Trying to channel fall...

I have very little to show for this past week on the handwork front. I finished two more luggage tags and used up completely the lovely friend dyed yarn that has been sitting in my stash for years,

And I got well into the ninth chart of my Doctor Who scarf. I knit on my Monkey sock by bonfire light,

And that’s about it. However, a few other things were finished.

As soon as I saw that Garth Nix had written another Old Kingdom book, Goldenhand, I pre-ordered it so I could enjoy it as soon as it came out. While I felt it was better than Clariel, the fourth book, I was disappointed that it wasn’t as good as the first three. This story picks up with the novella published in Across the Wall and the chapters alternate between two main storylines until they unit about a third of the way through the book. At this point I almost wish Nix would stop writing Old Kingdom books, since he doesn’t seem to have anything much new to say. Also, the increasing liberalism sneaking into his novels is annoying. A fun read, but not as good as the first three books.

I also finished an audio book this week, The View From the Cheap Seats read by the author, Neil Gaiman. There was a great variety of essays, forwards and articles in here, and I really enjoyed the fact that they were being written by the author. While there are several areas where I can’t condone Gaiman’s lifestyle and tastes, he has written several excellent essays on being an artist, what makes certain people so gifted, and appreciating the world around you. It gave me some new ideas of people to check out, and several hours of good listening. Keep writing Neil—the world needs more people who can tell as story like you!

Finally, I did some baking this week. I made some pumpkin scones from the mix Beth sent me,

and since I had to open a tin of pumpkin anyway, I made pumpkin pie cupcakes. Because it’s fall and I refuse to give in and fight to enjoy it even in the bush!

I keep looking at my list of knitting and even a spinning goal for before I leave on furlough, and I’m not such that I’ll make them all. I want to finish the Doctor Who scarf, a pair of socks, a few small Christmas/leavers gifts for people here, and I would love to finish my Indian Corn handspun. There is a hat that I am resigned to finishing stateside, and of course the question of what yarn to take back with me! I have my audio book all picked out for my trip home as well as my knitting project and a backup sock pattern in case the yarn and pattern don’t play well together on the first one. So, some of the most important pieces are in place! Now to keep ‘head packing…’

In which I got some thing accomplished,

because I worked like a fiend during the week so I could enjoy the weekend!

I got the first of some little gift knit projects done; this will become a luggage tag (an excellent way to use up bits and bobs of yarn btw),

I also finished spinning the third fourth of my lovely Mountain Colors roving; plying on the fly is the way to go on a drop spindle. Now I really want a wheel so I can spin more, and so it isn't so hard on my shoulder... Here is the skein, 25g, after it's bath and whacking-

And lastly, I finished the 8th chart of my Names of the Doctor scarf, and have started the ninth. I'm in the home stretch y'all!

I wound up this yarn that a friend of mine dyed many moons ago, and I am starting to turn this into some small gifts-

I love being this productive; hopefully I can work hard and enjoy my weekend off equally as much.

Lots of stuff

So, two weeks, huh? What was I doing? Lots of 'teachery' things and a few bloggable things like...

Voting,

Enjoying a little ghost washcloth,

Making an amazing chocolate chip cookie dough birthday cake for a friend,

and fighting the dread ant rain in my living room.

I saw an amazing sunrise before early morning swim on half-term,

I finished a hat out of some lovely Round House Alpaca yarn,

and I got to the 'good bit' on another hat.

I bought some Halloween colored yarn from Knitpicks as well as some yarn for a Christmas gift 'cause I'm in the mood right now, and I am devouring the new Garth Nix book, Goldenhand. I started a small gift while chatting with a dear friend on Skype tonight, and I have a big pile of student stories ranging for awful to entertaining to keep wading through.

So, that's me right now. Here's to another busy week!