Thesockladyspins

The second blast of arctic air arrived 17th December, 5 nights when temps were below -30° c with the coldest on first day of winter -36.9. For now temps are back to what is normal for December. I'd bet my yarn stash that there will be another bout of extreme weather before winter is over. I am very grateful that the propane truck came down and filled my tank on the 15th just ahead of of the arctic air. Redish socks for LA are now well down the foot, can only work on them in the morning when my left hand isn't to sore, arthritis is a PIA. Just plain solid colours (no patterns) are OK in small increments. Did finish the blue - green Monstersocks and have enuff of the odds to easily make another pair. The socks for neighbours grands arrived and they fit. Over the years I have made 30 pair for these two kids. Think the Mom is keeping them for memories and if and when these kids have kids of their own. I've been keeping track of patterns for a sleeve to sleeve sweaters...

Had a nasty arctic front blow in the last of November and then on December 1st it hit -32.3 C, furnace went full bore all day, the wool room heater also ran non stop. Layers kept me warm enuff. Not looking forward to another but Environment Canada says another is on the way. Finished two pair socks for neighbours grands, kids get socks and neghbours haul my garbage to the dump. Good deal all around. Next back to work on the red socks for LA, nearly to the heel on second sock. Nothing much exciting going on around here, traffic on road is quiet and I think hunters are gone now for the season. Very little snow on the ground, thats OK with me as I soon need to make a trip to town, dentist, haircut and a big load of groceries. Looking forward to the World Junior hockey games starting on Boxing day, IMHO the best part of boxing day crap. If stores didn't sell it on black friday they just move it forward to boxing day and try again. And 99% of the time prices are the same as before...

This morning started out with mountains all socked it with grey down about half way, then close to noon crud burned off and sky was as blue as it could be. The arctic air that was around the valley has finally moved east, got down to -22° here several mornings, I even shut the bedroom window. Back working the second wild and crazy red sock, ribbing all done and first pattern well underway. It will be a fraternal twin to the first, same colours but in different places. Even the patterns will be in diff. places. Red will stay the same in ribbing, and heel, with different coloured toes. First thing this morning put a frozen chicken carcass in soup pot, its now been deboned and goodies (bones etc.) will go to the dump by and by. Celery, carrots and chicken pieces now back in pot, will soon add about 3/4 cup rice, will be enuff to last the weekend. Lots of football on the tube and nice to know I won't have to miss any action while I cook something for supper.

Went into town a week ago with Jeanie as my driver, second eye done Tuesday, stayed overnight again for followup on Wednesday morning, all is welll. It progressed faster than first eye, can now see well enuff to do without my glasses. With lots of days with funny vision I am behind on my sock knitting, but finally finished the first red sock. Well into the ribbing on sock number 2, since they are going to be fraternal I don't have to keep track of the patterns I used on #1. I did keep the colours I used in a seperate bag. New snow the last little while on all the south west mountains, with temps well down into minus temps likely to stay. Yesterdays low was -9.6°. I've got snow tires on the car, ice spike on my cane, cleats on my boots, and snow shovel at the ready by back door. About as ready as I can do. And a pretty well stocked pantry.

Into town on Wednesday morning with lots of errands to get done, then with plans to sit myself with knitting at Kal Tire in Wms Lk on Thursday 8 am, hoping for a no show or cancellation for tire changeover. Sure enuff a no show just before 9am, very haapy to see my car going in. Done and out of there just aafter 10 am. So now car ready for winter with snow tires installed. Then a run thru of SaveOn and headed west after 11:30. Stopped at the clinic in Tatla on the way home and got annual flu shot, another winter coming chore done. While waiting got about 30 + rows done on current sock another few rows and I'll be at toe decrease. Lots of football on the telly over the weekend so should finish first sock and get started on second. Weather has been unusually mild for this time of year, low 20's daytime highs and 0° or lower overnight. But awfully dry could use several days of rain.

First eye done, cataract surgery 23rd in Williams Lake.had a friend in town that day and was able to second for me (driver). Still a bit blurry so can't tell if it was the sucess I was hoping for. Second eye the 18th Ocober. Knitting on a time out until vision clears, working down the foot of the first red sock from the 4 way bundle. Probably half way down the patterned foot.. Once this pair is finished will move onto the dark gray pr using only variegated colours. One of the hardest things I do is change my queen sized bed. Usualy do so every Sunday but with eyes funny did it Tuesday instead. Use flannel sheets the year round, when temp can slip below freezing any time in summer always feels good for flannel. Have had temps in the mid 20's F already and poplar leaves are turning fast, won't be long before they start to come down. Hopefully with several college football games that I want to watch on Saturday I'll be able to do a little knitting. Glad that nothing ...

Left home Thursday 4th for town, ultrasound up at hospital (all clear), prescription at SaveOn. Motel 4th. Friday the 5th drove to Merritt in a round about way, down to hiway #8, finding it closed so back up to Ashcroft and across to Merritt. Saturday the 6th was the Merritt's Mesa spin in, a perfect venue and one of the best spin ins I've been to. Hope we all meet there again. Then Sunday 7th headed south visiting in Langley with old friend Sally. The 8th down to states, first time in 3 years, hasn't changed a bit. Had lunch with Val S. at Stanwoods in Northgate area, passed Sue Wilsons spinning wheel back to Val, I just never got on with it. Had a pair of socks with that just happened to fit Val, waiting on pix from her.. 10th saw me heading north, crossing the border, piece of cake, hadn't bought anything but 2 skeins yarn and 2 16 " circular needles, a few groceries from Fred Meyers. Home Friday after a stop in Ashcroft to pick up 75 pounds tomatoes, for m...

Went to the clinic in Tatla on Friday to see Dr Rob, he looked everything over and then decided to remove a bump on the back of my right hand. And decided to send it to the lab in Wms Lk to be looked over, so incision prolly a bit over and inch 1/4 long, took 5 stitches to close. Tad bit sore for any knitting. Using the cane in my right hand doesn't work well at all. Seems as tho bear activity has slowed way down. haven't seen one in my yard since the 9th. Pretty sure from their leavings that they are still around I just haven't seen them. And only keep track of the ones I can see right in my house yard. Dalmation toad flax (noxious weed) took off this year like I've never seen, seems like half my yard is yellow. Local weed knocker downer was here yesterday and said he woud try and come as soon as he could and using his quad to hook up to brush hog will get whole yard done in about an hour. Much safer when things start to dry up, less of a fire hazard.

All four socks now have the heels done and turned, the purple pair have stitches picked up for the gusset. Won't ever do this experiment again, much prefer one or maybe two on needles at a time. Will now set the other 3 aside and finished the purple sock and do its mate, then continue working on just one at a time until they are done. Bear situation slowing down, have only seen 2 black bears in last week or so. Hopefully they have moved to the high country where they belong this time of year. Summer was so slow starting that the high country still had a good bit of snow and very little for them to eat. Last black didn't exactly present for the best pix, by the time I grabbed camera he was headed into the shadows. The valley has had enuff rain that everything is as green and growing fast as it could be. Including the most invasive nasty Dalmation toad flax, the yellow flower much resembles one called butter and eggs, unfortunately nothing eats it or almost nothing kil...

This time a sow grizzly with two of this years cubs. Two pix altho first wasn't worth saving, second shows sow and the two cubs. Can just see my east fence in the background.

While I sit to spin have chair situated so that I can see out of south and east windows. Spinning on the 6th watching for critters first thought that I had see the back of a deer in the high grass, then critter moved and no deer just a grizzly. Also had a big bunch of neighbours cows on the east side of my fence (more or less allowed), then bear started moving, cows weren't near as nervous as I thought they might be and bear didn't pay them any attention at all. Glad I had camera close by. Seems as every bear I've seen this year is strolling up this way from the south, must be a good batch of clover somewhere that way. Progress on the 4 pair of socks, first pix taken May 16th, second this morning. Hoping I don't have a notion to start anything else until at least two socks are done (but I wouldn't bet on it).

Saw the first of the 2022 season on May 20th, cinnamon coloured grizzly walking down my driveway at 7:20 am. By the time I grabbed my camera it had headed up on hillside above drive, no picture. Next was a black bear eating dandelions over by the cattle guard on May 26th. . Then on May 28 th a sow black with 3 (I think) yearling cubs again not in a good place for a pix. May 29 another black (could easily be same black as on the 26th, not about to get close enuff to ask. Neighbours up and down the valley are seeing them everywhere. So anytime I'm in the wool room (lots of windows) I'm always on a swivel watching for critters. Dr. Coetze in Tatla increased the blood thinner I take (Eliquis) from 2.5 mg twice a day to 5 mg twice a day, so in last week cutting onions did a nice slice on my left theumb, bled pretty good for a day ad a half, finally put steri strips on it to hold it shut, that did the trick. Now just a nice scar (another one of many). Made knitting and or spinni...

Current socks on needles. I try and work on each sock every day, maybe just a few rows but can actually see progress. Saturday the 7th was the Williams Lake spinning day, crowd limited to just 40, most long timers. Was verra glad to see old friends after 2 years. Some came from Kamloops, Prince George and everywhere inbetween. I took in the Louet S 90 spinning wheel that I promised to Tricia after she lost everything in the Lytton fire last year. A friend of hers picked wheel up and then took it to Lytton this weekend. Glad to finally have the wheel in its new home. This past Friday back to town for eye exam (overdue) and eyes dilated in preparation for upcoming cataract surgery, likely two months wait. And it will mean a trip to Kamloops somewhere on the journey (6 hour drive). Will be glad to have first eye done then another wait for second. Really noticing the slower eyes especially with fine sock knitting. Leave a comment if you've read the blog so I will know people ...

Woke up 5 am this morning to a white world, must have snowed pretty much all night. Won't last ong as its above freezing aready. This pair was knit for the SockKnitters KAL No solids please 2022, since I had loads of leftover variegated I went ahead and just used variegated colours, no self patternng yarns. All the same colours just in differnet places. Then finished a pair of green Monstersocks. Started them in April 2021, then things and sock orders got in the way, but finished them this morning all ends dealt with. Now back knitting on the blue-sie.

March 6, 2022 Looked up from my knitting and saw movement on driveway, a cow and last years calf moose standing still long enuff for a pix. First time in many years that I have had them right in yard with enuff light to get quick pix. Both of the Kaslo socks have arrived, seems like it took me forever to do them, was close to forever because of late summer surgeries. But they are there and fit. Current socks, the all variegated are for the SockKnitters no solids KAL. The blue-y's are just to use up some blue scraps, thought I'd keep them for myself but ended up making first sock a bit to large, may end up removing the toe and making it smaller. Second sock still on the leg part so maybe just 3 rows smaller, then decision time.

KAL started March 1st, no solid colours. Well goodness knows I had enuff odds of variegated and self striping sock yarns to go ahead without getting into any new skeins. Also have 4 other pairs on the needles, a blue greeny pair, a light blue, the famous leftover greens pair and a dark purple, work a few rows on each every day. I don't usually have so much on the go but what can I say it just happened. Keeping fingers crossed that the March weather brings in an early spring, just barely freezing now at night. Nothing else much new and excitingly different in my wild mountain valley.

Went to downtown Tatla Lake last Thursday and got the booster shot, minor sore arm at injection site, lasted for maybe a day and a half. Shot #4 sometime later. Socks for E&E, grandparents pick up my trash and on their way to Tatla visit the dump (its on the way), good deal for me and for their grandcildren, second pastel socks on the needles. Good use of leftovers. Not sure about this pair where it might be going. may just stay here in the valley if the colours suit. Getting close to being overload on Olly. About all I am still looking forward to are the hockey games. Several nights in last week or so the temps haven't dropped below freezing, so snow is going fast and anyplace that was plowed is now straight ice. Glad for ice cleats on my boots and ice spike on the cane. Right now its warm enuff that I have the heat shut dow, especially in the wool room with all the big windows.

I am way behind in dealing with and answering my emails and updating my blog, things sorta on a downhill slide since Christmas. Christmas Day the power went out 7:30 pm at -33°C no power not much heat. Baseboard heaters in crawl space didn’t like that at all, ended up with frozen water line. Fortunately I had enuff water in storage that I was OK for drinking, but no water for showers, flushing or dishes. Power didn’t come on until 3:30 pm on Sunday 26th. I didn’t freeze but came close, had silk long handles on, long sleeve shirt, flannel shirt over top and then a fleece line jacket. Plus of course wool socks and fingerless gloves. 27th was coldest night of the winter so far at -38°C, winter not 3 weeks old and I’m ready to see the end of it. Plus on top of all the cold we’ve had loads of snow, prolly in the 3 + foot range.Yesterdays temps above freezing, today so far more of the same, Chinook weather. Lotsa football on the telly this weekend so hope to get to the heel on the sock, 3 m...