Pattern: Intrepid Traveller by Gail Marracci
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Lightweight in "Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test"
Size: Small
Yardage: about three-quarters of the skein (apron. 247 m)
Needles: 2.00 mm bamboo

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It still shocks me each time I see these socks and realize how bright they are, perfect for grey, rainy days (like today but not like the day I took these pictures). These socks were a very satisfying knit. The stitch pattern is really easy to memorize and, being as stretchy as it is, it lets you use a smaller stitch count so there is actually less knitting to do.

I made a couple of small modifications to the pattern: The first was to knit for five inches instead of four and a half from the cuff before starting the heel - this was just because the needles I was using were five inches long and I was too lazy to hunt up a tape measure. The second change was the heel style. I'm partial to the short row heel at the moment and tend to switch it out for a heel flap and gusset construction unless there is something special about the heel flap. Since I wasn't paying attention to the instructions at this point I missed the part where they said to work the foot around fewer stitches than the leg but my socks still worked out fine and the toes didn't do anything weird because I had to do an extra decrease round.

Now that I'm all finished and wearing these socks I wish I'd made them a little taller (maybe knitting for six or even seven inches before the heel); the cuff could hug my leg better. I really like the stitch pattern. I think it works really well with the crazy variegated yarn and I'm going to keep this pattern on my list of "things to knit again".

Most mornings I get up first. I let Abby out of her crate and I put the kettle on. I make myself some breakfast and sit down at the table. And Abby lies on the couch or her cushion or goes outside or plays with her toys … for exactly as long as I am actually eating.

As soon as I've moved on to just drinking my tea and reading my book she sits down behind me and whimpers. And whimpers and whimpers and whimpers until I get up and move to a couch.  In the winter she settles herself on my lap but in hot weather she stays on the floor where she can see me. Generally with today's toy of choice under her chin.

Sometimes I'm strong and ignore the pathetic sounds that come over my shoulder as I sit at the table but most of the time I'm a pushover. It's much more comfortable to read and drink my tea on a couch anyway.

We spent this afternoon out on a lake with Rob's parents. It was a warm day but the wind picked up a lot while we were out and by the time we came back even the smaller bays had whitecaps. The waves were that beautiful emerald colour they only are when the weather is a little rough. We spent a bit of time in a well sheltered bay drifting around while Rob's dad tried a bit of fishing. As the wind picked up we could see the birch and poplar trees along the shorelines dancing; the pine trees continued to stand still.

Abby was a pretty good boater. While we were going fast and had plenty of spray coming over the bow she lay down on the seat with her head in my lap but once things slowed down she was up and climbing around. When Dale started fishing she seemed to seriously consider jumping over the side and taking a swim. Fortunately for those of us who wanted to stay dry she's not all that keen on deep water.