Monday, September 28, 2009

I Will Survive!

Well, believe it or not, I have finished the October sock design for Sockamania! However, I had planned to give the socks away for a Christmas gift to a relative but they are so........hmmm what is the word? WONDERFUL, LOVELY, AWESOME, AMAZING, ETC. that I want to keep them. Not being conceited, but I designed a GREAT pair of socks. HB was even surprised when, as a result of not getting the proper attention for them from him, I told him I designed the pattern for them. He's like, "Wow! I thought you had knit them from a book or something." (Then realizing what he just said he quickly recovered by saying, "Well I'm not surprised. Everything you make is amazing. I just can't believe how talented you are.") They really are exciting. I just hope they aren't too difficult. They really make up quickly once you complete the first pattern repeat and have the basic idea of how the pattern flows. The toe is a little tricky, but I think it will be ok. I LOVE THEM! I will post pictures here after the pattern is revealed October 1st for the KAL.

No hearing coming up in a week! Yeah! I think........I guess......I hope it's a good thing anyway. HB, completely fed up with six years of pain and suffering--more from the insurance company and lawyers than from the injury--decided to settle; "take the money and run" so to speak. He just wants to be able to get care when he needs care and help when he needs help without having to wait 3-6- or 12 months for the insurance company to ok it--because they are looking for a way to call it "not reasonable or necessary". He decided that since all of his surgeons and doctor's have said that there isn't anything else that can be done for him, except the placement of a spinal stimulator, that he wanted to move on. There are some "alternative medicine" treatments out there that he would like to try, but the insurance companies won't pay for them. He sees this as his opportunity to try them out. It's kind of scary! I sure hope we don't regret it at some point.

We are still stuck in this awful place. I keep hoping that we will leave soon, but nothing yet. We found out the other day that the motel owner is selling the place. He won't come right out and tell us, because he doesn't want us to leave until it's sold, but some people came by to look at it and then the next day a consulting firm of some sorts called and said that their client was interested in purchasing the motel. So who knows how much longer we will be here. Seeing that our house is part of the motel, if the motel sells we loose our house and jobs. That can be taken as good and bad, if you know what I mean. Good, because then we can move away. Bad because then we don't have anywhere to live and HB doesn't have a job anymore.

It should be interesting to see how things go for the next several months for us. Don't you think?

Monday, September 21, 2009

Misc.

I am having so much fun with my new venture! However, I keep changing my mind about this pattern I am trying to have FINISHED in 9 days. It started out WAY too complicated--not for me because I am just knitting the thing, as I go along, out of my head. I went to put it on paper over the weekend and realized that it was so complicated that I didn't know if I COULD put it on paper. So, last night I started over. Now I have to have at least one sock completed and the pattern for this new sock done and ready to post in 9 days. I am sure I can do it. I figure it takes my about 8 to 10 hours to knit a sock and about 4 to 6 hours to write up the pattern. I have roughly 200 hours to get it done. Oh wait! I have to sleep so......136 hours. Oh ya! I also cook for the Fam. so now I am at about 126. Let's see, work, getting ready for work/bed, cleaning, laundry, church, work--itself......HOLY COW! I think I am down to only about 60 hours. I still have time though..........Right? I better get busy.

I found a great deal on some sock yarn today (while I was pretending that I didn't have anything else better to do but shop for yarn online). I ordered it and can't wait to get it dyed! I will dye all the yarn for my 12 months of patterns first and then do some "seasonal" stuff afterward. I have 14,400 yards coming (LOL! yes for real!) so I should have plenty to play with for awhile. If my new yarn, pattern designing, and regular job don't keep me busy nothing will!

HB's worker's comp. hearing is coming up in two weeks. I am already feeling sick to my stomach. It's like life or death for him, so the whole concept is a little stressful. I just keep worrying that we are going to somehow loose--and then what will we do!? I know one things is for sure, that worthless attorney of his BETTER NOT LET THE OPPOSING COUNSEL WIN!!! or else............or else what, I don't know. I don't ever let myself think any further than "or else" because, well because we better not loose!!! That's all there is too it!

The daughter is all officially 16 years old now. (Nothing like kids growing up to make one feel old. Every time I try being in denial about my age one of the kids remind me of how old THEY are, which means I have to be MY age.) Anyway, she still doesn't get her drivers license though, because we think she needs more practise driving! Besides that, she isn't going to get to drive when the snow starts falling, so she can wait until LATE spring next year. Good thing she agrees with us so there isn't any arguments. She had a really good birthday and got lots of money to waste on breakfast at McDonald's before school and clothes that she will never wear. We put on a really big birthday party for her and her friends out at a lake here, complete with fireworks (of course!). It was fun.

Last night was our first night of "below freezing". The trees had given up on it getting cold, so they have already turned yellow. Last night gave them the reason though. It is mid afternoon and only 50 degrees F in the sun. Yesterday at this time it was 78 degrees. I think Fall is here! I LOVE AUTUMN! It is my most favorite season, and not just because Halloween is my favorite holiday either. I love the smell and the colors and the feel of the air and the color of the sky and the fact that I can start wearing socks and sweaters! and everything else there is about the season.

Well, I probably better quit procrastinating and get busy on this sock pattern. The hours are ticking away!

Monday, September 14, 2009

News Flash

I guess I should post my news on here also. A few weeks ago Anni, of Sockamania, said that she was going to close the KAL down. Not wanting a good thing to end I emailed her and asked how she would feel if I took over designing the sock patterns for the club.

We emailed back and forth a couple of times working out the details, but (drum roll here) I will be doing the sock designs for Sockamania! I am really excited!!! So excited that I couldn't go to sleep the other night so I designed all the patterns that I want to do, in my head, for the next 12 months.

I am about half way done with October's pattern--hard copy and socks not just the day dream one--and have dyed up the yarn for it including an alternative, more masculine color that can be used also. Did I mention I am excited!?

If you read my blog and would like to join, come on over to Sockamania's blog and follow the sign up instructions. The more the merrier! It's going to be a lot of fun!

Here is the yarn I dyed as a sneek peek into what the October pattern will be about:

Autumn Maple Leaf:

Autumn Evergreen:


As soon as Sockamania club members have all received their free pattern the October pattern will go on sale in my etsy store November 1, 2009. The yarn is for sale now.

Happy Knitting!