Countdowns and Downpours

Five more days until Knitters Connection in Columbus!

Six more days of school left.

10 days until I board the buses to take 87 seventh graders to Gettysburg and Washington, D.C. with Buddy B and some wonderfully brave parent chaperones.


Two weeks left in my building where I have worked for the past 14 years with seventh graders. My supervisor has decided that it would be better if I looped with the current group of students along to 8th grade in another building. That means packing up my office and moving buildings. Unwillingly. I was notified by email with 12 days of school left.


Along with the downpours of showers that have come without warning the past three days, there have been downpours of unexpected tears. Some have been mine. Other tears have come from staff members that have worked with me and confided in me and grown to trust me over the years. When you stay willingly in a junior high for as many years as we have together, you become family. At random moments during the day, someone will stop by and say, "Is it true? Are you really going to the other building?" One look at the boxes stacking up in the corner confirms it.


In the past, when I was under stress, I used to do two things. I would shop, and I would eat. Since I learned to knit three yrs ago, the eating lessened and I've lost nearly 70 lbs. A health problem forced the issue for me, but I don't sit in front of the TV and snack anymore, and I'm much healthier. I still shop (but not with a credit card). I replaced eating with knitting. Most of what I knit, I give away, so I don't mind spending on yarn.

The past few days I've been knitting like crazy. The log cabin is growing enough that I ordered the 30" and 40" cords for my Denise Interchangeable needles in order to keep up with its growth. Banana Cabana sock #1 is nearly done and sock #2 will be cast on before heading to Knitters Connection on Saturday with Sarah.


Besides the cords for my needle set what is new?


Starting at the top left, there is Lorna's Laces in Flamingo (sock) and Daffodil (sport). Top Right you'll see new Cider Moon colors Rainbow Trout and Barnwood, both in the glacier weight. At the bottom are Claudia Handpaint yarns in Butter Pecan (my favorite ice cream) and Blue Fields (chosen because it seemed so peaceful).

The Claudia colors up close.

A closeup of Rainbow Trout and Barnwood.

If nothing else comes out of this stressful time and big move, a whole lotta knitting will! In the meantime, I'm trying to remember to count my blessings and search for the silver lining in all of this.