Something about the Heat

My two cats have never been particularly friendly with each other. They've been together since they were kittens, according to the family I adopted them from, but they've never really been "buddies." Even when the weather is cold, & normal cats like to curl up together to stay warmer, my cats don't want to be anywhere near each other.

So imagine my surprise when I looked out on the back porch & saw them laying side by side. Something about the first heat wave of the summer seems to have them, if not friendly, at least tolerating each other.

What's On My Needles this Wednesday

Since finishing Icarus, most of what I've been working on is socks. I got back to working on several pairs that were interrupted by the shawl knitting, as well as working a bit more on my Amtrak Socks.


The Amtrak socks, & the Regia Kaffe Fassett socks are my current "carry-around" knitting; the ones that go everywhere & get worked on while waiting in line & such.



The grey/black socks are Classic Elite Alpaca Sox, which finally have the gussets complete & will be my next set of "carry-around" socks. The black-with-colored-streaks socks are Mountain Colors Bearfoote, which are still at the gusset stage & require strong light for me to be sure the decreases are lining up with each other.


The blue-green socks & the second Lime & Violet "Spiceland" sock are both finally at the toe-decrease stage. The Lime & Violet sock had been in "time out" waiting for me to rip back 4 rows, because I overshot how long the foot should be to match the first sock. (There's a reason why I do all my socks 2-at-a-time now.)




Finally, but not on my needles, I thought this picture of Joxer was just too funny not to share.

Sundays Are For Sock Finishing

My Tofutsies & my two single socks from my Saturday post all ended up getting completely finished on Sunday. Pictures to come later, when I've had a chance to take some.

Instead of sock pictures, I have kitty pictures instead, & a plea in case anyone local can help. A friend of mine is being transferred overseas & is looking for someone to take her two cats, either as a long term cat sitting, or permanently. She'd prefer to have the cats back when they get transferred back to the USA, but wouldn't insist on that as long as she can find the cats a good home.





The first cat is named Holly & the second is Ashi. They are both girls, & both about 7 years old. (I think) They've been declawed, so they are strictly indoor cats.





I'd take her cats in myself if it weren't for my husband, who insists that we can't take in any more cats. If anyone in the St. Louis area knows someone who would take in a couple of cats in need of a good home, please let me know. My email is talesofyarn AT yahoo DOT com.

Houston, We Have a Heel!

Using the Sensational Knitted Socks book, I have successfully turned my very first heel.



Basic 2-by-2 Garter Stitch Rib, top-down, on size 1 Inox DPNs. Yarn from Chris' Needle Craft Supply, Needles from The Loopy Ewe. I had to go ahead & try them on, since I wanted to be sure they would actually fit, which it's looking like they will.



It's amazing how much knitting can get done when staying home with a sick child. He'll be back at school tomorrow, though, so it's back to paid work for me...



My cats have also been rather spoiled by having people around during the daytime for two extra days this week. They like to sit on my lap & "help" me knit...











I also enjoyed getting to watch them bask in the sun -- an impossibility on days when I leave when the morning is still dark, & return after sunset.