Sockapaloooza Finish!

Here they are, basking in the sun. And here's a closer look.

They are knit on US 2 double points from Knit Picks Essentials Sock Yarn in Pumpkin. I actually think they are more a spice color, like cinnamon or nutmeg maybe. The color in the photos is fairly accurate, just a bit less orange and a bit more brown in real life. I used the same pattern as the test knit, Embossed Leaves. The only change I made was to shorten the foot by one half pattern repeat, and then I reversed the shaping on the toes to match where I ended in the pattern repeat. Otherwise, they are just the same as the first pair.

I have also finished the New England socks, but don't have a picture and the socks are at home.

Easter in Washington was great! Here are my cute grandchildren on Easter Sunday.

Bye for now!

Sockapaloooza Start!

I cast on for the Sockapaloooza Socks this week end and see how far I've gotten! I'm using Knit Picks Essential sock yarn in Pumpkin. It actually looks more spice colored to me, like cinnamon or nutmeg. I hope my sock pal will approve of the color. And, I have finished the New England socks as well. They have had a Euclan bath and are drying. I hope they'll be ready for a picture tomorrow.

Work is overwhelming this week, with not one, but two big deadlines on Friday. Serious stuff, you know, the kind of thing if you mess up you are really in deep doo doo. Can't wait for Saturday!!

On Saturday I'm heading for my daughter's home in Maryland for Easter. I'm looking forward to it, but hope it won't be too much for her. She and her family and in-laws are spending the week at Kiawah Island and won't be coming home until Saturday morning. If it were me, having guests for Easter is not what I would plan at the end of a vacation trip. But she was quite insistant that I come. I guess I'll play with the children and help out with laundry if I can. She and I both like to cook together too. We're going to have leg of lamb, yummy. And I hope the weather co-operates and we have good weather. The Washington area is so beautiful in Springtime.

Back to the Sockapaloooza Sock knitting.

A Death in the Family

Stephen Thomas Chema
born October 27, 1915 - died April 3, 2006

My father-in-law passed away yesterday evening, in his sleep. He was 90 years old but he clung to life. His wife died three years ago and I think he missed her very much. He spent the last six months of his life first in the hospital (2 months) and then in a nursing home. He had congestive heart failure and a pacemaker, and his kidneys failed. But he didn't want to die, and chose to have kidney dialysis three times a weeks. The nursing home was a good one, as nursing homes go and he was well cared for by caring people. But he hated it. He was pretty much confined to bed and wheelchair and was not interested in any social interaction with his room mate, staff or other patients. He lost interest in all the things he used to do at home: television sports, word find puzzles, reading, and good food. He mostly sat and dozed. His quality of life wasn't very good. And yet, he was afraid to die. He was raised a Catholic and believed in the afterlife of the soul. Yesterday afternoon I went to visit him. I took him some of his favorite candies, those marshmallow chickens with yellow sugar, "Peeps". He ate a couple while we chatted, and then fell asleep in his wheelchair. After I left, he had dinner and the staff helped him to bed. His nurse found him around 8:00 pm when she went to in check on him after change-of-shift report.
He had left this earth peacefully in his sleep. I'm sad because I loved him, but I'm glad he is finally at peace.