Bits and Pieces

Here are some random thoughts:

1. It's really cold here.

2. I am awfully busy for a newly-unemployed person. I have a lot of errands to run, including getting my female cat spayed.

3. My mom is flying here from Los Angeles on Thursday. She is bringing her project with her: she and my aunt are putting a biography of my maternal grandfather together. Mom wants to share it with me. I'm so excited!

4. I want to share the current state of my genealogical findings with her.

5. Speaking of genealogy, I am trying to organize my genealogical files into something resembling a coherent system.

6. My grandfather on my father's side is dying.

7. My grandmother on my father's side is using the funeral to control the actions and plans of the whole family. I also suspect she is manipulating the funeral to exclude my brother. I think this is to punish my brother for something, but I don't know what.

8. I am knitting a baby blanket. It takes the edge off when I think about my grandmother.

9. I would like to be able to get through this week in one piece.

Staycation, Day 9

I finally felt emotionally stable enough to fix the gaping hole in my grandmother's shawl. I now present... the Super Secret Knitting Project!

My younger daughter, Callie, is modeling it.

This is the Shetland Tea Shawl from A Gathering of Lace. It is done in KnitPicks' Alpaca Cloud laceweight yarn in the Iris Heather colorway. This is my first lace project. It took me three times to get it right, but I did it. Yay me!

I also spent some time today decorating my newly-designated knitting space. It contains an antique rocking chair, an antique hall stand (to which I have attached my ball winder and yarn swift), and an Ott-Lite floor lamp that I purchased during our shopping spree yesterday. The only thing that I would like to add to my corner is a yarn basket for holding the yarn I am currently working.

Staycation, Day 8

I worked on the baby blanket some more, then we went shopping. We shopped for some camping gear, some knitting and crafting items, and some books. I don't usually like shopping very much, but I go out of my way to engage in this kind of shopping.

NO, I did not fix the hole in the shawl yet. I'm not yet ready.

Staycation, Day 7

Today was the day that I decided to block the shawl that I knit for my grandmother earlier this morning. Remember the Super Secret Knitting Project? Yeah, I finally got up the nerve to block it, and when I did, I was nearly crushed. It had come apart in one spot so that it had a GREAT BIG HOLE IN IT. I couldn't see straight. My husband made some wonderfully creative suggestions for fixing the gaping hole, none of which involved my being a total git for having joined alpaca yarn improperly. Anyhoo, I decided that I was not emotionally stable enough to attempt to fix the hole. It will wait for another day.

I also started knitting the baby blanket for my friend today. She is having a baby girl in October, so I have plenty of time to knit it. I spend a lot of my time on this today, especially after the shawl disaster. I am very grateful for a piece of easy, (nearly) mindless knitting to calm my nerves.

I finished the day by watching two episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation with my family.

Staycation, Day 6

I mailed some books that I sold on Amazon. This involved a trip to Staples to buy mail supplies, followed by a stop at the Post Office to actually mail the items. My younger daughter, Callie, kept me company while I ran these errands.

I finished the sweater for Yoda the Chihuahua. Here he is modeling the sweater:

All in all, it was a quiet day.

Staycation, Day 5

I spent most of the day today installing my new printer. It took much longer than I thought it would. This was due to the fact that I had to clean up the pile of papers that had been sitting on top of the old printer. (I'm really bad about piling papers on flat surfaces, including the tops of printers.) One advantage of the new printer is that it does not have a flat surface on top of it, so I can't stack papers on it anymore. The second thing that took a lot of time is the software installation. My older computer installed the software at an excruciatingly slow rate. However, the print is now up and running, and it works great! I'm very happy with it.

I finished knitting the first sock in the pair that I started over the weekend, and I began to work on the second sock. I also finished knitting the front of the sweater I am making for my chihuahua, but I did not have the patience to fit it on him. I still have to determine where to sew the arm holes. Once that is done, the sweater will be finished.

Staycation, Day 4

Today began with a trip to the veterinarian. It was time to take our two kittens in for their second round of shots. Here are the kitties:

This is Tigger (left) and Ludwig (right). They are both male, and they are littermates. Roy found them in our yard on May 7, when they were six weeks old. Unfortunately, we have not been able to catch the mother cat or the third kitten from the litter. However, Tigger and Ludwig are thriving. They are a little over 4 months old, and they are definitely indoor kitties. We live in the country, where there are lots of wild animals who would like to make a snack of our kittens. I can't allow that. So, they live in our basement for now.

I also began the sweater for our chihuahua. I have completed the whole back. I will begin the front of it tomorrow morning. The front is much smaller than the back, so I should finish it tomorrow.

The family and I did some more shopping today. (It seems that we're on some sort of spending binge lately!) I discovered that my printer, which is 5 years old, has died. I went to Staples to buy a new one. I got an HP OfficeJet for under $100. Roy also spent some time at Dick's Sporting Goods looking at camping gear. He has this idea that we're going to buy a van and convert it into an RV. I love travelling and camping, so I'm really excited about it, too.

I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!

Staycation, Day 3

Today, I completed a couple of projects that sorely needed my attention.

I finished the sweater I started for my older daughter, Beth. The sweater is the Collegiate Pullover by KnitPicks. Unfortunately, I don't remember what yarn I used. The colors are Beth's school colors, but they also match the house colors I used when I knit her a Hufflepuff (from Harry Potter) house scarf. Here is the beautiful Beth to model the sweater:

And a close-up of the sweater's design:

I also addressed a problem with my old laptop computer. It has been running slowly since June. I took some time today to clear up the problem and brought the computer back up to speed. Of course, this is a 5-year-old computer, so its speed is slower than most.

I went shopping with the family in the afternoon. We mostly bought household items. I also took advantage of a sale at Joann's Craft Store. I bought several skeins of sock yarn and the yarn I'm going to use in making a dog sweater for my chihuahua, Yoda.

Staycation, Day 1

The irony about my vacations is that I never seem to get time off from work without having a sick individual, whether human or canine, to nurse. This vacation is no different. I am on vacation for the next week (plus weekends), and one of our dogs requires constant supervision. He is recovering from surgery on his ear that was performed this past week. So, I have decided to use this time to get caught up on some projects around the house.

I finished knitting a sweater that I started a couple of years ago. Here is the finished sweater:

It is the "Heirloom Aran Sweater" by KnitPicks. It is knitted with Wool of the Andes yarn, also by KnitPicks, in "Hollyberry." Here is a picture of me wearing my newly finished sweater:

The family and I did manage to leave the dog (actually, all four dogs and both cats) long enough to do some needed shopping. I picked up the yarn I will use to make a baby blanket for my friend, Cate, who is expecting. The baby is a girl, and she is due in October. Plenty of time to make the blanket.

Currently on the needles: Plain sock in Deborah Norville's Serenity Sock Weight yarn in the "Purple Spice" colorway.

Currently reading: Streams of Silver: The Icewind Dale Trilogy, Part 2

Super Secret Knitting Project Update

Progress on the Super Secret Knitting Project has slowed considerably since the beginning of the summer semester, two weeks ago. Fortunately, I am on round 30 out of 36 on the final pattern round. This final pattern round is followed by 6 rounds of knit stitch, and then I can begin the edging.

I might finish it before June 16!

Important Decision

I have come to an important decision. When I am done with the super secret knitting project, I will make something special for my aunt. She was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, and it was at stage 3A. Not good. I made hats of various colors for her to wear when she lost her hair. It felt really good to press my skills into such practical service.

Now, I would like to make her something that will make her feel beautiful while simultaneously sending the message that my aunt is a survivor. All I need is a few items, like yarn, needles, and notions. Actually, I need everything. My stash is not really equipped to handle spontaneous lace knitting.

Fortunately, the super secret knitting project is starting to slow down as it gets bigger. This gives me time to order the necessary supplies for this next great project.

I apologize for the secrecy. Both items are gifts, and the recipients probably read this blog. All will be revealed in due time. However, you can follow my progress on the super secret knitting project in Ravelry.

Progress and Patience

I have finished the first of the three pattern rounds on my super secret knitting project, and I am beginning the second pattern round.  You can follow my progress on it in Ravelry.

Meanwhile, I am waiting patiently to hear from one of my job references.  I need to have my references turned in to complete my application.  This will then allow me to register for the county job fair for teachers.  This all needs to happen before 4:45 pm tomorrow afternoon.

I'm not nervous in the least.  Ha!

Super Secret Knitting Project

I am working on a super secret knitting project. It's for my grandmother, who will be visiting me in June. I want it to be a surprise.

For those of you in the know about such things, I am knitting an item from A Gathering of Lace. I am using yarn and needles from KnitPicks. The yarn is Alpaca Cloud in Iris Heather. The needles are KnitPicks Options nickel plated needles.

I began work on it last night, and I am pleased with my progress. I will begin the first patterned portion tonight.

I have started this project twice before, and I got mixed up both times. Hopefully, the third time's a charm!

Gifts from the Knitting Fairy

I live in on 4 1/2 acres of land in the woods.  The distance between my mailbox and my house is measured in miles.  Specifically, the mailbox is 1/8 miles from my house.  It is something of an event, especially for my four dogs, to get the mail everyday.

Yesterday, my husband and I went to the mailbox together.  We walked slowly, wary of the spider webs that invariably are strung between the trees and shrubs that line the winding path from the house to the mailbox.  We passed through the inner gate, beyond which the dogs are not allowed to venture.  There are several layers of trees above the path between the inner and outer gates, making it somewhat dark, even in the middle of the day.

Approaching the outer gate, I noticed an unusual object lying in the path.  As I got closer, I noticed it was a box.  With a label.  From KnitPicks.

I turned to my husband and exclaimed, "The knitting fairy has visited us!"

Indeed, the knitting fairy had left us a box full of the things I ordered from KnitPicks last week.

I love the knitting fairy!

Spinning Wheels

I have finished the colorwork and the neck on the sweater. I just need to sew up the neck, graft the underarms, and weave in the ends. Tomorrow. I don't have time to finish it tonight.

I am taking my third exam tomorrow, and I haven't studied nearly as much as I was thinking I would. Sickness sucks. I am going to review a few things tonight and hope for the best tomorrow.

Update

I haven't posted for a while, so my New Year's Resolution is to be a better blogger. Here's what's happening right now:

1. I am desperately trying to finish knitting a sweater I could have sworn I was going to have finished about two weeks ago. That didn't quite pan out, so I am trying to justify knitting instead of doing schoolwork. Perhaps starting this sweater between Christmas and the beginning of the spring term was a Bad Idea.

2. I am trying really hard not to be sucked back into doing genealogy at a time when I need to concentrate on my schoolwork. This is working better for me than finishing the sweater is, but the lure of genealogy is very strong. It lurks on the edge of my thinking at all times, waiting to pounce when my defenses are down.

3. I am taking three classes toward my master's degree in Elementary Education during the spring term. This is where my energy should be focused. However, I find my spirit flagging in the current economic crisis. Florida's legislature has decided to solve the state's current budget crisis by cutting education spending -- again. After all, who needs education? Our legislators certainly don't!

4. I am taking the last of my three state exams for teacher certification next week. I should also put some energy into studying for it.

5. I am applying for teaching jobs. I hope to begin teaching in the fall. I am currently finishing the application process. I will begin working on my resume next week, probably after I finish my exam.

I really need to finish that sweater.