whew

What a week! School kept me busier than I'm used to being. Hence the excuses for not blogging and for not being caught up on blogs! Aside from work though, I have been tending to a recovering fiancé. He had a bit of minor surgery Thursday evening and currently the meds are kicking his butt. I think if it weren't for the meds, he'd probably actually be feeling better. For about a week and a half he had been dealing with stuff and I finally talked him into going to get seen by someone come Thursday. If I had had my way in the first place, we probably would've gone someplace on Monday instead of Thursday!
At school, we had Back to School Night this past Wednesday which was exhausting to prepare for but I'm so glad it's over and done with now! We ended our busy week with both an all school walk-a-thon and a an all school picnic. Needless to say, I was wiped out during my drive home Friday after school!
There hasn't been much knitting going on since I've been so tired but I was able to finish sock 1 of 2 of my mad color weave socks. :) I think it's safe to say that this particular sock is my best fitting one I've made so far! :) It's so super warm too!
I think I'm going to have a lot of yarn leftover and I was thinking of a pair of socks possibly for the little bulldog. :) I'm going to hold off on the second sock (at least maybe until tomorrow). I want to start something new..either a hat or some fingerless gloves. We'll see.
Ahh, I forgot to post about my booty club kit I got last week. Here's a pic of my butternut squash:
I took two because I couldn't decide which photo the yarn looked best in! I love this colorway! Not sure what exactly I want to make with it just yet but I'm sure I'll come up with something.
I think I am officially burnt out on yarn purchases. I've got a few sock clubs but other than the sock clubs, it might be a while before I start making yarn purchases for myself again! I'm starting to run out of room for it all!!

rain

We have now completed eleven days of schools. Do you know that today there was a teacher appreciation luncheon prepared by the 6th grade parents? It was unbelievably delicious. I am literally still full from all that I chowed down on. Apparently, this is a monthly thing and it only gets better from here. I hear the 3rd grade parents give massages, another class gives mani/pedis, etc. What world have I stumbled into?? I'm still kind of in that, "How did I get here?" mode and I'm still trying to figure out where exactly I fit in but I know it will all come together soon. I'm sure once the kids start coming full day and we really get into our schedule, I won't be wondering anymore. To top off my day, I received an email from one of the board members of my old school asking if I'd reconsider the principal position at their school! I couldn't believe it. My curriculum director couldn't believe it herself (I just had to fwd her the email!). She wanted to email this board member and tell her to leave me alone. lol. Sigh..
It's fall now, isn't it?? lol. The teacher I do carpool with couldn't even remember when Fall began and I told him I was pretty sure it was coming up soon. Okay, I checked my calendar and apparently, Fall officially begins this Sunday. So then this rain we're having is a summer rain. But I have to tell you, this past week has been feeling very fall-like. This pic is right outside my apartment. I thought I could get a pic of the rain falling but I couldn't make it happen. So I just took a pic of the storm clouds. Am I sad that the summer is coming to a close? Not really. I think Fall would possibly be my #2 season after Spring. Though I do love the summer specifically because it means school is out and I shouldn't be working!
Here's some yarn I received from whiteoakstudio. It was a special order of the 'monk' colorway. It's so fitting for the upcoming season. :) I'm waiting on my latest shipment of the booty club. I think everyone else has already received theirs but me. :( I saw the latest colorway via Sarah's blog and it's very autumn.
Speaking of Sarah, she had a birthday this past Wednesday and this is the card I made and sent her. :) I think I'm getting better!

my first sp 11 package!

When I got home yesterday after school, a package from my sp was waiting for me! :) Here's what was inside:I received a skein of some tofutsies sock yarn, a cool knitting needle inventory, some yummy dark chocolate which is still waiting to be eaten, two skeins of some debbie bliss cashmerino aran, a denise kit (!!!!!!!!!) and the coolest thing of all are the circs in the bottom right corner. They're stretchy circular needles made specifically for socks! I had never even seen stretchy circs until yesterday! What an awesome creating. I'm super excited about the denise kit as well!! So, to my sp, thank you sooooooooooo very much for all the goodies! :)

psst..

I finished thermal yesterday!!!!!!!!!! I also finished my eyelet cardi. I cast on for sesame late last night too. :o Bad ravelry!! I've got that knitting itch..

whew

I made it back in to the yarn pirate's booty club. Yay!!!!!!!!!!! And since I'm technically a 'new' member, I just might receive some US Sizes 1 & 2 24-inch Hot-Pink Aluminum Yarn Pirate Circular Needles since Georgia just learned magic loop. :) Gosh, I was worried for nothing. Good thing I didn't have anyplace important to be! Now I can recommence working on my eyelet cardigan. :)

the unveil

I finally took the time to take a couple of pics of what my eyelet cardi is looking like these days. I finished the first sleeve this morning and will get started on the second sleeve after some tooling around online (well, at least until I've signed up for the second round of the booty club!).
I really like the look of it. Here's to hoping it looks good on as well! After I finish the second sleeve, I will have some seaming to do and then I'll have to finish the neckband and button band. :)
Have you seen the latest issue of Yarnival? I stumbled upon this darling pattern which I hope to pick up some yarn for super, super soon! It is knitted in one piece too!!
By the way, did you know that ISE5 sign-ups are under way? I'm still on the fence about signing up for this round. I'm not feelin' it like I was last time around. Maybe next time!

Second Chewy Spaghetti Shipment

Now, I know Sarah has yet to see what she received..but I don't know if she's reading my blog while she's at her parents' place. Some sad news--I didn't get to take Sarah to any cool yarn shops while she was out here. Unfortunately, she wasn't feeling well. Hope you're feeling better now!
So...here's what was in my second shipment: The soap is super cute. I love the little mints we received (though I have yet to have any!) and the sample of soak! This colorway is pretty. It is called Alluring. It's going to be even prettier all wound up. :)
Now next month, I should be receiving three sock club yarns--I signed up for a new one today. Shame on me, I know. I couldn't help it! I signed up for the tvyarn sock club. Jana is a sweetheart and after getting a look @ the 'Thelma & Louise' colorway, I'm regretting not having signed up sooner!

i owe you

I really do! Unfortunately, I have been lacking the energy to blog these days. Tuesday was the real killer. From this day forth, I will despise Tuesdays because that is the day we have our weekly staff meeting which runs from 3:30 to 5:30. It took me at least an hour to drive home because of all the traffic. Something you don't know about me--I don't do well in traffic. What kills me is the fact that I really don't live that far from school but the traffic makes it seem as though I live miles and miles away. The dumb drivers do it to me too. Did I mention all the construction that is happening around where I live as well? This was a good week though. I was actually 'alone' with my students for the first time ever (my partner's son started preschool at our sister school!) and it went well. My curriculum director said she heard it went really well-so that's good to know. Who she heard this from, I'll never know! I think we're all starting to get used to each other and the routine-though there are still many things to learn about said routine! My curriculum director came into my classroom this afternoon for our weekly curriculum meeting and I had totally forgotten to tell her that today we actually had a few students that were staying all day. So we sat and chatted and she just wanted to make sure I knew that if I ever had any problems of any kind (with my co-teacher, or whomever!) she would hope that I'd go to her so she could help me problem solve. She talked about how difficult it is to be a new teacher at our school. (Have I commented yet on how glad I actually am about not having been offered the 1st grade position??? Those kids are in the words of the teacher they did get unruly.)In a nutshell, my curriculum director doesn't want me burning out because she doesn't want to lose me. Coming into Kindergarten is my chance to learn the ropes and get my foot in the door at the school for future opportunities. She also hoped that our director hadn't scared me off as she apparently has a tendency to do that. I told her that she hadn't and I knew the place from which what she was doing was coming from so I was okay with everything. One thing I do wish was different was that I wish I could be around the rest of the school more so the other students could get to know me. That will come in time, I'm sure. On the knitting front, I have been working diligently on my eyelet cardi and I'm now to the first sleeve! Would you believe I have yet to take any pics of it yet?? (That's how tired I've been!!). I'm hoping to finish it soon so that I can wear it! I'd also like to cast on for the September sockamania socks. I already have my skeins of yarn earmarked and they're waiting to be wound! Oh-I have a big mouth. My curriculum director started a blog for our staff. Well actually, she started a blog and wants us to comment on what she posts. My big mouth mentioned to her that I have a knitting blog. Oh yeah-I was the first to respond to her post on the blog and apparently I will be acknowledged for it at our next staff meeting. :o There might be a treat involved as well--we'll see. I hope she forgets that I mentioned I have a blog!! The last thing I need is my coworkers reading my blog!! And do you remember what I said about my current school a few months back??? Oy vey. Here's another oy vey for today: I accidentally cancelled my booty club membership and now I have to sign up again tomorrow to ensure that I still have a spot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The accidental cancellation occurred because the cc that I apparently had used for the first time around has since been compromised and I had my cc company send me a new card with a brand new acct number. Fingers crossed that I get in tomorrow!

sp 11 contest

1. What is the one knitting accessory you could not live without? Currently, that would be my tape measure. Since sp 10, I've gained at least 3 more and try to carry one with me everywhere I go!

2. If you're heading on vacation, do you take knitting with you? If so, how much and what type of project? Normally I do even though I won't get too much knitting done. It's just nice to have just in case.

3. Where have you traveled to that you'd consider your favorite spot? Hmm, I don't think I have a favorite spot. 4. What is your favorite knitting book at the moment? Do you own it? No particular favorite at the moment since I've just been working off of patterns.

5. Do you listen to podcasts? Which is your favorite(s)? Nope, not a podcast listener.

6. If you could only knit with 1 color for the rest of your life, what color would that be? Yikes. Only one color for the rest of my life?? It would probably have to be green.

7. If you were far into a project and then noticed a mistake near the beginning what would you do? It would depend on what the project was and sometimes who the project is for. It all really just depends though.

8. Where is the most unsual spot you've ever knit? Um..not sure. Though I will whip out my knitting while standing and waiting places.

the aftermath

Well, I've got good news and bad news.
Good news: I finished my thujas. :)There's some discrepancy between the first sock and the second sock though. I really need to learn how to knit two socks at once so I don't have this problem anymore!!
Bad news: I tried to work on thermal. I seamed up the part of the second sleeve that hadn't been seamed up all the way yet. I tried the blasted thing on even though it was like 90 degrees inside the apt. and it still bunches up. It's going to have to wait until it starts cooling down here.

So in the meantime, I dropped by Unwind (where it was at least 15 degrees hotter than where I live!) over the weekend and picked up some yarn for my eyelet cardigan. :)
I also received all of this in the mail: Allow me to introduce you to rock lobster brought to you by sereknity.
Here's some shibui knits in Midnight.
And last but not least, some all things heather in deep raspberry. More to come shortly! :)