The train!

Yup, the light at the end of that tunnel was a train.  As of tomorrow, the semester is officially here.  I'm as ready as I usually am by this time; my syllabi are finished and posted on the online course sites, my files with course materials are all in the drawer in my desk (instead of in my filing cabinets), the dates on the course assignments have been changed, I have printed up the class rosters, and added the names of the many students who have asked to be put on wait lists (because it's apparently impossible for our administration to actually activate the wait-list feature on our enrollment software - and yes, that does make me cranky, because it's both a huge amount of additional work for me, and because it means that faculty have to be the bad guys, even though it is by no means our fault that there aren't enough sections for all the students who need classes).

I have also wound up yarn for meeting-type projects, copied the patterns (I like to have trashable copies in my knitting bags - I don't want to lose any originals), and cast on (I don't know about you, but I need to concentrate when I get a project set up).  Since I also have a birthday coming up (and since I will be spending all day on my birthday in meetings - CFA, budget committee, Senate, right in a row), I decided that starting a couple of simple projects in decadent yarns would be the way to go.  To that end, I got started on the Lune shawl last night with my handspun silk/cashmere.

It's knitting up beautifully.  The scarf will probably turn out smaller than the pattern, as I'm using a slightly finer yarn and smaller needle, but I like the way the fabric is turning out at this gauge.  Once the pattern is established, it's completely mindless, but decadent in this yarn, just right for meetings.  I also cast on some Bugga - my first for myself! - to knit another pair of the Kimono Socks.  I have/had a pair, but they seem to have slipped into the dryer, and are now too small for my feet.  I have long wanted a second pair, so this seems like the perfect opportunity.  Of course, for these to be a second pair, I may have to knit yet another pair after this, but this seems like a good start.

That's it in knitting news.  I finished my aunt's socks, which don't make for exciting pictures, since they're exactly like the Lenore socks I knitted for myself.  I've mostly been enjoying the lovely weather by taking my knitting out to the back patio - it won't last, so I'm sucking up the sun while I can.  I haven't had a chance to take any pictures of the hood I knitted (too busy sitting in the sun), so I can't share that.  I can share a couple of shots from some hiking we did a few weeks ago. 

Happy kids, happy dog. 

We have also lately had some spectacular views of the snow-covered mountains north and east of here.  Right from the hills behind our house.  I wish we could get a clearer shot - early in the morning, when it's clear, they're just right there, bigger than life.  I think if you click to embiggen this picture, it's clearer - the white there on the horizon is not clouds.

Snow-covered mountains and San Diego.  Weird.