Tonight: homemade marshmallows, open fire, melty chocolate, starlight.

Tomorrow: long drive, jet plane, puppy, husband, my own bed, home.

Tonight, I went with my friend Cyndy to see the movie Up.

One of the best movies I've seen in a while. Hopeful, whimsical, charming, hilarious, heartwarming, endearing.

After the movie, we came back to campus, sat in Cyndy's home, drank wine, and talked. About life, love, things we can't change, crazy work war stories, and on and on. The older get, the more amazed I am at the people I get to call my friends. Cyndy eased my job worries. "Don't think about what you want to do for the next thirty years. Think about what you want to do today." Wise words from a woman who has clearly taken life one day at a time, who has an amazing life story, and who is just an all-around neat person.

Tomorrow is my last day in Taos. Bittersweet (sort of). I am sad to leave this magical place. But I'm equally (possibly more) happy to be going home to hubs and pup and moving boxes to fill.

Bad news on the moving front today. First, I found out yesterday that the job I had placed many of my hopes on has been put on hold for the unforeseeable future due to a hiring freeze. Come on, Obama! Quit bailing out worthless car companies, and bail out universities instead! What is this particular university going to do with no one to deal with misbehaving students? And does anyone know anyone in higher ed in southern California?

Second, I had gotten a quote on a moving truck about 4 months ago. Today, I went online to make the reservation (since we now have a definite move date), and holy moly! The quote has tripled! Something about the difference in winter rates vs. summer rates. Moral of the story, don't wait to hear about a specific job- just pick a stinkin' move date and reserve the truck!

In happier news, I had a fire in my fireplace last night. It was toasty and mesmerizing and lovely. For those of you in Texas, a fire in June sounds awful. But Taos nights are freezing! Literally- it gets down into the 30s!

Spoiler alert: This may be an incredibly boring post for those of you who don't knit. Just sayin.

I've been occupying some of my time in Taos by knitting. Let's be honest here, though. Even when home, I occupy a good portion of my time with knitting. I brought a project with me, which I promptly put down in favor of visiting some local yarn shops and finding new projects to work on. Indeed, I'm nothing if not committed.

Here are two projects I have completed while here, though!

This is the Penobscot Silk Lace Scarf from Interweave Knits, worked in Malabrigo Silky Merino, colorway Redwood Bark. It does look like redwood bark, too!





Close up on stitch detail. This was a simple project, and I think it is destined to be a gift to someone. Not sure for whom though.

Second, a pair of socks. I knit all of my socks toe up these days, and I have a standard pattern I follow for the toe and heel. I just insert whatever stitch I like on the top of the foot, and voila, a sock is born. This is a pretty simple 2 x 1 broken rib. I'll be keeping these for myself because 1) the yarn is not machine washable- stupid and impractical for socks, and 2) they're ugly!



I have a terrible habit of buying yarn I don't like- I don't know why. I think I like it at the store, and then when it's knit up, I realize, "Hey, this is ugly!" This yarn, for example, is variegated (which I always hate- screams grandma) and is variegated purple and orange (why??). I hate purple, too. It is Farmhouse Yarns, Fingering weight merino/nylon blend, colorway "Pansy." A more appropriate name might be "communion vomit," if you'd rather.



The rest of the yarn I bought, however, is comprised entirely of winners. These are all my favorite colors right now, and that yellow sock yarn is the softest sock yarn I've ever felt in my life.


Yarn stores visited:
The Yarn Shop
Weaving Southwest