BeverlyArmyWilliams – Page 97 – Beverly Army Williams

RIP, Sam Snake

The Saws-All (the most fun tool name to say, evah!) was on the deck overnight to give the Snake an opportunity to make a break for freedom.

This morning Neal noted he was still moving about in there.

No other option but to open the Saws-All and help Sam (yes, I named him) to his freedom.

I’m sorry to report that Sam had sustained horrific Saws-All related injuries. Neal did the noble thing and brought poor Sam to his final resting place for a mercy killing.

I had such high hopes that Sam’s story would end well. Ok, Scout, I promise no more snake-talk. You can read my blog again. I promise.

Today is a festive day for my family. My oldest nephew’s birthday is today (happy birthday, S.!). He was the first baby I’d ever held and now he’s a man starting his career. I couldn’t be prouder of him. It’s also my second brother’s wedding anniversary. Happy anniversary, C. & A.!

The new bathroom tiles are down and look great. When I find the camera (I can access the back room now, I just couldn’t locate the camera in the chaos), I’ll snap a photo of the black and white goodness.

Singapore and Snakes in the Saws-All

Neal is hard at work on the bathroom renovation. Right now the drill is buzzing as he secures the new subflooring. We’ve got floor tiles waiting to go down, and a lovely new vanity and sink to install.

The hallway, which leads from the living room, dining room, and kitchen to the two back bedrooms, is jammed with renovation-related stuff, much of which I can’t identify. My camera is in the spare bedroom/office/craft room. I can’t get to it to show you the pretties that came in the mail for me today.

I won’t leave you hanging, though. I got a pair of fingerless mitts from Chrissie for the Warm Hands Warm Heart swap. They are adorable, fit great, and will be so handy for warding off the chill as I drive to work in the mornings. Pictures as soon as the hallway is clear again.

And, yes, if you wondered. I do miss NM, especially when certain people feel compelled to post beautiful pictures.

Breaking news: There were some renovation problems related to a faulty Saws-All (sorry if I got the tool name wrong, there) this morning. Neal just informed me that the tool is not a piece of crap as we suspected, but rather, that the little baby snake curled up in the motor may have been the issue. Luckily, I"m not the least bit afraid of snakes. ‘Cause that announcement could keep me from ever entering the basement again if I were.

Snakes in the Saws-All.

Taking Sock

Lolly posed some questions about our sock history, so I thought I’d take stock in my socks.

When did you start making socks? Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class? I learned to knit in the fall of 1997, and I made my first sock in early spring of 1998. It was meant for my then-husband, and it had a cheerful red ribbing, heel, and toe, with a multi-colored "body." I never made its mate, and when we separated, I threw out the sock in a fit of, well, purging. It was a really nice sock that deserved a mate and someone to wear it. I followed my knitting teachers instructions: just do the next thing the pattern asks you to do, and you’ll be fine. She kept me from fearing the heel turn before I even knew it was something that might intimidate me.

What was your first pair? I guess the single ex sock doesn’t count as a pair, now does it? But let me answer what I would do differently: not have thrown it out. That was dumb, dumb, dumb.

What yarns have you particularly enjoyed? I like knitting socks in heavier yarn because I find it satisfyingly speedy.

Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method? Although I’m not opposed to dpns, I love, love, love two circs.

Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?) My favorite heel so far is the Eye of the Partridge. I think mostly because it’s an adorable, perplexing, mysterious name for a heel. I want to learn to make a short row heel, too.

And, as I mentioned yesterday, I want to do the damn toe up socks for once and for all. Can’t wait to get going on those.

I’m sure you other sock knitters feel the same: there is so much to learn about knitting socks, so many techniques and yarns to explore, and on top of that, they’re uber portable. Hence my current adoration for all things socky.

No Sugar Added

I’ve been doing some "behind the scenes" Socktoberfesting. I joined the My First Toe Ups KAL, a support group for knitting socks starting with the tootsies, and I just purchased this pattern on Etsy. Help support Megan on her Tour de Cure ride and pick one up yourself, ok?

Things I love about Socktober in New England? The air is crisp, as are the apples; extra blankies on the bed; soup makes more sense than in the summer; leaves are starting to put on their show for the peepers.

What I miss about Socktober in NM? Balloon Fiesta; the smell of roasting chiles; Taos Wool Festival; bigger SnB crowds at the Flying Star.

Ever the Joiner

Happy Socktober! My goals:

1. Finish Jaywalker #2 (for real).

2. Knit Neal’s Christmas ’05 socks.

I recognize that this may be asking a lot of myself since I’m also working to finish Clapotis before October 21st, but in the spirit of fun, I’ll make a good attempt at it.

I’ve also joined the Twisted Knitters. I picked up the Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook last week and have been learning all about energized singles. Last Tuesday I had the second and final of my spindling classes at the library, so I feel pretty well equipped to take on this project. My goal: Dye, spin, and knit yarn into a pair of socks for me.

What are you other Twisted Knitters making?

Sockapaloooza Redux

You might remember the beautiful socks I was gifted for Sockapaloooza. G’on, go refresh your memory.

I’ve been waiting for a perfect, cool day to wear these special socks from Ann for the first time. That day was Friday.

It rained here, and there was a definite chill in the air. And I had eight hours of student conferences ahead of me.

I felt pretty special all day long, my feet toasty warm, my spirits raised throughout the seemingly endless conferences. All because of a beautiful pair of handknit socks.

Do you think if everyone in the world had a pair there might be peace?

Happy Birthday!

It’s Neal’s big day. I’m not much for PDA’s, but on his birthday, I want to say how fortunate I feel to be his girl. This man drove me back and forth between the east coast and New Mexico; he’s installed closets for me; he baby sat my dog for almost a year so I could tackle school with an insane east coast girl kind of schedule; he quit smoking for me; he dotes on the dogs; he lets me sleep when he gets up at 5:30 a.m. to walk the dogs; he cooks me meals he doesn’t even really like just because I do; he listens when I’m upset and changes his actions if that is the next reasonable step; he’s not afraid to tell me if my behavior is "unbecoming;" he cracks me up; he’s the most loyal person I’ve ever met; he builds me things; he reminds me that my focus right now is school, not my job; he’s got an amazing vocabulary; he’s agreed to learn how to dance so I’m not always longing for my cowboys; he adores me.

Aren’t I lucky he was born?

Dogs and Deadwood

I had a cup of coffee and my final issue of Real Simple (love the magazine, just trying to simplify the number that I read) out on the deck, Tilly on the chaise with me. Neal was in a nearby chair reading brochures about dog foods we might want to start feeding the girls. Up he hopped, grabbed his dog for a close inspection. I jumped up, started and freaked out by what was revealed: a sore spot on our girl’s back. I’ve spared you a picture, and I’ll spare you a vivid description, but this spot must be the size of a quarter. A quick trip to the vet got us a topical spray to help it heal and also let us know that it’s nothing to worry about. For me, it was reason 17 for not wanting kids–I can’t bear to see my dogs injured, hurting, unhappy…imagine if they were little humans? It was startling in part because we both spend a lot of time petting our dogs. Not only is this a show of our affection for the dogs, but also an opportunity to check for any bumps or bugs.

And, for the Kafkaesque K, I’ve got to confirm her review. Deadwood is intense. I’m only on the second episode, and I don’t know how I’m going to wait for Netflix to send the next dvd. I think this is to 2006 for me what Sex in the City was for 2005.

Haunted by Gauge

You know I have gauge issues. You’ve read about my quest to avoid little tiny needles when sock knitting, my triumph with English knitting. I now have pretty spot on gauge. Bully for Beverly, right?

Wrong.

I’ve pulled out the somewhat sickeningly pink Clapotis, and just noticed that my gauge is much tighter than when I worked on her last summer. I tried to go back to Continental, but still, the gauge was tighter. Smart cookie that I am, I changed to a larger sized needle. Here’s hoping. By the way, I’m not ripping out the smaller gauged rows. I’m not going to do it. It would look better, I know. I want a visual of my knitting growth, though. Really, it’s not just an excuse.

A Little Experience Makes a Whorl of Difference

I just got back from a FREE hand spinning class at the local library in my old hometown (home of the only one-sided Main Street in the U.S.). The spinning class I took about a year ago at Village Wools started with hand spinning before moving on to wheels. I spent the winter saving and longing for a wheel of my own, and I’ve been enjoying the company of Miss Zinna Paddle Put Lendrum since March. I never felt that I got the hang of hand spinning, though, so I was excited to have another shot at it, especially since I’d have the company of my pals Sara and Cae.

By George, I think I got it.

We used top whorl spindles made from cds, and my homework for the week is to spin two ounces of fiber so that next week I can learn how to ply.

Now I’m dreaming of owning a fine, fine spindle. Maybe that will be a Rhinebeck purchase.

Author: BeverlyArmyWilliams