I tried to go camping on the weekend, but the weather put an end to that. I can think of few things quite as miserable as being damp...and when dampness combines with torrential downpours, nothing really goes very well. Particularly if you haven't eaten dinner yet.

Thankfully the last few days have been reasonably dry, as I've been doing some babysitting for some of my colleagues. I took care of the baby (who is now one) for part of June, and then his family went to Australia/NZ for a few weeks. I'm looking in on him this week to help out his parents (as I teach with both of them for first term). He is a lovely, happy, redhaired baby--as his mum has taught a few courses on Harry Potter, I made him a Weasley Sweater when he was born. (He's worn it on a few of the cooler days that I've babysat, and I must say that it's a relief to know that one's gifts are actually used.) Much to my surprise, he remembered me, and more than that, was quite happy to see me. It hasn't been the awakening of my biological clock that everyone else seems to think it should be, but it has been nice.

I'm headed to my parents' this weekend for a family reunion (not mine). The wedding shawl is coming along, although I'm terrified that I won't have enough to finish it properly. I really, really hope I won't have to rip back, but I'm almost 90% sure that I will have to. The other alternative is to finish it with a different yarn, but I can't decide if I like the way that looks or not.

As a final note: Battlestar Galactica 4.5 came out on DVD this week. I only have seven episodes left, and it somehow just keeps getting better and better.

unlaced

I have a confession to make.

I love knitting lace. I love everything about it: the yummy yarns (luxury fibres are so much more affordable at this weight), the patterns, the final products, and the sense of satisfaction you get from working on a project where you can see the results so tangibly.

I'm currently working on Evelyn A. Clark's Heartland Lace Shawl. It's my second of her patterns (the first being the Swallowtail Shawl) and I cannot praise the clean, well written nature of her work enough. I'm working in Fleece Artist's Woolie Silk 2-ply in the Silver colourway, and the shawl will be a companion to my bridesmaid's dress for the wedding of my friends Jessica and Aaron. The wedding is August 15th, so I'll need to have it finished for about the tenth so that I can block it properly on the blocking wires that I just ordered from KnitPicks.

How I Spent Canad Day

Happy Canada Day!

I drew a map of Canada--Oh! Canada--
with your face sketched on it twice.
You are in my blood like holy wine
You taste so bitter and so sweet.
--Joni Mitchell

So the only reasonable thing to do on your country's national holiday--particularly on a day that is grey, overcast, and unlikely to become appropriately sunny and hot--is to make yourself a Canada Day playlist. Of course, if you're a nerd like me, you might call Canada Day Dominion Day, since it marks that time when some of us (Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick) got our shit together and decided to become the Dominion of Canada, as distinct from England.



I'm gonna start with this song and see where it takes me. Check out the results on blip.fm at RadioFreeRhiannon