Knit & Play with Fire

Check This Out

2006-12-07T15:06:00.000-05:00

I am going to be trying out Word Press for a little bit. So please click on over to my blog over there and let me know what you think. I may not stay there but I will be posting over there the next few days. So come and check it out and let me know what you think.

Socks, Socks, & Packages

2006-12-06T12:50:00.000-05:00

Okay, I am playing catchup here. This really should have been yesterday's post but I was a little bit busy yesterday afternoon. I had a fire prevention/station tour scheduled at 1 pm for a play group of 2 to 4 year olds. I was in the station and had just finished cleaning up when I heard the pre-alert of "Box 11-22." (A box is a big fire here in simple terms.) And my fire company's number is 11 so that meant it was in our first due. Lucky for me, one of the junior members had just walked in and she was dressed up. When I asked her if she was running calls today and she said no, I asked her if she would take the fire prevention. Thankfully she said yes!!!! So I jumped in my gear and jumped on the engine. Thankfully someone had already knocked the fire down with a garden house by the time we got there. But we still had to check everything out. And that included pulling down some siding and pulling apart a wall in the next door neighbor's house.

I had just gotten back from that one when we got hit out for our second box of the day. This time I was lucky enough to have the front seat of the engine. The duty battalion chief was already on scene and the fire was out. Residential sprinklers are great!!!! Yes, they do cause some water damage but which is easier to deal with - water damage or fire and smoke damage? Trust, water damage is much easier to deal with over smoke damage.

All I had to do was basically get my driver, who is also one of my lieutenants there and put us on scene, to the scene. And my chief stopped by on his way home from work and he kept trying to get my lieutenant do do the paperwork. Since I rode "seat," I was allowed to do the on-scene paperwork. The chief took care of the paperwork that we have to do to meet the state and federal reporting requirements.

And last night was the Holiday Cheer Party at my local Starbucks. And yes, I was there. Fun was had by all!!!!

So yesterday, I had planned on showing off pictures of my completed socks from the last few weeks. I have photographed one of each one before but never the complete pair. So they are posted through out this post.

Tomorrow, look for the report on my wonderful scarf from ISE3 and the wonderful goodies that my SK (secret knitter) included with my scarf!!

Which Reindeer Are You?

2006-12-06T11:53:00.000-05:00

You Are Blitzen

Always in good spirits, you're the reindeer who loves to party down with Santa.

Why You're Naughty: You're always blitzed on Christmas Eve, while flying!

Why You're Nice: You mix up a mean eggnog martini.

Which of Santa's Reindeer Are You?

Chocolate Cockroaches!! Yummy!!!!

2006-12-01T10:11:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I received two packages in the mail. The one was my order from the Loopy Ewe which I posted about yesterday. And yes, I will be ordering from Sheri again. But here are the details of what was in the wonderful package from Pris.

I do not any package from one knitter to another is ever complete without some yarn and chocolate. I know that I rarely send a package out to another knitter without either yarn or chocolate. And of course, there was both yarn and chocolate in my package. It is hard to say which is better - the yarn or the chocolate.....

First up the yarn. Wonderful sock yarn!!!!!! Pris knows that I love hand dyed yarns from some small vendors best. And of course that is what she sent me. This time around the yarn from Sundara is the color Blackened Raspberry. Last time, she sent me Fruit Punch and I love my socks made out of this yarn. So I can't wait to finish up some of my socks that are currently on the needles so I can start the Blackened Raspberry ones.

The second sock yarn that she sent me was the ever elusive Vesper Sock Yarns from Knitterly Things. The color that she picked out for me was Neapolitan. I am also anxious to start a pair of socks using this yarn but again I need to wait until I finish a pair or two. But I definitely have plans for this yarn. I already know who will be the recipient of a pair of socks knit from this yarn. And no, it will not be me. But I will not say who it is yet because I will not be starting these particular pair of socks until after the holidays.

There were also two new Chibis in the package. I have seen the green one before but I have never seen the blue ones. And you can never have enough Chibis. Does it always seem like you can't find them when you need them? I will have to do some sewing this weekend to make some new sock knitting bags for these two new ones.

She also sent me some DVDs. I have seen all of the Tremors movies except for Tremors 3. She also sent me another movie but I forgot to write down the name. It is already in the stack to watch. The weather tonight is supposed to be rainy and windy. In other words, the perfect night to watch a tacky sci-fi movie. I can't help it, I like bad sci-fi ;)

Now for the really good stuff, as if yarn isn't good enough! Candy!!!!! There was a bag of Lindor chocolate truffles. Milk chocolate with white chocolate filling. And yes, they are tasty. I know have my very own personal mummy with its own sarcophagus.

But I have saved the best candy for last. And it will explain the title of this post. She sent me Chocolate Cockroaches!!!!!! Yes, just like in Harry Potter!!!!! I am a huge Harry Potter fan. Do not ask me how many times I have read each book or seen the movies. I have not yet decided if I am going to eat my chocolate cockroaches yet or save them and eat in a week or so.....

Presents for Me?

2006-11-30T14:38:00.000-05:00

I actually have 2 posts but I am going to break them down. But just to prove how much I wanted to take the photos in natural light, I went out into a light rain to take them.

When I went to the post office today, I had two, count them two, package slips. I was expecting the first one since I did place an order with The Loopy Ewe the other day. But I wasn't expecting the second one. The second one turned out to be from none other than Ms. Knitty Kitty herself!!!! So which one will I tell you about first? Why my order from The Loopy Ewe of course.

I decided to try and get some of the wonderful Yarn Pirate Yarns from Sheri. And I was very lucky, there were still some in stock. I managed to get Hydrangea and Storm. When I ordered Storm, I was venturing out of my normal bright colors into something a bit more muted. And I have to say that I love the colors in Storm. I will have to find the right pattern for this yarn. I have a few classes after the first of the year and we all know what I will be doing in class - knitting socks!!!

I also ordered a skien of sock yarn from All Things Heather in a wonderful color called Merlot. It is all nice and grapey. Now I need to make sure that I have a bottle of Merlot at home to drink while knitting this yarn.....

The other item that I decided to order was a pair of sock blockers. None of the males in my family are what you would call talented with wood. So if I want to have a set, I knew that I would have to order them. And I can't wait to finish a pair of sock to use them. And I may have a sock finished next week.

As to the other package, well, you will just have to wait until tomorrow. I want to play with some of the items in there first. But you can get a peek by checking out the photos over on Flickr if you want.

True Reflection

2006-11-28T13:58:00.000-05:00

I saw this test over on Beth's blog and decided to try it. And the results are true. They actually reflect my reading habits and the type of reader that I really am. So what type of reader are you? I will be curious as to your results...

What Kind of Reader Are You? Your Result: Obsessive-Compulsive Bookworm You're probably in the final stages of a Ph.D. or otherwise finding a way to make your living out of reading. You are one of the literati. Other people's grammatical mistakes make you insane.
Dedicated Reader
Book Snob
Literate Good Citizen
Non-Reader
Fad Reader
What Kind of Reader Are You? Create Your Own Quiz

Sad Story

2006-11-28T12:50:00.000-05:00

I do have knitting to report but I will save it until tomorrow when I will have photos. But in reading today's Washington Post, I saw this article which just is sad. I think it is just wrong that the Church still has that much control over the politics and laws of Latin America. First of all, I am Catholic and Hispanic. I have lived in Latin America. I also hold a degree in Political Science with a concentration in Latin American affairs. So I am very familiar with the culture and the mindset. I grew up in the culture but I was also exposed to other cultures as well. And this just saddens me that it is still happening in the world. Women's rights are still not taken seriously around the world.

Thanksgiving Favorites

2006-11-21T09:48:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, Georgia, aka Yarn Pirate, wanted to know what was everyone's favorite dish to eat at Thanksgiving. I am like many in that I like the green bean casserole recipe except that I add shoyu (soy sauce) and extra onions to my casserole.

But one recipe that I have to make and than eat is an oatmeal pie. Yes, it sounds strange but the easiest way to explain it is that it is a southern thing. I have searched for recipes for it on the web and everything points to the recipe being a southern thing. Actually, to be more specific, it is a Kentucky thing. Please do not turn up your nose at the pie but give it a try. I hope you like it.

Oatmeal Pie

This sounds strange but it is really tasty. It is a kind of like a mock pecan pie. This recipe was given to my mother when we lived in the Canal Zone in Panama, The person who gave us this recipe was the base chaplain's wife and they were originally from Kentucky. I have never seen this anywhere else. It is apparently a Southern thing!

4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1-1/2 cups dark corn syrup
1 stick softened butter
1-1/2 cups oatmeal
1 cup flaked coconut
1 teaspoon vanilla
pinch of salt
1 cup milk
2 unbaked 9-inch pie shells

Combine all ingredients, except the pie shells, and mix well. Pour the mixture into the unbaked pie shells and bake fore about 45 minutes in a 350o (F) oven or until lightly browned. Cool before serving.

Some Actual Finished Items

2006-11-20T14:22:00.000-05:00

I actually have some finished projects to show off today!!! But I am going to save them for the end of the post.

First up, I am getting a new front porch. I live in a house that was built between 1925 and 1926 and the front porch for the most part is still the original. There have been a few patches, mainly at the one end, over the years but it really needed to be replaced. So the guys started tearing out the old one Thursday. And for the most part, the framing was still in great shape. But because we are replacing it with Trex decking instead of wood, the entire frame has to be pulled out. I did find some one who was willing to come and pick up and reuse the wood that was still in god shape. So parts of the framing will have a new life as shelves somewhere.

And on Saturday, I met blogless Lee at All About Yarn in Columbia. I picked the shop because they had the sock yarn that I was looking for - more Colortweed. It was really nice meeting Lee and hopefully at some point she will join us in the blog world. And of course, I was not able to leave a yarn shop without purchasing more sock yarn and some patterns. I will definitely be going back to this shop. And Mapquest lied!!! It said it would take me about an hour to get there and I was there in about 40 minutes. And that included taking the wrong exit because I was talking on the phone. But luckily I got off on 108 West instead of East so all I had to do was turn around at a traffic light.

When I got back home, I went to both of my LYSs and sat and stitched for awhile.

I spent most of Sunday in class. We are almost done. We are off all of next week which will be nice. But I did get to take some photos at the training center in Carroll County of the fire 1 students. It seems like it was a long time ago when I was one.

And now to the finished items! There is a hat, a scarf, and one sock. Not bad for one week. The scarf is in Grande from Schulana (Skacel). It is for a friend's daughter for Christmas. The hat is in pink and white Dale of Norway's Free Style and that is for my chief's oldest daughter. I am making her baby sister the same hat using a super wash merino in pale pink and bright pink. (I don't have the yarn label with me but it is a different yarn.) The pattern is the Gaugeless Hat from Cabin Fever.

The lone sock is in Meilenweit Inca. I liked the color in the skein but not as I knit it up. One of the other females in my fire officer class loved it. So the socks will be her's. I need to get the mate down before the end of class. Although she will be taking the the next 2 classes in the series with me.

I am thinking of trying Wool-in-the-Woods Cherub to knit socks with. The studio is a little bit north of me and I called up there Friday. The woman I talked to is the girlfriend of the guy who is replacing my porch. He asked me this morning if I had called up there Friday and when I told him yes, he told me that his girlfriend has sent me some yarn!!! She sent me some Cherub from her personal stash to try it out and see if it will work for socks. And just from looking at it, I can see that it will. Being the really nice person, I am sending her back some hand-dyed yarn for felting since that is what she is into at the moment. (To see a photo of the Cherub, click on over to Flickr since Blogger won't let me upload any more pictures into this post.)

No Blogging Today

2006-11-16T14:00:00.000-05:00

I am still recovering from whatever bug hit me in the wee early hours of Tuesday morning. Let's just say that there are some down sides of handling the pre-school fire prevention programs when you do not have kids your self. The bugs that they get, I get. As soon as my ribs stop hurting everytime I move wrong, things will be much better. But the bright side is that I have been able to knit while laying on the couch and resting.

Hot Sock Swap

2006-11-15T11:11:00.000-05:00

One of the mailing lists that I am on had a swap called the Hot Socks Swap. And since it involved yarn and socks, of course, I had to participate in it. My partner was Nancy in Pennsylvannia, who is currently blogless.

The swap called for you to send your partner sock yarn and a pattern plus a either tea, hot chocolate, or coffee and any goodies that you want to include. And here are the contents of the box that Nancy sent me.

First up was a sock pattern with some lace, size 1 dpns, Trekking XXL in color 127, some vanilla cocoa, a tea-tree scented lotion bar which will come in real handy once the weather starts to get a bit colder. There was also a bag of loose Burgundy Cherry Tea from the Eastern Shore Tea Company over in Lutherville, Maryland. (Lutherville is right around the corner in the Baltimore area.)

She also sent me a little candle shaped like a sea turtle which is scented with sage. There is also a really nice red and white snowflake napkin which held up my favorite item in the package.

And my favorite is the Siamese cat!!! Okay, she didn't send me a real 'meezer but she sent me a ceramic one that I can help kep warm by setting my tea mug on. As if I would dare! Even though it is a ceramic meezer, meezers have a way of getting back at you. Mimi would probably bit me or something. It can be eerie how Siamese cats can communicate and imagine insults.

Yet More Socks

2006-11-09T13:05:00.000-05:00

Okay, first to answer some of the comments. Yes, Pris, the colors in the newest pair of socks are something that I would normally pick, But there is purple and red in there. And the colors have grown on me. They remind me of hiking through the woods.

And yes, some people are reasonable and destash knit books such as AS at a reasonable price. Pris, you know exactly where the money will be going anyhow - more sock yarn!!!!! And money for MDS&W.

And Jodi, I have to weed out my books. I live in an old house and I only have so much room. Plus I am going to try and make sure my books go to a good home where they will be loved and used. I love them but I will not use them.

And on to the new socks for class knitting. I am trying to keep at least one plain sock on the needles for knitting in class. And I actually have 2 different socks started right now for class knitting. And if the Colortweed socks were not me, well, the new ones aren't me either. Well, one pair isn't me. But the pair with the orange and red already have a new owner - another female fire fighter.

Because everyone is used to me knitting in class now, and we are all comfortable with each other, everyone is coming up and asking me about knitting and the socks. And I wasn't sure about this particular colorway but I like it in the ball just not knitted up. Well, last night S asked me if I actually wear my socks and I told that I do. She said that she loved this particular pair. Since I am not too fond of the way the colors are playing out, I asked her for her shoe size because they are now her's! And I am lucky in that she happens to wear the same size shoe as I do so it will be easy to fit them. I have about a half inch before I turn the heel on the first sock.

And the blue pair I am just about finished with the toe for the second time. I was working on the picking up the short rows last night while waiting at the drive through at the bank and managed to drop a few stitches. So I just started it over. It was easier. And these will be gift socks as well I think. And yes, it will be another female firefighter that I am friends with. I am in class all weekend so I want a pair that I can work on in class besides the colorful pair.

And the class I am taking this weekend is all about building construction. I have to learn how buildings are constructed so I can understand how fire will spread through them. Makes sense somehow... And at least this class is in my own county and I don't have to drive as far. I am going to try and swing by my LYS tonight so that I can pick up some sock yarn that is being held for me. Okay, I really don't need more sock yarn but it is on sale!!! And it is solid colors. And I want to pick up some more of the Colortweed maybe in blues for another pair of socks. I also need to pickup some stuff for some swaps I am in as well.

Fall Socks

2006-11-08T13:43:00.000-05:00

Fall Socks
Originally uploaded by kayakknitter.

The socks cast on at the end of October are finished. When I took the photo I still had to finish binding off the second sock but both of them are done. The yarn is Meilenweit Colortweed in color 1001. I was thinking about giving these socks away but I think that I will keep them for myself. The colors have grown on me. I am not a big fan of brown but I like it in these socks. I just need to wash the socks before I wear them. And I have 2 more toe up socks on the needles.

And yes, my foot is resting on a pile of Alice Starmore books. And yes, the top book is In the Hebrides. I have finally decided which of my Starmore books I will be getting rid of and that is the stack. So if anyone is looking for some Alice Starmore books at a reasonable price, leave me a message or email me.

More sock photos later with both socks on the feet.

Knit Mitt Kit Swap Questionnaire

2006-11-06T11:43:00.000-05:00

The Questionnaire:
Are you allergic to any fibers? None that I know of but I like soft fibers.

What are your favorite colors? Blues, reds, purples, pinks, just about any color except yellow. But I like brights and jewel tones.

Are you a new mitt knitter? How long have you been knitting mittens? No, I have been knitting mittens for awhile.

Do you prefer solid or multicolored yarn? Either. Even when I knit with a solid color yarn, I normally chose a hand-dyed so that there is still some variation in the color.

What fibers do you prefer in mitten yarn? Natural fibers are my preference in most knitting so long as they are not itchy.

Where do you usually knit mittens? Where ever I happen to be but quite often watching a DVD or listening to a podcast.
How do you usually carry/store small projects? I have some small bags that I made for carrying my sock projects around in that are perfect for small projects.
What are your favorite mitten patterns? What ever I am working on. I do not have a particular favorite pattern at the moment.

What are your favorite mitten knitting techniques? In the round.
What new techniques would you like to try? I am always open to trying new ideas.

What are your favorite needles for knitting mittens? I love Brittany dpns but I try to match my needles to my yarn. But I generally end up on my Brittanys.

What are some of your favorite yarns? I love too m any yarns to pick a favorite. It is easier for me to pick a favorite sock yarn than any one yarn. I like Noro, Rowan, and many more. So long as it isn't itchy I will knit with it. (I will knit with it if it is itchy so long as it softens after washing it.)
What yarn do you totally covet? Anything with cashmere or more quivet. I have just enough quivet to make a small lace scarf but I haven't done anything with it yet. I also like hand spuns.

Any pattern you would love to make if money and time were no object? None that I can think of right now. But I am sure that I could come up with something if I think about it long enough.

Favorite kind of needles (brand, materials, straights or circs, etc)? I love Addi turbos and Brittany dpns. I am always willing to try a new type of needle.
If you were a specific kind of yarn, which brand and kind of yarn would you be? Something very eclectic.

Do you have a favorite candy or mail-able snack? I love dark chocolate and I am a huge tea drinker. I also love Swedish fish.
WhatÃ’s your favorite animal? My favorite animals are the sea turtle and Siamese cats. I have a sea turtle tattooed on one hip.
Would you prefer super warm mittens or something more like fingerless mitts? Surprise me!!

If you were a color what color would you be? Blue or red.

What is your most inspiring image, flower, or object in nature? The sea turtle!!!

Do you have a wishlist? Yes, but I use it more as a reminder of books to look for or read.

Anything else youÃ’d like to share with the group today? I passed my mid-term!!!! Now, to start prepping for the final.....

Test Results

2006-11-06T11:38:00.000-05:00

Okay, I did way better than I thought I would after taking the mid-term on Wednesday. Some of the questions were about theories that we discussed but none of us placed much emphasis on. I only missed 6 questions so I had a decent grade. Now I can start worrying about the final which is not until mid-December but it covers everything. I need to decide if I am going to sign up for the next class in this series in January. I probably will but I will wait and see what calsses are offered first.

Busy Studying

2006-11-01T13:47:00.000-05:00

I have a mid-term tonight in my Fire Officer class so I am busy studying and will post photos and updates from Socktoberfest tomorrow.

What Disney Ride Are You?

2006-11-01T13:45:00.000-05:00

What Disney Ride Are You?

Pirates of the Caribbean

You're kind of slow and damp, but at least you're drunk on rum! You're Pirates of the Caribbean!!

Click Here to Take This Quiz
Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests.

Soctoberfest Final Tally

2006-10-31T12:19:00.000-05:00

Okay, Tuesday was the last day of Soctoberfest hosted by Lolly. And it is time to post my final sock tally for the month of OCtober. I only frogged one sock but I restarted it in a different pattern, so does that count?

Completed socks - 5 socks
Completed pairs of socks - 2 pairs
Socks on the needles at the beginning of the month - 5 different sock patterns
Socks on the needle at the end of the month - 3 different patterns
including the mate to the oddball sock which is a Christmas present
Lessons learned - there is no such thing as too many socks on the needles so long as you start a new one as soon as you finish one

Okay, here are the details. On the completed socks, the two pairs that were completed were simple st-st with picot hems. The yarn for one was a gift from Pris of Knit Buddies. The other yarn was from the stash from an eBay buy. The oddball sock is from stash yarn as well. After finishing this pattern for Sock-a-pooolza, I decided to make it again using Claudia'sHand Painted sock yarn. My mother saw the finished sock and liked it. So that made it easy and it will be part of her Christmas present. I already have the second sock on the needles but I am just taking a break from the pattern at the moment.

Who do the socks belong to? The red socks are mine. The yarn is Fruit Punch from Sundara courtsey of Priscilla. The orange-y socks are from an eBay purchase and the yarn was supposed to go to Priscilla but it somehow managed to stay in my stash. Bad!!!! But never fear because the socks are going to be mailed to Priscilla.

The last sock in the photo is one that I started right after finishing the orange-y socks so that I have a simple no-thinking-required sock ont he needles. It is Meilenweitt Color Tweed in color number 1001. The colors are nice autumnal colors. And that photo is not accurate since I managed to turn the heel before midnight on Halloween. I have already started the second sock and should be able to turn the heel on that one today. I am want to make sure that both socks end up the same length so I am knitting from both ends of the ball. The pattern is a mock rib pattern that I found in Sensational Knitted Socks. And it is knitting up really fast. I am hoping to have another new pair of socks to wear by the end of next week if not sooner.

One of the other socks that I started last month, actually the frogged one, is a top down sock. I have not down a top down sock since my very first sock years ago. The yarn is a Cherry Tree potluck color in brights. I belong to the STR Rockin' Socks Club and one of the patterns for September was Central Air and the yarn and the pattern just went together since the colors are nice hot summer colors. I will be working on these socks next. I am curious to see if I can do a regular heel flap again.

Are You Addicted????

2006-10-31T11:49:00.000-05:00

I found this test for seeing how addcited you are to knitting over at Musings of a Mad Dragon Knitter. Minnie scored a 71%. I must have a really serious case since here are my results .....

Wow! You scored 91% on the addiction quiz. It's official. You are a hard core, totally obsessed knit-a-holic. You knit anywhere and everywhere, and when you aren't knitting you are thinking about knitting. If you find you are losing weight, you may want to pare back a bit to make time for eating and sleeping!

Try it out and see how you score. I bet you will score highter than you imagine. Plus it will help kill a few minutes of the work day.

Weird....

2006-10-31T11:33:00.000-05:00

I saw this over on Jodi of Caffeinated Yarn's blog and decided to try it. The results are really strange since my last name is not very common not just in the US but in Spain where my family is from. And yet there are 3 people with my real name. And there are supposedly 660 people with my last name..... And if I type in my brother's name, the results are 0 yet I know of at least 3 people with his exact name - my father, my brother , and my nephew. So that makes you wonder.....

HowManyOfMe.com

There are:
3
people with my name
in the U.S.A.

How many have your name?

Finished Items

2006-10-25T15:14:00.000-04:00

Yes, I finally finished my scarf for the ISE2 late last night. I put it in the washer to soak this morning and went home at lunch to spin it out and lay it out. Hopefully it will be dry enough tomorrow for me to take a decent photo of it.

Plus I have 1 glove from the Fetching pattern done. Okay, it still needs a thumb but I am going to wait until I have the mate done before doing the thumbs. I have modified the pattern a bit by adding more another repeat of the cables at the wrist and at the top instead of picots. And I am using Manos for my yarn. And yes, these are a Christmas present for someone.

And more later....

Wine & a Sock

2006-10-23T14:55:00.000-04:00

Okay, this weekend was busy. I actually had two fire prevention details on Saturday at the same time. Yeah, hard to be in two places at once. But I had someone who volunteered to take one of them. I had the birthday party at the station. And I spent the bulk of the day Sunday in class followed by a few hours of fire prevention and mapping for the fire company. But I still managed to finish a sock!!!!!

As to the wine part, well, I went out Friday evening to pick up a bottle of my favorite wine. And instead of my favorite Australian syrah, I saw this Argentine syrah and I had to get it. Check the label out!!! How can a knitter resist a wine from a vineyard called Funky Llama?? I also bought a bottle of Pinot Grigo (Australian). I tried the Pinot Grigo first and that seemed to help me speed up my knitting. I tried the Funky Llama last night and managed to finish off one sock. This sock took me less than a week to complete. And yes, I have already cast on for the second sock. So I may get lucky and finish a second pair of socks before Soctoberfest is over.

Fruit Punch Socks

2006-10-20T14:26:00.000-04:00

Here are my fruit punch socks knit in Sundara Yarns. The yarn was a gift from Pris of Knit Buddies. I love the colors in this yarn. It is so me. I used a basic toe up pattern based on Wendy's toe up pattern that I have modified to fit my tension and my foot. The sock has a picot edging instead of ribbing a la Claudia.

And these are my first completed pair for Socktoberfest that Lolly is hosting. I am working on a second pair right now that should be done by the end of the month. I need to start the second sock tonight. I want to get the toe done so I can knit it in class on Sunday. The first sock has the heel turned and it is just a matter of making the leg as long as I want it. And yes, it will have a picot cuff. The yarn is one that I bought off eBay quite a while ago and the colors are oranges and pinks.

The third sock is the Simply Lovely Lace Socks from the spring issue of IK. This is the third time that I have knitted this pattern. I knitted it the first time for my Sockopoolza socks. I made a second pair using the same yarn and pattern for myself. But I don't have them. The first pair that I mailed out never made it to their destination (another country) so I sent out the second pair. And yes, they arrived this time. So I am knitting them for a third time. This time I am using Claudia's Hand Paints in the Pink Cloud color way. And I have a feeling that I am not going to end up with these socks. My mother likes them. So I am thinking easy Christmas present. I can always try this pattern for the fourth time in a different yarn and keep them for myself. And yes, I knit them toe up.

And forgive the photos of red socks against a red couch but it is dark in the evening so I had to make do.

Meme or Is Any One Reading This?

2006-10-19T13:18:00.000-04:00

Okay, I have borrowed this from a few people.

1. First Name? Mia and yes that is a nickname.
2. Were you named after anyone? You mean besides the Virgin Mary? No.
3. When did you last cry? After my last ped patient was brave when we carried him to the helo. Always watch small kids around hot liquids.
4. Do you like your handwritting? Yes, when I write neat enough to read it.
5. What is your favorite lunchmeat? Veggies not meat.
6. If you were another person would you be friends with you? Yes.
7. Do you have a journal? Does this count?
8. Do you still have your tonsils? Yes.
9. Would you bungee jump? Hell no. I am not that crazy.
10. What is your favorite cereal? Cinnamon Puffins eaten dry.
11. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? Yes. Unless I have to unzip them
12. Do you think you are strong? Not as strong as I should be. But yes.
13. What is your favorite ice cream flavor? When I eat ice cream I like Chunky Monkey from Ben and Jerry's.
14. Shoe Size? Regular shoes a US size 8; running shoes a US 9, and fire boots are a US 9.
15. Red or Pink? Red
16. Wha tis the least favorite thing about yourself? I can be a pain in the rear.
17. Who do you miss the most? My old meezer Bonita but Mimi is a nice meezer.
18. Do you want everyone to send this back to you? Try it; at least I will know that you are reading this.
19. What color pants, shirt, and shoes are you wearing? Red sweater with some cleavage, jeans, and black ankle boots. Hey, you have cleavage show it with some taste.
20. Last thing you ate? A pear.
21. What are you listening to right now? iTunes and Carly Simon and James Taylor are playing.
22. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Blue or red. Think deep rich saturated hues.
23. Favorite smell? A nice freshly brewed cup of jasmine tea.
24. Who is the last person you talked to on the phone? My friend Billy.
25. The first thing you notice about people you are attracted to? How they carry themselves.
26. Do you like the person you stole This from? Yeah, she is a nice person.
27. Favorite drink? Jasmine tea.
28. Favorite sport? It used to be white water kayaking but I have always loved soccer.
29. Eye color? Brown
30. Hat size? Average
31. Do you wear contacts? No.
32. Favorite food? I like so many but I will be good and say the veggie dim sum from my favorite Chineese place and veggie sushi.
33. Scary movies or happy endings? Happy endings.
35. Summer or winter? Both. Summer because of carnival and winter because I love snow.
36. Hugs or kisses? Both.
37. Favorite dessert? Linda's fudge cake from the Cheesecake Factory. Seven layers of chocolate and fudge.......
38. Who is most likely to respond? ?!?!
39. Least likely to respond? ?!?!
39. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? ??
40. What books are you reading? I am re-reading Harry Potter Book 7 right now. But I am also reading my books for my class. And I am waiting for Halloween when the next Nora Roberts book comes out.
41. What's on your mouse pad? I have a trackball so no mouse pad.
42. What did you watch last night on tv? Nothing because I was in class.
43. Favorite sounds? Falling water; a quiet creek in the woods, and the sound of a siren.
44. Rolling Stones or Beatles? Um, U2.
45. The furthest you have been from home? I'm a military brat so that doesn't count.
46. What's your special talent? I know of several people who will say trouble. But I like to color outside the lines.
47. Where were you born? You wouldn't believe me but let's just say that my passport has to say China so that I can visit China instead of where I was really born. And I don' look Chinese.
48. Who sent this to you? Stolen from Michelle, Bonne Marie, Julie, and Cara.

Unveiled

2006-10-18T14:35:00.000-04:00

Unveiled
Originally uploaded by kayakknitter.

Here are the goodies that I received from Lera in the Knitters' Tea Swap 2. First off the yarn, enough yarn to make 2 pairs of socks in Knit Picks Parade sock yarn. Green socks and a multi color pair of socks are now in the stash. At the very back is a copy of the Harlot's latest book Knitting Rules. And to help with the tears that come from crying is a thing of tissue that is designed to fit a cup holder in your car.

There is also a bag of Windmill cookies. Gingerbread flavors! Yummy!!!

There are several teas; all of them from Adagio. There is a large tin of Jun Zhu Mao Jian green tea. There is a large tin of Rooibos Mango. There are two small tins of a black pearl tea and a lichee pearl tea. Pearl teas are always fun to brew because you can watch them open up.

Back on the knitting side there are several sets of needles. Lera sent me size 1, 2.5 and 3 dpns. She also sent me a pair of unusual straight needles. They are called Knitterattions and they are clear plastic and have a ribbon twisted through them. There is also a small wind chime in the shape of a humming bird. And very practical for anyone using dpns, she included a set of tip protectors.

And there was also a small candle that smells like vanilla pound cake. And a bag of chocolate poker chips. I wonder what the guys at the fire hall would have to say about me betting chocolate chips instead of the dimes we normally use....

And last but not least, is what every knitter needs plenty of - a sheepy tape measure!!!!! This one is a little bit different than all of the others that I have seen and he is a little bit bigger. And yes, he is already in a sock bag.

Thank you Lera!!!!

Socks in a Cradle

2006-10-12T14:08:00.000-04:00

Socks in a Cardle
Originally uploaded by kayakknitter.

Lolly asked everyone taking part in Socktoberfest to flash their stash. This is not a current stash photo for my sock yarn but it probably fairly accuratet. I took this photo late this past spring. If anything, I have added to the sock stash. I have been slowly weeding out the yarns that I don't like from my stash. but at the same time, I have been adding more of the yarns that I like to the stash. I guess I need to knit more socks......

And yes, the cradle is an antique cradle that I found at a garage sale. I bought it specifically to store yarn in so that I could see it and enjoy it.

Tea Swap Box

2006-10-12T12:26:00.000-04:00

Tea Swap Box
Originally uploaded by kayakknitter.

This is one shot of the box that I just mailed off to Jan in Indiania for the Knitters Tea Swap 2. There is plenty of chocolate and tea in the box. I think I managed to balance out both. Because my favorite treat is one that does not travel well, I mixed up the dry ingredients and placed them in a plastic bag and stuck them in the jar in the lower left of the photos. (It has tiny Andes chocolate bars on the top.) I also included the recipe. There is even some really neat sock yan in the box (upper left corner container) that reminds me of the leaves on the trees around Harper's Ferry. I really hope Jan likes it. I am still waiting for my box to arrive but we have until tomorrow to mail everything out.

Socktofest History Questions

2006-10-09T12:22:00.000-04:00

For Socktoberfest, Lolly has asked that we all answer some questions about our sock knitting. And better late than never.

~ When did you start making socks? I honestly do not remember when I made my first sock. But I still have it!!!!
~ Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class? I do know that I taught myself.
~ What was your first pair? See the photo and you will understand what my first pair looked like and why I never wore them. (The first sock is the blue-y blob)
~ How have they "held up" over time? Yeah but I never wore them because they did not fit.
~ What would you have done differently? Nothing. You learn from your mistakes and never hope to repeat them.
~ What yarns have you particularly enjoyed? My all time favorites are Claudia's Hand Paints, Fleece Artist, Dani's Sunshine Yarns, and Sundara sock yarns.
~ Do you like to crochet your socks? Crochet is a dirty word to me. I do know how to crochet but I can't read a crochet pattern.
~ Or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method? I have been known to use both DPNs and 2 circulars. It all depends on the pattern and I am planning on carrying the socks with me to meetings and classes. Classes and meetings means that I use 2 circulars and a fairly simple pattern.
~ Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?) Since I almost always do a toe up pattern or convert my pattern to a toe up, I use a short row heel. I really do need to try some other methods.
~ How many pairs have you made? No clue. My hand knit socks seem to have little minds of their own and some how show up on either my mother's feet or my niece's. The problem socks seem to have a common color in that they are purple. So no more purple socks. But I do have a pair that is should be finished tonight out of Sundara in the Fruit Punch colorway. Thank you Pris for sending me the wonderful yarn.

And I have another sock almost finished. When I did Sock-a-pooolza, I loved the pattern that I made so much that I made it 3 times (twice using the same yarn,) (And no photos since I believe that my niece now has them. My mother says that she doesn't have them. And yes, the yarn was purple.) I used the Simply Lovely pattern from the Spring 2006 issue of IK. I am just about to bind off my 5th sock using the pattern in a color way called Pink Cloud from Claudia's Hand Painted Yarns. I do think that this will be the last time I knit this paattern for a while though.

And I do have at leat 2 other socks on the needles. Photos soon.

And I should explain that I do give my mother the socks but my niece likes to help herself to my books and my socks. Although she does call me and tell me later that she borrowed them. Like I am ever going to see them back.... A 10 year girl with great taste. And no I honestly do not mind her taking the socks I just wish she would let me know and I would gladly knit her a pair that fits her foot. Her foot is smaller than mine right now.

10 Knitterly Things

2006-09-28T14:06:00.000-04:00

Since it has quite awhile since I posted on a blog. Several months to be exact, I figure that I can do this meme that Grumperina started on her blog the other day. I will try and come up with 10 things that are knitterly about me but it might be hard.

1. I am strictly a Continental knitter. I can not grasp throwing my yarn.
2. I am most definitely a sock knitter. I knit socks on dpns and 2 circulars.
3. I knit all of my socks using the toe up method. One of these days, I will do a top down sock.
4. I like bright colors. I really like blues, reds, purples, and pinks.
5. I spend a few years knitting lace but I do not have any of the lace items that I knit. They were all given away.
6. I learned to knit at the tender age of 4 when my family was living in Naples.
7. No one else in my family knits. I learned my our land lord's kids nona (grandmother in Italian.) This might explain why I knit Continental.
8. One of these days, my nephew might finally get the sweater I promised him for Christmas 2 years ago. And yes, the sweater will still fit since I was making the largest size and it would fit my brother.
9. I wind all of my yarn into pancakes on my ball winder. I like to know ahead of time of any knots or problems with the yarn.
10. If I don't have knitting with me when I go to the truck house, I get questioned as to what is wrong. So I always bring sock knitting when I go to the fire house.

Okay, ten things. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.

Test

2006-09-22T15:06:00.000-04:00

Okay, I am back over here on Blogger. This is just a test post. I have had some issues with uploading photos lately so I want to make sure that there will be no problems before posting knitting photos. Look for knitting postings to start in the next few days.

Switching Over

2005-01-10T16:15:00.000-05:00

I am going to be switching this fledging blog over to Typepad over the next week. So check out Knit & Play with Fire at it's new home.

2005-01-08T16:04:00.000-05:00

Truck Woos! This is a small photo of what anti-freeze looks like when it is inside your car.... Yes, I am going to insist that it be fixed for free since this is the result of something done by the garage.

Photos Tomorrow

2005-01-08T15:52:00.000-05:00

Okay, the sun is out so that means I can get some decent photos today. I will be posting photos tomorrow. I am currently without a vehicle since the local garage has managed to screw up a minor repair to my truck. I know have to wait until tomorrow night to take my truck back down there so they can figure out what they did that resulted in my defrost not working and my having a nice size anti-freeze puddle in the floor on the passenger side. Actually since I don't have any knitting pictures handy, I will post a photo of the puddle. I am a female not stupid when it comes to engines!!

Okay if this works out okay, there should be a photo below. I am going to go and finish the second of the wrist warmers that I am currently knitting plus finish up a hat and a scarf and who knows what else since cleaning is definitely in my plans for the rest of the afternoon.

Geography Lessons

2005-01-06T10:50:00.000-05:00

This one is especially for Bron.....

Yes the church steeple and such look like classic New England architecture but it is not New England architecture. That church steeple , and the many like it in this area, are pure German. I am south of the Mason-Dixon line. Maryland is a border state and I live in the western section which is the German area. Well, it was settled by the Germans and their presence is still strongly felt here. Although it is not at all unusual these days to hear Spanish spoken in the market and in the malls. We Hispanics are out to reclaim this country that we let the English and others settle.

Yes, I am a proud Cuban-American who was born in Republic of China on the Navy base. I have lived in a number of places courtesy of the US Navy.

For those who are geography impaired, locate Washington, DC, on a map and you will find Maryland right above it. It is a tiny state but a funplace to live when you learn to ignore politics. But it is small enough that you do get to know your state and local politicians on a personal basis. I know that I can go up to the head of the county comissioners and tell him to his face that I think his stand on certain issues make absolutely no sense and that he should on occasion get his head out into the sunshine. I have told a local state politican the same thing. And on the plus side, I have had a personal tour of the off-limits areas of the state governor's mansion

But enough about politics. It is time to knit.

2005-01-05T14:49:00.000-05:00

The skies for the past 3 days! And it has been all rain no snow! No wonder I haven't been able to get a decent photo to share...

New Chapeaux for the Harlot

2005-01-05T14:48:00.000-05:00

Does anyone remember when the Harlot was going on about all it seemed that she was knitting was mittens? Well, I volunteered to knit her a hat or two. I knocked off 2 hats really fast. I than used the hats to cushion some really good chocolate that would help to calm her while she knits. She posted photos of the hats in today's blog but sadly she did not post a photo of her wearing at least one of them. The chocolate apparently suffered some evil fate at the hands of the Harlot so no photos of it will appear.

I am in the finishing stages of a third and final hat for Stephanie. I should be able to finish it up hopefully tonight and will post a photo of it before I mail it. I decided on 3 chapeaux for Stephanie because I figured that her lovely daughters might shall we say "borrow" them.

And the photo posted below is of the church steeple right down the street from my office. I stood out in the rain to take the picture. The sky has looked like that for the past 3 days.

A Masterpiece!!!!

2005-01-04T10:50:00.000-05:00

Go and check out la Brainy's masterpiece!

I sent her some yarn in trade for some magazines and I included in the yarn the Peace Fleece everyday cardigan pattern and enough yarn to make it. I had purchased it a few years ago at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. I kept thinking the yarn was a little too scratchy for me. Plus I figured that Alison would make better use of the yarn living in a much colder climate. After tinkering with the pattern for the everyday cardi, she ended up using the yarn for her own design. She is an inspiration!

Sockapalooza!!!

2005-01-03T20:48:00.000-05:00

Yeah! I am in Alison's sockapalooza tour for winter 2005! This is going to make me actually have to make more socks. And something other than my normal safe ankle length toe-up pattern. Although I just promised my chief that I would be working on the year end paperwork for him this evening, I think I am going to be going through my old Interweave Knits issues. I need to have some sock patterns lined up before the matches are made.

For a look at what color I think fire engines should be check out the Walkersville Volunteer Fire Company. Yes, we really do think that all fire trucks should be blue. Red fire trucks are just so common. Actually so long as they can make it to the scene and put out the fire and have some really funky loud sirens, I guess engines that are other colors are okay.

Time to go knit and watch the rest of Tigerland. This is a great movie with plenty of political statements about the Vietnam war that correlate to today's military actions.

Waiting for Daylight

2005-01-03T15:59:00.000-05:00

The pink Clapotis only took 3 soaks before the water stopped being pink. If the sun ever came out around here, I will take a picture of it.

I am also trying to finish off a hat to send to another blogger. I will wait until she receives the first 2 I have already sent her to be received. So I will be posting a photo of that soon. And a matching scarf that happened by chance.

I picked up Pledged: the Secret Life of Sororities by Alexandra Robbins on Saturday for something to read. Since I pledged a sorority in college and ended up in a fraternity, I figured that this might be an interesting read. I am almost finished with the book and it is a great insight into female group dynamics. And I will explain how a female can end up in a fraternity in the next week or so.

If my posts are a little sketchy this week, it is because I am trying to finish up year-end paperwork for the fire company. Once dreaded paperwork is done, I will be trying to post at least every other day.

2004-12-30T15:14:00.000-05:00

Mimi being good!

Pink Water

2004-12-30T14:42:00.000-05:00

Okay, the pink thing is in the washer and the water was a pretty shade of pink. I have already changed the water once and it is soaking a second time. The water so far isn't as pink. I will wiat and see how many times I have to change the water.

I just got back from the post office and there were some nice things sitting in my box. I got 3 new DVDs from Netflix. Discs 1 of both "CSI" and "The L Word" and "The Pillow Book." I am a CSI addict so this is just fun watching and drooling over George Eads. I am too cheap to give my local cable company aka Adlephia or as I call them the money suckers the money for Showtime. I have seen "The Pillow Book" before but Ewan MacGregor is nice to look at in this one.

The best item in the mail was the new book "Hot Target" from Suzanne Brockmann. She is one of my all time favorite authors. I got have picked up the book Tuesday when it came out at Waldenbooks (where I work part-time) and paid less. But I bought it from Suz and I know have an autographed copy. I am being very good and will wait until tomorrow night to read all about Cosmo. For anyone not familiar with Suz's books, she started out as a series romance writer and found her niche by writing about SEALs. She has 2 different series - SEAL Team10 and Team 16. Team 10 is the Tall, Dark, and Dangerous series out out by Mira and Team 16 is the Troubleshooters series published by Ballentine. I like Navy guys so shoot me! I am a proud Navy brat so yes I am biased. I am actually wearing one of my many Navy sweatshirts right now.

But back to "Hot Target." One of the subplots in this book is the story of Jules and his lover. Suz has deidcated this book to her son Jason who came out and is lucky to have set of parents who support him. Go check out her website at www.SuzanneBrockmann.com to read more about her books and her.

I will write another time about another of my favorite authors who is also a local. Well, she lives about 25 miles from me. And I am sure that most everyone has either read one of her books or has at least heard of her. One of my roommates in college was engaged to one of this writer's nephews, so I have been reading her books for a long time.

Since Rachael has posted a wonderful picture of kitty love, I will post a cute baby photo of my kitty, Mimi. I will tell the story of Mimi at a later date. But she is really my mother's cat but she has claimed me as "her person." This is a photo of her being good when she was really tiny. And yes, she is a meezer.

Yeah! A Full Sized Clapotis Finished!

2004-12-30T13:42:00.000-05:00

I am sitting here weaving in the ends for a full sized Clapotis in pinks. I will take and post a picture over the weekend. I used Artyarns Superwash Merino in color 109 which is pinks and some purple. My only issue with this colorway is that it crocks! I have had to be careful what I am wearing when I am wearing when working on this project since the color rubs off. But it does wash out. So I am curious as to how pink the water will be when I wash it. I started this particular one for me but I don't really like how the colors pooled. My mother likes it so she will be getting this for Three Kings Day. on January 6. I will definitely be making a full sized one for me but I am thinking of using Cherry Tree silk merino dk. I just have to order the yarn after I decide which colorway.

Rachael H. is a bad influence. She posted that wonderful picture of Manos yesterday and I had to go to my LYS and buy more Manos since I was swayed by the lovely colors. Like I really need more Manos! Go and check out her colors. (If I know how to add the link I would) Hi Rachael!

Clapotis in green

2004-12-29T14:11:00.000-05:00

This is a closeup of the scarf version of the Clapotis pattern from Knitty by Kate Gilbert that I am doing in Artful Yarns superwash merino. Plus I am playing with adding photos.

Just Testing

2004-12-29T13:18:00.000-05:00

Not a real first post but just a test.