I'm starting the Summer of Socks 2008 with an adventure. My first top-up sock using Judy Becker's Magic Cast-on with the assistance of Cat Bordhi's YouTube video on the technique and the Knitty article by Judy Becker. I'm also going to try short-row heels since all the cool knitters do them....besides, technique expansion is a good thing. The yarn is loot from Joan that I won a little while ago at her blog: Silky Sock from The Great Adirondack Yarn Company. The toe was a little bit of challenge but I really like it.
It was a busy weekend full of chores, travel, gardening, and the bit of knitting I've told you about. I drove up to Oshkosh on Saturday to have a good time with a mop and some bleach. Yeah, the cottage basement had (at one point, not now) about 4 to 6 inches of water in it from the recent flooding. Mom gave me a big hand to haul out the wet stuff to the curb for pick up and move things so the bleach would have a clear field. I'll have to have the mechanicals looked at, but the structure is still fine. Just a wet June, eh? No wonder I have been having water dreams. We drove to Leon's to have a chili dog and soda for lunch, which was fun since it is a drive-in. No custard cone this time.
I had a fun surprise in the garden....one of my hollyhocks is blooming! I purchased these plants at Felly's Greenhouse but the blooms indicate there is hope for the hollyhock seeds that Stacey is sending.
*g*
These are actually pretty short hollyhocks but since they are in a raised bed they show up nicely.
Here is one of my favorite photos from the weekend. Blue enjoying the catmint/catnip. I thought I had planted cat mint but the cats enjoy it so much it may be cat nip. I'll have to pay attention when it flowers. I love the goofy little face on this cat.
Short rows are the way to go!
I love that little face, too.
Posted by: Cookie | Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 07:25 PM
Gorgeous hollyhocks, and I *love* the kitty photo!
Posted by: Joy | Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 09:48 PM
Nice job on the toe. My toe ups always look funny and I rip them.
I'm starting a sock tomorrow - if I remember how.
Posted by: joan | Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 10:21 PM
Cute kitty!! Great sock toe! Lovely hollyhocks! You've got it all over here!
Had lunch at the Sow's Ear yesterday - I thought about you.
Is Leon's the same as the Leon's in Milwaukee?
Posted by: Nora | Monday, June 23, 2008 at 05:42 AM
Congrats on venturing into toe-up socks! It's looking good. Pretty yarn colors. Are you just doing a basic toe-up sock pattern? The hollycocks are beautiful. Love the kitty photo.
Posted by: Deborah | Monday, June 23, 2008 at 07:18 AM
Nice sock! It coordinates well with the thyme. That's one of my SOS goals: to knit a sock toe-up with that weird short row heel with all the wraps & turns.
Wow, that cat is hopped up on the catmint. What stoned feline face!
Posted by: Kim | Monday, June 23, 2008 at 10:40 AM
Yeah! Go Team SOCK! I loved Judy's cast on... until I was told how to do short rows. I'm such a fickle knitter.
Gorgeous hollyhock! And Blue too!
Good to hear you got the cottage cleaned out. Is that the hunting cottage? :D
Posted by: Stacey (just Stacey) | Monday, June 23, 2008 at 03:04 PM
I have some "black" hollyhocks that replant themselves nicely every year. (It's biennial but there's always a new crop coming along.) I *love* your kitty picture! I'm thinking of planting some catnip and catmint out back to attract more neighbor kitties to the yard to keep the chippy population down a bit (or at least to keep them from digging near my foundation). My own kitties are strictly indoor as they are adoptees.
Posted by: Julie | Thursday, June 26, 2008 at 09:01 AM