Life gets in the way of knitting
I'm supposed to be retired, so why have I been working so much? It's the part-time jobs that get in the way. I've been teaching three sections of a 3-credit graduate course, and thought it wouldn't take much time because I didn't have to plan it, and besides, most of it is on-line. Believe me, it takes time. Two sections are now officially, or at least almost officially, finished, and the last has only two weeks to go. In the mean time, I'm doing consulting with two local school districts which are starting up ESL programs, and then I got called to do some subbing in yet another school district. I usually refuse to sub. I'd rather flip burgers, but this was a complicated situation involving friendship and the fragility of the program in that district and my worry about the kids who haven't been getting the services they deserve. Anyhow, I'm enjoying it, both because I love teaching and also because I know it's just this week and next.
So I have no knitting progress to report.
People over for dinner tonight. Avocado bisque followed by chicken mole, brown rice pilav, and veggies. Don't know these people well, so dessert will either be fire and ice (strawberry sherbet with habanero pepper) or just plain strawberry sherbet, depending on their ability to take spicy food. And all easy to make.
Back to square one again again again
So I finally measured the beautiful teal sweater back and realized that it will, at this rate, come out to fit someone with 45" hips, which thank heavens isn't me, yet.
I frogged the whole damn thing while Jerry kept saying, "I can't believe you're so calm about it." If the yarn weren't so beautiful I'd just turn it into yet another hat for Afghans for Afghans, but I just can't. I went to the library and found Ann Budd's Book of Sweater Patterns and spent the evening working out a pattern that will fit the gauge (which after knitting 16" of the original back I am certain about). I also have a software program, Instant Stitch, and downloaded the 79-page manual. It will obviously take a learning curve, so I'll stick with Budd for the time being. Wish me luck.
Writers' Group on Monday, and we spent the whole time on my Nano book. Encouraged by all to fill it out and turn it into a real novel, plus several really useful critiques. If I've learned anything through being part of a writers' group, though, it's to have a thicker skin. Wish it would carry over to other parts of my life, though I think if there is any advantage to getting older it's that it's a lot harder to destroy me by putting down my creations. I think.
I'm a piker
On the right, my sister-in-law, midproject. On the left, me ditto. What you can't see is the beauty of the color and the softness of the yarn I'm working with. What you can see is that Miriam, who wouldn't have gotten back into knitting if it weren't for me, started out on her first project in over 10 years doing something that uses size 4 needles, three colors of yarn, and two patterns. On the way up in the car she managed to get everything wound around each other and was trying to get it undone. (No, my brother was driving; I checked.)
We had a great time while the menfolk looked on indulgently. We both suggested that they should take up knitting and that if men generally could think of things to do with their hands the world would be in a better state. Jerry said that he could think of quite a few things to do with his hands. Fortunately my father is a bit (selectively) deaf.
We ate paella, fruit salad marinated in amaretto for dessert.
Secret pals
Maybe no one else has this strange feeling at being between pals. My previous two, the spoiler in London and the spoilee in Montreal, have become people I feel I know because I read their blogs; but it's a weird relationship because it's like snarking. Don't know if anyone who isn't from Utah knows that term -- it's what you do when you walk down the street in the evening and look in the lighted windows and make up stories about the people whose lives you glimpse. What I'd really like to do is get together with Pink Hebe and K with our knitting and a glass (okay, a bottle) of wine to sit and talk and solve the problems of the world for an evening. They are such interesting people. And I have been well spoiled -- and, now that I have the address right, my spoilee should
finally be getting her last gift. And I'm furious at myself that I wrote the wrong code on the previous one, but maybe some day, some time the other one will appear. Maybe.
And now I'm getting to meet two new SPs, and I'm looking forward to the windows into their lives as well. This is fun!
Information for secret pal
. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand?
I like anything soft or interesting, no prejudices.2. Do you spin? Crochet?
I don’t spin, but I crochet.
3. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
A desk drawer. Actually, a messy desk drawer,4. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I’ve been knitting for two or three years, and am almost an intermediate.5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
No.6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
I like subtle, soft scents, nothing too strong.7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Chocolate, especially dark chocolate.8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
I sew many of my clothes.9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I like almost any kind of music except rap, hiphop, and country (but if it’s really, really good I’m willing to give it a try). No MP3s – I’m not that technological yet.10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
I like warm colors, no pastels.
11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I have a husband and grown children. Two cats.12. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Yes! I live in a cold climate.
13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
I like natural fibers.14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I like mohair but can’t wear it because it makes me itch.15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
My resolution this year is to learn to knit cables without swearing.16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Baby clothes for my wonderful grandson.17. What are you knitting right now?
A sweater for myself, a sweater for a friend’s child.18. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Yes!19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
Circs.20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Plastic.21. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
I just bought a swift yesterday. Hope I can make it work.22. How did you learn to knit?
First I learned in school, then my mother tried to teach me, then my mother-in-law tried to teach me, and I finally learned in a knitting group.23. How old is your oldest UFO?
I’m doing pretty well – just a few months.
24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
Grommet.25. What is your favorite holiday?
Thanksgiving.26. Is there anything that you collect?
Not intentionally, but I seem to keep getting knitting books.27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
None yet.28. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on?
Nothing I want that much.29. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Cables (see above). Lace. Socks.30. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Not yet. My foot is 9 ½ (American size).31. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
5/21
Crafters Choice-- I did it again
Joined a book ordering club. I've done it a couple of times in the past with cookbooks, most famously just before I moved to Somalia in the 60's. I forgot to cancel the membership before I left (I left on about 2 weeks' notice, during which time I had to get tickets and passports, pack everything, take finals and get my master's, oh, yes, and break up with a boyfriend). So I kept getting books and bills for the entire time I was in Mogadishu. During that time the 1967 war broke out, and as far as I can figure one of my cookbooks was in a ship that sank in the Suez Canal. I refused to pay, since I hadn't gotten the book, and the company eventually stopped billing me. It's probably still on my credit rating.
Anyhow, with no plans to live elsewhere and a very good deal on books I wanted, I joined Crafters Choice, and for my freebies I got
Loop-d-Loop (despite my hints I didn't get it for Christmas),
For the Love of Knitting, Homemade, and
Learn Faster, Remember More. The socks book wasn't available, so I substituted a Debbie Bliss book which hasn't arrived yet. I paid about $30 in S&H for well over $100 worth of books which I wanted. Now all I have to do is keep track and buy two more books this year. No problem.
Loop-d-Loop has some great patterns and great ideas. I made the shrug for Cinda, and while it was one of the more boring things to do, it came out well. The lace leaf sweater, the ballet T shirt -- my only problem is that if the largest size is for a 29" chest I'm going to need to learn to adjust sizes. Is
anyone 29"?
Love of Knitting is a great inspiration book, though after reading it I think I will donate it to the tiny town library down the hill. The library was donated in the 19th century by the Frost family, so it is called the Frost Free Library. I want to reread the book, but not that often.
Homemade has some interesting gifts to give people. I do cake-in-a-jar every year for the cookie exchange, but this has some other possibilities, too.
And I'll report on the last when I find it.
First yoga in ages
After I had the foot surgery I couldn't do asanas that involved standing, balancing on one foot, lying prone, tucking my toes under, or kneeling. I did a lot of twists before I got bored; and let's face it, I'm just not cut out to sit and breathe for more than a few minutes at a time. However, my foot is back to normal, which means that it doesn't hurt any more than it did before the surgery, most of the time (
don't I sound like a martyr there) , and The Moving Co., where I've taken yoga for years, had a freebie day today, with half hour demo lessons, so I went back to take a lesson from the Iyengar teacher who is my yoga guru. Good lesson, good to be back, and my foot hurts. I have a doctor appointment on Monday where I hope to find out if this is as good as it gets. If it is, I'm determined to be satisfied with that and move on. At least I can fit my foot into a shoe now and it doesn't look as gross as before. Maybe wishing I could walk across a wood floor barefooted is too much to ask, whimper whimper.
I remind myself that I can choose how I react to things, and difficult as it is I prefer to choose to be happy with the feet I have.
(My knees, back, and hands never give me a moment's trouble. I never get headaches. Things could be a lot worse.)
Happy Happy
Last year at the end of December, my husband was still recovering from open heart surgery, my father was still in the hospital, my daughter-in-law was still pregnant, my daughter was still unmarried, I was still a school teacher, I was still on Tamoxifen, and I
still hadn't finished a novel. So it's been a busy year, and I just hope the coming one will be simpler.
I've started the set of two sweaters for my friend Betsy's kids, and I have OTN still (there it is again) the cabled cardigan, and the teal sweater, which I'm doing slowly and luxuriously. I have lots of luxury knitting to do this winter.
But at the end of last week, in response to an Afghans for Afghans request for caps, I turned a ss rectangle which I'd made during bored stretches at work last spring into a cap, and then made one of the quicky caps out of stash scraps. Usually I object to AfA's insistence on pure wool -- some acrylics are as warm as wool and a lot easier to wash, too -- but since I had that rectangle already knit....
Resolutions: to keep track of what I make and to do worthwhile charity knitting as well as the personal stuff. And to choose happiness.
