Meanwhile...

Two Sleeves. Or both sleeves since I only need two. They will one day belong to a sweater. Never would have guessed huh? To be specific the "Not your standard-issue sweatshirt, take two" from The Yarnd Girl's Guide to Beyond the Basics. The yarn is Ukrainian Red Peace Fleece. Mmmmm... Anyhoo. I did really want to start another wool sweater in time for spring/summer. But I Needed a bigger project. Why you ask; I have no idea. I just know the socks and tea set weren't enough. Crazy I am quite aware.
Since taking this picture about a week ago I've done a little of the back. The green bits coming up are the Hasta in our front yard. They have also grown in the past week, though more than the sweater.
In non-knitting news, I've been doing a bit of gardening. My legs are killing me! Little Bug has planted some flowers. They aren't actually flowering yet. I'm desperately trying to explain to convince her to not pick every flower she sees. She's big into flower fairies so I've been playing that up. The flower fairies want their flower to stay on their plant. She isn't so sure. We'll see how that goes.

Simple Socks

are not always best.

Finished last night and worn today my Panda Cotton Socks. Yarn gifted by mom, knit toe up on size 1s with a 1x1 rib at the top. Just knit, which really should have been simple. Right? These socks have more screw ups than any of my other socks. Ok so that is only three other pairs. But these are the first just plain knit up socks. Just stupid, screwey, I obviously can't count, sort of screw ups. As may be obvious when one looks at the striping difference between the foot and the leg of the sock. Mess up like that on one you have to mess up like that on the second. Yet intentional messings up like that are apparently difficult. Don't even try counting the heal stitches. Wow.

I'm not too concerned. They look quite cool. And if anyone is counting the stitched on my socks, well, I think they have a problem. And all I'd have to do is run away or start dancing or ask them what their deal is and that sort of behavior would stop. Leaving that person convinced that the socks are fine and there is nothing to worry about. Or that is my plan at least.

One lump or two?

Sugar Bowl. I think it looks a bit odd. Like some sort of weird building. I don't know.

Inside, four sugar cubes. Cubes being used very loosely since they are more like sugar lumps.

One in a tea cup. Lovely. As always too cute, tons of fun, and really quite easy and quick. I did all four cubes in one night; knitting, sewing and stuffing. The tea set is almost complete.

I had finished the bowl a few days ago. Little Bug had been keeping various Little People in it.

Experience the experience

Ever since Mr. Gnome read about duck eggs in a Sauce article he has been wanting to try a duck egg omelet. So yesterday at the farmer's Market we bought two goose eggs.

When opened up the yolk was very big and darker and thicker than a chicken egg. The color is off in this picture the yolk was more orangey.

Mr. Gnome prepared the filling.

Then for the cooking of the egg. That is just one egg and some milk. Followed by the yummy veggie filling and some cheese. As for the taste, there was a difference but I can't really describe it. It wasn't as fluffy but not heavy in a bad way either. Sometimes after this much egg my stomach feels weird but it didn't with this time. It was an interesting experience.

Spoon Woman

Spoons for the tea set. Knit with Berroco Metallic FX, it was fun knitting with something so shiny, I'm not sure when else I'd use such a yarn. Spoons are a true necessity if you are putting cream in your tea. Well I think you need more than spoons if you are putting cream in your tea. Taste buds maybe. Anyway. They are spoons. If you see anything else I really can't help you. And I'm sorry.
Spoons in use. Not sure why one is through the handle for the creamer. Sometimes it is best not to ask. The Bug's usual response lately is, "It happens mom". Can't really argue with that life truth.

The Building of a Shed

And other reason's I haven't been knitting. The Bug helped.
Isn't he all manly? yeay, well.... .....
It is now standing. It rained last night and was a bit windy and is still standing. The roof leaked though we have plans to fix that. Thrilling.

I actually have been knitting just not much that is interesting. More on that later.

Flowites

Our first spring in the house. I was hoping for some spring floral surprises. I hadn't planted any bulbs last fall, hoping for a pleasant surprise come spring. Well Surprise there is Nothing. Poo. I was telling Mr. Gnome how I wanted daffodils.

Yesterday he went to Home Depot to buy our soon to be shed and brought these home.

"Mommy Mommy

I cut the ends off!"

This was Little Bug yesterday. She was very proud of herself. And really as far as cutting she did a great job. Just the ends, none of the spoons. That's what they are, by the way, the spoons for her tea set. Or at least the pieces. Or were, now they are unraveling due to a lack of ends. Sigh.... Luckily they take no time to knit up again and I have plenty of the yarn.

Different

The bug now has four tea cups and saucers for her set. However the last one has a slight imperfection. I'm insisting it gives the set character. Do you see it? The bug didn't either.

Now you can either congratulate yourself for being more observant than a three-year-old, or not feel too bad b/c you are as observant as a three year old. Though I'll admit I didn't notice until I was weaving in the ends.

The set also now has a creamer. Don't feel bad if you think it just looks like a giant tea cup I think so too. The handle is different. Next the spoons.

Also a bit about the tomato blueberry. Now I was planning on taking a color work class at the LYS in May. So what do I do? Cast on for a sweater with color work. I started the color part the other night and it looks like ass. Not happy. Need help. So it is put aside. I wanted to start some fingerless gloves. What more? Yes more. But need smaller needles. I'm feeling adrift in my land of knitting.

Just so you know

I think I've said I'm knitting a short-sleeve sweater and a sock but I haven't shown you. So here ya' go.

Here is Tomato or as I am calling it, in my ever so creativeness, Blueberry. In aw of my cleverness aren't you? The main color is Baros bought for something else on Elann. I couldn't tell from the picture that it was all speckled. When I got it I was kind of bummed, speckled wasn't going to work for the pattern I had in mind, or at least not how I wanted it. So it has sat in the stash. The contrasting color is katia mississippi, my mother got this in Spain. It all hit me recently that they could work together for this pattern. Yay using up the stash!

This is the plain sock. Plain in that I'm only knitting it. Not so plain in the colors. The yarn is Panda Cotton again given to me by my mother. She is such an enabler. I'd link you to her Ravelry page but she still hasn't put up any pictures. I guess between taking care of my brothers, my father, my grandmother, teaching Spanish and working in an herb shop she just hasn't had the time. Excuses... Anyway. The sock, just finished turning the heel now just the leg. Thrilling....

Now you may be saying, "My goodness, what is that lovely looking bread?". Well, you might not be, but you should, and I'm going to tell you anyway. It's Carrot Wheat Bread with Walnuts and Raisins from Whole Grain Breads by Machine or Hand. In this case it's a bit of both; dough mixed in the machine then shaped by hand and baked in the oven. I love making bread this way. The machine does the work, I seriously can't knead bread apparently, then I get to bake it in the oven and make it a nice round shape or whatever. This is a breakfast bread, a little sweet and very good with cream cheese.