State of hats

 I gave two exams today. As I said, the original plan was for me to be up at another city today, watching students present their research, but I wasn't really well enough (I am still coughing, though the cough is considerably less this evening, after running a humidifier enough in here that it now feels uncomfortably warm and damp (it's a hot-mist humidifier)

So I took along the "Free Breakfast" hat (a waffle stitch, though I'm not up to it yet) and worked on it. This photo isn't quite true to the color; the dyer called it Zombie Green, I'd say it was more of a chartreuse

 I have continued working on the Norge resistance hat, but I like the yarn for the green one better; it's a wool yarn and it's got a good twist for knitting. The other hat is a cheaper acrylic yarn and it's a little splitty.

 Today was my birthday. I wasn't expecting much as I still didn't feel great, and I had work to do (I did get the exams graded, or at least the ones people were present for - a lot of folks either had excuses for school activities - including presenting at the meetings I would have been at - or sports, so I have a bunch coming in early next week)

I did get myself some silly little things; I ordered these last week from Schleich. They make a lot of figurines; these are from one of their lines for children called Bayala. Sort of fantasy animals. I like that I can make family groups.

 

This is the Rainbow Galaxy Unicorn stallion and mare (the stallion is taller; as they're for children, that's the only way you can tell, unlike with the Breyer horses. These are bigger and a bit heavier than the little Breyers I have:

 I also got the Flower Unicorn mare and the Blossom Unicorn foal; they could be mother and baby

 I dunno, like Marge Simpson and potatoes, I just think they're neat.

 And yes, the irony of my ordering what are toys for kids on my 57th birthday, at a time in my life when I should perhaps begin thinking about döstädning rather than accumulating, but.

 Getting stuff in the mail does give a reason to keep pushing forward, having things to arrange on a shelf feels like purpose some days.

And I did get myself my usual dinner from the barbecue place - a small portion of pulled pork and a sweet potato. I really wanted Texas toast too, but they were out.

 I also splurged and ordered a cheesecake. I was expecting a thawed slice of a frozen product, but was pleasantly surprised with a different style - instead of the very cream-cheese-like filling, this is more like a very soft cake with flour (? I think) in it, and especially - they didn't have a lot of sugar in it, so it wasn't overly sweet. I prefer desserts where you taste something other than the sugar in them; this was the cream cheese or mascarpone in it and maybe a little lemon along with the strawberries and whipped cream