Sand in My Yarn

Leftovers

2012-01-31T18:48:00.001-05:00

These needle cases are the cutest things; I'm sure I won't make any, but wouldn't they be lovely Valentine's Day gifts?

I forgot to show this pretty votive holder I bought while we were in Baltimore; I got it at Ten Thousand Villages. It goes perfectly in my sunroom. The sad thing is that they also had a sun catcher/mobile that was similar, but when we went back to buy it, someone else had already gotten it, so I missed out.

I've slept late the past two mornings so I've had to take my beach photos after work; luckily the sun sets later now, and I got to see this pretty view:

Only three more work days this week, and then I start my gifted class on Saturday. The schedule is a little different from the other four classes; only two Saturdays, and the rest are on Tuesdays and Thursdays after work. At first I didn't think I'd like going after working all day, but now I'm thinking that at least this way I won't lose a bunch of weekends. I'll have to see how it goes. Either way, I'll be done by the first of April.

Now, I'm off to work some more on this baby:

Coming right along, isn't it? Details found here.

Miscellaneous Minutiae

2012-01-30T22:23:00.001-05:00

It was kind of hectic this morning, so I didn't get a chance to get to the beach until after I got home this afternoon. I love the long shadows; it's so different from the morning light.

I saw this over at Pinterest and thought it might be helpful, even with my lightweight digital camera. Anyone else seen it? Apparently it's for sale as a poster.

This is the progress on my Honey Cowl. I think this yarn is a good match for this pattern; the color is muted enough that it doesn't overpower the stitch pattern, don't you think?

Still watching The Good Wife on Netflix. When I'm not watching Downton Abbey, that is.

Busy in Baltimore

2012-01-29T22:52:00.000-05:00

I'm ridiculously excited about it, but I found the tags I was looking for at an office supply store. Now I'm tagging my yarn so I can keep it on display in my baskets and remember the intended projects! Wonder why I never thought of doing this before? I'll have to take a few pictures soon.

I'm not so happy with this knitted basket. I should have picked up for the ribbing in the opposite direction so it doesn't show when folded. Oh well, I may leave it as is, or I may go back and redo. No decision just yet. What do you think?

We just got back from a weekend trip to Baltimore, which gave me so much knitting time that I nearly gave myself a blister on my thumb. But I finished another project, the Gator Gaiter, and started on the Honey Cowl. I'm telling you, this new system is really working for me!

Here are a few photos from the Fell's Point area of Baltimore:

A favorite pub,

A pretty notorious building,

And a cool window decoration using yarn. Since I didn't visit any yarn shops, I had to include this photo!

We ate in Little Italy,

and after lunch, I managed to fall flat on my face in the street, but luckily, I just skinned my knee and didn't break any bones. I would show you a photo, but my daughters informed me that no one really wants to see it. You can thank them for sparing you!

Hipstamatic

2012-01-25T10:21:00.000-05:00

I found some photos on my hipstamatic app last night. The pictures of Melissa and Meredith were taken over Christmas break at my favorite coffee shop. Melissa was playing with her new Christmas gift,

and Meredith was knitting. Borjo's is a coffee shop on the ODU campus, which may be why I like it so much. Sadly, it wasn't there when I was a student, but I'm making up for now, as I usually go there about once a week. The guy in the background is sitting in my favorite chair: red leather and the most comfortable chair I've ever sat in. If I ever find out where they bought it, I'm buying one.

This photo is a result of playing around with another app; looks kind of cool, doesn't it?

Monday, Monday, Can't Trust That Day

2012-01-24T09:24:00.000-05:00

I didn't want to go to work yesterday after having had such a wonderfully relaxing weekend. Sometimes weekends like that make me feel all energized and raring to go, but this time all I wanted to do was stay home another day (or two). But alas, I am not independently wealthy, so off to work I went. Turns out, part of the reason was that a migraine was coming on. It has been such a long time since I had one, that I didn't recognize the symptoms. Anyway, I made it through the day and ended up going to a doc in the box last night for a shot and meds. After a good night's sleep, I feel fine today, thank goodness. (edited to add: not fine, but better. I think I overestimated my recovery, but at least it's exam today, so the students are quiet. Mostly.)

The beach looked really different yesterday, due to a heavy fog. My daily photo session is such a lovely start to my day.

I already finished the Soft Basket; not sure where i'm going to use it, but I like it. (playing with my hipstamatic app)

And now I'm starting my next project, the Gator Gaiter, using a Manos silk/wool blend in a luscious color. I really like my 2012 Knitting Books project plan!

Link Love

2012-01-22T11:05:00.000-05:00

I want to share this list with you, in lieu of making one of my own. And I want to have it available for reference. What items sound good to you?

I love this idea for using recycled sweaters! And this one is great too! (my sweater squares are still waiting for me, but I'll get back to them.)

I love this tutorial for making your own buttons, but I don't think it's something I would ever have the patience to do it. I can, however, totally see my daughter, Meredith doing it! She loves shrinky-dinks!

I may need to make a few of these for my daughter's kitty.

My Knitting Books Project is already a success in that I started one of the projects last night. I have found that picking a project and finding the yarn is always such a struggle for me that I end up knitting something I've knit before. Like another scarf, cowl, or hat. And I have been getting bored with that. This is a Soft Basket from More Last Minute Knitted Gifts, and I'm using this scratchy but pretty turquoise yarn I bought at Maryland Sheep & Wool a few years ago that I loved, but couldn't use for anything that would be next to skin.

Another thing I've realized is that I don't like storing my yarn in ziplock bags, even if it is a better storage method. I like my yarn out in baskets so I can see it. So in order to keep organized, I'm going to find some card stock tags (similar to what Quince & Co. uses) to attach to my yarn. After all, the majority of my projects are single skein ones, so it should work. Boy, this has been a fun weekend! Nothing like playing with yarn on rainy days, is there? I hope your weekend was a good one.

Oh, and go Ravens!

Knitting Books Project

2012-01-21T12:45:00.001-05:00

I had this idea to take the time to peruse my collection of knitting books and pair up patterns with yarn for a year long project. My thought process was that if I couldn't find at least one good pattern (and by good, I mean something I wanted to knit) in each book I own, then maybe I should consider passing on said book(s) to someone else. Plus, as my year gets busy, it will be nice to just pull a ready made project bag out and start knitting. I don't know about you, but I often get stuck trying to start a project and end up doing a tried and true (but boring) project for one reason or another, when I really want to try something new. Obviously this isn't a new idea; I even tried (and failed) a similar plan using only handwarmer patterns a year or so ago.

Anyhow, I now have my list of patterns, and hope to match my yarn up this weekend. It's a grey, rainy day here, perfect weather for playing with yarn.

Here's my list of books and projects (sorry for not linking individually):

OneSkein: Kids Colorblock Cardigan
Weekend Knitting: Petticoat Socks
More Last Minute Knitted Gifts: Soft Baskets, Cabled Fingerless Gloves, or Sideways Fingerless Gloves
Sock Yarn One-Skin Wonders: Woven Fingerless Gloves or Lily Cuffs
New England Knits: Brattleboro Hat
OneMoreSkein: Horizontal Rib Scarf
Gifted: Precious Baby Jacket
Knit Green: Gator Gaiter
Knitting 24/7: Spiral Tweed Cloche or Redwork Cowl
Whimsical Little Knits: Ishbel Beret
Whimsical Little Knits 2: Veyla
Weekend Hats: Wanderer Cap

I've made projects from some of these books before; OneSkein is one of my favorite go-to books and I think Weekend Hats is going to be another one, but I made sure to pick projects I hadn't done before.

So I don't have a photo-less post, here are some pictures from the walk Steve and I managed to take on the beach this morning, in between the rain showers:

Even on the greyest of days, you can find some color, can't you? Happy weekend!

January Book Project: Weekend Hats

2012-01-19T08:50:00.001-05:00

I finished the Wanderer Cap last night and it fits Steve perfectly, although he wasn't interested in modeling it for me this morning. Odd. So I took a few "artsy" photos without him.

I really enjoyed this pattern, once I got going on it. I did a regular ribbing, instead of the tubular one, in the interest of my sanity, but I will try the tubular one again the next time I use this pattern.

Actual Knitting Progress!

2012-01-18T11:37:00.000-05:00

Steve and I went out to dinner last night at a place that's only two miles from us. They have $2 wine night every Tuesday, so we took advantage of it. We also ordered a garlic plate appetizer, which was delicious, although I paid for it the rest of the night. (and my students will be paying for it today, hah!) I think it is the first time I've ever said I had too much garlic.

I took a few pictures from the beach access by the restaurant, just to see the difference. It's surprising how different the view looks, even though it's so close to our area.

I love how the walkway twists a bit under the branches of the trees.

And wouldn't you love to sit in these chairs in nice weather? Well, maybe not these chairs but this location.

As for the knitting progress, I love this hat so much! I apologize for the craptastic lighting, but I couldn't wait to show off those traveling stitch details. The color is a sort of steel blue, although in a certain light I can also see a hint of green. I should finish it tonight, as I'm already beginning the decreases. Hopefully I can get Steve to model it for us, but don't expect Jared Flood's quality of modeling shots.

More knitting info tomorrow, as I plan on picking my monthly projects by then.

Tuesday Thoughts

2012-01-17T13:40:00.003-05:00

I'm back at work today after a three day weekend that just wasn't long enough. I'm thinking I'm going to need a mental health day very, very soon. I'd like to clear out some closets, and maybe even some clothing storage bins to lesson the weight of all these things we own. There are clothes and shoes I'll never wear again, so why am I keeping them? I did manage to give a grocery sack worth of yarn to my stepdaughter to take back to college with her, so that was good. And over the Christmas break, I gathered a huge amount of old costume jewelry and gave it to my girls to split up, so that was good too. They loved some pieces and they'll use other pieces for crafting. I just need to keep going.

I was reading the latest posting at Knitty, and decided on a similar strategy for my knitting projects. I want to pick a project from at least a dozen of my knitting books to make this year. I'm already on my way for January, since the Wanderer Cap is from the book Weekend Hats. I think I'll try and use part of Stephanie's idea of the Sock Club, by picking out the project yarn (from my stash, of course), making a copy of the pattern, and putting them both in ziplock bags. Then I can just grab a bag and go! Doesn't that sound like fun?

And I'm sure you are all tired of my beach photos, but I am in love with them, or rather the process of taking them every morning.

The way the morning sunlight can make the beach grass glow:

How even on cloudy days, the sun's presence can be seen:

And how the texture of the beach access has a rustic beauty of its own:

Can you tell how much I love living here?

This and That

2012-01-16T06:57:00.001-05:00

It was a beautifully sunny day yesterday, so Steve and Stephanie and I walked down to the water, only to head home fairly quickly. The combination of temperatures around 40 degrees combined with a pretty stiff wind made for a very cold walk. So I took a few pictures and we headed back home to catch our breath. Still, it was lovely.

Remember this cowl? It's only a memory now. I didn't like the yarn in this pattern either, so I frogged it.

And then I started (or rather, I restarted) the Wanderer Cap for Steve, using a skein of Quince & Co. Lark in blue, and thankfully it's going well. I love using that yarn and I'm excited that I'm using a Jared Flood pattern! Oh, and Steve will get a new hat out of it, so it's a win-win.

On a side note, I took a photo of a piece of seaweed this afternoon when I took my daily walk on the beach. Pretty cool, huh? I'm so very glad that I started this project.

Saturday

2012-01-14T23:05:00.001-05:00

Steve and I took a short walk on the beach today. Although it was windy and brisk, the sun was bright, which made it quite pleasant.

I thought the sand had an interesting look, probably due to the wind.

And someone posted this on Facebook, and I wanted to share it here. It's been a tough week and I thought I could use the reminder.

Hope your weekend is a peaceful one.

Indecision, Part Two

2012-01-13T11:40:00.002-05:00

I am still futzing along with startitis and her ugly sister, frogitis. Everything I've started displeases me for one reason or another. I ripped out the cowl I showed here yesterday, started a scarf with some Manos last night, then promptly frogged it, and now I'm working on another scarf. I think this one may last, but I'm giving no guarantees at this point. At least the process of knitting is comforting to me.

Meanwhile, Stephanie is a knitting machine. She finished her second mitten, felted a pair of handwarmers, and is now at work on a Bandana scarf. She's definitely taking advantage of being home on semester break and the fact that I have a small yarn shop in our house. At least someone is being productive.

(and yes, that is the time honored toilet lid background you see in the photos)

To say I'm looking forward to the three day weekend is a gross understatement; hope you have one coming to you too!

Indecision

2012-01-11T20:38:00.000-05:00

Since I had to frog the Honey Cowl, I decided to try another pattern. I think this pattern works better with the self striping.

I still want to make a Honey Cowl, but I just think it would look better in a solid.

Then Meredith sent me a couple of links today, one of which was Nougat, which would be perfect for my newest yarn.

Isn't that color gorgeous?

High Point of the Day

2012-01-11T10:03:00.002-05:00

I wish I had some knitting projects to share, but there really isn't anything new just yet. I want to spend a day re-sorting my yarn, especially since the cat's visit, but I don't think I can justify a "sick" day for that.

I don't have any sewing to show yet either, but again, I don't think my sick leave policy covers that either.

I do have a beach photo though. If you look closely, you can see the dewdrops on the feather. Such a peaceful way to start the day.

Unfortunately, my day usually peaks right about then.

Creativity

2012-01-10T15:32:00.003-05:00

Apparently I have lost the ability to knit in the round without flipping it inside out and working on the wrong side without noticing, despite having knit in the round with no problems for years. I ran into that a couple of times while making the Gap-tastic cowls, but I figured that was just repetitive project fatigue and the fact that the pattern looked the same on either side. But now I've done it with the Honey Cowl, which looks obviously different on the right and wrong sides. WTH? I think it may have had something to do with watching old episodes of Downton Abbey on my iPad. Oh well, it just means more knitting time, doesn't it?

I still haven't started sewing the felted wool squares together, but I did buy a few more sweaters this past weekend to add a color boost to the pile. I don't know why I am so hesitant to begin sewing again. I'll have to give some thought to that.

The main creative endeavor I have been consistent in is my photography project. It's been invigorating to walk to the beach every morning, even if it's only for a few minutes. It's helping me appreciate my proximity to the beach even more than I usually do, especially since I missed out on so much beach time last summer due to my broken foot. This photo was taken a couple of days ago just after sunrise. I love the glow and the way the water looks.

I've also been trying to keep up with housekeeping more than I usually do; I know that I feel more creative in a calm and uncluttered environment, so that was my impetus, but I also think it is a way to be more aware of my surroundings, as well as an expression of gratitude, if that makes sense. Trying to recognize my good fortune while taking care of my belongings is better than grumbling about the clutter and work.

More Project Plans

2012-01-08T18:27:00.001-05:00

When does the list of planned projects reach critical mass? There are so many fabulous project ideas out there, that I think I'm reaching the point of project paralysis. For instance, this one from PurlBee is perfect for the fabric I bought from Alewives right before Christmas. But, I still have all the felt squares to sew together for the blanket that was inspired by this PurlBee project, plus all the thrifted sheets I want to use to make these throws, also from the list of PurlBee projects. And that's not even counting the knit projects I have in progress or in my queue. Or the house projects I want to do, like painting the kitchen and front porch, or sewing curtains for the sunroom. So I think I'm going to curl up on the couch and watch the new episode of Downton Abbey while I finish my brown cowl. In between eating bites of Ben & Jerry's Heath Bar Crunch. That sounds like the perfect project for a Sunday night.

Colorwork

2012-01-07T15:38:00.000-05:00

I wish this was about my colorwork effort, but it's about Stephanie's first and excellent colorwork project, pre-blocked.

It's an Interweave Knits pattern she saw last year, and I bought the yarn for her in September for her birthday, after she decided she wanted to make them. The fact that she had never done colorwork did not concern her at all. She decided to do it, and that was that. Pretty cool.

Sheets, Sweaters, and Random Thoughts

2012-01-07T15:22:00.000-05:00

I finished cutting out the wool squares and I'm looking forward to playing with the arrangement.

I've also been wanting to do something with my collection of thrifted sheets and instead of just hoarding them. Now I have two different project ideas: this from PurlBee and this from whipup.

I still haven't shared some of my Christmas gifts, so I'll have to work on remedying that. My oldest, Meredith, gave me a bunch of knitting and crafting books that she had in her collection. In addition, she gave me a gorgeous skein of Malabrigo yarn and a handmade button from Kate Davies' wool! Isn't that awesome?

Stephanie gave me a handmade bar of soap, cause she knows how much I love good soap. It smells yummy! It's in a yarn basket now, but I'll use it soon. And Melissa gave me a book by Eric Carle, a children's author we all loved when the girls were little.

I started my weekend off by taking a bath and getting into my pajamas as soon as I got home from work. Oh, and I ate some Ben & Jerry's Heath Bar Crunch ice cream while reading a book. Hope your weekend is just as decadent!

Creating and Crafting

2012-01-05T19:38:00.000-05:00

Is there a difference? I'm not sure. Is photography a craft?

I am enjoying my new blog; getting up in the morning and walking the three blocks to the beach has been exhilarating, especially with the drop in temperature this week. It finally feels like winter around here, and winter weather always seems to give me energy. I have also noticed that i'm smiling as I make my way back from the beach, anxious to upload the photographs as soon as I can, even if it delays me leaving for work.

I met with a former principal yesterday to discuss my tentative plan to transfer to high school, and I think I am going to pursue it, despite my nervousness. This year marks the halfway point of my career (I have to work thirty years to get my full pension) and I think it is the right time to make a change.

Last night, I finished cutting out the squares from the pile of thrifted and felted sweaters, and ended up with 70 squares. I am looking forward to playing with the layout before I start stitching. It's an interesting blend of interests, this project. My love of thriftiness and wool integrated with a former passion: sewing. I used to sew a lot when my girls were little, pre-Internet days. I made curtains, costumes, and children's clothes and I really enjoyed it, but I drifted away from it once I started teaching.

I am so tired this afternoon, and I'm feeling just achy enough to worry about getting sick. I need to take a warm bath and snuggle in for the night. But first, I want to share a couple of photographs from this morning's walk.

New Project

2012-01-03T21:43:00.001-05:00

While watching television tonight, I was able to cut 31 squares out of the 6.5 sweaters (I had already used part of one of the sweaters for a cat toy).

Plus, I now have a new pair of wrist warmers, which will come in handy, now that we are finally getting some "cold" weather. True, it's only in the thirties, but it's the coldest it's been this winter. I like it when it's brisk like this; it seems to make me more energetic.

I have at least six more felted sweaters left to cut up, so I should be able to start sewing the squares together by the weekend.

I have a bunch of scraps left that I don't know what to do with, but I hate to throw them away. Any ideas?

New Year, New Ambitions

2012-01-03T18:52:00.001-05:00

My new blog is up and running. It seems weird to have two blogs to maintain, but they each have a totally different purpose, so it makes sense to me. Please let me know your thoughts and/or suggestions about it.

I have some time alone tonight, as Steve has left to take Stephanie back to Richmond and will be gone about three hours. I stopped by the library for a couple of DVDs, as our Netflix delivery is out of sync, due to the holiday weekend. I was thinking of knitting, but I've decided to tackle a version of PurlBee's wool throw. Instead of using the wool felt they suggest, I'm going to try it with the thrifted sweaters I've already felted. I know it'll be different, but I think it may look interesting. I cut out a template using a cereal box and I am going to cut out squares as long as my hands can handle it. When they get tired, I'll switch to the cowl I've managed to screw up, despite the simplicity of the pattern and the number of times I've knit it over the past two weeks. Kind of ridiculous, but there it is. In the meantime, here's another photo of the girls wearing theirs:

Pretty cute, if I say so myself.

Another Lovely Day on the Bay

2012-01-02T12:53:00.000-05:00

I took this photo on the morning of January 1. It is the view from the back gate, the one I use most often, and it shows my favorite room, the sunroom.

I bought the book, The Happiness Project, yesterday while at Target (I know, I know, but books don't count), and I am really enjoying it. Enjoying it, as in it is giving me a lot to ponder. I am generally a positive, upbeat person, and I describe myself as an optimist, but who can't use a little more happiness in their lives? Let me know if anyone else is reading it or has read it already, will you?

I made it down to the beach again this morning; I had a lot to do today, so I told Steve that I was just going to take the picture and return home straightaway, but as it was so lovely, I did my usual walk after all. I met a dear friend at Borjo's at 9:00 a.m., and we talked for three solid hours! Now I'm heading over to the Naro to see The Descendants with Melissa and Stephanie. Another good day, don't you think?

Photos taken just after sunrise this morning. See more here.

January 1

2012-01-01T16:15:00.001-05:00

I have been on a cleaning frenzy since yesterday morning and now my back is making noises. Kind of sad that those muscles at so out of shape.

I started another blog today; it's a place for me to post photos of the Chesapeake Bay, ideally on a daily basis. Please check it out.

Knitting and the New Year

2011-12-31T20:03:00.001-05:00

We were sitting around last night talking about knitting. I can't remember what Meredith was talking about, but she was wearing the just off the needles cowl I made for her.

We decided to try the scarf that Meredith had just finished on Ollie. Cute, huh?

Then we thought it would be fun to try the scarf on Sinon.

Ollie looks unimpressed.

It was so much fun having her around this week.

She and Melissa met me at Fellini's for martinis that afternoon too. As much as I miss the girls being little, this age has its perks too. Dirty martinis are just one example!

I brought my knitting, of course.

An early morning photo of Ollie. I miss her too.

I spent some time on the last day of this year in the laundromat washing all of our quilts, blankets, and mattress covers. I also washed our floors, dusted, and even cleaned the air filter. I didn't plan to do heavy cleaning, but I'm glad I did, even though my muscles are aching tonight.

So I will start the new year with a clean house and a clean slate, even if it wasn't my intention. And I will get up tomorrow to take my first photograph of the year. See you then.

And a Happy New Year to you and your family!

Cowl Girls

2011-12-31T18:18:00.001-05:00

Finally got a picture of the three girls with their Gaptastic cowls; don't they look great? This picture was taken this morning right before Meredith left for home. It was a great visit and I already miss her.

Looking Ahead (just a bit)

2011-12-30T11:34:00.000-05:00

PurlBee just posted their Best of 2011 project list and I'm so glad they did. I think the se might be my newest project! They would be a great way to use my stash of thrifted sheets, don't you think? Another project I am drawn to is this one, which would give me a use for the thrifted wool sweaters I recently bought and felted, but go check out the entire list. It's pretty awesome, especially at this time of year, when everything seems possible. I'm thinking I may need to take a second look at the sewing projects' list, instead of only the knitting pages.

Speaking of looking ahead, I usually don't make resolutions for the new year, but I have been thinking I may make an exception this year. I would really like to try and break my reliance on shopping retail. Despite doing a lot of my shopping in thrift stores, I have a habit of "hitting the Target" on a regular basis that I'd like to break. Too often I have found myself wandering the aisles looking for something to catch my eye so I could buy it, even though I already have much more than I need. So my goal is to reduce the amount of new stuff I buy and make sure that I don't already own a reasonable alternative.

I've also been pondering the idea of a photography project. Nothing fancy, just walking to the beach every day and documenting the look and changing weather of the Bay. I'd really love to do it at the same time of day, but not sure my work schedule will accommodate. I'll have to give that a little more thought.

And finally, I'm considering a move to high school. I love teaching 8th graders, but middle school requires an enormous amount of energy and I'm not sure I can continue to do it for the fifteen years remaining before retirement (the downside of waiting until I was 37 before beginning to teach). And I don't know how much longer I can wait to transfer; not many principals will want to accept a transferring 60 year old (that age is QUITE a long way off by the way, but it doesn't hurt to think ahead).

The Bay, taken on this morning's walk with Ollie. Another calm, sunny day.

These are some of the thoughts knocking around in my brain today, as the year runs out. And, although everyone is probably tiring iPod my "grand-dog"' I had to show this photo of Steve, who supposedly does not enjoy pets. I took it last night, while just the two (or 4) of us were home. I think this may be evidence to the contrary, don't you? Even if it is circumstantial.

Gifting

2011-12-29T22:21:00.000-05:00

I want to make sure I show off some of the lovely gifts that were given and received around our house this year. Needless to say, handmade and yarns gifts were much loved. Also my wonderfully addicting iPad is a fabulous addition to my hobby life. We had lots of thrifted gifts under the tree this year, even more than usual. I don't know why they are such fun, but we do love finding and receiving them. I think my best thrifted find was a gorgeous silk kimono style robe that I gave to Meredith. Thankfully it was too small for me or else I may not have been able to give it up, it was that wonderful.

But for now, I'll keep posting photos of my houseguests. This is Ollie, looking slightly peeved at the amount of photographs being taken of her.

A lovely shot of Stephanie, taken yesterday; she's wearing the Gaptastic cowl I made for her.

Wasn't it another beautiful day? I can't believe this weather; other than Tuesday, every day has looked this lovely, which has meant long walks on the beach. Hopefully the walking is helping to balance out all the extra eating I've done this week!

Cleaning House

2011-12-28T12:53:00.000-05:00

I took the tree down today. This may be the shortest amount of time I've ever had one up, but since the needles were falling off in great bunches, it felt like the right time.

I am enjoying the beautiful weather we are having; blue skies, sunny, and just crisp enough to feel energizing. Despite my love of snow, this seems good.

Meredith's cat is working hard every night while we sleep to bring gifts of yarn to us all. He particularly likes the newest skeins (much like myself), but he also really likes a skein of Galway Tweed, as it is pretty sheepy smelling. It's nice having company in our little cottage this week, especially now that the rush of Christmas is over.

Tonight most of us are heading out to a little place in Norfolk that is renowned for it's wide variety of craft beers on tap. Meanwhile, I plan on taking a walk to enjoy the weather, reading a little, and knitting just a bit. hope you and yours are enjoying this peaceful time of year too.

The Days After Christmas

2011-12-27T11:15:00.001-05:00

I am trying to get used to blogging on the iPad and suffice it to say that it is a work in progress. But I will get there eventually. Meanwhile, expect some wonky looking posts.

These two cowls/neckwarmers were anything but wonky; in fact, I think they turned out quite nicely. The green one was for Melissa and the golden one was for Meredith. I used the Mustard Scarf pattern, and I photographed them with my hipstamatic app!

I'm not the only one knitting around here though. Stephanie is working on some handwarmers for a friend, using some mission falls 1824 wool and a nifty little faux cable pattern and Meredith is knitting a glove and a scarf. (she knits multiple projects simultaneously just like me.)

Meredith and Ryan brought their critters with them and when they are off doing other things, I get to pet sit for them, which mainly entails allowing them to sleep in the respective bedrooms.

Sinon loves his Christmas present from me, a catnip filled "cassette" labeled purrvana.

We did make Ollie take a walk on the beach with us yesterday, so she could burn off some energy.

Enjoy these after the holiday days.

St. Stephen's Day

2011-12-26T13:51:00.001-05:00

We had gorgeous weather for Christmas this year; so much so that I took a walk on the beach Christmas morning.

I went down to the water again this morning and while it was still beautiful, it was much windier. See (and hear) the difference in the surf?

All the kids are coming over this evening for the Feast of St. Stephen, even though we did our gift exchanging on Christmas Eve this year. I have found that it pays to be flexible with all of our grown children, as they have many other places to visit during this time of year. Every year it seems the plans need tweaking, and that's okay. We're having a taco bar this year, which I'm sure would have St. Stephen rolling in his grave, but it sounded like a good idea this year. Too much "traditional" Christmas food wears thin I've found. So taco bar it is.

I gave and received many yarny gifts this year, but I'll save the posting of them for later.

Hoping everyone's Christmas was joyous and peaceful.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T23:48:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Solstice

2011-12-22T15:30:00.000-05:00

Today is my first day off from work and I've gotten a lot accomplished. The cupboards are stocked with food, the gifts are wrapped, and most of the laundry is done. I even gathered a large bag of items to take to the thrift store. Stephanie and I ate lunch out at my favorite coffee shop and we've been sitting in the sunroom doing a little knitting and chatting while listening to Christmas music. Meredith and Ryan are about three hours away, and Melissa will be over later too. There will be baking and more knitting and chatting.

Life is so good. I hope your life is sweet too.

The Last Day Before Break

2011-12-21T18:05:00.000-05:00

Today was the last day of school before winter break. Every year, no matter what activity I plan for my students, the one that works best is coloring. Yes, 8th grade students still love to color. Despite the media often portraying this age group as jaded and difficult, they are often still quite young. Not exactly innocent, but somehow still young, especially when given a chance to just be themselves. So today, despite starting out with an interesting and educational experience involving the picture book, Snowflake Bentley, and some complicated snowflake patterns for them to cut out, by the last bell I had given up and passed out the holiday coloring sheets. And peace and joy reigned at last.

What is Going On Here?

2011-12-19T19:29:00.003-05:00

Whoo-boy, the technology changes around here are keeping me absent from this blog. I've already told you about the iPad, which is sucking a lot of my attention these days. I've been trying to figure out how to blog from it, but am not having much luck. Then, when I get on my "old" laptop, I find Blogger has changed some things around; when everything looks different, I tend to back away slowly or charge ahead blindly. And to round things out, my trusty camera gave up the ghost and I had to rush out and buy another one yesterday, because as I told my husband, "I can't have Christmas without a camera!" So now I have another variable to work with, which means very little blogging is going on.

Oh, and then there's the whole Christmas scene barrelling at me like a freight train, which is exactly the opposite way I'd like to describe the way I feel about Christmas. I want to be Amanda, and instead, I'm me, snapping at my family and freaking out at little things. I mean, I walked into my pharmacist's on Saturday and she knew exactly what medication I needed to refill (hint: it's rhymes with Manax).

The good news is that I had my ladies' only party here yesterday and it was lovely, despite the headache I had behind my eyes (stress? it's possible). The tree is lit and decorated, and many packages are wrapped under it. I've made many of my gifts and bought locally for most of the others, so I really don't know why I'm feeling stressed, but I am.

But I've only two more days to work this week, my stepdaughter arrived on Saturday and my oldest daughter should be here on Thursday, so I'm just going to relax (if it kills me) and enjoy the season. And one of these days, I should have some photos back up on this blog. And my next post will definitely be more positive, I promise. Thanks for letting me vent, for I know I have a wonderful life.

I May Need a Little Help. . . .

2011-12-12T22:01:00.001-05:00

I have fallen down the rabbit hole into iPad world. I just spent 50 minutes on the phone with apple to tell them either I received a defective keyboard or a foreign language keyboard. At any rate, I am sending it back and I'm going to wait until after Christmas to decide if I really need one. Meanwhile, I'm trying to navigate blogging from my new toy. Which means the pile of gifts aren't wrapping themselves. But I am doing a little knitting, thank goodness. I started a Gaptastic cowl using some stashed baby grande alpaca. The Jared Flood cap is on hold for now, but I do plan on returning to it, just as soon as I have some time to focus on it. For now, it's back to Words with Friends!

Crafting & Community

2011-12-05T16:32:00.000-05:00

The Quince & Co. yarn arrived Friday and I cast on immediately for the Wanderer Cap, using a skein of Lark. I love this yarn so much, I'm not sure why I ever use anything else.I had to use a tubular cast on for the first time, and it only took me two tries to achieve success. I'm not sure the extra work is worth it, although it is a very squishy feeling edge. Anyone else have any opinions on this cast on? Anyway, now I'm following a chart, which is a rarity for me. But I am determined to increase my skill set, so instead of reaching for an old favorite pattern, I chose this one. Plus, it's in the book I just bought, it's by Jared Flood, and it's a cool looking design. Win, win, win.

Yesterday I hosted my 2nd Craft-OV-Rama and it was so relaxing. Ten lovely women were there, including my youngest daughter, and the age range was from 22 to 55, single, married, new mamas, empty nest mamas, and some without children. When I came into work this morning, one of the young mamas thanked me again for hosting these get-togethers. She said they are the only times she really gets to have "me" time and she realizes how important it is to her mental health. Which is actually one of the reasons I'm doing these. Being a part of a community of women has always been important to me, and this is a way for me to pay it forward and include some of these young, harried women in my life. La Leche League was where I really learned how vital these types of relationships are and ever since, they have been a part of my life in some form or other. I am so glad my daughter participates too, as she will need this type of support someday soon, and meanwhile, it's good for her to see the interaction between a somewhat diverse group of women. Although as I write this, I realize she grew up seeing this, so she already knows.

So, what crafting was done? One woman made a fleece blanket, I taught another friend to knit, and I did some knitting myself. I also tried making a potholder on the old metal loom my daughters used when they were young, but I couldn't remember how to bind it off. So in other words, there wasn't a lot of crafting, but there was a lot of talking, which is just as nice.

Knitting update: I am on my fourth Wanderer Cap cast on. The first time I didn't get it at all, the second time I got it, but messed up on the chart, the third time I messed up on the cast on, and now I'm beginning again. Although I know I could give up, I also know that I can do this. It's not that hard of a pattern. It is challenging for me (obviously) but it isn't really that hard, so I'm going to persevere. Stay tuned.

TGIF

2011-12-02T16:37:00.001-05:00

Gosh, this week has flown by. Today was a testing today at school, so it was pretty boring, but that's the way it goes sometimes. I've really been happy with the modifications I'm doing for my honors class this year. The gifted class I took really gave me a lot of cool ideas, plus kind of a paradigm shift that has really had an impact on my teaching. I think it's really lucky that I'm still excited about what I do after fifteen years of doing it. Not sure too many people can say that, but it's one of the really cool things about teaching for me; the chance to create my working environment that isn't available in every career.

That said, I'm really happy it's the weekend. I have crafting in my plans. And a chicken dinner in the oven. I used a new recipe from this month's Everyday Foods (love that magazine) and cooked it in the crock pot last night so we could heat it up for dinner tonight. Couscous on the side, white wine gravy, and a glass of wine with the meal. What's not to love?

I've finished the Mustard Scarf and started another one, this time using a silk and wool blend. And I'm making a personal promise to pull out some WIPs. Whoops, I just got the Quince & Co. yarn delivery, so the personal promise just went out the window. Wow, they were quick! I ordered it just a couple of days ago and wasn't expecting it until next week!! Now I'm definitely knitting on some new yarn.

Happy Friday!

December? Already?

2011-12-01T18:26:00.000-05:00

I was perusing my Ravelry page this morning and I noticed that I have two scarves at the halfway point and one handwarmer done. Despite my desire to cast on for new projects, I think it would be a good idea to finish these three projects to add to my Christmas gifting basket (really, it's a gift pile, but basket sounds so much nicer, don't you think?) I hibernated at least four projects because I'm tired of seeing them at the top of my project page; it's like they're taunting me or something.

I also noticed the PurlBee's newest project, the Eleventh Hour Blanket. I love PurlBee's projects, and they are so generous with sharing their patterns, but I also love to calculate the cost of their projects sometimes, just to amaze myself. This project uses eight skeins of Cascade's Magnum, at a cost of $22.60 per skein. Pricey. Of course, as I type this I realize I have so much money already tied up in this knitting habit of mine, that the cost of this project would be a drop in the proverbial bucket, but still. I guess as long as I don't drop that much money knowingly, I can continue to delude myself that I'm really not spending too much. Hmm. I may need to rethink my strategy. Especially since I just placed an order with Quince & Co. I love their yarn, don't you?

I'm just about done with the Mustard Scarf/Cowl that I started on Sunday. It's an easy knit, but I kept making mistakes at first because I was knitting it whilst watching MI-5, (it's called Spooks in the UK) which is a pretty suspenseful show. Steve and I have been on an MI-5 binge for about three months now; we are totally addicted. I think we have three or four more seasons left, and then who knows what we'll do for entertainment. (Just joking, my Netflix queue is loaded with more British television. I'll be fine.)

So far the strategy of gift wrapping as I go seems to be working. The gift wrapping station is in Melissa's bedroom and the wrapped gifts are being stored in Stephanie's bedroom until we buy and put up our tree. I'd like to get it soon so we can let it soak up water for a couple of weeks.

I'm hitting another craft show this Saturday with my sister and mom, and then I'm hosting my 2nd Craft-OV-Rama on Sunday. Should be a whirlwind weekend. Hope you have some fun stuff planned too!

Crafting Craziness!

2011-11-27T17:15:00.005-05:00

I did some shopping yesterday, but other than going to Jo-Ann's Fabrics, my shopping was done at a few small, local businesses, just as I had hoped. I'd love to share my finds, but since most of the giftees read my blog (sometimes), I'll have to keep silent about them.

The Jo-Ann's Fabrics visit was to stockpile some fleece for more blankets, again, for gifting, so I can't say much about that either. I did buy a glue gun at 50% off, as I'm planning on making a rosemary wreath for the kitchen. I have a glue gun somewhere, but it has gone missing so I bought another one. As soon as I make the wreath, I'll photograph and post it. I thought I'd start it right away, but even the non-mall shopping made me so tired I had to come home and take a two hour nap. What's up with that? I don't know if it's the stress of spending money or the overstimulation.

While I was out, I took a break at a bookstore and fell in love with the Interweave Knits Weekend Hats book. I'm pretty sure I'm going to buy it (read, whoops, I already ordered it); after all, it'll help me with my Christmas gifting, right?

I've actually started wrapping presents, which is unusual for me. But since I decided that I'm not buying wrapping paper, I wanted to make sure I had time to accumulate some paper bags and other assorted recycled paper options, like old maps and newspaper comics. I'm afraid I'll forget what I've gotten once I've wrapped it, so I may make a Christmas journal, although I doubt it'll be as fancy as Earthchick's. I'm thinking a bit more basic.I found this twig arch at the thrift store for $1; I took the silk flowers off it and jammed in rosemary sprigs from our yard. I thought I'd have to hot glue them, but it actually worked better just shoving them in the twigs. Our kitchen has a nice smell to it now.I took a few pictures to give you an idea of the crafting ADD going on around here. This is the Thermis cowl I finished; in the process of getting the buttons sewn on. (by the way, I love this pattern!) It's a Christmas gift for someone.This bowl of cranberries was used to make a few more strings for the bird tree outside. The red fabric is a piece cut from one of the fleece blankets (another gift), and the knit project is the beginning of a Jane Richmond's Mustard Scarf (which looks more like a cowl to me, but tomato, tomahto, as they say). I'm using my special skein of Jared Flood's Tweed yarn. So yummy, this yarn. Bonus points since it's from the stash!
I bought this magazine from Jo-Ann's; it's a UK issue that's filled with quick and fun ideas. It even came with an envelope containing three buttons, fabric squares, and embroidery floss!Finally, here are the two potholders I knit for Larissa's potholder KAL. Mine aren't as intricate as some folks' were, but as one of the KAL-ers pointed out to me, it isn't a competition. They go in the mail to her tomorrow.

Speaking of tomorrow, it's back to work for me, which is probably a good thing, since it encouraged me to clean up all this crafting stuff! Now I'm going to sit on the couch, watch a movie, and knit! Hope you have a happy week!

Small Business Saturday

2011-11-26T08:28:00.001-05:00

I think you could combine these, don't you think?

photo by Connie Hanna

Black Friday

2011-11-25T09:30:00.002-05:00

I don't understand the decision retailers made to open up on Thanksgiving. Of course, I don't understand the Black Friday concept much either. As a matter of fact, about twenty years ago I gave it a whirl; after all, so many people told me how much fun they had doing it, so I thought maybe I was missing out on an adventure. Nope. Once was enough for me. I ended up stressed, tired, and headachy, not necessarily in that order.

So how am I using my Black Friday time? I put on some Christmas music and cleaned the floors in the kitchen, sunroom, both bathrooms, and the living room. I dusted the cobwebs off of the ceilings, washed some clothes, and now I'm going to sit down and knit awhile.

What are you doing today?

Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T11:55:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

My wish is that we are all thankful more often.

Food for the Birds

2011-11-21T21:12:00.011-05:00

I'm in the enviable position of being at loose ends. My gifted class finished this past Saturday, so I don't have anything hanging over me, and since the first term just ended at school, I'm caught up on everything there too. Plus it's a short week, thanks to the Thanksgiving holiday! I have absolutely no plans to shop over the weekend and we're not traveling anywhere; as a matter of fact, both Stephanie and Melissa are going to visit Meredith for Thanksgiving, so we won't even have anyone staying with us. Therefore, I'm planning on doing a lot of knitting, reading, and napping.

Melissa and I spent a little time on the deck yesterday stringing cranberries for the tree in our side yard; what I call the bird feeder tree. I love doing these types of things, as it reminds me of the days when the girls were little and we put out "food for the birds", as Meredith called it.

We used to smear bagels with peanut butter and bird seed, and cut oranges in half, hole punch the skins, and use yarn to hang them up. So much fun, such nice memories. I'm going to miss them on Thanksgiving day. But at least they'll be here for Christmas. Meanwhile, I'll enjoy the family that will be with me.

Hope your loved ones are with you on Thanksgiving.

A Beachy Christmas Tree

2011-11-21T07:04:00.001-05:00

I know it's early, but my mom gave me this beautiful Christmas tree yesterday! I may have to keep it up all year, much to the chagrin of my husband!

Leaves & News!

2011-11-17T20:37:00.006-05:00

Still loving the color of fall around here. This picture was taken on Sunday; Steve and I took a walk through East Beach, an upscale neighborhood two miles down the road from us.

I photographed this gorgeous ginko tree on Tuesday. The burst of color caught my eye as I was driving past it and I made a u-turn so I could stop and take a picture.

The tree is in a cemetary not too far from our house; the color was simply amazing.

Exciting! I was featured on this blog today!

Autumn Color

2011-11-12T20:58:00.007-05:00

The leaves in my neighborhood were so pretty this morning when I was on my way to class, that I had to pull over a couple of times just to take some photographs.

The early morning light was so beautiful, but pictures never show it, do they?

This one was the closest to accurate.

Oh, and this was an idea I saw in the newest book I bought, Eco-Craft. It's an LED light underneath some seaglass. Every idea in that book is a winner; take a look at it if you can.

Hope you're enjoying your autumn weekend.

KAL & Craft Activism

2011-11-11T07:13:00.007-05:00

We had a teacher workday yesterday and it was one of the most relaxed ones we've had for a long time. I can only assume our new principal deserves the credit for it, as he didn't hold a single meeting, which meant we actually got to work in our rooms!

I'm home today, thanks to the Veteran's Day holiday. It is a beautiful day and I'm grateful for it. The temperatures are in the upper forties, there's a light Bay breeze, and the sun is shining. My goals are simple: refill the bird feeder, take a walk, and work on my gifted class project.Luckily, my car is in the shop getting a warranty repair, which prevents me from going anywhere. That alone increases my chances of actually working, although blogging isn't exactly on the official list.

I made a baby hat this week for a coworker; I used about 2/3 of a ball of Knitcol Trends that I bought at a gorgeous shop, Frivolous Fibers, in St. Michaels, Maryland, a couple of weekends ago. It's so nice, that I wish I had bought a baby sweater's worth, but a hat will have to do.

Continuing with the knitting content, Larissa is doing another KAL and I'm participating. As I was replying to her post, I came up with an idea for my next craft meeting, blending her idea and the idea behind Gale's book, Craft Activism. Last month, my group, Craft OV, met for the first time and made fleece tied blankets/throws. Everyone made them for themselves or as gift items, but this time, I want us to make them as donations. We haven't decided what charity we're donating to yet, but I'm thinking about either our local children's hospital or the NEST program at church. Heaven knows there are a wealth of places who can use them. Just another reason I love the blog-o-sphere; the sharing of good ideas like Larissa's and Gale's.

And under the heading of TMI, this is a shot showing you my work at home uniform:

Pink crocs, Noro socks, and pajamas. Not shown is my comfortable grey cardigan, white tee, and mussed hair. You can thank me later for not sharing.

And to make me feel really virtuous, I soaked a pot of beans last night and will have that bubbling on the stove for most of the day.

Hope you enjoy your day, whatever you're doing.

TGIF & Still Loving the USPS

2011-11-04T17:08:00.005-04:00

What a great Friday! I went to bed at 7:30 p.m. last night and didn't get up until 6:30 a.m. Granted, I did take a muscle relaxer, but wow, I am definitely rested now. I had a good day at work, teaching the periodic table of elements using beads, and then I came home to find a lovely surprise package in the mailbox. Look at these goodies from Madison, Wisconsin!! A cow pie, stitch markers, postcard, and kniting earrings! I know you want a close up of Deborah's handmade earrings! Aren't they gorgeous!! I couldn't get them in fast enough and I am planning on wearing them until further notice!!

What a delightful surprise!! Thank you, Deborah!!!

Earlier in the week I had another wonderful surprise. Awhile back I had won a blog drawing from Lene, and it arrived on Monday. It's a gorgeous black and white photo that she took. Isn't it beautiful?

The weather is pretty similar here near the Bay today, although we still have most of our leaves still on the trees. Check out the windblown chairs.

I have to do some homework for my class tomorrow, so I'm going to hit the books now. Wearing my new earrings, of course! Happy Friday!

Everything Old is New Again

2011-11-02T20:37:00.002-04:00

A Romantic Getaway

2011-11-01T20:21:00.002-04:00

I have quite a racket going on at my house. Steve and I got married privately on November 7, 2006, and then we had a wedding on December 16, 2006, with our family and friends present. Because of the two dates, we usually end up celebrating both dates. Pretty sweet, huh? My rationale is that we're making up for lost time. So this past weekend, Steve and I drove up the Eastern Shore to Easton, MD, to celebrate our 5th anniversary. It was the only weekend our schedules would allow, and we had a lovely, lovely time. We ran into a little sleet on Saturday, but Sunday was absolutely gorgeous, allowing us to walk around Easton and St. Michaels, two beautiful seaside towns.

I have to say, this is my favorite B&B so far. Such a serene and welcoming place.A breakfast nook.The other side of the dining room.The upstairs porch; I love the fabric on these cushions!A ceramic pear; they had a few of these in the garden. The inn uses local artists, which is a really great concept.Steve and I took a walk after a delectable breakfast; I thought this house was beautiful.This is on the water in Oxford.I'm patiently waiting for my beer and oysters. My happy husband:We didn't have time to take a photo until after we'd finished. Nothing beats local oysters with beer on a gorgeous day.More sights, walking after lunch.An amusing leftover.

And just for fun:

Now we're back to work and reality. I wish I had taken more pictures, but trust me, we had a wonderful time, spending most of Sunday outside in the gorgeous weather.

I have class the next three weekends, so knitting and blogging time will be at a premium. I'll probably keep knitting the log cabin squares and dreaming of starting a sweater, as soon as I can decide on a pattern. Enjoy the rest of your week!

Random Words, No Photos

2011-10-28T20:48:00.000-04:00

Another busy week, but not quite as crazy as last week. I'm struggling to find a little creativity every day, but I think I'm using it up at school. Which is okay.

Working on log cabin squares of Noro because that is all my brain can handle; oddly enough, I even manage to mess those up, but who cares, really? I've decided it'll work out no matter what.

Steve is taking me out of town tomorrow for an early anniversary getaway; it's a surprise destination. All I know is we're headed north for a night and that sounds great to me.

The weather turned chilly last night and it's downright blustery tonight. I stopped at the library on my way home and I swear there were gale force wind speeds coming off of the Bay. I love that my neighborhood library faces the water. I'll take photos the next time I'm there.

Hope your weekend is a good one.

Craft-OV-Rama

2011-10-24T06:48:00.011-04:00

I love fall, crafting, and friends. On Sunday, I had all three in one place.
My first Craft-O-Rama.

Ten friends crammed into my cottage on a Sunday afternoon.

Making fleece tied blankets.

New mamas and empty nest mamas.

Some were serious about the craft, and some were only there for the camaraderie.

Focus and concentration in such a small space.

I had craft magazines and books for the ones who didn't want to craft that day. (In the teaching world, this is known as tiering your assignments to the students' readiness levels. See? I never stop.)

And of course there was food. Potluck food, the best kind.

I will definitely do this again.

TGIS (Because I Am Late)

2011-10-22T06:04:00.004-04:00

Whew! That week flew by. It was the best of weeks, it was the worst of. .

Okay, enough with the cliches. It was probably just a normal week. Except for the two cortisone shots in my shoulders. And that I had my first working day without my boot on Friday. And especially for the fact that I've been up since 4:45 a.m. doing some last minute homework for today's gifted class. Wouldn't my students love to know what a procrastinator I am?

I haven't done as much knitting as I'd like, but I have been working on the second Fussy Cuts square. Turns out I don't have any more Noro Silk Garden in my stash, and no one in this area carries it anymore. The closest place is Knitting Sisters in Williamsburg, which is about 45 minutes away. I'd love a quick visit, but it's not going to happen anytime soon, since I have these classes on Saturday. Because of that, I tried a different yarn that a local shop recommended as a good substitute, and while I like the colors, it's too splitty and I don't think it looks like Noro Silk. So now I have a log cabin square that I probably won't use in the blanket. I think I want a pure Noro blanket, you know? (Even though the original pattern isn't even pure Noro, since you use Brown Sheep to join the squares, but you know what I mean.) I think I'll work up some of the Kureyon I have and see if that will work.

I'm having a Craft-OV-Rama at my house tomorrow. (The OV stands for Ocean View, which is where I live.) Although I wish I knew lots of local knitters, I don't, so I just invited some friends over for food, conversation, and a craft other than knitting. One of my friends is going to show us how to make a tied fleece blanket. My youngest daughter was given one as a gift when she was in middle school and it's so nice. I'm hoping this is a "gateway craft" and we can do these get togethers on a monthly basis. I'll be sure to take pictures so I can share it with you.

Family Fish Fry

2011-10-17T22:41:00.006-04:00

We went to a fish fry with some of my family on Sunday; it was lovely and delicious!

My youngest daughter, my niece, and my sister:

My mom and dad:
For some reason, Stephen didn't want his picture taken!

Although things are calming down a bit, I haven't quite caught my breath. After finding a simple fix for the air conditioner, we had a plumbing calamity. In one of those lucky coincidences, we had $200 budgeted for home expenses still tucked away and the plumber charged $189. I consider that lucky at this stage of life, don't you?

It was great to get back to my students today, even though I have quite a few papers to grade before I catch up. But that's okay; it's only Monday.

Fingers Crossed

2011-10-15T22:34:00.006-04:00

I think the craziness may be over (fingers crossed). Melissa is getting better, although I ended up staying home again on Friday so I could take her back to the doctor, this time for stomach cramps. This doctor felt like it was probably some sort of food allergy, or possibly a stomach bug, that coincidentally happened at the same time as the strep, but was unrelated and therefore confusing. And since she broke out in a rash today, we're thinking it's probably allergy.

Last night, Stephanie popped in to spend the night, but she probably regretted it, as she and I were woken up around 2 a.m. to the sound of some sort of rodent(s) gnawing away under our house. Talk about creepy.

Today I spent eight hours in a classroom for the first session of my third gifted class; given the way things have been this week, I actually looked forward to the "break"! It was fun seeing some of the people in my cohort and talking about gifted strategies again.

But my best news is that since Stephen is employed again and needed a car, I was able to buy the one I've been wanting for awhile! Isn't it pretty?

In knitting news, I've started a Noro square for a Fussy Cuts Blanket; the pattern was in the newest book I bought, Craft Activism. I want to go out and buy a bunch of Noro, but I'm making myself knit all the ones I already have first. Only then will I give myself permission to buy more. Talk about motivation! It's a great book and it's inspired me to have a crafting party next weekend for some friends of mine (none of them are knitters, but I feel an urge to start a crafting group with them anyway). Our first group project is going to be one of those tied fleece throws. Should be fun. Hope your weekend is a relaxing one. I'm counting on Sunday for that.

Roller Coaster, (Say What?)

2011-10-13T18:04:00.004-04:00

What a wild ride the past twenty-four hours have been.

First, I found out my broken bone is healing nicely and I can return the ridiculously expensive rental scooter. Good news.

Then, we found out that Stephen was offered the job he really wanted, and six months of unemployment is about to end. Fan-TAS-tic news!!

Next, I got a call from my youngest daughter at 11:45 p.m., telling me she had been to the urgent care to find out she had strep throat and was now going to the emergency room for chest pains. Stephen and I ended up staying at the ER from midnight until 6:30 a.m. this morning, with Melissa and her dad, leaving without a clear diagnosis. They ran blood tests to check her pancreas, liver, and gall bladder, and they all came back clear, which was good news, but they decided her esophagus was irritated and having spasms, possibly due to the strep. She has spent the day chugging pepto-bismal, taking pepcid tablets, and drinking/eating a bland diet. And finally, finally, getting some sleep. She's improving somewhat, but needless to say, it's worrying me a bit.

Oh, and the central air conditioner unit just died. You might think it wouldn't matter so much, since it's October, but it was in the eighties today with matching humidity. Everything feels sticky and wet in our house.

So I had to call in sick today, since I had no sleep last night and only 4 or 5 hours this morning meant I couldn't even go in late. Two highs plus two lows equal a worn out me. This 24 hours can end now.

A Saturday in October

2011-10-08T12:22:00.000-04:00

A long week which ended with me crabby and out of sorts last night. The weather is beautiful but little worries and irritations are in my way. Missing my daughters. Dealing with the boot on my foot. Allergies or a virus clogging my head. Stuff that needs done around the house. The normal things, you know?

Anyway, it's a gorgeous day here today and I had breakfast with a couple of friends at one of my favorite coffee places, so things are looking up. How could I stay grumpy with this cutie pie around?

Did a little knitting on the Stripe Study shawl; totally addicted to it, although I have a few handwarmer patterns I may start soon. Like this one, this one, and this one, all free Ravelry downloads!

Steve cleaned and stained our deck on Thursday and it looks super.Thinking I need to start on a few of my house chores before I run out of steam. Or lose a couple of hours to the computer.

October-ish

2011-10-06T18:36:00.004-04:00

I got home this afternoon when the light was just perfect on the ornamental grasses I planted last year. The pinkish fringe looks like it's glowing. Almost like sparklers.

I'm still on my scooter, which is now decorated for October. I see the doctor again next week and I'm hoping to be cleared to return it. It's been a lifesaver for me, but it's not cheap. I probably should have bought one outright, but hindsight and all that. . .

And here is a gorgeous arrangement that my mom gave me last week; still looking as fresh as ever. So lovely to see on the kitchen table at the end of the day, don't you think?

As much as I'm enjoying the school year, I'm looking forward to the weekend and some serious relaxation time. Hoping for another pajama weekend. How about you?

Addicted

2011-10-04T22:11:00.003-04:00

I'm addicted to the Stripe Study Shawl. I finally got back to it, figured it out, and now I can't wait to curl up on the couch and knit a stripe or two at the end of the day. Not sure who will be the recipient, but it's a satisfying knit just now.

My teaching is really undergoing some transformations this year. Teaching a gifted elective and then incorporating some gifted strategies into my honors science class, has me taking chances and letting go of some control, which is scary but feels right somehow. I've been honest with my students, letting them know they are guinea pigs (sort of), and they seem excited by the opportunity to try new things too. After all, isn't that what education is supposed to be about? It makes me so pleased to overhear students say, "wow, this class always flies by!"

There are possibilities brewing here at our cottage this week; I hope to share some good news soon. So good that I'm almost okay about the fact that I'm not making it to Rhinebeck this year. Take a look at this list of VIPs! Read it and weep, knitters.

Finally Feeling Like Fall

2011-10-01T09:52:00.008-04:00

It finally feels like fall today. We have the windows open and there is a cool breeze coming through. (Also the smell of wild onions, since Steve is cutting the "grass". I use the term loosely, as we have very little actual grass.)

I just have a few zinnias left, but this one stood out. Such a pretty pink.

It's been a really full week, which makes me appreciate a weekend that much more. I am thoroughly enjoying my new students this year, and am starting to find my rhythm with each of the different bells. I have two science classes with unusually small numbers this year and that is a first for me. It is a totally different dynamic when you have ten students instead of the usual 25-30, and it requires a different flow. It's nice but it took me a week or two to find it. I've also had to adjust my teaching style somewhat, as a result of being on my scooter instead of being able to walk around independently. One of the positive results of having limited mobility is that I've had to relinquish more control to my students, with respect to getting out lab equipment, writing on the board, and distributing supplies. As a control freak, this has been a good lesson for me.

My other two science classes have twenty and thirty students, so that's pretty normal. The class of thirty is an honors science and I'm really excited about implementing some new lessons for them; taking some of the gifted strategies I'm still learning in grad school and applying them is pretty cool. My class of twenty students is my AVID science class, and they still hold a special place in my heart. AVID is the program that takes students who are average achievers, gives them a bell of support mainly in the form of organizational skills, and treats them as if they were honors students, which improves their achievement. In other words, they rise to the high expectations we place on them. AVID also exposes them to the idea of college and what it takes to get there, so they start taking the courses they need in order to have a good shot of being accepted, and most importantly, being successful in college.

My SOL Prep bell is actually my gifted elective bell, with only nine students, and the curriculum for it is pretty wide open. Basically, I'm supposed to encourage their giftedness and challenge them to find their passion. The past two weeks, we have been reading articles about racism and sexism and how social media impacts both those -isms. Listening to their discussions and reading what they write is quite simply amazing. I am loving this class. Next week we're going to do a mini science fiction unit and then I'm going to turn them loose in the library and see what they come up with.

I met my youngest daughter, Melissa, for coffee the other night during a major thunderstorm. Apparently there were even a few tornados sighted, but thankfully, not in the area she and I were. On my way there, I took this picture of the sun shining through the dark clouds. I thought it was an interesting shot.

Last night we had hail with yet another thunderstorm. Weird weather around here these days. Hope you are enjoying a lovely fall weekend!

False Fall

2011-09-25T19:49:00.000-04:00

Stephen took these gorgeous photos of some caterpillars feasting on our rue plants. I think it's interesting that they have inverse (reverse?) coloration. I have no idea what kind they are, but it's one of the benefits on no pesticide gardening, something my husband is passionate about.

It may look like fall here, but it doesn't feel like it. It's muggy and warm. I think we've had rain for the past two weeks, maybe longer. Everything is damp, inside and out, and lichens are even growing on our roof, just as if we lived in the Pacific Northwest.

But my fall cleaning continues, one weekend at a time. I've cleared out the main food cabinet, wiped it down, and it's drying out. Now it's back to the kitchen I go to put everything back. I did a quick written inventory of what we have, and plan on flipping through my cookbooks for recipes. I am so out of the habit of meal planning and cooking, that I am having trouble getting started. A friend of mine plans her meals by the month, building in a day of leftovers every week. I don't know if I can do that just yet, but I'd really love to get in the habit of planning a week ahead and doing some of the prep work on the weekend. Any suggestions?

Weekend Wrap Up

2011-09-25T00:02:00.005-04:00

I finally finished my mom's "summer" sweater! I did the majority of it in June, then stopped working on it until the end of August. After making a list of my unfinished projects, I pulled it back out and now it's done! Even though it's a cotton sweater, I think she'll get a lot of use out of it, since I modified the pattern and made long sleeves. Now it's getting a wash, and tomorrow I'll take photos of it. (Edited to add photo. I pinned it closed, but still need to add a button loop.)

Last weekend, despite staying in my pajamas most of the time, Steve and I did a fair amount of fall cleaning; it made for a great start to the work week. This weekend, we had planned to go out of town, but things came up and we stayed home instead. Even though I had looked forward to the trip, it was probably better for my healing foot that we didn't go. So I got a lot of errands run, ate out, and saw the movie, Sarah's Key, with a friend. I thought it was a really good movie and I'm glad I saw it. That sounds like a weak recommendation, but it's a hard one for me to describe for some reason.

My plan for tomorrow is to go through our kitchen cabinets and make a menu for the week to use what we already have on hand. We got in a really bad (but fun) habit this past week and ate out almost every night. It was good timing, since it was my first full week back at work after my surgery, but it's too expensive to keep up and it's not the most healthy diet plan. But it was fun and very sweet of Stephen to be such a good sport about it.

My school year is going just great; I have another group of wonderful students, which makes life so much more enjoyable. Plus, this year I'm teaching a class of gifted students for one bell of enrichment. We're doing some really interesting things. I'll write more about that later. For now I'm going to try and go to sleep, even though my after-the-movie cup of coffee is keeping me awake. Either that or menopause, take your pick.

A Back to School Giveaway

2011-09-18T09:05:00.002-04:00

I had fun with my little giveaway, but caffeinegirlknits is having an even bigger one. Check it out for a chance to win some really nice stuff.

I made it through my first week back at school, although I did take off Wednesday. I did a lab with my students on Thursday and Friday, and stupidly invited my administration team in to observe. Unfortunately my new principal showed up during my difficult bell and followed up with an email telling me I need to get a few of them under control. Believe me, they won't be the difficult bell for long, but it was just hubristic to invite anyone in to observe me on my fourth day of class. I'm just so used to having solid classroom management that I forgot it does take a little time to get there with new students. One positive thing that will come out of this is that when the principal does return, he will definitely see a major improvement in the students' behavior. Trust me on this.

Anyway, I spent most of yesterday in my pajamas and am hoping to do the same today. The weather is certainly cooperating, as it is in the low sixties and drizzly. Definitely a hint of fall here. And I'm almost done with my mom's "summer" sweater. Better late than never, eh?

Fun Stuff

2011-09-16T20:00:00.002-04:00

Have you ever felt like you were spending more time thinking or reading about creativity than actually being creative?

I was browsing Brooklyn Tweed's Fall Collection of patterns and oh my, quite a few caught my eye. I love the Acadia Cardigan, the Levenwick Cardigan, the Sullivan Cardigan, and the Quinnipiac Cowl. I mean, really I love them all, but these are the three I can actually see myself making. The Perry Cardigan is great too, but I don't think it would be flattering in my current size.

I also found some pretty (and free!) patterns from Blue Sky Alpaca, like the Java Cloche, One-Cable Mitts, and the Zig-Zag Mittens and Hat.

And PurlBee never ceases to amaze me with their beautiful projects, like this baby blanket.

What patterns are making you swoon?

I Am A Seeker

2011-09-14T08:17:00.001-04:00

I am a seeker of balance, joy, and contentment. For as long as I can remember, I have tried to find joy in everyday moments. Obviously there are days when I fail miserably, but I always keep striving.

My first guidebook to this consciousness was the Anne of Green Gables series of books. Sounds odd, but it is true. Anne, through L. M. Montgomery's writing, was an amazing influence on me.

La Leche League was another powerful resource. It was so much more than breastfeeding advice, it was a community of women. A community of women before there was the Internet. Three mantras I attribute to that wonderful organization are: "people before things, always", "take what you need, leave the rest", and "good enough is enough". Whenever I feel overwhelmed, these three concepts remind me of my priorities.

Sarah Ban Breathnach's book Simple Abundance was another amazing resource for me as well. Her book gave me concrete ways to practice gratitude at a difficult time in my life.

And now the internet has opened up even more places for me to find inspiration: SouleMama, Slow Love Life, habit, Letter to a Long Lost Friend, The Gift of an Ordinary Day; these are all blogs that remind me of what is important, that how I choose to live my life matters.

I know you have your own sources; I'd love to hear about them.

Finally, A Start

2011-09-12T21:28:00.001-04:00

I had my first day with students today and surprisingly, I had a bad case of butterflies right before I got to school. That hasn't happened since I first started teaching, but as soon as the kids got there, all was well. They seem like a great group and I'm looking forward to getting into the rhythm of teaching again. Although my foot hurts, it's not too bad, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to take off Wednesday to make sure I don't overdo it this first week back. It's just so hard for me to stay seated; it's not my style of teaching, but I'm going to have to do it or else miss even more time, so seated it will have to be.

I did finish the baby sweater this weekend, and although the color is washed out in this photo, I'm quite pleased with how this project turned out. I felt like I took some design chances on this one by my placement of color. (I'd describe the green as celery green).
Turns out my idea of posting the multiple projects I had in my queue was actually a good motivation for me this time. So far I have finished the baby sweater, unraveled the Saroyan and Stripe Study shawls, put the thumbs in the Cane Sugar Mitts (forgot to even include them, they were so close to done), and I'm now knitting the sleeves on the sweater for my mom. (She just told me she'd prefer long sleeves, so it'll take just a bit longer, which is what I get for waiting until September to finish a sweater that was started in June!) That will leave me the purple shawl and then I plan on casting on for this or this, using some Knit Picks Tweed that I bought while on pain meds. (That's my story and I'm sticking to it!)

I'm pretty sure my posting is going to slow down a bit, now that I'm back to work. My knitting too, although I'll try and keep at it. I'd really love to get in a new routine of going to bed and getting up a bit earlier so I can knit for a bit in the morning, to see how that affects my day. Anyone do that as a meditative practice before work?

Enjoy your week!

Playing "Grandmama"

2011-09-10T10:30:00.003-04:00

I had a lovely time yesterday at one of my favorite coffeeshop, visiting with a friend and her almost one year old son, and playing "pretend" Grandmama. That's my laughter you hear in the background of the video.

We had a lovely time playing peek-a-boo with one of the handknits I've decided to unravel, although I may change my mind and just give it to Corbin to play with instead.

Instead of knitting while I was there, I took the opportunity to unknit the Saroyan shawl and the Stripe Study Shawl. It was a good decision.

It was my first time out on my own since the surgery a week ago, and I thought it was a good time to do a trial run, since I am returning to work on Monday. It made me quite tired, which probably shouldn't have been as big of a surprise as it was, but then I often overestimate my energy level. I still think I'm in my early thirties, instead of my actual age of 51. WTH? At any rate, if I get too tired next week, I can always take a day or two off instead of working the full week. I'll just play it by ear.

Gift tag giveaway update: If the four women who participated can email me your addresses, I will get the tags in the mail. Thank you for playing, and even more importantly, thank you for reading my blog and wishing me well. Just another reason I consider myself to be a grateful and contented woman.

Contest Winners' Dilemma

2011-09-09T16:13:00.004-04:00

I have a proposition for the four women who participated in my gift tag giveaway.

I can draw two winners as I said I would.

Or I can divide up the gift tags so that each of the four of you get three tags, instead of two of you getting six.

All have to agree or I stick to the original plan of two winners.

I hope this option doesn't offend anyone or violate blog giveaway rules.

Let me know your decision please. It's your call.

Thank you!

The Island of Misfit Toys

2011-09-08T23:47:00.001-04:00

Or The Cottage of Unfinished Knitting? Although you've been down this road before, we're going down it again, if only to help me figure out which ones are keepers and which ones are headed for the frog pond. Ready? Here we go!

This is the sweater for my mom that only needs sleeves (short ones!) and the button bands. It has sat idle for two months! Ridiculous, must finish now!

This is the Stripe Study Shawl that I started in June, planning to take it with me on my train trip adventure. Alas, I forgot the trick to the directions and am going to rip it out and start over, since I found the skein of blue yarn that I really wanted to use with the green in the first place. So my plan is to rip out and start over.

A generic malabrigo scarf. Knitting it wider than normal for me, feel like it may be shorter than I like, but I will finish it and use it as is. Probably keep it for me, but who knows? This is a mindless knit, but I'm tired of it just sitting there, so my plan is to finish and move on.Remember my Slice of Summer? Also known as Citron? And this would be last summer, by the way. I'm going to take the advice of someone and stop stressing about stitch counts. The plan is to plow through and call it a winner. Later.A completed Manta Ray shawl using some beautiful Malabrigo sock yarn. Don't like the look of this at all; apparently didn't pay attention to the finished project page on Ravelry and just blindly kept at it. Will rip this one out so I can use the lovely yarn on something else. I don't know why I didn't remember I had bought two skeins of yarn for this but panicked and made one end unequal to the other end. I had planned to just rip back to the center, but I think I'm going to redo it completely using larger needles. Love the pattern, love the yarn, but want more of a relaxed drape, like my first Saroyan. A baby hat for the gift stash. Don't know why I don't love it, will probably rip out and plan on doing something else with the yarn. Maybe use with some brown to make it less boring. Probably won't use it for a hat either.I thought this would be a really good color combo for a Turn A Square hat, a design that works really well on Steve's head. But I don't have enough of either yarn and there's something about the solid oatmeal color that I'm not happy with so this is a rip it out plan.
This is a go to washcloth that I made and left in the UFO bag by mistake. I made it with Lion Brand Cotton leftovers from the rug I made this summer. It's a broken rib pattern and extra large, so it'll go in the gift stash for a certain someone.
Another washcloth on the needles, in Peaches N Creme orange. This is a grab and go project I keep on hand when I have nothing else to work on and I'm running out the door.

Almost forgot the shawl from Laid-Back Knitters. I'm at the halfway point and this should be my grab and go project but I've left it for awhile and don't have the decrease portion memorized yet. Need to get this one going again.

And since I'm obviously short on yarn and projects, I'm dreaming about this. Wishful thinking, this year anyway. Better to stay home and finish what I've got, don't you think?

Sadly, there are a few more projects stashed about the house, but they've been ignored for so long they may never see the light of day again.

Have a great weekend and don't forget about the giveaway!!

Sharing the Joy: A Giveaway!

2011-09-07T13:03:00.000-04:00

I'd like to do a small giveaway, as a way of passing on some of the gratitude I've felt over the past week or so. Blog friends who have wished me well, as well as friends and family who have been to see me or called or sent me a card, have really filled me with a sense of well being, and I'd like to share some of that with you.

I have two sets of Kniterella's Humor gift tags that I'd love to give away, six tags per set. Just leave a comment requesting to be entered in the drawing by noon on Friday, September 9, and I will draw two names and mail them out to the winners by Saturday.

Specify whether you prefer Set 1,

or Set 2.

Happy Wednesday!!

Feeling Lucky!

2011-09-06T07:37:00.003-04:00

While I was down, but not out, I won a beautiful print from Lene, over at The Seated View! Pretty cool, huh?

I forgot that knitting while taking pain meds is not usually a good idea; consequently, the start I made on a baby sweater ended up being ripped back. Not a big loss, really, as I hadn't gotten very far. Now instead of striping the sweater, I've decided to do a sort of color block thing. Mere titled it Greensleeves, and as soon as I make enough progress on it, I'll post a photo. Another thing that's kind of cool is how quickly a six month size knits up. Then I promise myself that I'm going to finish something from the unfinished projects bag. Anything. That shouldn't be a hard task, but as I've already had some clarity problems, I'm a little hesitant to mess anything else up.

Today is the first day of school, in that the students show up today. It's going to be so weird to be out of the loop the first week of school, but I'm sure I'll feel a part of it all quickly enough. One of the things I'm going to try next week with my gifted SOL Prep class is going to be the Six-Word Memoir project. I think the students will find those interesting. I'll have to try one of my own too, to make it a more authentic assignment, but I'll have to wait until my brain unfogs itself. Or maybe do one fogged/drugged and one unfogged? Want to bet which one will be funnier?

I go back to the doctor today for my post op appointment and my first look at the incision. I think I'm doing really well, just feeling a little pain. I'm hoping to enjoy the remainder of this week, resting up, reading, and knitting. And thinking about how I'll look back on this in a couple of weeks, wishing I was back on the couch with no responsibilities and . . . . . .

Grateful

2011-09-04T17:45:00.000-04:00

I am so grateful to my family and friends, but also for kind people that are everywhere, if only we take the time to notice.

My foot is doing quite well; I had to call the doctor this morning to get permission to cut a too tight bandage, but other than that, things are going very smoothly. I've begun cutting back on the dosage of pain medicine just a bit, and as a result, my mind is a little less muddled. I slept better last night than the night before, and I'm sure that's helping also.

My mom and dad have been spoiling me, bringing food over and hanging out with me to help pass the time. Even my sister and niece came over last night to dote on me. I may have withdrawal pains from all the attention I'm currently getting, haha.

I have lots of knitting projects that need finished up, and by finished up, I mean some of them need unraveling and reknitting. So of course that means I started something new. A baby sweater for a friend's soon-to-arrive grandson. I'm using some blue and green Mission Falls 136 superwash marino that I bought awhile back with just this project in mind.

The odd blue tint to the photo comes from having the sunroom curtains closed.

Now I'm off for little nap. Thanks for all your good wishes and thoughts! I am truly grateful.

Quick Check In

2011-09-02T19:19:00.000-04:00

I came through the surgery wonderfully. The doctor said everything was perfect, small incision, only one screw needed, best scenario. Steve is waiting on me hand and foot (pun intended) and I'm feeling really well. Thank you to everyone who checked on me and/or helped me out yesterday and today.

The Past and The Future

2011-08-30T06:45:00.003-04:00

When Meredith was little, I could give her a small pack of gummy bears and she would entertain herself by playing with them and making up stories about them. I just saw these adorable twig chairs thanks to whip-up's list of links; I can't imagine how much fun Mere would have making these! (As it turns out, she just told me she did make twig chairs, although not quite as sturdy as these are.)

I'm really starting to dread my foot surgery. I just spoke with my cousin who told me that orthopedic surgeries are some of the most painful type. Reading this article didn't exactly ease my concerns either. I am going to have the surgery on a Friday, and then I have to be off my foot for at least the following work week, a total of ten days. I'm hoping I can channel some of my daughter's ability to entertain herself, but I feel I'm out of practice. I know I have reading, knitting, the internet, and dvds, which should be plenty of entertainment, but I don't know if I can do it for that long without going crazy. Isn't it funny how one always thinks, "if I only had the time. . . ." and then when we do have the time, we complain about it? Or is that just me?

It's A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

2011-08-28T17:57:00.006-04:00

The view to the east: To the west:

Someone digging out:

Just because it's beautiful:

Back to normal:

I thought these would be lovely, after all of the hurricane photos. Courtesy of Steve, my surrogate photographer.

Bye-Bye Irene!

2011-08-28T07:19:00.004-04:00

Just a quick post to let everyone know we are fine. We were so fortunate; we only lost power for a couple of hours, got it back during the night, and as far as I can tell, we had no property damage. It's sunny and clear here now. Thanks for all of your good wishes, thoughts, and prayers.

Now we can enjoy the beautiful weather.

Irene, I Don't Think I Like You

2011-08-26T18:44:00.005-04:00

I have been out of sorts every since yesterday afternoon when I found out I need foot surgery after all. After spending eight weeks in an annoying boot for the entire months of July and August, I'm going to be in it at least eight more weeks. It's making me cranky and on edge.

But I didn't really make the connection that some of my antsy-ness is also due to waiting for Irene. Thankfully, Dominique articulated those feelings for me.

I've done everything that I can to prepare; bought a ridiculous amount of water, a couple of extra flashlights, filled all my plastic containers with water and put them in the freezer, bought too many groceries, filled the gas tank, and washed all the clothes in the house. Steve had the job of putting all of our outside stuff in the garage and trying to avoid my crankiness. I'd say the second task was the hardest one on him.

And now I need to sit down and try to relax before I spin out of control. Maybe do a little knitting to help me find my happy place. Thank you for all of your good thoughts and warm words. See you on the other side!

Sometimes You're the Windshield, I'm Feeling Like the Bug

2011-08-25T18:59:00.005-04:00

Damn. As if the impending hurricane isn't enough, my doctor has decided that my broken foot needs surgery. At the beginning of the school year. Probably the worst time for me to miss work.

I Forgot About the Fire

2011-08-25T07:41:00.000-04:00

I forgot to mention the third local weather phenomenon in my last post: The Great Dismal Swamp Fire, which is so large that it now can be seen from space. The air quality is terrible today, which is one reason that our area is actually hoping for some significant rain from Irene. And it appears she is still heading our way, although it will probably bounce off the Outer Banks of North Carolina and veer a little bit to the east.

The girls and I had a great time thrift store shopping last weekend. As a matter of fact, it was so much fun that we went twice. Meredith and I focused on sheets and fabrics, while Melissa and Stephanie primarily went for the clothing. One of the projects that came together beautifully was the completion of a purse for Melissa. I had completed the knitting of it at least a year ago, but it needed a strap and a lining. Mere bought a linen shirt and used it to make the lining, and Melissa picked out the coolest belt to repurpose as the strap. It was definitely a labor of love and a group effort, and she loves it. The next time she stops by, I'll take a photo of the finished product.

The only other "field trip" that Meredith and I went on (if you don't count grocery shopping), was a visit to a new-ish yarn store in the area, The Yarn Club. It was a beautifully stocked store with a very friendly owner. Mere picked out a couple of skeins of MadelineTosh Merino Light; the candlewick (yellow-gold) one almost glows, it's so saturated with color. They are a gift for her for Christmas, which means I get to enjoy looking at them until then!

Hope your day is a good one!

Earthquakes and Hurricanes. Kind of Weird.

2011-08-23T19:35:00.002-04:00

Seems like we had a bit of an earthquake tremor here today; coming in at 5.9 on the Richter scale. And a hurricane is supposed to be heading our way, due in on Saturday, according to NOAA, but we never get earthquakes.

Somebody really doesn't want us to start school on time this year.

Weird times indeed.

Weekend Fun. . . . . .Now An Empty Nest

2011-08-23T07:27:00.003-04:00

This weekend was a whirlwind! At one point we had all four daughters plus one friend in our tiny little house and now, I've got nothing. I didn't even take pictures this weekend, we were so busy just being together.

We had laughter, food, crafting, thrift store shopping, talking, movie watching, knitting, staying up late, sewing, yarn shopping, and more food. And lots and lots of fun.

Yesterday, Steve and I took Mere to the train station, then drove Stephanie back to her apartment in Richmond. The three of us ate lunch at Garnett's, an adorable little restaurant.

The place was so small, this is the width of the place at one end. It widens, but not much; in fact, I counted the number of chairs and it can only seat twenty-four people, including the counter. Maybe that's why they have these five chairs outside.Richmond is noted for its many small restaurants, and we try to find a different one each trip. Most of the time the food is unique and delicious, and this was no exception. I had a white bean sandwich, called the WBLT, with a cold black-eyed pea salad in a grapefruit vinegarette that tasted wonderful.

When we got home, the house was so quiet that I took a three hour nap.

This week is my last week before starting work/school again, so of course that means I'm trying to get everything done all at once, in addition to trying to get my sleep habits back to normal. It's funny, but every year when summer starts, I stay on a fairly normal schedule until August, at which point I start staying up later and later, and napping to catch up. A habit that makes going back to work quite difficult. Not the smartest plan, but it does seem to be a pattern.

Hope your week is a good one!

So Many Books.......

2011-08-18T10:10:00.001-04:00

Reading is, and always has been, a huge part of who I am. Steve thinks I read indiscriminately, but that isn't really true. I think it's more accurate to say that I read a wide range of genres.

I would love to read more classics, but wasn't sure why I rarely do, until I read Jane Brocket's post and started thinking about it. She wrote that we already know the synopses of so many of the stories, that it seems unnecessary for us to actually read the work (I'm summarizing, please read her post). While I agree her reason is partly true for me, I know that every time I see a movie made from a book I've already read, it leaves me, at best, slightly dissatisfied with all the nuances that were left out. And yet, the only classic I've read over the last couple of years has been Anna Karenina. And that was mainly on a dare from Steve (I'm so competitive!). I think the main reason I hesitate to pick up a classic is that the writing styles are so different from modern day fiction. The bottom line is they simply take more of my concentration and time. And that's an embarrassing reason. So. First up is Elizabeth Gaskill's Wives and Daughters. Mainly because I already own it. Then I plan to read through Jane Austin, starting with one of the ones that hasn't been made into a BBC series (although, heaven help me, I do love them so.)

Just as soon as I finish The Lacuna, by Barbara Kingsolver. And believe me, this isn't a quick read either. But fabulous, as all her books are. And maybe that's another reason I have trouble starting a classic. All the wonderful books that are being written every day. As the t-shirt says, "So many books, so little time." Isn't it great??

Daughters

2011-08-17T09:08:00.005-04:00

Yippee! Meredith is coming for a visit! By Friday night, the house will be full of girls.

Minus the snow and the four-legged beastie girl, Olivia.

Not sure what Steve is going to do. . . . . . run for cover, possibly.

Cane Sugar Mitts & a Hawk

2011-08-15T17:52:00.001-04:00

Does this look like a hawk to you? A closeup, as he sits on our fence. Steve was in the sunroom and luckily I got there in time with my camera to catch him.

I've been feeding the finches this summer, but for the last week or two, I haven't seen any. I think I know why.

I am participating in a KAL for Larissa; isn't this a cool color combo? My colors in the photo are almost right; the solid portion is Berroco Vintage in sunny, which I think looks like gold, and actually matches one of the colors in the Koigu. Pretty cool design, but then hers always are. I love how she encourages you to try new things. I know for a fact that I never would have picked these two yarns to go together without this pattern. Check out her KAL groups.

And by the way, did you get your new Knit Picks catalog yet? I LOVE the new Wool of the Andes TWEED!!

Zinnias

2011-08-14T16:31:00.000-04:00

Zinnias are such lovely flowers. We had about an inch of rain last night, so my zinnias have really perked up. They were so dry, their poor little leaves had been curling under. I went out just now and cut all the dead blossoms off, then cut some for the house as well. I tried putting them in vases, but they look best in mason jars, don't you think?

This week, I have been trying to rectify some unhealthy food choices I've made over the past spring and summer. Despite my great success with Weight Watchers last year, I have gained it all back. So I decided to start up with it again, and it's helped my mental state. Because of my broken foot, I really can't do any aerobic exercise, but I can choose what I eat. (I noticed that I started in August last year too; hmm, sensing a pattern?) So send me good thoughts.

One new thing I tried today was Leslie's sister's green smoothie recipe. While I didn't get it as smooth as hers looks in the photo, it was very tasty and filling. I used a food processor instead of a juicer, because that's what I have, and that is probably the reason.

I also decided to make another "rug", using Amanda Soule's pattern. I have made a couple for the bathroom, but decided to make a larger one for Melissa's room. As much as I love the concept, I'm still struggling with making one without puckering. I'm not sure if it's a function of the machine I'm using or if it's more to do with me. They are useful, but not as nice looking as I think they can be. Regardless, I was able to repurpose a very nice towel that had some stains on it as the bottom and a pretty, thrifted sheet. I'll have to take a photo of it later.

Meanwhile, I've also cast on for Larissa's Sugar Cane Mitts pattern, using some varigated Koigu yarn I've had for awhile.I'm not sure what my coordinating yarn choice will be, but I plan on using something in the stash.

Hope you have had a lovely weekend!

Color: Inside & Out

2011-08-13T14:41:00.000-04:00

I don't know if you can see it or not, but there is a butterfly hovering above a pale pink zinnia in this photo. I noticed that the shadows and sunshine are getting a look of fall to them, despite the intense heat. While it makes me sad to realize summer is almost over, there's also a bit of excitement when I think about starting the new school year.

Our deck is rarely this empty, but Steve powerwashed it and hopes for below 90 degree weather this weekend so he can weatherproof it.

Now for some inside color. Long time readers have seen these baskets before, but I reorganized them and want to show them off again. Here, I've put the browns, blues, and orange/reds.

I should have cleaned up the tint from the closed curtains in this photo, but I didn't. I have my purples and greens in this basket; I didn't realize I had collected so much green yarn. I had to divide it into spring greens and aquas.

This basket is a riot of colors; I put all of my cotton yarns in here. I have quite a bit of Mission Falls 1824 Cotton, most of it from when I did this baby blanket last summer.

This basket is full of neutrals. Projects for Steve, more than likely.

I have another large basket with black, white, and grey yarn, and another smaller basket with yarn that didn't fit in any of the other categories, e.g., varigated, sock, or otherwise.

Thank you for joining me on my color tour!

Bits and Bobs and Mermaids

2011-08-10T14:20:00.000-04:00

We finally got some rain here Sunday night, in the form of a thunderstorm. No matter, we'll take whatever we get. (Sometimes I feel like a farmer, given the way that I monitor the weather.)

I did manage to sort through my yarn collection yesterday, although there are a few bits and bobs left that don't seem to fit anywhere. I mostly sorted by color, with the exception of the cottons. Those I lumped all together in one large basket. And I found the second skein of the MadelineTosh yarn for my Saroyan shawl, so it's back in the project basket, awaiting a partial unraveling.

One of the books I read on my train trip was Andre Dubus' Dancing After Hours. Wow. I cannot overstate how engrossing his stories are. Because of how amazing a read it was, I reserved every book that our library owned (six of them). They had to get them out of storage, but I picked them up today and plan on disappearing into them for most of this week.

And while I was at the library, I took some pictures of the yarn-bombed mermaid.

Pretty, isn't she?Not sure what's attached to the belt....

.....but it does add a certain something. It looked like crochet to me, but I'm not positive. Still, yarn is yarn, right?

Despite the ongoing, oppressive heat, I felt like cooking yesterday, so I decided to make it a party. I made a delicious vegetable lasagna, and had Lindsay, Jon, Steph, and Melissa over for dinner. I sauteed zucchini, eggplant, onions, garlic, mushrooms, and spinach, then simmered it all with spaghetti sauce for about an hour. Oh my, but it tasted rich. And since it made two pans, we have plenty of leftovers!

Today's assignment is to get some stuff posted on craigslist to sell; stuff I photographed over a month ago but didn't manage to get listed. And do some knitting. And reading. Maybe even a nap. It's good to have goals.

The Summer of the Shawls

2011-08-06T15:29:00.000-04:00

I'm feeling much better now; pain really intensified the slightly blue way I was feeling into some major drama, but I think it's behind me now. The muscle pain is lessening and I assume my bones are trying to mend as well, with the help of calcium supplements and ultrasound therapy, in addition to keeping weight off of it.

I think one of the things that was overwhelming me is that I usually take some time in the summer to de-clutter and clean as a way to prepare for the coming school year, and I don't see that happening much this summer. I also had planned to paint the kitchen, but I'd say that's on hold as well. I'll just have to live with it, eh?

I know one thing I can do is go through my yarn stash (yes, again, why do you ask?) in the hopes of either giving some away or feeling less awash in it all. I think I feel guilty for hoarding it, knowing it's far too much for me to have on hand. I don't want plastic bins of stuff, but having it all out in the open is feeling messy. All the unfinished projects aren't helping me too much either.

This is the Manos scarf in mistake rib that I started awhile back and pick up whenever I am stuck or need something completely mindless. One skein done and only one left, which means it looks a little short to me, but I'm going to use it nonetheless. It was supposed to be a pattern by Spilly Jane, but I must have gotten off track.The Saroyan shawl out of the lovely brown and blue Madeline Tosh Vintage yarn I bought awhile ago came up short on yarn, and now that I've checked my Ravelry stash, I see that it says I bought two skeins. Another reason that I must reorganize the yarn. If I do find the second skein, I plan to knit back and do it correctly. It's too lovely a pattern and yarn to leave it like this, even if it takes longer. The yarn is gorgeous, and hopefully I really do have the second skein of it. I started this shawl using some gorgeous purple Berroco Ultra Alpaca and the pattern from my latest knitting book purchase, 10 Secrets of the Laidback Knitters. It's planned for a gift, so I can't say anything about the recipient, but I know she'll love it. I'm almost at the halfway point.This is the Manta Ray shawl, and I'm using some gorgeous Malabrigo sock yarn, whose label I seem to have misplaced. Although it's on size 8 needles, it's taking awhile to grow; not sure how much longer it will take. It was great train knitting though!Speaking of train knitting, this is the project I was supposed to be knitting during the trip, but since it had been a month since I picked it up, I couldn't work out the directions again. The Stripe Study Shawl is a favorite "mindless" project for many people, but I've been stumped a couple of times and now I think I'm afraid of it. The train's rocking motion made it hard for me to study the pattern, so I gave up and brought it home virtually untouched. I'm sure I'll get back to it when I have a free morning to focus on the directions.

So it appears I'm in a shawl stage, wouldn't you say? With a little luck, time, and perseverance, I should finish a couple of them up before I head back to school. You'd think that breaking one's foot would provide lots of knitting time, but for some reason, I've not been making the most of it. Or have I?

Conversations

2011-08-05T16:56:00.005-04:00

Two of the best things about traveling by train (other than the time with my dad, of course) was seeing the scenery and talking with other people. The observation car was my favorite place to sit; it was like being in a bubble, watching the scenery pass you by. I had a few conversations in this car, but the best place to have conversations was the dining car. It was communal style dining, which meant you ate your meals with strangers, and it was really interesting. I wish I had written notes as soon as we finished each meal, because now the conversations all kind of blend together. My favorite couple was from Texas, and had been married for 62 years. They were really interesting. Although they didn't give this advice, I bet they'd agree with it: advice from a couple who have been married for 63 years, over at Amanda's place.

Here are a few of the photos I took from the train, in no particular order.

The St. Louis Arch.The Capitol Building in Washington, DC.A river in Ohio.

A busy interstate in Washington, DC. I think that's the top of the capitol building peeking over the other building.

A beautiful old building in Richmond, Virginia.

Windmills in Illinois or Indiana.

The capitol building in Springfield, Illinois.

Harper's Ferry, West Virginia.

The train yard as we were pulling into Chicago.

Cornfields in Illinois.

I took many, many more pictures, but none seem to accurately convey just how mesmerizing it was to watch the scenery change as we chugged along through it all. We went through cities, woods, and fields, and even the "ugly" side of the tracks was interesting and strangely beautiful. I'm so glad I had the chance to make this trip. It was a great way to travel.

Happy Birthday, Baby!!

2011-08-03T06:31:00.001-04:00

So glad we met! You still bring the light to my eyes.

I love you more each day we're together.

What a Difference. . . . .

2011-08-02T18:56:00.002-04:00

. . . . . a little pain medication makes in one's outlook. The lovely doctor gave me a rib band and some pain medication and Steve bought me lunch, and all of a sudden life isn't so very bleak. Sorry for the whine.

Pity Party

2011-08-02T15:23:00.000-04:00

Feeling overwhelmed this morning. I had good news at the doctor yesterday--he doesn't think foot surgery is necessary at this point. I am to use an ultrasound device that stimulates bone growth and he thinks that will do the trick. So why am I feeling overwhelmed? I seem to have pulled a muscle above/behind my right breast and the pain is taking over. I took a muscle relaxer last night but it didn't help; the only thing it did was fog my brain and make me weepy.

I feel like my summer is being wasted. I should quit whining and focus on knitting, but even that isn't enough right now. More later when I'm feeling less blue.

Family Time

2011-07-31T15:14:00.017-04:00

I'm finally back from my train trip to Arkansas, and I now that I've caught up on my sleep, I want to share a few of the many photos I took. My mom and husband came on board to help dad and I get settled. Here are my youthful looking parents!

Dad getting us lunch at Union Station in Washington, DC.

A kind stranger took our picture at Chicago's Union Station.

I'll show more photos from the train later, but the reason for the trip is my focus now. This is my Aunt Wanda, dad's older sister, with my dad at a cemetery, visiting some relatives that have passed on. I love that I share an interest in photography with my aunt, even though she is much better at it than I am.

Here is my dad with some of his "relatives". They're a family he spent a lot of time with growing up, and I've always thought of them as part of our extended family. One of the men is his brother-in-law, the other man is Dad's best friend, and the woman is their sister. Dad said he probably spent as much time at their house as he did at his own.

We went to Washington, Arkansas, where this magnificent magnolia grows. It looks like three trees, but it's actually just one.

Here's a rare shot of my aunt, allowing her photo to be taken with her little brother.

She doesn't enjoy having her picture made; she'd much rather be the photographer.

Here I am in the local radio station, in front of a display of the Hope Watermelon Festival t-shirts. The watermelon festival is in August, and if you know anything about Arkansas, you would know they grow the largest watermelons in the country. My dad and I were interviewed by the radio station about our experience with traveling by train. Hope is supposed to get a stop on the Amtrak schedule and they wanted to build up some interest in it.

Loved this restaurant, and loved eating there with the "dos loco gringos" you see standing in front of it.

Speaking of good watermelon, of course we had to eat some!

Razorback football is another huge interest in Arkansas, and here is my uncle, sporting a t-shirt with his grandchildren's names on it. (I felt I needed to explain why they are referred to as hogs.)

Another iconic photo spot is the state line at Texarkana, a city that is divided between Arkansas and Texas. I remember having a photo just like this one taken when I was about twelve years old, so I wanted an updated version.

No one in our family really likes standing on the Texas side, so we have to switch to make it fair.

On our way back home, we had a five hour layover in Chicago, so we got out of the train station and did a little speedy sightseeing. This is in front of the Willis nee' Sears Tower.

And of course, we had to have our photo taken in front of "the Bean" in Millennium Park.

I'll post more about the actual train ride next time. Hope you enjoyed the family stuff!

All Aboard!

2011-07-20T20:37:00.010-04:00

It's been a little weird around here lately. I've been struggling with having limited mobility, then feeling guilty about it, since it's only a temporary condition. But it's been so hot and sticky here, and having a plastic boot doesn't help. I know it could be way worse, so then I beat myself up, mentally. Not a great cycle.

I saw the doctor today and he said that there is still a pretty good chance I will need surgery to pin the bone, as this particular bone is notoriously bad at remodeling itself. Which will mean six weeks off the foot, after the surgery. Which will interfere with the start of school. And I teach on the second floor of a fifty year old building with no elevator.

But enough of all that. I'm leaving tomorrow for Arkansas, taking the train with my dad, to visit his sister. We're actually taking three different trains:

the Northeast Regional, from Newport News to Washington, DC,

the Capitol Limited, from DC to Chicago,

and the Texas Eagle, from Chicago to Texarkana, which is about halfway between Little Rock and Dallas, at least according to this map. (Click on the links for some cool information about each of the trains and their routes.)

I haven't been out there for twenty-five years, so it'll be great to visit the relatives, but more importantly, I have a unique opportunity to spend two days on the train, each way, with my dad, looking at the scenery, knitting this lovely shawl, out of some pretty, purple yarn, for my cousin, and talking. That makes me pretty lucky, despite the bum foot, wouldn't you say? Since I'm leaving the computer at home, I'll share stories and pictures when I return.

Re-Entry

2011-07-18T08:15:00.000-04:00

What a week! The VDOE committee I worked on last week was just fabulous. I can't fully explain how enjoyable that kind of work is for me. The opportunity to discuss curriculum with other 8th grade science teachers from around the state, review SOL test items and the testing data, and to be a part of creating documents that every science teacher in the state will use is a pretty powerful experience.

Our committee work was over at noon on Friday, but since Steve had to help Stephanie move from one apartment to another and I couldn't help because of my foot, I had the opportunity to spend a little over four hours on my own. Not surprisingly, I spent two of those hours sitting at The Yarn Lounge knitting! Every time I visit there, I am more and more impressed with their hospitality. The staff and regular customers/knitters are so welcoming and inclusive that I look forward to visiting, even though I only go every couple of months or so. On this trip, I treated myself to a beautiful skein of Malabrigo Superwash sock yarn (Turner colorway) and four lovely pewter buttons. I plan to use two of the buttons for my mom's sweater, although I'm not sure which two, as I'm going to let her choose. I'm thinking I may take the sock yarn with me on my train trip this week, but I doubt I actually knit it, as I have my Different Lines shawl planned for that. But at least I'll be prepared. I spent the rest of the afternoon ensconced in a chair in Ellwood's Cafe', reading and drinking iced tea with ginger ale. It was a lovely afternoon, quite luxurious and indulgent.

All in all, I thought I'd have a tough time leaving the gorgeous hotel and all its amenities, but it wasn't too bad. Although our bed seemed much smaller after the king size one we'd been sleeping on all week, and the food here at home was definitely not up to par with the four star meals we'd been enjoying, it is good to be home.

Yesterday, Steve and I went to Borjo's, the coffee shop near ODU, and we ran into a couple of our favorite people. I caught Corbin smiling after only three tries! Isn't he a cutie? (although his dad is cute too, you know I'm talking about the baby!)

Another thing that helped my return, was meeting up with Deborah, author of the Caffeine Girl Knits blog. Whenever she visits her brother in Williamsburg, we try to catch up over coffee and knitting. Luckily I came home in time to catch her last full day in the area, and we had a great time talking and knitting. Thanks for taking the time out to visit with me, Deborah!

On a somewhat random note, I'd really love to knit this sweater, but I don't think I enjoy such small needles, despite loving how the fabric looks. Maybe I'll see if my daughter will make it for me; she loves the small needle projects!

Now it's off to see the endodontist, to finish up my latest root canal. I see the doctor about my foot on Wednesday for follow-up x-rays; hoping for good news. Sheesh, it's like I'm already a senior citizen, planning my week around the doctor appointments! Hope your week is a good one!

Whistle While You Work

2011-07-13T16:52:00.007-04:00

So, although I'm actually working this week, the setting is so wonderful that it really doesn't feel like I am. I'm getting quite proficient on my scooter and learning the easiest ways to get around the property.

And I'm elevating and icing my foot every evening now, in addition to propping it up during the day, so I think I'm making good progress towards recovery. This photo is for you, Mom!

See, it's much better now!!

Now, we're off to Bottom's Up Pizza for dinner.

No Feet, Just Food

2011-07-12T21:32:00.008-04:00

Okay, so I promised food photos. This is a photo from the Strawberry Street Cafe on Sunday night; it's their renowned salad bar in a bathtub, but due to my foot, I decided to forego it for a crab cake. And a beer. Last night, we went to Whole Foods for their buffet, which usually doesn't disappoint. Last night, about half of what we got was good and the other half was not. The asparagus, greens, noodles, and the sesame tofu was great, but the kung pao tofu was awful. Entirely too salty and dried out.

Steve got the beet salad (good) and some fried fish (not). We did have some great sorbet to finish up, but I think it'll be awhile before we do the WF buffet again.

Tonight was another great meal; we ate at The Black Sheep, as recommended by Stef, and not only was it a great, kitschy atmosphere, the food was FABULOUS! Don't you love this frog lamp and coordinating sheep salt & pepper shakers? Every table in the place had a different set of salt & pepper shakers and all of them looked vintage. I would have taken photos of them, but I don't think the diners would have appreciated it.

This was the best fingerling potato salad I've ever had and the sandwich was great too. Avocado, cheese, tomato, onion, and horseradish. Grilled, not greasy.

Steve got a salad with cherries and beets, along with homemade corn pudding. Awesome.

Stef got an amazing loaf covered with olive tapenade and goat cheese. And for dessert, we split the Nutella Pound Cake ala coffee ice cream. Delicious.

And as usual, the hotel is providing wonderful food for breakfast, lunch, and snacks. I barely notice I'm working this week!

My Left Foot

2011-07-11T21:46:00.010-04:00

Before I go into the nitty gritty of my broken foot, I want to share this photo of my gorgeous niece, modeling the sweater in progress I'm making for my mom. Paige spent the night with us on Friday night and she was there an entire five minutes before I broke my foot, changing all the fun plans I had made for us. Luckily, she was a good sport about it, waiting on me hand and foot (yep, another pun) and keeping me entertained, including modeling for me on demand.

Here's my new best friend, a Turning Leg Caddy.

Trying to get around on crutches was so exhausting and disheartening that Steve suggested we rent one of these, and I've got to say, it has made a world of difference. In fact, if I hadn't rented it, I would have had to cancel my job plans for this week. This is the week that I work on a committee for the Virginia Department of Education and it's a great gig. I get to spend a week in a posh hotel, have breakfast, lunch, and snacks provided by the four star on site catering staff, receive reimbursement for travel and dinner, and get paid a generous honoraium, and the work is pretty rewarding too. Even better, Steve came with me this year and has been wonderful at making things as easy as possible for me.

The only drawback with the wonderful scooter is that it has caused me to overdo it a bit today, leading to some ugly looking swelling. Do not scroll down if you are queasy about seeing ugly, swollen feet. (Rudee, I'm counting on you looking at it and giving me your advice.) Even though it isn't hurting, I have been sitting for the past three hours with it elevated and am icing it, so I think it'll be okay. One thing for sure, I'm taking it easier tomorrow, regardless of how good I feel. And tomorrow, I'll have some photos of the great food I'm eating, just to mix it up a little from all the injury information.

Remember,

don't scroll any further if you want to avoid the photo of my foot. Please read on if your name is Rudee.

A weird little line there near the heel, isn't it? It truly doesn't hurt though, and I'm really being good about not putting weight on it, so I think it's going to be okay. Right?

Never A Dull Moment

2011-07-09T11:24:00.001-04:00

Well, I've gone and broken a bone in my left foot. The good news is I don't need surgery on it. The bad news is that my right foot is the one still hurting with plantar fasciitis, and now it has to support all of my weight, as I'm on crutches for at least two weeks. And how did I break the bone? By tripping over my own feet, apparently. I'm open to better stories, as this one is a lame one. (lame, get it? I crack myself up.)