PolarGrrlPurls

Well, after much waiting and patience and paperwork, we have at least a little good news! Marikal has been approved (after much time on the phone and an appeal) for unemployment compensation and we have a preliminary approval - pending documentation - for food assistance (the new pollitically correct name for food stamps). Our health insurance is still in a state of abject disarray, but we can only work so much magic in a single week, yanno. Marikal is also looking for work, of course, and had 2 interviews last week that went swimmingly.

In the world of knitting, I have been working away on the Spiral Square blanket...or at least I was until I ran out of Kureyon #188 last night. It's about 44" square at this point and I've knit up 7 skeins of Noro and 2.5 skeins of the Eco Wool. I'll be hunting the net this weekend to locate a bunch more of the Noro at a decent price, but until I get it, I think I'll start another pair of socks. And if I'm feeling really motivated I might actually repair the 3 pairs that need holes mended.

Nursing school is going well.....I've managed to maintain a B average through the first 6.5 months of a 10 month program. My newest clinical (just started) is at a VA hospital, which I expect will be very challenging, but I'm looking forward to the wider range of patients and things to learn.

The cooking blog is going very well and I have more ideas for recipes than I have time or space to test and write them. Maybe there's a cook book in my future?

Coming Up For Air

I'm halfway through my current nursing course and I've finally had a moment to come up for air and think about something other than care plans and nursing interventions and surgical complications and pharmacology for all the various illnesses known to man. I expect it will be a brief opportunity, what with the final on March 4th and all, but I'll take what I can get. I have been knitting in the off moments, though I must admit to buying more yarn than I've been knitting. This has changed rather abruptly, what with Marikal's recent layoff, however.

I had put aside blanket #2 (Spiral Squares) for a bit when I ran out of Eco Wool and discovered that it was no longer a regularly stocked item at any of my LYS. I ended up ordering a bunch more from Snow Goose Yarn, though, and have finally been able to pick the project back up this week. I finished knitting up the 5th skein of Noro Kureyon #188 just last night and paused to measure the blanket and dound that it came out to approximately 32" square (give or take a 1/4"), making it approximately 1,024 square inches. If I want a 6' square blanket, then 1,024 sq. in. constitutes roughly 20% of the whole, meaning I will need roughly 20 more skeins of Noro and I don't know how much Eco Wool. I currently have 2 skeins of the EW in stash along with 1.5 skeins of the Noro. Obviously, I'll need to buy more Noro, but other than that I think I'll just knit until I run out of EW and see where I am size-wise at that point before ordering more.

I knit myself 2 hats this winter - the Diamond Head Beret and the Crumpet Beret, which I'll post photographs of just as soon as I can corral Marikal, the hats, a free moment, and a sunny day together at the same time. Yeah...so, like in July or something. ;)

That's about it for knitting. If anyone knows of any great human services jobs in the Boston area that are hiring, let me know...or small businesses looking for bookkeepers, for that matter. We can use all the paying work we can get around here right now.

Dear Universe,

I’m going go out on a limb here and give you the benefit of the doubt. I’m trying very hard not to freak out about the fact that Marikal’s job just let her go while I’m still unemployed and in nursing school. I furthermore will try not to melt down at the possibility that she might not be able to collect unemploymet assistance because that job was with a religious organization, which may not be required to pay into such state programs. I’m going to have faith that this window closed so that the door to something really outstandingly spectacular may open very soon. I’m also going to remind myself that Marikal has many job skills and a great resume and that even a part time job for her will keep us afloat when combined with our savings and my unemployment check. I’m also going to look for cheaper insurance, cut the cable, and see what can be done to lower the cell bill while I’m at it. Yanno…just to be on the safe side while you, Universe, are working your fabulous magic.

Looking forward to seeing what sparkly magical thing is behind door #2,
Jenn

I love this!!!!

Since I'm Late Anyway

I woke up late this morning, but Marikal is in the shower and since I must wait my turn and I'm late anyway, I thought I'd take advantage of a few "spare" minutes.

This past Sunday I went to Snow Goose Yarns with the idea of getting a few more skeins of Kureyon in color 188 and another hank of Cascade Eco Wool, both for the second blanket I've started knitting. Alas, they had neither. This, however, was made up for my the fact that I stumbled accross a store-wide Halloween sale. Woohoo!

I picked up 2 more skeins of Manos for blanket #3 (in the planning stages at the moment, but I could really cast on at any time):

A skein of Malabrigo worsted in Sweet GRape that I intend to use for a new a winter hat for myself:

A skein of Malabrigo sock in a color called Solis that I got just because it was way too pretty to leave behind:

And four skeins of Debbie Bliss Merino DK that was on clearance (at $3.25 each!) because it has been discontinued. I plan to hunt around for more cheap skeins of this and use it for some small color wok projects.)

 

Quick FO - Hot Water Bottle Cover #2

It has taken me truly forever to get around to knitting a cover for my second hot water bottle, but I finally got to it this week. I knit it with part of a skein of Cascade 220 Paints. My guage was a little off (1 stitch/inch), but knitting being what is, it stretched nicely for a snug-but-not-tight fit.

A Bunch of Knitting And Other Stuff

Eight weeks into nursing school and I'm happy to say that I have passed my first clinical evaluation, my first practicum (like a final exam for hands-on skills), and I went into the final exam yesterday with a 90% average. I don't have my final grade for the class yet, but I'm feeling good about things overall. I'll get my grade for the class tomorrow, I think.

I have the day off today (thank goodness! I was desperate for a little down time!) and I'm spending it cooking, knitting, blogging, and....I admit...studying. So, not a total day off, but at least I was able to sleep in and I don't have to be anywhere or even get out of my pajamas if I don't feel like. I've finished the February Sweater and the matching booties, which aren't sewn up yet because I want to sew in a little elastic band at the ankle to help them stay on. I also haven't yet found the right buttons for the sweater, but I'll be making a trip to Windsor Button soon, so I'm hoping to remedy that in short order.

 

I keep meaning to start the matching hat for the baby sweater, but I have been distracted by the new blanket I'm knitting. I'm using Noro Kureyon color #188 that was given to me "free" as part of a very generous swap with another knitter and I'm alternating it with Cascade Eco Wool in a natural gun metal grey. So far, I've spent $15 on the whole project, though I will be spending more as I'm getting to the end of the 5 skeins of Noro I had on hand and the skein of Eco Wool that I bought for this. Having said that, I am trying to spend as little as possible.

 

I don't know what it is about blankets, but I'm already hatching plans to  use up some of the Manos yarn that has been in my stash forever. I've really been enjoying knitting blankets the past year or so and I have to admit that I love the gentle, light weight warmth that wool blankets provide.

Apple Picking

This past Sunday Marikal and I went apple picking with another couple and their 2 year old son, Ramsey. We lucked out with mild weather and warm sun and it was a very relaxing afternoon for everyone, I think.

More Knitting and Another FO

So I....um....started knitting another blanket. Yes, the Log Cabin Paintbox blanket hasn't got it's borders yet. I'm waiting for the weather to cool off a bit more so that I don't mind having the almost-queen sized blanket on my lap for extended periods of time. I've even got the yarn and needles ready and waiting! But see, I have this other lovely kureyon that was free in a swap and it looked so lonely and neglected sitting there in my chest of drawers full of yarn and I've been wanting to try this pattern for about a year...

(Please don't ask me what it is about knitting blankets lately...I just really like them.)

In other news, I've finished a second pair of white wool socks to wear with my nursing uniforms. The pattern is Shur'tugal. I really enjoyed knitting it, as the pattern is easily memorized but also somewhat interesting. It did take more yarn than expected, however, and I ended by knitting up the toes in some Knitpicks Essentials that I had leftover from another pair of socks. I like to think of the orange toes as my private rebellion against wearing mostly white 3 days a week.

Thank You Froggy Dear!

Froggy-Dear, a fellow knittyhead, knit some beautiful socks for me in a swap last month and they just arrived. I love the green heels and toes! I know that they will be warm and comfortable when I'm spending 8+ hours on my feet and my nursing internship this fall and winter.