So. I’m trying something new for me…socks!  I haven’t ever tried a pair because I hate DPNs and haven’t yet gotten the hang of the magic loop method. That, and anyone who knows me, knows I don’t like “fiddly” projects for the most part.

A couple weeks ago I saw a book on Pinterest called Knit Your Socks on Straight and was intrigued. It calls for knitting them in the flat then seeming them once in the end. Color me interested!  After checking the library for a copy (no dice there) it was off to Amazon to purchase it!

Today on my lunch I found this pretty sock yarn on clearance and got a pair of needles to go along with it. I chose circulars because I have theiving cats and dog and I like to always know where my other needle is. I’m funny that way. Here’s to nothing!

Update 2 hours later (not dedicated knitting time…I’m not that slow!): ripped out 2.5 rows…ribbing wasn’t ribbing. Let’s try this again…

Today was a day I have been looking forward to for a couple weeks now!  I went to a workshop called “Field Trip to the Farm” put on by the Red Barn Yarn Farm in St Joseph, MO.  We learned a new to us method to dye yarn and best of all, got to meet the alpacas!

We learned to “paint” yarn using acid dyes.  It’s pretty easy and you get come really cool effects with the yarn.  We spread out sheets of plastic wrap and placed our vinager water soaked yarn hanks on it.  Then we used acid dyes in squirt bottles to put the dye on our yarn and rubbed it in.  After applying the color we wanted, we wrapped it up in the plastic wrap and microwaved it for a few minutes to set the dye.  Once our bundles cooled down, we unwrapped and rinsed our little gems.  It was fun to see what color combinations every one came up with.

I can’t wait to get some more dyes and try this at home!  We will have so much more control than doing it in the crockpot.

Now for some pictures from the day.  It was a warm day but there was shade and a nice breeze and plenty of water to be had.  I would go back in a heartbeat!

Thanks to Jenny at the crew at Red Barn Yarn Farm!  It was a great experience and I learned a lot!  We can’t wait to come up and check out the store!

That’s about all that can be said about that.  We have been spoiled with a beautiful, long spring and mild summer.  Until this week.  Today was 98 degrees with the heat index around 114.  UUuuuggghhhhh.

Now its all about conserving the coolness.  Unfortunately it leaves me not wanting to cook or knit or do anything that requires movement.

If you need me, i’ll be lightly dressed in front of a fan.

Oh holiday weekends, how I wish there were more of you.  It’s been pretty nice around here.

I had to work Friday since we don’t get “Independence Day, Observed” off at the pet hospital.  It was a good day though.  I will say that I have done enough toenail trims and anal sac expressions this week to last a lifetime though… #vettechprobs

I started a new baby blanket on Friday too.  A friend is having a baby next month so I figured I should get on the ball!  I was knitting a Baby Surprise Jacket (I talked about here) for her but it ended up officially getting frogged last weekend.  It was just not going well.  I will try it again, but need to give it a break.  I had some yarn that I really liked in my stash that was one of those whim purchases.  I got 2 skeins of it on clearance a couple years ago, with no project in mind.  It was too thin on its own, so I paired it with a thin, plain cream colored yarn to bulk it up.  I’m really liking the way its turning out.  I am doing a corner to corner knitted pattern, the Diagonal Comfort Blanket from Lion Brand.  For sizing my plan is to go until the first skein is almost done, then start decreasing.  They are pretty big skeins, over 500 yards each.

Yesterday morning/afternoon was filled with laziness and knitting and naps.  In the evening we participated in our 4th of July family tradition: airfield time!  This involves eating yummy grilled foods, watching guys fly (model airplanes), watching people shoot roman candles at airplanes and lots of fireworks.  After dark you can catch glimpses of fireworks going off around the city, which is really cool.  We put on our own cool display too.  The weather was perfect!  Of course I had some knitting with me too.

Today started with my standing Starbucks date for coffee, chatting and knitting.  I love Sunday mornings at Starbucks.  It’s been a pretty low key day so far.  BFF and Laura brought Chipotle for dinner and now we are watching the World Cup while banana bread bakes in the oven.  My house smells yummy right now!  I am trying a new banana bread recipe, as I have yet to find one I love yet.  A few weeks ago I made this delicious banana cake and I am trying baking my bread like I did this cake…low and slow.  My house smells so good right now.  I will post the recipe later if it gets approved by the committee 🙂

As per usual, Dad and I went out for our Thursday lunch date.  This week was his to choose and we ended up at Milano Italian Dining in Crown Center.  It was a laid back atmosphere, there were quite a few business people in there as a well as a family or two.  They have a full menu to choose from as well as a buffet.  On the buffet they have two choices of soup, a couple of cold salads, a pizza bar and a pasta bar.  The pasta bar had a chef that would put your chosen ingredients and pasta in a pan and cook it right there for you.  When he was done you got your pasta in a bowl and there was a vat of each marinara and alfredo sauce to add to your dish.  Neither one of us can vouch for the marinara but the alfredo was DELICIOUS!!  Thats saying a lot for dad as he doesn’t normally like cream sauces like alfredo.  Dad decided when we were done with our meal that dessert needed to be had.  He chose the “Mini Trio” which had Tiramisu, a cannoli and a small chocolate dipped cone with gelato.  It was all pretty yummy.

Score time.  Dad: 4, Me: 3.5