Mid-term exams

Things I like about giving in-class midterms:

(Swallowtail Shawl in Posh Yarn Sophia. 9 repeats down.)



Things that are not as much fun:
(16 students x 7 identifications = 112 ids, 16 essays, and up to 48 extra credit answers. That's a lot of grading time--I'd rather spend it knitting!)

100

I've put off this post for a while, because it's my 100th post. And for some reason, I think that breaking into three digits should have a post that's in some way . . . extraordinary.

But I got nothin', so I'm going with a normal FO kind of post. Except--yipee! 100.

There has been some finishing:

The more-titling-than-waving socks, based on the Waving Lace pattern from IK's Favorite Socks, complete with my own incorporated screw up that we're calling a design element. US size 1.5 needles, from Knit Picks, magic looped. The yarn is a very yummy Sundara sock yarn in Electric Pear, which I scored on the Ravelry ISO/Destash forum.

Overall, this was a pretty easy knit. I like the mods I made, albeit unintentionally, but if I were to do it again, I'd either go down a needle size, or stick with the original patter--these are a little loose.

And a second FO: Meet Ollie.



Ollie is a super cute elephant, made using Susan Anderson's free Elefante pattern (scroll down; it's on the sidebar). I love this pattern--I'm very happy with the way it came out. He was a very big hit at the baby shower I made him for.

This was my first real attempt at crochet, so the ears took me much longer than I think they should have, but since they're adorable, I"m not going to complain. Next time it won't take nearly as long--and there will definitely be a next time. Maybe soon. Maybe nephew #2 needs an elefante. Maybe in green.

This is my favorite shot of him, looking all shy and adorable:

N if for . . .

Our new Nikon D-40

which takes really beautiful pictures! We got the camera, complete with fancy-schmancy lenses with vibration reduction, so that when DH goes on his research trips, he can take lots of photos and show me what he's up to.

I'm not sure I'm willing to give it up, though. :)

I fought the law (and the law won)

The law in question? Gravity. Our dispute regarded the speed with which I was descending the stairs--too slow, it seems, for gravity's liking, and so gravity gave me a bit of a push.

My ankle didn't like that much at all, though. I've always sort of thought that it might be nice to be laid up with something like a twisted ankle--too swollen to put any weight on, but not much pain, as long as I stay put--which would allow me to sit and knit all day with no guilt.

Of course, I managed to do this while at my MIL's, just before we left for my parents'. We were down in NJ for a nephew christening, and so rather than having a lovely peaceful knitting day? I had to hop around on one foot, or sit in the car.

I did get a little knitting done--I'm on the 31st repeat of Madli's shawl (no picture, as it looks exactly the same as it did last time, only longer), and I've turned the heel on my second sock.

The christening was lovely, though, and my older nephew (he's 4) found my hopping hilariously entertaining.

A Hero

The subtitle of this blog is "A blog without a hero." This is mainly a play on the title--William Makepeace Thackery's novel Vanity Fair is subtitled "A novel without a hero."

But for today, at least, there's a hero. Dara Torres, at the age of 41, just swam the 50 meter freestyle at the Olympic time Trials and won it handily. She set a new American record--breaking the record she set yesterday. She's broken the record nine times, the first time when she was 15.

She's also qualified in the 100 meter freestyle, as well as several relays.

She so rocks.

M is for . . .

Madli's Shawl.

18 repeats of the body done, and I'm almost done with the first skein--I've probably got another 2 or 3 rows worth of yarn. I should have plenty of yarn to lengthen it--35 repeats instead of 31--using only 2 of the skeins, which will leave me with a third skein of this lovely camel yarn to knit up into something for me--a lacey scarf, maybe?