Adventures with Alphamonkey

Just wanted to let you all know that Alphamonkey is having exciting adventures on my blog and will be heading off to the next knitter before the end of the weekend.

Alphamonkey is here!

Alphamonkey arrived today!



It looks like Alpha had a good time in Kentucky and now (he? she?) will be living it up in Boston for a few days.

Alpha Monkey's Stay in KY

Unfortunately I did not get to take many pictures of Alpha Monkey's stay here as my camera decided to not work for a few days. so if whoever receives the sock next (should be there any day now!) can take a picture of the work I did, it would be much appreciated. I did get a picture of one place Alpha Monkey visited after I mailed it out, so here you go!

we went to ReBelle in Lexington, KY...a favorite LYS for their weekly SNB.

Alpha Monkey is in Lexington, KY!

Alpha Monkey arrived to me yesterday, I plan on knitting up my part and hopefully mailing it out on Monday. Pictures might have to wait awhile since the computer I upload pictures on is completely fried...but as soon as I'm able I'll share them.

Alpha Monkey Made it to Washington, D.C.

The mailman brought the Alpha Monkey sock to me today while I was resting in bed recovering from a mean case of Monkey Gut. If you're not familiar with this ailment, it's the much beloved stomach flu that brings a variety of delightful symptoms that are not discussed in polite company. Suffice it to say that I have been staying close to the bathroom.

When the package arrived, I put down the project that I had been working on while convalescing, and I worked the heel right away.

I admire all of the lovely photos that everyone has taken of Alpha Monkey and her travels. When I am feeling up to it, I will take Monkey out on the Metro and try to take photos of her with some of the famous D.C. monuments before I send her on her way.

Here is a picture of the heel that I added:
















And here is a picture of the cool goodies that Ozknitter included in the package (Thank you!)















I'm sorry that my tummy is in such a delicate state right now because normally I would have consumed those chocolate cookies by now. ;-)

AlphaMonkey & Melbourne

AlphaMonkey appears to have enjoyed his day in, windy, Melbourne today. He travelled on Melbourne's famous trams, saw the Yarra, everything pictured above and more!

Note: Blogger resized the photos, so if you click on them the writing will be clearer.

AlphaMonkey arrives Down Under!

AlphaMonkey arrived in my mail box today, all the way from Illinois, USA!



PlumFan included a skein of Colinette Jitterbug in the gorgeous "Velvet Plum" colourway. It's so pretty! Thanks PlumFan!

So AlphaMonkey's spending the night in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Back with an update (and hopefully pics) tomorrow!

AlphaMonkey

PlumFan could you please contact me: ozknitter AT gmail DOT com

I gather you sent AlphaMonkey my way in August, but he hasn't arrived yet :(

Alpha Monkey goes to Stitches Midwest

Alpha Monkey arrived in time to go with me to Stitches Midwest.

We took the Amtrak train from Springfield. Unfortunately the train was late and we were worried we wouldn't arrive in time to meat up with the wonderful Knitties. We hauled some @$$ and were able to get to lunch at 12:40, only 40 minutes late.

We were able to meat some fantastic people. Monkey is now making his way to the next host. I will post the pictures as soon as the computer stops acting wierd and allows me to retrieve my pictures.

ETA: Pictures as promised!

Looking for Alpha Monkey

Alpha Monkey left Germany about 2 months ago. There was no food in the package to set of the Dept. of Agriculture alarms... (the goody was a bit more "stringy")

If plumfan would contact be off group, I can double check the address (of course, it should have come back to me if...)

AlphaMonkey

Ok so is it still in Germany? Is it lost? I know we all have busy lives, children, mates, families, jobs, problems, illnesses, (this is not aimed at mummymakesphotos who had a recent death of her grandfather, my prayers are with your family) etc but honestly, I can say I received the socks and tried to send them out in a timely manner. I don't really think that has happened with most others who have received either sock. Don't worry about the darn pics. Just take one of you and the sock outside your home. Don't have a camera? Move the sock along and post a blurb about your hometown. Most hometowns have a website. Notify the next knitter and maybe he/she can take a before and after photo to show yours and their progress. This is why so many people avoid swaps because of those who delay and forget that others are looking forward to it. Ok off my soapbox...

And the Sock is over the Pond!

This cuff came all the way from Memphis, TN !

And look what else was in the package!

The BBQ Sauce came just in time for Grill Season here in Germany. I am so excited, thank you thank you!!!!

I was especially interested to see the Trekking used for the cuff. Despite the fact that Trekking is made not too far from where I live (Clue #1), I have never happened across it. It was a bit thicker than the Opal and Regina I am used to using. A little internet research yielded some Ombre colorways are just gorgeous.

So, what did I do first: I knit the first 2 repeats immediately. Monkey is a very clever pattern, not really that complicated to remember but a very nice effect. Maybe I will have to make one of my own.

Staying with the blue theme, I used some leftover Opal Handpainted

and finished:

Now off to see the sights and some more clues!

AlphaMonkey

The sock was born on Saturday, June 2, 2007 at 7:55 CST. Using leftover yarn from a pair of Trekking socks from last summer, I name this sock,"AlphaMonkey."

I now understand how Yarn Harlot feels when people think she is nuts for taking sock pictures. I persuaded cajoled begged my girls to come with me. They finally understood when I explained that this was like flat stanley.

We first went to

Graceland. When in Memphis, you have to visit Elvis.

With so much to do in so little time, the girls and I took AlphaMonkey to downtown Memphis.

Next stop...
the Mississippi River and Hernando DeSoto Bridge. We walked along

Beale Street and saw
Schwab's
and
B.B. King's Blues Club.

None of us, including AlphaMonkey, had ever taken a duck tour so we hopped on board to take in some more sights. We passed by one of my favorite Memphis sights...

Sun Studios, the first place that Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash ever recorded! We passed
Saint Jude's Children's Research Hospital. We drove by
the Pyramid before going for a boat ride by
the bridge again on the Wolf River that empties into Ole Man River. Towards the end of the tour we passed
the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated and present day site of the National Civil Rights Museum.

After the duck tour it was time for a visit to
The Peabody to see the world famous

ducks in their fountain.

. We took an elevator to the roof to get a bird's eye view of
Autozone Park,home of the Memphis Redbirds. The last stop for AlphaMonkey was to Lansky's to see the fabulous collection of guitars...
That is a coat that Elvis had brought for repair to Lansky's just before he died. The guitar to the right is signed by Van Morrison.

The guitars are signed, from left to right, by: Celine Dion, Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash, Tanya Tucker, The Dave Matthews Band, Jimmy Dean and Hootie and the Blowfish.

AlphaMonkey had a great time in Memphis and will be departing for his next foster knitter very soon.

They're Here!!!

I got the package yesterday. But where am I? I'll give you 2 hints and you can guess (or go to my blog!). I am a Navy wife who is currently living near a large city that has a river and a pyramid.

I am casting on today but I have a silly question...I'm only knitting one cuff not two, right?