In a Nutshell

Here's an attempt at an update on my neglected blog:

1. new house
2. new baby (WIP - due May)
3. new school year

tired lady....

I'll see if I can get to this more often :) for now.... happy holidays!
(Best Christmas Card EVER!)

Picture Time!

When I left this morning I told Gabby that her job for the day was to make the rain go away.  Lo and Behold, I park in my driveway after a torrential downpour on rt 495 and the heavens opened up.  I don't know how she did it, but "Mission Accomplished!" 

In honor of the LOVELY evening that followed, I grilled up some "smart dogs", sweet potato slices, and green beans.  We sat outside and enjoyed the meal in the sunshine.  I also got to take some pictures of my newly spun and plied yarn.

Here is the superwash BFL  in "Citrus Sherbet" - super soft and squishy.  I have about 350 yards in DK-ish weight (2 ply).  I think she will become a small shawl.

 

And here is the lovely merino from the batt I bought in Mystic.  It is from "Other Kingdoms" and its exact composition is 65% merino, 30% horned dorset and 5% sari silk.  It is about 1.5oz and I got about 185yds in a fingering weight  (2 ply as well).  

Hopefully I'll get a few more pictures taken this weekend.  Some of the Asterope and Mary Jane.  We'll see.  Happy weekend! 

Delinquent Blogger

We all knew (and by "we" I really mean "me" because almost no one reads this yet) that this blogging this would have to take a back seat during the crazy spring season.  And by golly, it has taken a seat right in the trunk! We are in the last stretch of the school year and with the spring mayhem starting to finally end, I am back.  (Well, at least for now.)

I am not going to fool myself into thinking that I can update everything that has happened in the last 2 months.  I've spun some, knit some, played some, and worked lots. I don't have any pictures today, but will post them at some point.  (maybe....)

garden plot dress

Here are some highlights:

1. Garden plot dress - frogged  (I didn't like the way the yarn looked.  It wasn't even and though it draped beautifully, I wasn't happy with it.
2. Asterope Shawl by Romi - On my!  lovely, lovely lovely!    I'm really looking forward to knitting the other shawls from her book "7 Small Shawls"
3. New socks! - One complete plain vanilla pair for me and in the process of making a pair of "Blueberry Waffle Socks" for Marcie.  (a la Meghan from "Stitch It!")
4. Mary Jane - done and done!  I have worn this so many times since completing it.  LOVE IT!  Made out of Berroco vintage DK
5. Spinning! - spun up some awesome superwash BFL in a colorway I'm happily calling "Citrus Sherbet".  I also bought some batts when we went to Mystic, CT for a short trip in April.  Right now I'm working with a blend of merino and sari recycled silk and nylon bits.  Its main colors are a purplish pink and seafoam-y green.  The silk and nylon bits are every color under the sun.  I'm spinning it very fine on my spindle and I can't wait to ply it up.  

OK - and now my BIG BIG news!

I BOUGHT A WHEEL!  

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

It is an Ashford Scholar M2 and should be here next week all the way from Washington State!  I am so excited!  I've been on cloud nine all day!

I'll be sure to update when the wheel comes in and I attempt to spin on it for the first time.  Should be interesting to say the least.  I'm just happy to have it just in time for summer!

Never Enough Time

I am looking forward at this week next couple of weeks the next month in semi-dread.

There are always weeks in the life of a music teacher where you look down the calendar from Monday and say to yourself "if I can only get through this week..."  I'm feeling "if I can only get through the next month..".  But I know, realistically, that that only gets me to April vacation and then it is crazy-time for two months after that as well.  

It's not the work that needs to get done nor the preparation.  It's the time away from home.  I love my job.  I love working with music and I love seeing the students put together their performances.  I just hate being away from Chris and Gabby.  Coming home from work and tip-toeing into her room to kiss my angel goodnight even though she's already asleep breaks my heart.  I look forward to my weekends and (too few and far between) vacations where we can be "home like a family" (in Gabby's words).  

I wish that folks could understand this side of a music teacher's life.  The side that is passionate about her job and her students, but is torn apart thinking about her family and having to choose between seeing her loved ones and offering opportunities to students.  

So, looking down this calendar week with the four days of rehearsal and show on Friday - all I see is Saturday when I can wake up with my Goo-Bear and breathe a sigh of relief that it's one week down... (umpteen to go...)

*sigh.

Time for All-State

I just returned from Day 1 of MMEA's All-State Conference at the Boston Seaport Hotel and World Trade Center.  I attended with mixed feelings this year.   (1) My school system couldn't pay for us to go - so I had to shell out the dough this year ... (2) I didn't have any students accepted into the ensembles (major bummer) ... (3) The sessions didn't really peak my interest... Needless to say, I wasn't jazzed (sorry...) about going.

But, I had to keep in my mind that it isn't about the sessions - it's about the people.  It was really lovely being able to attend sessions, have lunch, and just sit and talk with the other teachers from my school district.  I don't think we've ever been given the luxury of that much time to connect!  It was also amazing seeing everyone that I miss from URI and BoCo.  It was the first All-State, though, that I didn't have Denise and Gary to enjoy with.  It definitely wasn't the same without them! 

I went to four sessions today - "Emergency Repairs for the Band Teacher" (meh...  but did inspire me to take a trip to Home Depot), "The Heart of the Big Band: The Rhythm Section" (AMAZING student performers and snagged some Vic Firth stickers for my percussionists), the keynote speaker (where I was able to cast on and knit 1/2 a sock), and "High School Choral Reading Session" (where I further did damage to my already fried, hurting, tired, sick vocal cords...I really need to take time to get better from this cold from hell.)  Tomorrow I think I will only get to one session ("Vocal Jazz Lit") and maybe get to some shopping done at the exhibits. 

I have to say I was attempted to skip the convention when I first drove up, though.  There, almost like a beacon, from atop of the convention center was the banner:

 

http://craftboston.org/index.asp

 Wahhhh? 

Downstairs from the music ed folks and the sessions that I wasn't too crazy about is a craft show?  How did this happen?

I am happy to report that I did not wander... I did not go to the craft show... 

(only because it was closing for the day by the time I tried to... tomorrow is another day!)

In other news, here is the finished Corriedale:

Now I just need a project!

230 yds of love

Ahhh!  Spinning success!

The Corriedale has behaved beautifully!  I was able to spin about 230 yds fingering-ish weight from the 2.5oz I pulled out of the bag.  

I wanted it to be thin, so I plied it with thread instead of doubling it up.  So, here it is all plied up in its pretty-ness:

Then it was time for the bath:

Now it's in the dye-pot soaking up some light purple dye and looking very happy:

Post-dye pictures to come soon.

:)

Long Time No See

It's been awhile.  This being the first chance I've gotten to sit down and blog, I feel like I want to update on a million things.  Instead, I'll interview myself about what's been happening in hopes to link seemingly unrelated things together...  hopefully it's not too cheesy.  

First - let me start with some "THANK YOU'S!" Thank you for finding my blog! I hope all of you that stopped by come again and say "hi".   Thank you Katelain and Carol for commenting!  Made my day!  

Why are you blogging at 8:30am on a Monday?

At a crazy weekend running and co-hosting the Sr. SEMSBA festival I started coming down with a nasty cold "thing".  I got some rest yesterday - got some sunshine, some vitamin D, some running around with Gabby and Faith - but today the cold has settled into my chest and the coughing and wheezing has me thinking that I need to get myself to the Dr's.  So, before they open, I'm resting and have some time to sit and write.  I'm kicking myself for getting sick since it's also All-State week and I'm going to be out for two other days this week.  But, when your body says "rest" - you must rest.

How was your birthday?

It was,in a word, FANTASTIC.  I got those sweet messages when I got into work. Later in the day at rehearsals, my Rhythmix Gals were all late for rehearsal - just as I got frustrated, they all walked in with a cake and flowers for me and sang (as they always do) beautifully!  Then, I got to go home to my amazing family and my excited daughter.  Though Chris and Gabby hugs and kisses are gifts enough to me, they blew my mind with a Cricket Loom for me to start learning to weave!  It is FANTASTIC!  

Weaving, huh? 

Oh yeah!  It is tough to be a beginner again at something.  I decided to take Kelley Petkun's advice from her podcast on "Overcoming Mistakes" (episode 154).  One sentence that struck me was insuring that when you start, don't focus on a PROJECT.  Just go through the process and learn.  So, I've been processing with a lot of stash yarn and playing with techniques and colors to practice, practice, practice.  What has come out, I've been calling "doll scarves" and "dish cloths". :)  I'll post pictures when I'm ready to show off. :) 

How's the knitting?

Since I've been weaving, knitting took a bit of a backseat.  Since I really only have a few hours a day, the new toy got my attention. But, I got back to work this week on my two projects. 

Gabby's Garden Plot Dress 

I was VERY excited when I finished, what I thought was, the skirt of the dress last night.  Then, as I began reading the next section "with smaller cir needle, K72 front skirt panel, (pm), K72 back skirt panel" ... BACK SKIRT PANEL?  wahhhh?  Looking back to the beginning on the instructions, I see it - "SKIRT PANEL (make 2)".  UGH!  I was so ready to begin the body... and now I'm having "Second Half of Skirt Syndrome" (SHoSS)?  I even was thinking of ripping out the whole thing and saying "the hell with it".  But then I picked up the first half of the skirt, swung it around a couple of times, could picture Gabby in it spinning and dancing....  and started the second picot cast on.  

Mary Jane

This has been the easier of the two to work on.  I have finished the raglan shaping and now have begun the "snake skin" pattern on the body.  I really like this pattern and its simplicity.  

(note - white dog hair...  can never avoid it...  thanks Faith)

Any Spinning?

In fact, yes.  After the bamboo fiasco, I spun some nice, tame, undyed, Corriedale.  I'm spinning it a little thicker than usual and it's soft and lovely.    

Ahh... much better...

Anything else to add?

Gabby is super awesome.  She has enlightened us on a few things:

1. Broccoli not only makes your bones strong, "it makes your dreams come true"

2. "A whole world is in a drop of water.  You can't see it, but it's there"

3. Pea shoots are the best food on the planet.

And, there you have it. :) 

Happy Birthday to Me

It's my birthday.  I always look forward to this day with anticipation of exciting things.  This year, turning 31, I've been more "meh" about the whole thing.  Knew it would happen some day...

My students, however, were very excited to find out that today was my birthday.  As a result, I walked into my classroom and found this  on the floor as I left my office:

(My students are the ones that named me "Fern" from my last name.  It has become one of my favorite nicknames ever.)

I then turned on the lights to my classroom and saw this on my white board:

Made my morning very bright.  This continued with my chorus singing to me and the same two students popping their heads in my class at the beginning of every period to say "happy birthday".  They really are a very sweet bunch.

Now I just have some amazing rehearsals to attend to after school and then get to drive home to be with Gabby and Chris.  I'm looking forward to be being home, but it's nice to know that they like me here, too. :)  

The Weekend Update

I was afraid that when I went back to work that I would neglect this blog.  Realistically, I figured that I will only be able to post once a week.  I can live with that. 

A knitting update:

Gabby's dress (rav link) has been in hibernation this week.  It is definitely not a traveling project and by the time I get home, make and eat dinner, get Gabby to bed, and finish any lesson planning my brain just hasn't been able to focus on it.  I hope I can get it done by the summer, at least!

As for my DK project, I found the Mary Jane Top in the Twist Collective by Rachel Bishop and Sarah Johnson of Zephyr Style (rav link). So far, so good.  I've done about 75% of the raglan shaping and will be dividing for sleeves soon.  It's perfect travel knitting (for now) and I got a lot done on our journeys yesterday (more on that in a bit!) and while watching Gabby at gymnastics.

(It wanted to pose for you) 

In spinning news - there is none.  I attempted spinning the bamboo.  It spun.  It looked like poop.  I threw it out.  The end.  I have a bit of the spinning bug today, so perhaps I'll take out some nice, sane, BFL.  We'll see what the day holds.

In everything else, things are back to busy life after vacation.  Work was nutty, but it is nice to be back with the troops making music.  I really do have the best job in the world with the best students in the world. :)

We went on a journey yesterday to IKEA.  It's about a 40 minute trek - not too bad from home.  We went for a new mirror for our living room.  (I came home Monday to find our old mirror shattered on the floor with our very acrobatic and curious cat looking guilty in our bedroom. (No one was hurt in the process, just a big mess to clean.) Anyway, we trek to Stoughton and get to IKEA to buy a mirror.  Going through the marketplace we see that the bathroom set that we had pined over (Lillangen) is marked as "LAST CHANCE" and 25% off.  We had no plans of redoing the cabinets in our bathroom until the floor was fixed, but we instantly worried that this "perfect" set wouldn't be available anymore.  So, to make a long story short, the trip for a $50 mirror turned into a $700 trip with all of our furntiure for the bathroom in boxes in the attic until the floor is done.  I guess it's motivation to finish the project!

Vacation comes to an end

It's Sunday night - last night of vacation.  I'm trying to squeeze as much out as possible before the craziness begins again tomorrow.  We enjoyed a nice veggie lasagna and homemade garlic bread for dinner followed by a lazy evening all together. 

I got a quite a few rows done on the Garden Plot Dress (rav. link) tonight and also frogged the work on the Ruched Yoke Tee.  After joining the tee in the round, I realized that the yarn was just too warm and poofy for this type of top.  I think cotton or linen is a much better way to go.  I'm not going to buy anything until Gabby's dress is done, so it's on the back burner.

So, now I have 1100 yards of nice dk weight vintage and am searching for a simple project for it.  Suggestions anyone?

Tomorrow I'm back to lesson plan, score prep, and administration work.  Busy Busy... teaching pitch placement in theory, continuing work on our "through the eras" concert in chorus and band and always preparing for concerts! 

I hope I can keep things up!

Inspiration found!

Thank you Spring 2011 Interweave Knitting!

I had a lovely trip to Eva's on Wednesday and, though it took me awhile, I found that spark I needed to get going!  It was in Interweave's newly released spring edition.  Leafing through I fell in love with most of the patterns.  Here are some of note (plus the two I cast on!):

Heliotropic Pullover by Mercedes Tarasovich-Clark

"spirals delicate texture along the yoke of a simply shaped tee with a generous, fluid silhouette."

I definitely want to make this.  Perfect spring top! 

Garden Plot Dress  by Victoria Meyers

"contrasts colors and lace blocks to create a swingy dress fit for any garden party"

I INSTANTLY fell in love with this. This pattern got me back to knitting right away. Gabriella MUST have this dress! 

I had plenty of comfy sport from Knit Picks to make it and cast it on right away.  

I normally stay away from intarsia, but I love the way this is done.  In between the color blocks and lace blocks there is one stitch done with both colors.  It makes a faux seam of reverse stockinette.  I love it!

Moving on....

I will definitely look to cast on the Rose Lace Stole by Susanna IC as well as the Pinkerton Shawl by Susan Dittrich.  But right now, I'm taking a break from accessories. 

Ruched Yoke Tee by Annelena Mattison was the next piece that I instantly cast on.  To make this piece even more awesome - there's a kid's size too!  So, when I'm done with mine, I'll cast on for Gabby's!  

I bought some Berroco Vintage DK in color 2184.  It's purple with flecks of blue and red and gold.  BEAUTIFUL!

It was perfect driving knitting for yesterday when we took a trip up to Boston to bring Gabby to the Children's Museum. 

So, I'm busy (and happy) again!  I have the perfect "thinking" project with the dress and a simpler "cruise control" project with the tee.  AND - more in line when those are done!

Yippppeeee! 

Uninspired

I am completely uninspired. This is the first time in almost a year that my needles are completely bare. I spent the day yesterday trying to find some inspiration. Went though my books, magazines, ravel'ed forever and ... Nothing.

I'm going to try a trip to Eva's...  usually good for inspiration (and stash augmentation!)

Btw- bamboo fiber dyed wonderful... Dried like crap. I think the whole rest of the bamboo is going to stuffing toys!

Adventures!

We're on February vacation here in the Fern household.  Keeping Gabby (and me!) occupied has been quite the task!  

Last night we decided to have a "camp-in" in the living room.  Our adventure began with a trip to purchase camping supplies at the grocery store:

veggie dogs & buns

veggie chili

baked beans

and, of course, s'mores supplies!

We decked out the living room with the air mattress, sleeping bags, and draped the ceiling with bed sheets for our "tent". We then ate our camp food, made microwave s'mores and watched movies.  It was a fun night that ended with a very tuckered out Gabby.  :)  

This morning:

After clearing the "site" we have been off to our regular routines! 

I did get some knitting done yesterday.  Gabby got her "Monster Mitts" that she requested after seeing my "Soujourn Mitts"

momma's mitts:

Gabby's!

(I think she likes them!)

This morning I decided to make a second attempt at spinning and dying bamboo.  I'm not hopeful in the dying category.  We'll see....

Spinning is going a little better - still lumpy and bumpy.  I don't enjoy spinning bamboo, but I feel guilty that I have all this fiber, and am not spinning it... 

yuck.

If everybody else is doing it...

I decided that it was time to start a blog. 

(I'm not sure what indicates the time to start a blog.)

I've actually just started reading them after a long time away and thought - if everyone else can write a blog, I guess I can too.  

So, it begins.

Why now?

Recently I've stopped the facebooking habit I began a few years ago.  I've been off the page since November of last year.  After checking and re-checking the site and building my list of 200+ "friends" I realized that I couldn't/didn't want to keep up with it any more. Peeking at my profile after 4 months away, I have too much to catch up on than I'm willing to do. 

I do miss status updates though.  I'm afraid that if I post again, not only will I start the habit all over, but will also get a bunch of "where have you been?"s that I don't want to deal with.  So - I'm starting this instead.

Besides being more anonymous, I think this is a more focused endeavor while still being ego-fulfilling, of course.  

What will I post?

I haven't quite decided.  Probably updates on knitting projects, family goings on, interesting music ed musings, and other random things that peek my interest.  For now, I'll keep it at this.

Here goes nothing.