I finished my equilateral socks!!! And there is enough yarn left that the Cat of Cats may just be getting herself a new catnip mouse. (Shhh don't tell.) I got the news that my secret pal receiver her first package. So far so good. There is a second one traveling to her as I type. If the knitting gods are kind it will be waiting for her when she comes back from her vacation.
I am about to start my Sock posse project with my LYS - Yarntopia. It is new shop in Katy. It's been such a nice treat not to have to travel cross county to get a yarn fix.* Although I make a point of taking a good look at my stash before going over.
My lunch time is just about over so I have to leave the post short today.
Take care - Libraryminion
*Better yet it's not far from a discount liquor store. Nothing goes with knitting like a Mimosa . . . purlpaw

BUSY PAWS ARE HAPPY PAWS
Have you discovered my new co-hostess. She is just off to the right and slightly below this entry.
My wonderful Secret Pal arranged to have this sweet girl sent my way. This is beginning to look like a real blog.

And in that spirit - I'm going to try to have my own little show and tell. A certain person asked what I have been up to - knitwise.

So here goes:

SOCKS
I do keep churning them out. Unfortunately some have developed size issues, so I don't wear them too often.
But that just makes them more eligible for permanent display. I got this basket when I visited Branson, Mo last year.

Just to the right of the basket are 2 pairs of slippers. These are thank you gifts for some co-workers,

SCARVES
The college I work at teaches the culinary arts and to aid that there is a small kitchen garden. It is taken care of by the students and has herbs as well as vegetables. I have tried to help fund the effort. This quarter I have been knitting up some scarves I will sell off to our faculty and staff.* The one problem I have is how to price them.


WASHCLOTHS
I was the lucky recipient of a mini stash of cotton yarn. I decided to put it to use in whipping up some washcloths (sometimes called facecloths). Since they get softer with every use - they have become a popular gift. I usually combine the cloth with a bar of handmade soap. On the second picture the blue & white items are another pair of slippers.



OTHER PROJECTS
Here are some of my bigger experiment. A striped bag, blue shouderette shrug, and a fuzzy triangle shawl made with Allure yarn.


Hope you liked the show. Have a great weekend. Libraryminion

*All that effort - you would think a few catnip mice wouldn't have been too much trouble - purlpaw

SHOPS & A SHOCK
I treated myself to some fun after work yesterday.
First I went shopping for my SP8, and second went to Yarntopia for my ownself.

I now have a good number of fun items to ship off. I have set up a mini production line in my living room. The cat of cats was very diligent about her inspection duties, but in end all got her approval. (Thanks fuzz bucket.*) Today I will pick up some postal friendly boxes and the supply line will be up and running. Now don’t be concerned about SP8 having to wait too long - I am posting some very cool cards today.

The trip to my lys was to pick up the yarn for the sock posse the shop has started. It is a beautiful colorway made just for the shop. I still haven’t quite decided on the pattern to use. I would like the color to be the focus of the socks and not the pattern.

I had a bit of a sit com moment last night. While I was watching TV (CSI Miami) suddenly it sounded like someone was trying to open my front door. I went to check and heard more sounds of a key being poked around. Opening the door I discovered my new upstairs neighbors had miscounted their floors. All 3 of us were some what embarrassed. What a way to meet. Later that night I definitely knew they had “found” their place from all the thumping and furniture moving sounds.

Well, time to earn the money to keep the cat. Keep a kickin’ chicken
Libraryminion
* Cats gotta do what cats gotta do - purlpaw

Sweet And Sour Saturday

I have had a very different kind of day. I enjoyed having Saturday off from work but unfortunately I had to attend a funeral.

This last week one of the faculty suddenly passed away. We were told that he had a heart attack in his sleep. This has been very hard on everyone, since it was quite unexpected and the instructor was well liked by both the students and the staff.

I am glad I went but it was very hard. I lost my mother just 2 years ago and this Sunday being Mother's Day has added to the feelings of sadness.

After the service, I was determined to keep busy. I did in fact have a project to focus on. I am trying to master a digital camera.* First thing I had to do was get through all the instructions. I then grited my teeth and started the process of uploading programs followed by downloading images.

In choosing my first subject I went with an inanimate one. The socks I am currently working on. They are a pattern called equilateral socks, from Joslyn Fiber Farm. It was from their sock of the month club, I believe it was the March 2006 selection.
Here's the picture . . .(I hope)


I'm not sure of the name of the yarn, but it has a wonderful feel to it. A very soft wooly quality. In fact it got a multi-sniff approval from the cat of cats. (get ready for the 2nd picture.)


The other bright spot of the day was a double blast from Secret Pal 8. I not only got my match, but heard from the sweet soul who got me.
Take care - Libraryminion
*Should have been mastering the vacumn cleaner - purlpaw

GREED IS GOOD
It’s adventure time. I am venturing into the exciting world of Secret Pals. I mean to have the full blogging experience, so I have signed up for a knitters secret pals group.
Today I am posting the questionnaire. The reason being (and I quote), “By filling this out you will help your pal get to know your likes and dislikes a little better.” But fear not gentle readers you will not be getting too much information. I will be maintaining a solid G rating.
So here we go ----
1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I don’t really have a favorite brand or type. I am very fond of anything soft. I am not a fan of anything twine like.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I use a very large lidded plastic bin. The smaller needles(dpns) and crochet hooks are keep in a recycled Hershey’s soft caramels tin.

3. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
Serious knitting started about six years ago. I would place myself on an intermediate level.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
No.

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
Vanilla &/or lavender.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Big time. Caramels and soft peppermints.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I crochet, and have tried my hand at beading some stitch markers. I do not spin or dye.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
Soft jazz, soundtracks. Lately I have been getting my music fix through podcasts. My computer can play MP3s.

9. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
I really like blues and yellows.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
Just me and my very demanding Abyssinian cat, Katrina.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Three out of four – Houston is not a mitten friendly city.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I am on a sock kick, but hats and slippers are frequent projects.

13. What are you knitting right now?
A pair of socks using the Equailateral sock pattern from Joslyn's Fiber Farm.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Yes.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
DPNs (bamboo) for socks and circulars for most other projects.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
No.

17. How did you learn to knit?
I am told my mother & Grandmother tried to teach me when I was small, but it only really sank in about six years ago. I used books and one knitting class.

18. How old is your oldest UFO?
Five years old. An horrible square throw.

19. What is your favorite holiday?
I am a fan of anything that will get me a day off work.

20. Is there anything that you collect?
I’m a push over for most things Disney.

21. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
The new book “One Skein”. I only pick up an occasional magazine.

22. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Knitting socks on circular needles.

23. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Bring on the double points! I have a shoe size of 8, and most women
medium sock patterns fit.

24. When is your birthday? (mm/dd) May 3rd.

Well now that wasn’t too bad. And it is very easy to scroll through if bored.

With my next entry I hope to be adding some photos, if I can figure out the digital camera.
Take care, Libraryminion

P.S. Looks like I’ll be getting some new packing toys to play with. I love the way the styrofoam peanuts squeak – purlpaw

Honk Honk - Beep Beep
As people will often point out life happens. At the moment it isn't small things that I am focusing on but two rather large items. One is a new car and the other (coming along for the ride) is the loan to go with it.

Just before Easter, my sweet Prizm was turned into a piece of metal origami.
Since I live in a city that considers public transportation a passing fancy, a replacement was required. Especially with what it costs to get a rental car on short notice.

My new acquisition is a silver gray Toyota Corolla. I am going to call her Minnie(as in Mouse).* The loan will have no name, only a gloomy presence lurking in my financial life.

Take care and drive safe - Libraryminion

* Sounds like it's time for a road trip!
I'll bring the snacks. - purlpaw