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I was working on making AuntGerry’s socks when my dear husband IM’d and asked if I wanted to go to a concert. I asked who was playing, Beck he replied. Isn’t that a beer, I asked.
(Gerry’s socks earlier - better light)

So, I packed the children in the van and headed to his work. I stopped by Chipotle, grabbed some dinner, and brought that with. They had a stage set up in the midst of the main campus.
(Ben’ll appreciate the signage -though I can’t read it at this size: “Yahoo Hack Day”)

We ate in the break room in building A, then went upstairs for something at Ben’s desk. He wandered out on the bridge between buildings for a view and we ended up staying there for the concert. There were only a couple others there, mostly for pictures. The children had free run of the bridge and were dancing and running around.

They had these puppets of the band and their own stage in the middle (see men in black) The screen mainly showed the puppets, though they did run around with “Puppet Cam” on and show the band and audience a couple times. Whatever the band was doing, the puppets were immitating.

I’ve been learning patience.. It’s a long, slow, agonizing process.

We’ve been talking about taking a trip to OK to visit this autumn. My parents live in CO and Gramma’s came to live with them earlier this year -or was it last year? My memory’s as bad as when I was little. I know she was there in Jan when we visited last. Anyway, the plan was fly to CO, visit, drive to OK, visit, fly home. I’m half dreading going with the way my family generally interacts, but I feel I really must.

My midwife appointment is tomorrow and I need to be able to schedule my next one! This is, of course, way less important than the visits, but having dates by tomorrow’s appointment was my goal.

It turns out that my 80+ year old Gramma is an illegal immigrant (we’re all chuckling on this one). Her parents moved here from England when she was an infant and she was raised in the States. She married an American man and had 6 children, 5 of whom are still alive today. When she moved from the east coast to live with my parents, the intention was to find an assisted living place and let her live there for a few years (she enjoys living on her own). Well, her driver license is expired and with 9-11 and all that, they’re coming down on anyone without proper documents. My parents worked to get documents from Ellis Isle, but there are none! In order to ‘fix this’ will take 2-3 years and the doctors are telling my parents that she is probably in her last weeks. (Knowing my family, that *could* take a couple years)

My oldest sister, Sarah, also lives in CO. She’s married and has a little boy my BB’s age -3 days older to be precise. My sister has MS. We found this out in 2002(?) when she was hospitalized for almost seizure like problems. She’s been having flare up on and off and may be in the hospital today. I’m thinking of giving her my Sock Wars socks because they’re a bit loose on me and her feet are bigger, so I’ll have to keep the floors extra clean to keep grime off them . She adores handmades, and if I don’t have the time this next week with making a pair for Gramma and cleaning/packing to go, then I’ll offer her these scrumptious socks.

TJ had me buy a pumpkin to make a bird feeder a week or so ago. It’s been sitting on my counter as an extra paperweight since. So, on Monday or Tuesday, whilst awaiting my Sock Wars fate, I cut it up and steamed it. (Note: it’s easiest to peel the pumpkin *after* it’s been cooked) When it finished steaming, I skinned it and mashed it and put it in a container in the fridge. This morning, I was able to get to the store to buy more milk -we were out- and when I returned home I made Pumpkin Muffins:
(note to self: 2cups= ~16oz can)
There were a dozen to start, but the children and I ate them all up! They were so good!

Last week, I’d started on a ’sampler’ from Ethnic Socks & Stockings by Priscilla Gibson-Roberts. Last night, I pulled the second one out again. I’d only finished to the row above adding waste yarn for the heel insert. I started looking around for my little ball of green that I’d been using and realized that it was the same yarn that I’d used in the green almost Sock Wars socks that I’d ended up finishing for Ben.

That pair had eaten up *all* the balls of Jo Sharp green that I’d had lying around. There was no more of that green!

I started looking around and found the Arrrrgyles. They were using a green yarn.. It wasn’t far off the Jo Sharp! A bit more celery than sage, and smoother, but when it’s just for the leaves, who’s really going to take notice? I pulled out 2 lengths, folded each in half so that I could knit the 2 ankle motifs with doubled strands and got to work. Before going to bed, I had those leaves done and had begun the red for the flowers.

Today, I finished the sock legs and turned it inside out to weave in the majority of the ends. I found a tiny ball of the original green in there!!!! It was just enough to work the heel motif and tip! Now, I won’t worry about them wearing out at different rates because they’re worked in the same yarn. I did, however, forget in the mean time what I’d done to the first heel.. this time I followed the directions a tad bit better and it came out fine. I’d made the decreases on the heels 1 stitch away from the joins on the first, so I did the same on the second. But, I know I did the decreases in a weird order on the first sock to make it deeper.. Oh well.

I’ll have to get them on BB sometime, she does make that a challenge! We’ve been running around barefoot all summer and now that the mornings are cooler, socks are becoming required. Perhaps there’s too much Aunt Sue in her and she just doesn’t want to let the summer end!

The mourners have gathered and paid their respects in this time of my passing from the game of Sock Wars.

Sock Wars was a fun game and if it comes again next year, I’ll be sure to sign up! Even with technical issues, most of us were able to work together to have a great time. What better way to go? Killed by comfort.

My wonderful husband helped make this for me. Enjoy, Sock Warriors!

What are you doing while waiting, oh Sock Warriors? I’m expecting 2 packages by Thursday, which will arrive first?

Sunday, my husband built me 2 garden boxes and set up my garden! So, my son and I went and planted the seeds today. If you saw my previous post, you know that I’ve got a little sideyard/kennel thing that I hoped to convert. I must admit, Ben did a fine job of converting it!

The new raised beds he built and filled. We moved the strawberries & bell pepper in to the corner (I’m afraid they make take over the walkways, heehee.. strawberries everywhere!)

The hot pepper was moved inside the gate and surrounded by flowers for the children. The pallet and board became a nice staging area.

TJ planted a row of radishes and carrots by the broccoli in the closer box. In the further one is spinach, mesclun salad mix, mustard greens, and 2 peas -snow and sugarsnap. I’ve got to find some green bean seeds and the garden will be planted. To finish it off, I’ll just need some supports for the vines!

Sadly, in the news today, we have another yarning! This man isn’t even a member of the elite fighting force, just an innocent bystander.. He was heard muttering about this “Weird war” that is “causing chaos and depravity” worldwide, and they “get their Mommy back when she loses!”

Folks, we’re not sure if what we’re seeing here is retaliation or a random accident..

That’s the official time that I completed the socks. All ends were woven in.

After some initial frustration with the green socks (um, I didn’t follow the ribbing pattern..), 3AM Sat I found this in my stash:

Ain’t he sweet? My poor hubby stood there while I rolled the yarn into 2 balls (he nearly fell asleep standing). Then we went to bed. After feeding children, etc, about 11:30AM was the actual start time of Socks of Doom - take 2.

Beware the fluff of DOOM!!!

What did I do different from the pattern? First, I flipped the heel flap. When I start with a knit row, there usually ends up being points where the gussets join the end of the flap. So, I turned my work and started with a purl row, ended with a knit row. Therefore the heel turn started on a purl row and ended on a knit row eliminating that pesky ‘knit back across’ that makes the points. Second, at the toe I was just shy of 8″, doing another pattern set would put me just over, so I knit 1 round then began the toe decreases.

Then I crocheted on the fluff…

I will mail these as soon as I can.

They also qualify for the Mystery Sock Pattern knit along. I joined a while back and haven’t found a pattern otherwise that sounded good and hadn’t been knitted a bunch. I knew this would end up being a pattern without a picture, so I planned on the SockWars pattern being at least 1 pair towards this knit-along.

(sigh) I have to start over… I was so close and then I had to go and read the comments on the blog and my error was brought to light. I’ve been working K3P1/K1P1 ribbing. It looks nice.. It’s just wrong.

On the plus side, those who questioned the sizing can quit worrying quite so much. My error isn’t far from the original ribbing, may be less stretchy, yet it fit well on both my husband’s foot and mine! I think it’s a tad snug to pull on past his heel, but once on it fits comfortably he says.. He wants them..

(longer sock is on Ben’s foot).

This morning, Ben decided to work from home.

Well, after he slept in..

AJ and I baked cookies, BB sampled as many as she could.

Patiently, we waited.. Hoping our dear Yarn Monkey is fine. YES!! She posted on the blog that she is sending info and is delayed because of hurricane. Bulk of dossiers will be out by tomorrow sometime.. For now, sock is on her site!

One last look at my children..
TJ (giving me a look for catching him not working)
AJ, working with her name puzzle
BB popped out of a bush and ran excited that I’d found her

And, kiss my husband goodbye! It’s lunchtime, dear, the children are hungry and I’m knitting.