Saturday, November 29, 2014

project 52: week 12

What is Project 52? It's a little like Project 365, but instead of the goal of posting a photo each day, I'll post a photo or two each week along with a short update. Really I just need a little push to post something every week. Since I like to keep this space positive, posting every week forces me to look back and find something shiny to talk about (ten points if you get that reference). Some weeks that's a piece of cake. Other weeks it's more of a challenge, and those weeks give this task true meaning.

Flannel fabric and library movies.
Friday was filled with ironing, pinning and cutting.
I tried to make my pie look pretty with tiny leaf cookie cutters. I'll try again next year.
What's New?
After a low-key Thanksgiving dinner with my husband and in-laws, I started on my sewing projects for this year's holiday gifting. I set out to make pajama pants for all four kiddos this year. So while Joe was at work Friday I put on Lee Daniel's The Butler (excellent movie!) and starting ironing, measuring, pinning, and cutting. By the time I went to bed I was probably only halfway finished. I decided to use some coordinating solid flannel for the cuffs, so Saturday morning I headed back to the fabric store. I hope to finish sewing this weekend before heading back to work.

Currently Reading
I'm almost three-quarters of the way through Anne Rice's The Witching Hour.

On the Needles
I finished the second of four holiday hats for the kids. Now I need to decide on colors for the next one so I can cast on and get started. I think I'm going to continue the trend and knit all four hats from the same pattern.

Looking Forward To
  1. Urban Craft Uprising


Saturday, November 22, 2014

project 52: week 11

What is Project 52? It's a little like Project 365, but instead of the goal of posting a photo each day, I'll post a photo or two each week along with a short update. Really I just need a little push to post something every week. Since I like to keep this space positive, posting every week forces me to look back and find something shiny to talk about (ten points if you get that reference). Some weeks that's a piece of cake. Other weeks it's more of a challenge, and those weeks give this task true meaning.




What's New?
This past week we geared up for student conferences at the same time we geared down for Thanksgiving break. It's an odd feeling - of being pulled and pushed at the same time. Saturday morning I arrived at school for conferences just as the sun was rising, but there were so many clouds it was hard to tell. I decided to walk around Green Lake since I was so early, and during my walk I was gradually able to see more as the light changed. There were large groups of mallards rooting around the grass, noisy crows in the trees, and more humans than I expected that early on a Saturday. I saw quite a few fisherman (including one who had just caught a fish), large groups of joggers that looked like they were part of a Meetup, and quite a few solitary walkers.

Currently Reading
Still working my way through Anne Rice's The Witching Hour, and still loving it.

On the Needles
I finished a hat for my niece! Now I only have three more to go. A coworker of mine gave me some yarn she no longer wanted (something about cleaning out her stash... probably a good thing for most knitters to do occasionally), and in those bags of yarn I've found excellent choices for hats. I may get away with knitting all four hats without a visit to the yarn store. Pretty frugal, environmental, and exciting if you ask me.

Looking Forward To
  1. holiday cooking & baking

Saturday, November 15, 2014

project 52: week 10

What is Project 52? It's a little like Project 365, but instead of the goal of posting a photo each day, I'll post a photo or two each week along with a short update. Really I just need a little push to post something every week. Since I like to keep this space positive, posting every week forces me to look back and find something shiny to talk about (ten points if you get that reference). Some weeks that's a piece of cake. Other weeks it's more of a challenge, and those weeks give this task true meaning.


First weekday morning frost. The light shining through the window is from a security light, not the sun.
 What's New?
It's beginning to feel a lot like... deep autumn. We reached freezing temperatures at night this week, with daytime highs in the 40's. We're down to nine and a quarter hours of daylight (our shortest is about eight and a half). Our space-heaters are getting a workout. I set up our tiny crock pot for hot beverages (we alternate between spiced apple cider and mulled wine). All the blankets are on the bed. Cats are becoming more interested in laps and snuggles. Soup is becoming a prominent weekly meal.

Currently Reading
Still making my way through Anne Rice's The Witching Hour. I swear if I had a day off I would just sit and read until my eyes hurt! I'm about halfway through at this point, and I blame this book on my lack of sleep. My habit is to read in bed every night, even if it's just a paragraph. But since I started this book I read for hours before finally realizing that my wake-up time is drawing dangerously near. Still, it's a good problem to have.

On the Needles
I've picked up my Hue Shift Afghan again and am nearly finished with the second of four panels. It's a comforting knit, easy on the brain, perfect for television viewing.

This weekend I'm picking up some yarn for niece and nephew holiday hats, although I haven't decided on patterns yet. Here are some possibilities. I've knit both the Hurricane Hat, and the Barley before, and I really like both patterns. I think the Ear Flap Hat would be cute for my youngest nephew.

Clockwise from upper left (Hurricane Hat, Declan's Hat, Garter Ear Flap Hat, Barley). Photos from Ravelry.com
I'm also going flannel shopping this weekend so I can sew up some pajama pants for my niece and nephews. I started doing this almost yearly when my oldest nephew was young. Now I have four kiddos to sew and knit for (and soon to be five!).

Looking Forward To
  1. getting started on holiday projects
  2. a week off from school

Saturday, November 8, 2014

project 52: week 9

What is Project 52? It's a little like Project 365, but instead of the goal of posting a photo each day, I'll post a photo or two each week along with a short update. Really I just need a little push to post something every week. Since I like to keep this space positive, posting every week forces me to look back and find something shiny to talk about (ten points if you get that reference). Some weeks that's a piece of cake. Other weeks it's more of a challenge, and those weeks give this task true meaning.

Beautiful and cold Friday. There were no pictures on Thursday, because weather.
What's New?
I made it back from outdoor school in one piece. We had some pretty intense weather this trip. High winds, rain falling sideways, white caps on the lake, falling trees and branches in the forest, closed highway (due to falling trees). And then Friday, our departure day, was a cold but beautiful sunny day.

Currently Reading
Anne Rice has me in her spell again. I've pretty much abandoned my other reads (although I know I'll pick them up again later). There is something about the way she writes that just sucks me in completely.

  • The Witching Hour by Anne Rice
  • The Fifth Sacred Thing by Starhawk
  • Rare Encounters with Ordinary Birds by Lyanda Lynn Haupt

On the Needles
I started and finished another Hurricane Hat while at outdoor school this week, using some of my leftover green Cascade 220. This one was another practice hat in anticipation of holiday knitting. I hope to find out colors and sizes soon for the little people in my life. Otherwise they'll get my best guess.

I also started some mason jar cozies. Some will be for me, and some for gifting. I think a mason jar, a cozy, and a cuppow would make a great gift.

Looking Forward To
  1. using up some of the eleventy-billion apples I have in storage (I'm thinking of apple pie filling, apple crisp, and maybe some more applesauce)

Saturday, November 1, 2014

project 52: week 8

What is Project 52? It's a little like Project 365, but instead of the goal of posting a photo each day, I'll post a photo or two each week along with a short update. Really I just need a little push to post something every week. Since I like to keep this space positive, posting every week forces me to look back and find something shiny to talk about (ten points if you get that reference). Some weeks that's a piece of cake. Other weeks it's more of a challenge, and those weeks give this task true meaning.

Pretty much every day this week.
What's New?
This past week has been filled with rain, yarn, and sickness. The bug I caught at the end of last week has held on, despite my best efforts. I took two days off work this week, which pretty much never happens. I made and ate chicken noodle soup, drank copious amounts of tea, took over the counter medication, rested every chance I got, and even ventured into herbal remedies. Still, it hangs on. I lost my voice completely for three days!

I'm gearing up to return to outdoor school, this time with my 6th graders. There is no tent camping on the menu for this trip, just warm cabins. I think I can do it, but I'd sure like to be well. We'll see.

Currently Reading
Even as I'm technically in the middle of three books, the reality is that I've been solely reading one in particular this past week. The world of Anne Rice is just so enticing, especially now that I've actually been to New Orleans. I completely understand the allure and magic of that place. It's just so other-worldly. The gas lamps, the Spanish moss, the crypts, the colonial architecture, the towering trees...

  • The Fifth Sacred Thing by Starhawk
  • Rare Encounters with Ordinary Birds by Lyanda Lynn Haupt
  • The Witching Hour by Anne Rice

On the Needles
It's hat-making time. Sometimes I just get a hankering to knit a particular thing, regardless of whatever projects are currently on the needles. So while I await instructions from family about color and size preference for my niece and nephews, I'm busy turning leftover balls of yarn into a variety of hats. So far I've knit a hat for myself with leftover yarn from my fingerless gloves, and another with leftover yarn from a sleep sack I made for baby Mason.

Looking Forward To
  1. being well
  2. visiting the rain-forest again