lolajl: June 2006 Archives

In between job hunting, this is what I've been doing - gardening. I still can't decide which perennials to get, and I don't have the money to buy lots of perennials. But veggies are cheap and give instant gratification. So, all 4 corners have been planted with the goal of having a nice bumper crops of tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, beans, zucchinis, carrots, radishes, basil, etc. etc. Earlier today I went to Homestead Gardens and saw that they had tomatoes, squashes, etc. on sale at 50% off. So, of course I had to get more tomatoes - Fourth of July, Beefsteak, Roma. I'm expecting to end up with so many tomatoes that I'll be able to use Mother's canning equipment. At least, I hope so.

In the picture above that I've posted, you'll see zucchini, cucumbers, pepper, hopefully a sunflower growing in the far corner. Something seems to be eating the zucchini, though. Going to have to spray hot wax or something on these plants.

I've started knitting a pair of socks for Bruce as part of the Summer of Socks KAL. The pattern I've chosen for his sock is from Nancy Bush's Vintage Knitting Socks, Gentleman's Plain Winter Sock on page 85. I'm using size 3.00mm bamboo needles and have gotten about 3 inches of ribbing done already. It's kind of slow going because the needles I'm using is not slippery enough. I'm thinking about switching to the aluminum needles. I need to locate my needle gauge so I can find the right size.

Finally found the pattern. Would you believe - the issue was under the spinning basket. Go figure . . . So now I'm back on the road towards finishing the sock. On the heel flap which should be turned momentarily, then on to finishing off the foot, which should go quickly now that half of the stitches are stockinette. And I'll be finished in time to start on the Summer of Socks KAL.

I think the first pair of socks I will be making will be for Hubby, because he is a size 10 and he's chosen a plain pattern, which means ribbings at the top down halfway on the calf, then plain stockinette the rest of the way. Trying to decide which color to use. Hopefully this should go quickly, because I'm speedy when it comes to stockinette. I'll reveal my pattern and yarn choice on June 21st.

If you haven't already, take a look at Two Geeks and a Baby (to the right). My nephew Kai is growing so fast. He has four teeth now, and growing another one. He is crawling now, and has figured out that he can stand if he holds on to the crib railing or other people. It's so cute when he grabs my hand, and then propels himself up so that he is standing. Which means I better rack up my alertness level since he is a moving target and once his legs become strong enough to run around . . .

I'm finally halfway done with the trekking socks - it's time to start knitting the heel flap. Unfortunately, I seem to have mislaid my copy of the pattern. I've looked through all of Interweave Knits issue to locate the pattern but for some reason it is escaping me at the moment. And stupid me, I forgot to record the issue number and page on the blog. It'll turn up, I'm sure. I just am itching to get this over and done with, and I'm annoyed when things like this get in my way.

Addendum: Did a quick search and finally found the copy . . . oops, no, that's not the pattern for this pair I'm knitting. Sigh . . . I'll have to set it aside for later today.

As for the job situation, still waiting, but I'm hopeful. Meanwhile, I'm continuing to peruse job ads and sending out resumes. Gotta keep the game alive . . .

Meanwhile, I'm still spinning froghair but it's not too bad. I've been eyeing my Majacraft Little Gem which has been sitting in the corner of the living room. I've neglected it quite so and I think it got a little warped due to the moisture. I'm going to go over it carefully and see if it can revived. The reason I never really used it is because I found it difficult to treddle on. I've heard that the model has supposedly been improved since it came out, but I haven't been able to find a model to try out. I'm going to see if I can find a dealer in this area who can order the shaft I need replaced.

Meanwhile, here's a family car that I can definitely let Bruce get . . .

Well . . . I still haven't heard back from the company with whom I interviewed. I'm guessing that they still have to hear back as to whether they'll be in a good position to hire me. Meanwhile, I'm continuing to apply for other positions. Sigh . . .

Haven't done much knitting, done a bit of spinning. And a little bit of gardening while waiting for the rain that now looks like it isn't going to happen before next week. Things should start to pick up though, beginning with tomorrow when the K Family comes over tomorrow for dinner and before that I stop by to see Kai and to see if he has learned to crawl yet.

Right now Bruce and I are watching "So You Think You Can Dance". Its always so exciting to watch those talented dancers, who even with the most mediocre dancers will always be so much better than me. It's kind of disturbing, though, to see how some of them, especially those who got cut, are so emotionally fragile, as if their entire life depended on getting into the top ten or not. I wonder what it says about how young people nowdays learn how to deal with success and failure.

Pattern to Use: Gentleman's Plain Winter Sock with Dutch Heel, from "Knitting Vintage Socks : New Twists on Classic Patterns" (Nancy Bush), page 84.

Possible Yarn: Patons Kroy, gray, blue, brown, green

Right now I'm watching the Learn to Knit show on Channel 22 (mpt); it seems that they're having one of the telethons where the theme is "learn how to do [ ]". Good start, could be better. The host refers to 3 stitches and now she has just appeared in the "please send me money" break where she is referring to 4 stitches. Umm . . . "cast on" and "cast off" are not stitches. These are techniques. Hubby says she is boring (hey . . . don't look at me!). I know someone living close to me who would be a great host for this kind of show . . .

Meanwhile, I'm trying to see if I recognize anyone . . .

So summer is semi-officially here, with the heat and humidity. We've been forced to turn on the air conditioning, keeping it set to 78 degrees (and dreading the rate increase that us Maryland residents will be hit with because nobody wants to have new power plants built in their backyards and we're being forced to watch on helplessly as China drills oil for Cuba right up to the international line because Congress won't let us exploit our own off-shore fields).

And with the start of the new month, I've got another round of interviews to go through. One set for tomorrow. I'm hoping this pans out, since it seems like an interesting position where I can learn new stuff. Knock on wood, say a prayer for me, what have you. :-)

I'm still not quite knitting much, just working on the purple Trekking sock. I keep having to rip out a few rows because I've dropped a stitch. Such is the hazard of the Second Sock Syndrome (henceforth to be abbreviated to SSS). I'm determined to finish this, though. What I've been doing, though, is playing with my spinning wheel, now that I've got the woolee winder back in a better shape.

Funny thing . . . I'd dropped it off with Nathan Lee at the MDSW so he could replace the metal shaft, and I'd given him a business card to put into the bag. Somehow it got lost, and he couldn't remember what was my name. Weeks and weeks went by, and I got to wondering, why was it taking so long? Finally I dug up the phone number, had Hubby calll him up, and got the whole story. Once it was all straightened out, it was sent back to me via priority mail. And I gave it a test spin by plying up some yarn I've been spinning. Loooove it! So now I need to get more bobbins, but that'll have to wait till I get a cash-flow increasing job . . .