Real Man's Survivial Guide
Yesterday, 1/28/2007 in SALT LAKE CITY, UT: 31 high, 7 low
What does a real man do when the air of January is (in)edible, unhealthy and unbreathable? He follows the suggestion of Utah's Motto "Life Elevated" and takes off for higher elevations. He fills his lungs with clean, crisp mountain air and enjoys the bright blue sky at Snowbird.
A real man eats a big ol' pile of hardy breakfast, with strong black coffee (ok, with an added bit of cream and a touch of sugar), and stares with love into the eyes of his charming and talented wife. He knows the value of all things good and has worn his favorite cap, from the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics, for years. A real man knows how to dress for the cold, wears warm boots and pants he hemmed himself ( his secret is iron -on seam tape).
A real man wears warm wool socks, hand knit by his very talented and loving wife.
He also knows just how special his real socks are. He is a real smart man.
Pattern: Garter Rib Socks from Sensational Knitted Socks
Yarn: Jessie’s Superwash Worsted from her A Piece of Vermont Store
Color: Black Walnut
Needles: Size 4 DPN Bamboo
Time to Knit: 1-01-07 - 1-25-07
Great socks. I can't see where the color changed at the toe. How'd you do that?
Posted by: jessie | January 29, 2007 at 04:08 AM
Of course he's real smart. He married you, didn't he?
Posted by: Carole | January 29, 2007 at 04:47 AM
Those socks (and that man) are stunning. What a picture! HI SMITH! HI!
Posted by: Laurie | January 29, 2007 at 04:59 AM
Coming from a girl who picks up about a thousand black walnuts every other year -- we've got a 100 yr old tree -- that color is spot on! I love the idea of a colorway so connected to the outside. Lovely yet manly socks. Nice work.
Posted by: Ann | January 29, 2007 at 05:00 AM
I adore Smith's Canada hat. I have the hooded sweatshirt and it's probably my favorite article of clothing. Roots makes great quality stuff. My sweatshirt looks new and I've had it for 5 years.
Posted by: Christy | January 29, 2007 at 05:12 AM
awwww cute post. Cute model ;)
Must say i'm diggin the hat Smith :)
Posted by: Kelly | January 29, 2007 at 05:45 AM
I don't think I've ever seen eggs and bacon served in a bowl before. Is this another mark of a smart man?? After seing your pictures of the inversion, I'd head UP and OUT too.
Posted by: Judy | January 29, 2007 at 05:46 AM
OMG, you did a fantastic job Kitchenering the toe!!
Posted by: susan | January 29, 2007 at 06:10 AM
Yay Smith!! Great socks, Margene!
Posted by: Kim | January 29, 2007 at 06:11 AM
The garter rib is my go-to man-sock, but the color is great. Talk about a Real Man Sock!
Posted by: Liz K. | January 29, 2007 at 06:13 AM
those are some nice socks!
Posted by: mama-e | January 29, 2007 at 06:23 AM
They look great! So cozy ;)
Posted by: Lolly | January 29, 2007 at 06:36 AM
Love these socks!
Posted by: Wool Winder | January 29, 2007 at 06:46 AM
What, no waffles? They're manly. Love the socks - you got yourself a keeper Margene.
Posted by: Cara | January 29, 2007 at 06:51 AM
We headed up to Solitude so DV#1 could get some decent air in his lungs. I thought of you as we passed Silver Fork! :)
Posted by: Stitch-n-Snitch | January 29, 2007 at 06:53 AM
Happily real men are also willing to pose in their stocking feet in public for the sake of showing off their fab new socks to their talented wife's knitterly friends everywhere. That is quite the man in wonderful new socks!
Posted by: Hillary | January 29, 2007 at 06:58 AM
Gorgeous socks!! And a real man doesn't complain when he has to stand outside in the cold in his new socks for blog photographs. ;)
Posted by: Chris | January 29, 2007 at 07:07 AM
I just want to come to SLC to eat breakfast with you on Sunday....the socks are great!
Posted by: Scoutj | January 29, 2007 at 07:10 AM
a Real Man has a really great grey mah'stash!! not to be confused with his beautiful and talented wife's mah'yarn Stash.
Posted by: marie in florida | January 29, 2007 at 07:18 AM
I ought to show this post to my husband in order to get him to actually wear the socks that I knit for him last year. They still haven't been worn. I know he'll approve of the new socks (and the hat -- he loves Roots!). And I could do with some of that lovingly gazing into my eyes, too!
Posted by: Susan | January 29, 2007 at 07:20 AM
You make me miss SLC! Yep, I agree that Smith's a keeper - he knows good socks and the good woman who made them for him!
Posted by: Dianna | January 29, 2007 at 07:33 AM
Love that that REAL man poses for you in his socking feet!!
Posted by: Robin | January 29, 2007 at 07:34 AM
Fab! That is one great man and one great pair of socks.
Posted by: Norma | January 29, 2007 at 07:35 AM
I love reading the "stories behind the photoshoot" Kind of like True Hollywood Story for knitters.
My favorite line out of this one? "...and stares with love into the eyes of his charming and talented wife." It was so unexpected - but so right.
Beautiful...ummm, I mean manly socks you have there! ;)
Posted by: Stacey | January 29, 2007 at 07:50 AM
Good. Smart. Great. Creative. Loving.
You put the gender identifiers where you will in that list, but I think both belong on all.
Blue skies
Posted by: Lark | January 29, 2007 at 07:50 AM
You guys slay me.
Posted by: regina | January 29, 2007 at 07:55 AM
Fabulous manly socks!
Posted by: Ruth | January 29, 2007 at 07:59 AM
As we like to say here in the Bay State, he is wicked smah-rt!
Posted by: Kathy | January 29, 2007 at 08:22 AM
Yes, a real man takes his shoes off in the cold to pose for his knit-blogging wife's pictures! Hurray for Smith!
Posted by: Pat K | January 29, 2007 at 08:22 AM
Love the pants! And the socks too, they look great. And so does Smith. And the breakfast. Well, actually, everything looks great except that damn inversion.
Posted by: Cheryl | January 29, 2007 at 08:27 AM
That real man seems like a keeper. ; )
Posted by: Vicki | January 29, 2007 at 08:34 AM
Too bad you can't just stay up there.
Posted by: claudia | January 29, 2007 at 08:42 AM
WooHoo! I'd take a handknitsockwearing man ANY DAY! With that 'stache. Num! You're both so lucky to have each other!
My husband has been BUGGING me to make him some socks - and here it is... his birthday today. The guy is getting a sweater pattern. On paper. ha For the sweater I plan to make for him but don't even have the yarn yet. It's totally worth it to make socks if I can get him to do a photo shoot like this one with Smith. Hi Smith! Happy Sock Wearing Smith! :)
Posted by: Laura | January 29, 2007 at 08:44 AM
Great hubby. Great socks. Great books (one of my favorite sock books).
Posted by: Jennifer | January 29, 2007 at 09:03 AM
Those are fantastic, Margene! You've inspired me to try out that pattern for my uncle's socks. I'm ordering that book this morning.
Posted by: Heather Joins The Round | January 29, 2007 at 09:10 AM
Those look great - great color, great fit. But now you've spoiled him and you know he's only gonna want a sock drawer to match yours now!
Posted by: Anne | January 29, 2007 at 09:12 AM
Nice manly socks! Good job! And belated happy anniversary!
Posted by: Cathy | January 29, 2007 at 09:20 AM
He looks mahvelous, dahling, especially below the knee.
Posted by: Lucia | January 29, 2007 at 10:03 AM
I'll second that one - that's a real "keeper" of a man!
Love the socks...
(((hugs)))
Posted by: Knitnana | January 29, 2007 at 10:20 AM
A very smart handsome man........yes, indeed. Especially because he obviously appreciates his very talented wife.......
Posted by: christine | January 29, 2007 at 10:23 AM
Great guy, great socks, great scenery. :-)
Posted by: Beth S. | January 29, 2007 at 10:59 AM
Fab socks on a fab guy!!
Posted by: Kathleen | January 29, 2007 at 12:08 PM
Love the socks. I also as a kid split open black walnuts with a rock (mostly shell and little nut) and yes the color is pretty spot on. My hands were well stained after from the skins that covered the nut. Wish I had scored that skein from Jessie- very manly.
Posted by: Manise | January 29, 2007 at 12:34 PM
Hi Margene (aka "charming" and "talented" wife)!!!
GREAT new warm manly socks for Smith!! It's amazing how fast you knit them up :-) Looks like a fun day at Snowbird...wish I was there wearing my hat from the 2002 Winter Olympics! The "BEST" Olympics I have attended...well the only one I have been to...
Hmmmm...iron on seam tape!!!? I'm going to have to check it out!
Happy Knitting!
Posted by: Debbie | January 29, 2007 at 01:09 PM
Great socks - very manly!
Posted by: AmyP | January 29, 2007 at 01:16 PM
Great Photos! You have a 'keeper' there, Margene, especially if he can hem his own jeans and not foul up the sewing machine!!
Posted by: Peg | January 29, 2007 at 01:35 PM
That is one lucky man! Great socks!
Posted by: tiennie | January 29, 2007 at 02:06 PM
He's lucky to have you and knows it! Can't beat that... glad you both got lots of clean mountain air, and that the socks turned out so well.
Posted by: Birdsong | January 29, 2007 at 03:26 PM
Great socks. I'm glad he appreciates them. Hope the air gets better soon.
Posted by: Shannon | January 29, 2007 at 03:51 PM
Brave man. Sock foot in that weather. After reading your update from yesterday, I'll keep my "cold" because at least we are having bright sun.
Posted by: jackie | January 29, 2007 at 03:53 PM