Mama's Christmas Present 2013

I like to knit things for my Mama. She has the best reactions when she receives them. :-)  I am normally scrambling last minute to finish her gift and this year was no different. I had all the knitting done, but didn't have all the millions (maybe a slight exaggeration) of ends woven in. 

I finished it last night and there was much rejoicing. 

My Mama the model!  

So second FO of 2014. 

Here's a preview of my next project:

First finished object (FO) of 2014

I finished the kitten mittens this past weekend and delivered them to the happy (!!!) recipient tonight. I love, love, love giving knitted things to people who know knitting. 

Pre-blocked:

Now it's on to weaving in ends on my mom's Christmas gift so I can put up pics of that one. I'm so so so thankful that I had awesome knitting teachers. It is amazing what one little hobby has brought to my life. ❤️

2014

I am tanking inventory of my WIPs.  My knitting goal this year is to finish what is on needles. Two things are from Christmas and those will be finished first. 

 

The next two are ones I started for me in the latter part of the year. 

The remainder are ones that have been on the needle for way too long. And as I sit here I realize I didn't take pictures of one thing, but I'm not counting it because I've only done the cast on and no knitting yet. 

After my two Christmas knits I have a beautiful shawl to start for someone and then I'll focus on these. My one other knitting goal is to knit myself a sweater (from my stash). 

Finally one last pic. Belle enjoying access to yarn. 

She's Alive!!!

Where in the heck has the last year gone?  So many momentousness things happened; Mom successfully beat breast cancer, Dad took a tumble out of the back a truck, I got a new job and so much more.

One major thing that has changed for me is that I'm now going to a trainer at the gym and I LOVE it.  I'm getting stronger and building muscle and stamina.  I've even started doing exercises at home.  I found this interesting idea on Pinterest (my latest addiction):

These are sticks I picked up at Michael's craft store and there are 15 of each color.  I asked my trainer to give me exercises that would be beneficial for the four major things we work on:  core, cardio, lower body and upper body.  I liked the four different colors so if I was working on Lower body and cardio one day I knew what stick to pick.

I'm hopeful to get back to the blogging thing.  I have lots of knitting things to share.  Mom & I are knitting gloves for the family that is walking the Race for the Cure. I'm so very thankful that we are walking to celebrate the survivors in our lives.  So more on that when I get them done.  I have 2 pairs left to go by the 2nd weekend in May.  I guess I better knit for a while.  :-)

First FO of 2012

I finished my first knitting item for 2012.  It is a baby bunting and I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out.  (Ravelry Link).  It is the same pattern that I made a couple of years ago, but I did some tweaking to it.  I knit it all in once piece so the only sewing I had to do was the arms, I could have finagled that so I had no sewing, but what fun would that be?  The other change this time was to put snaps & decorative buttons on it instead of a zipper.  I think it ups the cuteness factor! 

Next on the list is a pair of fingerless gloves for a gift and then a scarf for the business.  Lots of knitting in the future.


  

Randomness

Wow!  Look two posts in one month!  I'm on a roll.  :-)


So updates on the c25k program.  I'm on week 5.  I'm feeling stronger and my legs are not as sore as they once were.  That being said I feel like my progress is very very slow.  I started this program in November (more than 5 weeks ago) and I am only on week 5.  I suppose I'm thankful that this is a go at your own speed program and not having to increase until I'm ready.  My next increase is to run for 9 minutes all at once.  My most to date is 6.  I'll do another time of running six to see how my legs feel and then move to the 9.  I will get there.  I will run a 5k in May.


I know a lot of people that exercise in the mornings.  I see the benefit to that, but I'm just not one of them.  I actually like to exercise in the late evenings.  It calms my stress, I can go directly to the shower and then to bed.  I sleep better and I think I am more rested when I wake up in the mornings.  Plus I'm on a kick of getting to work by 7:30 and having to get up at 6:00/6:30 is early enough!  :-)


I'm looking for a good meal planner guide, or way to meal plan.  I've seriously fallen off the wagon with that aspect of weight watchers.  It needs to be rectified.  Also I don't really care for their food tracker so I'm looking for something else to use that can travel with me.  The thing that I love so much about WW is the meetings.  The one that I attend is always so fun and the leader is so enthusiastic about our journeys that it can really help to uplift your spirits if you've had a not-so-great week.


I said adios to my papisan chair today.  It is going to live with someone that will use it for more than a cloths catcher and I must say how much I love the space it has left in my bedroom.  I moved furniture around today in the bedroom & the living room and it just feels so much better.  I have a need to move things around at least once a year.  It's inherited from my Mom.  Plus it is a chance to do a good cleaning.  Something I really need to improve on!!

Happy New Year!

It is crazy that it is 2012! The last part of the year seemed to fly by at an incomprehensible speed. Work has finally slowed down a big, the holidays were a wonderful time spent with family and I even sold my first item at The Top Button. It seems I have a log of to do items with the business. One of them is to get some posts up over there as well. Specifically about the scarf that I sold. We (mom & I) figured out how to make labels using twill tape and iron transfers, they look really nifty.

I made quite a few resolutions last year and didn't do so well, this year is a bit lighter on resolutions. My main one is to continue to work on bettering my health. I'd like to really get the diabetes under control with just how I eat and the exercising and get off any medication that I have to take.

I also want to keep experimenting with recipes and different foods. I'm pretty much a wheat eater, but I'd like to cut out all refined white foods, although I'm not sure what all that would include. I received a bread maker for Christmas and I have some whole wheat recipes to try so I'm excited about that.

Beyond those two I really do not have any resolutions. Things I would like to improve in my life, but those are the major things that I'm focused on.

I am still doing weight watchers and I've started the couch to 5k program. I am up to week 4 of 9. Though it has taken me longer than 4 weeks to get to this point, it is still progress. And amazing that I can now run.

So here is to a fabulous new year. I hope you all had a wonderful end of 2011 and an even better start to 2012!!

Bazaar Day

The first Saturday in November is Bazaar Day in my family.  It's been that way as long as I can remember.  We meet early and browse and shop and end with lunch.

My first memories of the bazaars were a bit different.  It was waking up before the sun was even peaking over the horizon and loading up the car and heading to the elementary/middle school in Eagle.   My mom & my aunt shared space by the back door so I could freely come and go to the car as I needed.  I would help bag things and run little errands until I got bored and then out the car I would go to read or sleep.  As I got older I started running the calculator and handling money and sometimes it was not pleasant, I'm sure, for my Mom to deal with my attitude.  I cherish those memories, though, they are what started and cultivated my desire to be crafty.

Later, after my Mom had stopped selling things and I was in high school & college, I didn't attend as regularly.  I'm sure sleeping was much more interesting to me. :-)

Lately though, we go every year and my Aunts & Cousins join us and it's nice to walk around and see what people can create.  Every year there is usually something new that I never would have thought of.  But more than seeing the nifty items for sale, it is a time to just be.  Not think about work, or chores, or what I need to do, but to just enjoy the time with my Mom and family and just be together.

Music & Moods

I am a music girl.  I don't know if I go a single day without listening to some sort of music.  I know I would go insane at work if I couldn't have my ipod, it seriously keeps me sane and calm.

I have a wide variety of music on my ipod, but few musicians that I will by a cd before I even listen to one song.  My most favorite band like this is 3 Doors Down, I have yet to see them in concert, but I will someday.  Each new cd they put out is my favorite, but their most recent one Time of My Life has one song that really speaks to me.

"Race For The Sun"

It's gonna rain some days I know
And things are gonna hurt sometimes that's for sure
But I won't get turned around 'cause I keep moving on
I think my mind plays tricks on me
'Cause sometimes what I get ain't what I see
I just turn it upside down and I keep moving on

I'm gonna race for the morning sun
I can't wait for the day that's on it's way
I'm gonna race for the morning sun
And it's gonna shine on me
Oh, it's gonna shine

I'm gonna take everything I want
And won't get lost in what I don't
I just hide it all inside and I keep moving on

I'm gonna race for the morning sun
I can't wait for the day that's on it's way
I gonna race for the morning sun
And it's gonna shine on me

Oh, it's gonna shine a light right down on me
And I swear I’ll find where I wanna be
And I’ll live the day like it's the only one
I'm gonna race for the sun

Shine a light right down on me
And I swear I’ll find where I wanna be
And I’ll live the day like it's the only one
I'm gonna race for the sun

Shine a light right down on me
And I swear I’ll find where I wanna be
And I’ll live the day like it's the only one
I'm gonna race
I'm gonna race for the sun
 
I love the message that I get from this song and I think it is important for me to listen to it.  I do a lot of looking back and wishing that I could change things in the past (whether it be yesterday or 15 years ago) and I don't think that is a focus that I should have.  Making the best out of what today is going to bring and looking forward to experiencing new things is my new focus.

Checking In

I've missed blogging.  Work has been consuming my time for the past month and a half.  I think maybe my head may stay above water for a while now.  I have lots to share with you.

Lets start with a picture of my 3rd project for my Camp Loopy.  I had the most difficulty getting this one completed in the time allotted, but I did and it turned out pretty.  It now lives at my Mom's house.  It seems a lot of things I knit end up at her house.  I may have to spread the love a bit more.  :-)

Ravelry Link



















 

So that's that one.  I have started on one Christmas gift, but it is slow going and I'm not sure I actually want to give it as a gift at Christmas.  I'm also working on my own pattern for an ear warmer,  I'm about 75% done so that will come along shortly.

Alaska was wonderful.  Here is the first picture.  Taken on Friday at Earthquake park. May I present my dad, the grump.  :-)

 

There were a TON of different mushrooms growing around the park.  I liked these mushrooms!

A Year and a month or two

It was a little over ayear ago that my Dad had major life changing surgery.  The change that I've seen in him is amazing.  Even before the surgery he was taking better care of himself and he's quite the inspiration to me.  I've always been a Daddy's girl, but it seems as we both grow older our relationship is improving as well.

So today is his birthday and I think a great time to celebrate his life and how grateful I am that he's going to be around for many years to come.  He doesn't agree, but I told him we celebrate birthdays in this family.  :-)

In other news I finished the third project for my Camp Loppy, it is drying as we speak (type/read whatever!).  I have lots of pictures and stories to share from a trip to Alaska in August.  So more posts to come.

FO: Knotted gloves and other things.

1. I finished the 2nd project for my Camp Loopy challenge. Ravelry Link.   I had fun with the project, I've not done a lot of cable work so this was a nice introduction. The yarn is wonderfully sparkly, but you cannot tell in the pictures!



And a close up of the cable:




Next is onto project three and it is another shawl, but with a lot more yardage.  The challenge is to use over 800 yards of yarn.  Good thing I'll have plenty of knitting time on the plane.

2.  Michael Buble has never been on my ipod, or in my music scene, but I ended up going to his concert a couple of evenings ago and I LOVED it.  I knew I'd like the music, I love big band and Sinatra and all that, but he was so stinking funny.  I don't think I've ever laughed so hard at a music concert.  I would definitely pay to see him again.  His opening act was Naturally 7, a group of 7 guys that do not use any instruments, only their voices and the music they create is phenomenal.  Seriously, check them out.

3.  Soon I'll be headed to Alaska and I'm hoping to get some wonderful pictures while I'm up there to share.  If I get some good ones I want to blow them up and use them to decorate my living room and/or bedroom.  Plus I get to see one of my most wonderfulest friends while I'm there. Win-win I say.

FO: Cladonia Shawl

Instead of just having pictures of the finished object (FO), I thought I'd take you on a journey what goes into it.

First of course is the knitting (WIP):



This is right before I started on the lacey party of the shawl.  After you've finished knitting and weaving in all the loose ends you wash it.  I use a product called Soak, it is a non-rinsing detergent that you just let the item soak in for 15 minutes. 

After a quick spin in the washer to get as much of the water out you block the item.  Not all things require blocking, but items with lace work in them really pop after they've been blocked.

before:





during:



and after:





And that is the process of making a pretty FO.

I really liked this pattern and want to make it again, it went quickly.  Until I had to take out 5 rows at the end, but that was a learning experience and it made it prettier.

My next Camp Loopy project is Knotty Gloves, and the yarn is pink & cream with sparkles.  :-)

A Teaser

I have finished my first project for my summery camp.  You can have a small peak:



I have an idea of the blog for that project, coming in the next few days (cross your fingers, but don't hold your breath!)

I did want to share one more picture with you. It was taken a couple of nights ago and the sky was just lovely.  Enjoy...

Camp Loopy 2011

So one of my favorite on-line yarn stores is holding the 2011 Camp Loopy for the next three months.  There is a challenge each month and if you participate and complete the three challenges you get free yarn.  I love free yarn.  ♥ 

The time frames are tight, but I'm hoping that this will kick my knitting butt in gear.  The past couple of months have been light on the desire to knit.  Of course that could be due to the fact that I've been devouring books on my Nook.  :-)

The first challenge requires you to make a shawl (or something that you could throw around your shoulders while sitting around the camp fire) that uses two or more colors.  I've decided on the following pattern designed by Kristen Kapur (Through the Loops one of my favorite designers!!)  Cladonia with a 100% superwash marino wool in pink & brown.  If you are looking at the picture of the shawl the green will be brown & the blue will be pink. 

I'd like to do a picture once a week to see the progress that I get done.  This challenge runs from 06/15 to 07/15.  I have four days off for the 4th of July so I see extreme knitting being done those days.  :-)

Not a great picture of the yarn colors, but you at least get an idea.  

Easter

This year for Easter I offered to make the rolls.  I'm on a bread kick it seems.  I found a nifty recipe on Tasty Kitchen for French Bread Rolls and I busted them out.

A yummy picture of the whole batch:

Then I made deviled eggs.  Something that is a must at any family gathering in my opinion.  My Gram used to always do the deviled eggs so I've made it my mission to be the bringer of the deviled eggs going forward.  Last time I made them they were a bit too mustardy for me (and my mama) so this time I decided to tweek the recipe and just throw some things in:

I like things quite spicy so I was a bit worried the cayenne & Tabasco might be too much, but turns out I didn't put enough in.  However, they were devoured so all was good. And I got to use my nifty egg platter.

And just to try out some picture taking tools that I learned in my photography class I learned here is a picture of the boiling eggs:

Day of Cooking

It seems every time I turn around it's been almost a month since I posted.  Not cool.  I have lots of pictures to share so this post will be a follow up to my last one regarding the "Day of Cooking".

1.  Cinnamon Rolls:

This is the first attempt I've made at creating cinnamon rolls.  I used the Pioneer Woman's recipe from her cook book sans her frosting.  I'm not a fan of coffee flavoring in things so I just used a basic frosting recipe that my came from my Mom.  These rolls were requested by Mom for her birthday, although she did end up helping which was greatly appreciated.

It made a lot of cinnamon rolls. A lot.  I didn't get any in process pictures.  I seriously forgot about the camera until the end of the day!! So not so many pictures to share.

You split the dough in half, the first roll we melted the butter and spread it on and it was very very messy.  The second roll we just softened the butter and it was a bit easier to roll.  I don't know if I would make them again.  The flavor was good, but I like big fluffy rolls and these did not seem to raise very well.  Maybe my house was too cold?  Who knows.  Also next time much MORE cinnamon.  Much more!!  I'd give these a 3.75 out of 5.

2. Gram's Soup

This was my first time attempting to make my Gram's soup.  It is a basic veggie base with tomato juice, hamburger, & pasta added to make a soup.  Again, no in process pictures, but finished ones.  It was a hit with my Dad and I've since made a bigger batch and canned them.

Above: what I canned; below: finished product.

I made two other dishes that day, but no pictures to show for them.  The first was tex-mex pot stickers from Hungry Girl's 300 under 300 book.  The second was a chicken pot pie that I found online.  Both were good, but not sure I'd make them again.

And so concludes the Day of Cooking.  It was fun, though I don't think I'd do so many in one day again.  

 

Cinnamon roll anyone? I still have 'em.  :-)

 

New Things A-comin'

I'm having a hankering for cooking/baking these days and I've decided this Saturday will be the day.  On the list:

1. Cinnamon rolls from The Pioneer Woman Cooks.
2. I hijacked a couple of folders & a huge bag of my Gram's recipes and I'm looking to see what I can fix. I found a wheat bread one that I want to make as well.
3.  Mom purchased the new Hungry Girl's 300 under 300 recipe book.  I've got my eye on a tex-mex pot sticker combo that I'll put together as well. 

And in between all the bread raising and the cooking I'll be knitting.  I started my 2nd quarter socks, a Christmas present (and it's not even October!!) and got one glove done of a build my own pattern that I'm not wild about, but Mom likes them so I need to get the 2nd one done for her.



I also finished a shawl that has been on my needles for a couple of years.  Coalie & Belle were real big helps when I was doing the fringe.  I'll have a better picture & post to come, but here's a peak.



Hope y'all are doing well.  :-)

Walking

With the weather being nicer (some days!) I've taken to walking outside.  I love where I live because it's close to the city, but far enough out that there is quite a lot of land around me with animals and vegetation.

Saturday morning I went for a walk and saw these pussy-willows along the side of the road.



I'm still learning about taking pictures with my phone so it's not the best, but it brought back so many memories.


One of my Aunt's house backed up to a canal in Nampa and when we'd go over there we'd always pick the pussy-willows and color them.  I can recall many bouquets left for her when we were all done.

It was always a fun thing to pick these. I wanted to stop every time we'd see them along the road.  They were always so soft and fuzzy.  And something to make one smile. :-)

A quick way to Remember Knitting

So I was excited on Monday evening because a new book I wanted was coming out on Tuesday so about 10:00 I set my knitting down and went in to check to see if it was available at audible.  Never even though of my knitting again.....

Until the following morning when I woke up to this:

Yes, the knitting was in one place, the ball of yarn in another and the piece in between.  :-)  Thankfully the monster kittens did not harm the knitting or the needles so they live to play another day! :-)