Knitting--what you do for love

So first I wanted to post the picture of the finished socks. 

What a feeling to complete something new!! Thank you to all the cheerleaders, both those related by blood and those related by heart.

So I decided that it was time to take care of a UFO (unfinished object) Jessica's road scarf.  A bit over a year ago Jessica was reading a story in a magazine, I believe it was the readers digest, about a family that had a scarf that they always argued over.  Pretty much it was hung on a hook by the door and the first family member who got was the lucky one who got to it was the one who wore it that day.  Now that the children were grown, they each passed it back and forth each month, kind of like a custody arrangement.  Anyway the reason it was the best scarf, was that the mother had knit this scarf during the last vacation the entire family took together when they were childen.  The mother took a bunch of patterns and a couple of colors of wool and stitched them up to see what the patterns would look like--from this was born the Road Scarf. 

Well after Jessica read this story, she wanted a Road Scarf, and in a weak moment and for great love for my daughter, I agreed to knit her a Road Scarf.  I worked on it for a bit and then last winter happily hid it away in a corner, now it is starting to get cold once again, and even though Jessica hasn't uttered a word, I am feeling guilty for not finishing her scarf.  But here are a few facts--or excuses--who knows.

Fact 1--I really hate anything that is of the sampler variety.  Fact 2--The reason I hate anything of the sampler variety is because I firmly believe that any sampler is made by a person who couldn't make up their mind and settle on a pattern.  Sort of like having ADD of the handwork variety.

Fact 3--What on earth was I thinking???? 

I really hate knitting this mixed up pattern scarf, but I love my daughter.  Jessica rarely asks for anything.  She is sweet and giving and works really hard, so I will knit this scarf for her.  She loves it.  Here is what it looks like now.  I have about 3 more stitch pattern sections until it is finished.  It is pretty yarn at least. 

Halloween Helm Style

We love Halloween.  Next to Christmas this is our families favorite time of year.  During the month of October, our family creates different names for our normal food.  Feature from the Black Legume, Bog, Batwing Soup, etc.  On Halloween night we have our best meal of the month.  All month long the family has input into not only what we should eat, but what it should be called.  Over the years, we have created standard names for some of our favorites.  This year we ate our big meal the Sunday before Matt left for the MTC.   Our menu consisted of:
Lizard Tail Pot Pie

Bloody Skulls with Brains

Served in our Halloween special dishes with Fizzy Blood to drink.  We finished it off with with Coffin Crunch for desert.

So for Halloween night we went to the ward potluck dinner.  We took Blood and Guts for our dish.

Another tradition for our family is that after you turn 12 you create and construct your own costumes.  I was very pleased with the childrens choices this year.  They used great creativity.  Mandy started it all off using dollar store little girls tutu and wings.  She was The Star Fairy of McDonalds.

Jessica decided to go as her Great, Great Grandmother, Cora Berry--who was an indian.  She was an herbal woman from the Midu tribe.

Joshua went as a character Alex Rider, from the book Scorpia by Anthony Horowitz.  He was a teenage spy who turned assassin.

I was most surprised by Daniels costume.  He went as Captain Moroni.  He had help from his sisters and brother with his costume.  It was unique.

He wan't so happy in this picture as he was told that he had to wait until we ate at the church for more food.  Twelve is hard when you are always hungry.  Bill had a pie for the pie making contest and took 3rd place.  He is here with one of our friends twins Daxon.  Whenever we are in the same place with the Shelly's, we usually get the fun of holding their twins.  They love the break.  I usually have Breslyn and Bill usually has Daxon.   We are buds.

Fact is that our teens are usually surrounded by the children of the ward.  I have heard more than on parent say as we walk into a place, "Good the Helm's are here, now I can have fun too and not worry about our children." 

Now onto Socktoberfest--how did I do??  Well I almost got 1 pair finished.  Just 2 inches to go, but at midnight (even with the fall back part)  I just couldn't knit anymore.

However today I finished my first ever pair of socks.  I have to admit that I am hooked and look forward to making the next pair.  They are truly a great take along project.  Next on the needles?  Finish Jessica's scarf and begin one for Matt.