Last week, while not a perfect week (none ever is), actually saw completion of "things". 

"You mean, follow-through?" 

Exactly. 

I made it my goal to finish, truly finish, a few things I had started weeks or even years ago. And I did. 

First, I finished off my new corset (that was the most recent project):

Then...I finished a pair of socks I had started several months ago. (No pictures)

And I finally got that last side and sleeve sewn up on that sweater I started in 2012; finished knitting the pieces to in 2015 or early 2016 and had mostly assembled in mid-2016. After all that, I'm not even sure how well I like it...

What's more, I finished up the baby dress I had started in February:

Then I scrounged up my blue CW wash-dress and added a few darts so that it now fits properly:

In between times I kept the fire burning, hauled wood, made as many water runs to the basement as necessary (we are looking forward to having the RO water run back upstairs one of these days), tickled the keys on the piano, and even hauled my cello out of the case for the first time in a couple of months. 

By the end of the week, I had also made a new petticoat (I need to put a tuck in it to shorten it up--for the third time. I apparently didn't eyeball that hem to perfection...) and gotten my new CW dress's bodice drafted and the mock-up cut out. I planned on stitching that up today, but I've been running on slow today--what with daylight savings time (what a joke!) and the snowy weather and haven't done much un-computer related besides making lunch, washing dishes, making two water runs, stoking the fire and hauling wood, and writing a letter. AND...now it's time to make supper! ;) 

I finally got my own pair of 'kilt hose' finished Saturday evening. However, I didn't do the final yarn-end weaving until this morning. 

I here do solemnly declare that this has to be the most messed up pair of socks I have ever made. One is four stitches larger in circumference than the other--that one is a little sloppy feeling. I made them too short to actually function as kilt hose, so I think I shall wear them with the cuffs sticking straight up rather than rolled down. The feet are a almost too short. I ribbed the toe on one sock and not on the other. On one sock the ribbing on the top of the foot peters out in a place that it does not on the other. The decreases down the back of the leg on the one look ungainly and the cuffs are so minuscule looking that even if I were going to wear them rolled down, they would look odd. 

I do suppose that the fact that I made two complete sets of kilt hose and finished up another pair of "short socks" in between the first and second of my own socks may have a little to do with the incongruity of the outcome, but still...they are not a prime example of my work and I shan't be show-casing them as the zenith of my abilities!! With all that being said, I think I shall enjoy wearing them. :) Once I wear the inevitable holes in the bottom of them, I think I will use them as a practice piece to learn how to mend hand-knitted socks. I know people do it, so I might as well learn how myself. Why waste all the rest of that wool up the leg when you have small holes in your soles? (I mean, I know I could rip them out and re-use the wool, but that loosens the fibers in a rather nasty kind of way.)

Anyway, I took the time to clear out my knitting basket and prep myself for the next pair of socks. I'm going back to short ones for the meantime (know anybody who needs a pair of woolen kilt hose? I really enjoyed making them...) since those don't have to be custom made the same way. I have decided though that I am going to learn how to do cables--and this next set of socks is to showcase that. Some friend or family member might end up with them if the cables don't come out right. (Put your bids in here, ladies and gentlemen, if you want to be a potential gainer. ;D Er...no promises, you understand....) 

As I was straightening out my basket (I took nearly all the yarn that was crammed into it and put it in the newly designated drawer for the purpose in my room), I got to thinking. I get tired of "loosing" my needles and crochet hook (for end-weaving) and having to take everything out of the basket to find one pesky, but necessary item. I seemed to remember hearing (or reading) someplace about knitting needle cases, so a quick Google search ensued. After merely glancing at a couple of pictures, I ducked into the "cold room" (what used to be front porch 40+ years ago; it's not insulated very well, thus the nickname--and the bisquine hung up between it and the living room in the wintertime) and dug through the fabric scrap stash out there. I turned up the remains of a blue/tan plaid short-sleeve men's shirt. Perfect! I chopped off one of the sleeves, cut the part off it off so it was roughly a rectangle, stitched down the raw edge along that side, and then rolled the raw edges at the upper ends. One of those I rolled much deeper than the other. After I was done with that, I stitched four "pockets" into it: one for my 3's, one for my 4's, one for my crochet hook, and one for the niffy 9-inch ruler Mama found someplace and gave to me. Now my needles and other things are organized and less likely to get lost! Much more convenient. 

As I told Savannah, "I can be organised if I want to be..."

Here's knitting fun!

Yes, one might be a historical costumer (or fast becoming one), if one switches on their computer an hour or so earlier than the usual time simply for the sake of getting inspiration for their hair-style.

I am serious. That is exactly what I did this morning. 

After the best attempt at a victory roll yet, I took it down (still wasn't going to work), and decided to go 1860's with the hair today instead of 1940's. After all, I already had a center part...and I should be focusing down the 1860's at present (I really, really need to get back to work on the Cow Cav), so I thought a little inspiration might help.

Anyway, after poking around on Google images for a few minutes, I took inspiration from at least two hair-styles and ended up with this:

I rather regret that I never did do anything that looked quite this nice for the reenactments. I guess if I had had a mirror it might have helped. :D 

But, while I was poking around looking at ladies hair-do's, what should I stumble onto but this--a photograph I have never seen before of none other than the bold and ever-dashing Nathan Bedford Forrest!!

What a general, what a soldier! Take a look at those piercing eyes of his! 

Well, alright...I'll stop gushing about one of my favorite Confederates. Forrest ranks right up there with Lee and Jackson in my book. It also reminds me to that I have a Forrest project in my line up...I REALLY should be reading my Civil War books instead of getting distracted by other things!

However, before I get to work on anything WBtS related, I have some sock math to work up. I have a commission thanks to one of my brothers! :) 

*whistles Dixie while gathering knitting supplies*

Oh and where to begin??? What a glorious, joyful weekend!

I suppose, for the sake of coherence, I probably ought to start on Friday and the trip over to Illinois. It was, thankfully, uneventful and we did not arrive late, even though we got out a little later than we intended. One of the first things I noticed was that Providence Church did not have the usual castle wall facade up...things seemed to be a little more loosely organized in general this year, but it really didn't detract from the lectures and fellowship, so I am not complaining. :)

Unfortunately, we did not get very many pictures, so I haven't any pictures to show you of our dear S's. They were already in Illinois visiting family and came to RefDay for Friday and half of Saturday. They came on over here Saturday afternoon  and just left this morning, taking my elder sister with them...but I'm getting ahead of myself.

I was standing in a doorway talking with my 'brother' Andrew H. when I spotted the S's. I rather unceremoniously blurted, "Oh!" or something like that and left off in the middle of a sentence to dash the fifteen feet to where they were sitting. I'm afraid I was really quite rude and I must apologize for it.  

However, minutes later, I grabbed Andrew by the elbow and propelled him over to meet the S's...and then R and L...I think, were roped into the group to meet them. There was so much talk and laughter and joy that I cannot remember everything that happened...or what order it happened in.

Friday there were three lectures. Two by Phil Kyser and one by Douglas Bond. The topic of this years Reformation Day was the Huguenots--of whom I knew practically nothing. Dr. Kyser first spoke in a general overview sort of way about the theology and orthopraxy of the Huguenots. One could say that they were the "Christian Reconstructionists" of their day; with the same kinds of total-life view of the application of Scripture. (By the way, I do classify myself among the 'Reconstructionists'...there is of course, some variation within that categorization because of human nature.)

Dr. Kyser's second talk (after Mr. Bond's) landed right down my alley--the Huguenot just war theory. He referenced a book "Vindiciae Contra Tyrannus" (or something like that) by a Frenchman named Mornet (I believe; and it's probably not spelled correctly) that I put on my "must-read" list. I agreed...and I nodded...and I took notes...and I grinned...suffice to say, I thoroughly enjoyed that talk.

Douglas Bond's three talks (one on Friday, two on Saturday) were really rather like one, just split into three parts, in which he told stories about different persons and event that took place during the Reformation in France: he spoke of Calvin, Verit, the queen of Navarre, Renee of France, Gaspard Coliny, and others. (There is a bit of story that goes with that, but I'll get there in the chronology.) Anyway, Mr. Bond is an engaging speaking, though, rather like Bill Potter (also a story-teller) not someone I am able to take notes from--so I didn't; I just listened. 

Friday evening, the Josties did the concert. I enjoyed it more than I expected too. For some reason, I assumed that they did gospel music--and a lot of gospel is rather well...not my cup of tea (partly because of the theology of the words and partly because of the way people sing.) I was pleased to hear that they actually know how to sing. (Sound like a snob, don't I?) 

Saturday is always the most particularly exciting day...we girls got up and got decked out in our outfits:

We had a little time to spare, so we goofed around a little...the above mentioned attempt at opening the window was part of that. Turns out, I had actually locked it when I was trying to unlock it. (In other words, I did get it open eventually.) Katherine thought I looked so funny tugging on the window that she had to get some pictures...and they did come out funny, so I thought I'd share them for your amusement.

We got to the church a little early, so took a brief reconnaissance drive around to locate the school were the dance was going to be that evening. (I knew where it was, but we thought we'd familiarize ourselves with the route.)

Well, we got back, pulled into the parking lot, and parked next to a silver car with an NRA and AOPA sticker on it. We made a few remarks about it...(NRA's a good thing!) without knowing who it belonged too--turns out as we found out that afternoon, it belonged to none other than our adopted brothers R!! It was hilarious that we unintentionally parked right next to them!

So, we go into the building, not knowing the R's were there yet, trot up the steps and who do I see across the foyer but Caleb! In a matter of minutes, three sisters and three brothers were greeting each other and talking 90 miles an hour, across this little circle. The S's arrived and were dragged into the circle by yours truly. I don't know exactly whose idea it was to sit together, but we ended up in a single row like this: Andy, Caleb, Katherine, Racheal, Savannah, and Dan. The S's were in the row ahead of us since we all wouldn't fit in one row.

My fingers went nearly ceaselessly during the three talks that took place that morning (Rev. McDonald's impression this year was of Gaspard Coliny's elder brother--the name I forget) and I got the entire cuff of Andy's second kilt sock finished! Yay! (I finished the first sock Friday on the way over.) Toward evening, I had Andy try on the completed sock and it fit perfectly! He seemed to really like it...and it appeared to me that he didn't want to take it off! I am going to make him and Dan both a set of kilt flashes to go with their kilts/socks. (Dan got himself a kilt...I forgot to ask what tartan it was, but it looked rather like Graham to me and Graham is my primary tartan claim.) I have also been commissioned to knit Dan a pair of kilt hose. :) However, you're not here to read of the Socketeer's business prospects...

Let's see...we were to have a jam session between lunch and the Highland games (about an hour); so we gathered out in the cold wind and the slight sprinkle and waited....and waited...and waited while the poor over-taxed food vendors worked as fast as they could to feed the line of people. Both Dan and Caleb had already eaten by the time Savannah, Katherine, Andy, and I had gotten our food. (The H's would have already eaten, I guess, because their last name falls in the first half of the alphabet and we were assigned to eat according to last names.) Once we ate, we went in and jammed. As promised, Andy helped me on 'General Taylor' both during the jam session and later as we headed toward the Highland Games. (As of this afternoon, I'm doing terrible on it; but I do know what it is that I need to work on.) I still can't keep up with Andy's flying fingers, but I did a little better this year because I am in practice better than last year. I don't know exactly what it is, but my guitar's tone doesn't seem to blend overly well with his...even though I was in tune.

We actually did a few of songs that we girls are proficient at--including "Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah"--which our brothers informed us was much too fast. Ha! ;) It's not a dirge, you guys! ;D (It was actually rather humorous, the banter about that...) 

But we did 'Salley Gardens', one of my favorites (me finger-picking to boot!)...'Be Thou My Vision'...oh boy...I can't remember the rest, but it sure was fun. Strumming, bowing, percussion, whistles, voices...I look forward to the next jam session. :) (Maybe I ought to practice a little harder too!) 

We moved on to the Highland Games with little ol' me trying to match my  voice to Andy's and conquer General Taylor; by the time we got there, Andy told me he thought I had it...well, sorta, Andy...sorta. :)

Caleb did not win the cabor toss this year; I think he came in second (or third at the least)...and someplace along in there in the rock toss. I went and bugged Andrew about getting in on the 'funn' but he didn't because he had a shoulder bugging him. I agree, it's not a good idea to stress already bothersome joints/muscles. I stayed over there instead of wandering back to where Savannah and Katherine were because I could see better (the announcer) had stepped in front of us three and I got busy hollering for all my "brothers" (the H's, the R's, and the B's). I figured I might as well get into it and have fun. 

Christopher, Thomas, William, and Joshua B. were being noisy in a different fashion and I vainly tried to get them to slacken their "war chant". Andy told me to ignore them and they'd quit--but they wouldn't have. I know those guys...they are so much themselves (which sounds weird).  I heaved Christopher up at one point and he was squawking, "Put me down!" with a huge grin in his voice...and so I kept ahold of him until he asked sweetly if I would, "Put me down...please." What? PLEASE? From the Lion-hearted?? Yes, dear...

I grabbed William around the shoulders at one point too...I forget what it was about...but he really doesn't mind the affection. (Those boys know that I love 'em--because I've told them so.) Thomas doesn't stick around as long for hugs. :D I'm doing good with Joshua just to ruffle his hair--he's never been as receptive to it anyway (he likes Katherine best of us three girls).

Daniel B. did the cabor toss for the second time this year. He's such a scrawny looking young man, though tall enough, that the he doesn't look like he could handle it well, but he did pretty decently. Give him a couple more years and he may be giving the standing camps (Caleb and a feller named Matt [who plays a pretty mean piano, too!]) a run for their money. (Daniel doesn't talk to me much these days [he's 16 and too into football after church to want to stand around and exchange pleasantries with me], but we're still family, as his coming up Saturday evening to let us know his 'battle wounds' were not hurting anymore, showed. I'm pretty fond of that tall, skinny, blue-eyed kid.)

Let's see...there were all kinds of humorous little situations, from one guy taking a head-first dive into the dirt right after his rock went flying, to joking about the Canadian running around in shorts and shortsleeves while everyone else was dressed a little heavier; even the guys in kilts had on more clothing with long sleeves and all.

I did it...I really did. Whether or not I should be embarrassed about it is another question. I gave my last year's critique of Andy's sword play to him--and like a gentleman he listened to me...and even took it. I could see that he was defending himself a little tighter. In other words, he stayed in the fight a little longer! I mean, literally, there were a couple of times that I wanted to snatch a fallen boffer and chase some dude off from Andy last year. :D I do so enjoy a good bout of sword-play that it can be hard to "just watch" the boffer wars. The three R's fought shoulder to shoulder...and at one point, some guys in front of me encouraged themselves, "Let's get the Canadians!" and promptly descended upon the three of them. I was thinking: "But they're not Canadian!" Oh, well...odd.

Let's see...I don't want to bore my readership with flash-tidbits of moments that either amused me or had significance to me...but would be "blah" to you all...so I'll just sum up the Games in this way: I had much fun watching them, talking to Andrew and Andy, teasing the B kiddos, yelling in support of my friends, laughing, and looking "goofy" (according to KT) with my shawl tucked on top of my head. After a while, I got cold and along with that, both my 'Lymie' wrist and hip started to ache a little, so when Savannah, Caleb, Katherine, and Andrew headed in, I went with them.

Shortly after that, the other two R brothers came back from the wars. Andy with beat up hands (not good for a professional musician); he held his hands up to show me his swollen knuckles and his hands were still quivering. Dan had a goose-egg on his right wrist, though I didn't know that until we were dancing the Virginia Reel and he had to quit clapping because it was bothering him. (I stamped my foot so hard I make my knee hurt during that dance. :D)

The discussion of "where are we going to go eat supper" started in earnest. No one wanted to see me out of sorts from food (me most especially!) and so we settled on a Bob Evans some 10-15 minutes away. The R's led the way in their car and I moved to the backseat to allow Andrew the use of the front seat (afterall, his legs are twice as long as mine!) and thusly we went, "Won't Caleb drive a little faster? I'm hungry!!" :D Turns out, he was driving so slowly because he thought Savannah was an overly cautious driver. (I.e. a duffer--like me.) Anyway, so we got to Bob Evans and I laughed something about only Caleb and Andy be the normal looking people amongst the seven of us, for Dan was kilted and Andrew was decked out in early 1800's styled finery, not to mention the medieval/Reformation style outfits of the ladies of the party! I really didn't feel as awkward as I thought I was going to. Some lady in the restroom asked me if we were with 'the show' (apparently there was some sort of Broadway-esque show playing in Peoria)...

After we were seated, I cornered Dan to get some information concerning the voice over he is supposed to be doing for me and as soon as I said "Voice Over" he got this look on his face that really cracked me up. I swallowed his excuses (I have less excuse than he does for not being any further along than I am!) and proceeded to order my salmon. There was lively conversation and plenty of laughs over our supper. I'm afraid I looked askance at the blueberry pancakes that ended up in front of Dan...I could just imagine eating that and being so sick I couldn't walk straight. :D It was even more fun though to tell Andy "Eat!" every two minutes...he really only glared good-naturedly at me once. (We had a time limit because the ball started at 7:30.)

Well, we made it (and many thanks to Dan for picking up the tab for the entire table!) and were there and ready when the dancing started. Mrs. B called this year and I think did a pretty good job for her second full ball. I was pleased as punch when Christopher strolled up and proffered his hand to me. I don't recall the little stinker ever asking me to dance before...that was the Waves of Tory...so we had short me and even shorter Christopher--but we managed the arches without over much trouble. :)

As previously mentioned, I did the Virginia Reel with Dan, whose arm was hurting him. He kept clapping, then stopping, and then starting again. It's odd how somethings just "happen" even though you know it would be better if you quit doing whatever it is. (I've done that while playing spoons before; the blisters start coming and I just keep playing.) It's practically impossible not to clap during the Virginia Reel!!

The Virginia Reel and the Gay Gordon (or Carolina Promenade, depending on who you are talking to) are my favorite dances and both were done. I started that one (it's a mixer) with Andy...likewise the Pattycake Polka (and of course, I had to mention how 7 lb.s of Bacon does it...and he quipped something about 7 lb.s of bacon sound good. Goofy! ;P) 

I think nearly all the dances were ones I had done before...since I am learning the ECD terms and steps, I'm getting to a point where I can just pick up and go with a dance after a real quick walk through. Remembering the names and which is which is the hard part! I love to dance! 

It was roundly agreed amongst ourselves that we could have kept dancing much past 10...but since we had to be out of the building by a certain time, we had to quit. I was sooo wound up that night that I didn't conk out very fast and then I woke up early. 

We wiled away the time before it was time to go to church by packing and loading the car. Oh, and 'peep ob-ing'. ;) Looking out our window, we could see the parking lot of the neighboring hotel--even from that distance, I recognized members of the J family (whom I don't actually know, but I know who they are). Minutes before we left, I spotted two heads bobbing along...as soon as they appeared from behind a tree, I knew who they were. Of course, the guitar case really helped, but I knew it was Andy and Dan without it. :D

The sermon was edifying and interesting as Rev. McDonald spoke on verses 9-22 of II Timothy 4 (the end of the book). He was noting how this was, in a way, rather like Paul's last will and testament and how he was thinking about people, not possessions or position, as he neared the end of his life.

I find that communion is a bit on the awkward side at Providence, but I appreciate being able to take it all the same. And that church sings. Not just robustly, but in parts. You can hear the sopranos, the basses, the tenors, and probably the altos if you're really listening (we tend to get lost, I think, between the sopranos and tenors). It is just a joy to sing at Providence because it is so beautiful. 

The church kindly provided people lunch on Sunday afternoon. I went downstairs with my sisters and Andy, but, because I offered to take Bibles and jackets upstairs, I ended up going through the line with Caleb and Dan (rather than cutting back in, I just joined the end of the line). Dan filled up a tray again this year, but not as much as last year...and once again, he ate practically all of it. :D I was full after a single plateful.

During lunch (like last year) Savannah and Andy talked non-stop. Caleb interjected into whichever conversation he wanted to, and Dan and I probably spent more time talking about guns than anything else. :D Katherine was quiet for the most part and just ate while listening intently to Savannah and Andy; until R came over and slipped in between KT and I...there was some joking about me having enough room...which I assured her I had enough room and we'd know that I didn't when I fell off the end of the bench and hit my head on the brick wall beside me. ;)

Before we left, we spent roughly another hour doing a hymn-sing in the sanctuary. Seth, someone I know who they are because of filmmaking, accompanied us on the piano. We concluded with "God Be With You Til We Meet Again" (which I did not know)...and it was so beautiful, I was beginning to choke up!

Then, seriously right before we left, we had a little photoshoot where Katherine got to use the timer on her camera. Here's the results:

It's really funny...because if you are scrolling through the pictures, we look like we're all swaying if you flip between them. :D (Obviously, we did not stand in age order, or height order or in any usual sense of photographic orderliness. We just lined up like siblings and waited for Katherine to dash back to the group.)

And just one final picture...Andy, waiting for his brothers to return so they could start home:

It was a grand weekend...and I look forward to seeing all the friends mentioned in this post "the next time" whenever that rolls around!

God Bless Y'all! It's a joy knowing you!

As you may be aware both my elder sister and I have Lyme disease...so every three months or so, we make a trip to the Cincinnati area for a doctor's appointment. Thankfully, we had an uneventful (i.e. safe) trip both ways.

Dr. Ritche is pleased with our progress and for the most part so am I...even though some things seem to bother me more. But, in reality, that makes sense because the 'bugs' are being killed and rattled around. 

We both have more blood work to get done.  I will remember to drink a lot of water when I go to get blood drawn this time...

More interesting facts: a) I have an official blood-test diagnosis of "wheat allergy"; not that I really needed it. Getting drunk off the stuff is tell-tale enough for me! 

b) I have a mild peanut allergy. NO!! Well, yeah. Moderation, young lady, moderation. (To be honest, we have not been eating very much peanut butter lately anyway because the organic stuff is so expensive.)

c) I have a mild allergy to egg whites. You have got to be kidding me! I will just pretend I never heard of this. 

We had a great lunch at the Mexican restaurant we like to eat at when over there...the waiter was quite amused when we all ordered double-beans instead of rice! :D

Then we bounced on over to Jungle Jim's...and spent hours there shopping. I do not know what all we bought, but there are two items of extreme interest to me: First, the Linden honey (from Germany). We have Linden trees and I am fully intending on raising bees this next year, so I want to taste what honey from the "bee-tree" tastes like. 

Second....

NON-GMO GRITS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am soo excited! :) :) I love grits......

On the drive home, I managed to get all the way through the decrease part of the kilt hose I'm making...

Ah well, I need to get a move on. Daddy and I are planning on butchering the rest of the hens (ten) this morning.

Bye now!

You heard about yesterday morning's endeavor (and it's happy result)...but I didn't get around to tell you the rest of the story. :)

Sometime in the afternoon, I betook myself out to tackle the re-gaining of the brooder coop--because yes, we have another 50 birds on the way. The spiders (evil creatures!) had taken over and I, procrastinating Presbyterian that I am (a number of you will catch the "Virginia" reference there), I had never squared off with the messy bedding all over the ground in said brooder coop. I fully intended when I moved the chicks from the coop to the tractors to come back the next day with a rake and a shovel and clean up the damp, manure laden corn-cob chunk bedding. Well.....that was how long ago???

I took a scoop shovel, a hoe, and the potato fork and scraped the now-hardened and partly composted bedding off the top soil. I filled up a couple of five-gallon buckets with the stuff and hauled out to the compost heap (next to the compost bins). 

On top of that, I killed spiders...and more spiders. They were all over and in the galvanized water trough we use as a brooder. After killing spiders, I pulled the thing out of the coop and hosed it down until I was happy that it no longer had any spiders wriggling their nasty little legs on it and, more importantly for the soon to be arriving chicks, that the previous batch's dirt had been knocked out of it and washed away. 

I threw away a lovely stack of feed sacks--which would have been fine except that they were now damp--and who knows how many spiders had taken up residence within the dark, cozy recesses of the bags! (Upon further observation...I think Daddy removed them from the trash can...)

I put all the feed and water trays, the jars, and sundry other chick-related items into a five-gallon bucket, carried it up to the house, and filled it full of water. Said items are still soaking, but it is my full, resolute intention to go wash them as soon as I complete this blog post.

I thought I'd step around into the orchard and have a pear before I went in...and ended up with a collection of fallen, bruised, in some cases partially-insect-consumed pears--which I immediately set about "working". 

All in all, I would claim a productive day yesterday.

Today, not so much--but then again, I haven't exactly been "doing nothing"; it may just seem to an outside observer that I have been dawdling.

You see, I have been sitting in much the same position for a portion of the day working on one single project. I promised a friend of mine (who'll know who he is if he reads this) a pair of socks--more specifically, a pair of kilt hose. 

Well, like that good procrastinating Presby I mentioned earlier I have yet to purchase the wool for these kilt hose...however, Mama brought home five skeins of Paton's wool that she picked up at the Goodwill yesterday for a buck apiece (steal!) (Paton's is my favorite yarn to work with, the wool being nice and soft.) Two skeins were cream, one black, one deep purple, and one light gray. I was planning on at least starting a trial pair for myself first before making the gift pair...so this was perfect. My friend and I have nearly the same-sized legs/feet (in fact, only two of the measurements are different!), so I'm using the exact same pattern for both. There really is a good reason for me to make myself a trial sock first; it's not just because I'm selfish and I have been longing to make a pair of knee socks anyway.

You see, I designed the pattern...

And...I have never done that before.

Now, before I even had my friend's measurements, I thought I had this all figured out.

Then I got his measurements...and reworked my previous pattern (for me) to make it match up with his measurements better.

I believe I actually did that twice. Still with no yarn.

Well, when Mama brought home the afore praised yarn yesterday, I decided I'd start on a pair of those socks--for me--to work out the boogers. I figured, since I do not assume that two skeins will work (it takes three to make two pairs of normal socks), that I would make the cuffs, heels, and toes of black with the main "body" of the sock in cream. If necessary, I can even have miss-matched socks.

So....I sat down this morning, did a few last minutes calculations and reminder equations and started knitting. I was planning on a knit 6, purl 6 basket weave for the cuff pattern--but figured out on the first row that that wasn't going to work. Well 4 K, 4 P wasn't going to cut it either (I accidentally had two less stitches than I planned on, but didn't figure it quick enough--not that it mattered, as you will see); K 5, P 5, on the other hand did. 

After three rows, I really got to looking at it and decided that you could put that on one of those creatures that Hannibal led across the alps...

So...I ripped it all out and started over from square one.

I went back to the web-page I had learned how to make my pattern from (thankfully, I had had the presence of mind to bookmark it!) and re-read it even though I had written down all the important information previously. 

I decided that it I had better make a new gauge. You see, the gauge I was working from before I had used the other kind of yarn (I love this Wool is the brand, but I don't love it the way I do Patons) and, I think my size 4 needles--even though I'm using 3's. Yeah, smart...I know.

Well, the long and the short of that is that the difference was one single, measly stitch. But that made ALL the difference!

I reworked the equations again...and cast on the stitches.

Now, doesn't that look less elephant sized? 

I haven't managed to get around to going any further with the project because the AT&T guy came out to fix our internet (I think this is the third modem since we upgraded...) and so, naturally, things went down. I went outside to wash those chicken items previously alluded to in this post and as I was finishing that up, Mama asked me if I would haul down the Victorio and do a pile of tomatoes.

Well, sure! I always did kind of like that messy job, so I heaved to.

Now I need to go feed cats and chickens...and I wonder what we're supposed to be doing for supper?