Sadness & Happiness

I have completed one "Eleanor" sock and I have sock #2 about 30% done. I plan on working on it exclusively as a tribute to Gina Silva, a/k/a Gigi. Gigi was the founder of 'Socktopia' and designer (Monkey Toes patterns) and has just recently passed away. Eleanor is one of her designs and it is lovely. I plan to make another one of her's shortly. She will be sorely missed in the knitting world. Ravelry members can read up on Gigi in this week's newsletter if you haven't already.

In happier news, I promised to show our 100 day project. For those of you not in-the-know, the 100th day is a school party celebrating the 100th day of class. You know that I am the proud mom of a kindergartener and he had to make a project for this special day. They have been counting to 100 and the party was two days ago. Their project had to include 100 of 'something' so we did erasers hat I found in the dollar store to make an ocean and sky scene. Strangely, someone else made the beach and the water, gluing on 100 little fish. I thought that I had a 'unique' idea....hmmn.. Well, better erasers than sticky fish.

In sadder news, my fish have been dying. Stupid me turned off the filter to feed them some frozen brine shrimp food a few days ago....I think it was only a few...and ... I forgot to turn the filter back on. (think: Finding Nemo, "We're swimming in our own....") Yep, it must've gotten yucky in there, killing some of my prize gouramis. Sigh. I will be more careful. At least I think that's what happened.

In happier news, I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of the new Cascade Heritage Sock Yarn. The colors look beautiful and I really want that green handpaint for something leafy. Or green monkeys. Or Jaywalkers. Or anything! Can't wait. My favorite kind of yarn, doesn't look like it will stripe. Yum!

Nothing new on the Weasley Sweater. It's down to the end and I'm draggin' it out because of sock knitting. Going to make something out of STR Mudslide next; it's in the planning stages so stay tuned for that.

More to come!

Stansfield #12 is Completed!

Hurray, another finished object to show you!

Pattern: Stansfield #12 from More Sensational Knitted Socks

Needle: Knitpicks Options, size 1, 2.5mm

Yarn: Valley Yarns Franklin, Cherries

Gauge: 7 sts per inch, 56 casted on

Date Started: 11/3/07

Date Completed: 12/6/07

They even fit! Well, I do think that I could've gone SLIGHTLY larger, maybe just a few more stitches. When I block these on my new sock blockers that aren't here yet, we'll photograph them again. I love them. I love the color. I love the yarn except that I am anticipating TONS of dye coming out of them when I wash them.

I almost entitled this post, "Want More Cherries" but I was frightened at what kind of hits I would get. However, this is lovely yarn and the color is just gorgeous and it feels lovely even though it hasn't been washed yet. I expect that it will soften up alot.

Well, time to go and rouse the children and get them off to school. It is VERY cold today, Jack Frost has been here and everything. It is only 22 degrees.

I am considering making a goal next year: knit 11 pairs of socks. Let's see how that goes. One a month and I'll give myself a month off for vacation. It's fun, sock of the month club.

Stay tuned for info on the next project, an update on the iris afghan and tales of woe from my aquarium.

Jaywalkers and Guppies

I don't know if I mentioned it, but I have two aquariums. They're both 36 gallon tanks. One houses guppies and the other gouramis. The guppy tank has been a mess lately. I can't figure out why the fish have such raggy fins. Then, I got to thinking that maybe the skunk loach. He's a sneak. I actually have two of them and here's a picture of one, hiding in the rock in his new home.

They're cute and small and the fish lady told me that they wouldn't bother my guppies. That store is no longer in business, I wonder why??? I'm nearly certain they did so I moved the two of them to the gourami tank. Thus far, no incidents of not playing nice with others. then again, I'm not so sure they would mess with some of these larger gouramis. Crappy picture, but this one is the biggest and practically rules the tank. He's beautifully marked and DH says, "That one is ready for the grill". Tankmates are smaller, see?

To replace the dead and tailess guppies, I got four pair of blond delta tail guppies. They have yellow tails. I got them yesterday and they had babies today. Here's a shot of the babies of my now deceased black tailed guppies and my newly acquired blonde guppies. Hard to see the new babies, they're small. The other larger ones are a few weeks older and almost ready to be released into the main tank.

I've had fish since my 11th birthday, on for the past seven years. It's good for the kids to see them and they make a relatively inexpensive pet. Last night, for the first time in my life, I witnessed my new guppy give birth. I was so excited. I ran for the camera but it happened so fast, I missed the shot. DS saw it and was thrilled. DH was there but he moves like molasses so he missed it. We are so happy that we're grandparents! We saw two babies being born. I think she had about 20 or so. I have rescued 13 so far.

As for my Jaywalker, they're really nice! I am sorry that I didn't put some yarn aside to make the heel and the the toe the same. Next pair, I will. I will knit the heel and toe out of a contrasting solid so I don't mess up the perfect stripes. Pictures to be posted soon!