Naughty bits removed

I may have finally found the perfect sock pattern. I still have to use US No. 3's, but with the naughty bits (heel turning, toe grafting) removed, I may actually be able to complete two matching socks and (gasp) wear them! Here's a pic of the pattern by Claire Herne, from Ravelry.

Larry the Lobster

Remember that old SNL skit with Eddie Murphy and a lucky lobster going on a date? If not, enjoy this fellow, all ready for drawn butter and lemon juice. 

Baby Cabin

Finally completed. This is for Jonathan James McCarthy, who is about a week old by now. 

Cotton candy

I "inherited" this stash of knit-cro-sheen from a neighbor who was cleaning out the effects of a deceased relative. Since I don't crochet bedspreads, I am hard pressed with what to do with it all. Christmas ornaments? Book marks? A curtain?  Mosquito netting? Enclosed porch? 

J Lopi

I made another one of these bags, with the intention of giving it away to some lucky recipient. I like the color combo, which is not too evident due to less than optimal photographic conditions! Now that summeris here, it's time to stretch my brain and create new neural pathways with some color work or (gasp!) crochet. 

Teacher's Pet

This is a thank-you gift for DD's teacher this year, who sent home lovely notes about how well our girl was doing in school. DD says she will miss her teacher, thus the knitted keepsake. 

Working on this small project has inspired me to do more. A whole fruit basket next? 

Audible vs. Tangible

I resisted the idea of audible books for a long time, after a frustrating experience with poor quality cassette tapes from the library in my car stereo.  I decided to re-examine the concept after hearing Kelley from KnitPicks comment that she likes to listen to Jane Austen novels on her iPod while knitting. I had subscribed to quite a few podcasts, off and on, to listen to while knitting, but never a novel. When Audible.com ran a promotion a few months ago I decided to take the plunge. 

Using Salon.com as a guide, I made up a wish list of novels I felt I didn't need to own but still wanted to read. "When will there be good news," an intelligent  thriller by Kate Atkinson, was my first choice. I loved it but ended up listening before I went to bed, not while knitting. My most recent download was "The Little Stranger" by Sarah Waters. I actually finished Coachella while listening to this creepy ghost story. 

While I have warmed to the listenable format, I miss being able to "see" the story. There were parts in "The Little Stranger" I wanted to read over before moving on. I like leafing through a book after I've read it and picking up at some random point to see if I missed anything.

I wonder if any data exist about how well we absorb material when it's listened to as opposed to read.  

Maybe I'll go check.