Determined to Finish

Even though February is almost done, I am still planning on finishing this shawl.


My second snowdrop has fallen to the way-side with all my school work, but I am determined to gift it to my future-mother-in-law BEFORE St. Patrick's Day. So I still have time....

WIP Wednesday Again!

I feel like several WIP Wednesdays passed without me noticing them. Being busy with student teaching and musical rehearsals and work and wedding planning has left little time for blogging and crafting. But I am still managing to work on a few things here and there.

I have so many pictures to share, but for today, I'll keep it to one.

Quite a mix today

I'm reading the World History textbook in preparation for my next round of lessons-- Kingdoms of Africa. Hopefully the students will take to it, as it is not my best area of knowledge.

There are 2 different hats in progress, both commissioned items. The black is the start of another Toothless hat, and the pink is a new design. To the far right is my finished Citron, which I will share on Friday. The green smack dab in the middle is my second Snowdrop, in Knit Picks Chroma.

I've finished my first audiobook of Lent-- CS Lewis' The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Definitely one of my favorite books to read, and easy listening, especially when knitting or crocheting.

Linking with Ginny and Tami today!

Still Alive

Just in case anyone is wondering, I'm still around, still alive, and as busy as ever.

Besides my normal schedule of teaching and working, I'm also helping with the musical end of my school's spring production, as the director has little to no musical talent. Working with a number of my students outside the classroom is a lovely change, as I am able to get to know them on a different level.

Lent is in full swing at my house, as evidence by the lack of coffee (my dad only drinks tea during Lent) and pop remaining in the refrigerator longer (my pop-guzzling brother, who has become less religious in the last few years, has given up pop for Lent). With E, I am not watching television on a regular basis, and am attempting to use that time more effectively- for either school or prayer. Due to all these little changes, I'm also attempting to stay off my computer. Hence, less blogging.

I have managed to finish several projects in the last week or so, and they will pop up here when I have a few more minutes to take some pictures and plan some posts.

My wedding is less than 6 months away, and I'm starting to think of cleaning things out and packing things up. Hopefully, I'll be able downsize and live with less between now and then.

Family Comes in all Shapes and Sizes

This weekend, my parents were honored to become godparents again. This time, to the lovely little daughter of a woman from our church. Dad is the naturally talkative sort, and he always welcomes new people to church. This particular young woman attends the same university as I do, but is studying in the nursing program. She came from Ghana with her brother to study here several years ago.

A few weeks ago, she asked my parents to be godparents to her little Audrey.

You can't quite see in the photo, but little Audrey is wearing a necklace and ring made by her uncle in Ghana with her initials on it. Definitely one of the most beautiful gifts to be given to a little one.

My parents and I spent part of Sunday afternoon (after the Baptism Mass) celebrating with Audrey and her family, and it is lovely how the Church brings such a variety of people into the same place.

Four Day Weekend

I have just totally lucked out with my student teaching placement. Two snow days on either end of my weekend!! This should mean that I am super prepared for the rest of my week at school... But I'm partly prepared, is that enough? I sure hope so.

With all this free time, I've been able to plan for both classes I am teaching this week, 11th grade government and 6th grade Social Studies. I love my 6th graders quite a bit. They still aren't quite teenagers, but they aren't little kids any more either. Because I am able to see the difference in middle school and high school every day I go in, I am most definitely leaning more toward teaching middle school, or at least the lower grades of high school.



But enough about my teaching. I have had some time to knit and crochet this weekend. I started the weekend off strong by finishing my Snowdrop! Friday night, during our weekly viewing of CSI: NY, I reached the end of my yarn. Toward the end, I thought I would never see the end of the yarn. But I did!

Throughout the weekend, I made other attempts to finish some of my long-term projects, and while I did not succeed, I still made headway on them.


in the picture above, you can see the purple-pink of my knitted Citron, my first big lace project that has been on the needles since January 2012. Underneath it is a knitted poncho, in Knit Picks Bare Stroll (Superwash wool & Nylon). The poncho is a commissioned item for a friend, paid for and everything. The pattern, which the recipient picked out, calls for 18 or so "wedges". Over the weekend, I started on the 3rd. Both of these projects need to get out of my room in FO form before I move out in July/August. So I do have a deadline for them, and with the way I've been knitting this weekend, I seriously hope I can have them both done before the end of the school year.

All in all, my four day weekend has been productive. I'm hoping to make more throughout today, but we shall see.

Snowdrop

I am not usually one of those people who gets sick. Some years I'll get a bit of a cold, and I always have a stuffy nose during allergy season, but this time I think it's the flu. Or really close to the flu. Yesterday I called in sick to school, because I did not feel well enough to drive. I slept most of the day, so my early imaginings of making lots of progress on some of my projects was not realized.

However, by midafternoon-- three naps and lots of liquids later-- Mom thought it might be alright for me to go into my library job. I sit at a desk for a couple of hours, and only talk if patrons have questions, so I mostly agreed with her. I spent some time on lesson planning for the next few days of my government class, then moved on to a more relaxing activity-- crocheting.

My Snowdrop has progressed quite a bit, and when I got it out yesterday afternoon, Mom was quite taken with it-- definitely a good thing, as it is a planned gift for her (which holiday, I'm not sure yet). She has a sensitivity to pure wool products, but I've had her wear some of my other scarves made with sock yarn-- Felici and Stroll-- and she seems to think they aren't as scratchy. I'm making this Snowdrop as part of the Crochet Shoulder Wrappers CAL for February, and hopefully, I'll have time to make another this month.