She sent Zephyr stitch markers. They are so light!

Soap and lotion.

Mango tea, chocolate covered almonds and COFFEE that smells absolutely amazing.

A beautiful mug.

She knit me a hat using Knitspot’s “Hot Waffles” pattern. She also sent me a matching skein of Cascade 220 to complete the matching gloves!

Socks that Rock Braun’s Woods. This color has been on my wishlist since it came out! I am so excited!

Knitted Wit “Mow Your Lawn.” This is a huge skein and will be perfect for the pattern she sent me.

2 skeins of Shibui Sock yarn in a wonderful blue.

And a beautiful scarf pattern she managed to get autographed by the designer.

So thank you MmarthaG from Vancouver! I absolutely love everything you sent to me!

 
So far, I have finished one of Wendyknits’ Summer Socks, done in DIC Smooshy. I had the same color in my stash as she used in her pattern. The cuff is a little tight but the fit overall is good.

 
Next up, a single Nanner sock, also by Wendyknits. The yarn is STR Silkie in the Pondscum color. I love these this sock. I will get to #2 soon!

 
Sock #3 is the second sock from one I did back in May. It is a Loopy Ewe sock club pattern made from some Berocco Comfort sock a recent swap partner sent to me. These socks will be for my MIL. I initially started them for Mother’s Day and will now be ready to gift them for her birthday! I hope!

She sent me a skein of DIC Smooshy China Town Apple. Also Tempted Glam Girl sock yarn in the Moonlight color. It is beautiful and sparkly and I cannot wait to knit it up into … something. Jury is still out on which pattern exactly.

She also sent me a HUGE bottle of Soak which means I have to get off my tuckus and finish some sweaters already. I have several to sew up, weave in and block that are all layered on a dress form in the office. It’s embarrassing.

Also included was a WebKinz CHICKEN! I have not signed up on the website yet. I love this chicken.

And a jar of Gudonyatoo scrub in raspberry mocha. This is good stuff. It produces a small lather and a big scent. I love using it after a long day of working outside.

Thanks you secret pal for thinking of me!

I will now attempt to answer all of the outstanding SP12 questions. Here goes.

Question 1What is your favorite summertime drink??

That would be a tie between iced tea and beer! Depends on what I am doing or plan to be doing

Question 2 As a kid, what did you look forward to most about summer vacation/break/holiday?

Sleeping in and going to camp!

Question 3 What would you consider the perfect amount of stash?

Answered <a href=”http://knitting.roosterhillfarm.com/2008/06/thank-you-secret-pal.php”>here</a>

Question 4 1) What yarn (that you don’t have/haven’t used) would make your stash “complete”?
2) What yarn do you never want to be without?

If this were a month ago, the answer to the first question would be Wollmeise. But now I have lots! I am now on the quest for Sknitches Syncopated yarn. But seriously, is a stash ever complete?? To answer #2, I think I could never be without sock yarn. Anyone’s sock yarn.

Question 5:1) Where is your favorite place to go for vacation/holiday?
2) Where is one place you’d like to go?

My favorite place is my husband’s camp in Ontario Canada. It is a small cottage built by my father-in-law at the end of a small lake. There are hardly any other cottages on the lake - at least last time I was there. I have not been there in about 3 years because of work and farming. The fishing there is excellent. One place I would like to go to is Alaska. Or Texas. But definitely Alaska.

Question 6 What is your favorite type of project to take along on holiday/vacation?

I don’t go on vacation much! But I take socks with me everywhere. I went on a business trip last fall to Chicago and packed 3 skeins for socks: I think I knit about half of one sock during my whole trip. But the best part was I used my project bag as a hiding place for extra spending money. Imagine my surprise months later when I unpacked an unused skein from that project bag and found a wad of bills. Yahoo!

Question 7 What is(are) your favorite place(s) to knit? and What supplies (besides yarn & needles) make the setting perfect for knitting?

I usually knit sitting on the couch while my husband watches tv. The perfect supply would be a cold beverage.

Question 8 What is your favorite supper for a hot summer evening?

Hmmm that would be a couple things I think. A very easy meal is taco salad. I use refried beans, warming them in a cast iron skillet with a little olive oil, minced garlic, cumin and chili powder. And more cumin. I shred cheddar cheese and set it aside. Slice some black olives. Chop up whatever other veggies may be hanging around in the fridge - tomatoes, peas, onions etc.  Make a bed of lettuce. Add veggies. Add beans. Add cheese.  Add olives. Add salsa and sour cream (I use non-fat!). Crush a handful of tortilla chips over the salad. Enjoy!

Another dish I like to make is grilled salmon. Although the best salmon I have ever had was in Seattle, it is possible to find some good salmon back east. I make a marinade with OJ, honey, chili powder, dash of red pepper flakes and cumin. And more cumin. Leave salmon in marinade all day, then grill. If this is a filet, do not flip, just cook on the skin side. If it is a steak,flip and add more marinade. Good with a nice salad and some rice, and maybe some nice chardonnay.

There! I think I did it! SO Secret Pal, there is more information about me probably that you cared to know. I am caught up with my questions. If only catching up with my knitting was so easy.

I will try to be better and more punctual in the future, secret pal. Thank you for being so understanding!

This week’s question is “What would you consider the perfect amount of stash?”

I wish I knew! One that you can easily manage and find a skein or three if you are looking for them. I think you need plenty of options when deciding what to kit.

Last night I finally started my first sock for Summer of Socks 08. I am not a huge fan of Judy’s magic cast on but gave it a go anyway. And pulled it off my first time around, no small feat for my butter fingers.

I have had the Shibui Knits yarn in my stash for quite some time, and when I saw Wendy’s pattern for Summer of Socks, I finally had the perfect project for it.

Here’s hoping I get these done soon!

After starting Undulating Waves scarf about 7 times, it was time to ask for help.

These two turkeys looked it over and gave me some tips. I finally understood the bead placement!

Unfortunately I was unhappy with the size of my YOs. So the scarf is frogged again. The turkeys will study the pattern and give me some more pointers soon.

I finished the 2 at a time magic loop socks done on circs too small By the time I got to the gusset, I decided to go back to my good ol. DPNs.

Now I am working on March’s Rocking Sock Club sock, “Leafling.” It has been a while since I have knit with BMFA yarn, I forgot how addiciting it is. I love watching this pattern progress. I am on the heel, the actual heel turning is done with short rows on thh bottom of the foot. And yup, with my trusty DPNs.

When sock clubs ship in March, you can count on a lot of green yarn!
From left: Yarn Pirate Emerald City, TLE CTH, RSC Lucky