CrazyBusyLazy

Yeah. So. It's been a while. I know. It's just been nutso around here, and I haven't had the motivation to blog. Probably because I don't have much to show. Things are surprisingly slow going, and or are supposed to be a surprise.

I've started half days at the clinic. And this year I'm in SNF (specialized nursing facility) - seriously. The insurance companies really have it wrong, I am getting farther and farther away from things that I have any knowledge about because of their regulations about what patients I can bill for. If I can't bill for a patient I can't see them - as the whole point is to be making money. Yesterday, they screwed up the schedule (thank goodness), the patient that was originally on my schedule hadn't been evalled yet, she was a stroke patient. I don't know what they were thinking, the PT and OT working with her were having a hard time, due to the problems that the stroke caused, I would have ended up in tears, not knowing what to do. Going to have to mention that I should really only be seeing ortho patients as much as possible.

The sports season is for the most part over, track is still going in smaller numbers of course. Baseball and softball made quick unexpected exits. Girls LAX was a bottom seed, and so as expected, got crushed in their first game. Boys LAX made a good show, the game wasn't close for a long while, and then they had a chance at the end, but ended up losing. Tonight is physicals night (aka worst day of my year). Football has been having "mini camps" the last couple of days and are having more next week - which to me is crazy, but probably only because it's something we've never done before. I've got mostly all new coaches, again. Head coach is the same and 1 of the assistants, well 2, but the one guy was only with the team for the last few games last year. Lots of freshman this year, we'll see how it goes. I've been informed that the first few days of doubles will be spent at John Carroll - that I will have my own room (imagine that!). I'm trying really hard to work with the coach and keep him happy. I can't handle another year of constant battles, so far all is well. We'll see how he reacts when he finds out that I'm not going to be around at all until August.

i think it's time for some knitting. Since it's no longer a surprise (a surprise visit can ruin things when you don't hide stuff in preparation) I'll show you part of Elliott's birthday present.
He's currently obsessed with swords - anything that is remotely resembling one instantly becomes one in his hands. This one is safer than most. And I made it up all myself, no pattern. I think it came out well, and I'm thinking that I will have to make another one to appease the younger brother and avoid the fighting.

Last week, my attention was diverted to the making of some bookmarks. I know, weird, but they're really cool looking. And they were quick and easy, which is what I was needing.
They're made using crochet thread and a little crochet hook, and a pattern that is written to be a scarf with bigger materials. Pretty cool.

I've made very little progress on the Lucy bag you saw in the last post, been too distracted by other projects.
But it's getting there. Not too much further to go before the bag part is done, then it's on to the straps. I have actually finished something for me too:
The French Press Felted Slippers. Sadly, they're a bit big and I have a hard time keeping them on my feet, so I might end up making another pair.

I've started a couple of new pairs of socks (the Spring Forward socks are done, but for the grafting of the toe of the second one - it was finished to that point during the hour and a half long delay before the LAX game due to thunderstorms, and I didn't have a needle with me for the sewing bit).
I've been wanting to use this yarn for a long time, but at the same time holding off because the dyer doesn't dye anymore due to health issues. But I'm thinking it's a perfect summer time colorway. The finished socks will be really cool, just wait.
These are not a typical colorway for me - Lornas Laces "Pioneer" - but the 2 colorways that I wanted were unavailable in the quantity (2) that I needed, so I ended up getting this. I really like it, it's just more "boyish" than I normally go for. But will be great with jeans and khakis, which is really all I ever wear, so I guess it's a win.

The real reason there hasn't been much knitting getting done is all the spinning that's been happening. I finished up the "Patriot" yarn (finally) so that my bobbins were freed up for the new project.
I think it came out really good. Especially since it's only my second attempt at navajo-plying on the wheel. It's actually 2 skeins, and they're not at all alike, as you see here:
But I still really like the yarn. Hoping to knit them up into fingerless mitts soon. One will be dark, and the other light, but it's all good. The new spinning project is amazing.
6 oz of merino/cashmere/nylon in "Picnic Basket". It's super soft. And so pretty. I'm spinning it up to (hopefully) be a fingering weight 3-ply, for socks. Here's the progress:
Pretty good so far. But I'm really trying to get it done before Tuesday. Which might be a problem. Because Tommy is coming home tomorrow for the weekend, which means cleaning and entertaining. But with Monday being the holiday, I might be able to squeak it out.
A gratuitous close-up of the pretty. Keep your fingers crossed that I find the time.

In other news, I have re-committed to WW. First weigh in is Saturday morning. And I've got the crazy idea to run in the Johnnycake Jog which is June 13. Have I ever done a 5k? Nope - except on the elliptical, which is so not the same thing at all. Yesterday I ran for the first time on the treadmill (I normally avoid the treadmill like it's the plague, and I have never run on one). Very proud of myself - as I managed to do 2 miles at a 5-5.5 mph pace, with a 3 min walk in between the miles. Not bad for the first attempt. I'm sore today, but not as bad as I thought I would be. Just mentioning it, because the blog holds me accountable. Stayed tuned for more progress reports.

It's May?

Time is flying. Derby Day came and went, the pie is all gone. I'm thinking we might have to make another one for the Preakness... I continue to be busy at work - today is the first day in a good long while that I won't have a game to go to. Guess that means I should really put together my supply list order and sort through the other paperwork type stuff. Yuck.

There's been a bit of an explosion in new knitting projects - that's what I get for not letting myself start anything new for most of April. The evidence of the carnage is pretty apparent:
Patterns, needles, yarn, more yarn, beads, crochet hooks, fiberfil - it's everywhere. And that's just what's been started since Saturday. There's a shawl I started in April (even though I told myself not to)
Miralda's Triangular Shawl. Very pretty. There's something about nupps. Anyway, it's pretty much in the home stretch, but it's been put aside for now for all the other stuff. And maybe because I'm afraid that I'm going to run out of yarn.
Such pretty close ups. So it'll get done, sometime. I started another shawl, a big one. Magic Carpet Ride - but I'm making life hard for myself by attempting to enlarge it.
There's so many different little motifs and I'm on the third section of the pattern already - it's just complicated. But as written it's only 12" wide, and that's just a weird size, so bigger it needed to be.
It's going pretty well now, that chart with the beaded diamonds - oof - no rest rows, had to pay attention all the time, so it took forever.

I've started another attempt at the Lucy Bag - I've got a good feeling about this one though. I'm farther than I've ever been, and I have motivation.
It's a nice change - simple knitting in the round, no thinking required. Good for knitting while watching TAR - had to put the lace down for that hour so I could focus.

Progress on the socks is slow. I usually only work on it when I've got a spare minute at work (not often these days). But maybe one of these nights I'll sit down and focus on it.
Then again, I might focus on this indeterminate blob of blue crochet that I'm not going to tell you about.
Secret project. There's another one too - but I have to rework the design. It's not looking the way I want it to.

Friday

It's Friday once again. Unlike most of the world, I do not look forward to Fridays. For me they do not mean the end of a long work week, no, to me they are the calm before the storm. Most Fridays are very quiet at the school, with relatively few events and typically light practices, which means an easy, early-ish day for me. But then comes Saturday. The most chaotic and stressful day of the week. And long, did I mention that Saturdays are long? But, that's what happens when you're football field is not permitted to have lights on it due to some nonsense about being in a bird sanctuary. (I'm sure that I've just offended all bird lovers, but really, do we have to have another sanctuary for Canada geese? They're a menace to society and they need to go back to Canada with they hissing and biting and pooping selves.)

Alright, that should end the rant for the week. Sorry, I'm not feeling well at all today and I'm sure that that is having an effect on my blogging and general attitude. On to nice stuff.

Had the second BSJ class yesterday. Continued on, only made while mistake while gabbing, which is decent. It in no way resembles what the finished product will look like, and yes it is supposed to look like it does.

Some more yummy yarn came in the mail this week, I have a problem and I know it, but I couldn't help myself, and with all of the finishing that was going on, the excitement of new projects got to me and I put a whole bunch of stuff into my cart and bought it. Oh well, it'll get used. From left to right: Lorna's Laces Black Purl (can't tell how much I've been drooling over this yarn), Cherry Tree Hill Monet (gorgeous, and anyone who knows me knows I love Monet), Louet Gems Black and Canary (for some Steelers inspired anklets), Claudia Hand Painted Steelers (I mean, do see the color name? How could I possibly not buy this yarn?), and some Merino Lace that I got from KotS yesterday for my Secret of the Stole, the color is only a number, it's a lovely emeraldy green. And there on the bottom of the photo is the cutest keychain, it's a mini sock blocker. Not that I block my socks, but this was so cute, and it comes with a pattern for a mini sock that fits it. (PS - Madeleine feels it necessary to find out what's going on whenever I decide to photograph yarniness, makes her feel important and included I guess)

And, yesterday I started a new project. The long awaited Lucy bag. This also does not look like much and will in no way resemble this when it's finished, it gets felted to the point that you no longer recognize the lovely knit stitches. It's in Cascade 220, don't know what yarn color number.And I almost forgot, Baby Sarah's blanket was completed on Tuesday night - just in time to be packed to go to NJ with Ellie. Here's the finished product: It's from the Encore 8 Hour Baby Blanket pamphlet. Definitely took me more than 8 hours, but it was really quick and I liked it a lot. All future baby blankets may come from this little booklet.

This is the lovely crocheted picot edge. And dang if while doing this I didn't remember how fast crocheting can be.