Look – I have new license plate frame:
And a new coffee mug (thanks Sis!):
Pretty cool, huh? All the company is gone and life is getting back to what I call the "new normal". My parents left on Wednesday and after I got home from work it really hit me. Even after all my assignments were done, I still had the run up to graduation with all the ordering and planning, etc. Then graduation weekend and the days after with company in the house. But on Wednesday night it was all over. I thought I’d log into the school website to my personal page and just see if there were any last comments by instructors, but when I logged on, I got the message, "You are not enrolled in any classes." It hit me then that it really is over and after 10 years a different life is beginning. I certainly don’t feel lost without classes, but it is a little strange not to have assignments hanging over my head!
One of the most common questions I get is what I’m going to "do" with my degree. It’s almost as if the degree is useless unless there is some kind of financial pay-off. My cousin Margaret said it best in her comment, "Education’s empowerment is felt in every aspect of your life, and in ways we can’t imagine." I’m a firm believer that education has value for its own sake, regardless of any financial return. I’m a different person than I was 10 years ago, and I hope, a better one.
As I mentioned, stealth knitting was going on. I even have an FO. I present the Flutter Scarf:
This was a great pattern and I highly recommend it. It would be a good first lace project. The main pattern is only four rows, easily memorized and goes on forever with a "flutter" of activity at the end. I gave this to my mother for Mother’s Day. We didn’t get any model shots while she was here, but I hope she’ll get some and send to me (hint, hint). The yarn is Knit Picks Alpaca Cloud in the Iris colorway, needles Knit Picks Options #3.
I also started what I hope will be a quick baby gift:
This is the Yarni Cardigan by Mary Lou Egan. Susan Lawrence calls this her new "go to" baby pattern and I think she’s right. This just may become my baby present of choice. Loads of fun and with all the great sock yarns out there, the possibilities are endless. I’m using Regia Cotton Surf, which is not my favorite for socks, but is great for this pattern. Knit Picks Options, #2. This will be for our youth pastor and his wife who have a new baby. My hope is to have it done before the little tyke outgrows it!
missouristar 
I have perfect yarn in my stash for that sweet sweater, but those tiny needles! I’m using 3’s right now for my Alan Dart gnomes and they seem toothpicky. Looking forward to seeing your progress.
Yes it’s all cool! You’re styling with your new degree.
Have a great Mother’s Day.
We’re celebrating next weekend, so this is a nice, rainy, quiet day for me. Knitting and nap. That works.
The scarf is beautiful.
I always tell my son, “you never know what you need to know”, as a way of encouraging him to learn things he may not think are valuable or necessary and to be curious. I find that I’m always relying on squirreled away bits of knowledge–and it is fun, even if it isn’t “profitable”.
I think it is fabulous that you have your degree. Just knowing that I could stick to it and get a degree is a reward in itself. I only wish that I could muster up the energy to do a Masters. The baby cardigan is too cute. A good way to use up some of my sock yarn stash. I went a little overboard on pink last summer. I read a fun article in the local paper about Mini Coopers today. I had no idea they were so powerful.
An education is something that can NEVER be taken away from you. You don’t have to “do” anything with it – except cherish it dearly.
Love the flutter scarf, and I really must check out that baby pattern. It looks adorable!
k
The “right” answer to that “what are you going to do with it” question is that you are already doing it. The things you’ve learned will be with you forever.
That scarf is gorgeous. I’ve been on the lookout for a one skein lace scarf pattern. I have a single skein of the KP Shadow laceweight that would be perfect with that.
And I love your license plate!
Love the scarf, it’s really beautiful! The baby sweater looks cute too. I have not knit in so long…and now it’s over 100* so I’m not feeling overly excited about it now either! LOL