1870 pearl

Out to Sea

Oh, how wonderful it is to say those words. When I was in the Navy, I so loved leaving port and heading out to the deep ocean. There always was a new adventure waiting for me amidst the daily routines of Navy life. However this time it will be different. I will not serve my country but I shall be served. How strange that will be.

Well, my bags are packed and its time to leave. I will meet my Mother in LA later on today, and tomorrow we shall set sail.

I will take a brief break from blogging this week but I do have a few things to share with you in my absence. Stay tuned and I'll see you on Monday the 7th.

Bon Voyage, Abigail

Sea Socks

After much pondering I decided that I would knit a pair of socks for my mom on the cruise. My mother's signature color is a rich cardinal red so with that in mind I picked up a pretty hank of Cherry Tree Hill and found a pattern that I think she will like. The pattern can be found here.

Honestly, I really don't think that I will be able to finish them before the cruise is over. Our schedule is rather full and looks something like this:

Breakfast, knit class, lunch, knit class, dinner, free knitting time which starts at 8:00 p.m., bedtime and repeat, repeat, repeat.

On second thought maybe I should bring a pair of vanilla socks to knit, something that requires little attention while I visit and laugh with all my new friends. I suppose a rummage through my stash is in order. I'm sure I'll come up with something.  

Cheers, Abigail

P.S. Are you sick of reading about the cruise yet?

P.P.S. I finished the Blue Suede socks last night. And I think they are my best work yet! Woot! Woot! 

Coming together

The days are flying by rather quickly now and the Sea Sock cruise will depart this Sunday!!!!!!! And I'm so ready. I spent Saturday evening putting together my sea sock knitting kit.

I think I'm ready for every contingency. The binder has all my itineraries and travel information, paper, pens and empty document protectors for all the yummy patterns and goodies I shall pick up on the way. Lucky me I found a matching notebook and I know I will fill it - we shall have two knitting classes each day! One of the workshops will be focusing on color knitting so I purchased 5 skeins of yarn, for that very purpose. Its very soft.  My coordinating purple pouch is my on the go knit kit.

 

Tucked inside the little tin are loads of stitch markers, waste cord, my famous bobby pins, a needle threader and point protectors. Oh and yes, I do have a calculator. I forgot to put it in prior to the picture taking.

O.k. there you have it. I'm Martha and I'm proud of it. But don't smack me yet - one day you just might need something I have:D

In case you were wondering if I still knit, well I do. Here's a sneak peak of Rosebud - almost done.

Oh, sorry you can't see the socks. One of my teens snapped this blurry picture on her cell phone, while I was at lunch duty this week. She calls it 'Deep in thought." I call it "Avoiding looking at teenagers when they eat!"

Cheers, Abigail

Here's your sign!

In the wee hours of the night I awoke with a urgent need to visit the little Knitters room, and then in the dim light my blurry eyes landed on The Sign.

I laughed so hard that I nearly fell off the throne and in the process I woke hubby up! (He deserved that:D) At my age I was completely unaware that I needed instructions for the proper use of our private loo! I'm telling you - that crazy man, my man, has a wicked sense of humor even in the dark hours of the night!

Now for the rest of the story - The toilet handle is broken and my husband has yet to fix it - so until then we have the sign, for anyone who dares to use our facilities. Though it cracks me up every time I go in there.

Cheers, Abigail

P.S. Do you think he listens to Bill Envall a little too much? 

Transformations

Manicure and pedicure: 20 bucks

Hair permed, dyed and styled: 70 bucks

Facial, eyebrows and makeover: Free

Transformation from this:

to this:

- Priceless

Also priceless - Husband staying home to manage the laundry, wash the dishes, hand washing the hand knit socks, tending the kids and cleaning the house!!!! I am so keeping that man:D

I'm almost ready for the Sea Sock Cruise. All that's left is the packing. And I'm getting woozy just thinking about it.

Cheers, Abigail

In other good news - Crissy has agreed to join us on our bus tour of Vancouver!!!!! I'm so excited that I get to meet my invisible friend in another week!!!!! 

We call it Crack

As most of you know I'm teaching Rose to knit socks. Being that she is a novice knitter I am educating her on the terminology of the knitting world. Thus I have broadened her vocabulary this week and explained to her that sock yarn is also know as Crack and when we flash it to others, it is then referred to as Yarn Pron. When asked why I explained that it is significantly more addictive than any other drug on the planet and has no ill side effects, with the exception that your bank account is that much lighter with each purchase and you always need more!

In order to bring her to a full and complete understanding of the meaning I flashed the following:

My latest acquisitions from The Loopy Ewe: Java and Nebraska.

Knit Pixie: Tofutsies and Pine Forest. Thank you Bryony!

and Simply Sock Yarn Company: Cherry and  Amethyst - on sale!

She swooned and has become enlighten.

She is craving the Crack.

I have become a pusher and I am proud to be called one:D 

Cheers, Abigail

Rip it, Rip it!

Startitis Syndrome

An invisible syndrome that primarily attacks knitters. It is known to cause an intense desire to start a project then within days the knitter becomes dissatisfied, distracted, bored and/or frustrated causing project abandonment and the knitter commences to start another one. It is at this point that the syndrome begins to take root in the knitter. Thus he/she becomes ensnared in a vicious cycle of excitement, frustration, distraction, boredom, dissatisfaction, abandonment and starting yet another project.

Note: It is commonly associated with people who have limited attention spans.

There are only two known cures for the syndrome:

1: Frog the incomplete offending item before starting a new one.

2: By sheer force of will choose to finish it before starting another one.

However, it is a well documented fact that knitters rarely apply either remedy to the situation and learned to live rather uncomfortably with the syndrome.

So it's official I have been diagnosed with the dreaded Startitis Syndrome.

I am choosing the Frog treatment, with the exception of the blue pair. I'm so keeping them. If you look at them very closely you might notice something rather unusual going on.

Cheers, Abigail

In the bag

Little by little I'm getting geared up for the upcoming Sea Sock Cruise. And this little beauty is going with me. I heart this bag - just what I need for a SIP. Made out of strong water repellent nylon, she is the perfect travel companion.

She fits nicely around my wrist or can be snapped onto a purse strap.

A pair of socks can fit inside, with room for a few knitting notions.

I ask you what more could a sock-knitter want?

Now that you have beheld her glory - you can pop over to Scout's swag and get one for yourself. Scout has them in 3 sizes and a large selection of color choices too. Mine is the smallest size and works very well.

Cheers, Abigail

Plan B

I started another pair of socks this week and thought a Yarn-Over cable would be nice in this colorway. The 2x2 cuff went well. The colors danced happily together then I started the cable and the stripping began. I'm not to keen about that, so it looks like I must employ plan "B". Though I'm not really sure what Plan "B" is. Maybe I'll go with my long-standing favorite the Beaded Rib. Oy!

 

Cheers, Abigail

Blue Impressions

In my flurry of cleaning out my stash and knitting basket I rediscovered these socks! I can't believe how long they have been sitting in my basket! I've decided to keep them for myself, now that my sons feet have grown to his dads size! Did you know that he wore his dad's flight deck boots today? That was strange to see. I also noticed that he look taller and after another measure against the door frame, it revealed that he is now 5ft and 1.3/4 inches tall. A half an inch more and we will be even. And I don't think I will have to wait too long for that to happen:( Sigh. I'm so not ready for my boy to merge into adulthood, but he's doing it regardless of how I feel. How very insensitive, if you ask me.

Blue Impressions - a vanilla sock.  US 0's toe up. Yarn Austemans Step, deliciously soft - a gift from Laurie.  And another pair bound for the Sea Sock cruise.

Cheers, Abigail

P.S. If you are planning on participating in Sockapalooooza 4 GO THERE NOW AND SIGN UP!