Socks that Rock - Seastone

I present you with the first pair of Socks that Rock that I have completed, along with what was left over after knitting for size 9 feet.

Size 2 double circulars were used. Basic Sock Pattern. CO 56 stitches.

Love the yarn - great to knit with. Don't like how I did the heel flap - think I got flap happy with it.
Also think I would start off with size 1 needles at the top and then change over to size 2s down the leg. Tweaking for personal sizing.
Now I think I am ready to venture out into some other sock patterns. I would like for the toe shaping to be a little different so will work on that too.
Son has now requested for me to make him a pair of socks, but he thought these were a little loud and "girlie" as he called it. He wants some more neutral colors. Imagine that...

Venite Adoremus

Of course this is a most appropriate title for this day before Christmas - but it is also the name of an art exhibition for the Episcopal Church and Visual Arts virtual display of items that, as the curators Frank and Griffin Logue requested:

We asked artists to respond to the challenge to let the hymns of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany serve as their muse in both creating and selecting the art for this exhibit. The resulting exhibit offers an interesting array of thoughtful works in varying artistic styles and media.

They did not disappoint with their creativity in combining the hymns of the season to their particular medium or media. For a feast of the eyes and soul, visit the online exhibition. It will nourish and enhance your journey as we all prepare for Christmas.

Interestingly, I counted 4 contributors from the Diocese of Georgia. If I missed anyone please let me know!

Check it out here - which one is your favorite?

You can also check out their blog here at ecva.blogspot.com.
What a wonderful gift these artists have given us.

Paradox

How come Walmart employees are not allowed to say Merry Christmas, but when I was listening to the piped in music in the store today, they were playing Hallelujah from Handel's Messiah?

RevGalPal Christmas Music MEME

1) If you had to choose CDs as a soundtrack for the Christmas season, what would they be?
I love John Rutter's Christmas Music
Wolcum Yule by Anonymous 4

2) How do you feel about singing all the verses of "The First Noel?" (Six in our hymnal, but apparently there are nine.)

Well, even though I think some hymns go on and on - I do know that not singing all of the verses is like not reading all of the verses of a poem. Not quite fair to the writer of the prayer, if you consider a hymn a prayer.

3) "O, Come All Ye Faithful" has a lot of verses, too. Which is your favorite?
Yea, Lord We Greet Thee, On this happy morning ( Cyberhymnal web site was down so couldn't get to the page.

4) What music do you play while opening presents?
I try to put some nice music on from our National Public Radio - not many give too much of a rip of the music in the background except me. I probably get in a snit worse about this than anything around Christmas time.

5) Which carols do you consider to be Christmas Eve essentials?
Angels We have Heard on High
O Come All Ye Faithful
In the Bleak Midwinter
So much Christmas music for so little time......

and a Bonus Question:6) What, if any, is your favorite secular Christmas song?
I'll Be Home for Christmas - I love the tune.. I love the words...

Brief tidbits of information

Brief tidbits of information:

Today, it was colder this morning here than in Minneapolis, MN and Bismarck, ND - we are 15 miles north of the Florida state line. We got to 25 degrees. As I type this at 11:45 pm, it is 32 here.... 34 in Minnepolis. Hmmmmmmm... makes you wonder sometimes!

The sock below almost has a fraternal twin. Almost is the key word, will have to take out a little bit to make a small repair and then the socks will be complete.

Because of the hecticness of work schedules in this household during the season, it was not meant for me to attend Evening Prayer this evening. Eight year old, wound up with her Energizer Battery, would not have understood the 15 minutes of quiet, silent meditation. I, however, believe would have greatly benefitted after today's hecticness that I prefer not to experience again. As Barbara Grafton sent out in her "almost daily emo" yesterday, I should read again:

"Cut down the number of things you do until you can genuinely love every last one them. Let love be your guide and your delight, and inhabit a world small enough for that to happen -- it will grow later, as needed, as love fills and softens you and makes you more elastic. God, the author of love, isn't interested in giving us nervous breakdowns at Christmastime or any other time. Love isn't supposed to wear us out. It comes among us to make us strong. "

Amen.

One Sock Doth Not Make a Finished Product

Here is phase one of the sock making. Basic sock with not so basic yarn. My first sock with the famous "Socks that Rock" yarn. Their color selection is too much fun to choose from and for the life of me I can't remember the colorway of this, but I THINK it is Seastone (though I thought it also might be Azure Malochite also, but I don't think so).
If for no other reason you go to look at the choices, go just for the names of the sock colors. Very creative and it makes me want to buy the socks just for the names.
Ruby Slippers comes to mind as does Blarney Stone and Scottish Highlands (last time I checked they were unavailable, but who knows a new shipment may have come in - do I want to know if they have those?? Yes and No.)
I REALLY like the feel of this yarn - Merino superwashed - fingering weight and feels just right.
Pattern is Basic Sock pattern using size 2 needles (2 circulars). The yarn just glides and using the Addi Turbo circular needles, this was by far the fastest knit of socks so far (well, I haven't made THAT many - but I am getting the hang of it)
So....socks that rock fans... are these Seastone or Azure Malochite?

Yes Virginia - War on Christmas

Please go visit this blog and read this column on the "War on Christmas"

What Reindeer am I?

You Are Prancer

You are the perfect reindeer, with perfect hooves and perfect flying form. Why You're Naughty: Because you're Santa's pet, and you won't let anyone show you up. Why You're Nice: You have the softest fur and the sweetest carrot breath.

Which of Santa's Reindeer Are You?

Ring the Bell

It's the dreariest of days - yesterday was a day of raining all day long. Today is the same type of day sans rain. I know you northerners that read this chuckle but it is the kind of cold here that gets down to the bone and is hard to warm up. There is no snow to justify it, no temps below freezing, but just plain old cold raw feeling.

This morning I poked around getting ready for church and discovered that all the hot water had been used up so I had to knock the timer back on. Made me late for church - got there right after the sermon but before Eucharist. Wore my Irish Walking Cape and wool hat - someone said I looked like a nun - I don't take that as an insult, though I cannot consider myself anywhere near the type that could take some of those vows. But black was the decor of my dress for the day.

Picked up some skeins of yarn that make nice scarves - takes me a couple of hours to crank those out and my daughter likes hers and that is as good as the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval!

Tonight our group sings for the last time of the season and it will be recorded - perhaps we might see a Christmas CD come out yet!

Tomorrow, DH's daughter and I will go ring the bell for Salvation Army. A little cute girl always sweetens the pot PLUS we get to do community service together. We dress all up and ring our bells!

RevGalPals Christmas Meme

• Have you ever gotten a really good kiss under the mistletoe? Tell the truth. Spare no details. Was the mistletoe real, because kisses under the fake stuff do. not. count.

  Gotten a peck of a kiss. We do have real mistletoe here - found WAY up in the trees. When it is hung it looks so disappointing compared to the picture that you see or the plastic round one that looks NOTHING like it.

• Do you know anyone who makes real eggnog, not the stuff from the carton? And if so, do you actually like it?

  Yes, I know someone that makes knock your socks off eggnog - wow... once you taste that you will never want to return to the stuff in the carton - sickenly sweet. BTW, they now have eggnog sweetened with Splenda.

• What's your favorite Christmas party album/CD ever?

  I don't know what my favorite Christmas party album/CD is, but I have LOTS of Christmas CDs that I enjoy. I enjoy Anonymous 4's Wolcum Yule and I also like Maddy Prior's Christmas CD. Last one is nice and earthy sounding. Does anyone else like Maddy Prior?

• Does your office/workplace have a party? Do the people there ever behave the way people in movies behave at office parties, which is to say, badly?

  Yes we have a party, but haven't been to one in the past couple of years. As teachers, are "behaving badly" is usually bordering on silliness and cutting up, but that is the extent of it. We teacher types stay pretty squeaky clean at these types of party. Nothing there to alter our behavior.

• If you have to bring something to a party, what is it likely to be? Do people like it?

  Hmmmm, I am not really a cook so it always varies and it is simple. this week I got some fresh salsa from Sam's and put some corn and black beans in it and brought chips for a dip. I got several emails wanting the recipe -- they knew it was from my HUSBAND (who is an excellent cook) - I laughed and said that was MY RECIPE!

If you read this, consider yourself tagged!

This and that

Today school let out for the holidays. The students will return on January 9 so they have 3 weeks without school - after a week of what seemed like much longer than the 5 days that comprise a week, it's a time that all teachers were looking forward to - finally a breather to regroup and refresh.

Last night's concert was different -- it's the first time we have sung in the balcony behind the audience for the majority of the performance. What a different it makes not seeing faces while singing! However, the acoustics were very good and we got good feedback from the audience.

Tomorrow Chin our oldest dog goes to get groomed. Well overdue, we cannot see her eyes. Chin is not the best customer in the dog world as she gets a bit testy when they get around her ears.
Here is a picture when she is somewhat groomed. I will try to get a picture of her prior to her grooming tomorrow. She will appreciate us more tomorrow afternoon.

Christmas shopping has been minimal so far and plan to keep it that way. Do you think that folks are getting away from some of the commercialization of Christmas because they are sick of it or do you think it is the economy ??? Seems like the few times I have been in the stores (and it's been very few times lately), the shelves don't look very empty, I don't see full parking lots, and I haven't seen HUGE lines of folks at the register. What do you think?

Posting on a blog

I have every intent in trying to post this week -- the last week before school is out is a bit harried and my mind and body are spent at the end of the day. So when I have tried to blog, my mind has gone blank.

Sad news... our school was broken into and vandalized... it turns a school upside down mentally, physically, and emotionally, especially during a week that elementary aged children are hyped up before the holidays. Police were at the school all morning and children could not get into their rooms for some time yesterday (thank goodness my little ones were given permission to go to our rooms - they never know quite what to do with my crew.) I don't understand why someone(s) would want to create the havoc and chaos that they did. Makes my heart so sad as our elementary school has become surrounded by a questionable neighborhood - can't stay too long after school unless others are there. Never would have thought our small town would have that as a part of their community, but it's here.

Pray for those of us that are still teaching that the next several days will go smoothly and no more crises(sp) will occur.
Gotta scoot, school starts soon.

I thought I had seen it all...

Norma, who scrounges around and finds priceless bits of information floating around on the superinformation highway came up with this jewel for knitters. Who'd thunk? Did they get a gauge first? What size needles? How come they did this? Well, I'll be....

Knitting for a bug.....


Check Norma's finding here

Snow Day Meme???

RevGal Friday Five: Snow Day
The traditional Friday Meme really leaves me out, but I will give it the good ol' college try.

1) Snow: love it or hate it? How would I know? I have never been in it and experienced it.

2) First snow memory - sometime in the 90s we had a dusting of snow that lasted about 2 hours - not enough to make anything.

3) Best Snow Day ever (actual or imagined) I would like to fly with The Snowman in the video "The Snowman" based on the book by Raymond Briggs (wordless book - wordless movie) - otherwise never had a snow day yet. If you have never seen this video, it is by far my favorite Christmas video for children - and the kids love it too.

4) Best use of snow in a movie, song, book or poem - Our vocal group sang a piece last year - Snow by Morning by Joshua Shank - great piece - young composer that does awesome work

5) What you are planning to do today, with or without snow - worked, assessing children for my classroom - then came home, knitted a little, took a nap, and baked a casserole for our meeting with Daughters of the King.

Wonder when I will ever see snow or make a snowball or snow man....

What? Closed for Business

Surely not, but 'tis true....
This year Christmas falls on a Sunday and guess what? Yup, there are churches that will be closed on that day. Read on.....
and here it is on Fox News...

Thankfully, our little church with the red doors WILL be.... it's Sunday and a Feast day.

Two Nightzzzzzzzzzz in a Row

For two nights in a row, I have fallen asleep knitting. Ever happen to you??

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz night.....

Noro Hat - Complete!

Noro hat from Saartjeknits has been completed. She has a free pattern available and so I thought I would give it a try. I used the same yarn she did - Noro Kureyon No. 92 on size 8 needles. I used almost 2 skeins. Her instructions state you need a little more than one skein, but it is definitely 2 skeins. I used size 8 needles and it is just a little bit too big for the average head, so think I might give it a spin in the washing machine, with a little fear and trepidation when it comes to shrinkage. Next time I will reduce the number of stitches.
Interestingly when I took several pictures, I chose this one that is more two dimensional as the other pictures looked more like a breast. I guess if you look at this image sideways, you'll get the idea. Gotta keep the blog clean!
I love the colors in the Noro Kureyon. Always keeps the knitting interesting!
We should have some cooler weather - today the high was 55, far lower than the 81 we had on Sunday. Tomorrow is an all day rain so the meteorologist says!

Is it December??

(left: picture of State Capitol of Tallahassee)
High today so far has been 81 degrees. I saw a man working outside without a shirt. Saw folks in tank tops, shorts, and sandals. I had the AC on in the car today. Feels like I might have to turn it on in the house also.
Today, Sharon and I, along with a few others, thought it would be a good idea to make it a hat day at church - well, the hat was wool and was I ever hot! I felt like saying like the Wicked Witch said on The Wizard of Oz - I'm mellllltttttiiiinnnngggg....


We sang at the state capitol today - a joyful place to sing with its marble floors and tall ceilings - the voices just swirled around and lingered for a while for all to hear. If I were to look straight up I would see the stained glass dome above me while singing. Not to worry, I did not do that. I know better. Not only was I on stairs that were old and were created for feet that were smaller than they are today, but I KNOW better than to not look at the director while on stage! (However, I did snap this picture prior to concert - the picture above was pulled off the Internet, since there were many protestors out in front as well as lots of traffic.)

This evening I hope to get some knitting done. The weekends are flying by now and the weeks are also prior to Christmas break.
Post note on this posting: Finally had to turn the AC on in the house around 8:30 - needed some cooler air.