Stairway to Heaven Socks

Needles: 2.25 mm dpn
Yarn: 75% superwash merino/25% nylon, colorway Quicksilver from Unwind Yarn on Etsy
Pattern Stitch:
Rnd 1: P3, K1
Rnd 2: P1, Yo, P2tog, K1
Rnds 3,4,and 5: K

Wild Rosehip Socks

Needles: 2.25 mm dpn
Yarn: 75% Merino wool, 25% nylon yarn from WoolCandy on Etsy in Ice Cream colorway
Pattern Stitch:
Rnds 1 and 2: K3, P2
Rnd 3: Sl1, K2, PSSO, P2
Rnd 4: K1, YO, K1, P2

Ten Things

Frieda challenged some other knitting bloggers to list ten things others may not know about them. Here's my list:

1. I have long hair I wear in a braid.
2. My first language was French; I didn't learn English until I was five years old.
3. I love the scent of lemons.
4. I've raised milk goats, sheep, chickens, ducks, and geese.
5. I've never had a manicure.
6. It doesn't take much to make me happy.
7. I was better at hop scotch than at jumping rope.
8. My favorite book when I was 12 was Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton Porter.
9. I hate spiders.
10. I collect antique and unusual buttons.

Book Review: The Joy Of Sox

The Joy of Sox by Linda Kopp is fast becoming my favorite sock book. I haven't made one of the 30 patterns by 28 designers in it as yet but I know I will end up making many of them. Some are challenging; all are gorgeous. The book is hardcover with a spiral binding making it easy to knit with which is a definite plus. The photographs are lovely. Along with the patterns, there are lots of tips, all presented with a flirty innuendo. Some of the sock pattern names are A Roll in the Hay, Spring Fling and Last of the Red Hot Lovers. You get the idea. There are also a few treats such as the story of Crazy Aunt Purl's first time knitting socks and advice from Shannon Okey and Laura Bryant on how color repeats work when knitting socks.

Struggling

I'm still struggling with my diabetes diagnosis as I try to finish at least one pair of socks this month. My blood sugars are much improved due to three different drugs, plus drastic diet changes, and walking five miles a day, but I am exhausted. Some of that is due to getting used to normal blood sugar levels, to the side effects of the drugs, and the increased exercise. I also have an unresolved thyroid problem which I hope will be straightened out soon; I'll know more about that when I have a blood test which is now scheduled for mid-July. And there is yet another serious health issue I'm dealing with as well; more about that at the end of the week.

In the meantime, what about sock knitting? I'm finishing the toe of the first Stairway to Heaven sock and I've started the heel of the second Wild Rosehips sock. Hopefully I will get at least one pair finished so that I can post a photo to the Sock A Month website. I've changed my list of June socks to just these two pairs and hope I have the chance to work on the socks I'd intended to do in June next month.

My son Owen and his wife Sarah are going on a month long vacation starting next Monday and John and I will be cat sitting Skitty the Pretty Kitty. Photos will be forthcoming.

I'm Back!

First of all, just what WAS in that package for my beautiful daughter-in-law? Why a pair of socks, of course! I had hoped to take a photo of her in her socks at her birthday party, but as usual, I forgot my camera. Here is a photo of the socks taken when I knit them in May of 2009.
If you haven't already guessed, her favorite color is purple. I think she liked them.

And now for the rest of the story. The reason I've neglected this blog and, for that matter, knitting in general, is because I've been diagnosed with diabetes. Yeah, I know. Bummer. It's hell getting old, but it's better than the alternative. I've spent the last month seeing various doctors, taking different combinations and doses of oral meds, changing my diet, researching articles and websites, and walking five miles a day. This is a time consuming and very expensive disease. The good thing is that it's something I can control. The bad thing is that I do have to keep control over it and do it every single day. My blood sugar levels were very high and I am happy that I wasn't put on insulin first thing. That said, I also know that the oral meds won't work forever and eventually I will be on insulin. Just not yet. My blood sugar numbers are now close to normal, I'm losing weight, and I have much more energy. I also don't have any complications and I want to keep it that way.

On to knitting! I've finished one of the Wild Rose Hip socks and begun the second and I'm just about to start the heel of the first Stairway to Heaven sock, but I don't have any pairs finished for this month. These two patterns were listed for May but life got in the way. I will post photos as soon as I've completed a pair.

In the meantime I will continue to follow Elizabeth Zimmermann's advice:
Knit on, with confidence and hope, through all crises.