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.

No time

No time to write a real post. Just dropping by to let you know that the Pampas stole was finished, and blocked. See?
All done, well, except for the sewing in of 2 measly little ends. And when that's done, I'll get better photos. Busy day today - have lacrosse this afternoon (fingers crossed that the thunderstorms hold off until after the games are over) followed by the annual Derby Party! Need to go scout some horses.

So close. Seriously, so close to being done:
I know, it's been a while since you've seen the stole. But that's because it didn't get worked on for so long, due to distractions. But now, it's almost done. As in, I should finish it in the next couple of days. As in it should be blocked by the end of next week. O. M. G.

So most knitting was brought to a halt for all of last week, cue to a secret project. That can now be revealed.
Sunday was Miss Aubrey's birthday party. Yay for cake. She showed the restraint that her brothers did not and ate the cake from a fork. No messy cake photos this time.

So I had the brilliant idea to make her a fairy doll. Super cute pattern, she likes baby dolls, and it's not boring clothes. Awesome idea. Except that I had the stroke of brilliance exactly one week prior to the party. So from Monday on, it was kind of crazy. And with the big track meet on Saturday (for the record, I don't think that track meets should be run when it's snowing outside, it's really just not a good situation for anyone, can't tell you how many kids ran and pulled muscles, or didn't run so that they wouldn't pull muscles - makes for a really crappy meet) time was kind of short. But she got done, a little late, but done.
And she's really cute, and Miss A seemed to like her, so I count it as a win.

So, since the track meet was really cold (and I mean REALLY cold, it was snowing off and on and windy) I got nothing done. Couldn't read because of the wind, and couldn't knit because my fingers would have fallen off. But since then I've gotten a little further on my sock:
About halfway through the foot at this point, so it won't be much longer. Which is good, as I'm trying to get the pair finished up by the end of the month.

Speaking of finishing, I blocked the Caricia finally. And took some pictures yesterday.
On the pins.
Off the pins. So pretty. The crab apple is in full bloom, complete with the heady fragrance that hits you as soon as you walk outside.
I got some more prize yarn, although the one skein is out in my car, so you'll see that later.
A sweaters worth of the white Irish wool for a traditional fisherman's sweater. Can't wait for that one. And then the alpaca to go with the colored stuff I showed in the last post.

I'll leave you with spring in NE Ohio. I had some time yesterday before work, and decided to take a walk in the woods. Opted for the Wild flower path, but they're not in full bloom yet, maybe next week.
Still more brown than green, but it's getting there. And I don't know what happened to the poor tree in the last photo, but it looked cool.

Lots of knitting type stuff

Alright, onto knitting. Things have been kind of nutso around here, so I feel like there hasn't been much done to show. Tommy came home for a very quick stay last weekend and there's been a sporting event every night for the last two weeks. Tomorrow is Hell Day (aka the Big Evil Horrible Track Meet of Doom, aka the worst day of my year), we'll see how it goes.

So, I nearly finished the Atlantis socks on the NC trip. Was part way through the ribbing before it go too dark to knit anymore in the car. So they got finished the next day.
I really like how they turned out. Wow, my ankles look skinny in that photo. Huh.
The detail, is kind of hard to see, but I think it works really well with the colors. I almost finished the Caricia shawl on the trip too. Had started the final repeat while watching some Final Four basketball with the Prints.
It's done now, just needs grafted and blocked. Hopefully I'll do that Sunday, if I have the time and inclination after Miss Aubrey's birthday party (seriously can't believe that she's 1 already).

Onto some recent acquisitions. In honor of our trip to DC, I got Ellie and I some special yarn:
Colorway is "National Cherry Blossom Festival", from Destination Yarns. Seriously so pretty. Now to figure out what to make with it.

And remember that sweet little Irish doll I made for Kaylee? Well, it won a big huge prize over in a competition on Ravelry, and the prizes have started to roll in.
2 skeins of some very lovely Irish wool, a book of short stories, some nice soap and a skein of handspun inspired by the scenery of Northern Ireland.
Pretty sweet. More stuff will be coming in shortly, as a bunch of the prizes were gift vouchers and I had to pick what I wanted.
I ordered those 3 skeins to go with some other yarn that hasn't come in yet for a particular shawl, well, it'll end up being several shawls, but details get in the way. It's DROPS Delight, and I can't wait to see how it works up.

I started another sock, a re-do. I tried the same yarn/pattern combo when the pattern first came out a couple of years ago but it was too small. This time is much better.
Spring Forward from Knitty, with Lorna's Laces in "Somerset" purchased way back on my trip to Philly in '08. It's going with me to the track meet tomorrow.

Last up, I'm in the planning phase of a big shawl. Trying to figure out which beads to order and what not.
That's the swatch, with 4 different beads on it. Currently the blue ones are my favorite, but I can't really say why.

I think that's about it. I'm not very interesting this week. Wish me luck with surviving tomorrow, or maybe just not ending up in a straight jacket.

Spring Break

Or the closest I've come to one in a good long while. *Note - to get the full story of the weekend, you really need the pictures from both mine and Ellie's camera, but I've only got mine, so I'll do the best I can.*

Thursday, Ellie and I set out on our road trip. Headed south to North Carolina for Tommy's homecoming. We started off well, and things were great, until about 8:30pm. That's when we stopped at Rite Aid for cold meds, and I ended up locking the keys in the car. And an hour later, we were finally back on the road, which means that we ended up at the Print's house about 11:30p.

Friday morning, we hung out with Mr. Print before heading off to the base.
Note the sign - "Pardon our Noise - it's the sound of Freedom". We waited in front of the barracks for a few hours, good people watching time, and I knit on the second Atlantis sock. But finally, we saw this:
Can you see him? He's conveniently on the end, looking all skinny.
Finally home. And ready to celebrate.
First up on most of the returning Marines agendas was a trip to El Cerra's. They did restrain themselves though, jumbo instead of Monster Margaritas. Slightly tricky to order, seeing as it was Good Friday. See the plethora of goodness that everyone got with what they ordered?
And here's what you get when you order a cheese quesadilla.
How sad is that? It was good, just very sad and pitiful looking.
I'm not sure what look Ellie was going for here.... and how come I got the ghetto sombrero? Oh well, as you can see, good times.
Saturday, we went and retrieved Tommy (that's Ellie's favorite sign on base), and looked for an Italian restaurant, per his request. Didn't find one, so we went and had pizza with the Prints. And then hung out, watching some Final Four basketball. Jet lag soon got to Tommy, so we headed out, with stops at Wally World and DQ.

Sunday, being Easter, meant Mass - at the church close to base. Then mimosas and breakfast back at the homestead.
Obligatory family photo. We had a mostly leisurely weekend. Which was so nice. The pine pollen kept us from spending more time outside (it was seriously coming off the trees in clouds across the 8th green, which is the Print's back yard). And then we took Tommy back, said good bye reluctantly, and hit the road once more.
View of New Bern as we left. We headed north, towards DC. Hit wicked traffic outside of Fredericksburg (moral of the story - avoid 95 in Fredericksburg at all costs, this isn't the first time we've had trouble there). But eventually arrived in DC.
Some lovely blurry night photos of the monuments for your enjoyment. And then we proceeded to get lost looking for the hotel. Which, in fact, wasn't really all that close to Dupont Circle as it was advertised (seriously, where the frick is North Hampshire?!). Eventually, we did find it, amazingly without the help of the GPS (bad Maggie).

Monday morning dawned with jack hammers pounding, that's what you get with a swanky hotel obviously. But soon we headed out. And having used bing maps, I can say that we walked 10 miles that day, I have the blisters to prove it too. So first up, where else but the President's House?
And then past all the folks there for the Egg Roll - oi, lots of kiddos running around hopped up on peeps and jelly beans. Then the Washington Monument.
Bigger than I remember it being. But then again, the last time I was there sight seeing, I was 8, and my memory isn't all that great of that day.
The views each way from the WM. Then we headed off to see Mr. Lincoln.
Hello Mr. Lincoln! Then a rather silly picture from atop the steps.
Hehe. Couldn't help ourselves. Then, because it was closer to the cherry blossoms, we walked over to the Korean War Memorial.
Yeah, the kid got in the way the last second and I didn't realize it until later when I looked through the pictures. Oh well. We stumbled across the National Tulip Library in bloom (who knew we even had a Tulip Library?)
We were lucky enough to hit DC during the Cherry Blossom Festival. It was beautiful.
Loving the fact that it was so gorgeous, warm and sunny and all spring like, seeing as the drive through Ohio saw very few buds on trees at all, let alone flowers.
That's as close as we got to Mr. Jefferson. Why is he so far away? Anyways, back towards the Mall, to head up to the Capitol.
Lots of views of the WM, it seems to be everywhere, which is kind of neat.
So yeah, few issues with pictures at the Capitol, including a school group and an unsightly crane. Oh well.
There's that WM again, seriously, can't avoid it. Then we headed down the other side of the Mall, made a quick pit stop to see the Hope Diamond:
Some kid was overheard saying "I thought it would be ginormous or something, it's kind of small." Can't wait til he goes diamond ring shopping someday.
We saw the original Star Spangled Banner, but photography wasn't allowed in the exhibit, so you get the shiny display outside instead. Then it was off to the First Ladies exhibit. Pretty dresses.
Martha Washington's dress.
One of Jackie Kennedy's gowns. Sadly the wait for the pop culture wing was too long for us, so we saw the curtain dress:
or at least the Carol Burnett version of Scarlet O'Hara's dress. And the most detailed doll house I've ever seen.
That's not even all of it, it wouldn't all fit in the frame.
The gunboat Philadelphia, which was sunk somewhere, I don't know where, I didn't read the placards. I know, bad museum goer me.
George Washington's uniform.
The chairs from Appomattox Courthouse.
A piece of the Berlin Wall. And then we left. And the blisters began. Headed back to the hotel to pick up the car and head home.
See all the people still hanging out at the Egg Roll? 6 hours later? By this point, the kiddos were all having meltdowns as we passed them.

I don't have any pictures from the drive home. We took a quick little tour of Georgetown, and then hung out in traffic on 270. Eventually took a "scenic" tour of Cumberland, WV and then more traffic on 79, and finally home at 2:30am. A very long, but very good day. A knitting post will be coming soon. Hope everyone had a great Easter!