Time Flies

I'm finding it hard to believe it is November already, even though the weather is finally beginning to act more like Fall in Maine. I made an appointment for a student to meet with me next week and realized it will already be halfway through the month!

I took the train to Boston and back for a work event and got lots of knitting done on the Braids cardigan. Actually, I slept most of the way down on Thursday morning because I'd been up a half-dozen times during each of two previous nights -- my sons had the stomach flu and still appreciate having Mom check on them. Zzzzzzzzzz

I used Interlibrary Loan to borrow A Gathering of Lace and Victorian Lace Today -- ah, what pleasure to peruse! I've added quite a few projects from both books to my Ravelry queue. I don't know which I'll get to first, but need to go to the Knit Picks site and order lace yarn on sale -- I can make several of my favorite projects for about $16-20. Not bad!

Speaking of money, I attended a Financial Aid Information Meeting last night at the high school. Gosh, things are going to be tight for the next few years. Zeben got an estimated aid letter from Allegheny. The FA Director at Colby said it was a very generous offer, but it still looks like we and the boys will have to cobble together quite a hefty sum each year. She reminded us, though, that one thing to take into account is money that you'll save by them not being at home. Just lunch money alone is $120 a month! And now that milk is over $4.50 a gallon, just that will be a big savings. Add in the hot water costs, electricity, and food and maybe Don and I will be able to scrape along. Since they won't be able to take a car with them to college, maybe we can cut back on insurance, too. We won't really know what all of this looks like until after we submit the FAFSA in January, so I suppose I shouldn't worry too much about it now. I did nearly empty the mutual fund today in order to pay down our home equity loan so that we'll be able to cut back on our monthly payments there, too. We'll get there somehow.

I was proud of myself in Boston, however. I did do a bit of shopping, but resisted buying yarn when browsing in Windsor Button on Temple Street. What looks kind of like a dingy JJ Newberry's, turns out to be a wonderland of yarn and other needlework stuff. I really wanted a skein of Fiesta La Boehme (in Quince) but resisted -- at $30 I'd be afraid to use it and would probably need 2 skeins to actually make anything. I'll just enjoy drooling over it.

ON MY NEEDLES
The Braids Cardigan is progressing nicely. I really like the Valley Yarns Colrain I'm using -- it has a beautiful feel and lustrous look to it. The color is Grape Jelly, but most people think of Burgundy Wine when they see it.

I picked up the jacket today and plan to leave it out where I'll pick it up more often. Really, how long can it take me to finish the caps of the sleeves?

I finished the Vermont Bag in Artful Yarns Shakespeare. It still needs to be sewn together and then I REALLY need to felt everything waiting to be felted: another Vermont Bag, a Fiber Trends bag, a cat bed, and this new bag.

Feather and Fan Scarf -- haven't touched it in a couple of weeks.

Finished, but not blocked: The Four Seasons Vine Lace Vest in Berocco Comfort (a freebie pattern from the Classic Elite site).

Waiting in the wings -- several skeins of sock yarn, including Tofutsies!

WHAT I'M READING
The Teach Yourself Visually Handspinning book has given me a good review so I can get my spinning wheel back in action. I bought some roving over Labor Day weekend at "Done Rovin'" in far Downeast Maine but was having trouble spinning. This book has helped immensely, though I have yet to sit down and try it again.

The Glass Castle, loaned to me by my mother, is about a really whacked out family, the memoir of one of the children. Good reminder that my own family is pretty tame!

The Knitter's Book of Yarn: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing, Using, and Enjoying Yarn by Clara Parkes. So far I've just browsed, but am about to delve into it.