raining, summer of socks and a hat

It's raining cats and dogs right now...normally this wouldn't be too bad, but quite randomly the other day, our management company dug up our backyard to lay some pvc piping to attach to the gutter. So, this now means our entire yard, much to my dismay is a mud puddle. Annie keeps tramping through it, so this is a messy situation.
So, yeah. I have about three or so unfinished socks right now but instead of finishing any of them, I cast on a new one Monday. The "thing" to do this summer is Summer of Socks which is basically a big group knit along to just knit socks this summer and set your own goals. This is the Spring Forward pattern from summer knitty and I'm using Scout's June yarn.
So Far. So Good. I'm into the second pattern repeat and have no idea who will end up with these socks. The colors are good, but I'm not quite sure they're "me". And. Yes. It is July, but yes, I am knitting a hat. The Tall Guy is heading to Chicago next week for a long-ass regatta that involves overnight sailing to Mackinac Island. (cool part is that I can track them on gps). He very sweetly requested a "warmer" hat. Given that , amongst other things, he's my number one fan for all things fiber related, how could I say no?? So, I dug around and found the kool haus pattern from Interweave. While this photo shows a girl, it is easily translated into a boy pattern.
I cast on for it today with a bulky olivey green Karabella (I heart the Karabella) and hope it will all be knit and blocked prior to his Thursday departure.
This photo sucks, but I'll post something better when I'm not just on the set up rounds.
Needless to say, my "wedding shawl" is stalled. To be honest, I know I should be, but I'm just not feeling it right now. Perhaps, it will instead be a my wedding-guest shawl. We'll see.

keepin it real

It's been a totally chaotic and crazy few days and when I have actually had a few minutes, I've been totally uninspired, thus the lack of posting. Every day I've been running and every night I've had something going on. (Yay for hanging out again, internet friend Jessie!) Most nights this week have ended with my passed out on the bed, not in my jammie's with with the dog harassing me, only to wake up totally disoriented when the Tall Guy called to say goodnight from his work travel in Houston.
So, sorry. I'm done bitching and moving on to knitting!
Last weekend was not that nuts, and I spent most of it either on the back porch with a friend who's staying with us or parked on the couch in the nice cool a/c. I finally finished this scarf and it went to Yve who came done on Saturday...

So much more her then me...
Details:
Yarn: Socks that Rock Silkie in Rocktober
Needles: Size 5 Crystal Palace Straights
Pattern: Domesticrafts version of the Chevron
Comments: This is the third time I've used this pattern. I love it.

And, the Juno Regina is progressing. I'm just about done with the last chart before the straight section. There are definitely mistakes and at this point, I just don't care. Most people won't be able to see some of my creatively shaped diamonds and that's a-okay with me.

The colors are fairly true here, but as always, the sheen of silk is just not done justice by photos.
This weekend starts the true chaos of the summer, with two of my old Mayorga crew getting hitched (the only two I actually still talk to... dark days those were..). From there we start traveling, which means lots of car knitting! Yay!!!!

alo!

I made it back from San Francisco in one piece after a fantastic weekend. Seriously, I love that city. It's not only because its where my bestest friend (aka hetero life partner or hlp for short) has lived the past four years or so, but for its food, fun, yarn shops and irreverent attitude. SO different from DC.
I'm tired and still a bit grouchy from flying and going to work the past two days (work. the nerve!) so, nothing too long tonight, just a few thoughts and only a couple of pics.
This is Clifton. My hlp lives with him. Basically, he's the feline version of Annie, as far as I can tell. I love cats with dog attitudes.
Imagiknit and ArtFibers are fantastic. If you're ever in SF and like fiber GO!!!!! My hlp was happy to navigate the way to these stores and my wallet came home a bit lighter.
I went to a Red Sox/Oakland A's game on Sunday and while the Sox did lose (tear), the weather was perfect, we had amazing seats (see!) and it was just a really nice afternoon.
I started the Juno Regina while traveling and its coming along slowly but surely. I think I'll wait a bit before posting pics of it and I knit most of one sock from Yarn Love's Elizabeth Bennett doing a basic sock (= brainless) with a short row heel which I'm getting better at with the help of my new book from Priscilla Gibson-Roberts. It's a bare bones sort of hand drawn book that kicks ass in showing some great techniques.
Okay, signing off for the night. I promise to actually show some knitting or yarn content soon, just not tonight.