Cold Librarians Need Warm Cats

I decided I wanted to knit a sock that wasn't evil. So I cast on a new pattern. So far so good (minus the part where I forgot to kfkbkf on the increase row so I was way below stitches and had to rip out over an inch of my work). I really like the pattern (cables...yum) and the needles. And Bubba likes it too. 

Bubba's sexy pose.

Then I got cold. 

So I decided to cast on a sweater for myself. Yes. Myself. The last plus size sweater attempts did not end well for anyone. So I'm using good needles, fabulous yarn (Cascade 220 Peruvian Wool <3), and I'm using a pattern from my Plus Size Knits book that I bought a million years ago. I'm on my way, sweater. Be ready to be toasty come...June?

Who doesn't love turquoise ribbing?

Bekky Tested, Bubba Approved.

Obligatory New Year's Post

Well, it's the new year. 2014. I should probably talk about all the wonderful and not-so-wonderful things that happened in 2013. Then regale you with tales of my 2014 goals. But I'm not feeling it. I've always found New Year's to be rather depressing. It's that whole ending/beginning human conflict I just can't get past. To tell the truth, my life these last few years has been a constant test filled with momentous struggles and not quite as momentous victories. I've had so much loss and pain, it's hard to remember those victories. It's hard to imagine any good that may come my way in the year(s) to come. But that's life I suppose. Constant up and down as we try to stay focused long enough to see where we are along the trail.

I will say that my knitting year has followed a similar path of ups and downs. Little binges of knitting here and there. Month to month. I'm bored with everything yet can't seem to start anything new. Same goes for books. I read them, but as soon as I finish that last page I couldn't tell you the plot or about the characters. I can only tell you, in stunted phrases, how it made me feel.

Maybe that's why New Year's is depressing...because all the hopes and goals I thought about never came to fruition. And I know the next year will yield the same.

Okay. That's enough of my emotional unloading on the sorrows of each passing year. Here's my latest obsession:

Not the cat, though he is darn cute. The crocheted fingerless mitts. It's a pattern called V-Stitch Fingerless Gloves by Daphne Bekiari. They're super fast and easy and fun. I made over 8 pairs in less than 2 weeks. Like I said. Obsessed. The only alteration I made to the pattern was that I added another row to the cuff. They're pretty, warm (especially if you use wool), and practical. I made some for my co-workers.

Poetic Holiday Cleaning (if only)

Well, I woke up really early thinking I was running late and now I have time for tea and blogging. Yay! I've been crafting up a storm -- sort of. I made gifts for my co-workers (which I will post a picture of after they get their gifts today). And I was feeling rather ambitious and started making a Christmas stocking for my brother. Not that he needs a Christmas stocking. I'm fairly certain my mother purchased about five every other year. We may have left a lot of them in the Frankfort house, but I imagine there are plenty hiding away in a box somewhere in Northern Wisconsin. But it seemed like a good idea at the time.

This week is fairly awesome so far...in that we have shortened hours at work. Don't get me wrong...I love my job, but I get to go in at 9am and leave at 3pm. How lovely! I have a lot of work to do while the residential students are away. I'm also trying to think of an article topic so I get get published sometime soon. That would really bump up my resume. But I don't feel qualified...I've been a student so long. I'm finding the transition to professional rather bumpy.

Maybe that's why I signed up for a class next semester. I decided to take an advanced poetry workshop because I really want to get back into writing. I kind of stopped after my mom died with a few poetic exceptions here and there. Writing has always been a comfort to me, and it may help with the processing of my grief for my dad. Both of my parents actually. So we'll see. I thought about taking a computer class because there are two or three that might help in my goal of getting an IT degree. I'm learning that a lot of my job requires technology...which I knew...and I thought I was fairly tech-savvy. And I am compared to some people, but I could be a lot better if I understood more about how information technology worked. My only hesitation is that I'm not an analytical type person...I'm not good at understanding complex mechanisms. Or maybe I am...I just never gave myself the chance? I figure a few (free!) computer classes at least will help me approach all this technology a bit better. I'll stick with poetry this semester and work on computers next fall.

For the next few days, it's going to be busy busy as I clean my apartment (which desperately needs cleaning) and prepare for Scott's visit. He's coming down Christmas Eve so hopefully I'll have everything cleared up before he gets here. One of my goals was to finish decorating my apartment by the time he came for Christmas and I've only hung one picture so far. I need to buy more picture hanger thingers. We'll see how far I get. I'll update this post later to show you the cute lil Christmas gifts I made for my co-workers. And maybe the beginning of Scott's stocking. Maybe.

Until then.

Something Productive

Okay, I'd like to point out that I'm anything but original. Jen started up her knitting blog again and made into a spinning/knitting blog because she's just that caliber of awesome. I'm not. But since she revitalized her blog, I figured I should follow in her footsteps and do the same. What can I say? She inspires me.

I'm not sure why I stopped posting. Maybe because things got too hectic. I graduated, moved back to Drummond, worked at APIS for two months, then moved to Iowa. That's a lot in two months. So I didn't have time for knitting. In fact, I think I've only completed two or three projects in the last six months. Which is pathetic. But I also have other reasons for lack of inspiration. My father passed away in October (the morning after my 27th birthday...birthdays suck) so I've been going to Northern Wisconsin and Peotone and Milwaukee and every which way the last couple months (I can't believe it'll be two months this 15th). The grief hasn't made me especially keen on my usual hobbies. But, I want to get back to knitting because when I do and when I work a pattern I love and when I'm watching something lovely and Jane Austen-y or Downton Abbey-y I almost feel normal again.

So let me tell you about my job, because it's pretty spectacular. Well, spectacular for a recent grad anyway. I'm incredibly lucky to be offered a job doing exactly what I hoped to do: Reference & Instruction. That's my title btw...Reference & Instruction Librarian. Doesn't that just make you smile? It makes me smile. I'm in North Iowa in a little town called Forest City at a little college named Waldorf College. It's about the size of Northland which I'm thankful for because it allows me get a well-rounded experience rather than just being a one-trick pony. When it comes time for me to move on, working at a small library will work in my favor. I'll be able to present myself as flexible and experienced. I work with a great group of people. My director is a riot and wonderfully supportive. I get to try new things, learn, fumble, and make a difference (hopefully). The campus is quiet and it has that small, campus family feel. Even though I'd only been here less than three months when my dad passed away, the outpouring of support and love was heartwarming. That's how I know I'm at a good place.

I started a knitting group on campus: The Knit Wits of North Iowa. It's an open community group and we meet in the library every other Thursday night. I was hoping more students would be involved, but it's still early. Maybe we can gather some more interest next semester. The library team was really supportive of me starting this group and we have a good 5-6 people who regularly attend. Everyone's really friendly and it keeps me on my toes. The first night I had to teach two people how to left-hand crochet. Thank God for Google.

Projects. Well. I kind of gave up on the New Years Resolution thing. Maybe I'll finish one project per year until I'm all caught up. That's the rate I'm going. Not even that rate really. I'm not done with Andrew's Socks.

It's still mostly a Soc...I have to finish the gusset and the foot and the toe. And then the other sock. Maybe I should try knitting English and see if that makes the pattern any easier. It's the twists that get me down. My tension is so tight that it's hard to get my needle under the stitch for the left and right twists. Which makes up the bulk of the pattern. Yay. They're pretty though.

I did a test knit to try and get me out of my funk. I figured having a deadline would help. I made Halona by Allison LoCicero. I chose simple colors and really enjoyed the edging. And I love the wingspan because I'm fat. It can actually wrap around my shoulders. :)

I also made a lace shawl, Cassiope by Alexandra Beck, in my beautiful fall yarn that I got at Yarn Harbor in Duluth, MN with Madeline. (Yarn Harbor is one of my favorite yarn stores. What more could I ask for? Yarn and Lake Superior!)

So I'm really into shawls lately. I'm thinking of starting some mittens for Jen and/or Mary's capelet which is kind of like a shawl.

So what's on my knitting needles? Well. Andrew's Socks. A stoll  from Loops & Threads in my beautiful forest green graduation yarn. And I still have a sweater on my hook for Jen. I hit a road block months and months ago and never figured it out. I should look at it again and call Megan, my go to crocheter.

That's probably enough for tonight. I'll try to post more regularly. It'll give me something to do anyway and maybe it'll help get me out of this funk.

Adulthood? Really?

I graduated from graduate school. I went to Iowa for an in-person interview. I got the job. I'm moving back home for a little while before I start. It's been a crazy month. I finished my classes and passed them all with flying colors (well, except web design but I missed an assignment due to my lack of motivation). All my crap is piled into my closet and I'm not really sure how I'm going to fit it all in my lil car tomorrow morning. Because it's Memorial Day everything is closed and it's screwing up my moving timeline (which is an awful thing to say, but it's true). That doesn't mean I don't respect or remember all the folks who fought for our country...but I had to deposit my checks through an ATM and it was a weird experience. And I have to call TWC tomorrow and cancel my internet and return the box...somewhere. Then I have to pack my car then check out of my apartment. Finally ending my day by driving 6 hours back home. I know in a post not to long ago that I couldn't wait until it was all over, but now I'm freaking out because it's all happening too fast. I just have to remain calm, hike up my big girl pants and deal with it.

Knitting. Funny. So because I've been so busy with school and avoiding school I haven't been knitting. Prior to this past weekend, the last time I knit was when I visited Jen in Evanston in late April. Yea. It's been a while. This past week/end I did go to a Stitch 'n Bitch with my brother's girlfriend-who's-not-his-girlfriend and finished the ribbing for Andrew's sock. Yea...I just finished the cuff ribbing. Pathetic. This weekend I went to Kettle Moraine State Park and knitted in nature with my BFFFL Jen. I have about two rows of red. I need to get back to my old mojo. I think being away from the city will help. Lack of homework will also help.

I start working at the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore on Thursday for my fourth season. It'll be cut short, however, since I got a real librarian job! Which means I'm moving to Iowa. I'm hoping to start August first so I can save up some money and move and find a place to move to and so on. It's very stressful being an adult. I don't recommend it.