On the needles...

I have a new pair of socks I started knitting for my wonderful daddy! I cast them on right after I finished the hubby's socks and I love how they are turning out. The pattern I picked for him is the Diamond Gansey Socks by Wendy Johnson. I really love her book Socks from the Toe Up and hope that I can add more of her books to my collection soon. Her patterns are very easy to follow and the designs are gorgeous. As soon as I find the right yarn I'm going to cast on another pair for a friend of mine. Think I can finish them all by Christmas?
Here is a picture of what I've done so far with my dad's socks. I hope he likes them. I have never knit anything for him before...

Thanksgiving and Yarn Shopping...

We just got back from a wonderful Thanksgiving with family in Vermont. The kids really had a blast running wild and free through Grandma and Grandpa's house. They don't get to see them very often, so it was nice to see them get some quality time together.
I ate way too much, but that's what Thanksgiving is all about, right? Well, not really, but that's part of it. :)
On our drive back home we decided to stop for lunch in Northampton, MA. The main reason, was so that I could visit the WEBS store there. I have shopped from their website before, which I love. I had always dreamed of going to their store. I had seen signs on the road during previous trips to see the family and I am so glad we finally stopped to check it out. It was quite an experience. I don't think I have ever seen so much yarn in one room. I should have prepared in advanced. I should have had patterns printed out and specific yarns to look for. Instead, I walked around with my husband and kids (one of them was acting quite wild from being in the car for so long) and tried to take it all in. I started putting yarn in my basket and not even thinking about it. I was looking for one specific yarn for a pair of socks I'm knitting for a friend, but I think I failed. I bought this gorgeous cashmere yarn, but now I'm thinking it's probably not good for socks... There was so much sock yarn I couldn't see straight. And then, I saw the entrance to the other room... A room filled with long isles of yarn. Oh boy... It was just too much. I couldn't resist some gorgeous Tweed that I will one day knit into a sweater, and some other goodies too... About $200 later (gulp!) we left the store with me telling my husband that I had just taken care of Christmas shopping for me...
Somewhere around Connecticut I finished the hubby's socks. I'm so proud! They really look great and he's thrilled. I'll try to get him to model them for me later so that I can share a photo with you guys. Now on to the next pair!

Oh, Sandy...

Hi Everyone! Hope you're all safe and sound. Sandy was a crazy, angry storm and I feel very lucky that nothing terrible happened to us. I am saddened by all the destruction that happened in our area and send my love to all of the ones that have lost so much, and now have to start their lives from scratch. I can't even imagine what that must feel like. We are fortunate that all we had to deal with was the loss of power for 9 days. We had a little damage to our roof, but nothing major.
I have missed writing here. Who knew I'd enjoy it so much, right? I was home for two weeks and today was actually my first day back to work after Sandy. I bet you're thinking that with all "free" the time I knit a blanket. You are mistaken, my friends.... Knitting with two small children in the house is pretty much impossible. Knitting by candlelight sounds romantic, but I can tell you that all it does is make your eyes sting...
I finally got to knit a bit while waiting for my cable provider to arrive on Friday (all our wires got knocked down by a tree) and managed to finish sock # 1 for the hubby. Just to remind you, I'm knitting the Traditional Gansey Socks by Wendy Johnson. I think they look great on the hubby and last night I started sock # 2. I have to find lots of time for knitting because I have 2 more pairs I want to finish before Christmas... Not to mention a new scarf for me.... Ha! There is no way I can do all that by Christmas... Who am I kidding?

Here are pictures of the hubby sporting his new sock...