Monday, October 09, 2006

Happy Thanksgiving, and Socktoberfest

*I'm not sure if my computer is just unhappy, but I have been trying for two days to load the pictures described in the post, and they just won't load - does anyone have a suggestion as to what the problem might be? The Blogger folks do not seem to reply to emails...*

Yes, Thanksgiving here this weekend - we did our big, wild family thing here Sunday, and I was so busy hostessing I didn't take a damn picture - not even of my littlest nephew, James, who is 9 months old and starting the "let me hold onto your hands and walk endlessly and no, I really don't care how sore your back gets" phase - his dad, my brother, is 6'4" or so, so you can only imagine the shape his back is in these days...

ah well, a good time was had by all, I think... we certainly had fun - I love having my family here... even though I would say my house is the smallest, I just find it very cozy and comfortable with my family, all 13 of us, here, and I really do enjoy lots of kids being around -

Thanksgiving Monday the boys and I booked off everything - FREE day!! So we talked about what we were thankful for...
Charlie is thankful for: PIC OF CHARLIE CHEWING ON BONE SHOULD BE HERE

Maggie is thankful for: INSERT PIC OF MAGGIE SLEEPING ON HER COUCH

Tanner is thankful for: THIS SHOULD BE TANNER'S FACE BESIDE 6 OF HIS LITTLE FIGURINES
(those are but a scant few of the infamous Star Wars minis)

Ben is thankful for: HERE WOULD BE A SHOT OF BEN PLAYING ROAD HOCKEY

and me? whaddayathink?...

Our menu was, well, eclectic, to say the least: turkey, cheeseburgers (which we were supposed to have a couple of weeks ago before a couple of us fell ill and had to cancel), french fries (and gravy!!!!), and pasta salad. And our centrepiece, designed by my own sons, incorporates the themes of a couple of fall events... care to make a guess what we're celebrating??

Kind of warms the cockles of your heart, don't it? (What exactly are cockles??)

Socktoberfest began on the first - having been in a profound funk the past week I missed the opening, but am getting my not-so-little butt in gear now, beginning with these questions:

When did you start making socks? Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class?
I started 8, maybe 10 years ago, and was self taught, from a very basic pattern - most likely from the internet, but I honestly don't recall
What was your first pair? How have they "held up" over time?

They were made from Big Socks or Big Print, fit fairly well - a little baggy, but not uncomfortably so - I still have one of them, but the other did that molecular alteration thing in the dryer (yes, I put socks in the dryer!), and I never saw it again - might have reconfigured itself into one of those white sweat socks which seem to multiply but have no mates...
What would you have done differently?

I would have used smaller needles for a snugger fit
What yarns have you particularly enjoyed?

I love Koigu and Shelridge Farms, and Socks that Rock, plus, well, honestly? I am a sock yarn slut - there, I've said it, so now you know... I have very little self-control when it comes to new sock yarns, and with all the hand-dyed, new fiber combinations I keep finding, there's no hope - I must succumb...
Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method?

I love doing both socks at once on circulars, but am equally comfortable with wooden DPN's - haven't crocheted any YET, and have never tried the Magic Loop...
Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?)

I like both, actually, and love finding different ways of doing heels and toes...
How many pairs have you made?

I have no idea - if I were to make an educated guess, I would have to figure maybe 30 or more? Probably more...

so there we are - a sunny, quiet Thanksgiving day that I got to spend with my two favourite people (four if you count the dogs as people - oh, and then there's the bunny and the rats) - well, I am just thankful to be here, with them, in our little house, surrounded by books and yarn and Lego and minis and light sabers and hockey sticks...

life is good...

3 comments:

Emily said...

Blogger is not good right now, that's all I can say. I've been having a very touch-and-go experience trying to get my photos up and even when they come up on my dashboard who knows if they'll bother to make an appearance on my blog.
I realize none of this helped answer your question.
Annnyway- What a great Thanksgiving! Not to be a dolt (though after the Blogger-pics-blather what should stop me?) but I didn't actually realize Canadians celebrated Thanksgiving. Very, very interesting.
And thirty socks! Holy Feet Batman! Impressive.

Anonymous said...

Hi there Deirdre,

I posted this to the email address you supplied to the SP9 guys and it bounced so I thought I would put it here. You can reply to:

anonknitATyahooDOTcomDOTau

My name is.....ah......anonknit (I was going to use knitanon but that
sounds a little too close to alanon or narcanon for my liking - like
'who has a knitting problem? Not me'). Anyway, I am your secret pal.
Aren't you lucky? Well I guess you'll reserve that decision for later
huh?

Anyway, I went to your blog and I can't find your questionnaire. I
will have another look and see if I can go through the archives and find
it (I am going to go through the archives anyway) but I just wondered
if you knew what date you posted it so I could read that first.

I was just reading about your early morning wakings! How is that
going? (I am not sure I would have the motivation to get up at 0500 and be
able to function for the rest of the day - although I DO still get up
to a baby at night. She, however, doesn't need to go anywhere near
ice.......thankfully).

So I just wanted to introduce myself, kind of. This is my first SP
exchange. It is kind of hard to 'introduce yourself without actually
introducing yourself don't you think? I am sure I will reveal myself
later on but for now I will remain.....

mysteriously yours

anonknit.

Miss Scarlett said...

Sounds like a great time!

I have noticed with Blogger that pictures will load one at a time when there are problems. Have you tried that? It is a pain in the *ss but it works 9/10.

I hope it works 'cause I want to see those pics - especially the centrepiece.

Have you started some socks for Socktoberfest? I might do that Thursday - still making my Kureyon Mitts - they are so cozy, which is good since it has been cold here the last few mornings.

I'll check back for pics later.