Why, Yes - I DO Still Knit!

Let's not examine how long it has been since I posted any finished objects, 'kay? I really do still knit! Perhaps I should pull out the camera a bit more often, just to prove it.

These socks were given to the recipient today. It was her birthday on Sunday, but since that isn't a work day, I had intended to give them to her yesterday, but that foolish time change thing has my poor little brain more than a little bit muddled.

I present Trish's birthday Jaywalkers! The yarn is Red Heart, Heart and Sole, in Green Envy. I saw the colour, and I just *knew* what it wanted to be.

From Trish's reaction, I believe we have yet another successful sock adoption.

Wool Share

Do you ever just happen across something that is really interesting or intriguing? Back in December I came across a link somewhere (I don't even remember where) for the Stoddard Family Farm in Little Britain, Ontario - not to be confused with Little Britain (*warning - do not click on the preceding link if you are offended by politically incorrect humour). Considering that Mr. Me and I live on part of the land that was original granted to his family when they came from Donegal, Ireland in 1820, I found the story of the farm quite charming, and in an era when I think most of us are trying to be at least a little bit more responsible with our planet, I really like what they are doing.
I wish I was closer so that I could purchase meat and egg shares - but they would spoil in the shipping. However, one of the many beauties of wool is that it doesn't spoil. Yes, I bought a wool share! My first skein arrived last week. The colourway is called "Fire". I am away on business again and don't have either the yarn or the camera with me, but I will try to post a picture of it later. I'm not a huge fan of orange, but the colour truly does remind me of a campfire - and I love a good campfire... Now - what shall I make?

P.S. Once I sort that out and make it, can you all head over to Facebook and "Like" it for me? There could be another wool share in it for me.

Is It Breeding?

I only asked for one thing for Christmas this year. I asked for a laptop. I had become very tired of having to fight off the boys (all three of them) for computer time. Mr. Me got me a lovely little pink Sony VAIO. I don't know the model, but it is a very cute little computer so I can take her anywhere - and I love her!
Over the Christmas holidays I decided that I would start to actually catalogue my stash on Ravelry. Even though we all know that sock yarn isn't really stash, I decided that I would start with it anyways... I don't have photos of all of the yarn - since I haven't upgraded to Flickr Pro yet - but spend some time patiently sorting and cataloguing one storage tote of sock yarn.
It was a very interesting experience! I'm not done yet, but have determined that I easily have enough sock yarn for 50 pairs... I could probably have entered the 52 Pair Plunge and new had to buy a skein of yarn. When did I buy it all? I don't even recognize some of it!!! If it wasn't a ludicrous idea, I would suspect some other knitter of storing their yarn in my stash... Some of it is that unfamiliar! Maybe the sock yarn is breeding?

Forgive Me Readers...

Forgive me readers for I have not blogged. It has been more than 10 months since I have blogged. I have missed it. I have missed the outlet and the interaction that blogging gives me. Much of it has been because of the new position that I accepted last February. It has been very interesting, but also very draining. Truth be told, for many people it would also fall into the category of extremely boring... Not many people are passionate about internal control and the implementation of the Policy on Internal Control.
Aside from work, I have been knitting (but I have not been good about documenting my work), raising the sons, trying to keep the sons and Mr. Me in line and all of the other things that day to day life requires. Tiger? He is still in charge, although I still struggle to do his bidding.
As the current position nears an end, I hope very much to get back into both blogging and blog reading. I've missed you all. I hope that everyone of you has had a satisfying 2010 and that 2011 will bring you all good things - or baring that, opportunities for growth.

Rumours of My Death...

"Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated." - Mark Twain

Although my fellow (and much more famous) Canadian, Gordon Lightfoot, could also be created with the quote given his recent non-death experience!
So, what's my excuse for launching a contest and then falling off the fall of the planet for about 3 weeks? Well, I applied for a different job... I never, ever, in a million years, thought that I would be offered the position! I haven't officially started it yet, but I'm doing double duty these days. What with travelling much more frequently than I have in years, blogging (either reading or writing) has fallen way to the bottom of the "to do" list. Keeping my head from exploding from all of the information that I'm trying to cram into it seems to be my priority right now.
I will say that I was not overwhelmed with entries this time, and yes, I do still have to formally compile them, but I believe that based upon the rules, I have 3 contestants. What does this mean? Everyone will be a winner!!! There is a possible 4th, I believe, who may just get a runner up and thanks for participating prize. Since I was away, I even did a little prize shopping for the winners. I need to take photos of this part of the prizes... And then I need to figure out how to replicate them!
So thanks to those of you who participated, and yes, I do still owe you some answers. I think that I have everyone's e-mail address, so over the next couple of days, prize discussions will be entered into. Stay tuned!

Ask Me a ? - An Answer

This contest might not be too hard to keep track of if it doesn't pick up significantly! So far, I have 3 questions, which I'm going to try to answer in the same order that they were asked.
Here is Sharon's question: If I were to take a vacation to Halifax - how far are you from there?
Maybe I'll start by telling you a little bit about Sharon - she was a downstream swap partner of mine! I had a great time shopping for her and her 2 beautiful daughters, too. As a single working Mom to 2 growing girls, she hasn't been blogging recently. I miss reading her posts, but completely get that life sometimes gets in the way of doing fun things. Like me, Sharon is Canadian and is a federal civil servant...
So - who's planning a trip to Halifax? Anyone??? When are you coming???
By car, I am approximately 4 hours away from Halifax. That is much shorter than what it was when I first moved to the Maritimes. At that time, it was probably almost double that long. Way back then, the Trans Canada Highway, was a two lane highway through the Maritime provinces. It is now a four lane divided highway the whole way from Fredericton to Halifax.
If you let me know when you're coming, I could even come down to Halifax to meet you. I went to school at Dalhousie University, and still know the city pretty well. We could go to Tangled Skeins - I can't find a website and really hope that they're still around... Catch the ferry across the harbour... Go shopping at The Loop... Wander along the waterfront or up Citadel Hill... Maybe check out Point Pleasant Park? Eventually heading to the Hydrostone Market and LK Yarns and maybe a bite to eat at one of the restaurants?
What's that? You want to come to New Brunswick? Hmmm... That is going to take a little more planning since we want to do fibre stuff, right? I'll get thinking about this and give this question a 2 part answer.

"Ask Me a ?" - The Devil is in the Details

I'm getting some questions... There seems to be a theme to them: travel!

I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about what I had forgotten: the contest closing date and time. Since I like to give people lots of time to think about things, the contest will be open until midnight February 7th, which will give a full 2 weeks. That's midnight Atlantic time... Although if I wake up on the morning of the 8th and find an entry there, I probably won't quibble.