Sunny day Babbles

Sitting up in bed, looking at all the construction stuff outside and drinking my coffee. They are digging up selected parts of campus to "fix" the heating pipes (they do this every two years it seems). I'm willing to give up a bit of the esthetic for water that doesn't burn off a few layers of skin, or at least I would be willing to if I thought that their little dig would actually amount to any change in the hot-cold fluctuations. On an up note the birds seem unaffected by said digging and are twittering their little heads off (I love it) I suspect its because of all the worms that feel the need to sacrifice themselves on our sidewalks. I try to save as many as I can by throwing them into the grass, but I'm not sure this actually works, seeing so many robins around I imagine it just makes them a little harder to find.
Part of me wants to go live in the woods and forget that I ever heard of graduate school...maybe someone could pay me to draw twigs and leaves, I could even sell overpriced- handmade quilts to yuppies and a painting or two on the side. I could own a herd of cats and dye wool on the weekends and and....the artsy-craftsy madness goes on and on. So I find it particularly strange that when I have a semi-viable way of actually doing all this I spurn it, and drive towards a "real" career.
I still need to re-start that lace project. Blah. Not much knitting is being done recently.
P.S Check out Library Thing if you haven't all ready...its like Ravelry for book addicts!

Almost Spring

These pretties were waiting for us when we arrived back to Maryland after spring break. Some trees also have buds on them...I know I'm excited. The big winter coat is starting to feel stuffy.
I started the Shetland tea shawl, which after a few rows I had to frog because it was doing that ugly ladder thing. I think I ran into the problem using magic loop, and just have to restart and try to pull harder at the joints.
Anyway its pouring out and I'm going to make myself some tea and get some editing done.

Strange Days

Please give me some good advice in your next letter. I promise not to follow it.

-Edna St. Vincent Millay, Letters

Sleep

It is far too late to be up, but here I am in a cosy chair by a lamp and the house is stilled with the sounds of sleep filling it. I am aware of only the present and do not remember the past nor do I dream of the future.
Looking out the window, I see a car driving by, its headlights cut through the night and I wonder who they are and where they are going and whether they have someone by their side.

Pennsylvania

I'm in Pennsylvania again. Its beautiful here, even though March is generally an awkward in-between month. The light in the early evening is stunning and the farmer which lives across the way has begun to work on his field in preparation for the coming summer. We have fires most of the day, and basically try to remain under blankets when reading. Tea is perpetually being prepared and the dog is always ready to cuddle. So its an ideal place to hide away and knit, read, write, or draw. We go on late night rides through the countryside, which might be my favorite part. The trees and the hills by the moon light are stunning and the deer and foxes are everywhere.



Today Eric and I made chili and cornbread, it was fantastic. One of my friends gave me the recipe, thanks Molly! I have been drawing and reading a lot recently, taking a break from my Middlemarch paper. I really want to get started on my Shetland tea shawl but I find it very frustrating so I may not attempt it for a while yet.

Writing and Reading

My portrait of an old man, done with pencil on standard sketch paper. I'm hoping to enter this in our yearly art show at the college. Very happy with the way it turned out, I like that the skin looks like cloth.
Hope everyone is well. I've been reading Pride and Prejudice and Little Women. I love Little Women and highly recommend it. I've also been writing a monster of an essay on Middlemarch, which still needs loads more work, so wish me luck.

Steaming Cup of Anxiety

Its now spring break, and I'm anything but relaxed. This has a lot to do with the up coming senior year and my final decision on a career track (eep). I guess thats why I've been sort of hiding out these past few months from friends and family and even myself. Not wanting to face the final choice (which has been so built up over the years). Sigh, but I will work it out one way or another.

Anyway, onward to less anxiety inspiring topics, I have the yarn that I ordered for my Shetland tea shawl! Its Jagger Spun Zephyr Wool -Silk in Mahogany and the color is perfect, just what I wanted. I've been trying to cast on for days now, and the circular cast on is giving me so much trouble. Its especially frustrating because after the cast on it seems like smooth sailing. So if anyone has any tips I would be overjoyed to have them.

And Day

There are mornings and evenings
days and nights
the tapping of the clock
and the skipping of the heart
I am here
cold and warm
decided
and undecided.