Knitting Angel

Montreal

"Bon conference, Mademoiselle..."

That is what the taxi driver said to me when he left me at the hotel.

It was indeed a "Bon conference."

Evidence that I was no longer in the United States anymore.

Among other things...

The conference itself was satisfying. The city pretty (although grey until the final day that we were there), the people, with their lilting accents, charming-- especially the cute little waiters at one restaurant that we went to (I remarked to one friend that they were so "cute that you just want to put one in your pocket!") 

On the final day of the conference, I wandered around Old Town a bit.

Marveled at the horses and street signs.

Visited the port (leads to the St Lawrence River I think.)

And generally rambled about. The day that I was able to escape the conference and walk around was a warm one, in the 50s and sunny, so it was rather marvelous.

And lots of people were out on benches and the like. 

I saw lots of friends, and aside from when I was in a few conference sessions, I did little knitting (I slept on the planes.)

My passport got its first stamp, and all in all, it was an enjoyable trip. Loved Montreal.

The Vanished Month

October seemed so long and yet so short.

October was the month that I bought a new sofa and dining room set- cementing my entrance into adulthood, or middle-class-hood, or just really a sign that I have finally left self-inflicted student poverty...

October was the month that I caught the H1N1 and got so sick that I really began to get concerned.... (I was off of work for a week, I was so ill. Could not stand up- could not watch TV. Just sick. It sucked. Plus I had a cough for almost three weeks after it.)

October was the month that I got so behind in terms of work that I really began to wonder about this whole being a professor thing, and how I will ever write my book or expect to even think of getting tenure.

I am glad October is over.

In terms of knitting- only a very little got done. I am going to Montreal, Canada this weekend for my yearly national academic conference. Viva Canada!! Actually I am excited. I finally got a passport for this trip (I know, I know, I did not have one before.)  So anyway since Texas seems to have falls and winters that are perfect 70 degree days on end (I am not complaining-especially after the heat of this summer) I am busting out all the woolies for Montreal.

I even knit a tam for the occasion. Here it is blocking on an old towel on my kitchen counter

Cascade 220 and Noro Silk Garden. Hopefully it will dry by Friday morning so I can wear it (well it will have to because chances are- this will be the only time this year I will wear a woolen hat.)

That is my first major (if you can call a little tam major) knitting FO since school has started. Yeah, I have not been knitting much. But I am taking some conference knitting- a sock and a crocheted scarf that will be made out of silk garden sock yarn

This is for the plane- I fear having my needles taken from me while traveling to Canada, but I also know that crochet hooks are rarely confiscated, so I figure I can get a heads-up on the holiday crafting.

Milo has been breaking in the new sofa.

He says that he blends right in, and Chloe loves laying on the new rug.

Next to my new favorite piece- the rocking recliner (yes I have replaced my old seriously-ugly chair- but did not throw it away. It lives in the bedroom now, and one day will be re-upholstered.)

Anyway, like I said earlier- I am playing catch-up. But I will be off to Montreal this weekend and hopefully come back with fun photos and stories and having tried those Montreal bagels. I am going to try to be more diligent about blogging now- at least I hope to be.