A Sock is Born

For my birthday, my sister gave me this great sock yarn and a template to create a pair of socks. At first the task seemed daunting, but as I read through the pattern step-by-step I realized it was doable. It took me awhile to knit it up (due to the fine yarn and small needles) but I finally finished my first "real" sock. It fits great, the only thing is that it is very pointy. I just think of it as my Elf sock. I'm moving up in the knitting world! Once I finish the mate, I'm going to try a cardigan. We'll see how that one goes. So without further ado, I introduce....my sock:

Please realize that my ankle is NOT this fat, it is the angle at which I took the picture. It's not easy to photograph your own foot from the side. Nor do I have cankles in real life, once again it was the angle.

Spring Reading Challenge

Here is my list of books (so far) for the Spring Reading Challenge:

(No specific order)

1. False Memory
2. The Glass Castle
3. Chi Running
4. The Shack
5. And Then There Were None
6. Where the Heart Is
7. The Last Juror
8. Superstitious
9. Summer Sisters
10. Cradle and All

This could change after I go to the Library on Saturday, but this is for starters.

Dollhouse Doo-dads

In between knitting and other things, I was able to make some more things for my dollhouse out of clay. In a previous post, I had made the potter's bench. Now I made some things to put on it. I made everything on it except for the pots.

Next I decided to make some food items. I made fruit, cookie sheets with cookies and cinnamon rolls, and then a wedding cake. I was shocked at how cool the wedding cake came out.

My Octopus

Well I finally finished my octopus stuffed animal for my friend's baby. I think it came out great. It took a lot of time though. From start to finish, it probably took about 100 hours to complete. I'm proud of it though. It's pretty big, about 2 1/2 feet. Much bigger than I had anticipated. Now I am working on a stuffed pig. I think this one is going to be smaller.

I've Been Tagged

I got tagged, so here are my answers:



1) Are your parents married or divorced?

Married for over 40 years



2) Are you a vegetarian?

No. I tried it for a week, but all the soy food was making me sick.

I wish I was though.



3) Do you believe in Heaven?

Undecided



4) Have you ever come close to dying?

Technically no, but I thought I was twice



5) What jewelery do you wear daily?

A necklace and three rings



7) Do you eat the stems of broccoli?

Only if it's raw



8) What is your hair styling agent?

Nothing



9) Ever have any surgery? If so, what?

No



10) Do you color your hair?

Sometimes



11) What do you wear to bed?

Tank top



12) Have you ever done anything illegal?

Yes



13) Can you roll your tongue?

Yes



14) Electric razor or blade?

Blade



15) What kind of shoes usually?
Barefoot around the house, My little black flats for work, and flip flops. running shoes or ughs for going out.

16) Do you condone abortions?
Not when people use it as a form of birth control

17) What is your hair color?
Dark brown right now

18) Future child's name?
James Orlin and Genniveve Mary (I have to find out how to spell it)

19) Do you snore?
Sometimes

20) If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be?
Any place Tropical

21) Do you sleep with stuffed animals?
Yes, plus 2 cats

22) If you won the lottery, what would you do first?
Travel!

23) Gold or platinum/white gold?
White Gold

24) Hamburger or hot dog?
I can go both ways

25) If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Cheese

26) City, beach or country?
Beach, unless it's Manhattan

27) What was the last thing you touched?
My drink

28) Where did you eat last?
El Rincon, our favorite Saturday night Mexican place

29) When's the last time you cried?
About a week ago when we were watching some show on CNN about the way the world is going and what the future has in store. I cried because I'm afraid if something bad happens, then we will be broke and then I will never get to have babies

30) Do you read blogs?
Yes

31) Would you ever go out dressed like the opposite sex?
Already have, I had to cross dress for a play once.

32) Ever been involved with the police?
A few times

33) What's your favorite shampoo and soap?
Anything that smells really good

34) Do you talk in your sleep?
All the time

35) Ocean or pool?
Both

38) Window seat or aisle?
Aisle

39) Ever met anyone famous?
Yes, Andre Agassi and a bunch of other Tennis Pros

40) Do you feel that you've had a truly successful life?
So far, but I hope to be more successful as time goes on

41) Do you twirl your spaghetti or cut it?
Twirl

42) Ricki Lake or Oprah Winfrey?
Ricki Lake in King of Queens


43) Basketball or Football?
Football

44) How long do your showers last?
3 minutes

45) Automatic or stick shift?
Stick Shift

46) Cake or ice cream?
Ice cream

47) Are you self-conscious?
Sometimes

48) Have you ever drunk so much you threw up?
No

49) Have you ever given money to a beggar?
Yes

50) Have you been in love?
Yes

51) Where do you wish you were?
On a tropical Beach

52) Do you wear socks with your shoes?
Yes, if it's tennis shoes

53) Have you ever ridden in an ambulance?
Yes

54) Can you tango?
No, but I could probably fake it if I had to

55) Last gift you received?
A geranium tree

56) Last sport you played?
Whiffle Ball

57) Things you spend a lot of money on?
Running stuff and Photo stuff

58) Where do you live?
Folsom, ca

59) Where were you born?
Placerville, CA

60) Last wedding attended?
My roomate from college

63) Most hated food(s)?
Sardines, Anchovies,

64) What's your favorite?
Mexican and anything with cheese

65) Can you sing?
Yes

66) Last person you instant messaged?
I don't do that

67) Last place you went on holiday?
New York City

68) Favorite regular drink?
Iced Tea

69) Current Song?
Discipline by Nine Inch Nails

In the Deep Blue Sea

I have decided I needed to expand my knitting. I found a book at the library that has patterns for knitting stuffed animals. At first I thought no way can I do that; however, as I looked through it, realized it wasn't as hard as I thought. I chose the turtle as my first project because I thought it looked manageable. It was actually one of the intermediate projects, but that was only because of the shell design and the many pieces. I had no problem whipping this up. It only took about 6 movies to make. There is nothing fancy about making it. If you can knit, purl, increase and "knit 2 together" you can make this. I am going to give it to a co-worker as a baby shower present. My next project is a colorful octopus. That is going to take a lot more time. I have to make 8 legs and each one is like 90 rows long.

In my father's footsteps

There were two things that I still needed before my craft room was complete... a chair/sofa and a side table. I have been going to the thrift store about once a week looking for both. Well I finally found a table, but it wasn't at the thrift store. About a month ago, I was out for my long run that I normally do on Sundays. As I was running, I saw a sign for a garage sale. I decided I would go check it out. As soon as I got there, I spotted the table. It was a little scuffed up and not the right color, but nothing a little spray paint couldn't fix. The best part was that it was only a buck. How could I go wrong? So I had the lady hold it for me and I told her I would come back after I finished my run. I did my last three miles, ran home, got my dollar, ran back to the sale, bought my table, and carried it 1/2 a mile home...just like my father has done a hundred times before!

To keep with the theme of my craft room, I spray painted it black. I then went to the dollar store and got a package of photo paper for a dollar. I went through all of the photos I had taken over the years and turned my favorite to black and white with photoshop and printed them out. I used double stick tape to adhere them to the top and then brushed on several coats of Mod Poge for furniture. I loved how it came out. I plan on putting it next to my chair once I find one.