Too Cute!

I finally got a picture of Addison modeling her new hat. She looks adorable in it. Now I need to get busy making other colors to go with all of her fall sweaters and coats. She will be the best dressed kid in town.

Addison's Skull Cap

Can't you just picture her little round head in this hat? I love making baby hats for her. Those cute chubby cheeks and big smile! I haven't gotten it over to her yet to take a picture of her wearing it. I was going to stop tonight and get a picture but she did not have such a great day today from what I am told. See, Addison is on strike!! Yes, I heard she was holding a sign with a big red "x" through it that says NO NAPS FOR ADDISON!! I think she slept a total of 2 hours all day. Now someone my age would love to sleep 2 hours but when you are 4 months old, that number should be much higher. So you can imagine the shape she was in this evening. Like her mother said, she had bags under her eyes so big that she could carry groceries in them. No kidding. The little peanut was protesting. She has been a great sleeper at night but for some reason she thinks that daytime is for being awake, socializing, and bouncing in her jumperoo. I can sense tough love coming in to play very, very soon. Addison, if you're reading this, give your mom a break!

Let's "Go Green" for Addie!

Wouldn't you just love to lay down and throw your head back without a care in the world? I am loving watching my 4 month old granddaughter Addison grow. These first 4 months have flown by. Doesn't it seem like only yesterday that we were watching our own children change before our eyes? Everyone told me that being a grandma was the best thing ever.....and they were right. I can hardly go a day without seeing her and when I do she just melts my heart. This beautiful baby girl is so full of life with a big old world awaiting. I just hope that this big old world will be in good shape for Addison and her children. That's why we have to be aware of everything around us.

My company has launched a sustainability campaign to help us all "go green." Of course I might add that I work for a very large global chemical company so trying to work smart to save our environment is vital - to all of us. They even passed out coffee mugs made of recycled material so that we can stop using plastic and styrofoam in the cafeteria. They are launching car pooling and biking to work. These are all little steps that will lead us in the right direction. I bought Envirosax for my family so that we can reuse our shopping bags instead of using plastic bags. If you want some awesome looking reusable bags go to www.envirosax.com and take a peak.

I also would like to take a second to ask everyone to say a pray for a good friend of mine from work. He is from the UK and is actually the marketer in my company who spearheaded the sustaninability program. He is a wonderful man and his name is Dr. Paul Williams. He and his wife and youngest son were in a serious car accident. His wife was killed instantly and Paul and his son were in critical condition. They are both expected to make a full recovery. His work in helping to save our planet has been remarkable and something he has been working on for a long time. I know he will recover...he has to in order to see the good that he has created within our company.

Socks, socks and more socks!

All of a sudden I'm back into socks. I did a couple pair, thought they were okay to knit but then went on to other things. What happened? Is it because it's summer and socks are such a small lightweight project to work on? Or is it that I'm finally getting the rythym going and love to watch it take shape? Or is is that my girlfriend Lynne and I now meet once a week to knit and she is big into socks - makes tons - and fast!!! She is a great source for all the latest and greatest sock yarns out there. I even get to go to the top of the mountain in terms of sock yarns that are difficult to get - Wollmeise and Sundara!!! Yes, I think I will be owning one of each of these as of Tuesday night. Will they become my favorite sock yarn? I kind of hope not since they are so difficult to get. So far I have knitted with Dream in Color Smooshy, Socks that Rock and Lornas Lace - all very nice yarns and easier to get.

So on to why I am posting today - I finally picked up my Horcrux and decided it was time to finish them. They (one sock) have been on the needles for months. I lost interest when I goofed up the foot part. I was supposed to continue down the foot with the leg pattern but started stockinette out of habit. Why would I say habit since I have only done a few pairs of socks? I guess because the few I have done have a stockinette foot and to me that is the easiest way to do it. So because I faltered from the original pattern I just stopped working on it. Well, my goal is to finish some of my started projects so last night I picked up Horcrux again and finished one sock completely -- - even the grafting of the toe which I'm still trying to master (but I'm getting it). I have to say I love Socks that Rock. I'm using In the Navy colorway and it really knitted up nicely. So now on to cast on Sock #2. I also have to finish Sock #2 of Spring Forward and just started Charade (after ripping out). So I think 3 pairs of socks on the needles is MORE than enough.

Now I just need to finish these so I can cast on with wollmeise or Sundara next week!!!!!!!

The "Charade" begins!

Okay, so I started another project before finishing something else! But this time I had a good reason (don't I always?). Actually I am halfway through my second Spring Forward sock and am loving how they are turning out. But I tried working on it while talking with my friend and kept screwing up. I decided that I needed a mindless but nice looking pattern. That's where Charade comes in. It's a very easy knit but with very nice looking results. It's a nice "conversational" piece and I can't really screw up because the pattern to memorize is one row! I think I can do that and talk at the same time. Of course, there has to be something wrong...well, kind of. I'm knitting with Dream in Color Black Parade and if it's too dark in the room where I am knitting I can't quite see the stitches as well as I see lighter color ones. So I got one part of it right - easy pattern. And I have been able to work through the dark yarn. The end result is worth it so I will carry on.

This close-up isn't great but it gives you an idea of the nice pattern that is created. My pictures make it look blue but it is really a very pretty black with a hint of blue in it.

Girlfriend time is the best!

My good friend Lynne and I are at the stage in our lives where we should be slowing down...yet it seems that with grown children and grandchildren we have less time. As much as we try to get together to knit and visit, life gets in the way. Well, two weeks ago we set a date and said we were sticking to it. Two weeks and counting - woohoo!! It's so fun and relaxing to sit together over coffee (even if it is a whipped creamy frappacino) and chat, knit and enjoy each others company. We leave each week promising that we will meet again next week. Let's keep it going girlfriend!!!

Grandma and Addison Forever!

My granddaughter Addison will be 4 months old on the 7th. She is the most precious baby ever! I don't know what life would be like without her! When I see her I say "Were you born this cute? Yes you were, you were born this cute!" She smiles the biggest smile that melts your heart. I can't get enough of her - and I'm sure my daughter feels this way at times when I call and say I'm stopping over for my Addie fix!

One down - one to go!

I finished my first Spring Forward Sock. I already cast on for Sock #2! I think I finished this one sock faster than any socks I have made - reason being that I stuck with it! I usually have SSS (Second Sock Syndrome) and hate starting the second one. But I am actually excited that I am using time this summer to get some really cute socks made and ready for fall and winter. I just ordered a Dream in Color sock yarn called Black Parade. I need to finish up Spring Forward so that I will be able to start my new pair when my order arrives. And I actually experienced a first today - I grafted the toe of my sock! I have never grafted and usually struggle with any new stitching due to being left-handed. But my good friend Lynne suggested I look at the Knitty instructions and they were great. It made it seem so easy. I say that after ripping it out the first time I did it, but only because I didn't pull the stitches tight enough. But after doing it the second time, I realized that I could get the hang of this. And I like the way the toe looks. So my second sock should be a breeze thanks to the lessons learned from the first one!

Not too bad for my first truly interesting pattern. My only other pairs are simple stockinette, ribbed and waffled patterns. This has a lacy look and I really like the way it shows up with the light yarn.