Thanks to Monika of Smoking Hot Needles, I found A-nother thing I just ‘HAD To Have.’   Well, I better clarify.  I went to THIS website and saw all these wonderful, amazing socks.  You can order them as kits or as single patterns.  All I can say is “Oh.  My.”   While I was at Yarnissima, I went and found a conversion chart and figured out just how much one of these amazing kits would cost me.  All I could say then was “Oh.  My.”   and then I closed the browser without making a purchase.  I must have signed up to receive updates because I receive an update a few weeks later from Yarnissima stating that they had updated inventory and kits were in stock.  Silly me went to the website and Currency Rate be Damned, I pushed the ‘buy me now’ button for La Digitessa.  Who the hell cares if I have to eat peanut butter and jelly in the dark, I will have a beautiful sock kit to knit during daylight hours, LOL.  Well, it seriously won’t affect my budget to that degree (but the gas prices may), but it was enough to make me think twice.  So, enough about my waffling over the purchase decision.  My Yarnissima package was in my mailbox Saturday.  Oh, what a yummy package it was too.
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Organanza ribbon, tissue paper, cute little business cards, a little wooden lady bug, feathers….oh and Chocolate.  Did you know that Toblerone comes in White Chocolate???   There were some chocolate chocolate things too.  But, best of all was the Wollmeise yarn.  Give me an Oh. My. and an Amen!
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Now for the pattern.  15 pages of pattern.  What the hell was I thinking???   Wellll some of the pages Are charts….   Speaking of charts, a small laminated card was included that is for the main chart so you can carry it around with you in your portable sock bag.  Somehow, I just don’t know how portable this puppy will be.  This is a toe up socks with lots of patterns, a very interesting gusset and traveling stitches.  Not sure what those traveling stitches are, but I will find out.  Someday. 
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On to Ravelry.  I love Ravelry for different reasons.  Some of the biggest reasons are:  You can input a name of yarn and see all the projects people have made or are working on in that yarn.  Another reason is you can input the name of a pattern and see what yarns are all being made into that pattern.  Too cool.  It’s like wanting to get your hair dyed or paint your walls and you can push a button and see what the different colors would look like before you have to commit.  Amen again. The correlation to Ravelry and Yarnissima is there is a Yarnissima group for this vendor and I am not the only one that is a member or that succumbed and pushed the ‘buy me now’ button.  From reading the posts in this group, I learned that the pattern I purchased is likely the most challenging.  Figures.  I think I may go back and download the Firestarter as that is where I believe I should start.  Hey, best part is….Firestarter is FREE. 
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Big news:  I have been working diligently on my Yarn/Fiber room.  It is almost bursting at the seams and I need to think about transferring my fiber over to my office/bead room.  Not quite yet though, but it is a though.  I have about two piles of ‘stuff’ left to figure out what to do with and I will be able to say “This Room Is Clean.”  My friend that cleans my house saw it last Thursday and said “oh, you have a path in there now.”   Now, it was much more than a path, it was a safety zone.  I don’t have to play twister to walk across the room.  I spent about 4 or 5 hours in there this past Sunday and put together this cubicle type thing I purchased at Target on sale.  On

What am I working on?
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I am working on enjoying the feeling of a finished PAIR of socks.  I am modeling for the picture, but these socks are actually a gift.  I will be sad to see them go as they are very pretty and fit very well.  
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   Regia Silk, fingering weight
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Can’t have empty needles, not that I would have that problem ever in this lifetime…but I had a couple of empty sets, soooo…..Haus of Yarn just received a huge shipment of Noro sock yarn.  Carolyn and I were talking about what we could make out of it besides socks.  Is there something more to life than socks? Yepper!  So, I am working on  a mitered shawl.  There are three parts:  one big square and then pick up stitches on one side of the square and knit a triangle (repeat that again on the other side) and you have a finished triangle shawl.  I am on the big square that will be in the center and had to cast on a BUNCH of stitches so it seems like forever to finish one row.  I decrease two stitches every other row, so the stitch count is going down, sloooowly, but surely.  I love the colors and have not gotten to the end of the first repeat.  Yet.  It is like Christmas….I can’t wait to see the next color and want to keep knitting.
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Free Pattern Time!  Scarf this time instead of socks.  Wow, all this Non Sock content.    Dyeabolical Yarns has this really great scarf called Alexio’s Scarf and you can see it on her blog and it looks like Coral Snakes!!!…Very Cool!  This is a Must Knit for sure.  I would have pushed the “Buy Me Now” button if it had not been free.
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  Purple Fix.  Need a Purple fix?  Well, I can help you with that.  My Mom visited last night and mentioned she thought the lavender blooms look like beaded flowers.  I agree….very pretty!
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   Purple and Green, a few of my Favorite Things!

Please DO click the photos to make them larger, the flowers are worth the click!

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Spring….my yard says “I will wear Purple!”  
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I so enjoy Spring (minus the pollen) and how my yard and living things continue to surprise me each year.  This year, my Lilac bush is stunning.  Every year it is beautiful, but this year, especially so.  Maybe it is because it is now, I might have said the same thing last year.
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I wish I knew how to take better pictures, that butterfly was stunning.
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Seems there is a purple theme going on.  In the backyard, the Japanese Iris are fraternizing with the Spanish Lavender with great results.
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I added Classic Lavender to my flower bed this week and it also rests near some Japanese Iris.  In case you did not know, Japanese Iris bloom both in the Spring and Fall and have shorter stalks and very deep intense colors.  The Fall bloom is always an extra bonus.  Florence, a friend and former sock student, gifted me with this Lavender as a get well gift from my recent surgery.  The leaves on the Classic Lavender are very much different than the Spanish Lavender and the blooms are even a different shade.
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While the Coral Bells are not quite purple, they received a new resting place this week too and I think they are very happy.  For the last several years, the Coral Bells were in two large terra cotta pots.  The drought last year really took their toll on them and I thought htey were goners.  As you can see, they are more resilient than I thought.
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I managed to live through my first full week back at work.  A little stress snuck up on me as I ended up managing a test environment due to the usual manager having a death in the family.  Testing is something that I have done on a regular basis, but my former department was disbanded and I now am on a new team.  I will likely find out what my new role is in the next week or so.  They have been so kind and have been giving me time to recover and to finish up things from my old position.
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I am off to knit at the LYS.  Have a great weekend!

I got the coolest bowl this weekend.  A church was hosting a charity thing and they had ceramic painting for these bowls at a pottery place.   You go to this place and pay $5 to paint the bowl.  Then this church hosted a soup night and you paid $20 and got to pick one of the bowls and got soup.  Two of my friends went two days after my surgery to paint a bowl.  In honor of me, one of the ladies painted a green and purple bowl in memory of me (they have been my favorite color combination for years).  She painted it lime green and then stamped different kinds of faces all over the outside of it in purple and splattered purple inside.  She called me the night of the soup event and asked if I wanted to buy the bowl.  The rest is history…. I love this bowl.  I had the bowl sitting where I was knitting.   It is a small, deep bowl.  I put my ball of sock yarn in it and was knitting with it–iIt is the perfect yarn bowl.     I thought it was nice of them to think of me and paint a bowl…and I love the bowl.
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     (much less fattening too)
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Now, I am thinking about a bigger deep bowl to put fiber in while I am spinning,.
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Each time I visit the lady that I got Sprite, my black and white Pap, from, I admire this picture she has.  It is a print from Arthur Beckham from 1907 and is of the Teaparty with Alice in Wonderland.  Well, she recently let me purchase it from her.  I also have a ceramic topiary and the green part of the topiary is of the Cheshire Cat.  Now, I need to figure out what to hang the picture….

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In other words…I knit/washed/blocked a swatch AND I cleaned.    Oh, I forgot….I cleaned my stove off and cooked too.  I know I am sick…..
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Rambling first pictures and links to free, great sock patterns toward the end.
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Recovering from surgery meant time off.  Time off is a very Good Thing.  In addition to having time to sleep, not wake up to an alarm clock, do the things you want to do, time also allows you to get some things done you might not normally do – like clean up your fiber room, clean out a corner of the room, clean off the top of a cabinet – you know….stuff you don’t Want to do, but would like to Have done. 
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While I can safely say that I did NOT take a picture of my fiber room, Before or After.  I just couldn’t bring myself to document the total chaos that my room Was in.  For those of you that are thinking that you may need to feel my forehead or want to know where the real Leah really is, I offer that the Fiber Room is 75% straightened up-not 100%.  I guess I need to leave some still to do.  Not sure why, I get to a saturation point and have to save some for later.  There were three motivating factors: 
1.  I had to play Twister and do unplanned pirouettes to get across the room

2.  I couldn’t find a pattern that I knew I wanted to make

3.  I am missing one of my sock blockers
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I can now safely walk across the floor without playing Twister or creating a new crazy looking dance move.   I found my pattern, which, by the way, was NOT in The Room.  Alas, I still have not found my Blocker.  Hmmm, where is That thing???
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Another really cool thing that I did in some of my Free Time is I met Susan of Susan’s Spinning Bunny.  You may remember the Hibiscus 50% merino/50% tencel that I recently spun….well, that beauty was dyed by Susan and SmokeyBlue, her spinning bunny.   In talking with Susan, I learned a little about her and am truly inspired by her, not only for fiber reasons, but because of the kind things she does for animals.  SmokeyBlue was a very interesting character and you can learn more about him and how she cared for and loved him a little over two years after he broke his spine.  In addition to SmokeyBlue, Basel is a much loved family member who had two broken legs when she met him.  She nursed him back to health and, in her words, he now levitates in the back seat when they take a ride.  Such selflessness, love and dedication are an inspiration to me.   It also lets me know I am not the only one out there that does what they can to help one in need.  There are so many ways you can help, even if you cannot adopt.  Donating time, supplies, money, or driving on a transport are a few ways to help a little friend in need.
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Enough with the mushy stuff….in addition to Susan’s awesome empathy for animals, she has an amazing eye for color.  I contacted her last week to purchase some of the A-m-a-z-i-n-g new color Butterfly Bush in the merino/tencel blend.  At that time, I read her blog and realized she was making the Antique Lace vest by Ilga Leja that I just purchased and was contemplating what yarn to use.  Susan is making hers from her Hibiscus merino/tencel yarn which is fingering weight.  The pattern calls for a DK weight yarn.  Hmm, I figured why not, it gives me a chance to work with some of her yarn…so I ordered it in the Blueberry color.  The yarn came last week and it really is nice.  In talking with Susan via email, she said she swatched AND washed/blocked her swatch before beginning the project.  I read the pattern and the designer stressed how important it is to knit a swatch and wash and block it.  Harumphfffff!   Mee?  Swatch???   I replied that I usually swatch by knitting the sleeve.  Susan rather smartly replied that I am ahead of the game (remember, it’s a vest, LOL).  So, now, those that know me can come feel my forehead.  I swatched.  Yep, me.  Hmm, I lived to take pictures.
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Pattern and yarn

 Swatch
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The amazing thing is that I got gauge.  That is, thanks to Susan, since I knew she dropped a needle size and I did the same thing….she saved me from knitting TWO swatches.  Something tells me that there is no way in H-E-double-hockey-sticks that I would’ve knitted two swatches, so it is a Good Thing I got gauge the first go round.  It is very pretty too. 
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Question is, do you think the pattern shows up with the varietgated yarn?  I need some input here.  I also went to Ravelry and looked to see what some other people used for yarn and they are all beautiful.
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Now that  I have that outta the way, I need to go find some stitch markers.  I better find em the first go round because I don’t want to clean that Room anymore tonight!
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(Warning:  Links to seriously beautiful sock patterns coming up.  Nice thing is…they are all free, shared by some amazing designers!)  Before I get to knitting on that vest, I have a pair of socks…almost.  I am halfway down the foot on the Second sock.  Regia Silk….Primavera Sock pattern.  I love it!
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I have been wanting to make some Monkey Socks for some time now and I also have Nutkin on the list “to do.”  So much to knit, so little time. 
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Brr, it is cold out here.  75 degrees one day and 35 or 40 the next.  Go figure!  We are even supposed to get Frost tonight.  Ugh and poor flowers!
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I am going to stare at my yarn room and enjoy all the colors.  G’day!

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 Click to make it bigger

Weeping Cherry Tree.  This is the most beautiful tree in the neighborhood when it blooms and it never fails to charm each Spring with it’s graceful bending branches loaded with blooms.
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The Lilac bush is lilacking… 
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 The Forsythia is sything….
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The Tulips are twolipping…  
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The Iris and Lavender is fraternizing….
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And some kinda little purple flowers were peeking….
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Spring is such a joy that Nature shares with us!

Well, I can safely say that recovery is not a cheap form of entertainment.  Recovery gives you lots of time to ponder, investigate and and SHOP!  Hmm, I must admit to a little presurgery jitters and I spent a little time (and $$) online.  I keep saying it is cheaper than Crack, but I am not sure about that (big smile).
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So, a few pretty things to show you…
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 Left to right - Union Center Whatnot Sock yarn Bahama Dreams and Arizona, Posh - Dragonfly
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 Madelinetosh-Spring 101 (top), Blue Ridge Yarns Kaleidescope-Evening Jewels (bottom)
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 Shot of the sock I am making from the free Primavera sock pattern I shared a post or two ago (update the sock is finished).  Made from Regia Silk #190   yummm
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I finished a lace sock using lemmony butter yellow Shibui too, but it as the store showing off.  I am on the second Regia silk and almost to the heel.  Yipee!
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While I was off recovering, Murfreesboro Jan and I visited my friend Jan in Clarksville.  We had a dye day and played a little.  I dyed a little and they dyed a lot.  I got tired so sat and watched (and helped by saying “add a little more green there…”   Jan fixed this awesome salad that had an oriental pear in it and a ginger teriyaki dressing.  She fixed cappachino and I actually liked it.  My TV died while I was off and replacing it was a major event replacing the darned thing.  I had a projection TV so it was necessary to learn about a bunch of letters like HD, LCD, Plasma, HDMI, blah blah.  It took from Monday to Thursday to get everything situated.   I missed American Idol, LOL.
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So, today was the semi-end of recovery….I went back to work half-days this week. 
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I think one of the things I enjoyed the most about the recovery was sleeping without waking to the alarm clock.  I so enjoyed spending time with the dogs and I got a LOT of sock knitting done.  Many of my friends called or visited to check on me and I received  a fruit basket and another fruit basket with CHOCOLATE in it (yes!).  I was surprised to find out that everyone was interested in my recovery, but I shouldn’t have been with such good friends.  Mufreesboro Jan gave me a big mug that says “Everything tastes better with Dog Hair in it.”  Too fun!
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I am trying to organize my yarn/fiber room.  Again.  Sigh.  It is never ending.  IF I get it in shape, I will take a picture.  Yeah right.   The big IF….