Wednesday, January 31, 2007

1/31/07

January is gone!! What happened?

I have been having loads of fun, working on finishing the books for the closed business so I can get taxes done. I only have one thing to say. YUCK!!!

Hello, Linda, cast on that Sheep Shawl. It is fun once you get going. I am on the Village section. The only place I have had a problem was the rows with k2tog psso at the end of a section. Now that the Orchard section is finished, that problem seems to have gone away. It is fun to knit.

I am also working on Sahara (http://www.stitchdiva.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=SDS-031) so I have a project that I don't have to count every stitch. A lot of it is just stockinette, so I can knit and talk. I have just finished the waist shaping. It is knit from the top down, so then I have to go back and do the sleeves and trim. This one is easy.

If I can work up my nerve to actually fill out the form, I am going to register for the 1/2 Marathon in November. But I have to run and quit wimping out because of the weather. The last 3 days, I have decided to Nordictrack instead. It is inside where it is warm. Good for endurance, but not much on the training for the pounding of running. Or, I could break down and buy the treadmill!!! I just can't bring myself to part with the money!!!! If it was fiber, it wouldn't bother me!!! ;-)

The big exciting news is that I think I am going to Hawaii for a week the end of February. My husband came home last night and suggested I go. He has to go for work, so I will be a "tag-along". Most of the touring I do will have to be alone, since he will be at work, but I haven't ever been to Hawaii. He went a couple of years ago, but at that time my fat hind-parts wouldn't fit in an airplane seat!!! ;-( so I stayed home. Now I can go. The only problem is who to keep the 3 puppies. They seem to realize what is going on, I am getting the "I am so cute, you can't leave me for a week" routine already!!! They are hard to leave.

Also, started a good book. It is more a beach read type book. You know, nothing deep, just lots of bed-hopping. Woman falls in love with two men. Who does she choose, passion or security? It is a quick read. Good escapist stuff. It is Holly by Jude Deveraux. Set in Edenton, NC. I always like books that I am familiar with where they take place.

Chat later
Susan

Friday, January 26, 2007

1/26/07

The OBXMarathon registration of open. Do I sign up for the half marathon or not??? I can't even run 2 miles yet and it is in November???

What do you think??? HELP???

Chat Later
Susan

Thursday, January 25, 2007

1/25/07

Wow, just 11 months until Christmas!!!! Just thought of that when I typed the date. Not even ready to think about that!!

I have gotten 2 runs in this week. I am using the Couch to 5K program. I am doing week one now. I have done it 3 times, and it is feeling much better. It is run 60 seconds, walk 90 seconds, for 30 minutes. I am doing week 1 for 2 weeks. I don't like to rush into things. I have bad knees so I don't want to make them "mad", so taking this very slowly.

I have 19.5 miles towards my 100 by April 1st. I really have to pick up the pace or I will never make it. One person already has their 100 miles. I have 80.5 miles to go.

I now have a treadmill. It is a hand-me-down, and I am not sure it will work for running. I need to play with it some. But when it is free, you at least give it a chance. It is very base line. Not programmable at all. But until I save the money for one, it will work. Maybe.

I finished the Interweave Beaded Scarf. It is gorgeous, but it weighs a ton. If attacked, I can use it as a weapon!!!

I started the Sheep Shawl. My yarn finally arrived on the day the KAL started. I have the first 50 rows done. So far, so good. I am enjoying it, as long as my husband doesn't want to discuss the taxes while I knit.

Now I want to do the Civila War Shawl KAL. (http://civilwarshawlkal.blogspot.com/index.html)
It doesn't start until March 1-ish. I have a lot of Sheep Shawl knitting to do to be ready for the Civil War one.

Not to mention that I joined the 3rd Sock a Month KAL. Guess I am giving up everything except what my KAL's are doing. But at least it is using yarn!!!! I really need to get rid of some of it. But I love it all, so want to knit it.

I have 2 dogs on my feet. Not sure where number 3 is. Chelsea must have the current guard duty. Of course, if anything scares them, they run to me to protect them!!!

Went to my applique group on Monday. My current applique project is too huge to work on at a table with 6 other people, so I took a hand pieced star quilt I am working on. I can carry everything I need in a small zip lock bag, so it travels very well.

Chat later
Susan

Sunday, January 21, 2007

1/21/07

It has been a busy couple of days. Friday, I met friends at Barnes & Noble for our usual knitting time. It is wonderful that they let us hang out there and knit. While there, I convinced 3 of them to take part in the Sheep Shawl Knitalong (http://knuts4knitsheepshawlkal.wordpress.com/) too. It will be fun to have us all working on it in person together. I have had the pattern for sometime, but the yarn hasn't come yet. According to the tracking on-line, it has been sitting in a West Virginia post office for the last 4 days. No wonder there are so many companies competing successfully with the USPS. Hopefully tomorrow. I don't want to be late starting it.

I have also joined SAM3. That is a sock a month knit-along that starts Feb 1st. (http://samkal3.blogspot.com/) . The side effect of this will be, I have to learn to post pictures, so it will help my blog as well. I know it is really boring without pictures.

Saturday, the group from Friday, plus a few went on a "multi-cultural" shop hop. We went to a cross-stitch store, a bead shop (http://www.beadhavenva.com), a knitting store (http://www.knittingsisters.com), a quilt shop (http://www.love2quilt.com/) and another quilt shop (http://www.ncpquilting.com/). It was a great day. I was such a good girl, I bought patterns and buttons, but NO fabric or yarn!!! I am so proud of me!!! ;-)

I have finished the first half of my Interlacements Beaded Scarf. I have started the other side, but this is a good project for B&N on Friday's. It is just knit 5 and slide a bead. Most days I can count to 5 and talk or listen at the same time.

I have gotten about 8" of the HF Studio sweater done. I am so disguested with it!!! I thought I could be happy with it this time. This will be the 3rd time it has been ripped out. But I can't so out it goes again. But in the mean time it is going to live in the frog pond for a while. I don't think I can start it again right now. Now for a question: Since I have relegated it to the frog pond and decided not to work on it for a while, so a change the start date on my year to date accomplishements list???

Running: What is that???? ;-) I have to do better.

Chat later
Susan

Thursday, January 18, 2007

January 18, 2007

Just got back from my lovely mammogram appointment. It really is not as bad and the dread I put into it. Her hands were even warm today, which is strange since it is raining and COLD outside. I don't think there is anything colder than a wet cold.

I didn't mention in my confession in my last post that I only spent $9 on the yarn for the Sheep Shawl. I got the laceweight ready to dye cream merino. So at least I was somewhat conservative about my purchase.

I got in a good 2 mile run/walk yesterday. I used the Couch to 5K podcast, week one. It was great. It was just the motivation I needed. He tells you exactly when to run and to walk. Week one is run 60 seconds and walk for 90 seconds. For a total of 30 minutes. I was worn completely out when I finished. But can't wait to do it again. It was raining and cold and I had the mammo appt, so didn't get to go this morning. It was probably be Sunday before the weather allows. I am truely a fair weather exerciser!!!!! A treadmill takes up a huge amount of space. I just don't know where I would put one. I hate gyms so that won't work either.

Haven't done a great deal of knitting in the last couple of days. The dogs have wanted major "lap time" and they always win. But spoiling them is why I have them.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

January 16, 2007

Well I have now got 13.5 of the 100 miles behind me in the 100 miles before April 1st Challenge. Yesterday, I had my longest stretch of running yet. It felt really good, but I couldn't duplicate it today. I have started using the 3-2 breathing pattern, which is hard to get in the habit of, but it really seems to help my running. The coolest thing was that my motivation person on my Nano Nike+ was LANCE!!!!

I have ripped out the HF Studio multiple times. I am having trouble getting the zigs and zags going in the right direction all at the same time. This time they aren't perfect, but I think this is they way they are going to stay. They are equidistant apart in the picture, but mine aren't even. But this is MY sweater, right?

I have also started the Basketweave Rib Socks by Stitches by Violet (http://stitchesofviolet.blogspot.com/2005/03/basketweave-ribbing-socks-pattern.html) in Socks that Rock Yarn in the color Queen Rock. I love the pattern and the yarn!!! They are coming nicely. I am doing them both at the same time on 2 circulars.

I have also decided to do the knitalong for the Fiber Trends Sheep Shawl. http://knuts4knitsheepshawlkal.wordpress.com/ The knit along gets started January 23rd. I had the pattern, I could even find it. Then I looked for yarn. I had something I thought would work. But it was too thin. I don't have anyother lace weight yarn that isn't blue or purple. I really wanted it to be in a "sheep color". White was really what I wanted. SO I broke my fast. BUT I shopped my stash first. AND, a knit along is kind of like a class, and I am allowed to buy for classes. How is that for justification??? ;-)

Well, off to get some computer work done. I really boring day of work, but it has to be done, and it is raining anyway!!!

Chat later.
Susan

Saturday, January 13, 2007

13 month Update

Today is 13 months since my gastric bypass surgery. I have lost 116 lbs!!! ;-) I still want to loss another 15-20 lbs, but it is real slow at this point.

I have walked 9.5 miles so far this week. I hope to get another 2 miles in the morning, but it is supposed to rain, so we will have to see. Anyway, if I keep this up, I can get to 100 miles by April 1st, no problem. I do hope to be running more of them as time goes on, but I am a sissy!!!

I finished by Zig Zag socks. Except that the two skeins of hand dyed yarn don't match, so the socks don't match, I really like the pattern. The came as a sock of the month kit, so you would think they would match a little better than they do. One is mostly purple, the other is mostly teal blue. But I will wear them together anyway. The downside of hand dyed yarn.

I finally started the Studio sweater. I have about 4 inches done and it is going well. I really like her sweaters, but am so intimidated by her patterns!!!!

January 13th update on "Fiber Diet". I haven't bought any fiber yet!!! But I did buy 3 sets of martini glasses this week!!!! Not sure this is going to help on the money side. Seems I am just going to spend it elsewhere!!! Good and bad all at once.

Chat later
Susan

Tuesday, January 9, 2007

Progress

I have finally gotten started on my 100 miles by April 1st goal (http://runagogo.com/). I have 3.5 miles done. JUST 96.5 to go. But it is just one step at a time, so I have to keep going.

I still haven't started the Hanne Falkenberg Studio sweater. I am letting it intimidate me. I know it is ridiculous, but I am. I am merrily knitting along on my Zig-Zag sock (http://cavyshops.com/zigzagsocks.html) and just looking at the sweater pattern. I have turned the heel already and it is a sport weight sock, so I won't work as cover for much longer!!!

I am continuing to clean out my studio. I can actually walk through it now. Still a long way to go, but making progress.

Well off to get some chores done.
Chat later
Susan

Saturday, January 6, 2007

Another Day, Another Log in Challenge

I am continuing to find it very difficult to log into Blogger. You just go in circles for hours, then suddenly, doing nothing different, you can log in. It is very frustrating. How am I going to learn to post pictures, when I can't even figure out how to log in!?!?! ;-(

I finished my Hydrangea socks this morning. So that is two finished projects for 2007. I am planning to start a Hanne Falkenberg sweater next. Studio long. It is a turtleneck with a zig-zag on the front. I have already knit her Mermaid sweater. It went great. There is a HF blog and someone had done an Excel Spreadsheet that made it easy. I am having to do my own spreadsheet for this one and I find her patterns very difficult to read. I have asked if anyone has already done a spreadsheet, hopefully someone has and will share. If not, I continue to work on mine.

I am supposed to be getting my Nike+iPod set up. I am planning to take part in the 100 miles by April 1st, but I am prograstinating until I get the new toy set up. And I am not working on that. So what does that tell you!!!!????

Chat Later
Susan

Friday, January 5, 2007

Stupidest Blogger On Earth

I hope that I am not the only blogger to ever have this problem. I have been trying to update for 3 days now, but couldn't get back into my account!!!! I have reset my password at least 100 times. I have my first complaint with Blogger. I can't find any place on their site that says I can send them an e-mail to ask a question. You just read the FAQ until you have them memorized. I had always thought that "Insanity was doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result". Well, if that is the true definition, then I am THERE!!! Now off my rant.

Yesterday was my B'day!!! We had celebrated on Monday, so yesterday was just another day. I did get a new iPod Nano and the Nike+ Sport package. Now I have not excuse for not running. I really want to do the 100 miles by April 1st that so many knitters and runners are doing. (http://www.yarnagogo.com/blog/2007/01/100_miles_by_ap.html) Mine will be a run/walk, but my goal is, not only to do the 100 miles, but to be running it all by April 1st.

I finished the October Coat. It fits well, it still needs blocking and a button. It only has one button so it must be magnificent. I am on the foot of my Sundara Hydrangea socks and about a third of the first half of the Interlacements Beaded Scarf is done. I have to find my next sweater project. I have to go "shop my stash". I really should work on the applique project I have going, it has been at a standstill for about 2 months.

Update on Fiber Diet:
I did buy some Crochet Cotton, $6 worth. It is for the Hass Designs Crochet-Along. (http://www.hassdesign.com/CrochetAlong/) They are running a $25 special on all of their classes this year, so I signed up. I did allow purchases of supplies for classes, so I haven't broken my resolution yet!!! But it is the morning of the 5th of January so there is plenty of time.

Hopefully I can update when I want to next time. I THINK I have this logging in thing figured out.

Susan