October is Orange

I just realized that there has been orange in at least one photo in every post this month (not that there have been that many posts, but still) and that it continues in today's post. Lots of orange.

The month is winding down, and that means that I needed to get a bunch of projects done for the Rav thing. So I did. Yay. In time to photograph with the kiddos yesterday.

It was leaf day, so they were in the neighborhood. First up - I made a pumpkin hat for Aubrey. It's adorable, too big, but adorable.
She'll be able to wear it for years - which is a small consolation. Another consolation - her brothers both enjoyed wearing it, especially Mason.
And yes, that last one is Elliott whipping the hat around, which explains my facial expression. Next up, I finished the Multnomah you saw last time. After I took it off the blocking pins, I didn't take it off all day. I love it that much, and it's like wearing nothing around your neck, it's so soft and light.
Color is perfect for fall as well. Also perfect for fall? Owls. I whipped up a few for the nephews, as a Halloween present (and because Aubrey was getting presents - Aunt Annie needs to be fair). They turned out so cute! I really was tempted not to give them away.
But I did. And it was worth it. Mason had fully accepted his owl into the family in about 2 minutes:
Luckily, Elliott's owl survived it's emergency craniotomy performed with a jig saw (not sure he has a future as a neurosurgeon, but you never know).
All in all, I think they liked them.
I also finished Peggy's birthday present (finally). Still cringing a bit about the cutting of a knitted item, even if it was felted. Guess that means I'm not ready for steeks yet.
And Aubrey got to wear her little shoes home. She could not be bothered to pose for the camera.
Last night I finished up the last of the October projects, the Fire yarn.
Ended up with about 335 yds of worsted weight yarn. And am very happy with it. So not what I would normally choose, but that goes to show you it's good to step outside the comfort zone every now and then.

In other news, last football game of the season is tomorrow. The reports about maybe being possibly eligible for playoffs with a win ended up being false. Volleyball continues, they don't play again until next Wednesday (maybe I'll make it to that game, the girls are a bit miffed that I didn't get to a game in this round). Girls soccer lost a heart breaker on Monday - the refs were atrocious. you know it's bad when trainer Annie starts yelling at the refs! Boys soccer won an amazing game on Tuesday. With 1:25 left in the second overtime (each OT is 15 min) the winning goal was scored. Talk about drama. They play again tomorrow night, and it looks like I'll be going, at the request of the team.

So that's my big plans for Halloween - hope you all have a happy and haunted one!

Mid Month Report

How is it the middle of October already? And why does it feel more like the middle of November weather-wise?

Last week was rainy and chilly, this week it's been rainy and cold. There's a difference. How can you tell the difference? This week, the fire got turned on. That's the difference. Last Friday was was chilly and rainy, so what better to do than go apple picking?
Miss Kaylee is an excellent apple picker - I really wish I had taken video so that you could hear her, "I can twist and pull! I did it! I put it in your bag Aunt Annie!"
She also picked a lovely pumpkin. Can you tell that she's a bit of a ham? Perfectly posing herself for the camera.

Last Saturday was homecoming, and... first football win! Boys soccer also won that morning, as well. Football plays again tonight - in Ashtabula. Might be a bit rough. My best two linemen are injured. One isn't playing at all, and the other one is going to try - he's promised to take himself out if his elbow (which requires micro-fracture surgery, that he's putting off until after basketball season) hurts too much. Which we all know won't happen, so if he reverts to his, I'm-not-moving-my-arm-while-playing pose, I'll sit him. All 6'7" of him. Good times. Did I mention that there's a chance for rain/snow mix tonight? Can't wait!

But having the game tonight means that I've got tomorrow to myself for knitting and college football! Good games tomorrow - Texas/Oklahoma and then the big one, ND/USC. Fingers crossed. Before football though, I'm supposed to go apple picking again, with my nephews - keep your fingers crossed that the weather permits the outing. I'm hoping to up the adorable pictures with some in the pumpkin patch...

Speaking of pumpkins, I finished the first Kleine Kurbisse sock.
Here's the stitch pattern unstretched - doesn't look like much right?
But when you stretch it out, you really see the pumpkins. I love it.
I also finished up a pair of slippers for Aubrey - why is it that anything knit in baby sizes is automatically cuter?
They are to match the slippers I'm making for Peggy (her birthday present, as requested) which are currently in progress:
I've started the second one, hoping to go to Ellie's sometime this weekend or maybe Monday to felt them so I can finish them.
That picture was just for scale, the mama slippers are seriously ginormous. I got an order in from Webs yesterday, which means that after the second slipper is done, I can start another project, which is (hopefully) going to be awesome. In my head it is awesome, which sometimes worries me, other people tend to give me the "crazy look" when I think a project is this awesome.
Very excited about that pattern booklet too, it's awesome as well. Especially for this sweater - can't wait to make one. That photo, btw, gives no hint to the awesome project. You'll have to wait on that one.

The last project I though was particularly awesome - still to be featured on the blog, it hasn't been gifted yet - earned me a prize on the Harry Potter Rav group, which arrived in the mail yesterday (it was a good mail day!)
Stitch markers that are inspired by Professor Trelawney (crazy Divination teacher from the books) and are themed on tea leaf readings. Very cool.

I've been slowly adding to my Tapestry Cowl this week. It's such a time suck, just to get the 3 rounds a day. It doesn't help that I'm easily distracted while knitting it. Need to not watch anything interesting on tv while knitting on it.
But it's really pretty, and so soft, I'll be happy to wear it when it's done. I need to get going on some spinning this weekend as well.
Pretty Fire fiber. Hoping for a 2-ply DK to worsted weight yarn out of this. We'll see how it goes. This is the order that the fiber will be spun, attempting to spin the 2 halves in the same order, so there's another four bits that look just like this.
Going to be really cool, and very season appropriate. Good for football watching - because Sunday is Browns/Steelers, followed by Halloween card crafting with Meagan - it's going to be a good weekend! Hope everyone else has a good one too - especially the Jersey folks, Mom is visiting this weekend for Miss Sarah's birthday party! So jealous!