Before I got started on the last minute birthday sock, I had finished the first of Paisley’s sock.

It’s a bit of a franken-sock. After I got the leg done, I decided I wanted a contrasting heel, and I like the way it looked when you continued the stripes. When I switched back to the black, I knew I wanted to do the stripes on the toe. But if I did just the toe, you’d only get a stripe or two. I wanted MORE stripes! So…. as you can see, I started those stripes a lot sooner. And I love how it looks.

The second one is going to be the same, though I’m not worried about matching the stripes. I’m just going to pick up where I left off. After I finish the other birthday socks, of course (I’m close!)

Work has really picked up lately, so there hasn’t been much time to sew on the week days. So I took Saturday to finish up the rest of the flower blocks and assemble the top.

Those flowers go so quick, and there was only eight of them left. It didn’t take much time to sew them all together. And now this cute little top is ready for quilting.

I’m waiting on an order of plain black for the binding though. You wouldn’t think it, but plain black cotton is increasingly difficult to get these days. Lens has been sold out for weeks (and they had already put a limit on how many yards you can buy at a time), and a lot of other Canadian suppliers had low/no stock. Mom and I ended up going halvies on a full bolt of it from Dinky Doo. It’s not like we won’t use it eventually!

Dave hit me with last minute plans to attend a birthday part this coming weekend. While we don’t have to bring a gift, I don’t like to come empty-handed. Money is tight right now, so that means making something…

But time is limited too. Can I knit a pair of socks in seven days? It was time to find out.

I whipped together a chart of easy lace that I figure I can whip through (I find 10-row repeats really knit fast), and dug out some Alley Cat that Rowan dyed up ages ago (that kid has a great eye for colour!)

Under the watchful eye of Snoopervisor Burton, I worked late into the night on Sunday.

Apparently, I worked too late into the night, though.

Still it was worth it, as you can see…

I’m into the gusset on the first one

Work is crazy busy, so I can only knit in the evenings. But I think I can do it. Of course, it does mean ignoring the barnyard sweater for a week… (such a hardship).

Wish me luck!

I’m a few weeks into the Blockhead 3 quilt-a-long with my new fabrics.

This time around, I have a lot fewer fabrics/colours/prints, and it changes the feel of it a bit. And of course, those kitty-theme prints are certainly adorable.

Though Burton’s still cuter!

Growing up, there was a cartoon on TV called “The Green Forest”. In it, there was a character called Sammy Jay, who was a bit of a villain. Mostly he was a bully and a tattletale. I’m convinced this is why, when Dave hears the blue jays outside, he tenses up.

I however, love them!

We’ve got four of them hanging around, and they are regular patrons at Squirrelington’s.

Especially in the morning. I love this picture because you can see the black squirrel in the background with a peanut in her mouth. The squirrels and jays alternate, each taking peanuts until the pile is all gone.

And then they send one of the squirrels up to stare in at me until I fill the table again.

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Then they feast again!

I’m going through about 2 lbs of peanuts a week! But it’s worth it!

I am happy to say the weather has been much more enjoyable this past week. (As has my week in general)

We had perfect weather for the family wedding. It was Dave’s uncle who was getting married. It was also his 70th birthday. It was a nice reminder that a love story can happen at any age!

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We took the Bonneville so the happy couple could do some photos with it. It also meant I got to have a nice country drive in it. The bride also loved the quilt, so that was a nice bonus.

Around the house, I’ve officially welcomed fall by hanging my favourite fall wreath.

Some strange things are happening in the garden.

The Shasta Daisies started blooming again. Normally I don’t get blooms past late June, so I’m not sure what it’s thinking.

This Celosia popped up suddenly in the pot with the Red Hot Pokers. Last year I had a bunch of annuals in that pot, including some Celosia. Some how this one survived last winter, but only decided to make an appearance now. Weird.

And this flower popped up with sunflowers… anyone have any idea what it is? Because I have no idea!

More weirdness in the cat world…. Last week I showed you Burton snuggling with Relic. But now we have this…

This large foot stool sits in front of the couch where I sit. It usually holds my laptop, and bit and pieces of whatever knitting project I’m working on at the time, but it’s also a favourite hang out of the cats (it has a good view of Squirrelington’s).

This time Burton was hanging out on it and Rupert decided to get in on the action. But instead of sitting beside him, Rupert sat ON him!

What the…? And Burton just sat there!!!

Cats are weird.

As a side note: Rupert is tiny (under 7lbs). Burton is an average-sized cat. These pictures though, they make him look like a WHALE! I promise you, while he could stand to lose a pound or so, he’s not nearly as fat as these pictures make him look!

I was hoping to be further along on the first sleeve. It’s big and heavy (and itchy, and smelly), so I can only knit on it a little bit at a time. But still, progress is progress and I’ll take what I can get. Plus, I’m decreasing every few rows, so each row goes quicker and quicker. With any luck, I could have the first sleeve finished by the end of next week.

I have a very pretty snooperviser to keep me on task!

Cats, charity and Christmas!

The quilt raffle we did for Bee Meadow Farm was so successful, I decided to make another quilt to donate.

This one will be sometime in November, so I thought a Christmas theme would be fun. But of course, it just had to have cats. And I just happen to have ordered some of the “Fireside Kittens” collection this summer.

I paired with with a Christmas themed charm pack I had…

And got everything cut and ready to whip out some adorable star blocks.

I still have to hunt up some fabric for borders, backing and binding, but I’m already loving how this one it looking!

With the Lava socks done and dusted, it was time to get another pair of socks on the needles. Paisley is the next birthday on my list, and even though it’s not until December, you know me… I like to stay ahead of the curve.

I’d long planned to make her some colourwork socks. I bought the yarn back in April. I’m not actually using the Love Still Wins pattern, I’ve just stolen the hearts from the chart. I’m working my sock top down…

So far it’s going swimmingly.

Felici has nice fat stripes. As you can see I’m through three of the colours and have three more to go. This one won’t go as fast as the lava socks, but it’s definitely fun!