Saturday for Nora

Nora asked what folks are up to on this Saturday, so I thought I’d answer here.  Rather than whine about not being at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, I’m simply pretending it doesn’t exist.  *hands over ears* La, la, la.  I don’t hear any of you people talking about how fabu it is.  Nope.

Instead, I spent the morning visiting with my mom while Neal set up my dad’s Christmas gift (I couldn’t find the exact one, but it’s close enough), chatting with Blog-free Kim, and organizing my rather messy folders from school.  I’m finding bibs and bobs of grading to do, along with the fairly small stack of quizzes and papers that I received this week, so once my grade database is set up and my folders are clear, I’ll tackle some of that stack. 

Then, and this is the part I’m looking forward to, Nora, I’m going to work on my Shetland Lace Triangle (Ravelry link).  I knit two extra repeats and am about a third of the way through the edging.  I love this pattern, and I think it’s because I have actually memorized the repeats; luckily, they’re the same on each row, with just a few stitches on each side of the repeat that require my looking at the pattern.  I’m going to cast on another one as soon as I finish.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how to be more "green."  Neal and I make an effort.  We love our composting, both for the rich black gold we get, and for the reduction in our garbage.  I almost always use my own totes at the grocery store.  Blog-free Kim and I exchange magazines and the Sunday Times.  This year, I plan to can some of the food I grow in my garden, and Neal has been shrinking the front yard, replacing it with a meadow filled with native plants, making a haven for our winged friends.  I know, though, that there is so much more we could do, and I’m always looking out for tips.  This summer we’re going to install a laundry line (well, that’s as much for the sensual pleasure of sleeping on sheets dried by the sun as for saving electricity), and I’m hoping to replace hopping in the car to run errands around town with hopping on my bike.  Neal’s going to rig up my old bike, Black Beauty, so she can carry groceries, but what I secretly long for is this. Ok, not so secretly, but don’t you just see her with a bell and a nice wicker basket attached?  *sigh*.  I guess it’s not as green to buy a new bike when I’ve got a usable one hanging around here.  A girl can dream, though!

And tomorrow, Nora?  I think I’ll spin once my grading is done.  Are you spinning yet?  I know a certain Angry Poodle is smitten with her new wheel, and her enthusiasm reminds me that I should play with mine a little more.