Crazy Craft Swap and Confused Ravelers

Ok, my girlies are confused. When they have birthdays I get these awesome packages. I sent Manitoba2ct a big fun something last week and she mailed me gummy chocolates. Today is MarySK's birthday (HAPPY DAY MISSYMOO) and her package is waiting to be mailed Monday, and she sent me a striped sock monklet yesterday! I think she knew I was lonely. He was carrying pretty yarn and a gorgeous dishcloth knitted by Mary. XOX!!!

The Church had a craft swap yesterday too. I brought tons of yarn and fleece and scrapping stuff so I would not feel guilty when I came home with new crafty things. The deal was you just showed up and traded stuff. I scored BIG time! I got: a big artist easel and beautiful japanese papers, ribbon, a tin, magnetic tape, gel pens and colored pencils, three skeins of tahki cotton in pink tweed, a quilting kit (for Rik), dark green wool, gold wool, purple red heart (yeah I know but it's PURPLE) a copy of Interweave Knits Spring '08, ROWAN #34!!!!, pretty scrapbook paper, a knitting card, some cloth for Lizabee, a special surprise for my Tractor Swap partner, a bunch of Colinette ribbon yarn and mohair yarn, and six moonlight mohair Lion Brand. DUDE. OK, Mac, so I have reported as requested. :)

Riordan Wins!

I ran a contest on Ravelry in honor of my 10000'th post or something. 10000000000'th? Anyway, the first person to post a picture of a sock monkey donating a blanket/toy to their local animal shelter won their favorite yarn. Sunniechick won, shown here is her photo of visiting Riordan Monkey, helping out by giving handknit blankets to the homeless kittehs. Yay!

We're on TV!

My god-monkey is on the telly, and Bev talks about the Traveling Tractor Monkeys! Woo Hoo!

Extreme Sheep LED Art

Blabbermouth Contest

So in honor of hitting my 10000'th post on the rav (yeah yeah I know) I was informed that I should do a contest thingey. So here it is: first person to post/email me a picture of a sock monkey donating a blanket or toy to your local animal shelter wins your choice of yarn skein(s) as long as it is under thirty dollars. Cool? Ready Set GO! Oh, post to Tractors Sock Monkey Silliness Thread if you can!

They're Magickally Delicious

Pugs. Should we dye Easter green this year?

Hippos and OMG Jolly is too cute!

I'm so proud of Son #1's clay talent. Here is his science hippo. Note the cute paper teeth. Also, I looked around and perched on his chairtop sleeping spot was the Mighty Bean. I snuck the camera off the shelf so you can see the view of Jolly that I get, causing lots of squeaky baby talk and doggie puggle kissing every day.

Unholy Glee

I know, I'm being a big yarn goober. But look, I fused the pouch!

Notes On Wonderful Wallaby

I love this pattern. It has been so much fun to knit so far. I'm using Plymouth Encore, because it is washable. Anyway I have a few (hopefully) helpful pointers. One is that it helps to start a contrasting color right after the ribbing in the beginning. For some reason, it makes it SO much easier to locate the stitches that you need to use for the pouch.
Also, when you thread through for the pouch, skip every other stitch. I'll try to get a closeup of what I mean. The count comes out perfectly if you do that.
Don't be intimidated by a crochet hook either, It's just a way to grab the yarn from under the sweater. I am really enjoying this knit!

From Gretta, A Happy Tearjerker

Pugger Visits Biltmore

I know that everybody visits Biltmore but I wanted to make our visit a really special time just for my Tractor girls, so I focused on the most important things: sock monkeys, yarn, and pugs. I almost got kicked out, too, so I hope you all enjoy. I used my birthday giftcard to Starbucks that you guys gave me and took the boys for breakfast. Then we headed over to Biltmore. Lizabee had passed on some guest passes, yay! They let Joy Monkey in for free and she even got a treasure map. We visited the toystore and Joy was allowed to climb a toy tree full of sock monkeys. We were off to a great start. We toured the whole house and when we got to the servants' living room Joy whipped my camera out and snapped a picture of a basket of yarn. Of course pictures are not allowed and we were immediately accosted by security but Joy used her most innocent sock monkey face so we were allowed to walk on through. We split an ice cream after our tour and on the way out Joy started jumping around in the van because there was a pug being walked outside. All in all, we had a lovely time.

Pugs and Chocolate Day

We had such a fun day at home today. Son #1 (in headphones) worked on his science project. See, there IS a use for Red Heart! Eastie Beastie is fond of him. Jolly is doing his "pugs will take over the world" pose there. I HAD some brownies left, till Jolly the Mighty Bean decided that they would taste better with a beanie chicken on top. No Sock Monkeys were harmed in the making of this post...

Tatiana?!

They voted Von into the Wild Card Round. Yeah.
I have a new hospice patient, but they don't think she has very long. I went up and sat with her today for awhile. She has no family so I hope to keep her company while she is dying.
I know I'm supposed to be working on four scarves and I cast on for Wonderful Wallaby and I have the blanket to do...but I could not resist the lure of the Noro! My second time making this hat. I still prefer Silk garden to Kureyon but look at the colors. Le sigh...
OMFG they voted Tatiana BACK ON. I hate American Idol.

Be Still and Know Day

Today I took Joy the Sock Monkey to run some errands. First we stopped into the Biltmore Traders, this coffee shop near the house. It used to be Bob Ingles garage. Joy got to play with a magic 8 ball while I chatted with the owner about World Religions, then we got to explore the roaster and even had a geography lesson on coffees of the world.
Afterwards we dropped in at hospice to see Miss Jane and turn in my February paperwork. Miss Jane wants Joy to come back and visit with the patients, so you guys will get an update on that later this month. Apparently visiting sock monkeys are welcome at hospice. Good to know. Miss Jane had some great words of wisdom, too. She related that every so often she needs a break (from being a gorgeous southern belle) and puts on her pj's ALL DAY. She says this is what she calls a "Be Still and Know" Day- when you "Commune with the Lord, yourself, and aol poker." Miss Jane, pictured here with Joy, highly recommends this for what ails you.

Ping Pong For Jesus

My friend Jennifer Saylor invited me to her fortieth bday party this Sat. I love the picture she sent, who could resist ponging for Jesus.

I worked on some silly Art scarf sections today, finished up silly banana and sock monkey robot face. Scarves are waiting...