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!

Making and Russian Ho-to's

On Saturday I was able to pick up the bowl I painted at the Mud Hut, and I have to say I was pretty pleased with the results. I love how the lace effect turned out, and overall I'm pretty pleased with my brush work. Now I want to go paint something else!

In honor of Pi Day, I tried out a 1940's pineapple pie recipe. It had a meringue topping which I don't think I realized, but I was pretty pleased with how it turned out. It was pretty sweet, but I rather liked the different pie filling.

I have to admit I've been really caught up in the latest season of The Great British Baking Show, so when there was the chance to make soda bread and a trifle for St. Patrick's day, I jumped on it! I made much better soda bread than I used to when I was a teenager, and thought I was a bit worried that the lime jello and the pistachio pudding would clash, they made for a very satisfactory, very green dessert. I'm coming for my sister's title as the trifle queen!

In knitting news I finished up the Alzheimer mat circle project, had a lovely lunch with the friend who commissioned them, and was relieved that she loved what I had made. Now I know a lot more than I used to about both bobbles and yarn crafting in circles. Plus, I got rid of several little bits of yarn--bonus!

I'm trying to get my (admittedly) self-imposed hand towel knitting finished, so I finally decided on some buttons and had a sewing on 'party' on the six or so finished towels, and am trying to get the rest of my seasonal ones finished up so I can move on to something else. I wasn't super impressed with my home town's button offerings, but decided I could live with the cheap Wal-Mart ones. Boy do I hope the nice ones I saved from my old towels turn up back on this side of the ocean eventually...

And lastly, I've been trying to get my Fancy Mee scarf/shawl finished up. I decided it was too small after finishing the last section,

and while I totally plan to add an edging, I wanted to use up more of my yarn and have it be just a bit bigger. I don't have a proper stitch dictionary anymore, and after looking through what I had and what my mom has, I turned to the internet and found this-

I liked the individual elements of the stitch and the look of the loops, but the problem was it was in Russian. Some more Googling had me a conversion for the Russian chart symbols, but there were still some parts I couldn't figure out. I noodled around with a swatch, but then found a forum on Ravelry where you could get help with Russian pattern translation. I ended up watching the suggested Russian how-to video, which ended up with me realizing there was a mistake in the chart and how to achieve the desired look. I was afraid it wasn't going to work as it looked a terrible mess until I worked a row or two past the loops, but I think it's going to block out even better than it eventually settled. On to the edging!

I'm trying to get a few things cleared out so I can get back to work on my Ink cardigan; I was reminded that Stash Dash is coming up! This year I'll be able to spin as well, so I might stretch myself and go for the 5K...we'll have to see how busy I am!

Parting shot: Silver Grizzly coffee, good company (sister and brother-in-law), and knitting are always a good idea on a Monday morning!

Circles and Towels mostly

Well, there is still rather a lot of 'spit' in my life, including a stubborn chihuahua I'm dog sitting, the ragged edges of bronchitis, and the fact that I am well and truly unemployed now. On the plus side, the dog comes with a house which I'm also watching, so I've had a bit of space and a chance to work on some projects. Such as a commission from a family friend for circles to use as a part of some Alzheimer's mats she's making. I did some noodling around and have found a knit and a crochet version that I think will be both sturdy enough and survive washing well. I've got two more on the go, but here are the finished ones:

In addition to going through a circle phase, I've also been working on lots of dishtowels. Both fully knit ones,

and toppers for commercial towels.

Some progress has been made on another trade item,

and I finished my DVD Christmas movie socks shortly after going to see Captain Marvel. I got my Nomadic Yarns order, so I'll be getting some new movie socks set up!

And in another type of making, I went with my mom to The Mud Hut and painted a bowl last weekend, which I can't wait to see how it turns out. Here it is right after I finished the lace bit:

So, I'm enjoying the Great British Baking Show and Marie Kondo, thankful that the stupid dog is at least silent as it cowers under the bed all the time I'm in the house, and glad that I can almost function normally as I get my lungs back. I am so ready to be employed and independent again...

Sometimes, spit happens

Let's just say...there has been a lot of 'spit' lately. As in fighting off a depressive bout, not hearing back from people who said they would contact you sooner, my mom's surgery, emotional exhaustion, random back pain, and to top things off I apparently picked up bronchitis. Ain't nobody got time for that! So, lots of stuff. However, in the midst of all that I've been working on several items. Let's recap, shall we?

I managed to brilliantly match the stripes on the Vinovias, BUT

despite ripping out the stress-knit toe (hospital visiting will do that to you) to redo it, there STILL was a bit of the next color on the second toe. Oh well, I am soooo done with this project. They will still keep Tiffany's feet warm, and I'm ready to move on to the next sock.

I also plied up the first third of the pinky-purple stuff from Rebekah, and WOW. Just WOW. Not only am I getting much better as a spinner, but boy is this stuff lovely! Now I just need to get the other thirds spun...

This weekend, because I figured I could use the finishing endorphins, I picked up probably my oldest surviving WIP, a hanging dishtowel that I abandoned all but done before heading to Africa. Well, a few minutes work added the green top, and now I just need to figure out either a) where I put the buttons I have, or b) find something suitable to buy.

This helped kickstart my making a second one this weekend, only this one is for a trade with a friend. Apparently, having bronchitis plays HAVOC with my ability to count, so I had to rip this out...more times than I'd care to admit. However, it was worth it as I'm digging both the color combination, but also the fact that I KNOW it's just as it should be.

I've been making good progress on my Fancy Mee shawl as well. I'm really wondering how big this will end up, and if I need to add to it. At the moment, I'm just enjoying the ride...

I did some cooking before/as I got sick this weekend. I made bagels for Saturday breakfast,

as well as this adorable apple pie for my Dad's birthday dinner. Pretty pleased if I do say so myself!

So, that pretty much gets you caught up on what I've been doing for the last two weeks or so, and hopefully I can kick this plague and get my life back sooner rather than later! Parting shot: Sister dates at the Grizz with your new Chickenboots bag which is AMAZING helps a lot of things.

In which I thought I had accomplished more...

One of the many good reasons to set yourself a goal of blogging at least once a week, is to have the chance to recollect what you have accomplished in that time period. I had an odd job that took an afternoon last week, but I must have been reading and running errands more, because I don't have a huge amount to show for my time. One thing I finally finished was plying the last of the three RoundHouse Alpaca Farm rovings, the chocolate brown with stellina. I have to say, it's my best yarn yet!

I just wish there was a bit more of it... Now I need to make the final decision on how to ply the pink stuff that has been sitting quite long enough.

During the course of various social events and low-attention actives I got the heel turned and am ready to start the toe decreases on my sister-in-law's sock. I enlisted a mutual friend to get a sneaky idea of if she liked matched or fraternal socks, and it seems I need to figure out how to deal with the hand the sock company dealt me. Oh well, I know I can do it, it's just a bit tedious.

I've also been working away on my hat out of handspun, and then I hit a snag yesterday. I don't think I have enough white to finish it. So... Options.

Start using the brown again and pretend that was my plan all along. Not a huge fan. Plan 2-rip the whole thing back, knit the bottom only using the brown, and then do the top using only the white. Also not a huge fan. Plan 3 and so far the most favored-rip back to where I changed to just white, keep alternating with the brown for a lot longer, have just the very top in white only. I just hate ripping back! I've got another gamble going on this scarf too; I ordered a faux-fur pompom this afternoon in the hopes that it will be close enough to work. If not, I'm sure I can find something else to crown with it!

Ah, as I write memory is coming back to me... One of the reasons I didn't seem to have a lot of show was because I spent a big chunk of one day last week hand mending my oldest and most beloved pair of jeans. My jeans tend to wear out on the inner thigh, so there is now a huge patchwork of mends holding that pair together. I hadn't received my sewing machine yet, plus, it's really hard to work around all the fabric bunching up. So, I did it the slow way, and found I really should have used a thimble. The jeans are back in service now, and I only have two other mending projects to work on. Still waiting for that darning mushroom...

The other thing I spent a lot of time on last week will have to wait a few days to be posted, as they are surprises for some special folks. And, I did spend quite a bit of time reading too, as well as working on studio documents for when I start teaching piano.

As a certain special day is coming up, I decided to treat myself to a few things. One I want to write about a little later, but my yarn gift to myself was Nomadic Yarns McGonagall colorway which I have been wanting for some time. I've had my eye on that colorway for awhile; not only am I a Gryffindor, but I was also a house mistress for three years, and McGonagall was the second best teacher at Hogwarts (some things about those books are ruined for you when you work at a boarding school). The best was, or course, Lupin. So, I will have two of her skeins of HP colors for my sock knitting delight!

One other thing I did last week, was try out a Southern Living peanut butter brownie recipe. It was *amazing,* and I particularly appreciated how it wasn't too sweet, though it is rich. It made a lot, so we've been steadily working out way through them. There are worse things to have a weeks supply of...

Well, that's me! Enjoy Valentine's Day, remember you are greatly loved, and do something you love just for you this week.

Hustling while I wait

I used to tell my kids to 'hustle while they waited,' in other words, to find something productive to do while they waited for me or a supply. I'm still deep in job hunting; I have several initial inquiries/applications out there, and I haven't had any subbing for over a week. But, I have a place to teach now, so I'm hoping to have my studio open for business in the next week or so. Having the looming deadline of three and a half weeks before I'm incomeless is a rather large motivator...

So, while I wait, I've been doing some fiber stuff. I'm working on the Vinovia socks, and I realized that they are going to be loooooong because I missed a key phrase in the directions, which isn't a mistake per say, but lets just say I wasn't anticipating getting so close to knee socks in my lifetime. Also, the little bit of yarn was tied on the wrong way, so the first bit of the color repeat is backwards. Which means I have a "how crazy do you feel today?" question when I cast on the second one. I actually am on the foot now, but am too lazy to take another picture.

I have started working on a new crop of dishcloths for my 'hope chest;' nothing exciting, but I'm enjoying the colors and the fine gauge of the yarn!

I started the Fancy Mee shawl that I've been dying to start for about two years now. It's designed rather along the 'goldfish memory' lines, meaning there are several changes of the two colors and the texture in the different sections, so you don't have much chance to get bored. Here are some pics of the two sections I've finished so far. I'm back at a garter stripe section just now, which I had to knit the beginning of twice because I'm an idiot, but its all sorted now!

I was sitting in church on Sunday and realized my lap was full of little blue bits. Turns out the fake leather cover of the 10 year old notebook I'm using for sermon and bible study notes was disintegrating. So, I used the end of one of the fat quarters I made my car trash bag out of, and handsewed a cute little cover for it. I'm actually quite pleased--the piece of fabric was almost the perfect size.

I've been slowly working on some altering/mending projects (I really need to get my jeans back in rotation again), and I decided to go ahead and use part of the gift card my ex-coworkers gave me to buy a replacement of the sewing machine I had to leave in the bush. I got the same model, a basic Janome, but I really enjoyed that machine, and it did all I needed it to do. I had hoped to find some fabric for a new garb skirt at Jo-Ann's today, but was disappointed. I'm going to have to decide how much that means to me this spring.

I thought I'd share the picture my brother sent of him modeling his requested item--the Cthulu ski mask. It was a true labor of love, but my bro is worth it!

Finally, I could resist bringing this gentleman home when I found him at Dollar General today. Just in time for Valentine's!

I hope to

The other day a dear family friend who is a lifelong missionary asked me if I missed my service country. "No," I said, "No I don't. But I hope to one day."

It's hard to know how much to push myself and how much to give myself grace for this transition back. Trying to find a job is not my favorite pastime, and feeling unemployable and unwanted are daily mental tracks that I have to keep stopping when I find they are playing...again. Wondering if I blew it and all chances for happiness have passed me by, wondering if I can ever build a meaningful life and community. Waiting is hard.

Despite all the emotions and challenges, I do have hope, and I'm striving to choose joy each day. As a wise friend pointed out to me, anything is possible for me right now. So, I'm knocking on every door I can think of, and trying to be very open to what and where God might be sending me. I have a car--huge praise! And I have people here in town who care about me and are trying to help me find where God has called me to be.

So, I hope to. I hope to
Find a job
Find a church
Find community and ways to serve
Find a new life rhythm
Find new joys
Find new faithfulness of God
Find healing

And I hope to one day be able to miss what I left behind, not to go back, but as a place and a time where God was good.

Warmest hat and steady progress

It got cold here in Texas, and I have twice found myself very glad for the amazing warmth provided by my Tronda hat. Despite it's shocking inside (look at how beautifully that lining whip stitched to the ribbing!),

you totally can't see it through the colorworked alpaca. It's hard to take a picture of a hat on your head, but I tried-

Over the last two weeks a few more stripes were put on the blanket for baby Grace, who is due at the end of February. Have to keep on it!

Not pictured because it's not terribly exciting and I'm to lazy to take the picture I forgot to is the second half of the back collar is well underway with my Ink cardigan, and I worked some more on on the Vinovia sock. Still haven't got the heel, but then again I haven't spent too much time on it as it's just complex enough with that traveling cable that I can't do it as theater knitting. I want to make a better sized 'throw in purse' sock bag, as well as one big enough to hold a sweater. The fabric is washed; maybe I'll cut them out tomorrow.

Speaking of theater knitting, I went to go see John Crist a week ago, and while I was laughing to the point of tears I got some work done on the second DVD Christmas sock.

I then took the sock to watch Aquaman--oh the eye candy!--and got a lot more done.

I finally assembled and tried to use my ball winder that I've been saving for my return to the States, but it wasn't working right. A quick Google search, some help from R2D2, and I had it all sorted.

Which meant, I could wind this yarn for a project I'm going to cast on soon as I get this posted! Huzzah for self rescuing princesses!

A final new adventure has been knitting with my own handspun. I've wanted to do the Color Dipped Hat for ages, and this seemed like a forgiving enough pattern. I just reached the part where it will be only the cream from here on out; I love the squish of fisherman's rib, but it does get a little old. Plus, I knit my sister's hat in Fisherman's rib twice over Christmas because of epic gauge error, so it might be a tad soon. That being said, this hat is the softest thing ever, and I'm LOVING it. I can't wait till I'm a bit better of a spinner though...