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Work is not often a topic on this blog - for many reasons, not the least of which is that the information which may be most interesting is usually privileged information.

Since 2002, half of my time has been spent supervising law students as they work on real cases under my supervision in a clinical program at one of the law schools in my state. The other half of my time I spent representing those too poor to afford an attorney in trial and appellate level criminal cases.

As of June 4, I will officially leave the hallowed walls of academia to return to the trenches in the front lines of criminal defense on a full time basis with a state agency.

Thus is the reason for the recent "radio silence" revealed. All (and I mean all) available time has been spent on this transition. Nothing wakes one up while driving home at 1:30 a.m. like seeing a herd of deer on the side of the road.

I did have a short "break" - our three nieces (ages 10 and 11) were with us this past holiday weekend. We did our best to return them to their parents having exposed them to different lifestyles across a wide spectrum - from lessons about our local Amish folks to gamblers (teaching them to play Texas Hold 'Em poker and Blackjack).

In the meantime, my camera is at the Fuji factory being repaired. I'm shock at how bereft I feel at the lack of a camera at hand at all times. At least the lack of a camera coincides with the complete lack of knitting time that has overtake the Haus for the last month.

I'm hoping my new position will result in more knitting time as my daily commute will be shortened by about an hour a day.

**according to this website, this is the Morse code for "help I need to knit"

May Miscellany

I feel completely naked! Now, I've left my cell phone at home before and have felt that mildly vulnerable feeling - especially when commuting in winter - but I never thought the lack of a camera would bother me. My camera is currently at the Fuji factory, seeing if it can be fixed (at a price that's at least half of the cost of the camera, I should add). I don't know what I'm going to do if it can't be repaired. I own a Fuji Finepix F30. How good is it? Read here. Oh, how I love this camera. It has a museum setting that takes great low-light photos while not making any noise. Nearly all photos I've taken in churches or museums are on this setting. Here are 2 from last summer's trip.



Click on this photo to see the details.



See?! This is why I LOVE this camera. The stabilization is great. I'm a point-and-shoot kinda gal. I don't have time for changing lenses. I use it for family events, vacations, recording my knitting, etc. I'm not a take-15-minutes-to-set-up-the-shot kinda gal. Which is why most of my knitting pictures are not great. I took Franklin's photographing your fiber class in March and I hope to improve. But for that, I need my camera back so I can practice, practice, practice.

Our Knitting Guild had it's annual Knitting Safari yesterday. Aside from the early departure time (7 a.m.), it was a fine day. We first visited a newer shop owned by one of our members in Beaver Dam, Firefly Fibers. We then headed to Bleating Heart Haven for their Art Fair on the Farm. From there, we stopped off for the afternoon on North Main Street at The Knitting Room and The Woolgatherers. We then made an unscheduled stop at the Kristmas Kringle Shoppe on our way out of town before heading back to Madison.

There were lots of new lambs on the farm. Excuse the crap photos - they're from my crap cell phone.





I thought this was an interesting sign to still have on a building in 2011. Click on it to view the wording.



Thanks to Jayflay for my Spring package. We're partners in a year-long swap on Ravelry.



She sent some candy (yum!), crisps, and yarn. The yarn is Berroco Ultra Alpaca in a lovely heathery-purple shade. Thanks, Jayflay!

Smallville Traffic Jam

O Spring, Spring! wherefore art thou Spring?

Spring may be here, but the weather has not been the idyllic spring weather that we in the northern climes fantasize about during the dark days of February. It has been rainy, cold, and damp. We had one short timeframe when the temperatures soared into the 70's, but we are dearly paying for that foretaste of summer. Since then, we've had snow and ice-covered roads. At least the ice is melted within a day.

The one good thing is that this weather provides that dreary kind of day in which it seems that the only sensible way to cope is to sit and knit, cozy and warm, with the cats snoozing nearby.

At this month's guild meeting, our guest speaker was Sally Melville. I last heard her speak at our guild about 6-7 years ago when I was a new knitter. Like the last time, I left the meeting incredibly inspired.

I've begun the Arabesque Stole using Wollmeise laceweight. I had started at least 3 other lace patterns using this yarn and just weren't happy with the projects. I think this is going to turn out to be lovely.



I'm using these needles for the lace project.



While I prefer Addi Turbos, I have found that the oil from my hands tarnish whatever the coating is on the Addi Lace needles. These needles have very sharp points and a very good join. The stainless steel is not so slick that your knitting slides off. The cable is a bit thick and not as pliable as other needles; then again, it doesn't kink up like other needles. While the price is very good (about $6 cheaper than the Addi Lace needles), I don't like that I'm buying another item made in China.

Off the wagon I fell - and casted on a new item. A fellow guild member was wearing this scarf at the meeting and I just had to have one - plus I had the yarn in the stash.

Cedar Leaf Shawlette using Malabrigo Silky Merino (the color is Spring Water).



It's looks like a nondescript pile of yarn as I'm still doing the short rows in the body of the shawlette.

I've not only recently fell off the wagon, but I've taken to playing for the other team.

I've gone through another jag of working on assorted needlework projects.

This one I'll probably keep.


This one will be a Christmas gift.


And this is for a joint project that my mom and I have been planning for years. Her end involves quilting. My end involves a number of cross stitch projects. The finished project will be years in the making.



DH brought a bit of spring into the house a couple of weeks ago.

If I Can't Be In London...

Any of you going to be recording the royal wedding on Friday?

Any of you crazy enough to be up at 2 a.m. central time to watch it live?

We get BBCAmerica.

Friday is supposed to be a work-at-home day for me.

Uh-huh.