29.1.13

New Hat

One of my latest knitting projects is the Gretel Tam from the book Stitch and Bitch Superstar Knitting by Debbie Stoller.  I am not so good at taking pictures of myself, plus I have a cold and am not looking so good today so I got my dear dog Tia to be my model, against her better judgement, I might add.  I have wanted to make a tam for some time and I love all of the cables.  I used a different yarn than the pattern called for and my gauge was just a tiny bit small so the cables look a bit like brains but I still really like it. Another change I made was the cast on.  She suggests using a tubular cast on because it is stretchy but I found it annoying to make so I used a long tail cast on which worked just fine. I've worn it quite a few times in the last week and with our veeerrrrryyyy cold weather it did its job just fine.  Now I have to go get Tia an extra bone for her fine modelling work.



16.1.13

Time to Catch Up!



Hi, it's been quite awhile since I've posted on my blog...I really needed a break.  I wasn't inspired and topics to write about just weren't coming to me.  But after my long rest I'm back and ready to share the inspiring things I find in my life.  I wasn't quite sure how to start up again after such a long time but I'll just recap the last six months! 

We continue to enjoy our new home, adding our own touches here and there, especially the garden last summer.  I can't wait to plant some vegetable gardens and we put in a cherry tree this fall.  It is small but I expect loads of cherries in the next several years.  Sour cherries are among my favorites.  I dehydrated some this year and they have been tasty.  This is what the garden is looking like now.

One of my major goals for 2012 was to really learn how to knit.  I made three sweaters, several scarves and cowls.  I still haven't made a hat or mittens, but I'll get to that.  This is a cowl I made for a friend for Christmas using some yarn hand-dyed by my friend Jacque.  I taught myself entrelac , a method of knitting that looks woven.  I also got a spinning wheel!  I had one quite awhile ago and sold it which I have always regretted.  Spinning is such a zen activity and I'm happy to get back to it.

I also took some major steps toward getting healthy by losing nearly 40 pounds and doing the NHS Couch to 5K program, so I can now say I am a runner.  When I think about this I sometimes wonder who has inhabited my body.  It is odd that at 54 I have taken up running.  I think having Lara, the woman on the podcasts holding me accountable makes all the difference.  I surely wouldn't want to disappoint her!

Well, I think that's all for today but I promise it won't be 6 months until you hear from me again!