October Sky Blanket Square

October's square.  Lots of gray at the end of the month; we were lucky that Sandy skirted us, just rain and wind for several days. Thinking of those who were in the affected (and devastated) areas.

october

September Sky Blanket Square

on top of the world
in the southern hemisphere

September was a super busy month; just over a week into the month (and three weeks into school), a majority of the kids all shipped out to Chile for alpine camp and Italy for nordic camp. 

I hopped on the plane to Chile and spent two weeks at Valle Nevado with the 'piney's, proctoring study hall, getting the kids to go to bed at a reasonable hour, and playing nurse to the sick and injured (watching someone get stitches - not all that fun). 

August Sky Blanket Square

Had to do a little catching up on the August square as I missed a few days of knitting.  That's what Saturday and Sunday mornings are for!

 

august

Nutella Cookies

Nutella is one of my favorite food products.  I tend to consume it straight from the jar on a spoon.  It's a heavenly hazelnut pick-me-up.  And now I've found a recipe for Nutella Cookies, courtesy of Pinterest.

Cranberry & Cream Striped Raglan

The yarn I used for this sweater, Nature Spun by Brown Sheep, has been in my stash for several years now.  And by "several" years I mean that I bought it to make a different sweater that I started knitting during a weekend of house-sitting the winter after I graduated college . . . in 2003.  I guess it just needed to be aged, like any good wine or cheese.

The first incarnation of the sweater was also striped, but, like the first incarnation of most of the sweaters I make for myself it did not survive.  The yarn was packed up and stored for several years, traveled to the island where it sat for several more years, and nearly became a different sweater, until I finally came up with an idea a couple of years ago. 

I knew I wanted a fitted, striped sweater with a side-split collar, and I knew that I wanted to make a top-down (or bottom-up) raglan.  This style would require the least amount of finishing and seaming, which I abhor.  So I drew something up.

July Sky Blanket Square

July square complete:

June Sky Blanket Square

The six-month mark in this project/endeavor passed nearly a month ago, and if I hadn't just arrived in Boston for the second summer session for my grad program I would have posted the June update. . . so here it is now:

june!

May Sky Blanket Square

Another month gone by, another sky blanket square:

five down, seven to go

The end of May also brought the end of the school year.  The seniors graduated on June 2 (with a spectacular entrance via tractor & wagon, and heartfelt speeches by each graduate) and today (Monday) is my first official day of summer break. 

A stitch in time: Chaco quick-fix

I love my Chacos.  I bought them when I moved to Durango back in 2004.  They've been on multiple river trips and tidepooling excursions, southwest desert and mountain hikes, northeast rambles and coastal island scrambles.  I just about live in them from mid-spring through late fall. 

floating the san jaun, june '06

April Sky Blanket Square

Not much crafting in the month of April aside from sky blanket square.  Grad school is nearly over, and teaching winds up at the end of this month.  Hopefully I'll find some more time throughout the summer to fit some crafting in!

april showers bring may flowers