Rain and work, knitting and jumping

I have been at work every single day for the past ... 9 days.
Two more days, this included, to go before I have a full two days off.
So I'm tired and cranky.
More so because it has been terribly busy. Not just busy, but terribly so.
And as I'm currently working on both Elizabeth and the second Elfin Bride, and both require a certain degree of concentration I am saving the Monkey socks for knitting at work.
For which there has not been time.
And this is really not something I should complain about.
Even if knitting a bit does help during a long, long day.
But: I have finished the back of Elizabeth I!
55 stitches mid front are on hold, hence the slightly crumpled crookedness in the photo. She will be very pretty once done!
And I have cast on for the front. The sleeves are already done, and so she should be all fine and finished before .... the last Potter book comes out.
See, that's probably the highlight of my summer. The last installment in the Potter series.
(Sad, really.)
But: First sleeve is done on the Elfin, stitches for the second one has been picked up and I'm getting very close to the gusset cast-on. All very exciting.
(80% cotton, 20% cat hair)
Knitting the sleeves of the first Elfin was a bit of a drag after all the excitement knitting the body. So I've decided to finish the sleeves completely before moving on to the really fun part.
And the slight boredom of sleeve-knitting will let me finish Elizabeth I first. I think.
I have a serious crush on both of these patterns.
I think that the shaping and the details in both are in a league of their own, and I want to knit them both in every colour possible.
I could easily become the one who knitted the same two patterns for thirty years.
(But then my Ravelry queue says something different.)
I wish I had things to tell about travelling the big wide world, or whipping up a lace shawl, or something immensely interesting and fun.
But life these days is rain and work and knitting.
And a lot of jumping not to step on the myriad of snails occupying the sidewalks.
Some of them are pretty. Some of them are incredibly gross (but no less fascinating in the mind of my inner 5 years old). And both make me wish I brought my camera.
But then I would probably be late for work.

Heart shaped wholegrain

I am going to a wedding tomorrow.
I usually dread those, feeling less like a welcome guest than like a hired extra in the staging of the Big Day.
But this is a small and relaxed and rather informal one.
Very early ceremony at the city hall followed by brunch, prepared potluck manner by the friendly crowd.
Before the happy, beautiful newlyweds take off to Bolivia in the afternoon.
I have been asked to bring crackers and fruit.
The crackers are nearly all done.
And I think I'm now getting there with perfecting the recipe. And thus feel safe to share.

Crackers:
250 g wholegrain rye flour (or graham flour or wholegrain wheat, it all works fine)
200 g wheat flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
- mix before adding:
150 g butter (if you grate it in cold, it is much easier and faster to crumble)
Then add
1 dl wheat bran (or oat bran)
1 dl sesame seeds and
1-1,5 dl water.
Knead into a soft but not sticky dough.
Roll out thin (2-3 mm), and cut into any shape you like.
You may sprinkle with salt or herbs before baking for 15-20 min. at 180 degr. (celcius).

And Elizabeth I has not been ignored.

PED and WIPs, but no FOs

I have been tired.
And wondering if there is such a thing as Post Exam Depression.
I have enjoyed the past week of having nothing to do other than go to work, eat, sleep, knit, and play with the cats.
But I have felt like a flat tire. A pretty worn down flat tire.
I have spend as little time as possible by the PowerBook, although I have been playing around with Ravelry, which is a dangerous place.
Not only does it confront you (that is me, actually) with your bad case of castonitis but it also makes you want to knit everything, looking at and admiring the many wonderful and inspiring FO's.
And reconsider your own.
I honestly don't think I want to muck about with short rows and things in order to make the Waist-cincher top wearable and so I have more or less just given it up as a bad job.
But for now I've just put it aside.
Instead I have come quite close to turning the heel on the second Monkey Sock, and I have started my second attempt at the Elfin Bride, this time in a wonderful, luxurious black cotton.
And I have given Elizabeth I a bit more attention.
So far I've actually finished the sleeves, and have come nearly halfway through the back, and it all looks terribly dull in photos. But I have made stitch markers.
Using cheap split rings and beads from the Big Box of Things I once meant to use for something and then forgot about.
And maybe, just maybe, I have finally figured out how to use my bad, old camera.
The laundry room is still a big hole in the ground.
But I'm getting pretty good at doing the laundry in a bucket.