Friday, March 5, 2010

Bad, Bad, Naughty Blogger!

I can't believe we are suddenly in March and I blinked and missed February entirely (at least blog-wise). My abject apologies. I think it is that time thief again. I truly can't believe it is March, and therefore, Autumn.

There has been a frenzy of what the Princess calls 'hibernation cooking'. It has only been chilly once, but when school starts, you know the countdown is on.

I have so far turned 20kg of tomatoes (not mine, unfortunately, this year) into roasted tomato sauce, which now resides n the freezer. I have turned the early plums into plum sauce. I have the second last plums (the D'Agen plums) in the dehydrator, becoming prunes. And I have acquired a slow cooker. A really big 6 litre slow cooker. Yesterday I turned 2.5kg of beef shin into an enormous amount of Osso Bucco, half of which has joined the roasted tomato sauce in the freezer.

I joined the Ravelympics in an effort to get some WIPs sorted. I finished a Stash,


a self designed Cowl


and the Ishbel


and I managed to finish the Rocking Sock Club socks from the November package, a lovely CookieA sock called 'Raven Swirl'.


I'm currently not too far off finishing a Damson for my lovely Step Mother. Unfortunately, her birthday is tomorrow, and I don't think I am going to get there.

Yarnadan was not a success. Despite some de-stashing and frantic knitting I managed to finish or dispose of around 1 kg or yarn. A bit more than that came in, but I am not admitting how much. There were some sock club parcels, a few moments of madness on the internet, and about 8 socks and 8 jumpers worth may have come through the door. Drat.

I am feeling quite good that there have been no yarn purchases this month. Some yarn has come in, due to sock club memberships, but I have not actually gone searching and slapped down boodle for balls (or skeins), so that's a win.

One of the main reasons for the blogging silence has been that my kids returned to school, and they are both at school five days a week this year. This has meant I had time on my hands. "Aha", I can hear you saying. "If she has all this time on her hands, why hasn't she been updating us with her no doubt riveting life and all the exciting things she is doing?"

Now, a normal, sane, adult type person would say, "Hmm. Time on my hands? Great, I'll clean the house. Or knit more, or catch up on reading or do some gardening." That is what a sane person would say.

I thought, " Great. Time on my hands? Why don't I go back to university and get another degree. I know, I'll do a Master of Teaching and I'll specialise in primary school.''

Not only am I doing this, I decided that it would be a really, really good idea to do it online.

And to do it full time.

So I am currently a student, a full-time student, part time mother and casual cleaner and house person (very, very casual!). I may be the owner of the messiest house in Northern Tasmania.

So, instead of posting exciting things on the computer, on an irregular basiis, I've been...

Well, I've been posting slightly less exciting things on the computer on a regular basis. So far, I've been a student for two weeks and I'm not behind yet. That's got to be good, right?

The really interesting thing will be how I manage to juggle the full time practical in-class requirement, when I am sent forth to practice my skills on unsuspecting children.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm super impressed that you've done so much with the stash pile, AND all the rest!
Being a 'mature-aged' prac teacher with kids is a definite asset! You tend to emanate 'don't mess with this woman' vibes - so I've found.
Good luck with the prac!!!

Rose Red said...

Wow - that's pretty exciting, the studying I mean! I think that's great!

And you did a great job on your WIPS during Ravelympics, that's always a good thing I reckon!

2paw said...

Love the socks and the Ishbel and the cowl!! How do you fit it all in??
Glad you are enjoying your studying and remember, in twenty years no-one will remember a few crumbs, but they will remember a happy, fulfilled and loving mum!!

Michelle said...

I'm so excited about you going back to Uni! Because I never could, and I can live vicariously through you!

MadMad said...

Well, no wonder you haven't been blogging, Missy! The FO's alone (and I'm not really going to say anything about the "8 SWEATERS worth of yarn" making their way in the door, because, well, truth be told, I'm speechless...) are impressive, but BACK TO SCHOOL?! Good for you! Way to take charge of your life. I am still sitting here, wondering what to do with my life...

Alwen said...

I confess to you that when I first scrolled down, I saw Stash as a blue bikini!

You are working hard, so maybe you could use the laugh.

amy said...

Good for you!! The girl is going to be in kindergarten in five years, and I admit, I think about what I could do. With the kids being in a school we like, rather than me homeschooling, it really does open up possibilities. I think it's fabulous that you're going back to school!!

And I'm with MadMad--EIGHT sweaters' worth? If you get a chance you're going to have to let us know how that just sort of happens... :-)

Lynne said...

Good luck with the studies.

I think your life has suddenly become very full; too full, perhaps, for stash acquistion? Or is it only for stash usage since the former is quicker than the latter? LOL

frog ponds rock... said...

oooh I really like the Ishbel. Congratulations on returning to study YAY! I am at the poly 3 days a week this year and that has thrown my schedule out of whack totally. So I can only imagine what 5 days a week would be like. chaos comes to mind lol.

Donna Lee said...

My husband did a degree online. It required a surprising amount of work. Good luck. Somehow I think you'll make a wonderful primary teacher.

Donyale said...

Busy busy Tinkingbell. Can't keep up with myself doing part-time study for the first time - but full time - and all that other gear (you know, kids, family, KNITTING, booking flights, booking houses).....I'm just tired thinking about it.

Unknown said...

Whahaha! We are in the same boat! Full time student, full time mum, full time shop owner, full time housewife etc etc.. At least we don't have time to get bored!!!

You're doing a great job. :) -inoriz

Denise said...

Wow - good luck with the studies! How exciting!

Great knitting work there, too :D