Eat.Knit.Sleep

Hi, I'm Jenny, and I'm a procrastinator. After spending the majority of last week cramming for my midterm and then swearing I'd get ahead of my school work, here I am at 4:55 pm Sunday just starting. Ick.

I did have a good weekend though. Friday Carlos made a nice dinner and we had some wine and talked. Saturday we had a lazy day (although I skipped yoga which annoys me) and then went to IKEA to get a new desk chair for me and into Philly for dinner. We meant to go to a sushi place a friend recommended, but the wait was 2 hours and instead ended up all dressed up at a little hole in the wall Middle Eastern place and had an amazing meal. We then went to our favorite Belgian place for a few beers before trekking home to A-town.

Today was another lazy day . . . bagels and lox, 2 pots of coffee, and a lot of knitting. I did finish the first Jacobean sock, but I couldn't get a great picture so today I've actually been knitting on my scarf for the boy.

I'm pretty happy with how it is turning out. It is the Corrugator (ravelry link) pattern and is easy to memorize. It is a nice use of the Shephard Worsted C picked out when we were at Purl in December. It's getting very long and I'm not done yet with the 2nd skein (I bought 3) so he may end up with a matching hat or the like.

I'm making some excellent vegetarian split pea soup for the week and have to start the baked casserole for dinner tonight. (Did I tell you the trick to do work, school, and 90 minutes of yoga 3-4 times a week is cooking ahead on Sunday? Highly recommended). Oh, and do homework, so hopefully a better shot of the Jacobean sock later on.

Posted by Jenny at 04:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

So, I am home sick today. I have this weird combo of sinus headache, sore throat, and horrible stomach pains. I have been taking the time being home to catch up on some sleep, laundry, studying, blog reading, Lost watching, and yes knitting.

I had been focusing much of my energy on Oscar's sweater (which I have not blogged about yet) but misplaced the contrast yarn and the buttons that are needed for it, so that is on hold until I find those. I have been knitting however.

I decided, against all logical thought, to join the Sock Knitters Pentathlon (which is both a Yahoo group and a Ravelry group) even though I'm horrible about keeping up with these things. I did cast on for the sock last night and although the toe is a little weird shaped (this is only my second toe-up sock) I am enjoying it so far.

I am a little further a long than this is here:

Today has also given me some more time to think about things. I posted here before about my complete disinterest in my job, and you all know that I've started back to school for a career change to teaching. In the back of my mind since I made this decision, was a knowledge that in the fall I'm going to need to do some fieldwork as part of my classwork and I'm frightened that my job will not be supportive of me having to change my schedule. I've been trying to figure out a way to take more classes, and have more flexible work, but I've never had to do this with the responsibilities of a mortgage and a household and without wanting to put too much of a burden on C. Anyone have any experience with this? Well-paying part time jobs, flexible or work from home jobs, taking out student loans to cover some living expenses? Any advice would be appreciated

Posted by Jenny at 07:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I finished this hat awhile ago but never posted. It turned out too big for me, but fits C's big noggin just fine. Which is actually fine with me, as I really just knit it to try my hand on fair isle. I've already cast on for a new hat with the orange handspun from the other day.

Not the best picture I know -- he didn't much care for being the model.

Here's a closeup:

Posted by Jenny at 08:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

The fire 2-ply is not all the spinning I've been doing . . .

I've been super busy lately with school and work. I've also really stepped up my yoga (and need to my running) because I'm tired of making excuses for not being healthy. For me knitting is like running, and spinning is like yoga in my crafty mind, and I need to make more time for all of it because it is what is keeping me sane.

Posted by Jenny at 05:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

My first contribution to Project Spectrum. I've decided that I primarily want to contribute through my spinning, so this is also for NaSpiMoMo.

This is superwash Merino, that I did my best plying on ever. I now need to decide what to do with the resulting yarn.

And with a stitch marker for scale.

I'm beat and ready for bed, so this will have to suffice for now.

Good night.

Posted by Jenny at 10:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

or rather, Baby Surprise! (I'm sorry, that was awful).

I knit this without really mentioning it, for a friend's baby shower at the end of the month. I just need to find buttons that are suitably feminine.

I'm thinking little purple butterflies or ladybugs.

I'm still recovering from this awful cold and work has been pretty crazy, but I'm still working on the CPH, the Earl Grey socks, and the hat.

Posted by Jenny at 08:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

or better known as, hurry up, its cold!

I've been sick as a dog this week, actually missing 2 days of work. Trying to catch up on life and blogging will be a part of that. I am knitting a lot so expect to see more content.

Posted by Jenny at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving, I know that I did. Here are few pics from my weekend, although I didn't take many at all.

Posted by Jenny at 10:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

and not told you . . .

After frogging my Secret of the Stole, which I will get back to with a vengeance. Someday.

I needed something else that was challenging, new, and matched my winter coat.

Enter Ufserud:

Horrible photo, as it is before my coffee right now, my first color work, and incidentally, my first hat.

Enjoy. I am.

Posted by Jenny at 07:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Happy Monday!

It is 8am and I am not at work. Woot! (Not to rub it in for all of you that ARE at work, but I'm happy so don't rain on my parade).

I had been saving vacation days since June for our impending move which isn't happening, so now I am forced to take some vacation before the end of the year, so I decided to take this week off.

C and I are bailing on Thanksgiving and heading down to Cape May on Wed and I am super excited.

My weekend was pretty great. It started on Friday with some takeout from a local Mexican place. Can't go wrong with Veggie Burritos and Rice and Beans.

Saturday I went for a run, and came back home to C preparing bagels and lox. My favorite! Then he and I headed out shopping to pick out my birthday gift. He had decided to get me a full head-to-toe outfit for our dinner out in Cape May and he got me a beautiful tweed skirt with embroidery, a silk blouse, and hot new knee high boots, and came home and made me dinner to boot. What a catch!

Yesterday it was snowy here, so I stayed in my pjs and am thisclose to a finished Ariann (minus the belt and buttons) but I did manage to complete a Monkey sock.

I'm spending today cleaning the house, but hope to get a little knitting done too!

Posted by Jenny at 08:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I want to thank all of you for your good wishes on C's new job (and on the brown sweater - which I love). He starts tomorrow and he is uber excited.

Friday, I took a half day at work so we could celebrate. We went down to IKEA and bought a whole bunch of stuff -- a new bookshelf/yarn storage unit for me, some shades for C's office, a desk chair, and then headed down to Philly for the best place on earth: Monk's Cafe

While I know there is a lot of great food in the Lowell/Boston area -- I'm so glad we don't have to leave the driving vicinity of Monks! Belgian beer, mussels, what more can a girl want (and also in walking distance of Rosie's Yarn Cellar, but I didn't go this weekend)

Saturday we did a whole day of "back to work" shopping. C has lost some weight and wanted to get some new clothes and I have gained some weight and reluctantly bought new clothes; all in all a long tiring day where I DID NOT buy a new MacBook Pro.

We also registered for a half marathon this weekend, which is scary and exciting being that neither of us currently run on a regular basis.

I've also been knitting. Here are some progress shots of the Monkey socks and Ariann:

Posted by Jenny at 02:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

It's my best fitting sweater yet . . . and I really need to clean my bathroom.

I hope to get a better picture, but we are in NJ this weekend so who knows.

I'm trying to pick back up on Ariann. I wish I had just knit this straight through, as I'm having a hard time figuring out where I was, or even what size I was knitting.

Posted by Jenny at 05:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

just in time to start Hint 2.

Please disregard crappy picture.

Posted by Jenny at 04:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I am really loving this pattern. I'm a bit further along than this photo represents, but my pictures weren't coming out well.

That picture also shows the Knitpicks Harmony DPNs for those of you who haven't seen them yet. They oddly match the yarn I'm using almost perfectly.

I've also cast-on for the Secret of the Stole and am loving knitting it so far. Pictures also came out blurry.

Turns out a personal day on Friday is just what I needed. Had lunch with C and picked up some yarn to make my Dad's Birthday present. (Henry if anyone is interested). We also watched Transamerica, which is worth watching.

Yesterday we slept late, which I hadn't done in FOREVER, and we took Oscar for a long walk, went out to lunch again (really great behavior for couple living on one income) and out for coffee.

Today I'm taking some much needed knitting time and then making chili (and C will make margaritas).

Good weekend overall, and I'm going to try to keep the stress levels down moving forward. I know eventually C will find a new job, and we will leave PA, and I will get to quit my job. So I'm going to try to do my job, but I'm not going to go above and beyond or succumb to the pressure and the stress and the "do or die" environment that they want me to or to the unethical behavior that some feel the need to do to keep their jobs. If I lose my job, then that's what happens.

Hope all of you are enjoying your weekends as well.

Posted by Jenny at 11:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Also, not one but TWO pairs of finished socks.

Not to be without a sock on the needles. I started a pair of Monkey's with this last night

No one at the yarn shop told C about dyelots but these look pretty close!

Posted by Jenny at 12:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

So last week or so I won a contest on the YoYo Knits.

Alyson sent me this:

Which contained this:

I love it!

So, I'm feeling much better today. Slept a lot last night and C and I went out to lunch and to get a new shade for our deck door. We are planning on going mountain biking tomorrow.

I've spent some time working on neatening my office and turning this

into this

It is some beautiful brown Cascade 220 Heathers destined to become the Bluebell Boatneck (warning: Ravelry link) from Fitted Knits . At the rate I've been knitting I decided casting on for a Fall sweater makes the most sense. Of course, given Murphy's Law this means I will finish this sweater while it is still hot out.

Also, yesterday C got a call from a headhunter about a possible interview for a position in Lowell, MA. Anyone have some thoughts on the area? I've been doing some research and it seems like a city that might be turning around. Last time I was there (probably late 1980s) it was pretty dodgy. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Posted by Jenny at 05:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

So, the yarn I showed you the other day? It's already on its way to being a sock.

I'm a little further a long than that now, and I"m really enjoying the knitting, even if the sock might be a little too big. It is the first installment from long ago of the Sundara Yarn Petal Collection. Beautiful yarn.

I keep joining these clubs and stashing the yarn. I don't know why. I'm weird like that.

I've also been a member of Boogie's Spunky Fiber club, and never spun it. Until now.

Here are my singles of the July selection, Shetland wool in Celebration. I made an effort to spin thicker and they are pretty crazy looking.

I'm home sick today. I was up all night with a terrible headache of which the remnants still remain. I'm totally not focused enough to be at work today, especially because my job involves talking to clients and being consultative. No consultations for me today.

So my friend who's niece I knit the Daisy sweater? Now she is expecting, and the baby is due in February. I'm thinking of doing something special like a blanket, but I'm not sure. Maybe the ubiquitous Baby Surprise. Decisions.

Posted by Jenny at 10:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It is horrible that I keep track of this, but someone unsubscribed to my bloglines. I'm sorry if I bored you to death? Although I'm not particularly surprised.

I found my camera cable so I can provide a little bit of entertainment in that way. So I have finished a few items since last I showed photos.

Finished Sockapalooza socks already received by my pal. They are Tofutsie and a slip stich rib from Sensational Knitted Socks.

I also finished a dishcloth, that I may not have blogged about at all.

And a Daisy sweater, which I think is adorable for a baby just 10 days old.

I also did some frogging. I apparently think I am Shrek sized.

Exhibit A: Second Trekking Sock

The top finished sock is big and slouchy. The bottom sock was loose on C's size 13s and these socks are for me. Frogged and sent to their room without supper. Plan on recuperating with some of this:

I also frogged CeCe which I was really enjoying. I took it off the needles to frog back to fix a mistake and realized that it would fit around a person twice my size. This is even though I swatched and I was spot on. I'm going to try again in a smaller size but I need to do some more swatching.

This time of year is touch because I can't decide whether to squeeze one more summer project in, or to get started on fall. Tough call.

Posted by Jenny at 08:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I actually finished these a while ago, but hadn't gotten around to posting them yet.

This is my first pair of solid socks, and I'm hoping the Knitpicks Essential softens with washing. Done with those, I've started my Sockapalooza socks:

It's made from Tofutsies, which is a little splitty but makes a nice fabric for warm weather socks, which was my intent.

I'm pulling myself back on the wagon with diet and exercise, as I realize I really have let myself go. Running, weights, cardio and yoga, and an eating plan designed to boost my metabolism. We'll see how this goes.

Had a nice weekend -- saw some friends from high school I hadn't seen in almost 10 years, which was interesting, and made me realize I really need to get out of my job. Anyone successfully make a career change in their mid-twenties?

Posted by Jenny at 02:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This is what my new toy looked like when I posted yesterday:

You can see some of my fiber stash spilling out of the closet there.

This is what my new friend looks like now:

This is the most enjoyable, consistent, usable spinning of done so far, and that alone makes it worth the price of admission.

I also want to share my beautiful new orifice hook, which matches the BFL top I'm using perfectly.

On a different note, growing up really sucks. It sucks for a lot of reasons, but today it is really bothering me because you start to think about your future in a different way. When I was younger, I thought about my future all the time as the light at the end of the tunnel; Adulthood would be a respite after the turbulence of adolescence. Lately, I find myself thinking a lot about how my actions now will inform my future, and it is making for a rather difficult present. I need some change in my life and I'm not sure of how to get it.

Now, I will distract myself with blurry pictures of baby bunnies

Posted by Jenny at 02:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

This is the current state of Ariann after I wrapped my head around joining the sleeves and starting the raglan decreases. I am still enjoying this sweater very much.

I'm in my room keeping Oscar calm while C vacuums, and am going to be spending some time playing around with Ravelry.

Posted by Jenny at 11:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

but evidence of progress!

This is actually the second sleeve of Ariann which means I might actually have a finished object some time this millennium.

I had a good time in Cleveland, but time with my family always makes me reevaluate what I'm doing with my life, as my family always seems to be doing something more meaningful and seem more content with their respective lives.

Apparently, my introspection makes me somewhat difficult to be around, and thus C has been feeling a bit like this lately.

I'm tired and it is hot, and I have to go out to dinner with the boss from hell tomorrow so I leave you with Oscar on the road . . .

CLOSEUP!!!

I love that dog!

Posted by Jenny at 09:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ok, one of my guilty pleasures is the show Work Out on Bravo. Watching it makes me feel both really fat and lazy and motivated to work out. Problem is that I catch it either when I'm sick, or feeling lazy late at night so the working out never really happens.

I've been saying as long as I've been saying I'll post more here that I want fitness to be a part of my life. I don't know how much I meant it, as mostly I was just concerned with the number on my scale. I'm still concerned with that number and wish it was about 20 lbs. less than it is, but really I just want some energy back. I want to be able to stay up late if I want, or get up early if I want, and not feel that I just can be a lump when I get home from work. I also don't want to feel guilty if I DO feel like being a lump.

I read Crazy Aunt Purl, and I admire her "Not a Diet" and I want to adopt that for myself, with a a "Not a Workout," plan or some sort of mindset that gets me healthy and happy but maintains my sanity. I feel liek posting this type of thing here, keeps me accountable so expect more of that here in the coming posts.

I've also been noticing a lack of comments when I don't have a big bandage on my face, so now I know what brings you guys out! I've decided on the Wildfoote for my pal, because I don't want the beautiful handpaint to be wasted on me, when I have the opportunity to knit it for someone who will really love the colors. I haven't picked a pattern yet though, so if you have any ideas let me know.

I've been spinning

On the left, the basic wool that came with my wheel, and on the right some 2-ply BFL that came with my original spindle kit. Very thick and thin as I had trouble with the first single, and I must have spun much finer with the second bobbin as I have tons left over even though both were made with the same amount of fiber. I'm thinking of trying Navajo plying with the leftovers just for kicks.

I've also been knitting away on the second sleeve for Ariann which is a very enjoyable knit. And drinking this

as C needs the bottles for homebrew. Mmmm beer.

Posted by Jenny at 11:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So I signed up for Sockapalooza 4 even though I'm not much of a joiner, and when I was in NJ this weekend for a friend's wedding I did a little yarn shopping for her.

She lives in So Cal where it is mild in climate and she likes purple and green. She said she either likes patterned socks in solid or semi-solid colors, or plain socks in beautiful variegated yarns. She also would be interested in cotton-blend or lighter-weight socks she said. Going through my stash, and with the purchase made on Saturday, I think I have two options.

Collinette Jitterbug in a beautiful semi-solid purple. I would have the option to do a more patterned sock here. Problem is, my pal has slightly larger feet than I do, which are a women's 8.5-9 and the yardage on the Jitterbug is pretty slight, especially when taking into account a textured pattern. I'd also have ZERO problem making myself some anklets with this stuff!

I also found this in my stash, which is lovely, but also not colors I'd wear, and it has the prerequisite purple and green.

With the Wildfoote I wouldn't worry about yardage, but I'd feel weird making very plain socks, so I suppose I could do a bit of a fancy rib.

What do you guys think?

I'm a little sad today as one of my favorite people at work quit/was pushed out on Friday when I was out and it makes me really hate my job and boss right now. And one of my little baby Basil's bit it while we were away as well:

Posted by Jenny at 05:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I meant to post this last week . . .

Posted by Jenny at 11:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So, a couple of weeks ago I broke my nose. I got hit with a door, big nosebleed, the whole nine yards. I didn't really believe that I had broken it, so I waited a few days to go to my family doctor. He suspected it was broken, sent me for an x-ray and referred me to a specialist. My nose was swollen and crooked looking, and I was having trouble breathing out of the right side. The X-Ray showed no fracture, or cartilage damage, although my septum was deviated and the Dr. thought that was the reason for the trouble breathing (although if my septum had ALWAYS been deviated, I don't know why it would only give me trouble after I banged my nose!). Anyway, I pressed, and he decided I should have a CAT Scan in case the swelling was hiding a fracture. I had that last Thursday, and a follow up appointment with the ENT specialist on Tuesday. Yep, there was a fracture, and it was indenting my bone into my nasal canal restricting my breathing, so yesterday I had surgery to straighten it out.

Now I look like this:

Please excuse the no makeup, bad hair. I haven't showered since yesterday because I need to take baths until the splint comes off next week, and I need Carlos' help to wash my hair. (This is when a boyfriend who actually has hair might have come in handy, although he was a sweetie who took the day to spend with me in the hospital yesterday although it was a minor, out-patient procedure).

The pain wasn't so bad last night or this morning, although just now when my Percocet wore off it hurts a lot, and I'm not looking forward to going to work tomorrow, in pain with the funny splint on my nose. Why I have no problem posting the photo on the internet, I do not know.

I spent a fair time knitting, spinning, and reading today which was nice. I finished the bobbin of 2-ply I was working on, started the waist increases on Ariann, and have been knitting on the Cable Rib socks, because I really need some grey socks. Oscar definitely enjoyed me being home.

Really, really don't want to go to work tomorrow. Think the big plaster cast will help in my quarterly review from the boss with completely unrealistic expectations (how a sales person who has never missed their quota, and has a great relationship with my customers and coworkers and consistently get negative reviews, I will never know! -- I need to find a job without all the politics).

Posted by Jenny at 05:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Ok, the weekend is over, and I have been completely unproductive. Work very nicely let us go at 12pm on Friday and took us for lunch and happy hour, where I apparently drank too much, because I basically managed to (possibly) break my nose walking into a door later. Ouch!

Carlos is sick again. Not with the same thing. He has gotten better and sick again in the 5 days since my last post. Healthy couple we are!

I've been spinning and knitting, and NOT doing any gardening or housework of any kind. Really must stop neglecting these things. I do have progress to show however . . .

Still working on the wheel wool. Here it is skeined up:

Carlos saw this and noted that my spinning is starting to look like "real yarn." I agreed, and decided I was ready to spin some pretty yarn. Not so sure . ..

That's some BFL from Hello Yarn that came with my original spinning kit. I do apologize for the photos. I'm too lazy to clean any of them up in Photoshop right now.

I've also been knitting away on Thermal . . .( not part of Claudia's war however).

This picture, and my somewhat enlarged belly (partially hidden by the disgustingly dirty mirror), is a good segue to my other plan. Starting tomorrow I'm embarking on a 3 month, very healthy eating and workout plan, designed to help me lose 15-20 lbs of fat, and gain 10lbs of muscle. I'm tired of being tired, and weak, and flabby all at the same time. I'm somewhat designing my own challenge very loosely based on the Body for Life challenge, with less processed food, a little more lee-way for my foodiness (and especially Carlos', since he cooks half the time and is not going on this plan with me).

I want to be in uber-shape before going to Santa Fe in July. Yah, we are visiting my mom this year! So excited, as I haven't been to Santa Fe in 6 years!

Posted by Jenny at 07:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

So here I am. Back at work. Feeling much better, but not particularly happy to be here.

It was nice being home for 4 days. I would really like to find a line of work where I can work from home. I'm just so much more at peace and productive there.

Now Carlos is sick, and sleeping in the guest room, because I am not catching this again.

I haven't been knitting, since the aforementioned Picovili disaster, but I have been spinning more. In case you didn't believe me that I have a LOT more wool that came with my wheel . ..I predrafted everything I have left yesterday.

Posted by Jenny at 09:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I stayed sick on Friday and was home again, and did accomplish a lot of knitting (started and knit half of a Picovili sweater), but that has gone to the frog pond and will never be spoken of again.

So I decided to work on some spinning and finished a bobbin and plied more of the wool that came with my wheel. Am I the slowest spinner EVER?

I still have a fair amount of this wool left which I'm determined to finish before I dip down into my fiber stash. Who knew I was a monogamous spinner?

Posted by Jenny at 11:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I took this photo a few days ago on my way to work. I'm new to gardening, but I don't think tulips are supposed to pop up in January in the northeast. I think it very well represents how odd this January has been, both weather-wise, and for me personally.

I have C and his friend H working downstairs tiling my kitchen and family room, so I don't have time for a lengthy post, nor do I have the energy to try to explain the weird happenings between C and I, as I have no understanding of what is actually happening. Going to try for my first 2-ply tonight. Pray for me.

Posted by Jenny at 06:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted by Jenny at 07:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

So I'm trying to muddle through. Things aren't much better at home, but I still managed to have a decent night. (This does not explain the way I managed to pick a fight this morning).

After dinner, which C made, and we watched a West Wing episode off our DVD, I decided to watch a movie. I brought down my basket of Romney roving and turned it into this:

I watched Thirteen. It was pretty disturbing but well made.

I also wanted to show you the status of my Everyday Cardi and my Bejeweled Scarf, both of which are lying on the floor of my office with the upmost respect. I found this:

Notice he is not just lying on the sweater, but the pattern himself. I got him off, and took this picture of my Bejeweled scarf:

And turned around and saw this:

I gave up, and went to bed.

Posted by Jenny at 11:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

One still cold . . .

Posted by Jenny at 03:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I'm feeling a little blah today . . .I'm hoping that goes away before my run in 9 hours!

I'm definitely feeling like I'm having trouble getting going this year. For the first time ever, the only thing i seem capable of accomplishing is my fitness goal. (I have run/walked every other day since the new year).

I've lost some momentum at work, and have had some confusion as to how to deal with some possible upcoming issues there, and I'm starting to think I may have handled things the wrong way and now need to back track.

It is finally cold enough to wear the Everyday sweater but I'm too lazy to finish it. This is what it looks like now:

I've sewn one sleeve on (badly) and the other is pinned on, and I still need to knit the collar and buttonbands.

I haven't knitted on Bejeweled in a few days, although I think I will a little tonight, because after seeing Margene's, I want to wear mine!

I have been spinning a bit, but still haven't completed my first bobbin! I think it is fear of plying that is holding me back.

And I finished my first Fetching glove, but haven't cast on for the second.

I'm hoping the 3.5 day weekend I have will help get me out of my funk!

Posted by Jenny at 09:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The first step is admitting you have a problem . . .

The yarn is some Cascade 220 that a secret pal once sent me to knit a felted bag . . . then I remembered while taking off my gloves on a cold morning, that I don't carry felted bags . . .

I did some spinning as well, but the picture looks pretty close to the last, but with more yarn on the bobbin.

Next run is tomorrow.

Posted by Jenny at 10:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So this weekend was good, low key, but good.

Friday we had a work outing to go bowling. I suck at bowling, but I had a good time, and was home by 7 for pizza and wine with C.

Saturday I ran, which was really rough, after beer and wine the night before and really bizarre weather. I SO should not have been able to run in short sleeves, in January, in PA. But I logged 2.4 miles bringing my total for last week to 6.66 miles. Yes, that creeped me out.

In the afternoon, we went shopping for my running shoes, and I bought a new pair, which I LOVE, which happen to be Nike + compatible so no more knitted pouch, but I still love that little pattern.

In knitting news, I did knit my Bejeweled Scarf and made a lot of progress. I'm part of Lolly's knitalong, and the patttern puts some money towards charity and it is a lot of fun.

I also joined Project Spectrum again, and hope to do a better job of keeping up with it this year. In other crafty news, I've been spinning a bit, procrastinating finishing my Everyday Sweater (although hopefully it will get cold enough to wear it), and I cast on for Fetching this evening with some Cascade 220 from my stash.

I think they will be good running gloves . . .and I did run another 2.51 miles this evening, bringing my total to 9.21 miles so far this year.

Oscar thinks I should spend more time with him

Posted by Jenny at 09:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So today was a little rough. I don't know if I am recouping from getting up so early to run yesterday . . .seems like a stretch to call it running, but anyhoo, or if I am getting sick, but this morning was awful. I couldn't get out of bed and I've been out of it and in a daze all day.

I had the idea to get up early on my off days and use the morning to spin and/or knit . . . didn't happen today as I wasn't out of bed until 7:15. I did spin a little last night on my Lendrum which I'm still getting to know.

Here's my progress . . . I am having trouble where if my yarn breaks (which I believe is because I'm not putting enough spin), I have trouble getting yarn off the bobbin back through the orifice without the yarn breaking more because it seems to unspin. Does that make sense?

I didn't spin tonight, nor did I knit, but I did sew one sleeve and one side seam on my Everyday Sweater. I'm a little nervous about the fit, as the cuff of the sleeve seems mighty small, but I was able to get it on. I can't visualize yet how the sweater will look on me, and I'm hoping some blocking will loosen things up.

I also found an outlet for my desire to work on my digital photography this year from Stephanie at Unwind

It's Snap a Dozen Days, and check out her blog if you are interested in joining us.

Now if anyone has a good place to buy photoshop, and any idea how to create a gallery in Movable Type, let me know!

Posted by Jenny at 10:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So I did finish some things in my blog absence . . . the Pea Pod Baby Set is done, and has arrived at its final destination.

Here it is in all of its glory;

Click on the photo for a modeled shot . . .

I have more stuff going on, but I want to drag it out a bit. I did have a good holiday, and got some nice presents, but none of them knitty related.

Posted by Jenny at 06:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On Sundays, C likes to watch football. When I say football, I do not mean American football, but what the rest of the world calls football and we silly Americans call soccer.

Today was no exception as C's Chelsea played Arsenal. Oscar hates it when he watches football -- the sounds of the crowds on the TV and C's clapping freaks the hell out of him. I was catching up on some blogs this morning, and Oscar found a perfect Oscar sized niche in my computer desk:

Click on the picture for a little context as to where he is.

Last night was really nice. I hadn't seen the movie in a long time. It was quite enjoyable with some red wine, and later ice cream. (As an aside, did you all know that Hershey's came out with a "extra dark" version of chocolate syrup? So excellent on vanilla ice cream!)

I finished sewing the buttons on the pea pod set, and as soon as the hat is dry I will take a picture before zipping it off to new mom and dad.

I finished the first sleeve of the every day cardi and started the second, and don't be suprised if I cast on for a sock in the next few days ....

Posted by Jenny at 01:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

How is it that I managed to do very little this weekend, and yet I still had no time to knit, clean my house, spin, and I have zero clean bras?

At least I have this to cheer me up:

Sent to me in lightning speed from Scout herse