Knitting pics

It still hasn't sunk in that I am a PhD.

Interesting thing to note though. Prior to obtaining those letters I "had" degrees. As in I "have" an MSc. Suddenly though, and entirely without thinking about it, I became my degree. I AM a PhD. [shudder]. People say that all the time, and it wasn't until now I thought about it. I think I prefer (and therefore should watch my language) I HAVE a PhD in Forestry!

Post defense activities: knitting (yay!), hiking, starting a good book, cleaning the house from pre-defense clutter, and yes, working (bills have to be paid).

On the knitting front I am have a great time knitting my first lace scarf. It is addicting. I can't wait until the evening when I can sit and concentrate on each little lovely lacy row. The yarn is wonderful too, it is kid mohair with a glitter thread throughout from Rowan. Here is a picture:
Also, here is a photo of completed celtic vest. You will notice the snazzy ties on the side. I didn't have the brooch the pattern calls for, and was wanting to wear it at the craft fair so I knitted up some ties and sewed them on. I actually think it looks stylin' :) General malaise and the need to bounce back post-defense prevented me from offering you a picture of the vest with me in. Maybe next time.

I passed!

Quick note, because I need to take pictures of knitting (celtic vest complete and new project) before posting more. BUT:

I successfully defended my dissertation on Tuesday. I am a PhD!!!

I have minor revisions to do, but it is otherwise finished.

After almost 4 years of constant worry there is only a huge sense of relief.

To celebrate on Wednesday I knit and knit and knit. New project is a scarf for Grandma called Angel Pearls designed by Sivia Harding in Vancouver. Grandma fingered the sample in Urban Yarns when we visited post-defense (isn't life good?) but hummed and haahed, so I scrambled off with it when her back was turned. In the end she choose Celtic Vest as well, so she, Mom and I will certainly be matching. It is turning into our own little knit along!

Craft Fair!

Here is a picture of our lovely table at the craft fair last week. Sadly, I have to report that we were disappointed overall with sales. Very disappointed. But I will not dwell.

Starting on the left, Susan made lovely cloth bags and gorgeous cards with felt angels. I think the bags would make excellent knitting bags. They are light, and have pockets for needles.

Clare makes crocheted hats, along with her sister Esther (who wasn't there). She also makes the coolest bags out of 100% recycled materials. They come from signs, awnings, scrap vinyl, anything she can find. Clare also makes photo cards and photo magnets.

Here is my wool. Looks lovely doesn't it? Not one customer bought any :( However, it caught the eye of several other vendors, so I did have some sales in the end as well as fabulous trades (coffee, and soap).

So the good part of this adventure was bonding with Clare and Susan, who I really just have met. We had some fun crafting and waiting for customers to come by. The other great part was meeting some other wonderful crafty people here in Duncan. Turned out the Honey (when he stopped by) knew the woman who locally roasts coffee- her company is called Peaks Coffee. She also did a BSc in Forestry at UNBC. Small small world. Then we met some great women fibre artists- Kelly Burgess and her friend Caroline. Kelly makes very lovely and interesting quilts and Caroline had made the sweetest tea cozies I have ever seen.

These women are all keen on craft night, along with the fourth new acquaintance, Katie, who works at the local radio station here. She doesn't craft, but bakes so craft night at her house means she will be baking up a storm.

I am pleased meeting all these great women. Duncan really is starting to feel like a community to me!

On a final note (and probably very important) in 2 days on Nov. 21 at 9 am I will be defending my PhD dissertation. The day has finally arrived. I am scared, nervous etc., but I think that is normal. Let's hope when I next post I can call myself Dr. and it all will have been worth the pain :)

Socks!

I finished my first socks ever! And survived! And will wear them! They are warm and thick and were perfect in the snows of Kamloops. It is so warm back here in Duncan that they are a bit too warm, but are great winter socks.


I had to post this picture of our pumpkins on Halloween. We almost ran out of candy because of them. We live down behind other houses off the road and were worried no kiddies would venture this far. Solution was to carve up 5 pumpkins and yes! we had lots of ghouls knocking on our door.