Happy Fourth!

To all Americans here in the United States, and abroad, I wish you all a happy Fourth of July. And please, be safe - don't do dumb things like drink and drive, or go drinking while driving boats and such. And easy with the fireworks . . .

Sorry for being absent all week last week - I was off attending CFUNITED and found it so rewarding; I learned so many new things and finally understood some of the concepts with which I'd been struggling to understand. And being out of work for quite a while, it felt good to be amongst folks with whom I share a common knowledge, and I look forward to attending the conference again next year. Even if I have to take a week off unpaid because my future employer wouldn't pay for it.

Meanwhile, I've made a bit of progress on Bruce's socks. I've got the heel flap done, and ready to turn the heel. I need to adjust the pattern a bit since I didn't cast on the number of stitches called for. Yes, it looks thick, but this is going to be for winter, when Bruce works outside, as he sometimes has to do so for work.

And I've cast on for another pair for Aunt Velma (my parent's neighbor). I took her measurements, and asked her what kind of socks she wanted. Her words? "Surprise me." So, I'm using the basic ribbed socks from Nancy Bush's book (the same one that I'm using for Bruce's socks). I'm using handspun yarn - I think this is from the mini-batt that I got from A Touch of Twist and I think I may still have it somewhere if I need to spin more of it. I like the way it looks, but it is tough going because I'm using size 3.0mm needle and it's making my hands a bit sore. I'm thinking about ripping it out and starting over with needles a size bigger.

Oh, and Linda asked how my vegetables are coming along. With all the rain we've had and sunshine coming out, with the heat, I think we're going to get a lot of veggies. Just in the past couple days I harvested 6 huge cucumbers which I've got chopped up and mixed in with red onions from the store, cider vinegar, dill growing "wild" in my garden, sugar, kosher salt, pepper which we'll be taking over my parent's momentarily for the cookout that they're having. I'm hoping to see my nephew there and see if I can get him to make the same face that he did in the latest pic posted at his photoblog . . .

Alas - no ripe tomatoes yet. Maybe by the end of the week.