"The invigiliating sweater"

That's how I've come to think of the current Central Park Hoodie. I have mostly worked on it while invigilating exams this semester. (So far: Three each in each of two classes, and four exams in the third. One exam before the finals left to go in each class).

I do the bulk of the ribbing and body while invigilating, and then do the part that requires more attention (most of the shaping) at home:



I hurried up and finished the left front this weekend because I was up to the neck shaping, and I give an exam Monday. So I finished it, cast on for the right front, and will probably mainly or entirely work on the ribbing for that during the exam. (And I give another exam Thursday. Yes, this is the busy time).

I also worked on a small grant proposal this weekend. A small pot of money opened back up and I figured it was worth a try to see if I could get the few hundred dollars' worth of stuff (and gas money) for my bee project paid for rather than paying it out of my own pocket. (Whirl-pak bags, plastic bowls, fluorescent spray paint, a few other incidentals....) And even if I'm unsuccessful, having tried counts a little bit on the faculty development plan.

I toyed with the idea of requesting one of those veiled hats like beekeepers wear, but it's not really essential, and anyway, if it were bought off a grant, the department would own it; I would not. If I really want one I might buy one myself.

Other than that, I'm kind of at loose ends. I did go out and work a bit in the garden - cut more brush out (this time I cleared out the area where the previous homeowner planted irises. I admit I do not love the irises as deeply as I might: they are the very pale yellow kind, not my favorite color for irises, and I badly need to divide them at some point. I will say I'm playing with the idea of buying some of a prettier color (dark purple maybe) and intermixing them after I divide the yellow ones this fall.

I also planted a couple more rows of beans. My first ones are up but by staggering the plantings you get a longer harvest. And I planted some sunflowers back up against the fence just for some color, I hope they do something.

And there are tiny flower buds forming on my tomatoes. I hope we continue to get pleasant weather for a while before it gets hot-hot; I think part of my lack of tomato success in the past was a combination of my not planting them deep enough and it getting too hot too soon after they were in the ground.