In some ways I have definite Luddite tendencies. Switching to new e-mail and calendar software at work this summer was a setback I am still recovering from, two months later. When I hear that I'm up for a computer upgrade at work, I inwardly groan. Luckily, at work, I have lots of support and know the tech support staff by first name.
But, I do recognize that there are technology products that absolutely make my life much better. Here's my top ten:
1. Electric mattress pad warmer. I have a distinct tendency for night chills and this has made all the difference. We like sleeping under a down comforter, so using an electric blanket wasn't an option. I especially like that our queen sized one has separate controls for each side of the bed so I can be toasty without overheating my DH.
2. Electric tea kettle. These had just gotten popular in Scotland when I was living there in the early 80's, but didn't really show up here until not too many years ago. I think we've had ours for about 5 years. This one was such a hit with my family that both sons had it near the top of their list of must-haves when they went off to college. Some people have talked about using them to make macaroni and cheese, but we wouldn't dream of doing that -- it would make our tea taste funny!
3. Cars that automatically turn off your headlights when you turn off the car. At this point, it could be a dealmaker for me when buying a car because our Toyotas and VW Golf have this feature so I'd be hopeless about remembering to do it myself.
4. EZ Pass. Although I liked the early version, Transpass, better because you could push a button on top and see how much money you had left on it, the EZ Pass is a must-have. Not only is it nice when going places in Maine, it makes travel in other states even easier -- very short waits, if any, at toll booths in NH, MA, and PA on recent trips.
5. iPods. I don't even have the new iPod Touch, but still love my mp3 player. I'm particularly enamored with podcasts and audiobooks.
6. Cell phones with QWERTY (that is so much fun to type) keyboards. A very bright young woman told a group of parents at UNH Orientation that we must, must, must have unlimited texting on our phone plans if we were sending a son or daughter off to college. She was absolutely right. But, it is the QWERTY keyboard that makes it possible for me to use it.
7. eCards. I've got a subscription to an eCard site offered by a lovely artist, Jacquie Lawson. It makes it much easier to send someone a card at the last minute (not that I always remember to do it even though it is easy to do).
8. On-line banking. I've not converted to on-line bill paying yet, but do appreciate being able to monitor our bank accounts in real time instead of waiting for the monthly statement. I was never good at using those statements to update my register (I remember a couple of years when I would take a whole day to do a whole year at a time) but am now able to do it at least weekly. It also makes it much more convenient to set up fund transfers for our sons at college -- weekly food allowances are key.
9. Social networks for knitters. Ravelry, for example. Although they can become a black hole of browsing and take way too much time, they also can be incredibly handy when contemplating a new pattern or deciding whether the yarn you already have can work in the pattern you are considering. The knitting world online is wonderfully accessible and generous. While I'm also a quilter and basket weaver, I haven't found a home in those online worlds the way I have in knitting. And I'm not even as engaged as some people I know!
10. Windows that fold in so you can wash the outside from inside the house. Yes, this last one returns me to the Luddite category because you're probably not really thinking it is "technology" as many would define it. But, it is something that makes my life much sunnier and my vision much clearer on a daily basis. It is well worth the extra money we've spent on replacing our old, rattling, weight-balanced (old window technology) double-hung windows.
ON MY NEEDLES
Speaking of needles, I could add #11: bamboo and wooden knitting needles. I grew up using aluminum and plastic needles -- either too inflexible or too flexible. Bamboo and wooden needles are the easiest on my hands and wrists, making it possible to knit more and longer when I get the chance.
TECHNOLOGY I'M CONSIDERING
I'm very intrigued by the eReaders -- especially since reading about a movement to create borrowing libraries for eBooks (check out WorldLibrary). I'm trained as a librarian and can't be parted from my extensive, and growing, collection of physical books, but still am interested in seeing whether an eReader might fit into my life. But, I'll probably stick to my non-early adopter status and wait a while to see where they go.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Summer winds down
The end-of-summer blues have hit. I'm enjoying a week off, with just one more half-time week to go before students return to the college where I work and life gets very busy very fast. The blues manifest themselves in my being cranky (just ask my husband) and in my clinging to every minute of at home time.
But, I can look back on this as a very productive summer (give the empty nest some credit). I'm about to sew the binding on one quilt and am close to finishing up the top on another. I even got the sewing room cleaned up enough that I've been able to spread the quilts out to work on them on the floor -- now, THAT is an accomplishment (having the sewing room cleaned up somewhat, that is). I've done a lot of sorting out of my knitting stuff. Gathered materials for other random projects all in one place -- needlepunching in one basket, applique in another bag.
The porch is emptied out (with stuff stacked in the living room, I admit) in preparation for our contractor to replace the windows and insulate the porch so we'll be able to use it very nearly all year around. It will be lovely to have the sunshine pouring in!
We did a fair amount of work on the flower beds in July and finally topped up the mulch so they look quite nice again. The mulch has also helped keep the moisture in the ground as the summer has gotten dryer and keeps the plants "perked up."
I peeled wallpaper off 3 of the 4 walls in one son's room, primed over the ugliness and hope to wallpaper later this fall. First I need to paint the ceiling and the window woodwork (which got primed to-- just several years after they were installed).
And, we've spent significant quality time with both sides of the family, including getting the not-to-be-missed beach day with my sister in this past week.
The only thing really left on our list is to camp in our new tent. Don is anxious to get to that item, so he set the tent up in the back yard today and plans to sleep in it tonight. Even better, we have reservations at a state park the weekend after Labor Day -- for a little R&R after the first week of school.
All in all, really quite a lovely summer with no regrets going back to the full-time world of work.
ON MY NEEDLES
I'm about half-way through the latest Maplewings Shawl. It has been a good travel companion and I love the way it gets smaller as you go along instead of going the other direction. I feel rewarded for my efforts by having the rows go faster and faster as I go along!
I just started a February Lady's Sweater from some blue heather dk yarn I've had in my stash for a couple of years. It is mostly acrylic, with some wool, but I just wanted to be working on something that took a little less attention and brainpower than my lace projects.
Other than the new sweater, I've actually been very monogamous in my knitting this summer.
OTHER PROJECTS
I'm putting the binding on a star quilt for my sister. I made her a quilt with big stars on it when I was in college and she loved it. Unfortunately, that was when it was very hard to get good cotton quilting fabric and was poly/cotton with polyester thread and over the years it just shredded away to nothing. A few years ago I spotted an interesting star quilt in a vendor booth at MaineQuilts and bought the pattern. Basically, you build a stack of large squares, cut the star out of the center, move the top star to the bottom of the pile and then have a set of contrasting blocks with stars in the centers. I love the color combinations I ended up with and finally got it machine quilted last winter. I squared it up today and sewed the binding on the front. All that is left to do is hand-sew the binding down on the back -- a task that is perfect for television time which will make my husband very happy.
More than a year ago now I offered to make my mother a sweater. She was a prolific knitter who was always making something for someone else and I thought she might like to have someone knit for her. But, she said she'd rather have a quilt. A pastel quilt. Queen bed size.
Now, I love to quilt. I love choosing and adapting a pattern, searching for color combinations in my stash and in quilt shops, and the chance for precision in my work. But, starting a quilt for my mother involved quite a bit of up-front work in cleaning out my sewing room so I could actually work in there. In the winter, it is one of the coldest rooms in the house and my hanging out up there means I basically abandon my family for the evening. Well, this spring I had an opportunity to do some cleaning/organizing in my sewing room. It was helped along by our installing a gate across the door so the cats can't get in but the air flows better and keeps the room from being so cold. And, there was the possibility we were going to replace the windows in there and I would have to really clear the way for that (that project is on hold for another year - we decided the porch project was more important).
So, I've made wonderful progress on the quilt for my mother. It has 72 pinwheel blocks -- each with a different pastel or bright pastel fabric. I'm in the process of putting the 6" border on the pinwheel block center and will then applique vines and leaves on those borders (which is fine -- I can can do that in front of the TV and after taking another applique class at the quilt show this summer I realize that I actually really love doing applique). With any luck, I'll have a quilt top to show Mom for her birthday in mid-September and could have it quilted by Christmas!
Then, I can get to my youngest son's quilt - yes, Nate, I'm getting ready to start your quilt!
But, I can look back on this as a very productive summer (give the empty nest some credit). I'm about to sew the binding on one quilt and am close to finishing up the top on another. I even got the sewing room cleaned up enough that I've been able to spread the quilts out to work on them on the floor -- now, THAT is an accomplishment (having the sewing room cleaned up somewhat, that is). I've done a lot of sorting out of my knitting stuff. Gathered materials for other random projects all in one place -- needlepunching in one basket, applique in another bag.
The porch is emptied out (with stuff stacked in the living room, I admit) in preparation for our contractor to replace the windows and insulate the porch so we'll be able to use it very nearly all year around. It will be lovely to have the sunshine pouring in!
We did a fair amount of work on the flower beds in July and finally topped up the mulch so they look quite nice again. The mulch has also helped keep the moisture in the ground as the summer has gotten dryer and keeps the plants "perked up."
I peeled wallpaper off 3 of the 4 walls in one son's room, primed over the ugliness and hope to wallpaper later this fall. First I need to paint the ceiling and the window woodwork (which got primed to-- just several years after they were installed).
And, we've spent significant quality time with both sides of the family, including getting the not-to-be-missed beach day with my sister in this past week.
The only thing really left on our list is to camp in our new tent. Don is anxious to get to that item, so he set the tent up in the back yard today and plans to sleep in it tonight. Even better, we have reservations at a state park the weekend after Labor Day -- for a little R&R after the first week of school.
All in all, really quite a lovely summer with no regrets going back to the full-time world of work.
ON MY NEEDLES
I'm about half-way through the latest Maplewings Shawl. It has been a good travel companion and I love the way it gets smaller as you go along instead of going the other direction. I feel rewarded for my efforts by having the rows go faster and faster as I go along!
I just started a February Lady's Sweater from some blue heather dk yarn I've had in my stash for a couple of years. It is mostly acrylic, with some wool, but I just wanted to be working on something that took a little less attention and brainpower than my lace projects.
Other than the new sweater, I've actually been very monogamous in my knitting this summer.
OTHER PROJECTS
I'm putting the binding on a star quilt for my sister. I made her a quilt with big stars on it when I was in college and she loved it. Unfortunately, that was when it was very hard to get good cotton quilting fabric and was poly/cotton with polyester thread and over the years it just shredded away to nothing. A few years ago I spotted an interesting star quilt in a vendor booth at MaineQuilts and bought the pattern. Basically, you build a stack of large squares, cut the star out of the center, move the top star to the bottom of the pile and then have a set of contrasting blocks with stars in the centers. I love the color combinations I ended up with and finally got it machine quilted last winter. I squared it up today and sewed the binding on the front. All that is left to do is hand-sew the binding down on the back -- a task that is perfect for television time which will make my husband very happy.
More than a year ago now I offered to make my mother a sweater. She was a prolific knitter who was always making something for someone else and I thought she might like to have someone knit for her. But, she said she'd rather have a quilt. A pastel quilt. Queen bed size.
Now, I love to quilt. I love choosing and adapting a pattern, searching for color combinations in my stash and in quilt shops, and the chance for precision in my work. But, starting a quilt for my mother involved quite a bit of up-front work in cleaning out my sewing room so I could actually work in there. In the winter, it is one of the coldest rooms in the house and my hanging out up there means I basically abandon my family for the evening. Well, this spring I had an opportunity to do some cleaning/organizing in my sewing room. It was helped along by our installing a gate across the door so the cats can't get in but the air flows better and keeps the room from being so cold. And, there was the possibility we were going to replace the windows in there and I would have to really clear the way for that (that project is on hold for another year - we decided the porch project was more important).
So, I've made wonderful progress on the quilt for my mother. It has 72 pinwheel blocks -- each with a different pastel or bright pastel fabric. I'm in the process of putting the 6" border on the pinwheel block center and will then applique vines and leaves on those borders (which is fine -- I can can do that in front of the TV and after taking another applique class at the quilt show this summer I realize that I actually really love doing applique). With any luck, I'll have a quilt top to show Mom for her birthday in mid-September and could have it quilted by Christmas!
Then, I can get to my youngest son's quilt - yes, Nate, I'm getting ready to start your quilt!
Friday, July 9, 2010
Summer!
I am incredibly fortunate to be able to reduce my work schedule to half-time in the summer. I used to have two months off completely, and miss that, but actually like the reduced schedule better as the shock of going back in September isn't so ... shocking. Either way, I LOVE having the time -- the trade-off in pay is so worth it to me.
This doesn't sound exciting, but the time allows me to get things done that I've been putting off for months -- like calling to see about getting the number display panel on the microwave fixed, getting our new-last-fall fence straightened up, cleaning out the linen closet (which I did last summer and is actually in pretty good shape a year later -- the blessings of an empty nest), and taking the cats to the vet for their annual check up.
More exciting is the chance to visit with friends and relatives. I had dinner with a friend last night who is doing an internship of sorts in Portland. We had a relaxed saunter through the Old Port, a two-hour dinner and conversation in a quiet restaurant, and an ice cream dessert. It was lovely. Next week I hope I'll be able to take my bike down for a ride with my sister. You get the idea -- slow, relaxed, and not dictated by the 8-5 schedule.
Even the steamy hot weather hasn't got me down the way it often does. We've got an air conditioner in the sewing room/our bedroom so I have a retreat where there is plenty to do, and we can sleep in reasonable comfort. Again, I'm so fortunate.
Don says I have good karma. I prefer to call it an abundance of blessings. Whatever you call it, I'm basking in it for now.
ON MY NEEDLES
Same as last time -- it has been too hot and sticky to knit. Instead, I'm working on finishing one quilt for one of my sisters. I cut out the binding pieces yesterday and hope to make headway this afternoon when it is too hot to be anywhere else in the house. I'm also working on a pinwheel quilt for my Mom in various pastel florals on a white background. It is coming along quite nicely. I'll upload pictures later -- now it is time for lunch!
This doesn't sound exciting, but the time allows me to get things done that I've been putting off for months -- like calling to see about getting the number display panel on the microwave fixed, getting our new-last-fall fence straightened up, cleaning out the linen closet (which I did last summer and is actually in pretty good shape a year later -- the blessings of an empty nest), and taking the cats to the vet for their annual check up.
More exciting is the chance to visit with friends and relatives. I had dinner with a friend last night who is doing an internship of sorts in Portland. We had a relaxed saunter through the Old Port, a two-hour dinner and conversation in a quiet restaurant, and an ice cream dessert. It was lovely. Next week I hope I'll be able to take my bike down for a ride with my sister. You get the idea -- slow, relaxed, and not dictated by the 8-5 schedule.
Even the steamy hot weather hasn't got me down the way it often does. We've got an air conditioner in the sewing room/our bedroom so I have a retreat where there is plenty to do, and we can sleep in reasonable comfort. Again, I'm so fortunate.
Don says I have good karma. I prefer to call it an abundance of blessings. Whatever you call it, I'm basking in it for now.
ON MY NEEDLES
Same as last time -- it has been too hot and sticky to knit. Instead, I'm working on finishing one quilt for one of my sisters. I cut out the binding pieces yesterday and hope to make headway this afternoon when it is too hot to be anywhere else in the house. I'm also working on a pinwheel quilt for my Mom in various pastel florals on a white background. It is coming along quite nicely. I'll upload pictures later -- now it is time for lunch!
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Back Home - With a New Tent
We just returned from what, at times, felt like a marathon road trip vacation. The first five nights were spent camping. First we camped with all of my siblings and their partners, spouses, children, and some friends in a group site at a nice little campground in West Granville, Massachusetts. Aside from sharing food, campfire stories, and general good times, we also attended the annual Tanglewood appearance of Prairie Home Companion. It was a lot of fun with only a little rain -- just during the performance where we sat on the lawn of the music shed, each with an umbrella (after I went and purchased a pricey but VERY nice one in the gift shop), handing around good eats and beverages. Our favorite part is going into the shed after the show goes off the air and joining in a sing-along with Garrison Keillor -- well worth the time spent in the rain!
Then we headed west to Niagara Falls, Ontario, where Don had found a lovely little private campground (selected over the other options -- KOA and a Jellystone mega-campgrounds) just off the Niagara Parkway south of the tourist areas. I had been to the American Falls some 25+ years ago, but always wanted to go back and see the Canadian falls, so Don indulged me with this side trip. We spent two nights camping there -- one with a wild storm that was so noisy, flapping our tarp wildly, that we got very little sleep the first night. We had a lovely day as tourists, doing the "Behind the Falls" and "Maid of the Mist" options, eating frozen yogurt, and visiting a greenhouse to wait out another rain storm. The second night was much more peaceful.
From there we headed to Meadville, PA to visit our son who is working at his college for this summer between sophomore and junior (hard to believe) years. Instead of camping, though, we stayed in a bed and breakfast. We met the new men's basketball coach who was in town with his wife, new baby, and mother-in-law to look for a house to rent. Also, under the category of "small world," we realized after looking at the guest book that another person staying there used to work at Colby and we knew her! She was there to interview for a job and the first interview of the day was over breakfast at the B&B so I also met the person interviewing her, who happens to know my son quite well.
We visited a couple of hot spots -- lunch at Eddie's Footlongs (Don loved the "sauce"), wine-tasting at Conneaut Winery (bought a few bottles to bring home), and bread from Creative Crust. Then we enjoyed having our son and his friends cook a lovely dinner for us, followed by a visit to Hank's frozen custard stand on peanut-butter night. The nicest part of the trip was seeing how happy he is with his summer job and to meet his very interesting and pleasant friends.
Then, off to Rhode Island where we intended to spend a night or so before heading home. The drive, however, took several hours longer than anticipated due to traffic in Connecticut (note to self: avoid Connecticut) and we were truly exhausted when we got there so stayed for two lovely full days of lounging on the deck and around the pool before driving home today. The traffic was a breeze (either yesterday or tomorrow it would have been a beast), and the trip went really fast due to our coming to the climax of the book on tape we were listening to: The Water Room (a Bryant and May mystery - also known as the Peculiar Crimes Unit).
We stopped in Freeport and replaced the tent we've been very happy using the past ten years or so. We'd started having problems with the zipper at the bottom of the door last year, but this year the problem spread to the side zipper. We were able to finangle it throughout the trip, but it was clear that something needed to be done before our next camping trip. We were given the choice of trying to fix it (not clear whether it could be fixed or not) or taking a credit to be used for a replacement tent. My first inclination was to fix it -- we had a lot of great memories tied up in that tent -- but elected to go see what would be the replacement tent (the model we had was discontinued several years ago). The dome tent that would be equivalent had some significant design drawbacks. Looking around the camping department, we found ourselves looking at a tent with a screen "porch." Long story short, we decided to take the credit, put it toward the new tent along with a couple of Bean coupons and some more money. All in all, we calculate that, if this tent lasts at least 10 years (like the last one), it costs us less than $20/year (between the two tents) to own a tent -- and if we further amortized it over the number of times we camp it is even more cost-effective (yes, we justified the cost and got the roomiest tent we could find!). Let's just say that we will be looking at the calendar to see how soon we can go camping in it!
Oh, and the queen size AeroBed mattress I bought for the trip was another good investment. I've been fine for years on the thin self-inflating camp mattresses (we had the thick version but they are really designed for backpackers), but in the past few years have found them less and less comfortable and wasn't looking forward to 5 nights on one. Even Don ended up thinking it had been a good purchase :)
All in all it was a lovely trip. And the nice touch at the end was stopping to visit my parents and discovering that my Dad had just whipped up the ingredients for strawberry shortcake! I was afraid that I was going to miss strawberry season entirely while away on this trip. But, we did get back just in time to start harvesting tart cherries off our 2-year old tree. I've got about 10 cups picked tonight and there are plenty left on the tree to ripen a bit more for picking over the next few days. I'll be bagging most up for freezing, but plan at least one pie first!
Nice to travel -- nice to be home.
ON MY NEEDLES
Of course, traveling provides a wonderful opportunity for knitting and this one was especially good.
I started the MapleWing Shawl in the purple/grey laceweight from Woolen Rabbit that I purchased at Spa Knit & Spin in the spring. I've made this pattern once, but didn't end up loving the color that friends encouraged me to choose, so I'm making it again and this time I'm making the larger version of the pattern (more repeats of each section). I got through section A and am almost half-way through section B of the pattern. The really nice thing about this pattern is that you start at the bottom, so the rows get shorter as you go along, instead of the other way around.
I also brought the green lace shawl I had started two summers ago and knit on when we were taking the boys to start college. I had a number of problems with this project (see very early blog posts for more on that) and ended up putting that shawl in "time out." It was really my first attempt at a lace shawl, so, having completed a number of other lace projects since then I shouldn't have any problems with it now. But, it is a pattern that requires concentration, so can only be worked on without distractions. And, it gets bigger and the rows get longer as you go along -- it will be a slow project to work on.
I brought my Skew socks, but didn't touch them -- I was too enticed by the lace, as usual.
Then we headed west to Niagara Falls, Ontario, where Don had found a lovely little private campground (selected over the other options -- KOA and a Jellystone mega-campgrounds) just off the Niagara Parkway south of the tourist areas. I had been to the American Falls some 25+ years ago, but always wanted to go back and see the Canadian falls, so Don indulged me with this side trip. We spent two nights camping there -- one with a wild storm that was so noisy, flapping our tarp wildly, that we got very little sleep the first night. We had a lovely day as tourists, doing the "Behind the Falls" and "Maid of the Mist" options, eating frozen yogurt, and visiting a greenhouse to wait out another rain storm. The second night was much more peaceful.
From there we headed to Meadville, PA to visit our son who is working at his college for this summer between sophomore and junior (hard to believe) years. Instead of camping, though, we stayed in a bed and breakfast. We met the new men's basketball coach who was in town with his wife, new baby, and mother-in-law to look for a house to rent. Also, under the category of "small world," we realized after looking at the guest book that another person staying there used to work at Colby and we knew her! She was there to interview for a job and the first interview of the day was over breakfast at the B&B so I also met the person interviewing her, who happens to know my son quite well.
We visited a couple of hot spots -- lunch at Eddie's Footlongs (Don loved the "sauce"), wine-tasting at Conneaut Winery (bought a few bottles to bring home), and bread from Creative Crust. Then we enjoyed having our son and his friends cook a lovely dinner for us, followed by a visit to Hank's frozen custard stand on peanut-butter night. The nicest part of the trip was seeing how happy he is with his summer job and to meet his very interesting and pleasant friends.
Then, off to Rhode Island where we intended to spend a night or so before heading home. The drive, however, took several hours longer than anticipated due to traffic in Connecticut (note to self: avoid Connecticut) and we were truly exhausted when we got there so stayed for two lovely full days of lounging on the deck and around the pool before driving home today. The traffic was a breeze (either yesterday or tomorrow it would have been a beast), and the trip went really fast due to our coming to the climax of the book on tape we were listening to: The Water Room (a Bryant and May mystery - also known as the Peculiar Crimes Unit).
We stopped in Freeport and replaced the tent we've been very happy using the past ten years or so. We'd started having problems with the zipper at the bottom of the door last year, but this year the problem spread to the side zipper. We were able to finangle it throughout the trip, but it was clear that something needed to be done before our next camping trip. We were given the choice of trying to fix it (not clear whether it could be fixed or not) or taking a credit to be used for a replacement tent. My first inclination was to fix it -- we had a lot of great memories tied up in that tent -- but elected to go see what would be the replacement tent (the model we had was discontinued several years ago). The dome tent that would be equivalent had some significant design drawbacks. Looking around the camping department, we found ourselves looking at a tent with a screen "porch." Long story short, we decided to take the credit, put it toward the new tent along with a couple of Bean coupons and some more money. All in all, we calculate that, if this tent lasts at least 10 years (like the last one), it costs us less than $20/year (between the two tents) to own a tent -- and if we further amortized it over the number of times we camp it is even more cost-effective (yes, we justified the cost and got the roomiest tent we could find!). Let's just say that we will be looking at the calendar to see how soon we can go camping in it!
Oh, and the queen size AeroBed mattress I bought for the trip was another good investment. I've been fine for years on the thin self-inflating camp mattresses (we had the thick version but they are really designed for backpackers), but in the past few years have found them less and less comfortable and wasn't looking forward to 5 nights on one. Even Don ended up thinking it had been a good purchase :)All in all it was a lovely trip. And the nice touch at the end was stopping to visit my parents and discovering that my Dad had just whipped up the ingredients for strawberry shortcake! I was afraid that I was going to miss strawberry season entirely while away on this trip. But, we did get back just in time to start harvesting tart cherries off our 2-year old tree. I've got about 10 cups picked tonight and there are plenty left on the tree to ripen a bit more for picking over the next few days. I'll be bagging most up for freezing, but plan at least one pie first!
Nice to travel -- nice to be home.
ON MY NEEDLES
Of course, traveling provides a wonderful opportunity for knitting and this one was especially good.
I started the MapleWing Shawl in the purple/grey laceweight from Woolen Rabbit that I purchased at Spa Knit & Spin in the spring. I've made this pattern once, but didn't end up loving the color that friends encouraged me to choose, so I'm making it again and this time I'm making the larger version of the pattern (more repeats of each section). I got through section A and am almost half-way through section B of the pattern. The really nice thing about this pattern is that you start at the bottom, so the rows get shorter as you go along, instead of the other way around.
I also brought the green lace shawl I had started two summers ago and knit on when we were taking the boys to start college. I had a number of problems with this project (see very early blog posts for more on that) and ended up putting that shawl in "time out." It was really my first attempt at a lace shawl, so, having completed a number of other lace projects since then I shouldn't have any problems with it now. But, it is a pattern that requires concentration, so can only be worked on without distractions. And, it gets bigger and the rows get longer as you go along -- it will be a slow project to work on.
I brought my Skew socks, but didn't touch them -- I was too enticed by the lace, as usual.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
FOR TODAY
Outside my window...
It is sunny and warm. We walked to church this morning and it was a bit foggy, but it has now burned off and is quite lovely, without being too humid or hot. Just right.
I am thinking...
Way too much about the next couple of very full weeks. My anxiety level is up even though I know I'll accomplish all I need to get done, but it does keep my thoughts in a spin.
I am thankful for...
My husband who is very patient with me when I get like this.
From the kitchen...
I smell the omelet that Don just made after he admired mine. This is his second breakfast -- I didn't manage to get any before church. Which may also be why I'm a bit grumpy -- I'm only halfway through my morning cup of tea.
I am wearing...
Shorts, a sleeveless top and sneakers. We're going to be loading up a rented truck with Nate's furniture and "stuff" to go to his new apartment so I'll be busy.
I am creating...
Too many projects at the moment. I've been working on a quilt for my mother, finished binding off a little curved scarf with a lacy edge from a pattern a friend shared with me, need to finish the sleeves on a top-down sweater, have another scarf on the needles as well as a pair of socks. I need to give some thought to projects to take along to a 5-day conference in Atlanta and vacation after that. For vacation I've pulled out a long-stalled hand-sewing project making paper-pieced stars for an eventual quilt.
I am going...
To pick up a big truck when Nate awakes.
I am reading...
"I am Irelaunde," a novel about St. Patrick when he came to convert Ireland. Someone just handed me, in church, a copy of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." And, we've just had a conversation about which books on tape to download for our vacation which involves a lot of driving.
I am hoping...
To get through the next two weeks with my sanity intact.
I am hearing...
The radio, with Joni Mitchell singing "Amelia" on the local public radio singer-songwriter show that I only get to hear when I go to the 8:00 service.
Around the house...
Are piles of unorganized things that need to be dealt with. But, there will be room to organize in July when we have an empty bedroom upstairs and a nearly empty living room (we're giving Nate a couch and chair but keeping the loveseat -- the cats are going to be bereft as the couch and chair are two of their favorite napping places).
One of my favorite things...
A lovely cup of tea, right at hand.
A few plans for the rest of the week:
Monday -- get two composite letters ready for med school candidates. Luckily they are re-writes, which don't take as much time. Oh, and move into my new office and try to bring some order to the chaos.
Tuesday -- attend the annual staff "retreat" on campus, which I'm usually not here for. Time to connect with colleagues. Wrap up loose ends with med candidates.
Wednesday -- leaving on a 5:30 a.m. flight to Atlanta to attend the Pre-Health Advisors national conference. 5:30 was the only way to get a direct flight and will give me some time to explore the city before the conference.
Thursday -- conference all day with dinner sponsored by the Danish study abroad program that some of my students have gone on/will be going on.
Friday -- conference all day with an afternoon/evening visit to the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (Georgia branch).
Saturday -- more conference, connecting with colleagues
Sunday -- home! Missing most of Father's Day.
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...
This is from last weekend's college reunion -- with my friend Sue who graduated 5 years before me but whom I've gotten to know since coming back to work at Colby. Since we always have the same reunion weekend, we've made a tradition of taking a photo of us each time. This time we were color-coordinated without planning it! The thought part of this is that I really was ambivalent about attending this reunion and could easily have skipped it if given the chance. BUT, I actually really enjoyed the experience, saw some people I didn't expect to see, saw some of my former students, including one from 1990 and one from 1995 and lots from 2000 and 2005. The band on Saturday was great and I had fun dancing with Don. A lesson learned -- go to reunion and don't anxt about it!
Check out the Simple Woman's Daybook blog at: http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/
Friday, June 11, 2010
Stretched
I think I remember feeling this way last June, too. The month is packed with events, activities, special days, and things that need doing. I know I'm feeling stretched too thin when I have an evening like I did earlier this week. I came home wanting everyone to just do what I told them to do and not give me any argument. I was very bossy and cross. Luckily, I'm not usually like that, so it was clear to everyone that I was feeling "stretched."
My house is a mess (after all the work we did in April to get a little organized and caught up on things) and will be even more of a mess soon. Our son is moving to an apartment and we've generously :) donated all the furniture we've been wanting to get rid of for years. That will pretty much empty out his bedroom and the living room. Which is good, because we're about to tear apart our sunporch, which means we have lots of books and stuff to move out of there. We're also going to replace windows in our living room and my sewing room -- just to add a little bit more chaos to our lives.
This is conference season in my line of work. I've been to meetings at two other campuses just this week, and am off to Hotlanta (I hate hot weather - why are we meeting in Atlanta in the summer?) for 5 days next week. And, just to add a bit more chaos to my work life, my director and I are swapping offices, which has involved moving everything out of each in order to paint them. With any luck I'll have everything in my new office by Monday - but it will be weeks before I actually get it unpacked.
And, our summer vacation happens this month. It will be fun - once we get going. But, we have decided to shorten it a bit so I can have a few days at home too.
Special events? Missed my sister's birthday due to my 30th college reunion and will miss Father's Day because I'll be flying home from Atlanta that afternoon. Both of those things earned me a place in the doghouse with my mother. The annual staff retreat, which I usually miss due to a conference, is between conferences this year. High school graduation was last night (I went to yoga instead).
Anyway, the upside is that the weather has been lovely with only intermittent rain (as compared to last year's very rainy June...and July...). The garden looks great (needs weeding, but that will have to wait). I've gotten to see many of my favorite colleagues, including one from Minnesota, at meetings. I'm healthy (though out of shape). I've had both a pedicure and a manicure in the past two weeks and have an appointment for a perm in two weeks. I'm moving into a shady office. We've got new patio furniture and, as my DH says, it now looks like adults live here (the patio and furniture are right smack where our old cedar climbing tower and swing set resided for many years). I got the refrigerator cleaned out recently and have cleaned half of the shower. I've lost 6 pounds and didn't eat any cookies at lunch today at St. Joseph's.
All in all, I'm a very fortunate person. Thanks for letting me get that whining out of my system. I feel better and hope you do too.
OFF MY NEEDLES
My Evenstar myster KAL shawl is done! I'll photograph it when I block it, which will be after Nate leaves to start his camp job.
ON MY NEEDLES
Re-knitting my Daybreak Shawl. Instead of the large shawl, which I didn't really like when it was done, I've frogged the whole thing and will make two small ones. I'm going to give one of them away to someone who admired the project when I was making it the first time.
And, some other things, but I'm too disorganized to even name them at the moment.
My house is a mess (after all the work we did in April to get a little organized and caught up on things) and will be even more of a mess soon. Our son is moving to an apartment and we've generously :) donated all the furniture we've been wanting to get rid of for years. That will pretty much empty out his bedroom and the living room. Which is good, because we're about to tear apart our sunporch, which means we have lots of books and stuff to move out of there. We're also going to replace windows in our living room and my sewing room -- just to add a little bit more chaos to our lives.
This is conference season in my line of work. I've been to meetings at two other campuses just this week, and am off to Hotlanta (I hate hot weather - why are we meeting in Atlanta in the summer?) for 5 days next week. And, just to add a bit more chaos to my work life, my director and I are swapping offices, which has involved moving everything out of each in order to paint them. With any luck I'll have everything in my new office by Monday - but it will be weeks before I actually get it unpacked.
And, our summer vacation happens this month. It will be fun - once we get going. But, we have decided to shorten it a bit so I can have a few days at home too.
Special events? Missed my sister's birthday due to my 30th college reunion and will miss Father's Day because I'll be flying home from Atlanta that afternoon. Both of those things earned me a place in the doghouse with my mother. The annual staff retreat, which I usually miss due to a conference, is between conferences this year. High school graduation was last night (I went to yoga instead).
Anyway, the upside is that the weather has been lovely with only intermittent rain (as compared to last year's very rainy June...and July...). The garden looks great (needs weeding, but that will have to wait). I've gotten to see many of my favorite colleagues, including one from Minnesota, at meetings. I'm healthy (though out of shape). I've had both a pedicure and a manicure in the past two weeks and have an appointment for a perm in two weeks. I'm moving into a shady office. We've got new patio furniture and, as my DH says, it now looks like adults live here (the patio and furniture are right smack where our old cedar climbing tower and swing set resided for many years). I got the refrigerator cleaned out recently and have cleaned half of the shower. I've lost 6 pounds and didn't eat any cookies at lunch today at St. Joseph's.
All in all, I'm a very fortunate person. Thanks for letting me get that whining out of my system. I feel better and hope you do too.
OFF MY NEEDLES
My Evenstar myster KAL shawl is done! I'll photograph it when I block it, which will be after Nate leaves to start his camp job.
ON MY NEEDLES
Re-knitting my Daybreak Shawl. Instead of the large shawl, which I didn't really like when it was done, I've frogged the whole thing and will make two small ones. I'm going to give one of them away to someone who admired the project when I was making it the first time.
And, some other things, but I'm too disorganized to even name them at the moment.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Stay-cation
It has been a lovely week so far. We've had a range of weather from snow to 70 degrees and sun (currently 65 and sunny). I've been fairly productive in the basement, even though I probably won't get through the whole place as thoroughly as I need to. It is much cleaner and we've definitely cleared out a lot of stuff. And, rediscovered some treasures I'd forgotten about.
Today I've been rather unorganized and not very productive. But, Don is having a very productive day (maybe we're taking turns -- ala our boys who, as twins, always seemed to take turns with bad days, developmental changes, etc. and still seem to do that at times). He's done a dandelion patrol, mowed the lawn, and is now cleaning out our grill! I'm just puttering and making only small forays into piles of stuff.
Ah, vacation! Maybe I'll read a book.
ON MY NEEDLES
I'm caught up on the Evenstar Shawl, now just waiting for Clue 6 to be released tomorrow afternoon. I even found beads for it at Beads on the Kennebec in Augusta. Can't wait to see how it all comes together!
The top-down cardigan is down to the last few rows on the body and then I have to do the sleeves. After that there are a couple of rows to knit around the collar and front edges and then it will be done. It won't be a lovely thing, but it will be warm and comfy for weekends.
I've pulled out an old project that will be an easy one to tote along when I need something that I don't have to think too hard about. It is a scarf of boucle and mohair I picked up as a souvenir last spring when attending a conference in Philadelphia. The colors are lovely, based on a periwinkle and pale, pale pink with a little white and darker blue in the boucle. I'll photo it when there is more to show.
Socks -- just haven't had the time or energy to think about them. But, I did just find in a box in the basement the very first three pairs of socks I ever made, while living in Scotland, many years ago! Two pair are felted and too small to get on my feet anymore, while one has never been worn. Sock yarn is definitely more interesting nowadays -- and nice to have washable wool so they don't shrink so easily.
Today I've been rather unorganized and not very productive. But, Don is having a very productive day (maybe we're taking turns -- ala our boys who, as twins, always seemed to take turns with bad days, developmental changes, etc. and still seem to do that at times). He's done a dandelion patrol, mowed the lawn, and is now cleaning out our grill! I'm just puttering and making only small forays into piles of stuff.
Ah, vacation! Maybe I'll read a book.
ON MY NEEDLES
I'm caught up on the Evenstar Shawl, now just waiting for Clue 6 to be released tomorrow afternoon. I even found beads for it at Beads on the Kennebec in Augusta. Can't wait to see how it all comes together!
The top-down cardigan is down to the last few rows on the body and then I have to do the sleeves. After that there are a couple of rows to knit around the collar and front edges and then it will be done. It won't be a lovely thing, but it will be warm and comfy for weekends.
I've pulled out an old project that will be an easy one to tote along when I need something that I don't have to think too hard about. It is a scarf of boucle and mohair I picked up as a souvenir last spring when attending a conference in Philadelphia. The colors are lovely, based on a periwinkle and pale, pale pink with a little white and darker blue in the boucle. I'll photo it when there is more to show.
Socks -- just haven't had the time or energy to think about them. But, I did just find in a box in the basement the very first three pairs of socks I ever made, while living in Scotland, many years ago! Two pair are felted and too small to get on my feet anymore, while one has never been worn. Sock yarn is definitely more interesting nowadays -- and nice to have washable wool so they don't shrink so easily.
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