still chugging along

Well another week, and I still have been faithful to the same 2 projects. Am I maturing? I doubt it! I am almost finished with another skein for the blanket, and the first sock.

I read a horrible book over the weekend - actually, I didn't finish it. I figured that life was too short to read bad books - ESPECIALLY when they are my entertainment. I can try to get through some important literary work - but this was DEFINITELY not one of those, and it was just bad. The author did a great job of having you feel how aimless the main character was, but it did not keep me reading. The protagonist was always sleeping around, and so I thought of my knitting - I know a strange hop - but it related to my inability to commit. I have started LOTS of projects, but my finishing rate is about 1 for ever 4 or 5 I start, which is frustrating. So then I think that I won't start anything new until I finish everything - and that is just unrealistic (and as my husband says, knitting is my hobby, so there aren't any rules - he's such an enabler! - one of the many reasons why I married him!!!!) But I do think I should have some rules about starting and finishing - any thoughts are welcome.

Sorry no pictures!

P2K

I missed May!

Happy June! I hope all is well with everyone (if anyone even reads this any more!) I have been busy with life - working, cleaning and just the usual things that go on around here. Work has been crazy - my seniors finished up, but they also had to take their AP Psychology tests in the middle of May. I think they did well. They sounded very positive about the test which can be a good sign.

We also got our class assignments for next year, and at the moment I will be above the union maximum, which has had me in quite a tizzy. The response from my director when I pointed this out to him was, "you shouldn't be so good." Hmmmm - how does one respond to this? Isn't that always the way - if you do a good job then usually you are rewarded with more work. In general I don't know how to deal with this. I have an easier time if people don't feel like they can depend on me, but...... I feel worse about myself. Or.... I try hard and get rewarded with more work. It is a strange world in which we live.

The Red Sox are back, and I have been doing a lot of knitting. I have been faithful to 2 projects - my nephew's blanket and my Clessedra socks (pictured above). They are the perfect balance of ease and difficulty. Knitting wise, I feel satisfied, and my eyes are not wandering to other projects.

Summer is coming, and I can hardly wait.

P2K

Wow has it really been this long!

Spring has sprung!! Many times people have said to me, "You have a blog? When do you find the time?" Well now you know - I don't!
What a crazy month April has been. It has all been great, but it has kept us busy. Note to self, prepare better for April next year.
We started the month with both of my daughters' birthdays. They are now 2 and 6. This meant family get togethers and a party for my oldest. The highlight was the clothes that I got at Good Will for dress up time - Very fun!
The next day my nephew was born (mom and son are doing great) and the week ended with a passover Seder which meant 2 days of cooking and cleaning and polishing silver. My parents and out-of-town sister (not the mother of my nephew) were here because of the new grandchild and it was really terrific to have the whole family together for Passover. It had been a LONG time. It really was a dream come true.
I have done some knitting. I've been working on my nephew's baby blanket. After a false start, with yarn that looked much darker knitted up, I started on one in more "baby" colors, and am thrilled with the results.









I hope all is well with you, and I am sure I will be a more regular writer until next April.

All the best.

P2K

Red Sox Swap

Lot's of goodies - don't you think? I'm so excited I was in the "Red Sox Swap" on Ravelry. My partner was Kniterati. She got me EXACTLY right. Great sweet treats, GORGEOUS yarn - Fabulous tea, absolutely adorable baseball stitch markers and reading material. I shouldn't forget the tattoos, because I will definitely wear them on Tuesday - Home opener day. (I'm a teacher, so I can get away with that.)

If you're on Ravelry, and you like the Red Sox, you have to sign up for the Sox Knitters Group. It really is a lot of fun, and really informative. It is really one of my favorite things on Ravelry.

Thanks again Kniterati!

Go Sox,
P2K

Baby hat

(This baby does look weird because it is a doll)

I just finished this baby hat the other day. It is made for a baby that has been having a rough time, but hopefully has gotten through the worst of it. I thought she needed something pretty and soft. I'm pretty happy with it, and I hope the parents love seeing their daughter in it, and the baby wears it in the best of health.
This is the first knit that I have designed and finished. I've seen similar hats before, but I didn't make this one from an existing pattern. It is made out of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, on size 4's. I originally cast on 356 stitches, knitted 5 rows, and then knit 3 together all around to make the ruffle. Then I continued and made a regular hat. The cranberry stripe was added later with duplicate stitch.
It was so nice to finish something. My house seems to be full of UFO's, but these days I'm so beat, I hardly care. To give you just an idea of how crazy life is at our house, today I took my daughter to day care, but didn't realize until I took her out of the car that she wasn't wearing shoes. You just have to laugh!

Happy Spring!
P2k

It's been a while

Sorry it has been so long. Part of the reason is that I am running around like a loon most of the time, and the other problem is that things have not been all that exciting for me lately. Although, I have to say, this past weekend was pretty good. We went with my husband's family to a house up in Vermont. It is definitely the beginning of mud season, so we didn't ski, but his aunt and I went to a sweet yarn shop called Six Loose Ladies. I tried to resist buying yarn, but of course I couldn't. The woman knew her customer, and she showed me all of the stuff by local artisans. So I bought a silk wool blend, and then I went over to feel the handspun alpaca. I put it in my hand and it felt so good, so I kept holding it. By the time I was ready to leave the store the yarn had become a part of me and I just had to have it. I'm glad that I did. I also bought the fiber trends pattern for felted slippers. One day I will make them in my free time. (HA HA HA)

Peace to all,
P2K

I'm still 40

I had a great birthday weekend! The party was terrific. Like all parties it was definitely the people who were there that made it so great, and I really had a great group that came. I feel so lucky. After such a terrific weekend it was really hard to get back into the swing of reality on Monday. I'm sure most kids and teachers in Massachusetts were feeling like last week took forever!
I started a new project. This one I don't feel guilty about starting because it is for my sister's child that will be born in April. It is a modular square baby blanket. I am thrilled with this project. It is so satisfying.
As you can tell, I've got a LONG way to go!
My other big news is that on Friday I started my first lease on a car. I pick up the car on Wednesday, and I am thrilled.
Hope all is well wherever you are.

P2K

P.S. I forgot to write that the bag in the photo was made for me by one of my friends in my Knitting group - It is such a sweet little bag that I wanted to show it off!