On the Mend

Boy, this cold has kicked my butt!  I'm not usually such a wimp about a cold.  Yeah, I'll whine all day long about it, but usually I'm still able to function.  Not with this one.  I went to bed on Wednesday night and proceeded to shiver and shake all night long, even with a down comforter, two afghans, wool socks, and flannel jammies on!  This is where I spent all day Thursday and most of Friday:

  I spent the days blog reading and sleeping (and using up that entire box of tissues in one day).  Never did touch the stocking until Friday evening when I was able to sit up in my knitting chair in the living room for a few hours.  You know I'm really sick when I can't even manage to knit!

Things started looking up a little bit on Friday night and I was able to finish the knitting portion of the stocking.  I then found a site to create some knitting graph paper according to the gauge being worked and planned how I'd put "CLOVER" in duplicate stitch on the front, which I did on Saturday morning.  I'm so pleased with how this stocking came out. Samm really loves it, too. 

Check out the pocket; isn't it cute?  I wasn't sure how that would come out, but I'm pretty pleased with it.  I used an i-cord bind off across the top the of pocket; I think it put a nice finishing touch to it.

Some close ups:

 
I'm not crazy about how the "V" came out, but I don't see any other way I could have done it.  I used the Eye of Partridge heel and did a stitch combination on the top to resemble it (I used purls instead of slips on the top).

After finishing the stocking, I decided I HAD to get out of the house; I was going nuts (plus we had no food in the house).  So, I went grocery shopping - not a good move.  I really wasn't quite up to being on my feet for two hours yet.  I was totally wiped out!  I spent the rest of Saturday quietly - taking an afternoon nap and knitting.  I needed to be able to get up on Sunday morning and make it to work at the gym.  It was not easy getting up, but I did it.  Thankfully, it was an extremely slow day at the gym so I didn't have to get up to clean as much as usual and I managed to finish the first "Bob Sock" and start the second.  After work, I took a nice afternoon nap and vegged on the couch.  I spent the evening quietly knitting on the second Bob sock and catching up on some blog reading (you guys doing the NaBloPoMo are killing me!) 

So, want to see the Bob Socks?  I rather like the colors I'm using; I think they look kind of sock monkeyish (new word) :-)

Pattern:  Garter Rib
Yarn:  Paton's Classic Merino
Needles:  Size 5 dpn's

Plans for today?  Well, since it's a holiday, I get another day to relax.  I plan to take it easy and do some spinning until I have to meet Patti at the gym.  Luckily, I'm feeling a bit better today but I think I'll take it a little bit easy at the gym.  Then back to work tomorrow.

Ooops, I almost forgot; Chappy's mom is having another calendar contest.  Post a picture of your November calendar and you could win one of her beautiful calendars.  So, here's my entry:

Each year, my Dad makes a Family Calendar.  It's so much fun to see which photos he'll choose (as long as you're not the one whose embarrassing photo is chosen!)  You have until the 15th to get your entry in; what are you waiting for?

Comments

[--Deb]

Thanks for playing!!

[Lora]

oh wow!! Clover's stocking came out BEAUTIFUL!!!! The pocket is very cool too!! The "V" doesn't look that bad...it's hard with blocky letters like that! Over all...awesome job.
ACK!! She said "BOB" will that name ever stop haunting us Manchvegas gals?!?!?

[Jackie]

I'm glad to hear you're feeling better. Clover's stocking is beautiful.

[Colleen]

the stocking came out perfect!!! the pocket looks totally awesome.
Bob socks are looking good too.
Glad you are feeling better! Gives me hope, since I'm pretty much down for the count.

[Sheepish Annie]

I'm glad you're feeling better, but I wonder if this was just a cold. It sounds like something bigger and scarier!!! Here's hoping that it's run its course.

The stocking is amazing! Such a lucky baby that Clover is...

[Sarah]

I agree with Annie -- that definitely sounds like more than a cold to me!

Love the stocking! And I'm going to show your Bob socks to my husband. He is so picky about his socks, but I think he's going to love them.

[Amy]

The Bob socks are very handsome, nice colors. Clover's little stocking is so cute, I know it's something that she'll treasure for a long time. I'm glad you're starting to feel better. I had a few weeks ago and didn't think I would ever get rid of it, but I did and I am back to my usual wonderful self. ;)

[Amy]

And happy anniversary next week too.

[marianne]

Well, that Amy is just always right on top of things, eh?
Clover's stocking is so cool and sweet and oh so lovely, that cuff is Very Pretty!
Great looking Bobsocks... :^)
I have to agree with Annie and Sarah, sounds like something more than a 'mere' cold... I'm glad you took very good care with yourself and I'd say 'just don't push it yet'... that was a particularly nasty little beastie!

[Chris]

I'm glad you're feeling better - sounds like one nasty cold!! I really like the Bob socks.

[Kelli]

So glad you're feeling better. :) I was a bit under the weather last week too. :(

[trek]

Great stocking and Garter Rib socks. What size are your sock blockers?

[brenda]

Sorry the cold was a bad one! The stocking looks GREAT. I think she'll treasure it for years.

[AuntieAnn]

Methinks you may have had the flu, perhaps. Glad you're better. I love the Clover stocking!

[lisa]

Love your dad's calendar! Especially the pics in the date boxes... might help remember all the birthdays. DH is one of 8 kids, and they all mostly have partners/spouses/kids... so a lot of people to keep track of! Lucky you can bring your computer to bed with you. Does sound like the flu, glad you're better.

[Gigi]

Clover's stocking is wonderful. You did a great job! So glad to hear you are feeling human again. Get completely well soon!!!!!

[Debi]

Glad ypu're feeling better Julie!

Clover's stocking is perfection! So pretty and cute!

[teeweewonders]

I love the stocking and the grey and red socks too. Great colours. Hope you are back on your feet again. I'm off to look at that calendar. :)

[Jason]

Sounds like you had high fever. Glad you are feeling much better now, Julie. Clover's stocking looks great! And I love the colors on Bob Socks. Thanks for the graph paper link. I have a design in my head. This will help me plan it better. :-)

[Pat]

Glad you're beginning to recover!
I LOVE Clover's stocking!

[~Kristie]

Nice comfy spot for resting, but sounds like you were super ill.

Clovers stocking is absolutely precious. The pocket adds the cutest touch.

[Amanda]

Clover's stocking is terrific, I love the pocket.

Hope you're on the mend. Wow, it seems you've been sick for a long time!

[Gina House]

Oh, clover's stocking is adorable...adorable! And the socks are rockin'! I am in love with your family calendar. That is so cool!

I'm so happy that you're feeling a little better...fall into winter colds seem to hit the hardest. I'm sending you so many hugs!!!

P.S. Thank the Blogging Goddesses...my laptop is up and working again!!! Woo-hoo!

[Arleta]

Darn, nasty cold! Glad you're feeling a little better. I love the stocking!! Great job.

[Lark]

Great sock. What a wonderful tradition for every year, to pull out the same sock. (Can you tell I never had one but wished I did?) So sorry you've been sick. It sucks when you can't do anything with your time off except get better. Did that come out right? Yeah, getting better is the point, but hey, proximity to needles and yarn without ability to knit makes me sick!!! Blue skies!