Happy Alaska Day

Alaska was admitted as the 49th state on this date. No, I didn't know that off the top of my head, but I was looking for a non-Happy New Year title for the blog post and this is what you get. Not, of course, that I don't wish everyone a happy new year, because I do, but it's the 3rd of the month and that just seemed a little too late.

We're back in school today after a break that didn't really feel like one. R's father died on the 15th of December. It was not unexpected and it was a blessing to have him go peacefully, but that sort of life change definitely causes rearranging of the personal universe for everyone even remotely connected to the person. The next day we learned that an 8th grader at my school had died very suddenly and mysteriously. Elder daughter knew her, but not well -- however. More universe shifting and several sleepless nights for me. We had a nice jaunt to southwest Florida with my family but the rest of the break felt oddly disconnected. We did a family movie marathon and watched ALL of the Harry Potter movies, in order -- that's an accomplishment, right?

I've decided, on the crafting front, to try to power through the bum elbow thing and just knit as much as I want. If I can't straighten my arm afterward, so be it. I finished another Ishbel shawl, this time in BMFA Woobu, which just feels WONDERFUL. I'm going to have a hard time giving this one away. It isn't blocked yet, but I still think "yum" every time I see it or pet it ....

I also made a pair of mittens for my nephew (I hope they fit him):

and several monsters (I'll have to add these photos later, as they're still on my phone).

On the needles now, as part of a swap challenge,Vermillion, in Madelinetosh sock in the Lichen colorway, along with several other unfinished items ... my crafting goal for the next month is to deal with those UFOs.

As for New Year's resolutions -- how's "treasure every second"?

An Important Anniversary

Today is the anniversary of the date on which the 19th Amendment to the Constitution became law, in 1920. That's correct; women in the United States have only had the right to vote for 88 years. Surprised?

I was thinking about this anniversary anyway (my mother is an historian and I have learned some of my lessons well!) when I ran across a blog that asked fellow bloggers to write about something that gave them pleasure. So there you go -- although I am dismayed by the fact that it took our lawmakers so long, I am very pleased that I live in a country in which it is legal, possible, and safe for me to cast my vote.

Tomorrow D#2 goes back to school. She is looking forward to it. This, too, gives me pleasure. She is returning to the school where she went to kindergarten, and since she hasn't been there for 2 years, I suspect she's a little nervous. Luckily, there will be some children from her summer school class in her room this year, and she is great at settling into a new group. (Amazingly enough, she has not yet chosen her outfit.)