Summer's gone

We have returned from a successful, week-long trip to Waves, NC in the Outer Banks on Hatteras Island.
The weather was relatively cooperative, especially compared to last year! This year, it was in the 80's most days, low humidity, and sunny for 5 complete days. The other two days were cloudy and rainy in the morning, but generally clear by the afternoon. The rainy day gave us a chance to visit the North Carolina Aquarium in Roanoke Island.
The ocean was gorgeous... it felt a bit chilly at first but was comfortable to stay in and get thrashed around by the waves for a while.



All in all, a very relaxing and appreciated vacation by me. It was nice to get away from the stresses of not having a job yet, with the upcoming school year approaching in less than a week. I've resigned myself to understanding that I will not be jumping right into my dream job, as school psychologist (preferably in an elementary or K-12 setting). Instead, I find it more realistic at this point to be working in a "related" type of job in the area, at least for a year or two. Experience seems to be the big word in these interviews. But enough about that.

I wasn't very productive in my knitting while on vacation. I brought along my newest project, the Candle Flame Shawl, but since I'd stupidly left the chart of the pattern at home in the car, that didn't get very far. I did attempt to do a row (ONE ROW!!) using the written out directions, and found that to be so disastrous and difficult that, after unknitting the entire row (b/c I'd screwed up big time), I put that away for the rest of the trip. I also brought along my Frozen Lake shawl, which I did work on for a bit on the way down, as well as the Picovoli still in progress (2 inches to go, give or take). But I felt very ADHD on this trip, and couldn't seem to concentrate on any one thing for too long. I had, up until that point, been one of those people who could sit contentedly in the car for hours reading a book without caring if we stopped. However, on this trip I couldn't get into ANYTHING, even magazine articles were too long to hold my attention. Bizarre.

However, since my return back to reality, I have been a knitting fiend (while watching Season 2 of "Sex and the City" on DVD). I have finally finally finally completed those damned purple gloves I started many months ago, as well as "Hitler's Scarf." Hitler's scarf is a black scarf, made with an entire skein of Lion Brand 'Homespun.' It's for my friend's mother, who so admired a similar scarf I made for my friend out of 'Homespun' in a blue colorway. I did that scarf on size 13 needles, about 25 stitches across I believe, in garter stitch all the way. A very EASY and simple scarf... she didn't even want tassels or a fringe. So that'll get sent in the mail sometime next week.

I also worked on and finished the Frozen Lake Shawl. It is currently being blocked, but here it is pre-blockage (on the floor, attractive).

It is now blocking, with just pins. If I don't like the way it turns out (which I won't, I can say that already) I'll have to move on to some sort of wire or something. Not that it really matters, as I don't wear shawls...

That's pretty much it... Now I leave you with a picture of where I'd like to be right now: