Monthly Archives: May 2015

graduation weekend (and week), part 2.

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Alright. You asked for regalia pictures, so here are a few:

may27 - 1

Fancy robes, poofy hat.

may27 - 2

And here’s a picture of my doctoral hood. (My parents were really into the hood; I had to stand with my back to them for several pictures.)

may27 - 3

And here’s how I continued celebrating after they headed home: with champagne from my dissertation defense and a new nameplate, courtesy of a dear friend. (“Professor Rooster,” it says.)

may27 - 4

Here’s my sweet dog being sort of silly — stretching out his back leg for a scratch.

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And here’s my Avery cowl. I’ve knit a few rows on it–the counting makes it a bit more involved than most of what I’ve been knitting more recently, but I do think it will be squishy and lovely.

may27 - 6

Course prep with a furry footrest.

may27 - 7

More pesto and a sleepy dog.

may27 - 8

Phlox along the path we walked on Tuesday.

may27 - 9

Boh does a little light reading.

may27 - 10

Here he is, in his first ever ride in my new-to-me car. Also his first ride in his dog hammock (that thing that goes between the front and back seats to protect the cushions and keep an animal from leaping into the front, not that Boh ever really does that). I was so sad to say goodbye to my 03 CRV, but it has needed a lot of work lately. So, new wheels, thanks to Mom and Dad Rooster. They’ve been planning to get a new car, and as a graduation present, they offered to trade in mine, which was considerably older than theirs. So Boh and I are getting used to our new ride. I know he looks nervous, but he really did settle right in once we got moving.

may27 - 11

And this picture is in the running for what may be the greatest selfie I’ve managed to take of the two of us, mostly because of his goofy face! (We’re at our favorite spot by the creek here.)

may27 - 12

Out cold, and using his bone for a pillow.

may27 - 13

A strawberry buttermilk cake. Just because.

may27 - 14

More napping.

may27 - 15

Avocado, sriracha, and cheddar on toast, all put under the broiler. A favorite snack. I made some an hour ago, so you are all caught up on things here in Roosterland. More of an indoor day today because it is hot and humid, but Boh and I are planning a really nice walk for tomorrow.

 

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graduation weekend, part 1.

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So, it’s as official as it can be. Thought you might to see how we celebrated. Part 1 was quiet; instead of going to the big institutional stuff, Boh and I celebrated with good walks, knitting, and playing in the kitchen. (Part 2, which I’ll share once my dad sends me some pictures of me in my regalia, as requested, involved fancy robes, a poofy hat, and plenty of pomp and circumstance.) But first, Part 1:

may26 - 1

Couch lounging with this guy.

may26 - 2

And some working. This dog always lets me tuck my toes underneath him. I love that.

may26 - 3

He also sneaks over to the side of the couch he isn’t supposed to be on. (His blanket is on the right. He knows the rules, but still breaks them. Sometimes.)

may26 - 4

A little bit of knitting! Remember this? It’s Avery, a squishy, textured cowl. I’m knitting it in Malabrigo, and I hope it gets cold enough in my next home for me to wear it…

may26 - 5

Awkward before-the-gym picture — my bird tattoo is healing nicely. It’s been a month, and I’m finally getting used to it being there. (And I love it.)

may26 - 6

After a good run, and instead of attending convocation and the PhD hooding ceremony, I took Boh to a favorite spot of ours.

may26 - 7

I always admire this tree.

may26 - 8

We took the path down to the edge of the lake, and I think we both enjoyed the view.

may26 - 9

Boh wanted to play with this snail.

may26 - 10

This looks like a pretty good aisle for a graduation procession, doesn’t it?

may26 - 11

First basil harvest from the potted herbs I planted earlier this spring.

may26 - 12

I made a big batch of pesto, and also some pesto pasta salad. Leftovers are on today’s menu…

FO: another colorblock bias blanket.

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Turns out that actually knitting produces actual finished objects! Even though we’re solidly into warmer temperatures, I’m excited to get this in the mail and to its intended owners, dear friends who had a second baby boy a handful of months ago.

may22 - 6

I know they don’t exactly need warmth right now, but I’m hoping this will be useful down the road.

may22 - 5

It’s actually a little chilly here right now, and I didn’t mind at all having this blanket on my lap as I wove in all the ends last night!

may22 - 4

A classic academic’s dinner. (Black bean soup atop a pile of books.)

may22 - 3

This guy, not at all interested in whatever I was doing yesterday.

may22 - 2

Life is so hard for this dog.

may22 - 1

And eek! I picked up my regalia yesterday for this weekend’s graduation. I’m not doing the whole big procession-thing, or even the hooding (the PhD ceremony where the dean puts the fancy hood–the thing on the right in this picture, with the blue velvet signaling the doctorate–on you), but I am going to attend my department’s graduation ceremony on Sunday, and for that, I need the fancy robes. I sort of think it isn’t going to feel real until sometime in the middle of the fall semester, when I’ve gotten used to being called Dr. Rooster or Professor Rooster by my students, but I will say that trying on this stuff yesterday helped a little bit…

actual knitting content.

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may11 - 13

The large milk bottle sculpture near the ice cream spot on campus.

may11 - 14

An enormous salad of arugula, avocado, hummus, goat cheese, tomatoes, and kalamata olives.

may11 - 15

A self-portrait (do I only snap these when I am wearing a chambray shirt?) intended to demonstrate how much I love the non-lipstick lipstick I bought recently through Mick‘s side project as a Beauty Counter rep. (Full transparency when it comes to ingredients in the stuff we put on our faces? Yes, please.) I never really learned how to wear makeup, but I can appreciate that sometimes it matters to look/feel a little more put-together, and this lipstick does that for me. Maybe you can’t tell that I’m wearing it, but I can tell. Granted, this picture is most likely from a day spent sitting on the couch and/or porch wrapping up my semester.

may11 - 16

I am out of the frame here, grading. Boh is chomping on a tennis ball in my face, trying to distract me.

may11 - 2 (1)

Oh, look! Knitting! (Somehow when I imported these pictures to wordpress, it mixed up the order. But I’m drinking my first cup of coffee after a late-ish evening drinking beer with a friend, so I’m not re-ordering them.)

may11 - 3 (1)

A lovely walk in the woods with a dear friend who was back in town last weekend.

may11 - 4 (1)

Silly, sweet, completely tuckered-out dog. I snap these morning pictures of him on days when he isn’t waiting at the front door to go outside after I put the water for coffee on. Sometimes the weather is lousy, sometimes he’s still sleepy from a big day of adventuring, and sometimes, as in this next picture, he’s waiting in order to ask for a belly rub before we start the day.

may11 - 5 (1)

This animal is just too much.

may11 - 6 (1)

New bright shirt for summer.

may11 - 7 (1)

New favorite book. (I came home from a panel-thing on campus and didn’t even change out of my pretty dress. Just sat down and kept reading. I’ve been reading some post-apocalyptic stuff lately to find something to fit into a particular slot in one of my fall syllabi, and oh my goodness, Station Eleven is incredible and you will not be disappointed. Hard, hopeful, brilliantly structured, grand, and deeply human.)

may11 - 8 (1)

Boh, being sweet.

may11 - 9 (1)

A walk to our local waterfall. Creek level is high right now.

may11 - 10 (1)

Knitting! I’m working on another bias stripe blanket for friends who had their second baby MONTHS ago. (Oops.)

may11 - 11 (1)

Happy dog.

may11 - 12

Homemade peanut butter cookies for a going away party.

may11 - 1 (1)

The falls at night. I’ve never walked to see them at this time of day (8 pm? 8:30 pm?) and the light on the water was just breathtaking. I’ll be taking more evening walks this summer for sure.

there and back.

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may11 - 5

A friend (and fellow member of my grad cohort) gave me this JJ’s Diner mug to celebrate the defense and filing of my dissertation. I LOVE IT. I’m hoping it will help me channel Leslie Knope a little more often.

may11 - 6

This guy, being silly.

may11 - 2

Gorgeous spring weather for the conference I was at last week.

may11 - 3

Beautiful flowers, lots of sunshine. (And I really enjoyed the conference.)

may11 - 4

On my way home, I was able to stop off to visit dear friends. They cooked me dinner and breakfast, which we enjoyed on their amazing porch-balcony, and they even parallel parked my car into a space tinier than I’d ever attempt on my own. It was the perfect way to break up the drive back from the conference, and such a treat to get to see them in real life (instead of over Skype) and in their lovely home.

may11 - 7

I was happy to get back to this guy.

may11 - 8

And to my porch.

may11 - 9

And to our favorite weekend spot by the creek. Yesterday I brought a book and a blanket, and Boh and I enjoyed having the place to ourselves for the morning.

may11 - 10

And then he came home and napped away the afternoon. A pretty perfect Sunday. (I almost got out my wheel yesterday. Stay tuned, I’m sure I’m going to do some knitting or spinning soon…)

plants/procrastination.

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On Sunday, Boh and I went back to the creek. (It is an especially good weekend walk because it is sort of hidden. Only locals.) But first we made pancakes for our houseguest!

may5 - 2

First porch pancakes of the season.

may5 - 3

Then it was back to the tree the beavers have been working on.

may5 - 4

And over the same mossy log.

may5 - 5

But once we made it down to the creek, we met this adorable creature. PUPPY. Boh and I were both very excited. 10 weeks old, and so excited about playing in the creek.

may5 - 6

This guy was pretty happy to lounge while I read.

may5 - 7

And appreciated the view. I am going to miss this spot.

may5 - 8

More reading, while Boh snored.

may5 - 1

And then we walked down to a friend’s dock for beer, brie, and sunset.

may5 - 11

On Monday, Boh and I took a walk through one of the neighborhoods downtown. So many lovely flowers blooming!

may5 - 9

I was inspired. So after making not very much progress on my conference paper for later this week, I went to get herbs, a geranium, and a little more potting soil to pretty up my front steps.

may5 - 10

I know I’ll only be here until late July, and I’m not sure if I’ll be able to take these with me, but it seems silly to just not have my own supply of basil, Thai basil, mint, thyme, cilantro…and geraniums this summer, right? RIGHT.

 

pretty much all boh, all the time.

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Sometimes, this dog is the sweetest.

may3 - 10

And also, quite the ham.

may3 - 11

Gorgeous sunset over the lake.

may3 - 1

What my dear friend Champ calls a fake gin and tonic. (All the treating yourself, none of the gin.) Good for afternoons and work nights.

may3 - 2

Boh, focused on the deer in the background. So. Focused.

may3 - 3

Yesterday I got the official letter in the mail that says I’ve done all the things for the Ph.D. and “should be granted all the privileges of this degree.” (It’s for sending to my employer, because my contract is contingent on actually finishing, but I’m also interpreting it to mean that Boh and I are now required to take really good walks.)

may3 - 4

Like this one, on a path you’ve seen many times here on this blog. It leads to the creek.

may3 - 5

I brought fun reading, and Boh kept an eye on the folks fishing a bit downstream.

may3 - 1 (1)

And would not sit still until he’d moved around some rocks and found a good stick.

may3 - 6

And after a good dose of sunshine and creek water, we strolled back to the car.

may3 - 7

Over moss covered logs, and past trees felled by the labor of beavers.

may3 - 8

This guy was so, so tired when we got home.

may3 - 9

And happy. (And after that, we took another walk with the friend of a friend staying with us this weekend. She has completely charmed Boh. And there was ice cream. Because sunshine and spring.) Another beautiful day forecasted for today. But first, pancakes.