nana" and the "mmmm grandma, you smell good" from the older ones. My daughter is a good mom and I'm so happy for her that she chooses to be home with her children! Their dad is a wonderful father who loves to spend time with them and teach them things. This past weekend, they have gathered all the wood they need to build a tree fort in their backyard. He is an engineer so I know it's going to be pretty sweet, and I can't hardly wait to see it! My daughter has made a "sewing corner" in my granddaughter's bedroom to set up her sewing machine she got for Christmas, and she is using my mom's sewing cabinet. These are the things those childhood memories are made of, and it makes my heart so happy!!

Anyway, back to my new routine...

As my toe heals, I have begun to spin again, and will build the time as weeks go by. I can manage ten minute intervals for now, but that's better than nothing and I'm so enjoying it! I still can't wear certain shoes, but I have a pair of Keens that is perfect and looks great with my hand knit socks. Which brings me to.....the next KAL I'll be participating in!!!! It's Kirsten Kapur's Through the Loops Mystery Sock KAL 2015. I love doing hers because she has the most beautiful designs and I adore the socks I end up with! I have already shown you the yarn I will use this time and I will need to get that caked up before we receive our first clue tomorrow. Oh darn, I just realized I have all of my sock DPNs tied up. Maybe I will try some from the set I received last week from Knit Picks. I was going to send them back because they are a bit on the short side. I should've checked what 5 inches looked like before I ordered them. I have smallish hands so I thought they would be ok, but I need to actually take them out of the package and hold them so I can see if they will be too short for me or not.

Yesterday, for the first time in a long time, I got to meet up with the Tuesday knitting group I joined a couple of years ago. It was so good to see all of my friends!! I knew there would be too much chattering going on to focus on anything very detailed, so I decided to start another dishcloth to add to the other three I've already knit for our January guild challenge. I finished one on Sunday I think it was, and cast on for my brother in law's socks on Monday. I think the name of the pattern is Vertical Rows (?) from the Nifty Knit Dishcloths booklet I've had for years. It turned out a little larger than I prefer, but since it's not for me and my little hands, I'm sure it will be fine. I used Sugar 'n Cream and size US 7 needles.

 

This is the one I started yesterday...the pattern is Blissful Moss Rib and is just two rows, so very easy to memorize. Again, this is Sugar 'n Cream in the Strawberry colorway. It's one of my favorite go to patterns..

 

 

These are the socks I cast on for Paul. I'm so tired of doing just plain vanilla socks for him and my sister, that I decided to do some sort of a little patterning to this pair. I cast on 64 stitches and went straight into the pattern of k2 p2 for three rows. On the fourth row, I purl every stitch, which gives it a sort of basketweave type design. Or waffle design, whichever you want to call it. I know my husband is going to be very jealous when he sees these. I have always knit him vanilla socks too, so I guess it's time I also do some patterning with his socks. I am loving the fabric this is creating!!! Again, I'm using Paton's Kroy and the striping is so very nice!

 

 

I have finished clue #1 on my Downton Abbey mystery shawl KAL, and will have #2 done before Saturday when we get our next clue that night.

 

While I know a lot of our country is under a deep freeze, we here in northern California are so very blessed today with blue skies and sunshine. Temps will be in the 60's (F), and I know this is going to sound silly, but it's cold for me. I really do wonder if my husband is right when he says I've lost my insulation when I lost the fat off my body? I still need at least a sweater or jacket when I go out, even on days like today. I still have a ways to go to lose a little more fat, and it makes me wonder if I will still need a jacket when the temps hit 70?! I certainly won't be complaining if I do!!!