Oh, and one more thing...

I'm on a yarn diet. For reals this time. From now until the end of the year.

The only time I am allowed to buy yarn is if Carol has a Sip-n-Knit at her house and has her stuff for sale. Other than that, fuggeddaboudit.

FYI - a Sip-n-Knit is held on every other Wednesday during the summer. We get drunk and knit and chat. It's great fun.

So yeah. I have so much yarn it's not even funny. Well, maybe it's a little funny, but I probably find it more amusing that my husband. But it's time for me to get serious and knit and crochet. I might even get crazy and start to sew this summer. There's just no telling what I might do. I'm crazy. Watch out.

***

Tomorrow is my last day at my current job. On Monday, I'll start doing the same thing I do now (note-taking for hard-of-hearing kids) at a new school, working for the same organization. I have to say that I am pretty sad to leave the school in which I currently work. My student, with whom I have worked for the past three years, is all growed up now, and is going out in the big world to do his community study, which is essentially an internship from now until the end of the year. This is the first time in my life I've had to leave a job that I really like. I'm sure I'll like the new school. I already know the woman who will be my boss, and I met the special education department head, and she gave me a hug. That's always a good sign. But I've made some good friends over the past three years, and it will be sad to not see them every day any more. But oh well. That's life. You move on. It doesn't mean I'll never see them again, I'll just have to try harder to see them.

It's strange; this summer seems like a landmark summer. I'll be 35 years old in 3 weeks. Banana will be going to first grade next year. My student will be in college. I'll get a new student. I feel like I've aged a lot lately. But I don't feel old, just older. Does that make sense? It's like I've become more aware of the passing of time, and how precious life and time really are, especially when they are good. I was listening to the radio on my way to work this morning, and they played 'Dear Prudence' by the Beatles, which is one of my favorite Beatles songs. Apparently, the Beatles were at the same ashram as Mia Farrow's sister Prudence. She was sitting in a hut, meditating, and they implored her to come out and see all the beauty around her, and that's where the song came from. That's a cool story, and poignant too.

I try to go out and play and see the sun as often as I can. You should too. It's beautiful.

Countdown to MDSW

As you can see, I've changed the ticker at the top of my blog. With Maryland Sheep and Wool coming up in a little over a month, there is no way in hell that I am going to make it to the end of the year without buying yarn or fiber. So I'm just trying to be realistic.

I'll start the yarn diet again when I get back. ;o)

One more time

Maybe it'll just be one more time this year. But yes, I'm starting another yarn diet. I went to Crafty Me in Conshohocken today to buy sock yarn and dpns, and perhaps some other pretty yarn, but now I'm done. Last time I went for about 4.5 months without purchasing yarn. This time? I'm going all the way to New Year's Eve baby. That's right. More than 10 months without a yarn purchase. Think I can do it? I think I can. Help me out peeps. This is the Year of Stash for Me. By the time I will allow myself to buy yarn again, Banana will be in first grade, I'll have a new job, and God knows what else will be different. Oh wait, I know - I'll have more money. Because I won't be spending it on yarn.

Woo hoo, wish me luck, here I go!

One month to go; finish-itis

I've set a new record for myself. I haven't bought any yarn since August 8th. Not even a little bit. Nothing on sale. Nothing to finish a project. Zip.

Whew.

My next crochet/knit goal that I am setting for myself is to finish everything that I currently have on the hooks/needles. This would include:

• the Green Gable sweater
• three afghans
• a toy for my cousin's son
• three scarves
• a shrug

I also need to unravel my Green Tea Raglan sweater, as it is too small and itchy and I know I'll never ever wear it. I would really like to finish all of these projects before I jump into anything else, especially considering that many of the projects that I have lined up for myself are relatively involved. As I mentioned previously, I'd like to make two sweaters for WT (although Liz warns me to pace myself here; she knows what it takes to make a big ol' sweater for a big beefy husband!), two sweaters for the Banana, and myriad projects for myself including gloves, hats, sweaters, and vests. And I'd also like to make at least one Vintage Stripe Afghan.

I'm going to go ahead and make my New Year's resolution today. I am going to have finish-itis, instead of start-itis. I am going to finish all the projects I currently have in progress, and I then will not have any more than four projects going at the same time. I think this is reasonable.

Thanks for stopping by, and, uh, go Eagles.

Yeah, the yarn diet is pretty much out the window.

So at the beginning of the year, I said to myself that I would not buy any yarn for several months. I was shooting for my birthday, which is at the end of May.

I lasted about a month.

Below are some pictures of yarn purchases at Walmart (see, I'm not snobby all the time), in Ocean City, and at the Main Skein in Ambler, which unfortunately will be closing shortly. *sigh* I'm going to try this yarn diet thing again. For real. Otherwise, we will not be able to afford to move into another house. So please enjoy the following pictures - I intend to enjoy their contents, and of course photos will be posted when the yarn becomes something.

Here's a pound of yarn I bought at Walmart. One hundred percent cotton in a nice ombre. What will it become? I have no idea! But it only cost about $6, so that's not a major concern.

This yarn was purchased in Ocean City and is destined to become a sweater for the Banana. Perhaps a cute little short sleeved cardigan for those chilly early spring days?

This was also purchased (ON SALE) in Ocean City. This is going to be a tank top and matching kimono shrug from last summer's Filatura di Crosa pattern book. I'll need to knit it with something else though, as it isn't bulky enough on its own.

Ah yes, here is part of my booty from the Main Skein. Big old sale. This is Trilogy from Berroco, and is going to become the 'Trixie' sweater from last fall's Trilogy pattern book. I also got some Noro Silk Garden and two balls of Kid Silk Mohair. Hubba hubba.

And then just because, here are some nice pictures of crocuses (croci?), my favorite harbingers of spring. Yay spring!