Summertiiiiime, and the livin' is....

...well, if not 'easy', it's at least good.  Very good. 

Case in point #1 - Today I am wearing these:

Jaywalkers.  Finito.  These have served me fantastically as backup\subway knitting and I've enjoyed them immensely. The pattern is fun, the yarn is yummy, what more could a knitter ask? I have actually knit three of these socks in that I made a couple of modifications for for sizing on the 2nd sock that ended up making a DRAMATIC differences in both the fit and the striping (go here to see the old look).  Differences that, frankly, I loved so much I was willing to knit the 1st sock over again to get them into both socks.  I believe that the knitting goddess approved of the changes.  Wanna know how I know this?  Behold:

Note the almost perfect matchy-matchiness of the big, juicy, zig-zaggy leg stripes? Absolutely.Positively.Unplanned.Matchiness.  Eerie but kewl.

Pattern: Jaywalker socks (I KNOW you don't need a link by now)
Yarn: Socks That Rock (old skool, pre-weight changes) in colorway 'Moss Agate' from the Great Rhinebeck '06 stash explosion extravaganza.
Needles: Addi Turbos (2 circs, as always) sz #2
Mods:
1. Reduced the total stitches to make 6 stitches between each set of inc/dec, ie: 8 less than original small size in the pattern.
2. Gusset reductions every round rather than every other round.  I pretty much always have to do this. Perhaps it's the uber high arches inherited along with the fair skin & freckles?
3. Stopped the chevron patterning at the heel/ankle.  I did it all the way down on the first sock, but it was uncomfortable once it was stuffed in a shoe for any period of time, so I skipped for the final socks.

Case in point #2:  A fantastic weekend populated by wonderful friends, shoe shopping (which I have always thought I hated), garage sales, baby cuddling, pub food, and a sincere and concerted effort to convince two friends to move into the house next door to the Boston metro area.  Seriously ladies, Boston rocks.  You should live here, and not just because I covet your spinning wheels.  Did I mention all the great yarn shops?

Case in point #3: I got to cook actual food for actual people. I recognize that this is not a big deal for most, but as much as we love to entertain and as much as I love to cook, it has been a real trial this living in a glorified campground, er, I mean renovation zone for so long.  Friday night I really got to do some honest-to-goodness from-scratch cooking, and while I definitely felt rusty (and also cramped, what with the 6 sq inches of counter space in the not-yet-renovated-kitchen), and there were also maybe some timing issues on the hot vs. cold items, in general it felt fantastic & I was pretty happy with the results.  Wish I'd thought to get a picture.  MUST do kitchen remodel next/soon.  Sigh.

Case in point #4: The weekly farmer's market is back for the season!  Wheeeeeee!  Last night my dinner looked like this:

Al fresco pattern trolling dining including fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, onions, and homemade pesto & hummus courtesy of the local market stands and accompanied by a Prosecco 'pop' (why yes, that IS a pink plastic bendy straw. what of it?) courtesy of Ms. Moth Heaven. Seriously folks, how can you not love someone who brings you little individual sparkling wines and straws to go with them?   Dinner tonight will be pan-seared tuna accompanied by (farm stand) beets and broccolini and served with a lucious white wine plucked from the magical cellar of Ms Etherknitter.  See what I mean?  Life - she is very, very good.

Tomorrow, more FO's and a pattern question.  Get out your lace shawl ideas folks.

Comments

[Debbie]

Baby doll, Rhinebeck 06 has yet to happen. Unless you slipped into a time machine and crammed it full of yarn and came back.

You DID, didn't you?! You hooked up with the adorable Chris Eccleston and went off and bought all the good stuff before we ever even had a chance!

Hmph.

I'm so bummed I miised out on all the fun. Booooo! :( Looks liek you had a great weekend.

[melanie]

Dude, I was included in that weekend and I am *still* totally jealous of the weekend Kellee had. Lucky girl.

[Carole]

Sounds like an awesome weekend. Even if I wasn't invited. Pout.
seriously, though, you can cook for me ANYtime. ;-)

[Tam]

Love, love, LOVE the Jaywalkers! What a difference your pattern change made! Looks great!

[Kathy]

Sounds like a most awesome weekend!

[Laurie]

It was SOOOOO good. Ms. Obsession needs to cook for us more often. If she can do that in the middle of a renovation, she'll strap on the jet engines with a finished kitchen.

Wanted more. More. Fiber. People. Mr and Ms. Obsession. Plane flights just didn't hold a candle (plane flights through thunderstorms, I'll remind you).

All I can say is, I got to go to the Fold. Heh. Let's not speak of stash explosions. Please.

[wenders]

I am jealous of your socks AND dinner. And thanks for the farmer's market links!

[Chris]

Perfect Jaywalkers!! Love that tasty final picture... *drool*