Ellen's socks

I did not know what I was undertaking when Ellen asked for socks for her birthday. I started a pair 6 months before her birthday, with some fabulous yarn I got on Little Knits. It is Austermann Step, with aloe and jojba in the yarn! It was great to work with, but as I got onto making the foot, they seemed really small. I stopped mid foot and spent the Fourth of July weekend trying something else.

First I thought about the Mary Jane Skimmers pattern, but every sole I made turned out some other size.




I tried several times -- even rewrote the pattern in case I was following it wrong, but nope! It wasn't working.

I tried some bedroom slippers I saw in One Skein Wonders by Judith Durant with Ellen's favorite yarn in the world, Noro Kureyon #185. As I was finishing the last one, I just didn't like the way they looked. So sloppy.



I finally made the Mixed Berry pattern in the 2-at-a-time Socks book, and, although I thought they came out huge, they would have to do -- Ellen's birthday was the next day!!

She liked the socks, but I could tell she would be really happy with the original socks I started.

I finished the feet of the Austermann Step socks and gave them to her yesterday. They fit her perfectly and, as I thought, she was thrilled.




She asked if she could keep the first pair, too, and, of course, I said yes. She really made out in the sock department this year!

Hello again

The absolute highlight of the last two months has been the dinner Alyson and I had a few weeks ago. It was through a group called Outstanding in the Field. Check it out! It is a event that should not be missed. An artist and chef, Jim Denevan, has created this experience with a group of his food loving friends. It is a dinner, using all organic, locally grown produce and meat, set in the middle an organic farm. The wines supplied are also from a local winery. Ours was in Carpinteria at the Coleman Farm. Along with the fabulous dinner, we got to meet the farmer and his family (who supply some of the vegetables and herbs for Lucque's, Mozza, A.O.C. and many other fine restaurants as well as a presence in the Santa Monica Farmer's Market), and get a tour of the farm. The dinner is served at a long table (there were about 125 diners) with the local farmers and Jim interspersed throughout. Alyson had bought us each Jim's new cookbook and we brought them along, hoping he would sign them. And we wanted to meet him -- he's pretty cute! Alyson took this photo of him at the farm:



After the dinner, we approached him with the books, and he brought us into the trailer/bus he travels around the country with.


It looks like it hasn't been altered since it was built. It was a real thrill and, when I told him how much I admired his art, he drew a picture in my book!




Here we are, loving every minute:



For a complete review of the menu and to admire more of Al's photos, check out her blog at life-of-rileydog.