It’s a classic — A Man for All Seasons. The acting, the writing, the cinematography — all superb in my opinion. It is mesmerizing, as one simple man puts everything on the line to stand for principals. It appeals to my sense of honor as well as my hope that my character would be as strong in the same type of circumstances.

It also is a perfect accompaniment for sock knitting. Sock knitting is about all I can handle right now after another day of shopping. Not for things knitting, but for purses and plates and provisions. I found me a purse with fringe all around it. It struck my fancy as soon as I saw it, even though it is suede and not too springy. But it has a shape I like, the color is pleasing and the trim is more refined than anything I’ve seen lately. Oh yes, it was on sale! So the onerous task of purse shopping, which I find extremely difficult and taxing, is at an end. For now. Until I decide I need another one.

Duncan is snoring on the couch beside me. He must have had a hard couple of days himself. He’ll most likely wake when I start cooking my taco dinner that uses some of the provisions purchased today. I can hardly wait to eat them!

I took some time this morning to put a few of my knitting purchases in Ziploc freezer bags so when I’m ready to use them for a project, the yarn will be in one spot. What a concept! But given that I like to go through my stash regularly to check out all the goodies, this simple task will eventually be a salvation for the stash and my sanity.

I just don’t know what project to work on once I’ve finished this sock. I’ve so many started and the new yarn I acquired is calling to me. What to do, what to do! I think I’ll pay more attention to my Aran sweater because I really am fond of the color and the pattern. Then again, I might start something new.

According to the forecast tomorrow, I should have plenty of time to knit. We’re in for more rain, which will help the tulips and daffodils that I planted earlier in the year. What really helped them is my replanting them right side up. I don’t know what I did, but I seem to have fixed it.  Maybe now I’ll have spring flowers soon.

I keep drifting off while writing this post, so will end it now, assuming that anyone reading it is suffering the same condition. So here I am, waking up and signing off.

I used my first vacation day and tore out to Stitches this morning. Whew! Got there a bit after 10 and left around noon and it already was swamped. However, the crowed didn’t stop me from picking up quite a few stach enhancements. Got some nice stuff, even though I hadn’t planned on buying that much yarn. Oh well, I’m not complaining.

Stitches didn’t look as big to me this year compared to the other two years I’ve gone. It seems the arena is getting smaller, and the classes were set up in the market this year too. I don’t recall seeing them before, but maybe because the rooms were draped off. I found my favorite vendors, though, so I am a happy camper.

I was amazed to see how many sweaters were on display. I guess that’s the biggest change I saw — fewer scarves and more more sweaters. Yippee! Let’s hope the new knitters who started on scarves are ready to move on to bigger and better projects.

 I picked up some nice yarn at Brooks Farm so I can knit a sleeveless top for summer. And I got some other yarn that should work for it as well. I had planned to pick up more needles — shorter, non bamboo ones for socks — but there weren’t many around at all. Thank goodness for the Internet because I can pick some up there.

I also didn’t get my hands on any markers. I like the simple small rubber ones. Although they are pretty, the beaded ones are too heavy for most of my knitting.

Since I was in the area where I once lived, I headed to a quilt shop that was popular once upon a time. Quilting is my newest hobby (can’t cut a straight line so I thought I’d try sewing quilts). The shop is gone. It was in the area for ever and ever. A landmark is gone. It used to be a knitting shop, but changed over to quilting about five years ago. And now it is gone. And so goes life.

We ended up the day by taking Duncan the dog to a new off-leash park we found near our new home. So he got to stretch his legs after waiting for me to come out of Stitches. Yes, he goes everywhere with me. No, it wasn’t hot or too cold. Yes, he was extremely comfortable and safe. No, he can’t stay at home because he isn’t used to it and he would probably run out of the trailer or ruin it.

And now my boy wants more attention, so off we go on a little pre-dinner walk. And blogging begins anew tomorrow.

The socks are finished. Not by my deadline, but it turned out to be all right. Because all the participants of the Valentine’s Day party-by-phone missed their own deadlines for mailing goodies. Seems to be the time of year when things just don’t get done quickly.

My excuse for not finishing the socks was a busy weekend of running errands. Like buying my new sewing machine. I am so jazzed to have it. I had one before but it was a clunky old Montgomery Wards machine (which shows you how long ago I had it — if anyone remembers Monkey Wards anymore). I got some fabric today so I can practice my rusty, rusty skills on simple things, like potholders and a little circular knitting needle pouch.

Thank goodness a three-day weekend is coming up. It will give me time to figure out what my next project will be. I know it will be a sweater, most likely an Alice Starmore design. Which one is the big question.

 Then it’s on to Stitches on February 23. Just have to print my tickets away Mom and I go. Obtaining tickets this way is just the coolest thing; even though we have to stand in line to get into the market, it goes quickly. And we usually have some nice conversations.

I’m debating about casting on for the sweater tonight because I am bushed. Got to quit staying up so late, but I think my body has adapted to it. Because when I try to go to bed early now, I just lie there hoping sleep is near. Based on all the TV ads for sleeping pills, I am not alone in this endeavor, apparently. Is there an insomnia epidemic I’m not aware of? Or is it lack of exercise that makes sleep difficult for a lot of people. Ah, here’s something to ponder as I drift off to the arms of Morpheus. 

When I have so many socks to knit?

I’ve made progress, completing one pair today. Now I’m set to start the pair that needs to be mailed all the way from California to Rhode Island. I will need a head start to get the socks there by Valentine’s Day. Especially as it must be one of the busy mail periods of the year.

My valentine is my trusty pooch, who’s had great fun impeding my sock knitting progress by stealing the recently completed sock, needles and all. If anyone cares, I can scientifically prove that bamboo needles don’t hold up under attack from a crazed Siberian husky, with trouble on his mind.

He’s even managed to damage some of my prized ebony needles. Irksome, but I can see his point about needing more attention when I’m knitting. Plus, last December was the year anniversary of his having survived a life-threatening mass on his spleen. From being at death’s door to having the energy of a puppy is something to celebrate, particularly as a colleague’s dog succumbed to the same condition.

Onto happier thoughts — here’s the sock challenge tally:

1 pair, women’s size 6: Complete

1 pair, women’s size 9: First sock is on the needles

1 pair, women’s size 7 ½: Waiting in the wings

I live in a trailer. And as a result, I haven’t much space for storing yarn and knitting supplies and all the essentials — or things I call essentials.

However, I needed to address the light situation regardless of how much space I had. These old eyes of mine need as much light as they can get, and magnification is critical for reading lace patterns.

So I got an Ott light, which I am using with my computer right now. What a difference. I still need to install the magnifying arm, but right now I don’t need it because I am knitting an Aran sweater.

Make that trying to knit a sweater. I thought I was moving along nicely, when I found a mistake. So I ripped it out and got the rhythm going again. When I found yet another mistake. Man, I almost threw the sweater across the room. It isn’t even like the sweater is all that tough. And I’ve certainly knit my share of Arans. I think it was a victim of multitasking and lack of sleep.

All is mended right now and I hope to get lots done on it over the weekend. The biggest obstacle right now is finding my cable hook. How do I lose them so often? Now that I have a better light, I might be able to find the corner they’ve burrowed into.

Next on my list of things to do (finding cable needles is at the top) is getting some photos on the site. Oh, and putting together my new yarn swift. It is a Beka, and doesn’t need to be clamped to the table. My furniture doesn’t seem to accommodate clamping and umbrella swifts seem to create a lot of problems for me, what with yarn getting caught in the hooks and ends wrapping around the pole.

The true test of the new swift is some merino lace weight wool I have. Even the yarn shop finds it a pain to wind the stuff into a ball, so I am hoping the new equipment is the answer to tangles and breaks, which has been my winding experience with it and an umbrella swift.

Okay, it’s time to go back to the sweater and grab on to a cable hook. I’m hoping nothing needs to fly across the room tonight.