New Year’s Eve is always an interesting day. Thinking about what has happened over the past year, dreaming of what will be in the year to come and then realizing tomorrow isn’t going to be much different it’s just a number. It’s sort of exciting to think of tomorrow being a fresh start, more of a fresh start than today was. Today we’ve had a relaxing and busy day. We decided to stay in this year for New Year’s Eve. I started an Italian loaf last night, made the bread dough this morning, started a loaf of wheat sandwich bread for Bryan and decided to try a new pizza crust. After three batches of dough, my food processor decided it needed a break. I had a lovely lunch with S and went to her house for tea afterwards. Bryan has enjoyed just reading on the couch most of the day.

We wish you all a happy and healthy 2008!

More of my year. Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve never been one to have a knitting schedule until now. Holiday knitting wasn’t even on my list until just a few days ago. A bit of a late start but this one sock can definitely be accomplished in a set amount of time. I started the sock on Friday and decided that I need to knit one lace repeat per day to finish it by Christmas Eve. The second sock will be finished after Christmas but I just wanted to have something for the receipient to open on Christmas Day. It’s a bit maddening to realize that what seems like a completely do-able task (one 12-row lace repeat) can quickly get away from you.

I promised photos in the last post but it took me a few days to gather everything up for photos. Finally, photos are taken and posted. I’ve been on break officially now for seven days and I’ve been keeping myself very busy. This week I’m hoping is a bit less crazy and that I can settle in for some good knitting.

Waving Lace sock. Sock one is finished, sock 2 not even started. The needles are being occupied by another pair of socks that are a gift that must be completed first.

Tweedy Vest. This is the vest that I started on Thanksgiving Day. The back is finished and I haven’t started the front. The yarn I’m using is a bit different than the pattern calls for so I’ve basically reworked the pattern for my yarn’s gauge and my own rib pattern of k1, p2, k3, p2, which doesn’t show up well in the photo. The yarn is Debbie Bliss Aran Tweed.

Martha cardigan. I made a lot of progress on Martha in November finishing one front in a matter of two weeks. The vest distracted me with the possibility of finishing it in a few weeks and the above-mentioned gift socks have been a distraction from Martha and the vest. The first sleeve on Martha is coming along well thanks to some serious knitting group knitting in the last two weeks.

My invitation for Ravelry arrived last week and I’ve tried very hard not to get completely sucked in. There is so much to it that I haven’t even full explored. A few projects have been entered but that’s about it. I could see it being a true time warp site. If you’re floating around Ravelry drop me a message (libraryknitr).

Finally, my friend S sent me this article about the Sock Wars. I thought it sounded great but a bit too competitive and crazy for me personally. I really admire people who participate in things like this.
Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

Sorry for the photoless post. My camera is lost in the apartment, most likely under the piles on the desk. I hope to post photos tomorrow.

My last paper was due yesterday at 5pm and I finished it on Sunday at 3:30pm. My big intellectual freedom project was turned in Friday afternoon. It was such a relief to be finished with that project and know that my school break is coming very soon.

Friday evening, several friends, Bryan and I went out for my birthday. It was a great evening with friends! My knitting friends gave me a gift card to Barnes & Noble and some cute little page holders. I think I’ll be picking up Clara Parkes’ new book, The Knitter’s Book of Yarn: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing, Using, and Enjoying Yarn. Every birthday seems to be more wonderful than the next and I’m not sure why. Thirty-four always sounded so “old” when I was 20, but it doesn’t feel “old.” I feel more confident than I did when I was 24 and I”m more optimistic than I was even six or seven years ago. As many people have told me before it’s just a number, which is so true. You’re only as old as you feel.

My knitting is coming along and I’m hoping to get more done during my winter break. As we were driving to Chicago to my sister’s for Thanksgiving Day. I started my version of the Tweedy Vest. The rib pattern just wasn’t looking very good in my yarn, so I decided to do a k1, p2, k3, p2 rib. It looks really nice in the yarn and it’s going very quickly. The back is complete with most of the knitting being done on the bus to and from campus. I’ve averaged three rows per ride and some has also been done while I’m listening to the lecture for my online class, it really helps me focus on the lecture. The yarn is Debbie Bliss Aran Tweed that Knitbrarian so generously gave to me last year. (Photo to come soon.)

My Martha sweater is coming along too. I finished the second front and have started the first sleeve. The one year mark is January 8, which I’m hoping to make but if I don’t I won’t push it. Other secret knitting has been taking precedence for a bit and I think after that’s winding down I’ll have more time for Martha.

What I plan to do over my winter break from school:
1. Knit
2. Get my spinning wheel waxed up and spinning again
3. Spin some yarn
4. Read all of those books that have looked so wonderful over the fall but haven’t been able to read with school
5. Spend some time with friends that I feel like I haven’t seen for months even though I see them every Tuesday
6. Ooogle over L’s new baby after he’s born

While I’m working away on assignments that are due this last week of my first semester of library school. I thought you might enjoy seeing just how much students have changed.

The first Illinois library science class, 1893-94

The first library science classroom in Altgeld Hall, 1900

Library Buildings class, late 1940s

I finally found my favorite –
The LIS library where I have spent so much time this semester. It looks nothing like this now and looks so bare compared to how it is now.

Update December 3
- One major project down with a few minor adjustments. The presentation for the project is done!
- One more paper to finish, my last of the make-up assignments I missed in October.
- Another major project due on Thursday, which is coming along nicely. Yesterday I had my doubts but after class today I’m feeling a lot more confident about it.

Looking forward to Friday for several reasons. I hope to have my paper and project done by Thursday evening so I have Friday free. It’s my birthday and I’m determined NOT to do homework that day.