knitting and reggae

I am officially DONE with my junior year! And have started senior year with three nursing classes and ceramics. Just for a change of pace. And any excuse to get messy is alright in my book. So, now there are only 2 semesters left. That's right. In eight short months, I will be a graduate. Soon thereafter, I will pass the NCLEX (the nursing equivalent of the boards) and then, officially, will be a nurse. Saving lives one bedpan at a time. We really do more than that. Really.

Now that this semester is done, I've got time off before fall semester starts on Aug. 25th. I spent a week at home and came back to Portland with Gracie, one of my favorite people. We had a great weekend that consisted of a Matisyahu concert (a reggae artist who happens to be Jewish), the Saturday Market, and shopping. And while on this escapade, we passed a yarn store. Close Knit on NE Alberta. And that, my friends, is a dangerous store. A swirling vortex, you might say. I get lost in the walls full of yarn, dressers full of needles, bookshelves of knitting patterns. And in this vortex, I bought two balls of yarn. There is a happy ending though (meaning that usually I buy yarns because they're pretty and I have grand plans for these balls, but their fate is often to lie at the bottom of my box of yarn. Forgotten. I apologize to them, any of whom I have offended or hurt.). The happy ending for the Taos yarn is a pair of fingerless gloves I saw at Close Knit and modified to suit this yarn. I started them Aug. 7 and finished them the next day! And the Rowan Felted Tweed will be made into a hat. Eventually. After I finish the other UFO’s (unfinished objects), one sweater and a blanket.

As far as finished patterns go, I have made humongous, mind-blowing progress on multiple items: Marika with Silky Wool, Taos fingerless mittens (pattern will be posted soon), Guinan hat with Brown Sheep Top of the Lamb, a crocheted Totoro for neighbor Maggie, 14 months old, and finally a basic hat formulated with Ann Budd’s Handy Book of Patterns. I simply cannot begin to say how thrilled I am that I spent my month off knitting and knitting and knitting. All the while watching smut on TV and innumerable movies. Since I have finished these lovely objects, I of course have to start on some other patterns and I have them all lined up:

Urchin hat by Ysolde Teague, will be made with Himalayas Queensland Collection yarn in color 11, Bubble Pullover by Norah Gaughan in Knitting Nature

As for the lack of posts in the last month, my only excuse is that I was lazy. And a procrastinator. And busy with knitting. Can you tell where my priorities are?

Another update on my step-sister: she had surgery July 29 and was in the hospital for a week and a half for an infection. She was sent home (without antibiotics. if anyone can explain this, please do), got another infection, came to Portland again for a few more days, then went back home. She is doing well, per the last report. Her husband and son have been with her through it all, but my stepmom and I thought they needed a break and managed to steal them away for a few hours to go to the zoo. Since my nephew is only 2 1/2, he wanted to go to the dinosaur exhibit and see the T-Rex. We went and saw the T-Rex (life-size, of course. And robotic. And completely real to a 2 1/2 year old) and it made for a great photo op. I am trying to figure out the layout of these posts, so I will post another entry with all these pictures, knitting FO’s, Matisyahu, and Kyler and Bion (nephew and stepbrother).