I've had a very busy week because I'm teaching my regular class, and then one of my colleagues had to leave town, so I've taken all of his classes for the week, too (prep work included).  For a part-timer, working full-time is hard!  (Especially when my DD wakes me up at 4:00 AM as she did yesterday ... will my children ever learn to sleep?!)

Look at what came in the mail on Tuesday for me!!!  (Yes, this deserves three exclamation points.)

A gift from my sockapalooza pal! 

Parikha commented to see if they'd arrived yet (she thought they were due by the 15th), so I was tipped off to go check the mail (which, as you know, I only do a few times a week, as mailboxes are at the every end of the other side of my block in my neighborhood).  Look at what was inside!

Okay, we all knew that I was going to find socks, but these are some most awesome socks!!

Are they perhaps KPPPM?  They are definitely a yummy sock yarn, and Parikha wrote a nice little note about how she also owns a pair of Dansko Cordovans similar to mine and how she understands the need for perfect socks for perfect shoes.  How cute is that picot hem?  (Did you see my picot hem on my languishing Hourglass sweater, Parikha?)  How cute are those little ribs? 

I immediately put them on.

And just so that you understand how much I love these socks, I really haven't taken them off since Tuesday.  Okay, I did to shower, but otherwise I haven't.  Thanks again, Parikha!!  You're awesome!  (And by the way, you have a great blog ... you've been immediately bloglined.)

Proof (I promise this photo was just taken):

I know, these aren't actually my most favorite shoes in the world, but they're my other Danskos, which I still wear.

So, on to my side of the sockapalooza story:

Yes, I did finish them, and I got them out in the mail.

Here were the final socks ...

And a closeup of the "squiggle rib" pattern.

Overall, I think that these are a nice pair of squishy, comfy socks that will hopefully keep the wearer's feet warm in that chilly state where she lives.  The Jo Sharp Aran Tweed is a very squishy, soft and nice ... as a wool/silk/cashmere blend, it's simply pretty yummy.

In the end, I have to say that I've knit a few pairs of socks and that's why I signed up for the more "experienced" sock knitter list for sockapalooza.  I would really like to call myself "a sock knitter," but I've never known if I really had it in me.  I struggled with smaller yarns for this project (Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, and then Brown Sheep Wildefoote) ... I just can't quite seem to manage them.  I'm determined after this to get it, however, so look at what I started last night:

Yes, a copy of the socks that Parikha sent me (I never said I was original), using some leftover Twinkletoes from Over the Rainbow yarns on eBay.   So, we'll see if I can become a sock knitter after all.

But let's not forget that tickle fish sweater, shall we?