Sometimes April Showers Bring...

A baby girl.

Four years ago today, my DH and I waddled our way to the hospital and said, "Take her out, she's done!" (Okay, maybe I shouted it. DH just sat there and agreed with everything I said. After all, he knew the drill, having been through it twice before.) She made it in to the world just in time to have dinner with the family. DS the Elder was thrilled to have a baby sister, telling everyone he saw that evening (including the high school kid behind the Arby's counter) that he had "wished upon a star for her, and it came true!)

DS the Younger wasn't quite so thrilled.

But he came around.

Now, four years later, my baby has become a little girl (a diva princess and tomboy all wrapped up in one tiny package) and will start pre-K in the fall. She is my last baby, and I am a little sad about it. Yet, I am also excited to see what kind of person she will become.

Happy Birthday Baby Doll! May this year be even better than the last. :)

"Mommy" aka Mel

P.S. For my Harry Potter Sock Pal, my feet are 9.5" when your measure from heel to big toe. However, when you measure from heel to second toe (which is longer than my big toe,) they are 9.75". I have to wear a 9 for the width. I can wear an 8 1/2 ONLY IF the shoe is available in a wide width. So there you have the strange story of my feet.

It's All About the Potter

So, I signed up for another sock swap. This time to wait out the new Harry Potter book and the new movie. I needed to post the answers to the questions on my blog so that my house, Hufflepuff, would receive the maximum points. So here we go....

Hogwarts Sock Swap Questionnaire

1. What Hogwarts house have you been sorted into?

Hmm, think I just answered that above, but I'll go ahead and repeat myself: Hufflepuff!

2. Shoe size?

I wear size 9 tennis shoes.

3. Foot Length?

According to the wooden measuring stick I used, my foot is 9 1/2" from heel to big toe.

4. Foot Circumference?

According to the Magic Tape Measure, "practically perfect," however in muggle terminology, my foot is 9 1/4" around. (I did measure the bigger foot.)

5. List your three favorite double-point needle brands, including size and length.

a. 7" Boye, US size 2, bought at the local Hobby Lobby.

b. 7" Boye, US size 1, bought at the local Hobby Lobby.

c. Knit Picks circular needles, US size 2, 24" in length, set of 2. (I'm a bit of a rebel.)

6. Would you like to try a new brand needle? If so, which brand? Size? Length?

Sure, why the heck not? No plastic (They grab too much) or bamboo (I have tendency to break 'em.) As for size, either US 1 or 2 would be great. Length would need to be 7" or shorter. As for brand, surprise me. :)

However, if you happen to stumble across a set made of holly wood with a phoenix feather enclosed inside, about 11 inches in length, I'd go for those too. ;)

7. If you are a RAVENCLAW, do you prefer the colors in the film or the book? Do you have a strong preference?

Hufflepuff here, so I shall move on to the next question....

8. Are you willing to have an international Hogwarts Sock Pal?

That's perfectly fine. Always interesting to see what other people use out there in the big, wide Muggle world.

Later daze,

Mel

I'm King of the World

Or should I say Queen?

I've been playing Civilization IV on the computer for the last 2 weeks and am like totally hooked. I'm all about conquering the world and crushing the other civilizations. Heh.

At least I'm conquering something, cause the knitting is kickin' my arse, people.

I'm knitting birthday socks for DD, who turns 4 on Monday, but the party is Saturday. I'm doing a toe-up, which is really new for me. I've ripped out the toe 3 times before I had it right (my fault, not the instructions.) I'm using the Magic Cast On from Knitty (most excellent by the way), so no having to deal with short rows.

Everything is going smoothly. I follow Wendy's directions (from Wendy Knits) for the short row heel and nail it. I'm feeling confident now. I start the stockinette part of the ankle and notice that my gusset is gaping, even after adding the extra stitches between needles to fill them in. No prob. I'll just stitch them closed with some extra yarn. Continue on.

Do my 2 1/2 inches of 1x1 ribbing. Change to the lace portion of the sock for the turned down cuff. (I'm converting the Lace Cuff Anklets pattern from Favorite Socks to a toe-up version, so I am fiddling a bit.) Change my needle size for the 2x2 open ribbed lace and start knitting.

I am 5 rows into it when I drop a freaking stitch! Don't panic. I go back try to fix it and drop 4 more! Now it's an unholy mess. Fine. I'll rip back to the ribbing.

Nope. I've lost my marker for the beginning of the round.

So, I rip it back to just before I start the heel. It was the only way I could find the beg/end of my round.

I re-knit the heel, no prob and fixed the gusset gaps properly this time, thank you very much and am now finally getting to the 1x1 ribbing again. And this is just the first sock!

Think I can get sock 2 done in time and still rule the world?

Anyone know how to fold the time/space continuum?

Mel

I Have Gone Off the Deep End

And I may never come back!

I have decided to give up knitting for good.

I have fallen in love with something new that will now take up all of my time. No more dropped stitches! No more gauge swatching! No more frogging!

What's this new passion of mine, you ask, that has caused me to throw out the old needles and set fire to the stash?

Spelunking!

The dampness! The darkness! The bat guano! Anything is better than ripping out my design project for the six millionth time and re-knitting it.

I am off to go live in a cave. Don't wait up for me.