Monkey Sock One

One!

Check it out, folks! That's a finished Monkey sock! These are truly addictive, fast, and easy. I cast on the second this afternoon - hopefully an FO to follow!

And thanks to an emergency work trip to California tomorrow, I'll have some plane knitting time!

Travesty on Flight 2

The faint of heart may not want to read further... this is not a pretty tale.

My Pomatomus socks and I had a long history. I bought 4 skeins of Trekking XXL and cast on just before going to Africa. I made some progress on the flights and while in Tanzania, and then took the sock on safari. It even got its photo with all of the Big 5 animals - Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Buffalo and Rhino. Then I finished up the first sock in California.
I cast on the second and took it to Alaska. I finished the ribbing and leg in Fairbanks, and then the heelflap in Anchorage. I picked up the stitches around the heelflap and started the gusset on the flight from Anchorage to Seattle. I was set to spend the next 5 hours on my way back to DC finishing as much of the foot as possible, in order to have a new FO this week. And that's where this story takes a tragic turn. Gentle readers, you may wish to stop reading now and remember the Pomatomus socks in happier times.

You see, I flew Alaska Airlines Flight 2. It goes from Anchorage to DC via Seattle. I had the same seat assignment for both legs of the flight. When we landed in Seattle, the flight attendants told the continuing passengers that we could leave our things on board, and place a "seat occupied" card on our seat. I grabbed my purse, and stuffed my knitting in the seat back pocket, and then put out the "seat occupied" card. (Anyone having a sense of impending doom yet?) I walked around the airport, bought a magazine, a coffee, and some snacks for the flight. Then they called for us to reboard.
(can you see where this is going?)

I got back to my seat, pulled out my Arwen cardigan so I could have an alternate project to work on, and then reached for my sock.

It wasn't there.

I checked the pocket of my seat, the seats next to me, and the floor, but there was no sign of my knitting bag. I asked the flight attendant, and she contacted the folks in the jetway, who contacted the folks who cleaned the plane. Nothing. Nobody saw it, nobody knew anything about it.

When I got to DC, I reported it to baggage services, who filled out the form to make the report of a left on board item. Then I called the Left On Board number for SEA-TAC to report a missing item, and they filled out a form for me.

Two days later, nothing.

I think it's time to say goodbye. First Pomatomus sock, second sock in progress, knitting needles, Kacha Kacha counter, crochet hook and knitting bag all gone. I can't really imagine that someone would think the bag was trash, but I also can't imagine that anyone would really want to steal it - there's just no real value.

I came very close to crying on the plane - only how crazy I would look to the other passengers stopped me. These socks had some pretty significant sentimental value, having traveled the world with me, but I guess they just needed to travel on their own now.

Here's the last photo I have of them, happy in front of Mt. Denali:

There's a mountain behind all those clouds...

But in the spirit of getting back on the horse, I sorted through my sock yarn (way to lift my sprits!) and cast on for a new pair. The Pomatomus is a bit too fresh of a wound, but Monkey socks perfectly fit the bill.

Monkey Monkey Monkey!

This is Tess' Designer Super Sock & Baby, bought last year at Maryland Sheep & Wool. In the skein, it was overwhelmingly pink... knit up, the purple is strong. They're going quickly - just cast on last night, and I'm already 3 repeats in (one more since the photo this afternoon!). Hopefully I'll have a new pair of socks to share soon!

Caribou!

Greetings from the Great White North! Actually, it's not all that white - I think spring has sprung here in Alaska, the sun is shining, the temperatures are lovely - all in all, it's been gorgeous!

I've been here for just over 2 days, but I've been busy! Four yarn stores, enough fibery goodness purchased to make my not being at MS$W a good thing :)

But I only have photos of one thing to show you now - I saw caribou!

Fuzzy spring caribou!

Courtesy of a little side visit to Denali National Park. More (fiber-related) to come!