Another Over the Line

I finished my first pair of toe up socks. They are Spiraling Coreolis out of Cat Bordhi's latest sock book, New Pathways for Sock Knitters. I am not looking at the book so I may have gotten the title wrong. But I am close.

Anyway the socks were done on two size 2 circular needles using Opal sock yarn. Both socks got about ripped back for various reasons. Sock number one, I didn't check my row gauge just look at another pair of Opal socks. So, the heel was too far from the toe. Also, for some reason the first sock had one needle fall in my lap four times. All of the stitches ended up on one needle. Sock number two got the ripped back because someone can fall directions on the spiral and it was too narrow.

Oh well, as a friend said I was getting more stitches for my dollar. The only problem with that is that there is plenty of sock yarn in the house. And I haven't bought any sock yarn for a couple of weeks. We won't talk about other yarn.

Currently on the needles:
- The Oregon Shawl - I believe two rows have been completed since the last repeat. If you really want to know, it is up to you.
- The Philosopher's Wool Kilim Jacket - One front band is done except for the fiddle few stitches to match into the bottom band. Just need to pick up exactly the same for the other band.
- One mobius scarf in Purple Salsa DK - it is almost done, I think.

Prize Pick Up

I won a prize as part of the 5280 Sock Contest!!

Not for knitting socks which I have been doing. It was a random drawing for anyone who put words to the words knit or sock. I would love to say it was because I was truly creative. The truth is I was lucky and my one entry got the prize. Here is my entry so you can decide if it is worthy of two balls of Fortissima Colori Socka Color yarn (210 meters per ball) and one skein of Mountain Colors Bearfoot (350 yards).

S is for Simple, the kind of sock I can knit in the dark in the car
O is for Ornate, the sock no one sees until it is done
C is for Comfort, which is why people like handknit socks
K is for Kind, when the socks are given to another

I must saying the e-mail saying, I won really brighten my day when I got it. It was one of those weeks when a bunch of little things just keep happening, like the DVR disk drive dying.

So what about the picture with the book and the other skein of yarn, Red Rocks Fiber Works 100% super wash Merino. They followed me home after, I picked up my prize by meeting at A Knitted Peace. I met Mary Kay there, she is the lady who does the dying for Red Rocks Fiber Works. And I saw a nice short cape and wanted the pattern. I might be able to make it with some yarn I have at home. Yarn therapy always helps the weeks go by, right?

Knitting Break

It has ben awhile since I updated my knitting status.

I may have mentioned that the Vintage Velvet scarf was done. It is now in the closet.

I also completed the another seaman's scarf. Again, this one is out of Stahman's book using Araucania Nature Wool in a nice blue.

There are two pairs of socks on the needles. One sock has been 'completed' in each pair. The second grey sock is started but I do need to go back and lengthen the foot on the first one. I have a great excuse. I forgot to put a tape in my carry-on back. On the way back I thought the foot was long enough but missed by about half an inch.

I did come to a decision about the band for the Philosophers' Wool Jacket. The band has been picked up using 104 stitches. Purling Fair Isle is a new experience. I think I will leave it at that for now.


The lace shawl really hasn't progressed noticeably in the last month. Probably has something to do with being left home.

Critters of Hawaii

Not all of the animals we saw agreed to pose.

This is the crab quiz picture. The crab is small and almost black.


Here is a what we were calling a dove. They like to 'run' on the ground. I am sure they can fly but we didn't see them doing that. The brown sparrows and the mynah birds flew. I wouldn't be surprised if they nest on the ground.







This a wild rooster strutting his stuff which means he didn't hold his head still for the picture.








The mongoose is an import. I am sure his or her ancestor was not inspected before being turned loose. I honestly thought, I got just the mongoose butt in the picture but he turned and looked over his shoulder at the right time.







These are in an outdoor pool at the aquarium. Very similar but different than other tropical fish we have seen. I will have to admit the others resided in the Caribbean.








And what is an aquarium without a shark tube. There is nothing like have a tiger shark swim over you.










Our last poser is an egret. Just standing by the road near a stoplight.

Too the Moon or Not

Just to explore, we drove to the top of Haleakala which is 10,023 feet. The road winds back and forth up the mountain with the vegetation changing and disappearing. The very top reminded us of pictures from the moon. We did look for nene, Hawaiian geese but didn't see. According to the park ranger, they are nesting at this time of the year. Sounded like they do hang out near the top of the volcano cone. We did get a picture of the rare silversword since it is a plant and much easier to spot than nene.

According to the guide book, the last activity was 200 - 400 years ago. I swear someone said some lava came out the side with the recent earth quakes. Maybe, they just said it could have.