Last Days of Freedom

With the end of my Christmas break approaching, I just can't seem to find the motivation to begin my final year of grad school. I never really thought it would be harder to work full time and go to school part time, and I miss stress free weekends when I'm deep in the midst of a semester.

So lately, I've been running around the house trying to complete all the projects and rearranging that I can never get to when I have homework looming over my head. I cleaned up the floor by my desk, cleaned out and rearranged my bureau drawers, cleaned like a madwoman, and filed away photos, bills, etc. Next I knitted myself a new pair of gloves, a couple preemie hats for the hospital, and am starting another crafty project or three. My cousin is having another baby so here comes another birth announcement and baby blanket (though the blanket can wait a tiny while...I'm still not thrilled about knitting those squares yet....maybe I need a new pattern for something different?)

My cousin Dan (who has his Ph.D.), says that halfway through grad school, you sit back and wonder, "why am I doing this to myself?" I know why I'm doing this, but some days, I'd rather knit a hat and watch Gilmore Girls.

But for now a HUGE congratulations to my friend Becca who recently finished her MFA!!! You are inspiring me to keep on going. :-)

Christmas Decor

Due to Christmas and trying to stay away from the computer on my days off, the blog has fallen behind. Apologies. Here is an update.

We're kind of a train family....every year my dad would meticulously put up the train platform. It was the kind of train where you needed to nail the tracks to the platform. We used to go to bed when the platform only had a bare set of tracks and then wake up to a whole little world of houses, and tiny people, and snow. Now my brother Jake and I take care of the platform (because my dad has many jobs). Note Jake's mountains in the background.

(Snow covered lake with boat)

(wee town)

The stockings are some of my favourite decorations; each one was made by my grandmom when we were born.

(stockings by Martha)

My dad gave my mom a birdhouse..which is literally a bird shape and not technically intended to be outdoors. (Could you imagine being a bird living inside a larger bird? Would a bird think that was weird?)

(birdhouse from the Poconoes)