June 1, 2008

Weird.

So apparently Panera hates Blogger. Every site I tried to browse today while there that was hosted by blogger was blocked. “Content not authorized for viewing.” What exactly about a knitting blog is threatening? Could it be the pointy sticks? Ug. I was able to read most of my faves through bloglines, but couldn’t post to my own blog at all, and I couldn’t post any comments anywhere either. Frowny face.

But, what I wanted to post about was my recent obsession with socks. Here it is in photos:



The sock wars socks were the ones that kicked it off. I actually FINISHED a project. (It’s been a while.) (I did weave in all those nasty ends and graft the toes before I sent them!) I had forgotten how exhilarating that can be. So I immediately cast on for another pair of socks.



These are intended for my grandmother, who had an accident on Mother’s Day. She and my grandfather live in a mobile home and travel the country. They find parks where they can do short term jobs in exchange for hookup fees, etc. So this summer they have been at an amusement park/campground in Iowa. On Mother’s Day Gma was working a ride called the G-Force, checking to see that passengers were safely fastened. The operator of the ride started it before she was clear of the gears and she was…well…squished. She suffered a fractured pelvis bone and lots of bruising, but otherwise she is OK. She was released from the hospital yesterday and is happily back at home, taking it slow and easy. I know that she will have some difficulties moving around as she is using a walker while she is recovering and the trailer is v-e-r-y small. My sisters and I have sent her cards and some knitting/crochet stuff to keep her hands busy, but I thought these socks would warm her spirits (and her feet!). Send some good wishes her way, would ya? Thanks!




This past week I worked a couple of overnight shifts. The night before I started them I decided to try to stay up as late as possible to try and alter my sleep schedule in preparation. What could possibly keep my interest enough to keep me up until 3am? New socks! (Grandma’s socks were at the heel flap which is my least favorite part of a sock other than picking up stitches for the gusset. I hate picking up stitches.) So I cast on for a pair of Monkeys. I just had to see what all the fuss was about. The last time a sock knitting craze (rav link) of this magnitude swept the blogisphere I tried the pattern and was just not impressed. Don’t get me wrong-lovely pattern, love what some people have done with it, just not for me. The monkeys? Well….three repeats in and I must say…all these bloggers are onto something. Monkeys rock!


Last thing, before this blog post gets out of control. Ever have one of those weeks? You know…where NOTHING goes your way? I had one of those this past week. It started out with me being broker than broke. Like, ramen noodle broke. Doug is thankfully now employed, but went about 5 weeks without a job and we just hit that point where his last few paychecks had floated us about as far as they could. No worries, everything is under control now, but it was a tight squeeze this past week. S-t-r-e-s-s-f-u-l. Then things just got plain comical. Thursday morning we got a call from my sister who was worried because her husband hadn’t yet arrived at work but had left with plenty of time to get there on time. So we went on the search for him. Turns out he had ridden his new motorcycle to work and it broke down. Doug went with him to figure out the problem and it turned out to be….he ran out of gas. The funny part is he actually “broke down” at a gas station and it never occurred to him that that cold be the problem, so he pushed the bike about a quarter of a mile up 29 before giving up and walking the rest of the way home (no cell phone). We laughed it up for a bit and then Doug and I took my sis to the dump. We haul our trash to the dump because it isn’t far and a heck of a lot cheaper than paying for pick up. Well, Doug’s old beatup truck had a quarter tank of gas in it. Enough to get to the dump and back, right? Think again. We were about a mile from a gas station and we….ran out of gas. Ha! Serves us right for laughing about Chad’s little motorcycle incident. So we walked to a gas station, found a nice guy to give Doug a ride to the truck with a gallon of gas while Heather and I waited at the gas station, filled up, went home. So now we are even keel right? Two incidents is enough! But wait, there’s more….! Friday afternoon I got a call from Doug who was supposedly on his way to Richmond. Keep in mind that now I have done TWO consecutive overnights and been woken up one of those days to go husband-hunting for my sister, walked a mile in the sweltering heat for gas, not slept, etc. Doug had ran out of gas on mile marker 152 of I-64. For those of you that don’t live locally, we are off exit 124 by about 8 miles, give or take. Yeah…thirty miles. He could potentially walk to a gas station, but see the aforementioned broke as a joke statement. So I got the gas tank that we keep on hand for the mower and went to bail him out, turned around, drove the thirty miles home with exactly enough time to change clothes and go to work. That’s the kind of week where you just have to stop and laugh at yourself because otherwise you would go completely crazy. Ugh.
Novel-length post over. I’m going to go to sleep now. Well, maybe after I knit just a little bit more on my socks…..

63 comments:

Heather said...

Oh my stars, what a week!!! I'm so sorry that your grandma got hurt. I'm glad she's okay. I bet that was scary!!

EmmaP said...

ok - i know it's bad to laugh at someone else's expense...but yes - i am laughing! but only because I too, have had a week like that. Oh - and I am picturing grandma getting squished,poor thang! Don't those carnies know what they're doin??? hope she gets better soon!

Laurel said...

oh my... you need to sit down and have one of whatever it is you have! Or... knit a sock or something.

Anonymous said...

LOL about the gas!

BITR Country Girl said...

I have those weeks all the time! I'm sorry about your grandma. Mine just had a knee replaced a couple months ago and still has yet to tell us about it.

I knit too but I'm just a beginner...basically I know the basic "stitch" and that's it for know. So I'll be back to your blog to check out all your knitting projects!

Bramblemoon Farm said...

First I have to say I feel your pain at being broke--yes, ramen noodle broke--been there. Well, still there. BAHAHAHA Second, how awesome is it that you can knit SOCKS? That is so cool.

Dee said...

Hi, over from SITS. What a week you had. I hope your grandma gets better quick! How terrible for her to have that happen.

I cant knit, but mum does, I should get her to knit me some socks for winter, they look good.

Creative Junkie said...

I've never seen a pair of knitted socks that can actually be worn!

I hope your grandma recovers quickly.

Unknown said...

"Ramen noodle broke"..... I like that. :) I have been THAT broke before, myself!

Val said...

Very cool socks!

Unknown said...

Wow... socks... that's amazing.

Heather said...

Hang on one moment - buried deeeep within your post were the words "husband hunting for my sister" .... I'm intrigued! Where exactly do you go husband-hunting? I have a very single best friend for whom I'd happily husband hunt! :)

Those socks look so toasty and comfy, my feet are jealous!

Cheers!

Becky said...

What's up with Panera huh? I'm in knitting envy, I can knit a washclothe, that's it! Have a great saucy day.

Unknown said...

I am SO not a knitter, and I'm very impressed with your socks! Hope things have gotten better for Grandma!

Crazy Momma said...

Beautiful socks! I am sure that you grandmother loved them!

She and your grandfather are doing EXACTLY what I want to do when I retire. Travel the country, stop when we need to earn a little money, and keep on moving. Of course, I would prefer NOT to get crushed by the ride...I hope she has recovered well.

sassy stephanie said...

So wish I could knit. Or sew. Or even glue.

Anonymous said...

Look at how cute those socks are! So fun and you are so talented!

Aubrey said...

What a week indeed! The gas story is too funny. Sounds like something my hubby would have done! LOL

Great talent you have. So cool!

mrsmouthy said...

I've tried to learn to knit about 10 times in my life, but always go back to just watching TV. Sigh.

Momma Trish said...

Oh, that sounds like a dreadful week. I'm glad you could laugh about it. And I sure hope your grandma is all better now.

Cute socks, btw!

Brooke said...

Wow! I would not be functioning! I do not do too well on no sleep so I commend you. And you have good attitude about it. Glad grandma is doing okay. Hopefully this week will be better :)

Ronnica said...

Panera did that to me, too, but since then I've been able to visit blogger sites.

Debbie Y. said...

worrying about the gas would give me gas. Too bad we can't harness that energy. LOL

I am sorry you had a bad week and especially the crazy accident with your Gmaw. Praise the Lord she is okay to the extent she is, could have been worse. Shudder!

Conrats on being the SITsta today!

Anonymous said...

Hope your grandmother is healing up well. What a horrible accident. Congrats on the SITS day.

Katie said...

Oh geez, what a week! I think I'd be whimpering in a corner by the time Saturday finally rolled around.

Love the socks! And I hope you Grams feels better soon.

Happy SITS Day!

Vicki said...

Great colors in the socks! I'm sure your Grandma will love her pair :)

Your gas week sounds like my Medical Week...too much doctor drama.

Cristin said...

Love the socks! I wish I knew how to knit!

Your poor Grandma...

Ali said...

Wow, looks like fun! Hope your Grams is doing ok. ;)

What A Card said...

Oh my, your poor Grandmother! I hope she's doing well now! I used to work at an amusement park, and let me just say, I'm never surprised to hear of accidents. Yuck.

Nice socks...crazy week. Wow, you pack your posts FULL!

Happy SITS day!

Andie said...

Wow what a week! Your socks are great! and I've BTDT... ugh... no fun!

Happy SITS day!

Unknown said...

So sorry about poor Gram...but what an exciting life they must live. I have knitting envy, but I'll leave it up to the pros!!

Jenny Grace said...

For some reason I think that socks are the very most intimidating thing to knit.

Stephanie said...

Those socks are all so fun! I tried knitting a while back, but I could never figure out how to hold the needles right. Then I discovered crochet, and find that much easier! But I would like to try knitting again, 'cuz it's so cool!

G. said...

so sorry about your grandma!
I started knitting a scarf about 2 years ago and it's still not finished. I have a knack for procrastinating. Love the socks!

Shannon said...

I never learned how to knit or sew... wish I did! I love fuzzy socks. Maybe I should have learned how to make them instead of buying them!

So sorry to hear about your grandma! That's horrible! Hope she gets better quick!

Jenni said...

THAT is a lot of drama for one week. But the socks sure are cute. I have tried knitting and I don't have the patience for it. I would have half a dozen unfininshed projects laying around. . .kinda like my sewing projects now!

Melanie Dickens said...

Rough week but I love the socks. I crochet and am trying to teach myself to knit for the very reason that socks are almost impossible to get right with crochet.

Elisabeth said...

It does sound like you've had a rough week. We have been in a tight financial squeeze before, it is NOT fun. I am like you...I start many projects...and finish only about a quarter of them. I don't knit (I can, but always loose count) however, I sew. Sometimes. And not very well.

Lorie said...

I have always wanted to learn to knit! And those socks make me want to even more! So cute!

Melodie said...

If I were you, I'd check my gas gauge before going anywhere. And don't let it get close to empty, just in case.

Congrats on being featured on SITS.

Maren said...

Good Grief! I hope knitting is as relaxing as it is supposed to be! You need it!

Jacie said...

I know you had a rough week but I am so laughing at the fact that he ran out of gas at a gas station. Only a man wouldn't think to realize the possibility that he may have run out of gas. I'm so glad to be a woman.

Kaycee said...

Coming from SITS!

I'm so sorry you had such a crazy week. The socks are fabulous though..great job!

Kelly Deneen Raymond said...

Cute socks!! So crazy about your grandma's injuries! How amazing that they just travel around and do odd jobs though - I want to do that some day!

-Bridget said...

I hope Granny makes a full recovery soon. I love those socks. They look so comfy! I'm too lazy to knit but I'd seriously buy a pair. On other news, that running out of gas has struck a cord with me. I live in Atlanta and there is no gas to be found. I'm about to have to go spend two hours to find and wait for gas. It's amazing how dependent we are on it.

The Boss Lady said...

I simply cannot believe that you can knit something that can actually be worn by someone...in public. You're a better woman than I.

Congrats on your SITS day!

Laural Out Loud said...

Running out of gas at a gas station and not realizing I was out of gas is something that I would totally do, lol. LOVE the socks!

Anonymous said...

Holy moly that is one heck of a week. I LOVE your socks. They look so comfy. And I'm jealous that you can knit, I've tried to learn many times but I just don't get it, lol.

Unknown said...

Oh dear, what a week. Hope you Grandma is feeling better and that she enjoyed those socks.

I also knit. I've made jerseys, cardigans, matinee jackets, bootees, baby hats and so on, but I haven't as yet made a pair of socks. Those look rather comfy, so I'm going to give it a go. They're like knitting oversize baby bootees, right? :-)

Actually, they might be a good idea for Christmas presents...

wendy said...

Hope your grandma is better soon! Happy SITS day!

♥ Becky ♥ said...

I hope your Grandma is doing better. Love the socks!!! They look nice and warm.

Happy SITS Day!!!

Anonymous said...

I LOVE that you knit! So cool! I wish I could knit.
I hope that your Grandma is alright. She'll love the socks!

Michelle said...

Here's hoping that your grandma has had enough time by now to fully heal, but I'm sending good vibes anyway!

And I'm so impressed with the knitting. I'm fascinated by it -- particularly that people can actually do it -- but I know it isn't for me!

Rachelle Lynne said...

I LOVE socks!!!

Happy SITS day!

AutoSysGene said...

Wow, Panera won't let you blog...seriously, I'm boycotting them for sure now!!

KatBouska said...

Love love love the socks!!

Tracy P. said...

Happy SITS day! Grandma is lucky to have you.

Cheryl said...

Oh my what a week! Hope next week is better ;). Anyway, nice to meet you, you are very talented. I can crochet but do not understand knitting.
Love those socks. Gma will sure to love them. She is in our prayers.
Cheryl

Unknown said...

Happy SITS Day! I'm enjoying looking at all your crafts!

Nessa said...

Happy SITS day! I really enjoyed your post! I am so envious of crafty people, as I'm just not gifted that way. Love the socks! I have a serious thing for socks!

cricketphx said...

Wow- I'm worn out just reading! Poor grandma!

Live.Love.Eat said...

I'm late but wanted to say congrats on being featured!!!

Melissa Lester said...

I hope your grandmother will recover completely. Her accident sounds so painful. I hope she'll be back to cruising the country again soon!