Statistics are beautiful or are those just socks?

I know this may not seem like much to some of you but this is the 103 post to my little blog. Only being a semi-regular blogger to maybe a 3 day a week blogger I was a little surprised when I noticed the amount of rubbish I've thrown out here and that you have apparently read and commented on. OK I'm an engineer and when I look at the statistics from the site counter I'm intrigued. Mrs. Twisted advised me not to go into the "boring" details but here is a brief synopsis.

As of 9:15 tonight it shows me this;

• 103 Post
• 4,381 visits
• 393 comments

Lots of stats are fun, but not to all of you so here is some knitting content.

Mrs. Twisted finished her 2nd pair of socks from "Favorite Socks 25 Timeless Designs" from I.K. Embossed leaves Socks by Mona Schmidt made from Koigu KPPPM.

The colors are so beautiful in person, the multi-shades of pink and lilac that look a lot like Hydrangea.

Just a nod to Punkin, these are Hydrangea Oregon Pride variety.

All things Strings beach party

Sunday the 20th we had a beach picnic for the ATS knitting group. Well it was a pot luck so Mrs. Twisted made cupcakes. I made Chicken Enchiladas but no pictures but I have to many pictures usually so just imagine they looked good and taste good too. :) The cupcakes are balls of yarn and the toothpicks are needles. We met at a cliff side park in Laguna Beach and it was a wonderful day.




Renata, the organizer of ATS is involved in many interest including a juggling group who she also invited to join us for the fun & food. Way too much food!!


Do you have a long term desire? Something you have wanted to learn how to do for most of your life but have never had an opportunity or were motivated to do or learn? One of mine was to learn how to juggle. I know just what I need, another thing to do. But I had an opportunity to learn and Renata offered to show me so how could I say no. Besides the other jugglers were very inspiring to watch. Renata on the right showing her stuff. So, I thought ok I got to give this a shot, right?





That's me trying to throw two practice bean bags not very well at this point.

After a few minutes she had me with three balls in the air and it was like magic. Renata, thank you so much for the helpful tips and patient instruction.

What an inspiration to watch these 6 experienced jugglers and to talk to them about their craft.

We had an opportunity to talk to some of the ladies who we haven't seen in a long time too. Nice to see you Jan and what a beautiful rug you were working on.

My Secret Pal gift arrived!

A final surprise awaited me on my doorstep when we arrived home from the Sitch & Pitch Game.

Each item was identified and brighly wrapped in colorful tissue like a separate little presents.

A cute little map and post cards from her home town and state. Listing her favorite shopping haunts

Beads to make my own stitch markers.

A magnet for the fridge I love love love love Fridge magnets.

A Kazoo and Harmonica to make music when I'm not in the mood to learn the song on guitar.

We all need a shirt to wear to family occasions so we don't have to talk to relatives we don't like. or just because it's fun to wear.

Knitting tools to put in my travel bag. I do lots of travel for business and it's nice to have all the essentials.

A wonderful book to learn Continental Knitting with. I plan to try the new method on my next new project. Don't want to change gage ( my way procrastinating)

A new book to inspire me and give me something to reach for.

I must admit this is the coolest item in the box. Unspun, Undyed wool from Iceland. My secret pal was reading my blog because she knows that I love "special" not so ordinary fiber to work with.

Thank You So Very Much Secret Pal!

It just got better and better

Tuesday night we went to the Stitch and Pitch at Dodger Stadium. The wonderful ladies at A Mano Yarn Center arranged for a bus and had a whole night planned. When we arrived at the shop we were treated to a gift bag as part of the package and out of the goodness of their hearts it was much better than the tote that the promoters handed out this year. Not that it was bad, but our yarn store goody bag was that much better. Thank you Annette and Shannita.

The Bus driver took us from the Venice Beach area to Dodger stadium the Stadium in about 45 minutes during rush hour. Being a native Southern Californian, that was quite a task. All surface streets and very impressive driving.

Being a couple has a few benefits, double goody bag and tote bag at the stadium.

Notice the Manos yarn hmmmmmmmm yes! and point protectors and magazines and more yarn.

We had a brush with a celebrity in the knitting world tonight. After the Dodger dog and we settled down for a good game when Laura who was sitting beside Mrs. Twisted said Do you know who that is? We knew imediately, that's World Renown knit blogger and soon to be published author Laurie from Crazy Aunt Purl.

We were all excited but didn't want to be too stalkerish so we passed a note down the 4 seats and she looked waved and and came down to meet us and pose for pictures. What a sweetheart! She was so nice she even put our picture and a link to my blog on her post today.

Well for those of you who care, the Dodgers won. But it was a wonderful game being surrounded by all the knitters. The tote bag had the lighted knitting needles in them and the husbands who didn't knit were using them like conductors during the 7th inning stretch sing-a-long

When you have lots of people and a few camera you tend to get some fun pictures.

Shannita and Annette laughing at the funny looks you get when you aim a camera at certain people.

Shannita having a moment.

oh some of us were watching the game too. LOL

Taking the bus was the best thing we could have done. When the game was over we drove straight out of the parking lot and down the hill missing the parking lot hassles when you drive yourself.

The back of Shannita trying to do a head count before we escape back to the shop.

We did do some Knitting while we were there. I finished a rug square on the bus going to the stadium and cast on the next square. Mrs. Twisted finished her 2nd sock. What a BEAUTIFUL sock!

After arriving back to the shop we had a shopping spree with 20% off the store for 30 mins so how could we turn that down.

Malabrigo lace yarn in the electric blue, some Berrocco Pure Merino heather in a dark green/blue. More Malabrigo in a "Vera" colorway for those of you Lorna's Laces lovers. Some pink Lilly Chin cotton blend with a bit of gold thread running through it.

And look what was sitting on the door step when we got home at 10:30, My Secret pal box. The day just got better and better. I will show you all what was in the box in another post because she deserves her own post as a proper thank you. But I want to thank you now too because it was just perfect! Thank you SP

Comment option turned off?

I was wondering why I didn't get a comment on my last post and I found the comment option turned off. Well I must have hit it accidentally but it's fixed now if you feel like you have something to say, good or bad.

Sea wool sock yarn and a new hand dyer.

I was looking at the Seasilk in our stash and wondered if they made sock yarn. One little Google search and voila. Sea Wool made from Merino & Seacell. The colors are amazing, the sheen looks like silk. Hand Maiden/Fleece Artist makes some great yarn and this is no exception. I was introduced to HandMaiden yarns from my SP 9 spoiler and have loved it since.

I bought two hanks of SeaWool, colorways Amethyst and Bronze one 100% Merino, colorway Glacier.

I joined another yahoo group a couple weeks ago. Socknitters and found this hand dyer. I placed an order to try it out and what a wonderful surprise. 390 yards of sock yarn in her own colors. One in Twirple and one in English Garden. Kimberly e-mailed me and said she was out of English garden and asked me if I would rather have another colorway or she would dye some that day but it would be a few days longer to ship and I said that was fine. Well the yarn arrived and it looks amazing.

Little bonus when it arrived, she included a hand made stitch marker on each tag. $14.00 plus shipping for a pair of socks is a such a deal for hand dyed yarn.
Woven~N~Spun

The end of another great show, and new sock yarn

It was a bittersweet night. We sat on the couch and cried a sweet tear for the last glimpse of one our favorite shows.

Tonight was the series finale of the Gilmore Girls. 5 minutes to each sub character to attempt to close the lose ends was a gallant attempt to give closure while making us all feel that our friends in Stars Hollow will continue to exist in our hearts forever. Thank goodness for DVDs because we can relive the good times whenever we feel the need for a cup of coffee at Luke's Dinner

The second to the last shipment in the Posh Sock Club came today. She was having problems getting the quantity of yarn to do the Sock club in her special merino/cashmere blend so we were sent Emily, 4ply sock weight 80% lambswool 10% cashmere 10% angora yarn. Each skein is 100g / 365 yards. VERY SOFT and fluffy.

Nice color. I can't wait to swatch it.