Posted on by Cosmicknitter-ReginaMary

Spring Break!

Two sixth grade girls came to the office to turn in a lost lock. Naturally, I showered them with all the love and fuss that a school secretary can muster. “Thanks girls, you’re the BEST!” To which they replied “No, YOU are! You’re iconic!” ICONIC! Do you know who is iconic to a middle school girl? Taylor Swift (and I have it on good authority that these girls are hard and fast Swifties). Well, if TS can have Swifties, then it’s only fitting that Mrs. Messa have “Messies”. I am taking pre-orders for t-shirts!! Tour to follow!

It is Friday afternoon. We just started our Spring Break. If I could bottle the energy the kids have on a day like today, I would make millions selling it. If you ever wonder where they get their energy, look around the halls of their schools…they suck it out of the teachers and staff!!

The Knits

I’ve been making a lot of gift knits lately. The thing about gift knits is that you give them freely in the hopes that the receiver loves them as much as you do. But they may not. And that’s ok! But doesn’t it feel so good to see your hand knits being worn and loved?

My latest knit is another gift for the new grand niece. After knitting the Kayleena by Taiga Hillard, I knew I would find a pattern in her extensive collection. I landed on the Edna Rose. This is a little bolero type sweater in “just right” sizes. The new baby has a two year old sister and I had enough yarn to make a little/big sister set. Here is the “little”one.

The cute factor is off the charts!

Somebody stop me!

See that sweet postcard? That was included in my button purchase from Pigeon Wishes on Etsy. The postcard came with a personal note and a garment tag to add to my knit. I know people push for shopping local, but I get far better service and attention to detail from my favorite vendors on Etsy than I do locally. Raise your hand if you have ever walked into a LYS and gotten the cold shoulder.

I have another pair of socks on the needles. The stitch pattern is based on Hermione’s Everyday Sock by Erica Lueder. I am modifying the pattern to knit toe-up and two-at-a-time.

These are knit with Rowan Sock yarn in the Coral colorway. This is a single ply yarn that is soft and pleasant to knit with. I started with the Turkish cast-on and for the heel, I want to try something a little different. I have been reading about the Simultaneous Heel Flap and Gusset technique on The Kninja Knitter blog and it seems to provide toe-up sock knitters with a way to knit a sock with a heel flap and gusset.  Be still my beating heart!  Stay tuned for the reveal.

Carver!

Our boy is becoming such a sweet little snuggler. I think he is losing his “puppy look” although my son assures me he will always be the little puppy.

Look at him, all grown up!

The Colleagues

You know from my posts about Halloween and cheese in a can just how much I love my colleagues. In many ways we are all cut from the same cloth.

I’m not like this because I work in a middle school.

I work in a middle school because I’m like this.

~Some wise school secretary

A colleague asked if I had hot sauce for her lunch. I opened my desk drawer and produced 4 different bottle of sauce in various flavors and intensities. You’re welcome…

A few days later, she appeared with this:

I love my job!

I am having difficulty deciding which ones to keep in the desk and which ones to take home.

The Poem

Recently, another blogger, Nanacathydotcom, wrote about Spring. She wondered if any readers had a favorite poem about the “renewal of the seasons.” My reply? Spring, by Walt Whitman.

Spring (first stanza)

To frozen clods ever the spring’s invisible law returns,
In the soft rose and pale gold of the declining light,
I heard the first hum and preparation of awakening spring—very faint,
Whether in the earth or roots, or starting of insects, I know not—but it was audible,
Then the first chirping, almost singing, of a bird,
And the grass not without proofs of coming fulness—
Palpable spring indeed, or the indications of it.

Walt Whitman

This poem is long; a full 18 stanzas. If this speaks to your heart like it does to mine, you can enjoy the full writing here: In the Words of Walt Whitman. Spring has always held such a feeling of hope for me. I recall walking in the yard and the woods behind my childhood home looking at all the newly sprouted buds and nesting birds. Daddy would leave scraps of old rags out and about for the birds and I would delight in finding a nest with one of those scraps woven in amongst the twigs. To this day, I toss yarn scraps around for the birds to claim. They seem to love the colors as much as I do! It is such a special time of year.

As we enter into Holy Week, I wish everyone a beautiful, restorative and hope filled Spring!

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

ReginaMary

In my cup:

A shot of Makers Mark bourbon. (Did I mention I work in a middle school and it was the last day before Spring Break?) At least I waited until I got home.

In my ears: Nothing. Silence. (Did I mention I work in a middle school and it was the last day before Spring Break?)

Saint of the Day: Saint Darerca of Ireland was a sister of Saint Patrick. Aside from her relationship with the well known Irish Patron Saint, Saint Darerca was known for her piety and her many offspring (14 sons and 2 daughters). Many of her children went on the become bishops and later saints. She is the Patroness of Valentia Island, located off the west coast of Ireland.

32 Replies to “Spring Break!”

  4. I love the baby sweater, and I am intrigued by the sock pattern. I marked them both as favorites in my Ravelry. And I love that middle school girls thought you were “iconic”. So great! I worked as the special ed secretary in a middle school for 5 years. So much good going on there by all the teachers and staff.

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  5. Really? First of all you called him “the dog”. I think that was insensitive and a tad “He ain’t MY dog”. He is growing up under the shadow of “the best boy eveh”. I think you have some after school puppy detention. Does anyone else think Carver doesn’t look like a sweet little puppy boy? I know I know what the heck is Regina’s husband flappin his jaw about on her knitting blog? I’m putting my foot down defending my dog. This is pupsive aggressive and I’m putting my daddy paws down. He is starving for attention and loves his mommy so much. Unrequited love. Carver actually dictated this post.

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  7. It takes truly special people to survive and thrive in a middle school. I know – my career was as an art teacher in one! You earned every drop of that drink. And silence.
    If you want to be welcomed, come to my LYS – Six Loose Ladies in Chester, VT. A non-profit staffed by volunteers, it is unusual to be greeted by only one person – there is often a group in the front, knitting (or spinning, or crocheting, or felting) chatting, helpng each other and random customers.
    Hermione is on my knitting list, and I have a preference for two at a time toe up, but I don’t have a problem picking up gusset stitches as I do a heel flap so I don’t see a need to try another method. I have a selection of sock yarn to choose from with me on this trip, if I finish the sweater I am working on, so thanks for reminding me of Hermione.

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    1. You know it!!! It was a Friday. Moon was just about full. Short staffed. It was quite a day.
      I have always wanted to visit Vermont, and now I have a destination. Thanks! I am interested in your heel method. Is it your own invention?

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      1. I don’t remember how I learned this heel method. I can remember a series of pairs of socks where I tried a variety of different heels; this is the one that stuck. By now I may have modified the original, but it fits me really well and is pretty tough if I use yarn with some nylon in it.

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  8. Gift knits are the best! I have been gift crocheting lots of little stuffed dinos of late…

    My experience with LYS in my area has been all over the place. Some warm, some quite insular – but YES to the Etsy folks, all of whom seem to go out of their way to show their appreciation.

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  9. I start my spring break on Monday after 4 master classes, but I am blessed with mostly adorable and sweet kids! Still, I am looking forward to the break and a trip to see my daughter and go to her bridal shower. 🙂

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  13. I stopped going to my local yarn shop because the customer service (if you weren’t one of the ‘regulars’) was non-existent. I much prefer the one that’s sadly a 90-minute drive from me. Although my purse is probably glad it’s not closer.

    The little bolero is so adorable, I want to make one immediately!

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  15. The bolero is very cute! Enabler! I’m getting the itch to knit baby sweaters again lol.

    Ah, spring break, as a parent I sometimes dreaded it when my kids hit certain ages (I had 4). But when I worked at a community college (secretary at their non profit radio station, Jazz) I enjoyed the break just like the kids :P. Tho I have to say that was one of my favorite jobs, the people were so wonderful. Glad the kids appreciate you :).

    I don’t knit a lot of socks, always intimidated by the heel – no clue why, but I have knit Hermione’s everyday socks and loved the pattern.

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    1. I am a total enabler!! I agree with what you said about spring break. Now that my boys are older, spring break is a real break for me!! As for socks…once I wrapped my head around the heel concept, the sock knitting made sense and became fun. Have a great week! xoxo

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  16. What a beautiful little cardigan for your great niece, and Regina, and forgive me not visiting, I don’t seem to get updates, in my notifications .. And I just clicked the three little dots to see why and I cannot find anything to rectify it like I can other sites.. Maybe as you are a dot come and not a dot wordpress I don’t know.. Yet I am subscribed..
    Any way love the pattern and the yarn for the socks and the poem.. And Carver Now looks very mature and obedient… Has he grown out of chewing on your yarns 🙂 lol..

    Loved that you dropped on by also Regina… I hope you had a good spring break xx ❤ xxx

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