Snapshots

It's both hard to believe and a relief that summer break is soon to be over. Of course I'm enjoying the slower days, having time to inhale books (I read both the second and the third Stormlight Archive books by Brandon Sanderson in a month each--they are well over 1,000 pages of awesomeness!), to tackle fiddly project, and to start brewing my own kombucha, I'm also looking forward to being with my co-workers and students again. While I'm sure the fall will have lots of challenges and frustrations, it's about time to change gears a bit. So, here are the crafting snapshots from my summer-

My new summer top--I love it!

A beautifully cabled gnome for a friend's new house.

I made bias tape for the first time--why did it take me so long to try this?

The reason I tried my hand at bias tape, was so I could use it on this vinyl bag project, using a Chickenboots pattern from SewSewLive.

While at my grandmother's memorial earlier this month I bought this yarn which reminded me of her from her local yarn store, and made it into this cowl. I'm looking forward to the cold weather so I can start rocking it!

I'm going to be going on another trip next week, on which I will finally get to meet my niece, so I decided on a whim to make her this elephant toy that's been sitting in my Ravelry queue for years. It's all in one piece which is quite clever, but I think when I make it again I'm going to place the ears better.

I continue to work on my huge double weaving project. Here is what things look like currently on my loom-

And here is the finished first half of the ruana. I haven't washed the fabric yet; I'm hoping the super obvious tight spot down the fold line will relax out. The second half has been fighting me after a great start; best I can figure I did a bad job of packing the warp, so after some desperate intervention tonight hopefully things will go more smoothly until I get the weaving finished.

Parting shot--my super talented sister took this amazing picture of me using long exposure when we were together for the memorial. It's good to remember that there is more to life than the challenges of 2020!

Happy, but teacher tired!

I didn't mean to go so long between posts, but school is taking up a lot of my time and energy right now, and what is leftover is usually more fun to spend on my actual hobbies. I've got a pretty good rhythm going now, and I'm starting to feel like I've got the hang of things (dangerous!), so hopefully I can keep working in more and more bits of 'life.'

To sum up a few of the highlights of the last six weeks or so...

I've spent a lot of time lesson planning

A dear friend came to visit and we went to NASA among other wonderful adventures

I finished the bowl cozy and use it all the time

I'm nearing the end of my Birds of a Feather shawl--I can't wait to wear it!

This is a terrible picture of the not blurry in real life Weehistoric cardigan for my future niece or nephew- squee!

And in addition to a pair of movie socks, I've got these on the go. Loving the chevrons!

I decorated my house for fall, and have been indulging in fall treats like candy corn, apple cider, and of course, pumpkin spice lattes. I'm enjoying my cat, enjoying my apartment, loving my job, and continuing to work through the process of radical life change. God is good, and I'm so glad to be where I am!

Parting shot: I was sorely tempted, but did NOT buy this mug.

Meetings, more blue knitting, and a trip.

Last week was pretty dull--if you aren't me. Lots of reading, three meetings to start hammering out science--I'm teaching 7th and 8th grade now, Omnibus, and discuss overlap between my government class and Omnibus III. Lots of reading, the beginnings of my 'battle plans,' continuing to make good use of my Prime trial by enjoying Endeavour in the evenings. I love a good mystery show with a complex protagonist... Some cooking, some recreational reading, errands here and there...pretty boring to write about. This weekend I hit the dividing point--the point where it was time to divide and work the front and back of my Cityscape separately. I'm getting close to finishing the back, and as usual Neko had to come inspect the knitting on the floor.

I got (and used!) my new cast iron skillet in the mail-boy have I missed having one. I made do with the frying pan from my set, but it sure helps to have something larger than 9"!

On Friday I drove 6 hours north to Oklahoma City to meet up with some friends for lunch, and as usual forgot to take any pictures. I spent the night with my sister in Plano, then had a busy Saturday in which I visited Half-Price Book, IKEA where I found this lovely thing (among others),

a yarn store where I picked up this delicious gradient to practice full brioche stitch with,

and visited the kitchen outlet in Terrell as there were some things Wal-mart just doesn't have. I suspected when I saw it that I needed a mini cutting board in my life, and it was a good call-love that thing!

This is my last week before a week of teacher training, so I'm trying to get as far ahead as I can with planning and reading, as I'm not sure how involved next week will be. I'm kind of hoping that I can get my tank top finished up this week so I can start knitting for my new niece or nephew, but we'll have to see how it goes. Having a very much wanted baby in the family makes me want to throw everything to the wind and spend all my money and time in creating baby things so that the Little Bean will be in no doubt as to how loved they are by their crazy aunt. However, I'm doing my best to temper my enthusiasm as expressed through wool, and have been having a lot of fun planning what I will make. Grow safe and strong dear one--you are already so, so loved.

I've been busy--a mixed blessing!

Life got a bit busier lately; interviews, subbing, trying to make a bit extra via Lyft every week, family stuff, teaching someone to drive, doing my taxes, starting counseling, still filling out some applications... Yeah, I've had a lot going on. However, I've found time to fit some great life stuff in there too! For one thing, driving for Lyft gives me a great chance to do some reading, as well as having small, casual meetings to lots of interesting people. Here are some of my other projects.

Cinnamon rolls! Next time I do this, I'm leaving the corn syrup out of the caramel bottom, as it becomes impossible to chew, and sets up like rock. I bet just sugar and butter won't do that...

I debated the merits of Party Cake v. Pancakes and Syrup Peeps (not pictured but also considered-Root Beer Peeps!).

I learned a lot about the fiddly art of darning handknit socks. I went from these rather terrible efforts,

to these much better ones. I still need to finish the second sock; I kinda had the will to darn knocked out of me after the first one. So. Many. HOLES.

I finished two projects! First, my Fancy Mee shawl (still need to block it, but doesn't the fence make it look good?),

then my Coraline socks--the oldest remaining knitting project. Now, everything else was started in December or later. I'm trying to remember the last time I had only projects that were a few months old...

I had an intimidating job interview in Huston, where I was put up in a swanky suite I barely had time to sleep in, but got to eat at the delightful Hobbit Cafe. They do ALL the Tolkien, and the food was of course excellent. The pictures not so much because it was night and I was exhausted.

I somehow made a stupid mistake on my big project and then resumed what I was supposed to do, but to fix it I had to frog. We're nearing the end of that half of the item now--yay!

And, I've made good progress on my McGonagall socks. I didn't mean to order this base, but I'm kind of glad I did as I'm loving the high twist. It feels very like KP's Hawthorn.

So, that's what I've been up to! I have a busy next few days ahead of me; two interviews, a sub day, and trying to meet my weekly Lyft goal for starters. I'm currently really praying for direction for the fall; where the Lord has for me to serve next, as well as a place where I can not only support myself, but also thrive as a person and a teacher. So, I'll keep riding the crazy boat that is the month of April, and hope to have a better idea of what to work towards by the end of it!

I escaped!

After four long days of travel, I'm safely back home again for a few weeks! I enjoyed this lovey coffee shop at a new mall in Lusaka,

chased the sunrise over the Arabian peninsula,

slept and enjoyed a swim and sunbath around this lovely pool, and enjoyed my first chai latte of civilization.

On the way home from the airport we stopped at Bucee's and at the Hungarian restaurant for a delicious pork paprikash.

I've been working on pulling out the highest priority items from the eve space where I have them stored, getting a few necessities for my time at home, opening all my packages and mail that came while I was away (so much fun, and more surprises than is probably a good reflection on my state of mind!), and on pitching in with wedding planning. Mary and I went shopping today to make a start, and I'm sure there will be several other trips and much more coffee. Y'all, it's so good to be home...

It's nice to have several big projects to start Stash Dash with...

Note: This accidentally never got finished and sat in my drafts folder. So, here is an entry from early June. Enjoy!

I have been rather madly scrambling these last two weeks to recover from spending 5 days without doing any marking while I was chaperoning a school trip to the Copper Belt. Very little was accomplished other than lots of pictures taken, lots of good conversations, and lots of picking up and keeping tabs on kids items. It was a bit of a stretching experience for me, but I'm glad I went. I had a lot of wrong ideas about the school we visited; if I had known how seriously it took itself as a school, despite the heavy sports bent, I might have been tempted a few years back...

Right before my birthday, Stash Dash 2018 kicked off, and I cast off a several items. Hitofude--done! Rainbow chevron cowl--done! Chevron blanket--done! Rainbow hats--done! Sockhead hat--done!

Since that glorious start, I have basically only got any work done on the Baristan hat I've had my eye on for awhile now. It has a folded brim, so I decided to do a provisional cast on instead of sewing it down (I hate that kind of tedious process more than the tedious process of knitting the two edges together). I had to re-start it as I am a boob and miscounted by two; I thought I could fudge it, but the more I knit, the clearer it became that I was not going to be able to live with the results. So...take two! This is Knitpicks Gloss being re-knit for the second time; it's holding up nicely. Knitter, know theyself. I realized that I really didn't want a red shawl--not this almost orangey red anyway, so as I am getting desperately low on yarn to knit, it seemed like a good re-purpose.

Very little to show for last week

So, most of last week was taken up with:

* Trying to go to town
* Turning back because the road was seriously flooded and there was *no way*
* Trying again the next day and making it out--a 12 hour trip
* Enjoying good Sri Lankan food and time with dear friends
* Having a dentist appointment which included a cleaning and two small fillings * Lots of shopping
* Getting to eat out twice--such a treat!
* A 16 hour trip back up country

Other than those minor details, I did a tiny bit of knitting at the dentists--a Trillian--that I hope to incorporate into my Stash Dash strategy.

Today, I made bread because I needed to, pie because I've been watching the second season of Pushing Daisies, and hummus because I now have tahini and I love it. It's the little things in life...

I also spent a lot of time the day I didn't get to leave and since I've been back working on a project that shall sadly have to be secret for awhile yet, but let's just say it's been a nice break from the endless sweater. Speaking of which, I decided to add a repeat before doing the ribbing at the end; I'm terrified that it will actually end up in practice being a smidge too short, so we shall have to see. The next time I make a Hitofude, I'm going to do three extra repeats before I start the body increases.

So, I settle back into my normal holiday routine. Reading--while I can. Cooking--while I can. Knitting--while I can. Doing PD--while I can. Letting my soul breath--while I can. I'm hoping I can get enough soul rest into myself in the next three weeks that I can start my second to last term with renewed joy and enthusiasm; it's going to be a hard journey, but I'm committed to finishing the calling.

Parting shot: Javacat in a box!

Christmas 2017

So, being home for Christmas meant a lot of knitting, a lot of cooking, a lot of errand running, a lot of decorating, a lot of dishes, a lot of laughter, and a lot of joy. Since I had a lot of stuff going on, I figured a blog update could wait. Here are some of the things I did:

I went on a tour of Dubai and saw the world’s tallest building! Maybe on my last swing through Dubai I’ll take the four hour tour, but this was a nice treat on my way home.

I tried a Christmas tree frape—so nice to be able to go OUT again!

I visited the lake (knitting, not swimming took place!)

I got to see a Christmas balloon glow—very cool.

I got dressed up and went to the symphony; such a treat!

I remembered the Alamo. One of my dear friends was spending Christmas in San Antonio with her family, so I drove down to visit her for a few days. I hadn’t been since I was a teenager, and I had forgotten how small the church was. That old live oak tree was spectacular all wrapped in lights.

I had a wonderful Christmas with my family which included my brother’s hilarious labels, a beautiful pie co-created with my sister, my first macarons, guests, and lots of runs to Wal-Mart. There was a truly spectacular sunset Christmas day.

In knitting news I finished my Crazy Stripes cardigan that I started in the spring—I LOVE IT! It needs a blocking and buttons, and now that I think about it I might have left a few ends in the one sleeve, but it can wait till December when I’m home again. So pretty!

I worked on a Christmas sock while watching The Man Who Invented Chrsitmas and Star Wars: The Last Jedi as well as once I had finished my sweater and gift knitting.

Speaking of The Last Jedi, not perfect, but I sure enjoyed being home and able to see it in theaters! I splurged on a rebel cowl for the occasion; it will come in handy later as an innocent looking scarf when I need to keep my inner nerd quiet.

So, it was a wonderful holiday all in all, and I am so thankful that I got to be home. While there wasn’t a lot of physical rest, it was absolutely much needed soul rest. It was a little difficult having my life in three ‘boxes,’ the ‘enjoying it right now’ box, the ‘need it for my last year overseas’ box, and the ‘future’ box. However, life is seldom easy or tidy, and while this year will be no exception, I’m ready. Ready to finish this chapter and turn a new one. Ready to tackle new projects and learn new skills, and ready to move back home. Okay 2018, bring it on!