We spent last weekend at Dear Daughter's college orientation weekend. Benedictine College is a lovely place in Atchison, Kansas on the bluffs overlooking the Missouri River (the hills and Crutchie are not a good mix... more on that later). She stayed in the dormitory while Hubster, Dear Son and I went off to explore St. Joseph. Before we left her to her devices, we got to sit in on a sample lecture -- it was the medieval-literature guy's Holy Grail lecture -- and, boo hoo, I want to go back to college and study medieval literature!
There was a bar-b-que and a dance and a movie in the quad. Her class of 400 and some is the largest freshman class in their history. The teachers and administrators we met were excellent and enthusiastic. The key? The president said it best in a presentation to the parents the first morning. Benedictine has chosen to be a Catholic, liberal arts, residential college. They focus on those so-called pillars without shame or compunction. And while I didn't think I cared particularly about the religious nature of the place, to have them focus on it rather than take a kind of wishy washy only if you search it out approach like the other places we visited makes this place feel purposeful and right-minded. And the liberal arts focus means that they focus on giving kids that kind of approach to life -- you learn about something and then make a decision about it. And you're not ashamed of knowing the history of an idea and how it's viewed by others. I like it.
The Sunday morning after we got back, this guy came for the morning while his parent's provided music for the 7:30 a.m. mass.
We made and ate pancakes, chatted about other foods that are sticky, played the vuvuzela, played with cars, played with Transformers, played the guitar, moved all the dry dog food into the water bowl (ok, that was a lack of supervision on my part and it happens with Leo too...), ate ice cream (ok, not ice cream but frozen bananas and frozen strawberries whizzed up in my Vitamix blender which I love in an unreasonable fashion -- it's fun to get away with something once in awhile other than moving all the dog food into the water bowl of course), took pictures, read the beach book, woke up Dear Son, and played fetch with Monte.
It was a busy morning. There is a reason Mother Nature makes it hard for nearly-49-year-olds to acquire 2-year-olds on a full-time basis.
What with driving all over the Midwest and all, I got a lot of stitching done on my Celery Cardigan. I love the colors (pretty true in this picture except that you can't see the sparkly bits in the yarn) and there is not too much overt pooling. And it fits beautifully through the arms and down the back.
I'm going to have to rip back the collar, though, I think. It's a little lettuce leafy and it isn't supposed to be. I'll take out a few of the corner increases and re-knit the plackets. It's more knitting than you think, though. Those fronts are widened by short rows and each row consists of the stitches all the way up the front, around the neck, and back down the other side. It's ok, though... what else do I have to do right? Lot's of time on my keester this summer.
When I'm thru working on Celery, I'll finally be able to finish this puppy. And it's all about the kindness of strangers here.
When I lengthened the body earlier this spring, did I think about the fact that I'd run out of yarn for the sleeves in so doing? Run out of a long-discontinued yarn? No, I did not. When it happened, I kicked myself all over the place until I thought to look through people's Ravelry stashes. Lo and behold, lots of folks have this yarn. Most of them have only a skein though, and I needed two.
I found someone who looked like she had two and emailed her asking if she'd like to trade for it. She'd knit with it already but was willing to rip out what she'd knitted because it was a UFO that she wasn't pleased with and send me the yarn. And she did! I sent her some sock yarn in trade. Gives you a little tear in your eye, doesn't it? Ah, me. The kindness of strangers.
Then, of course, I have to make a going-away-to-college afghan. I have no idea which one yet. Something with wavy stripes and fringe. I'll decide this week.
And, there's another baby due in the family later this month -- half-sister's having a girl. I'll make Cascade I think (Ravelry link). It's a cardigan with leaves for the button band. So cute.
Looks like a lot of knitting, doesn't it? I'll have time. My hip-replacement surgery is scheduled for the 5th of July. Put me in your good thoughts, won't you? Then, there's the on-your-butt recovery time. Plenty of time for knitting.
"There is a reason Mother Nature makes it hard for nearly-49-year-olds to acquire 2-year-olds on a full-time basis."
Tell me about it. ;)
Posted by: Ruth | June 09, 2011 at 08:24 AM
The college sounds like a wonderful choice for your daughter. I can't believe it's already been a year since I took Hannah to her freshmen orientation! Lots of beautiful knitting you've got going on and I do wish you all the best with that upcoming surgery.
Posted by: Carole | June 09, 2011 at 10:32 AM
I am in love with that sweater you're making. Beautiful!
And I don't know about the 49 thing, Annie. I'm 35 and exhausted. And our dog only eats at night because I'm freakin sick of the dog food in water thing. Sheesh.
That college looks great. But college? Wasn't she just at that Catholic school on the hill? Where does the time go.
Posted by: Elyssa | June 09, 2011 at 06:37 PM