So I mentioned before that I'm doing the "Couch to 5K" program. I completed week one last week, but I am repeating it this week. Mostly because I decided that since I am still pretty much out of shape that running in a hilly neighborhood, when it is below freezing! is a bad idea. The local gym with the nice treamills is MUCH better. My lungs don't do that nasty freeze-thaw thing at the gym. Granted, it can be a bit overwarm, and way sweaty, and I am displaying my out-of-shape body to the great unwashed, but I know what I'm reaching for, so I'm cool with it. Besides, it hurts less, and I can actually finish a workout without thinking about dropping dead in the street.
Really, this is a pretty cool program. Free, lots of support online - almost anywhere you look - and achieveable. Workout three times a week following the program and that's it. In fact, the program insists on a rest day between workouts. Just what I like, a program that encourages vegging out. I'll keep you updated......
Monday, January 26, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Auction Stuff
It is again "Auction Season" here at the Ranch. For me, that's means deadline knitting, and driving myself crazy wondering if anyone will actually want to bid on my bits of yarn. For my hubby.....it means a new pair of socks for him has been put on the backburner, again! Funny, hubby complains about my knitting, unless it's a pair of socks for him.
So I made a pig purse for a scholarship auction.
The "why's" of the pig purse, is a long story, but suffice it to say, it fit with the occasion. I think my little piggy girl was adorable, and a way easy knit. It was a Noni pattern, and done in a flash. A couple years ago, I was on a real felted bag kick - so much so that I totally burned myself out. But this little piggy might get me started again.
The second piece was actually for me, but a test knit for an auction piece. This is my version of Carol's Clever Little Shawl.
Really an easy knit, and endlessly different depending on the yarn you use. I used some Noro Kureyon that I had "repurposed" from a shawl I had made when I first picked up knitting again. It's shortened width and slight short-row shaping, make it an excellent everyday wear accessory, guaranteed to keep you warm. Don't let the short-rowing scare you. This is very much a "short-row 101"-type thing. I only finished my first one the other day...and I've started my second already - the "offical" one for the school auction in a wonderful blue-grey wool alpaca blend. Just going from a long-varigated to a single color yarn, really changes the way it looks. I already have a couple other ideas for playing with the pattern. We'll see what happens!
A little sift through my stash revealed at least three other choices in yarn I could make one of these shawls from. I think I may end up knitting this shawl so much this year, I could end up hating it. But for now, I'm in love!
In other news....I have completed the first week of the "Couch to 5K" program. The program trains you to go from being a couch potato (pretty much me, now) to being able to run a 5K in NINE weeks! I plan on repeating week one, next week, mainly because it was so cold last week, that although I did complete the three workouts for last week, I think I would be well served if I repeated it. I have also decided to either train at a local park with a flat walking track, or if it stays really cold like it has been, at the gym. That's the beauty of this program.......it's adaptable to treadmill or outside training, and there are supports for the program everywhere. Itunes has several free podcasts that provide music and verbal cues while training. (free.....I do love me some free!) And if you're on Ravelry and following the program, there's a group there, too.
Speaking of Ravelry....if you haven't joined, why not?
So wish me luck on my repeat of week one. My goal is not to have my lungs scream at me at the end of the week.
So I made a pig purse for a scholarship auction.
The "why's" of the pig purse, is a long story, but suffice it to say, it fit with the occasion. I think my little piggy girl was adorable, and a way easy knit. It was a Noni pattern, and done in a flash. A couple years ago, I was on a real felted bag kick - so much so that I totally burned myself out. But this little piggy might get me started again.The second piece was actually for me, but a test knit for an auction piece. This is my version of Carol's Clever Little Shawl.
Really an easy knit, and endlessly different depending on the yarn you use. I used some Noro Kureyon that I had "repurposed" from a shawl I had made when I first picked up knitting again. It's shortened width and slight short-row shaping, make it an excellent everyday wear accessory, guaranteed to keep you warm. Don't let the short-rowing scare you. This is very much a "short-row 101"-type thing. I only finished my first one the other day...and I've started my second already - the "offical" one for the school auction in a wonderful blue-grey wool alpaca blend. Just going from a long-varigated to a single color yarn, really changes the way it looks. I already have a couple other ideas for playing with the pattern. We'll see what happens!A little sift through my stash revealed at least three other choices in yarn I could make one of these shawls from. I think I may end up knitting this shawl so much this year, I could end up hating it. But for now, I'm in love!
In other news....I have completed the first week of the "Couch to 5K" program. The program trains you to go from being a couch potato (pretty much me, now) to being able to run a 5K in NINE weeks! I plan on repeating week one, next week, mainly because it was so cold last week, that although I did complete the three workouts for last week, I think I would be well served if I repeated it. I have also decided to either train at a local park with a flat walking track, or if it stays really cold like it has been, at the gym. That's the beauty of this program.......it's adaptable to treadmill or outside training, and there are supports for the program everywhere. Itunes has several free podcasts that provide music and verbal cues while training. (free.....I do love me some free!) And if you're on Ravelry and following the program, there's a group there, too.
Speaking of Ravelry....if you haven't joined, why not?
So wish me luck on my repeat of week one. My goal is not to have my lungs scream at me at the end of the week.
Thursday, January 01, 2009
The year in Review
Honestly, 2008 was not a stellar year in some respects (real estate, 'nuff said), but in others, it was quite good. DH and I are zeroing in on year 26 of marriage - and we still talk do each other (among other things)! All of our boys are happy and healthy (when they aren't trying to kill each other). #1 graduates from college in May, #2 graduates from high school in June and is already accepted to his first choice college. The youngest......well, he's still alive.......and considering every member of the family has threatened to kill him at one time or the other in the last few months because of his current Tech Deck obsession....that's a huge accomplishment.
Despite problems with tendonitis in my wrists and elbows, my passion for knitting has not dimmed, even though my production might have been a bit reduced. There was a lot of quality knitting time in 2008.
Wow! so the year was more productive than I thought! That's only barely half the year's production. And I was thinking my "Hall of Shame of UFO's" was bigger than my FO's. Silly me!
I have been contemplating a New Year's Resolution for 2009. I'm one of those who tries to make a valid resolution every year and fails misrably by January 5th. So I have been thinking of an achievable resolution. I came up with this, "to take better care of myself, physically and emotionally." That sounds reasonable, doesn't it? Not too vauge, not too specific (for me, specificity is the killer), and any positive move forward can be perceived as success. I like it.
So that's it....I'm going to go with "taking better care of myself, physically and emotionally." Next to "I resolve to make no resolutions," I think it's the most fool-proof.
Despite problems with tendonitis in my wrists and elbows, my passion for knitting has not dimmed, even though my production might have been a bit reduced. There was a lot of quality knitting time in 2008.
Wow! so the year was more productive than I thought! That's only barely half the year's production. And I was thinking my "Hall of Shame of UFO's" was bigger than my FO's. Silly me!
I have been contemplating a New Year's Resolution for 2009. I'm one of those who tries to make a valid resolution every year and fails misrably by January 5th. So I have been thinking of an achievable resolution. I came up with this, "to take better care of myself, physically and emotionally." That sounds reasonable, doesn't it? Not too vauge, not too specific (for me, specificity is the killer), and any positive move forward can be perceived as success. I like it.
So that's it....I'm going to go with "taking better care of myself, physically and emotionally." Next to "I resolve to make no resolutions," I think it's the most fool-proof.
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