Vibrant and bright colors; soothing, simple knitting.  This summer has been busybusy; I've set aside all my WIPs* except these socks; they go with me everywhere.  Those stolen moments are adding up.

*So, I'm totally lying to Ravelry about how many WIPs I have.  I've uploaded and admitted to four... but if I did a little closet digging, I couldn't even hazard a guess as to the real number.   My unfinished projects roll deep.  I do find those little "wip" indicators on the project page to be motivating, though, so perhaps a little owning up is in order.

I sat outside yesterday evening in the company of good friends, celebrating a birthday; watched flocks of birds flying overhead, surrounded by vibrant tiles and succulents and murals. Today, I finished the first sock - tidepool colors; vibrant summer blues.

I'm writing the pattern up so that I can share it; I'd like to make them again, in my size this time. I've given away all the socks I've ever knit! I love picot hems so much; history repeats itself, I suppose. I want to wear these as anklets.

The stitch pattern is so simple, but looks pretty, I think, in the Fleece Artist Sea Wool - slightly nubby, lovely sheen, the slight changes of color adding a little bit of depth.  I'm such a sock knitting junky; I needed my fix.

Sometimes I love those on-the-go projects the most.  The ones I can fling around in a bag, and pick up and work in a car, and prop up in my inbox at work so I can see it all day, out of the corner of my eye, and admire and "ooh" over the colors. 

I like these socks. 

The other night, we went bowling with some friends.  I love bowling, even though I am really, really bad at it (no joke - my ball goes in the gutter at least as often as it doesn't).  Since there's no point in my playing to win, I just play to have fun; drinking beers, eating fries, hanging out with friends.  I love it.  Two days later, my forearm is still sore... and I was using the small, light kiddie ball.  Why, forearm?  Why?  Am I really that weak?

My legs are laughably sore right now, too - literally, deeply sore muscles that make me chuckle when I'm walking down stairs.  I have to laugh so I don't, you know, cry and collapse.  The other night, in a walk around the reservoir, I thought it would be a great idea to a little extra workout by doing mini-lunges whenever I was going uphill.  It's a very hilly walk, but I figured I've seen enough US Weekly papparazzi pictures of Jessica Biel doing lunges in a park to realize that lunges must be really great for toning one's thighs.  Who doesn't want that?  Bring it! 

Note to self:  you are not Jessica Biel in the park with her puppy and her trainer.  You are a knitter with a desk job.  Doing lunges up one hill would have probably been just fine...  and I'd probably be able to get up from my chair without trembling.  Live and learn.  Tonight, my sock knitting muscles are getting a workout... and that's about it!
 

While in Virginia last month, I had my first encounter with Fleece Artist at the Yarn Lounge, in Richmond.   Mmmmm... beautiful, beautiful yarn!  The Yarn Lounge is a lovely store - lots of wood, homey and warm, and hands down the most organized yarn store I've ever seen.  There were so many interesting, natural fibers - quiviuk, local alpaca, handspun yarns; this shiny marine-colored Sea Wool was calling out to me.  The yarn has a slickness to it - soft, but it also feels like the finished socks will wear well.  I'm making up this sock pattern, and I'm so pleased with how the gorgeous hand-dyed yarn makes the simple picot cuff and simple rib look downright elegant.  Happy, portable summer knitting.