Heat Wave and Crazy Summer

This has so far been one of the craziest summers I can remember.  To start off it stayed cool and rained all the time, then we'd have a week of sun and heat from hell.  Then another week of cool rain, then a week of sun and heat from hell.... Never ending cycle, and we're currently on a sun and heat from hell cycle.  My house is unfit except for the basement and rec room and our bedroom, the only two rooms with air conditioning.  Can't run an oven lest you wanna kill everyone.  All weekend we had bbq, as usual.  The killer here is the humidity, it makes it feel way hotter, and I can't stand it when it feels like you're breathing in liquid.  It was windy today, but when I got off the wind hitting me felt like it was blowing out of a furnace.  I would much prefer 10 degrees cooler.

 

There has been knitting going on, though.  These socks are finally finished!  Started May 18, finished July 14, they are Harris Tweed socks knit on 2.5mm needles with Austermann Step in color 07.  Love this pattern, I've used it several times. Details here.

 

Before finished these socks, however, I whipped up two pairs of felted slippers.  Yes, felted slippers in July.  I had pretty much forgotten, but about three months at least prior to now I'd gotten a phone call that a seasonal resident here wanted two pairs of slippers when she got here in late June.  Of course, when I was making these it was on the previous week cycle of sun and heat from hell.  I could only really work on them late at night or in the rec room in the air conditioning.  I can't stand knitting with anything heavier than sock yarn when it's too hot.  Anyhoo, the yarn is Patons Classic Wool in mercury (she wanted drab, blah!) with some leftover CW for the cuffs to break up the monotony.  Pattern is old faithful Felted Clogs.  Started July 3, finished the 12th, details here.

 

Last night we took the boys and the dogs to one of the local beaches for a walk.  The water wasn't even super freezing like it normally is, we walked in it.  The dogs went out up to their bellies, then it was enough for them.  They don't care for the water and will only swim if forced to.  Seems odd to me for the mixture of mutts in them.  Maggie started out well, but she can't walk very far before she slows way down, and she starts limping.  She always limps a little still, but last night I think the kicker was when she tried to dig in the sand like Jewel was doing.  She seemed to limp worse after that.  I've got a feeling she's going to limp for the rest of her life now.  (This post will shed some light on her little adventure for anyone new to my blog.)

 

Maggie in the sunset.

 

Sandy-faced Jewel.

 

Happy knitting!

Socks!

Lots of socks knit this month in an attempt to reach 26 pairs for the 26 Pair Plunge III, but alas, I failed.  I ended up with 23 pairs.  Yesterday we ended up taking the kids to supper at Boston Pizza and then to the movies to see Monsters University in 3D, plus some shopping as well, so there went 7 hours.  (Expensive!  We don't do movies very often, and every time we do go I remind myself why we never go.  Cha CHING!)  I had hoped to crank out two pairs of baby socks and finish up a pair that has been on the needles too long, but alas I caved to failure!

 

 

First up are a pair of exciting Thujas -- I say exciting because these are an actual Christmas gift!  These were knit on 4.5mm needles, started June 7, finished the 12th, Briggs & Little Tuffy in red mix and oatmeal.  Details here.

 

I haven't knit for charity for a few years, so this year I decided to use up some leftover yarns (and yes, I thought small socks might help me reach 26 pairs!) and make some socks.  I have a goal of 20 pairs of baby/toddler/kid socks to send to them for their September shipment.  Six pairs were credited to the 26PPiii, if I reach my goal then that will make 14 pairs towards the 26PPiv, and I should have no problem making 12 more pairs, right?  I won't go into details on these socks, but if you want to see details just click here. That will tell you the start/end dates, yarn details, stitch count, etc.  They are all vanilla socks except I spruced it up a bit and did a 4x2 rib on the striped pair.

 

Today is Canada Day, but it's a rainy, wet day.  If it clears up we may head to a town 1/2 hour drive away for fireworks.  There are none in town tonight, they did that last weekend for Privateer Days. (Best fireworks we had in years!  Lots of new ones, plus for the first time in eons it didn't come in foggy and damp.)

Happy knitting!