The number grows

Crochet progress. Not much progress anywhere else, though.

At least that is how it feels.

Crochet Crazy

And the crocheting continues. I pulled together a few colors at the yarn store a week ago and have been working on a square here and there while finishing holiday gifts. (Yes, still.) I will admit that I'm a bit addicted, even as I question whether that green (chartreuse, how could you go wrong?) belongs with the other colors. It will all come together, I guess. It's come together a bit more quickly thanks to the BBC shows on hulu - I'm finishing up the first series of Kingdom now and want to move to the English seaside. Now, please. 

I'm still not convinced that I will abandon all knitting for the crochet hook - doing so would fly in the face of my "both/and" attempts at navigating my own life, but there are a few bits of inspiration that tempt me: 

Attic24 is ridiculously amazing - and she lives in northern England! Her crochet tutorial for a granny stripe might make it into my list of things to make soon... The brilliant photography doesn't hurt either... 

Pinterest user marybethburrell has collected the most amazing images of crocheted items. They leave me a little antsy, not going to lie... Antsy in a good way, involving a hook and yarn... 

The Royal Sisters is also tempting me with this star granny... 

But first: the last episode in the first season of Kingdom. Then bed. I definitely will not start series 2 tonight... right? 

First of the Lasts

Bloomington finally got some snow. Lots of it. I took the above picture leaving class last night, around 9pm. This is after an entire day of steady snow. It's lovely, really, although I'm sure there are many who don't agree with me. 

Today was the first day of the last (barring a summer appointment) class I will teach here at IU. It's strange to think that I've been here for four years, as long as I taught first and second grades. Four years. A decent chunk of my life. After spending last semester working on a research project, I was thrilled to be back in the classroom, albeit small and in no way appropriate for the twenty-six bodies that attempt to learn in the space. While I wouldn't do graduate school again had I the choice, I continue because I do love the teaching. I love working with pre-service teachers and stretching their thinking. I love working hard to prepare them even better than I was prepared. (And I had some amazing teachers in my undergraduate and graduate programs.) I love coming to know them and seeing them in their own classrooms, long after they have left my teaching space. I need to remember this when I look for positions. I like the teaching. I can do the research, but the teaching is what is going to keep me in it. 

Snow Day

This is my road, just a few minutes ago. It started snowing last night and hasn't quite let up yet. This is unfortunate as I have several meetings to make this afternoon, but hopefully the snowplow will have been through at least once by the time I need to leave. 

I did spend some time this morning, once my class syllabus was finished, putting the final touches on Captain Jack's hat. (Yes, I am still knitting things for the holidays. Still. Shameful, I know.) 

It's something of an adaptation of the Cheery Scrap Hat from the Winter 2009 issue of Petite Purls. With a nickname like Captain Jack, I figured a hat with skulls on it is appropriate, although that was about where my following a pattern ended. While I like the skulls, I'm not in love with them; rather, I found myself more enamored with the impromptu colorwork I did above, drawing partially from the chart provided and imagining some while watching It's a Wonderful Life on Christmas Eve. (Yes, it's been sitting in my bag awaiting finishing for that long... double shame!) I did crochet a single edging all the way around the hat (flaps are a little wonky - it's homemade and I'm a new crocheter. That is my story and I am sticking to it), and finally had a chance to use my Clover pom-pom maker, which might be my new favoritest thing ever. 

Now to finish the good Captain's sister's mittens. They just need thumbs and then can be shipped on their way. 

In My Own Bed

After fifteen days away, I'm happy to be back in my own bed. Flannel sheets are definitely a good thing. 

Remarkably, I'm also ready to get down to the work of the semester tomorrow morning. A little over two weeks with some delightful people was exactly what I needed to recharge, renew, and rethink. And now: bed.