A moment of blatant vanity:
Farrah taught me how to flat iron my hair yesterday. I am so proud of myself for pulling off an actual hairstyle that I had to document the results. It almost looks like my little avatar. Thank you dear Farrah for teaching me to be fabulous!

Remember the Knit Picks Dancing that was on clearance? I know I said that the colors weren't my cup of tea... but last month a few balls wound up in my shopping cart along with some new circular needles. (Knit Picks circulars; where have you been all my life?!) This darling little ankle sock is the result.

I got my Ravelry Invite! Woo hoo! It would happen on my second day back to work...

I will try to post some actual knitting content soon; but first I've got to meet 14 little people who expect me to teach them how to read.

In the meantime enjoy this lovely family photo from Julie's visit home.

I would have never imagined that my old school Cotton Ease stash would have lasted this long. My mom bought Tuesday Morning out two summers ago and we are still knitting from it today. Can you believe that I still have enough for two more log cabin blankets? These are the first three blocks for baby Lane's blanket. Of the four babies coming into our circle of friends and family Lane is the first with a confirmed gender, so he gets the first blanket.

C was such a big boy at the barber shop yesterday that Daddy-O rewarded him with a big ole' slice of water mellon... and another... and another.

Land o' Cotton


Sarah commissioned me to knit this little layette for a friend who is expecting. I used Cotton Tots in Jelly Bean and Blue Berry. The cotton feels so very good on my dry scratchy hands. I know it's Summer of Socks, I KNOW that there is a beautiful stash of sock wool in the next room, but I'm going to have to stick with the cotton for now.

Free fiber from Pebbles! If only I knew how to spin...

At last the Crimson Tidal Wave socks are complete. I couldn't resist showing off my new nail design before finishing the toe. (I'm SO easily amused.) Look at how much Tofutsies yarn was left. It might be just enough to double and make a wee hat for one of the many November/December babies on the way around here.

It was a rough week for C, but he got over the strep with a steady regimen of antibiotics, Nick Jr., and banana Popsicles. I'm happy to report that he is back to full strength and ready for a full week of VBS and hanging out with Daddy-O.

I was feeling uninspired this week until C and I spotted these babies at Love Without Boundaries. I dove right in to my Warm Woolies stash and finished up two more house hats. They enjoyed a nice sunbath on the patio railing. Thank goodness we don't have a wool pilfering squirrel around here.

Then C came down with a nasty summer throat infection. The brave little guy is spending his time watching Pixar movies and drinking yogurt smooties. (I've already seen Finding Nemo at least 30 times this summer.) Its probably strep, so the Dr.'s advice was: "Wash your hands A LOT." Even Burt can't defend my tender hands from both wool and frequent washings so Warm Woolies knitting will have to be put on hold for now. Too bad there isn't a Cool Cottonies organization.

I'll just have to get out some Cotton Tots and make something new for the adorable Emmy. I think she and Reagan both need one of these. Their dads will be sure to thank me!

Big C's Playdate with Jillian

I'm down to the toe on the first Tidal Wave Sock. So far I love, love, LOVE how the tofutsies feel on my feet. They are very light and breathable. Finally handknit socks I won't have to wait until January to wear.

Mars the fish was discovered this afternoon lifeless at the bottom of his bowl. He is survived by his beloved companion Venus the Snail.

Sockapalooza4Pal, you were the first to suggest the winning name. Sorry you had to find out under such difficult circumstances. Send your contact information to knitbud at yahoo dot com and I will arrange to send your prize.

My Sockapalooza socks are finished at last. I was having a serious bout of fourth sock syndrone, but once the heel was turned they flew off the needles. Don't they look pretty drying on my new patio?

I was able to finish them thanks to my new best friend Burt's Bees Hand Salve. I slather it on before and after knitting with wool and my hands feel just great. The only problem is that it makes the needles a little slippery. I have to keep a crochet hook close by just incase a stitch jumps off.

My next pair to cast on is Tidal Wave Socks in Toufutsies color 721. The color is probably going to obstruct the stitch pattern, but I adore the concept of Crimson colored Tidal Wave Socks. Crimson Tide Socks!

Eye Candy Friday: These moon flowers are the only living thing in my yard that hasn't been withered by the drout we are having.

Rustic Ribs Redux

My old nemesis Eczema has reappeared on my right hand, so woolly knitting time is very limited. Even the Koigu for my sock pal leaves a scratchy red place between my fingers. So I spent most of my knitting time this week reworking the Rustic Ribs Cardi. I frogged the back and sleeve and reknit them a size larger. I also alternated balls of the Patagonia Nature Cotton to even out the coloring. Even Daddy-O noticed that two of the skeins are dramatically darker than the others. I don't know why I didn't see that in the yarn shop.

When you last saw this fish bowl, it was holding names for the baby blanket drawing. Now it is home to a real live beta fish. C and I snuck him in past Daddy-O a few weeks ago. (Daddy-O feels that betas are a gateway fish that lead to larger aquariums.) His bowl was pretty bleak, so yesterday I added a plant and a snail. Just look at how proud he is!

Now all he needs is a name. Leave a comment if you have a suggestion. The best name left by midnight Friday, June 15 will win a woolly sock yarn prize. Have fun... and remember kids, this is a family blog

We are potty training C this summer and so far he has been less than enthusiastic. But he LOVES this video. We watched it three times last night. Thank you Japan. I'll do anything to get out of diapers!

I finished the first lacy mock cable sock for my pal on a road trip to the zoo this weekend. The yarn is Koigu from my stash. After doing some reconnaissance on her blog I decided purple was a good choice. And who doesn't love Koigu?

BTW: Take note of my lovely pedicure. I treated myself in celebration of the last day of school.

C and Daddy-O made some friends in the Lorikeet enclosure.

Prayer Request Time:

We have some praise to share first. Daddy-O and I have each gotten wonderful summertime opportunities to help fund the adoption. The best part is they are not going to interrupt with our summer plans to relax and have fun. We wouldn't have it any other way!

Keep praying that God will continue to blaze a way for Charley Grace to come home to us. Pray that we will be given wisdom when it comes to the many choices we have to make along the way. Pray for our friends who are waiting for their precious children.

Love and Thanks!

Your Score: Carole Lombard

You scored 14% grit, 23% wit, 38% flair, and 35% class!

You're a little bit of a fruitcake, but you always act out in style. You have a good sense of humor, are game for almost anything, but you like to have nice things about you and are attracted to the high life. You're stylish and modern, but you've got a few rough edges that keep you from attaining true sophistication. Your leading men include William Powell, Fredric March, and Clark Gable. Watch out for small planes.

Find out what kind of classic leading man you'd make by taking the
Classic Leading Man Test.

Link: The Classic Dames Test written by gidgetgoes on OkCupid, home of the The Dating Persona Test

I finished the Lacy Mock Cable socks this week. The stitch pattern totally gets lost in the variegated yarn, but I still love them. They are very cushy and stretchy. It's too bad that Knit Picks discontinued the Dancing sock yarn. (They do have a few balls left on clearance but the colors aren't my cup of tea.) It's a good quality yarn, but I do want to use something a little fancier for my sock pal.

Now that I've beta tested this pattern for myself I'm going to dive into the stash and see what I have that might work. Any suggestions?

Check out my Slide Show!

Rock-a-palooza!

My parents gave C the greatest gift a truck loving little boy could have: a giant pile of gravel.









Sockapalooza!

I'm working on two options for my sock pal. She likes cables and lives in a warm climate so I'm testing out Lacy Mock Cable Socks in Knitpicks Dancing. The yarn is a wool cotton blend and the lace provides some ventilation. This is the second sock of the pair. The pattern stitch is quite simple but makes an attractive and comfortable sock.

My sock pal is also a Grey's Anatomy fan. During last nights season finale I worked on this Whitby sock from Knitting On the Road. The yarn is Dorchester Farms. Like Meredith Grey they are dark and twisty.

Waiting to Start Waiting

Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
for my hope is in him. Psalm 62:5

Anyone who knows me personally probably doesn't think "quiet" or "wait" when I come to mind. Well, my first graders probably think of me saying, "Wait! Wait!" or "Let's get quiet people!" Apparently I am about to learn a lot about patience. As if teaching 6 year olds to read isn't lesson enough.

Daddy-O and I had a big talk this weekend. For several reasons having our dossier ready by my birthday just isn't a realistic goal. Sigh...

So as things stand right now we are going to concentrate on getting our ducks in order, so to speak, and start the paper chase AFTER my birthday. At this point it completely and totally stinks, but I know that looking back we will see God's hand and timing in it all.

In the meantime I've set a goal to knit 30 hats for Warm Woolies before my 30th birthday. If I'm not going to China anytime soon at least I can send some hand-knits ahead of me.

On to prayer requests:

Please pray that God will help develop perseverance and draw us closer together as we go through this journey. We also need wisdom as we make several important decisions.

Most of all pray for the Willard family as they fly to China TODAY to get their two new sons Matthew and Alex. (Yes, that's TWO boys.) Pray for their safety and easy bonding. We are so excited for them.

In HIS time.
Seriously... I really mean it...His time...not mine...

Jen

What a Week!
Daddy-O and I started the week off with the amazing Glory Revealed concert at Shades Valley Baptist. Here's Mac Powell and David Nasser.





It was also cool to see Brian Littrell even though I've always considered myself more of a N'Sync kind of girl.
I finished this hat for Warm Woolies on the way home. I doubled the Kool-Aid sock yarn that I dyed last year, cast on, and made the pattern up as I went along.
Big C liked the results even though the colors are way too Auburn and a little too girly.



I cast on this Gryffindor beret during 24 Monday night. I haven't gotten very far though. It's DIBELS week at work and needless to say I've been coming home stressed and TIRED. The good news is that my students performed wonderfully on the test. Now we can take a deep breath and enjoy our last 20 days of school. And maybe, just maybe I can get some knitting done...and possibly clean the house.