Ah, Election Day

I apologize to those of you who may not like political talk on a knitting blog. But bear in mind that my degree is in Political science, and I freaking LOVE Election Season.

And yesterday was a great day for the Democrats! At last.

My law partner Eric and I participated yesterday, as we always do in the days leading up to an election, by volunteering for the Democrats.

We started the day bright and early--scratch that, it definitely wasn't bright at 3:00 a.m.--by driving through pea-soup thick fog to a union hall to pick up signs to be distributed at polling places.

After peppering three polling places with a variety of signs, we headed on downtown to pick up more signs to be distributed throughout precincts in North Tulsa.

By 9:00 a.m., we had placed approximately 500 signs around town, and we went back to headquarters and spent an hour putting labels on campaign brochures before getting our next assignment, which was to visit 120 houses in a North Tulsa precinct to enocourage people to get out and vote.



Five hours later, we completed that task and spent the next two hours making phone calls to registered Dems reminding them to vote.

Then, it was time to party! Pizza, wine, MSNBC, and the Daily Show/Colbert Report Midterm Midtacular.

And then a couple of more hours for me, watching the evening's triumphs on MSNBC.

I'll leave you with some wise words from my brother-in-law Eric:

AAaaahhh, what a beautiful day to wake up a democrat.
Sun is shining, projected 80 degrees today, gentle winds, the birds are chirping, flowers are blooming....and what is that smell?? Is that... FREEDOM?

Ah, I love the smell of freedom in the morning.

What's in it for you republicans?

Well, let me tell you...historically speaking the stock market has always done much better when congress and senate gridlocked the Prez. Something about stability.

First on the agenda: Immediate surrender to the terrorists and Iraq. Then we'll look into mandatory gay marriages for all. From there, we'll push on to teaching evolution to all the newly pregnant schoolchildren after doubling the tax they pay on their school lunches.

Break out your rapture pants, the dems are in control!!!

ETA:

Ah, this day just keeps getting better and better. Goodbye, Rummy!

And for some knitting content, a brief glimpse at my Christmas gift project.

Believe it or not, I don't have any socks on the needles, although my second Fleece Artist Unst needs starting. I am enjoying the above project so much that I just haven't done it yet.

Don't Forget to Vote!

Happy Belated Halloween

Just wanted to share some photos from the BooHaHa parade last Saturday. Our house is just off the main street where all the activity happens, so we get a primo spot for watching everything go by, and we usually have people come over for good parking and no-hassle entrance and exit from the scene.

Like our niece (the redhead) and a friend:

And our nephew:

The view from the end of our street:

Dogs on parade!:

Our spooky Jack o' lantern:

As far as knitting, I am finally out in the Sock Wars. I got a pretty pair of Socks of Doom from kraftykat via Emily. So I am yet another casualty of this international war, and looking forward to watching how it all plays out from the sidelines in my cozy new socks.

I am working on a Christmas gift project, which I am enjoying a lot. It's a pretty pattern with pretty yarn, the Rowan Yorkshire Tweed I showed off a few posts ago.

Finally, my sisters-in-law Kim and Cheryl have started blogs, so be sure to drop by and leave them a comment. Those first few comments, especially from strangers, are so thrilling!

Happy Guy Fawkes Day!

Jaywalkers the Fourth

I wanted to post about more stuff, but I am feeling ill, and don't have the wherewithal to do an elaborate post. I wanted to get these socks up though before Socktoberfest ends.

So here they are, my fourth pair of Jaywalkers:


Pattern: Jaywalker by Grumperina
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepard Sock--Girly Stripe
Needles: Knit Picks dpns, size one (those things are faaast!)
Started: Monday, October 23
Finished: Friday, October 27
Gifted: Friday to my sister-in-law (Hi, Kim!)

Terrible photo, and obviously unblocked socks. I just didn't have the time.

Socktoberfest FO

I finished my Embossed Leaves socks in record time--four days. These were made on size 2 dpns with Lisa Souza Sock! merino, the softest sock yarn ever. A woman I used to work with now works for the March of Dimes, so I made these beauties to donate to their silent auction event next week.

I will definitely have to make a pair for myself.

As for other Socktoberfest activities I have:
--finished my husband's socks (see previous post);
--finished one Fleece Artist Unst;
--started another pair of Socks of Doom for my Bunko group prize;
--acquired the yarn and pattern for the Father and Son Socks from IK Fall 2006.

And from the yes-we-have-a-bale-of-hay-on-our-front-porch department, this Rowan Yorkshire Tweed will be turned into a Christmas gift. I may post periodic mystery progress photos.

What happens when you transport hay in the back of your car:

My Husband's Been Socked!

I finally completed my husband's first (only?) pair of socks.

Plain old stockinette stitch socks, 2x2 ribbing. The yarn I used here is really spectacular. It's called Heritage Handpaint and it's a wool/mohair blend I won months ago on Jae's blog. Thanks, Jae!

This yarn had the most gorgeous colors, and a beautiful sheen. Even though the pattern was boring, the yarn kept me interested.



The weather tomorrow is supposed to be in the 50's, so I think I got these done just in time.

I've still got my Fleece Artist Unst on the needles and I am about to start on a pair of Embossed Leaves I'm donating to a silent auction event on the 28th. Yikes! Beautiful mostly solid seafoam green Lisa Souza Sock! Merino. This stuff is soooo soft, ya'll.

Kicking Off Socktoberfest

To celebrate Socktoberfest, I cast on for and have been working on Unst from Nancy Bush's Knitting on the Road in my gorgeous rose Fleece Artist. I love, love, love this yarn; it may be my favorite sock yarn thus far. More Fleece Artist, please!

Wow, I just noticed that the contrast between Unst above and my first pair of stockinette socks below really represents a huge increase in my sock-making skills. Yay me! Although I am still making pink socks; I just can't help it.

Edited to answer Lolly's Socktoberfest questions:


1. When did you start making socks? Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class? What was your first pair? How have they "held up" over time?

I made my first pair of socks just this spring. My friend Sue patiently and thoroughly taught me, after really having to work at it to convince me to give it a try. My first pair I made for myself from Cascade Fixation, just simple stockinette socks that I really have not worn that much because I don't wear socks often in the summertime.

2. What would you have done differently?

Nothing. Sue was a great teacher and gave me all the foundation I needed to run with the whole concept on my own.

3. What yarns have you particularly enjoyed?

I liked Koigu less than I expected. I really enjoyed working with Cherry Tree Hill Supersock, and as mentioned above, I am loving my Fleece Artist. I have some Socks That Rock in my stash that I haven't touched yet, but based on everyone else's experience with it, it'll, well, rock.

4. Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method?

I use DPNs, although I am dying to learn both two circs and Magic Loop. I have tried learning myself with the Knittinghelp.com videos, but they're not working for me, so I need to find someone local to show me.

5. Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?)

I've only ever done the heel-flap, which I like. I like the way it looks as compared to short-row heels.

6. How many pairs have you made?

I have made 9 pairs (including three pairs of Jaywalkers!) since around April of this year and I am working on pairs 10 (one sock complete) and 11 (one sock almost complete).