Why Doesn't Skechers Make Shuffles in Women's Sizes?

I had bought my niece, Maribeth, a pair of shuffles for Christmas.  I love them, they are so awesome.  Why won't they make them in Women's sizes?  Don't know what they are...vivid light up shoes.  I would love to have a pair.  Then again I love bright colors and I am not afraid to wear them.  I could care less about the shape up shoes...right now...nothing is getting shaped up with this knee.  I can even buy a pair of bike shoes but, I can't ride my bicycle right now...again, the knee. 

I wish they would make these beautiful bright shoes in my size. 

One Sock, Two Sock, Green Socks

As you can see, I am finished with one sock for my darlng hubby.  I chose to use Elann's Highland Peruvian Worsted weight yarn.  I used US 6 Addi turbos for this project.  I had read that worsted weight yarn could be used to knit socks and never having tried it, I was a bit skeptical.  Not anymore, though.  If you want quick, get some wool worsted weight yarn and go to town, it is quick and he loves the first one that is finished. 

 Gauge for this particular yarn for me was:  4.75 stitches and 5.94 rows = 1 inch on the US 6 needles.  I started the first sock on January 4, 2011 and it is finished.  What does this tell you?  Super quick. 

It does create a thicker sock but, this isn't a problem for my DH.  He told me he loves the first one and can't wait for the second one to be finished.  Ladies if your man has a huge foot, get out the worsted wool and start knitting.  It drives me crazy to knit him a pair of socks for that size 12 foot.  I was able to do the 2 inch cuff that he wanted and it didn't take me days to complete.  Just a couple of hours.  Now, I can use up stash yarn to knit socks for the big footed people in my family.  I have to do a stash dig later and see what other colors I can come up with. 

The color of the yarn is Mallard.  I love how neat it looks knit up.  I saw it from a swatch card I had bought and thought, it was awesome looking.  When Elann had a full bag sale, that is when I struck.  I am always looking for a great yarn sale.  :)  I live for yarn sales, they are almost as great as a shoe sale.  Nothing beats a shoe sale when you can get a beautiful pair of shoes for $5.  That is the best feeling in the world!  This is the number one reason why I miss Marshall Field's...they had killer shoe sales. 

Can That Be Mine?

Tonight I tripped on a box coming out of the bathroom.  I had no idea it was there until it was too late.  I get to the bedroom...hobbling.  I look down at the knee...left knee and it is all swollen and in other places than normal.  WTF?!  Yep, this is me.  I hit my shin on the box so, that wasn't the problem for the knee.  Apparently, the last time I knocked into something, I did a really good job on my knee.  I have swelling and puffiness below the knee and it is really gross looking...almost looks like something slipped and is just laying there.  I know...disgusting.  Maybe that would explain why it has been hurting so bad lately.  I almost dipped into the pain pills but, I chose to ignore that pain as much as I could.  I hate taking pain pills.  So, I wrapped up the knee today in the alternate brace while the good one is drying on the washing machine.  It works in a pinch and it managed to get soaked in the rain storm tonight.  So, it will be drying while I see if the other one is ready for me to slip back on. 

I frogged the sock I was working on...of all the things...I ran out of yarn.  Me, ran out of yarn, can you even believe it?  I knew I wouldn't make it to the second sock when I noticed how much yarn I had used on the leg portion of his sock.  Dang!  So, I changed tactics and I started a new pair of socks with worsted weight yarn.  Let me tell you, when the software says any yarn can be used to knit socks, I am damn well going to try it.  So, Gary is getting a new pair of socks with Elann's Peruvian Hightland wool in Mallard.  I love this wool, it knits up nicely for my other projects and the best part, it was cheap.  I bought it when they had it by the bagful on sale.  :) 

This means I am using stash yarn and that is always a good thing.  I am trying to be good over here.  I need to be good and use up some of this yarn.  If you saw how huge my yarn stash is, you would faint. It is massive.  One of my friends saw it and she nearly fell over.  She asked me what I was planning to do with it all...excuse me, if you knit you would understand. 

Insanity...Knitting Size 12 Socks for the Hubby

Here is sock number one so far.  The hubby had his big old clod hopping foot in his sock.  I have one more inch to knit and then it is time for the toe.  I have knit many pairs of socks and this one is about to do me in.  I might need a drink after this sock.  I will cast on for the second sock after this one...I will conquer my second sock syndrome.  I will do it. 

Notice I am psyching myself up.  I have to.  Well, I re-dyed the other sock yarn and wouldn't you know it, one is lighter than the other.  Gack!  So, I guess, I have to re-dye the second skein to get the right color, unless...I can hope he is color blind and won't notice that there is a slight color difference. 

Since I over did it on Sunday with all of the laundry...I paid seriously last night for it, I was in utter pain with my knee.  My quads were knotting up on the left side and then the right one kicked in.  The knee has been bothering me all day.  I apparently kicked one of the cats in my sleep and she bit me as revenge.  I woke up long enough to boot her sorry butt off of the bed. 

We hit the local taco joint for dinner and we know at this particular place, you do not drive through because they will screw you out of several items.  We go inside to eat.  So, we get there and no one is in the drive thru, which is unusual and the parking lot was pretty full.  I know those people have been screwed out of an item at the drive thru.  When we were leaving, we noticed a huge line at the drive thru...I mentioned to Gary, that they must be newbies or they don't mind having to go back inside and telling them to give them whatever it is that they were missing.  Their usual excuse..."we have a new girl on the line."  I wonder how many new girls they have back there since they have been using this same excuse for as long as we have been going there. 
 
After Gary's socks are finished, I have plans to finish the wee bitty sockies and do some kids socks for quick and easy work.  Then I will get to work on the men's size 9's.  Then the size 14's will be after that.  I have to have a break from big feet for a while.  If I don't, I might snap and chase someone down with a pair of straights. 

Our Little Slice of Heaven

This is our garden.  It isn't very big but, it has what we like planted in it.  Gary was busy today pulling out the rest of the hibiscus root that is in the middle of it.  I chopped around my plants to aerate the soil.  I have lettuces planted, the mesclun mix that was our target row for the bugs...they ate it, fine by us.  It has collard greens in the mix and I can't stand collards.  ugh.  Then we have radishes, and sweet peas planted towards the pool filter. 

I ordered in more seed and hopefully we will see those soon. I want to plant the broccoli, it loves the cold.  Gary dug up one of the roses that lived in the bed and it goes to Melinda.  She said she would take it and she wants my noisette but, the stump is huge.  Click on the bottom picture and you will see how big it is.  I will take out half of the lettuces, we fear. 

It Won't Go Away!

My darling hubby had asked for a pair of socks for Christmas.  Well, with the way things work out around here, it is way after Christmas and I am working on his socks now.  I am on the first one and it is about to drive me around the bend.  Here is my predicament...I might be running low on the yarn.  Oopsie!  I guess if this does happen, I can always use another yarn, dye it the original color and then over dye that with the second painted on color.  I just hope it would turn out right.  I am totally out of the cashmerino yarn.  I ended up over dying the just shocking and sunny apricot for the surprise socks that will be coming along after the 4 pairs that I have on the waiting list.  One of them is the wee bitty sockie, the other two are for his siblings.  Then there is the size 9 man's sock I have to knit after those three.  No problemo since I have the yarn picked out for that one.  A red called lipstick.  Just what every man needs...a vivid red pair of socks.  If he doesn't like that color, I have a hand painted one on my desk that will work out.  It has blues, greens, teals, and golds in it.  I call it Wintry Lights. 

I am washing my knee brace tonight...it just stinks to high heaven.  I am using the baking soda and vinegar on it.  Everything is getting the vinegar and baking soda right now.  I have some yarn that I put aside for a pattern for a shawlette.  Can I find the pattern and the yarn?  Nope.  I have no idea where I put it.  I am losing everything again. 

Now...to check on the washing machine and go read on my kindle before bed.

Vinegar and Baking Soda

Today I am washing all the crud out of my towels with a lovely combination of vinegar and baking soda.  It strips the ick out of the fibers.  All that soap that gets trapped and is down right stinky after a couple of uses.  I hauled the vinegar and the baking soda up from the kitchen and it will be used three times in a row.  Then I can go back to using soap. 

I am working on Gary's sock today.  I know, I will not finish it today.  Size 12 feet are a bitch to knit for especially when I hate the sock pattern.  I also have to do an over dye with my kettle today.  I have two yarns that are getting it...they are odd colors and I need the yarn for those size 14 socks.  I am going to surprise the person in question with a pair especially for him.  I know he is going to love it.  :) 

The hubby is outside right now with his deep watering spike.  He tells me the other day...honey order that t-spike for me so, I can do the deep watering on the citrus trees...well, I had already ordered the thing in and it was sitting in the box in his garage.  He had been walking by it for months.  Go figure. 

This morning we both woke up early freezing.  I had to tell him to put the heater on.  We had the a/c on since it has been hot here and we have been wearing shorts.  You haven't lived until you are wearing shorts on New Year's eve. 

Now back to washing, I have to scrub down the bath tub and get more towels into the wash.