There’s something about the rhythm of teaching school that is soothing… every year is the same, just the main characters change. You would think by now I would remember how hard the start is every year, but somehow, each year I’m surprised.
We’re just back from a truly relaxing week-end that has left me feeling renewed and refreshed. We left later than we intended on Friday, but did manage to make a final trip to the beach for the season. Because I have the best in-laws in the world, and they have a trailer on 4 spots away from ours, I got perhaps more sleep in a single week-end than I have since before Bunny was born! All that sleep has left me on a Monday evening (but really it’s more like a Sunday evening with the holiday and all) with the energy to quickly bring blogville up to date.
Since we last spoke we received the wondrous Malabrigo from SuperCrafty and the Grade 6 knitters are off and running. While a few are still working on their “practice” many are learning the joys of knitting a cowl with yummy goodness. I knitted one for myself, binding off as we rode the bus to the Grade 6 fall camping trip. I then proceeded to wear said cowl for the entire 3-day trip. After that abuse it needs a good washing before its photo shoot!
We arrived home from camping on Bunny’s 6th birthday. My how time flies! He calculated that if he aged another year for each birthday celebration he’s now 12. His birthday was well celebrated to say the least, with different events stretching over eight days. One of the many highlights was the Pirate Lego party held with 18 of his closest friends. We rented Legos for the event. 30,000 of them! A good time was had by all the kids, and the adults involved were all exhausted!
When we got ready to leave for this week-end’s trip I grabbed Bunny’s long neglected Tomten. What fun it is to knit on and I am nearing the end of the first sleeve. I have high hopes that I’ll actually get it done in time for wear this fall! Luckily it seems that it will still fit, and he still likes purple, whew.
I have other things that need to get done, most pressing is sewing up the squares for a group baby blanket. The squares have been done since mid-summer, I’m just putting off the sewing… now I’m thinking about crocheting them together, perhaps that would be interesting enough to get me on the case! I have ordered Cascade 220 from The Loopy Ewe to start on holiday felted clogs. I have the pattern for the children’s but have to track down the adult one. Anyone know of a lys in my area that carries it? Seems a shame to pay shipping.
Only three teaching days this week (Friday is parent-teacher conferences) so I’m hoping that my state of restedness might last…
I have been thinking about this a lot lately. Not why I knit at Bunny’s Tae Kwon Do class or on airplanes, that’s for sanity preservation. That’s not that sort of knitting in public I’m thinking about. I have been thinking about why I blog about my knitting and why I post my projects on 
Teaching is also a profession with very little praise. There are no bonuses and in my school the evaluations have been few and far between. Parents are quick to let me know when I have done something wrong, much slower to do so when I’m doing something well. Sure there are parents who thank me, and those who write nice notes, but it’s usually at the end of the year.
What got me thinking about all this? Well, Ravelraiser of course. If you are on Ravelry I hope you have heard of the Ravelraiser by now. If not, stop reading and go 
Again, many thanks to Mary for a great Football-a-Long swap package. I have plans for the yarn and the carry case is great! So far Bunny hasn’t discovered the stickers, but loves his coin purse for all his many treasures! And the buttons! So cute, I know they will find their way onto something very soon. Thanks!
In other news, there has actually been a fair amount of sewing going on at chez NK. I put the sweater into Biscuit’s 
Here was Bunny on the first day of school those many months ago and again today, the last day of school. A bittersweet moment indeed because he has had such a fantastic introduction to school and the wonder it brings. On the first day of school he knew letters but could only, almost, write his name. This morning he was writing words on my chalkboard, a child on the verge of reading.
Scarves got finished and the ends got woven in. There was even fringe on some! And I ask you… who doesn’t need a fun fur scarf? It’s the hottest spring accessory!
Far and away our best sellers were Zoobies! Who knew a square with eyes would have so much appeal?
I ask you, what is better than the smell of wet wool in the evening? OK, almost anything, but undaunted by the smell, and now the owner of very clean jeans, I spent last evening felting!
The other one, oh, I made that… It’s the striped tote from One Skein, and by the time I was done I realized I should have just knit a sweater. See prefelting photo shoot 
First this is my pretty hand. Thanks to the remarkable talents of an amazing woman I, along with all of my students, now have this beautiful mehndi. Every year I am left in awe of her talent to create these beautiful designs on lots of people in a short time, all free-hand.
Numerical Knitting 