Is It Summer Yet?

Usually in South Dakota we have many more hot days in July than we've had this year. In fact, more days than not, we've bundled up in the morning to take our daily bike ride. There's only been a few days I've been able to wear shorts. Even so, the flowers seem to enjoy the cooler weather and our lily trees (l) and Oriental Lily (r) had extraordinary flowers this year.

Waterfall socks
Originally uploaded by bruggerknits


On the Needles: I enjoyed making WendyKnits' Waterfall Socks so much last week, I started a second pair on Sunday. It's so much fun tonight, Tuesday, I already turned the heels on both socks. This will be Pair #13 in the 52 Pair Plunge III on Ravelry.

Off the Needles: Pair #11 in the 52 Pair Plunge III was my first pair of Waterfall Socks. I made these in Mini Mochi which is probably a nice yarn for everything except socks. It's a loosely spun one-ply yarn. I am very concerned about these socks felting from wear. Of additional concern is that I purchased two balls of the same dye lot and the colors were wound on the balls in opposite directions. Had I known, I could have started one sock from the end of one ball and the second sock from the inside of the other and I would have been fine! I do like identical socks, but these ended up as being slightly different. I do start and end on the same color though!

Pair #12 was another pair of baby socks made out of the Debra Norville sock yarn.

On/Off the Spindle: I've decided that next year I am going to do my level-headed best to avoid challenges and knit-a-longs, particularly on Ravelry. Why? Because I am very disappointed in myself because I didn't finish my goal in Tour de Fleece. I am competitive by nature and I know, it was supposed to be a fun thing . . . Anyway, next year is going to be the year to relax and enjoy it. Someone may need to remind me.

52 Books in 52 Weeks/Book 33: Santa Clawed, by Rita Mae Brown & Sneaky Pie Brown. I always enjoy reading about Christmas in July. I used think it was a heat thing, but it couldn't be that this year, so it must be a fun thing. Also, Mrs. Murphy Mysteries are probably my favorite and this one did not disappoint! This one involved the murders of monks, plus one - very good ending!

Catch-Up

Off the Needles:
The pair on the left is Pair #3 of the 52 Pair Plunge. They're Monkey Socks, designed by Cookie A and took 310 yards of Brown Sheep Wildfoote. This pair brought my total up on the Limenviolet Sock Marathon to 3.3 miles. The pair on the right is Pair #4 of the 52 Pair Plunge and are made from a Knit Picks Sock Blank dyed with food coloring. This pair took 276 yards of sock yarn, bringing my total up on the Sock Marathon to 3.46 miles.

Pair #5 is on the needles and is from Socks That Rock - more next time!

52 Books in 52 Weeks/Book 29: Fudge Cupcake Murder, by Joanne Fluke. Admittedly, I've been on a Hannah Swensen Mystery kick. I've decided it's because they're a lot like Nancy Drew books, she's always saved at the end. But she's an imperfect Nancy, or maybe more perfect, depending on your view: she cooks, she loves her feline roommate, Moishe and she's having a heck of time deciding which of two men she wants to spend the rest of her life with. With all this going on, she keeps finding dead bodies, and keeps her sense of humor.

In the Garden: We've spent most of the last week in California, because our son finally obtained his PhD (has anyone gotten one of these without angst?). We came back to find even more irises in bloom.

Cool Weather

I suppose it makes sense that fincas would bloom, but I guess I never thought about it until the one in the container in our front yard did! Beneath the flower are volunteer violas. That container should be absolutely gorgeous by the end of the summer. I decided to take my containers into the garage last fall to see which plants I could salvage to this year. It's turned out to be a success! On the right is the first bloom of the peony I planted last year. Another peony bush is about to bloom as well, but it's been cool for June this year. Below, is another iris, this time from my back yard.

The Challenges:

Sock-related: 52 Pair Plunge III, Limenviolet Sock Marathon, The Great Sock Off. Here's my second pair of socks for the 52 Pair Plunge and the month of June for The Great Sock Off of 2009. This pair brings me over my goal of 3 miles on the Limenviolet Sock Marathan at 3.13 miles. I'll continue to burn through my stash for that challenge until the bitter end on August 1. Orange Monkey Socks, using Cookie A's pattern are on slate for Pair #3.

Book-related: 52 Books in 52 Weeks/Book 28: The Loop Group, by Larry McMurtry. Quirky, sexy, funny, sad and disappointing - not one of McMurtry's best.