Baby Steps...
I finished these wee sockies last night while watching "American Idol." The tiny ball of yarn is all that was left from one skein of Opal Prisma after knitting a pair for myself and a pair for Thor(ina). I might have been able to squeeze out one more stripe, but I like the proportions of these, plus I didn't want to have to frog because I'd run out of yarn.

Thanks, Marguerite and Sarah for your comments on the last post about my Sunny Socks!

Some Early-Spring Sunshine
...and a sunny pair of socks, too.
I finshed these a week or so ago, but haven't had a chance to post a picture. They're a little looser than I'd like (my fault for adding too much ease to the pattern), but I love them.
The yarn is Opal Prisma and the pattern is unpublished. I knit the socks on size 0 or 1 needles, can't remember which.
I'm using the leftover yarn to knit a pair of socks for little Thor(ina). They're nearly finished and I should have a pic up soon.

We had a lovely weekend: dinner with friends Friday evening, made a road trip Saturday to visit a friend who'd had surgery (he's doing just fine, thanks), had a visit from my Canadian brother and his girlfriend Saturday night, and played in a euchre tournament Sunday. I've included a Wikipedia link for those of you who have never heard of the game. It's a staple in this part of the world, but Rich and I had to teach a lot of non-midwesterners how to play when we were newlyweds living in North Carolina.
Going off to finish my baby sockies now.

A Quick Edit...
Thor(ina)'s parents were here tonight for supper, and I'm supposed to tell you Nici had a sonogram not an ultrasound.
Lambrequins are, indeed, the padded, fabric-covered boxes that attach to the frame at the top of windows. They are different from cornices because lambrequins have padded, fabric-covered 'legs' that extend downward from the box.

That's all, folks!

A Little Knitted Sunshine
I've been knitting...really! Here's proof. A great remedy for gray March days in Michigan, and the perfect BigYellowBike yellow. I'm nearly through the gusset decreases.
The yarn is Opal Prisma and the pattern is an unpublished one, with a few adaptations to fit me. Sorry I can't share it, but I'll let you know when it goes public.
I've been working on another pair, too, the green ones in the not-so-great picture on an earlier post. Gotta start baby-knitting soon!



I received some pictures from Nancy Wild, who's testing the Haley's Roses pattern for me. She chose a beautiful dark blue and cream for her test, and they're just lovely! I need to make a few changes to the pattern, and then it will be ready to go.

First Week at Work
No pictures today. My first week on the new job is almost over. It's been great, but tiring. Monday I learned a little bit about my actual job, but the last three days I've been working in the sewing room, packing orders. The idea is that it will make me more familiar with our products, but what I've really gained is a whole new respect for the people who produce them.

These folks are hard workers, and the work they turn out is amazing. They clock in at 6:00 am, and leave at 2:30 pm, some stay until 4:00 pm and work Saturdays to catch up. I can't imagine spending eight or nine hours a day sitting at a sewing machine or operating a cutter or staple gun, but they do it with relatively little bitching and moaning. I folded and packed hundreds, maybe even thousands, of bedspreads, curtains, and pillows since Tuesday morning, and very few needed any fixing. I lost a couple of pounds, and gained more than a few aches and pains. Whatever they're paying these folks, it's probably not enough! Next time you buy new curtains for your home, take a good look at the craftsmanship and spare a thought and a good wish for the people who made them for you.

Tomorrow: 'lambrequins'...I think they're the padded, fabric-covered thingies that go at the top of the windows. I'll let you know when I find out.

A Picture of Our Grandbaby!
Nici had her first ulstrasound today. Thor(ina) isn't big enough yet to see if (s)he's a boy or girl, but they saw ten fingers and ten toes (all in the appropriate places) and everything is right on track. The baby is very active and has a strong heartbeat. (S)he danced and waved at Mom and Dad.
This is so cool! I wish we'd had an ultrasound when I was pregnant for Nick, but in those days the technology was very new and they only did that if they suspected a problem.
Edited 3/29/06: Sonogram photo removed

I went to open knitting night at Ewe-Nique Knits in Goshen, Indiana, tonight. About a dozen women were there, at all levels of knitting skill. It was a lovely evening!

Their grand opening is later this week. Stop in and check them out if you're in the area. The store is owned by a very nice group of ladies who are trying hard to build it into a first-rate yarn shop. Be sure to check out the floor in the restroom!

We went to Ohio to visit our friend Peggy over the weekend. I finished a sock and got a lot done on another that I finished this evening. Peg and I learned silk ribbon embroidery while we were there. I have visions of beautiful baby things dancing in my head...little dresses with ribbon-embroidered embellishments, and tiny matching baby shoes...just what I need: another hobby!

Benefits of sleeplessness...
...so I'm performing my normal stupidhumantrick of waking up every two hours during the night and I decide (sigh) I might as well get up and do a little 'net surfing until I'm sleepy enough to go back to Zzzzz-land.

I was running through my list of Yahoo! groups to see if there were any new posts and found that the March issue of the Opal Chatters' Newsletter is up (see sidebar for a button linked to info on joining). I've been Blogspotted! Every month three bloggers from the group are chosen to be spotlighted (spotlit??) in the newsletter and each receives an Opal yarn prize from Soxie. I can hardly wait to see what she sends me. Thanks, Dearie!

I bet I'll have some visits from fellow Opal addicts, so will post THIS link to my archives. Scroll down to October 4th to see my very silly "Ode to Opal" and a picture illustrating my shameful addiction. Hello, OpalChatters!

So, why the odd sleep habits? Stress, I guess. In the past ten months, I have had four-count-'em-four different jobs, and will begin yet another new job this coming Monday. I have changed jobs more in that time than I had in the previous EIGHTEEN years, and this from a person who hates-despises-avoids changes at all cost doesn't really care for change much. At the same time there have been some family problems causing me great sadness and frustration, as well, I suppose, as the continuing goofiness of the "M" that happens to all women around my age. Ah, well, all will be better with time.

In the good-news file, Baby Thor(ina) is growing apace. DearDaughter-In-Law Nici has been experiencing the tiny flutters that signal the baby's movement and is feeling less tired these days. I did some Grandma-shopping this week, hitting the winter clearance sales in the KMart baby department. I loves me them little baby duds. Cute little shirts, sweet little pants, adorable little snowsuits!

Back to bed for a couple more hours.