away

 Our backyard view in the countryside:

I can't believe it's been so many days since I last posted but time has flown by. Last week was taken over by my last final, a 10 page long essay on The Dialectic of Enlightenment and the novel Mason&Dixon by Thomas Pynchon. It required a lot of work and I had to put all blogging on hold to get it done. Also, on top of that, I had a few meetings to attend because of my still-secret knitting project. But because of those meetings, I can soon share with you this huge mystery that's been coming together gradually this winter. For an impatient person such as myself, this has been a lesson in accepting that good things tend to come at a slow pace.

When I finally turned my final in on Friday I went straight to packing our bags for the countryside at Lake Mývatn, where we stayed for the weekend. Oddur and the kids relaxed and played outside (they forgot to take photos) while I worked and worked and worked some more. Then they left for Reykjavík yesterday and here I am, "alone", staying at my parents house and working as much as I can. I really miss my kids, it's not easy being away from them. But it's only a few days, and finding a well paying job that offers acceptable working hours for a parent in the summertime can be really hard... I am blessed to have this job at my parents' guesthouse and restaurant. I enjoy my work here a lot, so I focus on being thankful. I'll be back with my babes before I know it. 

I plan on at least trying to keep blogging regularly as I have been the last few months. I have no idea if this is unrealistic or what, but we'll see. Thank you all for continuing to stop by. I promise some great nature photos from the Mývatn area - it is impossible not to be inspired by our incredible surroundings here. 

keeping up

Rye socks, in size L and S

Pattern: Rye by tincanknits

Yarn: Ístex Lopi Hosuband

Needles: 3.5mm and 4.5mm

Once upon a time I thought I couldn't knit socks. Then I defeated that dragon and will now live happily ever after in my kingdom of handknit Christmas presents. I am keeping up with my gift schedule for next Christmas and have now completed five gifts and am almost half way done with the sixth. Each gift is a joy to knit and I try to think many kind and positive thoughts about each receiver while I'm knitting his or her present. So in a way, this year's presents will end up having giving me a lot, too. Oh, and The Rye sock pattern is free on Ravelry and I can now recommend it for inexperienced, wannabe sock knitters. Simple and lovely. 

This weekend's nature adventure was shared with our dear friends. At first we opted for a mountain hike (suitable for kids) but due to too much snow on the trail we backed out of that. Instead we took to Lake Hafravatn and had a picnic. Some went for a walk, some threw rocks into the lake, some drank a lot of coffee and soaked up the sun and talked and talked and talked. (I did that). Úlfur tested the waters a little too vigorously  and had to change clothes. It was one of those moments where I really feel like "someone's mother". Someone's not-so-understanding-totally-annoyed-and-yelling mother. It turned out all right though, and we forgot about the whole thing minutes later. Still, I thought about it a little before going to bed last night, how impatient and unfair I had been. It is a reminder that keeping up with school and gift making counts for something but what really counts is being able to control myself in moments of parenting challenges. I'm keeping that in mind today. 

I hope you all had a good weekend! 

all spring and ocean

Can you spot Úlfur in the hammock?

Romi's Mystery Shawl 2015

Pattern: Rosemary (Romi) Hill

Yarn: Tusindfryd Engleuld

Needle: 4.0 mm

I am very satisfied with this shawl. The process was fun, not all mkals include such enjoyable knitting. And I really like the colors, I chose them carefully to be added to my wardrobe, kinda felt I needed that combination in a shawl... 

I had planned on photographing my freshly finished, washed and blocked shawl on Friday but somehow my body decided to catch a horrid cold, something that rarely happens, so I had to stay inside Friday afternoon and all of Saturday. Photos were postponed, that's fine. But what was worse was my cabin fever. I have this thing were I just have to go outside for a iittle walk or run or bike ride or whatever every day. It's probably my healthiest obsession, but an obsession none the less. Going outside is the key to every mood swing, every bad hair day, every disappointment and frustration. So this afternoon, with the sun shining and my cold much better after two days of staying inside I was more than eager to get out! We went for a long family walk in our "backyard" the seaside. It's not technically our backyard (oh, I wish) but so close it might almost just as well be. The smell in the air was all spring and ocean. Mmmmm. We got a few nice photos of the shawl, took turns relaxing in that awesome rustic hammock by the shore and then went all the way down to the sea. A perfect afternoon. 

this town called City

Last Thursday, to celebrate the beloved First Day of Summer, we had the day off. Daycare and schools were closed and people headed downtown to enjoy the holiday and various festivities. We did, as well. I enjoyed snapping photos of our city bathed in sunlight even though it was really rather cold (and later that day it actually snowed a little - hah!). The population of Reykjavík is only around 200.000 people so it wouldn't really be a city if it were situated elsewhere...more of a town, I think. Still, it's the capital of Iceland and it's what we've got. It can be too small most of the time but just small enough at other times. And when the sun is shining it's really quite lovely. 

easter in the north

Milo vest all completed and fitting perfectly.

With my youngest brother at his confirmation party. We are told we look alike. 

Playing at my old kindergarten playground. 

Clue 1/5 is ready and waiting. 

Testing, testing.... it passed. 

I feel obligated to tell you my children did not finish all this chocolate by themselves. They happen to have very helpful parents who came to their aid and did some serious eating for them. 

We have just returned from our Easter brake in the country. My brother had his confirmation party on Thursday and then there was a big family dinner party on Easter Sunday - over twenty adults and children. Very busy indeed! But fun, lots of fun. In between all the food and parties we enjoyed the company of my family, played instruments, met up with dear friends and strolled around in this breathtaking scenery. Lots of nature, lots of relaxing. Good stuff. 

I do have some knitting projects to share. First, An ongoing project - a jumper for myself from the most amazing knitting books I have seen lately, Kofteboken. Have you checked it out? It is just amazing. I chose one of the simplest designs in the whole book but it still involves a first for me: knitting top down. This is going slowly but surely and I hope to be wearing it before autumn, hopefully late summer. Lets hope I finish it in early summer and then ironically enough never get a chance to wear it due to all the warm weather we'll have, yes? Here's hoping. 

And even though I really shouldn't have, I did decide last minute to participate in Romi Hill's MKAL which started on April 3rd. I don't have time. I still really want to since last year was so fun. So I'm doing it anyway. The first clue was a blast and I finished it in a few hours. Can't wait for the next one!

In other news, I am just very busy with school and the secret knitting project not-to-be-mentioned-just-yet. I still plan on posting here at least two times a week. So A bientot, my friends.