Recently  a friend of mine turned me on to an article in the NYTimes about cool, new (well, new to me) iPhone photo apps. One of the apps which I immediately downloaded is called Percolator which you see demonstrated here.

You can vary the size of the “beans” and the “grind” to get a finer blend.

The finest is the lovely AT that you see pictured here.

I’ve been stuck in my home office and chained to my laptop this week working on TPA #2. Sadly. For the uninitiated, the TPAs (Teacher Performance Assessments) are a series of tests that teacher candidates in the state of California must complete in order to become fully credentialed. It’s hard to explain the odious nature of these tests, or even really what they are because until I started one I didn’t know myself what I was getting into. This is the second in a series of four tests so after I press “submit” and finish this test (by Jan.9), I’ll be half way through them (and also half way through my credential program. Hooray!

Sorry about the messy home office but that’s where the magic happens.

There have been plenty of distractions this week. A package arrived from Australia.
Many thanks to Max and Nell!

(And yes I rubbed the address out using iPhoto, if you were astute enough to notice.)

The package contained gifts for myself, Oma, Opa and…Kelsi and Ali too! (Don’t worry – they’re coming.)

I discovered a nice use for used wrapping paper – Origami cranes!

This is going to be a crafts project for the new year when I get back to school. I wonder how long it will take 30 high school students  to make 1000 of them.

Here’s a nice tutorial in case you’re interested in making some yourself.

I did manage to finish a few knitting projects but haven’t been able to get them properly modeled.
I guess you’ll just have to wait until 2011. Happy New Year!

I’m heading up to Oregon this morning for a few days but before I leave, I want to wish you all a Happy Holiday season. Take care, stay safe and be merry.

I guess the holidays are over – at least for now. Ali and Kelsi headed back to Oregon this morning but not before I managed to finish one more hat. It’s based on the Black and Grey hat and it even matches Kelsi’s shirt. Pretty cool, eh? This one is smaller with only 70 stitches (as opposed to 80 on the B&G hat). I wrote up the directions for Kirsten Z. so contact me if you’re interested and I’ll send them to you as well.

Yesterday in the city was rainy and not good for taking in the sites. Yet we up with Kathy and Joel at the Pork Store Cafe for breakfast. I’m still reeling from the amount of food served me. Seriously, I need a diet and exercise regime pronto!

Good-bye Ali and Kelsi. I’m going to miss you guys.

A trip to the beach of course! I escaped black Friday madness by taking everyone to the beach and I think I’m going to make this my post-Thanksgiving tradition. The weather was awesome. You may remember that I visited Bodega Head back in May (was it really that long ago? I still haven’t finished those socks!) This time I actually scampered down to that little beach you see in the photo and almost got stuck down there! The rock face, although it looks solid, is surprisingly crumbly but I managed to climb out and Ali has the pictures to prove it (if you want to see an old lady like me rock-climbing and then being dragged over the ledge by two kindly gentlemen).

While we were at Bodega Head I threw the Traveling Woman shawl on Kelsi so I could show you all the little scarf I finished over a month ago.

I was a little disappointed with the outcome compared to the amount of work I devoted to this project – it’s so small! But that’s what I get for using Malabrigo sock (in Ravelry Red). It is however, a wonderfully warm yet lightweight little kerchief and probably the perfect accessory for someone like me who tends to run hot anyway.

I’ve been enjoying the time spent with these two and I’m going to miss them when they head back to Oregon tomorrow.

Although she didn’t model for me, Ali helped out as stylist for the photo shoot.

I think the best part of the day for them was at the In and Out.

I had some visitors in town recently – Ali, Max and Kelsi – and have therefore been unable to knit much. I promise some progress shots real soon. I thank you for your patience.

The Rebecca Shrug is officially dead. RIP. Frogged. Good God did I really start this thing over 18 months ago!?!?!? With high hopes too I might add.

I’ll spare you the boring details but needless to say, it’s already been re-purposed. I LOVE when that happens! Read on…

When Ali sent me a text requesting that I knit her a shrug, in less than a week and in the middles of final projects, how could I resist? I did a quick search for “easy shrug patterns” and the unshaped shrug appeared, on first glance, to be the quickest. At long last, I had a project for the frogged Lion Wool-ease (above).

After a couple of false starts in which I used the wrong needle size (using size 8US instead of 8mm – damn Canadians!) I hit my stride with a double strand of the yarn and Voila! the shrug practically knit itself. I knocked this baby out in three days – in the midst of school projects no less! – but it could easily be knit in a couple of hours.

Shown on Ali is the medium (26 stitches) but I’m considering a larger, roomier size for myself. I’ve got plenty of this yarn left.

While up in Ashland, we did a little photo shoot in Lithia Park. I had no idea how stunningly beautiful this park is and how far into the forest it extends with peaceful deer grazing on its lawns. It’s the Central/Golden Gate Park of Ashland and there’s lots more to explore – I’ve only just begun!

I’d also forgotten how good Ali looks next to a big giant Oregon fir tree.

Yesterday I returned from Ashland where I spent a long weekend and had the extreme pleasure of seeing The Merchant of Venice outdoors, on the Elizabethan stage – a first for me. It was wonderful and the weather was perfect. While strictly verboten, I was able to quickly snap a photo of the stage just prior to the production. I hope to return in the Fall and see Hamlet.

I spent an amazing 48 hours in Ashland and Southern Oregon last weekend and I’m only now getting around to blogging about it. I was felled by a stomach bug the day before last and I’m still not sure if it was the flu or food poisoning but that’s no excuse! Here, now, I’ll tell you what Alice and I did.

First we drove out to Crater Lake which was spectacular but very, very cold. You can’t really tell from the photo above, but it was only 25 degrees and we were not prepared. But the sky was so clear and blue, that I couldn’t resist a drive out to the lake that I’ve only ever visited once before.

Next we did a little touring of the town of Ashland which is quickly becoming one of my favorite places.

Found the local yarn shop, of course!

Here’s a shot of yours truly incognito, trying on masks at the Shakespeare gift shop.

We capped off our Saturday by attending a play and I couldn’t resist snapping a shot of the stage. I thought the staging of this play was extremely clever and unique. You can barely see the bed lit with a yellow light through the curtain which was used to great effect. Anyway I wasn’t supposed to take any photos so I dare not mention the play. You’ll just have to guess.