Good morning everyone! I apologize for my absence.  I was in the field for the past two weeks doing groundwater sampling.  This trip had the most wells I’ve ever had to sample (59!) but it actually one of my least stressful trips.  None of the equipment broke down, we stayed ahead of schedule for most of our time out there, and I was working with a great co-worker.  There was one day when our radar looked like this:

It turned our site into a small mud party and we did briefly get stuck in mud. But we were able to get ourselves out by shoring up rocks near the tires,  WHICH NEARLY NEVER HAPPENS.  It was awesome.

The adjacent property has a bunch of judgmental cows who stare at us while we sample the wells. One of them was very sweet and playful. I called him an Apollo cow because like my own beloved dog, this cow was trying to eat my personal belongings, i.e. the keys to all the wells.

Even on good sampling trips like this one, I was so exhausted at night that I barely had the energy to answer work emails, much less craft.  I did work on this beautiful piece from Studio MME’s Super Stitcher’s Club.

On weekends I’ve been doing a lot of crochet.  Crochet is my go-to craft when I’m feeling stressed or just need to unwind without thinking too much.

This is a pretty piece I’m doing from an old issue of Mollie Makes (crafting from my stash!) Crochet in the round is still challenging to me so it’s a good way for me to practice my new skills, even if it looks a little wonky right now!

I also worked on this piece from an old issue of Simply Crochet:

I’ve making progress on my blanket as well.  I think I mentioned in the last post that I’m using Attic24’s Cosy Stripe Blanket as my pattern, but am modifying it by making more stripes with the same colors:

And finally, I started working on this cowl while visiting with my wonderful future in-laws this weekend (that is still a slightly surreal sentence to type):

So that’s what’s been going on in my neck of the woods! Keeping busy with wedding planning too; Fiancé and I have selected a venue and pinned down a date.  My parents are coming up in March and Mom and I are going to start doing wedding dress shopping, which is going to be so much fun.  I really cannot wait for that.  Fiancé and I ran a half-marathon yesterday.  It was his first and he CRUSHED IT, I’m so unbelievably proud of him!  I was about to cry when I saw him coming up on that mile 12 marker.  As for me, I’m not super thrilled with my time but given the humidity I will accept it.  I almost want to do another one just to prove to myself that I can run it faster than I did yesterday.

Also, I have not been studying much this month, which is fantastic given the test is two months away. I had this conversation with my parents this weekend:

Mom:  Have you been studying?
Me: Umm…yes, I’m on chapter 8 in my book!
Dad: Out of how many chapters?
Me:  …..52.

Well, I’d better head off to work before they send a search party looking for me. I hope you all have a great Monday!  See you Wednesday!