Can I Show You That in a 9?

No porch, but it is on a lovely tree lined street that's walking distance from the zoo.

Have you ever suffered disappointment at the shoe store when you want a particular shoe in your size, and they're all out? I hate that. What I hate more is when the salesperson comes back with the shoe you want in a size smaller than you wear, and asks if that will do. Now if I ask for a size 10 shoe, what makes them think a 9 will fit? I'm beginning to think house hunting is going to mirror my experiences shoe shopping.

The living room-look at that doorwall-and the French doors.

Being a very fickle woman, I've changed my mind about the house I showed you yesterday. Not having seen it in person, I came to the conclusion that 17,000 cars a day was 1 car too many passing by my house. Actually, it was the Google map that done it in-the house was sandwiched between two businesses. I called a real estate agent to cut to the chase for me, and I told the guy that I needed central air and a charming old house. He sent me everything in the book and they all looked awful. I bet he had a previous job selling ill fitting shoes. Really, I don't know what his idea of charming may be, but it certainly didn't match mine.

The knitting room. I picture the shelves lined with yarn baskets and knitting books, and the window sill will be filled with orchids.

So I called another agent (it's not like they're busy in Detroit), and this one, a woman, sent me multiple listings that all seem charming, and exactly what I told her I was looking for. Imagine that. Even the Google images look pretty good. These are pictures of the one I'll go see Saturday afternoon. I'm smitten, so I hope it fits. Maybe I should take my rose colored glasses.

Sock Hockey Drama

Pixiedust's Easter Egg Detonator Sock and Detroit Hockey

v. 3

I tried really hard to use Tofutsies. I couldn't bear the splitting with every stitch whether I used my Takumi Velvet dpns (double pointed needles) or my Addi Turbos. Facing reality and acknowledging I won't win the Tofutsies prize, I took it off the needles without even trying to frog it. It's lying in a heap next to me. So, I took out the pastel limited edition Lorna's Laces from Jimmy Beans in Spring Forward and cast on. I knit the cuff-a very PITA knit one purl one rib for 12 rounds. When I started the pattern which is very pretty, I was doing my increases wrong and they left little eyelet holes every pattern repeat. I knew deep in my knitter's soul I was dead wrong after the second row of the pattern but I persevered another 2 rows for a full pattern repeat. In frustration, I emailed my friend Rositta who kindly set me straight. Thanks Rosibaby (her nom de guerre.) When I gently withdrew my needles to "frog" every so delicately to the end of my cuff, it all went to hell in a hand basket. And I cast on again.

I love sock architecture. It amazes me what I can do with toothpicks and string. Behold the cuff, leg, heel, heel turn and gusset of the pattern "Detonator." Bring on the foot! I like the appearance of this sock just fine but I think the instep is rather tedious. It's not as bad as some patterns but I'm finding it difficult to remember where I am and have taken to using my stitch markers to remind me if I am on row 2 or 4 of the pattern. As luck would have it, the sole and rows 1 and 3 are in stockinette which in the round is knit every stitch. I am done with the gusset decreases and it's straight to the toes for a shoe size of 9. Not as big as my freighters. Lucky me. I wish it was the second sock. If so, I'd have reason to crow.

Game 2 of Round 3 is a nail biter. One penalty after another. Tomas Holmstrom must have balls of steel. This man takes a hockey stick to the groin all through the game. He perches his gonads directly in front of the goalie and doesn't move. Even with a stick slammed up there. It must be obvious that I've stopped knitting for a bit-actually my fingers were cramping-to update and watch the game. Incidently, we won. Great game Boys in Red.

Killing Time

Here is the hook for boys who haven't a clue why an ICU nurse would need one of these. We do not play contact sports per se on our job; we use this little toy to secure the last toy pictured here. Read on.


Just killing time waiting for the start of Sock Wars III which is late. It's supposed to start at 12 noon GMT which by my calculations was an hour ago but may be at 9am if one takes DST into account. We'll see. I thought I would show you some of the equipment we nurses (3 of us for 1 patient) had the delight to play with. Who says chicks who nurse don't have cool toys?

Seems the patient can't protect his airway. We'd better tube him. Quick, get the vent.

"I have a bad feeling here. Could you just park the crash cart outside the door to the room please?"

"Could someone run to blood bank for me?" Only a dozen times.

"Oh, I'm so relieved endoscopy is coming to us instead of us going to them. Their room is so teeny compared to ours."

"Quick, get me the largest bore IV you have!" "OK Doctor Savetheday, here it is. You did want the Cordis, right?"

Let's get this Blakemore tube in. Hurry. BP is FALLING, HR is skyrocketing. Looks like hemorrhagic shock to me. Nurse Rudee says a little prayer for her colleague's patient at this point. "Jesus, I've never seen so much blood, please make it stop."

Sock Love

Meet the foot of my friend Tina. Behold her first sock so fetchingly modeled. She is so proud, but I don't know who is prouder, her or me. She is my 2nd student ever and I am thrilled with her progress. She already knew how to knit but found knitting in the round daunting. She started this sock on the 7th. We met on the 9th where I showed her how to knit the heel flap and pick up the gusset stitches. She finished the first sock on the 11th and is now half way through the 2nd sock. The yarn, which is just about my favorite sock yarn (Jitterbug in the color Fire) was my gift to Tina to tempt her into sock knitting. Now I have to convince her she is indeed ready for Sock Wars. She may want to sign up quick-it closes to enrollment May 2nd. I hope for my sake I get her to assassinate with her size 7 foot instead of my friend Rositta's.

To repay me for my kindness and teaching patience, she told me about the yarn sale at my favorite yarn store. I had conveniently forgotten all about the sale. Nothing sings to a knitter's soul like the words yarn and sale in the same sentence. Nothing is more dangerous than taking another yarn loving person to a sale like this. I think a gang like mentality sets in and before you know it, you've spent a small fortune on all kinds of stuff you know you surely don't need.

While there, we found out that the owner also honors knitting nurses with a 15% discount during nurses week (the owner is a nurse-outstanding!). We're sure to go back for more fiber indulgence. While sales staff wound Tina's new found sock yarn into pretty little cakes of yarn in another part of the store, we looked in wonder and awe at the spinning wheels. This naturally led to a discussion about learning to spin yarn. It's on my bucket list. Apparently, it's on Tina's too.

Look at this booty.... Let's see, there is Stephanie Pearl McPhee's new book Things I Learned from Knitting, Melissa Morgan-Oakes 2-at-a-time Socks (it will be dog eared by May 9th), some new stuff from Brown Sheep (Wildfoote in Rock 'n Roll), Dream In Color's Smooshy (in Chinatown Apple), and three skeins of Mountain Colors Bearfoot (in Rosehip, Ruby River and Spruce). The Spruce is earmarked for this pair of socks. There seems to be a LOT of red yarn in there. I don't really know why but it sure is purdy.

All in all, it was a wonderful way to spend a rainy Saturday and my children's inheritance.