Warming Up For Stage 2

Stage 2 of Tour de Sock starts today at 6:30 local time.  I’m going for a massage at 1:30 so I’ll be all loosened up and ready to go.  I’m actually not going to enjoy this massage as much as I normally do because I’m going to ask her to focus on my arms from the elbow down, and it’s gonna hurt.  Stage one was a killer.  Only 38% of the registered knitters finished it.

They’re really very pretty, but it was a challenge to finish in the allotted time, that’s for sure!

I’ve noticed my couch tends to get messier the later in a weekend it gets.

What you can’t see in that photo is the laptop right in front of me too.  Yes, I keep the lappy and the tablet right with me all the time at home.  At the far end is the Morocco fiber from CloudLover.  That’s what’s going on my wheel this week.  I’ve got it split and predrafted.

One of the braids seemed to have more of the gold color than the other, so I’m going to keep them separate while spinning then ply them together.  There’s a knit along coming up for those of us attending SSK, and I’ll get some extra raffle tickets if I knit with yarn I’ve spun from one of the vendors.

The September RSK shipment is medium weight, in a color called Drop Dead Sexy.  I’m liking it!

One pattern is Cat Bordhi using her sweet tomato heel (I already own the ebook and have used the technique) and one is Sivia Harding.  Thinking I’ll use the second.

I also finally got a couple of Piddleloop bags.  They’re really well made, and even arrived with some goodies tucked inside.  Jim immediately confiscated the skull pencil.

One thing I really like is with the animal prints, they donate a portion of the profit to a local charity that pretty much functions as a food pantry for pets.  Pretty necessary in this tough economy.  And as you can see, both of my bags are animal.

FAST FORWARD ABOUT 2.5 HOURS

Kim didn’t hurt me as badly as I thought she would.  I do feel much better.  Not a big surprise – C3/4 were wonky which was contributing to the arm problems.  I tried to shorten my between-massage interval since the contest is ongoing, but realized I’d probably be gone on a work trip in two weeks, so…my usual three weeks to my next.

I’ve been knitting yesterday and today on the presents for Baby B.  No Jen, you’re not getting advance peeks.  Nice try. 

I had so much help this morning while I was trying to watch videocasts and knit – see?

He’s been my buddy the last couple of days.  Right now though he’s enjoying a nice sunny patch in the front room.

Jim has finished the dining room, and boy he did an amazing job!  Took about 8 steps, every one of them covering the entire wall.  I’m really pleased.

Well, other than the brown paper currently on the windows.  We need new window treatments and I haven’t even had someone out to measure yet.  I’m thinking wooden blinds for the big center window, and maybe matching shutters for the small side windows.  Haven’t run that past Jim yet, but that’s where I am right now.  I’m also eyeballing the table and chairs.  Maybe just a change of cushions will be enough to make me happy.  We’ll see.