Doctors and Socks

So last week was full of trips to dentists and doctors for check ups. I like doing them all at once so that I don't have to remember or think about any of it for at least 6 months. Plus I sort of get into an appointment making mood. I start calling about Dan's sports physical and I remember he needs a teeth cleaning and then I might as well do all the kids at once and while I'm at it, everyone needs haircuts . . . it just snowballs from there until my phone is beeping at me constantly, every day, for two weeks, getting me from one appointment to the next.

The point is that even though I don't have a lot to show for it, I got a lot done.

I did get these finished . . .

I actually started these way back in January. I chose this chunky yarn because it is thick and cotton and because it knits up fast so I get some immediate gratification. I was also trying to memorize the pattern. The socks are toasty and slouchy and perfect to wear around the house on a chilly morning.

These were knitted in Patagonia Nature Cotton by Araucania on size 6 circular needles, using the 'Chunky Cozy Cotton Sock' pattern from Knitting Circles Around Socks.

. . . and I started a new pair.

For these red and white socks, the yarn and needles are tiny so this pair is going to take me a while. A super accomplished knitter told me once that it takes her about 8 uninterrupted hours to knit one pair of socks. I guess I have something to shoot for.

Slideshow and Book Club and What I Learned

I finished that . . .

This was my favorite picture in the slideshow. I found this photographer's photos really fascinating.

Photographer: Alix Malka

So last week I finished putting together the sideshow for Kirtsy.com which was so much fun. I found so many great pictures it was hard to whittle them down to the 15-20 that they wanted. The best part was that I learned more about how to manipulate pictures and text from the internet.

. . . and I started this.

Last week I started a neighborhood book club. I noticed that there are quite a few people home during the day and I have been wanting an excuse to get to know our neighbors better. I actually planned to start it when school started at the beginning of August but I have been a big scaredy cat. I made myself print them up last week. I'm cheap and I hate to waste ink so I knew I was committing myself to that date. Once they were printed I would be forced to hand them out in a timely manner.

Because we've only met a few of our neighbors briefly, I was so nervous about how I would be recieved but off I went. I received lots of different reactions.

Surprise "Oh! What a good idea!"

Suspicion, "I'm not going to buy anything."

Rejection, *hands me back the invitation* "I have chemical allergies, I can't be with groups of people." (I wonder if I could set her up on Skype?)

Mostly graciousness, "I love this!" "I'll be there." "What can I bring?" "Count me in."

True story: One of my neighbors has a long white beard and is named Santa Claus. He showed me his drivers licence. :)

I headed out the door so nervous but it ended up being a lovely evening visiting with my whole street.