Bad Blogger

No, I'm not going to discuss my posting history; I just want to apologize for not thanking those of you who continue to leave kind comments. I have been quite remiss about responding and I barely comment on anyone else's blog these days, which is pretty rude behavior on my part. Please accept my apology and my promise to do better.

School started this past Tuesday and I'm teaching English 10 this year, which means I have quite a few former students. At the end of last year, the Freshman Transition teachers asked permission to loop up with our kids this year, and the administration agreed. The students in this cohort are a group who were identified as at-risk for dropping out, and we felt that maintaining a connection with them would be in their best interest. I looped once before in middle school, but it's more unusual to do it at the high school level, and although it's early days, I think it is going to work out well.

Knitting has certainly slowed down over the past two weeks. I knit a few wash cloths while sitting on the beach, finished a cowl, and started a sweater. Pretty sure the sweater will be slow going for awhile, until I get back in the rhythm of the school year.

And now, some photos:

Tidal, in Malabrigo silky merino, barely begun.

Labor Day at the beach, knitting on the sand. That's me in the water, almost impossible to see, thank goodness.

Gracie, on the couch, napping near me every evening, after I get home. The sheet is cat hair protection.

 

The Atomic cowl, in MadelineTosh Vintage, warm denim.

And my classroom, before the kids showed up. I'm so lucky to have windows!

Hope to be back here again soon!

 

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Double Fun

Babies are sweet, therefore twin babies are twice as sweet. These two are the twin sons of a young friend of mine and the recipients of the blankets I knit this summer. Garrett and Holden; adorable, aren't they?

And here they are, wrapped up in their new blankets, and being held by their uncle and mom.

Time for me to visit again. I need some more sweetness.

 

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Time For School

I go back to work on Monday and therefore, my head has been chock full of ideas. I'm looking forward to meeting my students, hoping to inspire and stretch them to do their very best, hoping I can do my very best to make good things happen for us all. I have been writing down as many of the ideas I can think of so I don't forget them, searching the Internet for ways to incorporate cell phones into my lessons, reading up on new and old strategies to teach writing, and thinking about how I want to set up my physical space. So much to do and despite having enjoyed my summer immensely, I'm really excited about getting the new year started!

I think this is the reason I'm having trouble with knitting anything that requires attention to detail. I've started three different cowls, only to lose track of simple stitch patterns. I finally changed yarn and tried a fourth new-to-me pattern and I think I'm doing okay with it. I'm using some madelinetosh vintage in Warm Denim from the stash and a pattern called Atomic that is reversible. It will probably go in the gift pile and I hope to start a second one to work on while I sit in all the meetings next week. Still haven't cast on for the sweater, but decided on Tidal, as the suggested yarn is very similar to the Malabrigo Silk that I have on hand.

I did some hand knit washing yesterday, including blocking the Zuzu's Petals cowl I finished. I need to go back and finish the hat for Steve I put down a week or two after messing up the cable, but I'm not sure now is the time. He's asked me about it pretty regularly, so I should get on it, although the cool weather is still a ways off.

I used Classic Elite's Liberty Wool for this and I loved the way it striped.

Here's a picture of Gracie enjoying her scratcher. Although she doesn't show affection much, she is very attached to us. She likes hanging out with us, whether she is sitting beside me on the couch or curled up in her basket. It's so cute the way she will follow me from room to room.

I'm so glad I adopted this sweet, beautiful cat.

 

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Unseasonable

We had some unseasonably cool weather this week. I had the windows open most of the week, giving our air conditioner a much needed break. I finally turned it back on this evening, mainly because of the rain that was coming in the windows and to remove some of the moisture in the air inside.

With one more week left before I go back to work, I thought I'd start a long term project. I'm knitting another Zuzu's Petals cowl, but it's almost finished, and when it's off the needles, I'm casting on for either Tidal or Seagrass, both by Cecily Glowik MacDonald. Regardless of which sweater I decide on, I'm using this yarn, which was gifted to me by my daughter, when she downsized her stash. Her loss is my gain and I'm ready to make something wearable out of it.

How about you? What are you knitting as the summer begins to wind down?

P. S. Shouldn't this be a yoga pose?

 

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Transcontinental Shawlette

 

 

Loved making this Shawlette from Kate Jackson's book! I used ToshSock in Baltic and the colors in this yarn are stunning.

 

Also made the Horizon Shawlette a month or two ago and loved it too! Such a great book; check it out if you get the chance.

 

 

 

And guess who paddle boarded today? That's right, me! Thank goodness no photos were taken as I'm still learning and not very graceful. But oh what fun! Can't wait to do it again!

 

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Summer's End

Down to the last two weeks of my summer before returning to work and I can sum up my at home activities with a few pictures:

 

Gracie, watching me while I knit.

 

 

Gracie, in her basket with a knitted blanket, just for her.

Fortnight, by Brooklyn Tweed. Almost finished, except I have to rip back to mistake. And since this pattern is full of twists and cables, it may be frogged back to the garter stitch brim! This is what happens when you try to follow a chart whilst watching a French film with subtitles. Rust and Bone, if you must know.

Beach time.

Baby blankets for twin boys; they arrived safe and sound this week.

 

Gracie, napping in her tunnel.

Gracie, napping on the couch, guarding my knitting.

Knitting on the beach.

 

Hanging out with my daughter and niece.

Gracie, napping while I watch The West Wing, Season 7. Love those little paws.

I'd say I used my time wisely, wouldn't you?

 

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Last Trip of the Summer

My last trip of this summer was a trip with my mom to visit family in western Pennsylvania and Ohio. Even though we live within twenty miles of each other and talk on the phone every day, it was great to spend that kind of time with her.

 

We went by the house she grew up in,

 

 

 

and spent time walking around the town square, which is actually called the Ligonier Diamond. Despite the town being small, there were two fabulous knit shops, and I was able to visit both of them.

We visited two of my aunts, both in nursing homes, and quite a few cousins I haven't seen for many years.

 

On the last day, Mom and I visited the Frank Lloyd Wright house, Fallingwater. I had visited once before, but this time, we were able to take the time to walk the grounds.

 

 

On our way home, we stopped at the Flight 93 Memorial, which was a somber site.

 

 

Apparently the memorial is still in the process of being built, but what we saw was powerful.

 

Now I'm home and beginning to think of lesson plans and school and all the little projects I meant to do this summer. I think I'll go take a nap.

 

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