Union Jack Socks

So, I was looking at another blog that I read that makes fun of pictures people post of themselves on Craigslist and saw a picture of a guy in Union Jack boxers and matching knee socks. Being a knitter, and also being totally obsessed with all things British, I was immediately drawn to these wonderful socks and had to have some!! But when I headed over to ravelry to do a search for a pattern, none could be found.

I want these socks so bad, that I am going to do two things I have never done before:

-create my own pattern

-use intarsia

During my search for more pictures on google, I found this site that tells you exactly how you are supposed to draw the Union Jack: http://www.jdawiseman.com/papers/union-jack/union-jack.html I had no idea that the are precise measurements that have to be made. But, I also think that if I am going to do this, I better to it right! So, hopefully, in the months to come, you will begin seeing picture of my progress and a wonderful pattern as well.

Oops...

I didn't realize how long it had been since I posted. Shame on me!! I don't really have much to say except that only four more days of work and then I am going to be bored and broke for two months. I am going to search for a job at Micheal's, Joann's or Barnes and Noble. My preference is Barnes and Noble, but I will take any of them. Just hope that I can find one.

Spenser and I are having a date day today. We are going to go out to lunch and then go to see "Dark Knight."

I am frantically trying to finish Ali's last B-day sock. Her birthday was back in April and I only gave her one sock. Why? Because these socks have been giving me hell. Well, that isn't the whole truth, I can't really blame the socks. If I would pay attention to the chart more instead of just assuming I know what to do next, I wouldn't have had to frog so many time. But I am on the right track now. The heel is turned and I only have about three repeats to go. What socks are they do you ask?? Why, they are the beautiful pattern called Pomatomus from Knitty. To show just how much I don't hate this pattern, or blame it for my problems for that matter, I have been fantasizing over what color I am going to make them in next. And not just any color, one from my stash!! That's right people (all two or three of you who actually read this!), I am going to be using yarn from my stash!!!! I think I deserve a round of applause. Of course, the only reason why I haven't used any yarn from my stash yet is only because I haven't found the right pattern for them! **Shifty Eyes**

One of My Favorite Summer Time Activities

When I was younger, one of my favorite activities in the summer was going water skiing. Every year, when I would go visit my Dad in Iowa, we would drive 7 ½ hours up to Long Lake, Wisconsin to stay for a week or two. It was a very gorgeous place, right on the lake. In one cabin, we had me, my dad, my step-mom, and my brother. My step-grandpa stayed in the other cabin. He was the one with the boat.

The cabins could definitely have used some freshening up and maybe a time warp out of the 60’s (could have been 70’s, I am too young to know which decade). Some of the curtains in the cabin we stayed in were pink with white polka dots and pink bobbles on the ends. And that was just one of the rooms! There was no main theme to any of the cabins, unless you would consider a particular decade a theme, but I loved it! There was something about living right on the lake that was very calming and peaceful. Whenever I got upset (which I did A LOT being a teenager and all), I would go sit on the dock and just listen to the lake. I loved being on the water, in the water, or having anything to do with the water.

When I learned how to ski, I didn’t want to do anything else. Of course, learning was the hard part, but that was helped along with the promise of a chocolate malt from Max’s (best food ever!) if we made it up and around in a small circle. I believe we also were rewarded with a chocolate malt if we made it up on one ski and around in a small circle. I love to learn new things, and I love learning them even more when I get rewarded for having done so.

The first few times trying to get up was difficult, but I had a good teacher and I
think I got up and stayed up within fifteen tries, maybe even ten. My brother had a harder time, but once we both learned, we became avid skiers and rarely wanted to stop.

Our whole family loved to ski and one time all five of use skied behind Jonsie’s big boat, loving named Big Bertha. I believe we had every customer at Max’s outside watching us when we were trying to get up and cheering us on when we finally went around the lake.

I hope one day when I have kids, I can find a lake to take them to every summer and hopefully they will want to learn how to ski.

Ice Cream Swap

I received my swap package from my partner in the Ice Cream Swap today! The first thing I noticed was how heavy the package was. When I opened it, I was greated by a wonderfully soft knitted hat that screams Mint Chocolate Chip.


Inside, I found a plethora of goodies.


Many, many different types of chocolate and candy. Milk Duds, mint truffle chocolate bar, 3 Musketeers Mint bar, Mint Hot Chocolate mix and a package of sweettarts.


There is a cool wax potpourri burner thing (on the left of the picture). My partner got me Melon scented wax (my favorite scent!) and tea lights to go with it. I will have to take a bath tonight and use the wax burner along with my new Ice Cream Bubbles.


I also received two cool containers that I am assuming were hand made by my partner. One says "stitch markers" and the other says "needle case." Inside the needle case were, of course, needles and a pair of scissors. Inside the stitch marker case were two different types of rulers. I definitely needed these (how did you know?). No more measuring for garments using string and a ruler!!


There was also a package of green tea with mint, some mints, a journal, and two postcards.
Also, a thimble that says Reno on it and some cute little ice cream cone buttons.


I also got three skeins of cotton yarn(Sugar and Cream and Peaches and Cream) in greens and browns.


On top of all this, I opened the letter that also arrived from my partner today and found a coupon for a FREE pint of Ben and Jerry's ice cream.


Thank you so much amandaleigh!!!