We had a terrible thunderstrom yesterday. I was doing domestic type things when I heard a BANG and Michael hollared really loud. I figured the cats had done something. So I went in and saw him in the process of laying down on the floor holding his hands and making a terrible face. The laptop was on the hearth. I quickly assessed the situation (like they teach you to do in First Aid).

I said: I can’t BELIEVE you had that plugged into the wall!
I said: Are you breathing? (he was)
I said: I CANNOT BELIEVE you had that plugged into the wall!
He said: Stop laughing at me. I am electrocuted.
I said: I’m not laughing.
He said: You sure didn’t run very fast.

I am at the heel of the second pink sock. I took it with me in the car to the DAR district conference in Montgomery. I did not knit during the actual meeting (even though it was Very Very Boring) but I did get the sock out for a picture after lunch.

Lunch was NOT good. The Pie was OK. We stopped at the Russell Stover Outlet on the way home.

Great Gran worked on a baby blanket.

She is also working on a really pretty cardigan from one of the Jaeger books I ordered. But I can’t remember to get a picture.

The above photos are courtesy of Mr. Pink.

The below photo is courtesy of the regular digital camera.

This is how William Henry prefers to read email.

Sure it looks cute, but his claws HURT. It makes me not want to check my email very often. Which might explain why I am so slow about it sometimes. Rotten cat.

I almost fogot! KT (not that one the other one) is hosting a Frog-a-Long! If you have a project that you can’t stand to finish or a finished one that you just can’t stand (and really, who doesn’t), don’t waste the yarn! Rip it right out on September 8, 9, and 10. You’ll feel so much better. I’ve already got my project picked out!

I forgot to mention that I installed an Epic CounterPain Tracking Chart over in the sidebar. As I complete a square, I will fill it in on the Chart and eventually, someday, I will be finished. This way, you can all feel discouraged and overwhelmed right along with me. Hooray!

I am the luckiest girl in the world.

When Susan said that she thought some chocolate would help me to feel better about all my recent Sad, I expected a chocolate bar or two. I certainly did not expect enormous Box of Thoughtfulness that arrived yesterday! I would list for you everything in it but it would take a while so I’ll just hit the highlights.

CHOCOLATE. I started with the Raspberry, it matched my socks.

One sock is finished! WOOT!

And moved on to cherry almond (M had most of that one) and mint. We have barely scratched the surface. All the ginger candy is gone too - but there will still be stitchmarkers and music long after the treats are gone. The cats were even included - they swiped the catnip off of the table and took it down the hall to play with it. This is the best shot I got of that scene. Pardon the blur, there are five cats in that picture.

But, and I say this in all seriousness, the best thing was the muffin recipe. I even had everything in the house to make them (I took it as a sign and had them in the oven even before I wrote Susan to say the box was here). They are complex, unusual and pretty to look at.

I have had them for supper and breakfast. And I will have them for supper again! Except, they probably don’t go well with lasagna.

Susan might share the recipe if you asked very very nicely. What are you waiting for? Go ask!

PS Susan, I am pretty sure Thisbe and Betty are cousins.
PPS We have had a thunderstorm every day for the past two weeks.
PPPS Ernesto got his name.

Special Sunday Edition

Ahoy!

We bought the little sailboat about a month ago. Today was the first day we took it out and it was really fun!

Yar!

PS I didn’t do any knitting in the boat, it’s too wet in there.

So. I’ve got a new normal. I don’t like it nearly as much as the old normal. But it will have to do.

Awww. Our feet are twins!

I must say, I LOVE Instant Gratification. It was a joy to knit with, and not just because at 6.5 sts to 1″ (my preferred gauge for this yarn) it’s faster than lightning. The colors are vibrant and well chosen, the wool itself has a great texture, it’s superwash AND I can get a pair of socks for each of us out of two skeins. I’ll be buying more of this one.

Three more projects to finish and then I can start something new: the linen hand towels, the Elspeth sleeve repair and the Bittersweet socks (which I completely pulled out and started over on smaller needles).

And then there is this. It sounds AWESOME. I am SO in.

**Me and 400 other sock knitters apparently.**

“My heart has joined the Thousand, for my friend stopped running today.”
Richard Adams, Watership Down

Finished Purple Socks

Now, don’t go asking for the pattern. I lost all my notes after I finished the first one and really had to wing it for the second. The stitch pattern on the legs is #15 from The New Knitting Stitch Library.

I think it might be time to invest in some more stitch libraries. And another bookcase.

Finished Squall Sock

Finished Flower Basket Shawl

Two down, three pairs of socks, two hand towels and corrected sleeves on Elspeth to go.

And my sock blockers from Leggy Creations are here!

Nifty, huh?

I won’t be covering these with socks. They are going up on the wall!

Angus is not doing well. We are trying a few more things. Betty has been very supportive.

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