Frantic Knitting!

One of my co-workers was expecting her first baby the first week in November. Surprise, surprise! She went into labor and had a baby boy on Thursday. Was he really that early; I think not, because he weighed seven pounds and was 21 inches long. Pretty big for a preemie.

Now I am frantically knitting the baby sweater and hat that I thought I could leisurely knit over the next month. I will post pictures when I have finished it.

View From My Window

I may have mentioned that our school is located in a wonderful wooded area. This beautiful fellow was right outside my 6th grade classroom window. The quality is not great because this was taken with a camera phone, but you get the idea. He has a rack (antlers); the kids told me he was a 4-point. It is amazing to look up and see deer, squirrels, chipmunks, and birds on the other side of the window glass. It certainly makes for many teachable moments.

KNITTING

I have finished one of the Jitterbug socks and have started the second. I am using a simple toe-up, stockinette foot and k2,p2 ribbing for the leg and cuff.

I must begin to work on the christening gown again. Baby Girl #2 will be here in about 6 weeks. Her mom has once again changed her mind about a name for the baby. Amelia has suggested Iguana, but she didn't like her daddy's shortening it to Iggy. She told him that was not a pretty name. Apparently she thought Iguana was.

Teaching Little Knitters

Tomorrow will be the first meeting of the year for our school knitting club. I have no idea how many kids will show up for our 8:00 A.M. meeting. I am prepared, though. I purchased some Wool-ease Thick & Quick and some large size needles for the children who may not have had time to get their own.

I really enjoy helping these young ones learn to knit. Sometimes we even get parents who want to learn. One of the moms is bringing muffins and juice (although I will probably need coffee) for an early morning treat.

Back Again

Sorry for the long delay in posting. I had a somewhat rocky beginning to the school year. I spent countless hours trying to come up with plans to accomodate a special needs child into our school, but it was all for nothing. He was sent to a public school before I could implement the plans. I hope the poor little guy is able to make a smooth transition. I don't like admitting defeat!

There has been some knitting going on, and I even have a picture for you today. Here is an almost completed sock with the lovely and colorful Jitterbug yarn in the Mardi Gras colorway.



No, that is not a picture of me holding the sock, that is my daughter Shelly. Oh, if only I were that slim and trim!

No Time

Just a quick post to say that I am still around. The opening weeks of school have kept me very busy. We have a child with special needs this year. I have been very involved in trying to find ways our school can accommodate this child. I will post more when things have settled a bit more.

WOW!

WOW! Susan has nominated me! My students occasionally tell me that I rock (usually when I refrain from giving them homework), but I don't think I have ever had another adult say it. Susan also gave me some encouraging words which I also greatly appreciate.

Now it is my turn to nominate someone. I choose Marete (Knititch). She lives in Denmark and knits glorious, complicated looking Nordic sweaters (among other things). She is also a teacher and has begun a new job this year. Rock on, Marete!

Easy Come, Easy Go

Last Tuesday I received insurance benefits from my mother's death last year. I had planned to use some of it to pay off a home equity loan that she and I had taken out in the 1990's. Then I was looking forward to having a little cushion of money, just enough to keep the wolf from the door. Right.

I payed the remainder owing on the loan on Wednesday. On Friday, my poor old car began to make a strange knocking sound. The diagnosis: an almost thrown rod. In short, the knocking was a death rattle. Now, the car has been a good one. I bought it new in December of 1995. It has taken me many places with no major repairs. It owes me nothing.

My daughter and I walked from the car repair place about a mile to a local car dealership where we spent my small cushion of money on a down payment on a nice used car. After all was said and done, even though my cushion dwindled to $32.82 (yeah, we really cut it close!), I was grateful that it happened this week instead of last week -- we would have been stuck with no transportation. I think my mom is still looking out for me! By the way, she would have loved this car. It is a lovely dark blue Chrysler Sebring with all the bells and whistles, including a sun roof. And it has a working air conditioner!

Knitting News

I have finished the front of the christening gown (Oh, we now have a name; the new baby will be Charlotte, so Amelia talks about Baby Charlotte, instead of Baby Whosie). I am very pleased with the way this pattern is turning out. It is very pretty without being too frou-frou. I am still waiting to get a cable so I can show you pictures. Maybe I can do that later today.

I have started a short shawl for a dear friend who has been diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing chemo. I wanted something truly soft and warm and comforting like a hug from a friend. I found some perfect yarn at Jo-Ann's. It is their Sensations brand Bellezza Collection Dolcetto, a wool/nylon/cotton blend, that is wonderfully soft and lofty. I am using a very simple pattern in garter stitch. I hope to have the shawl finished before she has to go for her next chemo session. Isn't it a comfort that we can put our hopes and prayers for a friend into a tangible item?