Summertime

Track listing: SUMMERTIME BLUES / DON'T ASK ME WHY / JUKEBOX JESSIE / I AIN'T WAITING / SWEETHEARTS OR STRANGERS / TRAIN KEPT A ROLLIN' / MY WAY / YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL / ALL THE TIME / LONESOME LOVE STORY / PROUD MARY / CAROLINE

The new Porky’s Hot Rockin’ line-up sees Porky backed by legendary Restless brothers Mark and Paul Harman and his own brother John. Porky Coates has been one of my favourite acts of the last two years and Mark Harman has been a hero of mine for twenty odd years, so this much be a sure-fire hit record. Well, no actually, it isn’t the no-brainer you’d expect. In fact I’d have to say I found it a bit disappointing. I think the problem is that the rockers are too familiar and quite often his voice sounds a bit flat.

For me, the stand-out track is the pepped-up version of Elvis’ Don’t Ask Me Why. As with his brilliant cover of the King’s Angel, he’s taken an okay ballad, notched it up as gear and in the process made the song his own. He’s tried the same on the Jailhouse Rock ballad, Young And Beautiful, but it seems more forced and doesn’t worth half as well.

I’m not sure we need another version of Eddie’s Summertime Blues, but it’s a bit different in that Harman plays some jumpsuit era James Burton. They give Status Quo’s Caroline a good kick in the ass with Mark Harman playing some wicked guitar.

On the originals front we get Harman’s rocker Jukebox Jessie where Porky’s sounds like he eats Wurlitzers for breakfast. Porky’s own Lonesome Love Song is okay but I liked the western styled I Ain’t Waiting despite the lapses into Bananaramaville.

We visit a couple of Memphis’ best in Carl Perkins (Sweethearts or Strangers) and Johnny Burnette (Train Kept A Rollin’) as well as another nod to Eddie Cochran with My Way which again sees Harman in fine form. Sleepy’s All The Time is pretty poor and CCR’s Proud Mary is worse. On a positive note, I thought the album title was funny.

4More

Things were going so well. I actually have finished up the plaid socks. I need to block them properly...they are a little tight fitting and blocking will help (well, thinking the pattern through thoroughly before casting on...then recasting on...oh that would have helped.)

I don't know what it is...the inner knitter speaks and I think, yes...they WOULD be better if I would have...
And I don't listen. I swear it happens in every project. Yes, I learn things as I go and would apply the to "the next" project. It is always "if I were to knit these again...". Yet I knit things so quickly...why not rip back and make it right...er...um...near perfect?!?

So that is the story of the two different socks I have on the go.

Escher. I am knitting with Tanis's sock yarn. (I still need to tell you all about the frolic and my love for Tanis's yarn) I absolutely love this yarn and would highly recommend it. There is a rumor that Shall We Knit may be stocking it for those who are local!

So I knit the sock toe up to the heel. Then I couldn't decide on a heel so I knit the second sock up to the heel. Then...oh then...I decide that the toe is too short and they are a bit too tight. I should go up a needle size. Yup. I ripped both back and now have one at the leg.
I stopped knitting because they are a little tight on the leg. Yeah. So I am thinking that I should go up another needle size for my humongo calf...yet I am not sure so I have left it and started knitting....

The Cat Bordhi Spiraling Master Coriolis socks. I will be listening to Cat speak at a "sock talk" next friday so I should really have a pair of her socks under my belt...no? Well...I cast on with the a, b, c, d stitch markers and started the whirlpool toe. Well, I didn't like it...but the problem was really all the dang stitch markers. I don't like stitch markers, they get in my way. I know there are some really cute ones out there...so many talented people making stitch markers but I hate using them. I can't stand things dangling from my knitting. If necessary I use a very small metal circle one...just the circular top thingy...nothing hanging from it.
Anyway, back to the socks. I decided to make a regular toe with judy's magic cast on and away I went. I knit a little at monday's knit and chat..then continued the next day making a fabulous coriolis band...then realized that with this toe I can't make the band go up the leg.
Yeah...that is why she says to do the whirlpool toe.
I settled for the basic coriolis sock and turned the heel. Now I have decided it is too tight. It needs a few more stitches around...and the toe section should have been 1/4" longer.

I haven't ripped it yet...but I started a second sock with the proper toe and 4 more stitches.
All for 4 more stitches.
Yup, that is the way I am doing it now...near perfect.

Head Start

Vital Connections of the Midlands' Early Head Start Program is now enrolling infants and toddlers at two of its nationally accredited (National Association for the Education of Young Children) childcare centers, located in Arthurtown and lower Richland. These two sites have been granted funding for pregnant teen moms, low income mothers with infantsand toddlers, infants and toddlers with special needs, and infants and toddlers of Spanish descent.

The program will do health and literacy home visits as well as serve children at its two locations, and will officially begin in August.

Also needed are foster grandparents/classroom volunteers (English and Spanish speaking) to assist the licensed child care providers in the classrooms. Please call or email me with any questions. The potential families are welcomed to visit either child care facility for observation/and enrollment.