I finished Sock One of the variegated sock yarn. Of course, true to my knitting prowess, it's a bit on the big side. What makes this one special, to me, is that I learned a new heel technique called short row heel. While I'm not sure that I applied it correctly to this sock, I'm going to knit the second of the pair and then do a search on the internet to see if I did make a mistake. The wonderful thing for me is that I actually learned this strictly by reading! I didn't cheat by watching a video, which is not technically cheating, but I feel smarter being able to read and understand knitting instructions.
I knit socks on double-pointed needles, top-down. The generic heel pattern is one in which you knit a heel flap, and then knit back and forth on it with a short row technique that causes the flap to take a cupped shape, and then that gets connected back to the sock itself by you picking up stitches. When this technique is done, there is a clear delineation between the heel and the sock itself.
This mitered heel, short row technique creates a heel that is, in my opinion, less obvious but more just a seamless part of the sock. Now, where I think I screwed up is that I did not do any decreasing once the heel was finished. As a result, my sock looks really wide and fits that way too.
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Seamless Heel! |
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That's Macy's butt in the corner. |
I started Weight Watchers, as I mentioned last time, and I have lost a few pounds. I am eating so much better these days and making me accountable via the Points system is really the reason for my success (so far). Some of the replacements, substitutions I've made: turkey and veggie burgers for hamburger, whipped cream cheese for mayo, sandwich thins for regular bread; I've also added fresh vegetables to lunch and dinner. I've learned the key is to get low-point but filling foods. My next step is to increase my activity level so I can start maximizing the weight loss, which is currently due just to me cutting back.
I'm still looking for a house. I have two contracts on homes, but both are short sales. Therefore, there is really no timetable but instead I have to just sit and wait for the seller's lender to determine if the price is acceptable. What could potentially be terribly frustrating is if after waiting for months, the bank comes back and rejects my purchase price. However, I try not to dwell on that and instead there is a little part of me that is so excited to consider being a homeowner for the first time in almost ten years.
The latest cat news is that Delilah and Macy are still living separate but equal lives. However, I haven't figured out if Delilah is trying to get closer to Macy for good or evil purposes. Delilah does push the boundaries, sometimes, by getting as close to Macy as possible until Macy starts growling. Macy will eventually slink away but Delilah stands her ground. It could be a case of Delilah stalking Macy (I notice Delilah rubbing up on a lot of things lately - marking
her stuff) but it could also be that Delilah wants to get close to Macy and is less afraid and more curious. Macy's still too fearful to be receptive to Delilah, but Macy has been very good about always sitting near us, whether it be on the couch or under the table.
All that being said, what is more cute than a sleeping cat?
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Delilah stole Steve's heart and now his favorite chair |
I'll tell you what....a cat in a laundry basket.
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Caught! |
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She's had it with all the pictures. |