If you need me, I'm probably still in the library...

So, what I was kind of thinking to myself would be a weeks worth of mornings job, is now looking like it will end up being 14 mornings worth of work to get to the stopping point I had set for myself. Today I fought the battle of Intermediate Biographies; much more fiddly than anticipated, and tomorrow I'm going to create and input for the first time (so I hope it goes faster!) the Senior Biography section. In between all the books I've managed to get some knitting and Great Courseing done! I finished Turning Points in Medieval History and am starting The High Middle Ages.

I enjoyed this course; I have studied quite a bit about the medieval period, so while many of the turning points were events and people I am familiar with, it was interesting to see what the 24 the professor picked as most critical were. While I was working through that course, I finished the first Mystic Spiral sock and started the second one. So now I have three single socks and am having to fight off the urge to cast on another. The other Tintern Abbey sock will make good mindless knitting for the beginning of term, and the second spiral sock should be done in a day or two.

I also made some good progress on my Apatosaurus scarf, but it was rather less than it should have been because I first knit this:

instead of this. Oddly enough, reading the directions gives better results. Free advice for the week!

I've also been spinning a bit while listening to an American history course for fun. This is possibly alpaca that I was given and dyed using the remnants of some dried up cake dye. It is spinning up very differently than the Targhee I was working with perviously; less 'bounce,' but beautiful yarn! I look forward to finding something special to use this on once it's all done...

See my awesome nails? I tried out the sponge trick for the first time and was quite pleased with the results. Note though, this uses up WAY more nail polish. Which makes sense when you think of it, but now you know.

Well, that's pretty much all there is to say about this week! This is my last week of 'real' holiday'; the week leading up to school will have some onerous meetings and such, so I'm trying to make the most of it. Just a few more days of freedom!

Books, Knitting, and Cooking

Boy is holiday nice! My students assume that I roam the station bored out of my tree, but so far I haven't had to resort to plastic canvass or lawn mowing... Having the time to inhale books is so nice, and while a much longer process than anticipated, I'm glad that I can now say I've made my own spaghetti sauce from scratch.

When I haven't been in the kitchen, napping, or in the library, I have been getting in some great knitting time. Here is what has been on my needles:

Here is what Magrathea looks like one me; it was already done, but the blocking photo really didn't do it justice.

I also finished my first Tintern Abbey sock and started the second one. All that was done in one day! To be fair, there were two Skype/FB chats with friends and family overseas and two Great Courses involved, but I'm still pretty impressed. At this point I might just get Judy's Magic Cast On memorized!

I also stumbled across a set of imaginative dinosaur patterns, and fell completely and devastatingly in love with the Apatosaurus Scarf. And, as I'm watching through the Jurassic Park Movies (2 & 3 for the first time), it was doubly serendipitous! This was the perfect chance to try out the skein of Preciousa that I got from Knit Picks to see if I'd like it. So far it is lovely and soft, and I was happy with how it held up when I pulled out the gauge swatch. I love things like this which let my inner geek flag wave in socially acceptable ways!

I also picked my Mystic Spiral sock back up and hope to get the first one finished tomorrow and get the second one going. At the moment I have almost three single socks sitting around--possibly a record for me. Before I can cast on another one, I feel I need to get a pair finished. I am starting to itch to cast another one on, so I guess I'll have lots of motivation!

Just in case you were wondering, my grand total meters for Stash Dash 2017 was 3,771. Woot! I'm trying to remember the last time my project page had so few WIPs on it. I think I might dig out a shawl from hibernation, and oh! I need to figure out a baby sweater. So many patterns, so little time!

Parting shot: Java is so CUTE!

In which I PWN Stash Dash!

As of yesterday, I stand at a beautiful 3,577 meters of knit/spun yarn, thus making my 3K goal over a week before the deadline! I now only have 5 true active projects on the go, and hope to finish a sock and a hat before August 20th. So I guess I'll be forced to cast on some new items; it's a hard knitting life...

I don't have a good picture of my Tintern Abbey sock, but it was my companion on the trip I took to town. It joined me for a 3 night Firefly marathon, and I'm now working on the decorative part of the leg. Loving this yarn--so lovely!

When I got back from Kitwe, I knocked out a largish drop spindle spinning project that has sat on the back burner for about a year--the lovely Mountain Colors roving in the Indian Corn colorway. So pretty! I can't wait to knit with the finished yarn!

Also yesterday I finished the last of the four squares I lacked for my Vivid blanket. Next time I'm Stateside I'll need to sew them together (ugh!), but for Stash Dash purposes, it's FINISHED! I washed and blocked those four squares as well as Magrathea this afternoon.

So, that's what I've been up to when I wasn't doing some extreme shopping or driving! I hope to have another FO for next week, but we'll have to see how things go. There are so many projects I'd like to get done this holiday...

Parting shot: I feel like a real, live adult, because I bought my first 1/2 gallon of fresh milk. It's those little milestones...