Beginnings

I think I mentioned last time that January is all about beginnings for me. I am up to 5 sweater starts in knitting. I seem to be picking out interesting patterns: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/summer-solstice-2 ,

www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/argo ,

www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/elsewhere ,

and finally two I am devising myself.

One will be a top down Fair Isle hoodie - not sure if I will be adding sleeves. The yarn is Elann's Donegal Tweed in a fingering weight and it seems slow going. I ordered the yarn in a Christmas cookie induced sugar high when we were in Vermont and it was -6 degrees. I am not sure about the colors - black is the main color with 3 shades of purple and 1 pink and 1 blue. I think that it is as bad as it sounds.

The second was inspired by a Classic Elite book. It is a vest that they knitted in flat pieces and I changed to top down. The biggest modification was knitting the lace pattern upside down. I think it came out ok. I only have a few more inches to do on the bottom ribbing and then the neck and arms.

And I am not even going to talk about the 3 or 4 sweaters I have otn from last year.

We are trying to sell our house. We had a showing scheduled for today and just before we were to leave - after cleaning and putting all the clutter away - they called and cancelled. Just because of a little snow and ice. Tomorrow we have another showing - people who just looked at the house on Wed. - and I really hope they don't cancel. The weather is supposed to be better. I really hope something comes of this. I am so tired of the cold weather. I want to move to NC and have a garden all year long.

I'm not sure but I think I may have lost a pair of mitts that I made at the restaurant where we went for breakfast. Reason to make some more I guess - but that bugs me. I don't remember if I had them with me or not. I think I did... Getting old is such fun, but I guess it beats the alternative.

New Year, New Resolution!

Once again I am inflicted with Startitis - those of you who have it know exactly what I am talking about. I probably don't know how to spell it, but I have it in spades. For someone who doesn't make resolutions, I am certainly determined to do few things that I always intend to do but don't do consistently for one reason or another - mostly sloth on my part, or boredom.

I started 4 knitting projects in the last week - most from stash yarn. I will have to photograph the one I already finished in Jan. Started it over Christmas in VT with the family and finished it the first week we were home. I got so sick and we had a terrible drive home that I am actually surprised that I finished it. We spent 5 hours on I80 because of a snow squall that caused 20+ cars to wreck and block the road. I won't talk about how we were 200 ft from an exit and about 100 cars turned around and went past us to the exit and he refused to even consider it. I had to go to the bathroom so badly by the time we were moving that I could taste it. Then it snowed really heavily about 10 miles from home - too close to stay and too close to drive. We pushed through and everything was ok but we got home at 2:30am. A really long trip and then my cold which settled in my throat and I lost my voice really set in and I was sick for what seemed like forever but which was only about 5 days. January has been a bitch so far this year.

Another of my not really resolutions resolutions is to mark my progress on the treadmill. I'm doing really well now that I am back to it after the holidays and being sick. I always want to do that, but I am not consistent.

Third not really resolution resolution is to regularly update this blog. I actually don't care if anyone reads it - I just want to mark my knitting progress and talk a little about me. Ok, maybe a lot about me.

Enough for today - don't want ennui to set in before I even finish my first blog of the year.

I don't get Facebook and Twitter really escapes me.

And again!

Once again I am slightly tipsy from one drink and deciding to blog. I am recovering from a cold and probably babying myself. I had a full and active day today. I walked 2.4 miles in an outfit that showed just how fat I am and worked in the yard for about 2 hours. I have finished a lot of knitting recently and actually have reworked a sweater that I had finished but hated how it looked on me. I am working on that now and am about half way there. My knitting has really come along. I can look at a pattern and work it on my own. I prefer top-down no seams and can adapt any pattern to that. I made a sweater this summer that one of my daughters actually seemed to want - so I gave it to her. I hope that wasn't a mistake. I always get so hurt when they don't actually want to wear anything I made. but she genuinely seemed to like it. I of course jumped on that - I so want to be loved - and gave it to her when I finished.

I actually miss it - the yarn was a cotton, silk, wool blend and I liked the sweater. I did a good job on the sleeves - first time I actually did the math and it worked. Sometimes I am so lazy.

I am reworking this sweater - I really liked the yarn and the sweater - it just looked like shit on me.

I really wanted to knit it but using my top-down no seam approach. I'll let you know how it turns out.

We have our house for sale - since July. No offers - no second tours. We want to move to North Carolina - the weather.

Actually a lot has been happening. I should blog about it.

I just can't keep this up.

You know, I try and I try but I always seem to run out of steam for this blog. I guess I even bore myself. I have been knitting so much I got a trigger finger and had an injection. I feel so much better now - but I have been crocheting instead of knitting to give my finger a chance to heal. I am slightly - ok maybe more than slightly tipsy from too much wine at dinner. I worked really hard and long in my garden and got drunk from wine when I came in. We are going to Charlotte tomorrow to see grandson #1 - Paw's favorite. I am not looking forward to it. I have been so passive for most of my life that I am finally starting to resent it. I would really rather stay here - I am quite happy knitting and reading and sleeping late and puttering in the garden. But there is graduation from preschool no less and our presence is required. Paw would never say no - in fact we are going a day early to catch his last t-ball game. I should be ashamed - not a proper granny attitude but I am so tired of doing what everybody else wants.

Oh and by the way - Republicans are morons. And anyone who votes Republican is too stupid to breathe.

New FO and ADHD Knitting

Just finished and already worn. This was my own design. Long flat cables where I took the opportunity to teach myself to cable without a needle. Such a time saver. I should have done it long ago. And it is really not difficult at all. The yarn was Moda dea wool and silk in a charcoal color way. I really liked the yarn. It was knit into 2 different sweaters before I made it into this one. It held up really well and is soft, very warm and because of the stitch pattern stretchy. The sweater is knitted bottom up with the sleeves picked up after the shoulders are grafted. I need to work on my sleeve technique - I think I pick up too many stitches and then do not have enough length to do the proper amount of decreases. These sleeves are a little long but I wore this to the bookstore yesterday and they really didn't annoy me. If I find they do, I will probably shorten them.

I am really having a bad case of startitis - if that is a word. I started a sweater from Fearless Fair Isle Knitting -that is a beautiful book. I am knitting the one on the cover and it is really sort of cheating. The pattern calls for Mini Mochi in 2 color ways. So while it looks like intricate fair isle, it is really only 2 yarns alternating throughout the sweater. I have done real fair isle before and this is easier and less a tangled mess. I am really happy with my progress so far.

I love working on the fair isle and so I started a vest using Noro Transititons for no reason other than impulse. Do love the yarn though.

And then there are the 5 different scarves that I started all in one night - entrelac, reversible, lace, sort of entrelac lace, and another lace. I think I just wanted to see if I could learn the techniques. I did and then I would start another scarf.

Yesterday at the book store I bought a sock book and apparently now I am going to learn toe up socks. I thought I was also going to learn how to knit socks on 2 circular needles instead of DPNs, but I pulled out an UFO sock that I had almost complete and it was knit on 2 circulars! Evidently I learned and put it away and then forgot. It was really easy to pick up once I looked at everything - I would have worried if it wasn't since it was a review and not a new learning experience. I finished the first sock last night and boy do I hate the Kitchener stitch. That is why I want to learn to knit socks from the toe up. I'm going to knit the second sock that way. My theory is that no one will be able to tell which one was up and which one was down.

And I have another cardigan planned for Tuesday. I want to go to a new yarn shop Stormy Blue in Murrysville and get yarn for it. The yarn is only an excuse to go - I don't know why I need an excuse, but I feel like I do. I am hoping that they start a new knit night and I can join in. I would really love to talk to someone about knitting. No one else I know knits. How weird is that?

Snow Sucks!

Last week it was nearly 70' and today it looked like a foot of snow had fallen. I don't think it will last, but really this sucks! Tomorrow we are driving to North Carolina and I really hope the weather will be spring-like. Last trip we had planned for NC had to be cancelled because of snow - in NC!!!!





I just finished Cerisara. I really liked this pattern. It was top-down which is the way I think all sweaters should be knitted and the lace pattern was easy to memorize. I wasn't sure I would like the lace on the sleeves though. I thought I might look like a linebacker - I thought it would add bulk to my already bulky upper arms. So I made the vest. I used ribbing instead of reverse ss. That is the only thing I didn't like about the vest - the reverse ss. If I ever make the pattern again, I will have the ss on the outside. The fit is great and I really like it.

A Really Good Weekend!

Two of the scarfs I have finished in my knitting scarf frenzy. The striped one is Noro Taiyo and is Jared Flood's simple knit 1 purl 1 rib for two rows in one color and then two rows in another. I love that scarf - it's not boring because of the color changes. The second is Sassy Scarflette which I also did in Noro. I love that yarn.

Yesterday I went to the Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet show in Cranberry. I love that festival. It is inside the Sheraton - a big beautiful hotel with plenty of room for venders and classes. I didn't take any classes this year - I didn't see any that I felt I would learn from. That sounds like I think I know everything, but I know I don't. It's just that I have learned from taking classes, that I already know most of what is covered. There were some name teachers there - Nicky Epstein for one but I am not a big fan of her work and she brought a Barbie Doll knitting show with her. I really wasn't interested in that - not for the price of the class.

Steven Be was there - I thought he had been a rock star from the 60s at one time because of the way he dresses, but evidently he is a knitting rock star and not the musical kind. He dresses really eccentrically and seems like a really nice guy. He is the one in the Addi ads in the knitting magazines.

I bought a couple of patterns and one book. There were two other books I wanted but knew I could get them on Amazon for half the price. When I am spending my own money, I seem to be frugal - ummm, cheap! I bought yarn for scarves. I am going through really strange knitting cravings. I started 4 scarves last night and woke up this morning thinking of starting 2 more. I get bored once I learn the pattern so I thought if I started a couple I could alternate working on each and wouldn't be bored. Evidently I have no self-control. That happens to me when I am knitting sweaters too. At least the scarves won't take as long to finish.

I am getting really tired of winter. We haven't had the really bad weather like the mid west has had, but it has been consistently cold and snowy forever it seems. I feel like I need to go outside and sit in the sun - if it ever comes out again. We talk about moving south but then think of the hassle selling and buying a new house would be, and stop complaining. Danny wants to go to a movie this afternoon - Inside Job but I hope he decides not to. It is coming out beginning of March in dvd and I am tired.

Mitts for Me!

I decided to make mitts for me from the Steeler Pattern. I like primary colors.

Leaf Top

This is the Leaf Top from Bernat. It is knit top down and I love that knitting technique. Most of the sweaters I do without patterns are knitted top down. It is such an easy way to check size and the exciting part of the knitting comes first instead of last. Of course, that may be the reason I have a few UFOs lying around. I'm minimizing. Anyway, I used organic natural color cotton, a really soft slubby yarn. You have to really pay attention to the yoke - not a TV knit, but once you are past that, it is an easy knit. It looks good over a shirt or by itself.

Jacobite Sweater

This is the Jacobite Sweater from MamaZooma Handknits on Ravelry. I wanted to try something different. The yoke design is knit first and then the stitches for the body and the neck are picked up along the yoke and knit. It worked out really well. It looks better on than lying flat. I lengthened the sleeves to 3/4 length mostly because I had the yarn. My only dilemma is to decide the buttons. The light blue ceramic look the best but that will limit what I wear under it to something light blue, so I am leaning towards the brass buttons. I haven't sewn them on for over a week and I think it is because of the buttons. Maybe I will flip a coin.

Steelers Mitts

Again - yea Steelers!!! I didn't want to make a hat for my daughter - she is not a hat person - but she loves mitts. This is just a basic mitt pattern. The pattern stitch is a slip stitch pattern - also basic.

Yarn - Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted

Needles -8 double point - I usually use 4 - use what you are comfortable with.

Gauge - 4.5 stitches per inch

Size - Adult Medium

Cast on 36 stitches and join being careful not to twist your stitches. A neat trick: when joining your cast on stitches, use the tail and the working yarn to knit the first few stitches. You won't be able to tell where you have joined the stitches. Make sure to place a marker at the join.

Knit 2, purl 2 for 2 inches - or as long as you want the cuff to be.

Begin the pattern on the next round. The pattern is a 4 row repeat.

Row 1 - Knit with contrasting color (CC)

Row 2 - Purl with CC

Row 3 - Change to main color (MC) and *knit1, slip 1* repeat from * to * to complete the round.

Row 4 - Continue with MC and *purl 1, wyib slip 1* repeat from *to * to complete the round.

Repeat these 4 rows for the pattern.

Complete 3 pattern repeats and begin the thumb gusset. Decide where you want the gusset - the mitt doesn't have a front or back.

Round 1 - Work pattern, place marker, knit 1, place marker, complete row in pattern.

Round 2 - Work pattern, sm, m1, k1, m1, sm, complete row in pattern.

Round 3 and all odd rounds - knit

Round 4 - Work pattern, sm, m1, k3, m1, sm, complete row in pattern.

Round 6 - Work pattern, sm, m1, k5, m1, sm, complete row in pattern.

Round 8 - Work pattern, sm, m1, k7, m1, sm, complete row in pattern.

Round 10 - Work pattern, sm, m1, k9, m1, sm, complete row in pattern.

Round 12 - Work pattern, sm, m1, k11, m1, sm, complete row in pattern.

Round 13 - Work pattern, sm, k13, sm, complete row in pattern.

You have 13 stitches between the markers for the thumb.

Next round - work pattern until marker, slip the next 13 stitches on a stitch holder or waste yarn, cast on one stitch and continue in pattern. When bridging the gap where the gusset is, pull your yarn tightly to close the gap. - another neat trick is to pull the first stitch tightly and then pull the second stitch tighter. It works - if it doesn't for you, when you are weaving in the yarn ends, close the hole.

Continue in pattern for the body of the mitt for 4 pattern repeats or the length you wish. Drop the CC and knit 4 rounds of garter stitch (knit 1 round, purl 1 round) and bind off.

Slip the 13 stitches for the thumb onto your needles - divided however you wish. Using the MC yarn pick up 1 or 2 stitches at the base of the thumb where the gap is. The number depends on how close you have managed the gap. Once all the stitches are on (14 or 15) knit 4 rounds of garter stitch and bind off.

Weave in all of the ends - closing any gaps around the thumb. Make another mitt just like this.

Yea Steelers!

Steeler Mania!

Yea, the Steelers are going to the Super Bowl! I am so not a football fan, but I won't irritate anyone with my reasons. I'm glad that the Steelers won and actually hope they win the Super Bowl, but I am sooooo not a fan especially of Big Ben. But that being said, my SIL and my daughter are really big fans. I wanted to make them something for the game and I knit so...



I liked the hat and mitts so much I actually posted the on Ravelry as patterns. My first. I have made my own patterns before - I have been knitting too long not to have, but I have never published any of them. I thought I would try it.

The hat is a basic hat pattern.
Yarn: Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted
Needle: 9 circular 16"; 9 double points
Size: Adult - 22"
Gauge: 4 stitches to an inch

Cast on 94 stitches, join in the round being careful not to twist, place marker at the join and knit 2, purl 2 for 6 inches - This is really up to you. The brim can be as wide as you wish. I was knitting for a big guy so a 3 " brim seemed good.

When the brim measures 6 inches, change to straight knitting - knit every round for 2 rounds.

Change color and knit 1 round. Change back to main color and knit 1 rounds. Decide where you want the XLV and change to contrasting color. Using a stranded fair isle technique:

Row 1 - Knit 3 MC, 2 CC, 3MC, 5 CC, 2 MC, 2 CC, 2 MC, 2CC, Complete round with MC.

Row 2 - Knit 2 MC, 4 CC, 1 MC, 5 CC,3 MC, 4 CC, Complete round with MC.

Row 3 - Knit 1 MC, 2 CC, 2MC, 2 CC, 4 MC, 2CC, 4 MC, 1CC, Complete round with MC.

Row 4 - Knit 2 CC, 4 MC, 2 CC, 3 MC, 2 CC, 3 MC, 4 CC, Complete round with MC.

Row 5 - Knit 2 CC, 4 MC, 2 CC, 3 MC, 2 CC, 2 MX, 2 CC, 2 MC, 2 CC, Complete round with MC

Carry the yarn all the way around the hat as you work the rounds. Every 4 or 5 stitches twist the main color and the contrasting color to carry the yarn. Always knit with the main color once the letter stitches are done for the row. The contrasting yarn will only show on the right side of the hat in the letters but on the inside of the hat there will be floats all the way around. Make your floats loose so the hat doesn't pull in.

Complete the letters/chart and knit 1 round in main color. Then knit 1 round in contrasting color.

Knit until the hat measures 8 inches from the cast on edge - or until you think it is big enough.

Next round - *knit 10, k2tog*; repeat from * to * to end of round. 88 stitches remain

Round 2 and all of the even numbered rounds - knit

Round 3 - *knit 9, k2tog*; repeat from * to * to end of round.

Round 5 -*knit 8, k2tog*; repeat from * to * to end of round.

Round 7 -*knit 7, k2tog*; repeat from * to * to end of round.

Round 9 -*knit 6, k2tog*; repeat from * to * to end of round.

Round 11 -*knit 5, k2tog*; repeat from * to * to end of round.

Round 13 -*knit 4, k2tog*; repeat from * to * to end of round.

Round 15 -*knit 3, k2tog*; repeat from * to * to end of round.

Round 17 -*knit 2, k2tog*; repeat from * to * to end of round.

Round 19 -*knit 1, k2tog*; repeat from * to * to end of round.

Round 21 -*k2tog*; repeat from * to * to end of round. 8 stitches remain.

To finish the hat, cut your yarn leaving a 10" tail, using a yarn needle thread the yarn through the remaining 8 stitches. Pass the yarn through the hole in the top of the hat and draw the hole closed tightly. Weave the ends in.

If I would have been making the hat for my daughter, I would have added a pom pom but not for my SIL. Pom poms just don't seem like a guy thing.

I'm sorry for those of you who were hoping for a chart - I tried, I really did but couldn't get it to post to the blog.

If anyone has any questions or finds a problem with the pattern, please let me know.

The pattern for the mitts will be posted later today.

Go Steelers!

It's Been Awhile!

It has been a long time since I have posted. I have some New Year resolutions - I'm even late on that - and for once they have nothing to do with weight, exercise or health. Those are major concerns of mine, but you know, talking does nothing. I am just doing. Not well, not even close, but better than ever.

That's all I have to say about that. KNITTING!!!!! Since I have retired, I have done nothing but knit - not true but I am really knitting up a storm. The Yarn Harlot posted about "startitis" - a condition that I am evidently really suffering from. I just finished a sweater - my second of the new year. To be honest, I started them both in December. And I started 2 more yesterday with a third ready to be started and I am planning a fourth. Oh, and I have 2 almost finished. I have been knitting and watching paranormal shows in my office on the computer and knitting while watching TV in the evening. I must have gained 4 plus hours of knitting in the day and I am loving it.

My resolutions are to actually post to this blog and to document my projects on Ravelry. I am on that site every day, searching for patterns and looking at everyone else's projects. I thought I would share since I am learning so much from others.

My first project completed was this vest from Knitting Green, the Eco Vest. I really liked this vest. It was featured on the cover of the book and pretty much the reason I bought the book. It was an easy pattern - knit from the bottom up. Not a bad way to work a pattern especially with cables, but I wish more designers would work from the top down. That seems to be my favorite way of knitting. I know it won't work with every design, I just seem to prefer it. I didn't put the button on it because I wasn't wild about the loop closure. I think I need a pin or stick to close it. I will have to look for that. Over all I am really pleased with this sweater!

A Really Good Day!

Yesterday was a really good day!

First, I fit into a pair of pants that I haven't been able to wear all summer and they were loose!!!! Yea, Me!!!!!

Then my walk was really nice - no leg cramps or hurt toes, although I ran over my big toe with my suitcase last week and it is showing black and blue under the polish. It just healed and started to look like a regular toenail again. I have lost the nail on that toe, at least, 3 times and I really don't want that to happen again.


I had some energy and went through my yarn stash and culled some yarn I am selling on EBay. So far so good on that.

My printer didn't survive an electrical outage and I had some Amazon gift certificates I hadn't used, so that worked out. I got a new printer for less than 1/2 of its price. Of course, I didn't really want a new printer - I just bought ink for the old one - but at least I didn't have to spend a lot of money. Nothing else was damaged and I don't know how the printer was - it was plugged into the same surge protector that the computer and shredder were.

I finished a sweater that was inspired by a sweater I saw in Knits To Be Noticed. What I did was change the construction of the sweater. I used the same lace stitch and style - hoodie, but knitted it in the round. I hate finishing so I knitted top-down. It worked really well. It even fits me. I was knitting on it at the beach and everyone commented on the color. It is made out of Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece seconds that I got on EBay. The color is uneven but I liked it - it sort of looks worn already.






I also finished the Fair Isle vest I designed for my youngest grandson. His mother commented that it was beautiful when we were at the beach, so maybe he will wear it.

We went to Barnes and Noble around 6PM which was probably a mistake in timing. I found 3 new knitting magazines and sat in the cafe with a chai latte to look at them. Then I couldn't fall asleep last night until after 3AM. Danny came downstairs to find me and then he couldn't sleep and ended up canceling his run with Joe. I guess I owe him one for that. I think the chai had something to do with it, but I also think that it was a chance for me to be alone in the house. Since he has retired, he is always around. I used to come home from work and have about 3 hours to myself. I didn't do anything I can't do now, I could do it when I wanted and for how long I wanted. Now it seems I am subject to his schedule. That is not really a bitch, just something I am getting used to -or trying to.

Work went well this week. I didn't talk much in Treatment Team. As usual, it was a waste of time and I have decided not to add my 2 cents and prolong the agony. T. seems to have kept her cool - although I usually find out after the fact.

I gave everyone the first chapter of Catching Fire. They were all so excited. I found a pin that is the symbol of the books - a mockingjay - at Borders in Virginia Beach and wore it all week. The kids recognized the symbol. It was such a teacher thing to do.

I finally was able to order library books and videos with the N&D money this week. D. and T. commented on the Black History videos I ordered. Evidently I spent too much money on Black information - never mind that most of our kids are Black and the rest wish they were. And they are both good Christians - who hate gays and don't believe in Global Warming and I don't know what else because I try really hard not to bring up any topic they don't agree with. That is actually pretty difficult, since I am constantly surprised at what "good" Christians believe. Like that Baptist minister who preached a sermon "I Hate Barack Obama."

My 4 year old grandson went to pre-school this week. We called him to see how his first day went and he told us all about it. I think he is too young, but the expression of that opinion created a problem with his father when we were at the beach. Enough said.

Reading back over my post - I am really not bitching although I was in a bitchy mood at times this week. I think I had a really good week. And today is beautiful!

I Have Been Busy!

I am still sticking to my diet - haven't weighed myself though. We were in Virginia Beach for the Labor Day weekend and we ate out every meal. That makes it tough - I don't think I ate more than 1 serving of fruit the whole time. i did find an interesting book about food - Eat This Not The Supermarket Survival Guide I actually do ok with my food choices. I was pleasantly surprised.

I knitted all the way to Virginia Beach and back - an 8 hour drive. I am close to finishing my lace sweater. I finished a vest for my youngest grandchild - pictures later.

I am in the process of getting used to working 8 hour days again. I get used to it and then I go on vacation - I know, poor me. But this week it is really kicking my ass. And of course, school has been really busy. And the tension is obvious - T is such a bitch and so negative. I had to run for supplies today and usually I ask if she wants to go, but today I thought I just didn't feel like playing nice for the time it would take to get there and back. I think it pissed her off, but I really don't care. How is that for being bitchy?

Sleepy.

I am low energy all of the time. I think I need an increase in my thyroid medicine. I have been sticking to my diet - still counting calories and all that. Yesterday my neck really hurt - from a bike ride and making jam - so I took ibuprofen and for some reason that always makes me retain water. I weighed almost 4 lbs heavier today than yesterday and I ate less. That is discouraging but also the reason I should stop weighing myself every day. I might try that.

The knitting is coming along, but I have been reading more. I always feel starved for reading when school is in and I want to knit. We have been trying something new - reading in the evening and not watching TV. Since all we watch are political shows - MSNBC, we are absolute progressive liberals - and really there is not much on now in August, this is working out really well.

I just read a book Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson. It was about a kid in high school who was put on probation for a stupid prank and turned from a loser into a winner. I was hoping that it might appeal to the students I teach, but I don't know if any of them could relate to the protagonist. He is a kid from relatively well-off parents and he may have been bullied, but he is not psychologically damaged like most of them are. I might use it for a back up. He also comes very close to committing suicide and I don't want to give them any ideas. I am still waiting for Suzanne Collins' next book.

Busy Day

Today was a busy day. I had a 9AM appointment with the chiropractor and then I had errands to run. I hadn't seen the chiropractor for 2+ weeks - on vacation - and I was ready. My neck gave me a bad headache yesterday. So bad, I finked out of walking. All I wanted to do was sit with my vibrating pillow on my neck and knit.

Thinking about my knitting though - I am making a sweater inspired by someone else's design. I like to make sweaters in the round from the top down, so I modified this pattern. Actually I just used the same stitch pattern to make my top down summer hoody. I am working on the sleeves now and I have a good 4 inches done thanks to sitting with my neck pillow, but I don't like how the pattern stitch looks under the arm. I have to decrease and that messes up the pattern. After thinking about it, I'm going to frog what I did yesterday and start over with straight stitch where I have to decrease under the arm. This is what it looks like now:



It doesn't look bad where I picked up the underarm stitches, but when I start the decreases it gets messy. So I think I will be happier if I start over. So far I am really liking this sweater. The yarn is Brown Sheep cotton and wool in paradise blue. The yarn is seconds that I got on EBay. The color is a little uneven, I really don't mind that. I love Brown Sheep yarn. And I love that it is American made.

Husband and I went and looked at gyms today at his insistence. I could tell he really would like for me to join a gym with him. I went for a while last year to a gym that added an extra hour and half to my daily driving time. I liked using the machines, but couldn't hack the drive. It takes me 40 minutes to and from work now and it just got really old spending that much extra time in the car. He was really insistent that I go with him to check out these gyms all the while telling me he really wasn't putting pressure on me to join with him. Of course he was, but I didn't commit which I am sure drove him crazy. I did like the one though. It had a separate women's weight machine room that led right into the locker and a great looking hot tub in the locker room. It was clean and had a lot of machines. They also offered a yoga class - I have been interested in that for a while, but can never find a class that suits me time wise. The women's machines looked light weight but not as light weight as Curves. After a few months, I felt like I outgrew Curves. I might give it a shot, but I am not going to let him know right away. I'm mean that way.

It was pouring rain this morning but it seems to have cleared up. We ate at Chipotle Mexican Grill. That place was great. The food was fresh and even though it was fast food, it was really good. I have been sticking to the diet and the exercise - I know, only the 4th day, but still... I walked 3 miles today and counted my calories. Only ate about 3/4 of my lunch - 1/2 would have been better, but ... Really, so far so good. Now to keep it up.

New Day.

I'm still going strong with the diet. Of course it has only been 2 days - this is my third and it's morning, but I am optimistic. I got a B+ on nutrition and I walked 3.24 miles on the treadmill. It has been raining so much that I prefer the treadmill to trekking outside and coming home soaked.

Today there was a full paid "ad" in the newspaper from US Citizens Association. I don't know who they are, but from all of the misinformation/lies in the ad, they must be a right wing political group. They blame the market crash and the sub-prime mortgage crisis on the Democrats, starting with Jimmy Carter all the way to Obama. My understanding is those problems began with the deregulations that Reagan enforced. I heard a clip of Reagan denouncing "socialized medicine" on the radio the other day. Reagan was the beginning of what I consider the end - Obama is not doing the job I voted for him to do. I want him to say, "Fuck the Republicans. Let's do what is best for the country without them." I am losing optimism daily - every time I hear things like "public option is only a sliver of the bill, not really that important."

US Citizens also said that there is no global warming - the CO2 is just water vapor. I said that at school as a joke and evidently all three of the other teachers believe that global warming is a myth "used by the government." I'm not sure and they sure didn't know what reason/motive the government would have for promoting that. I couldn't believe 3 people that I thought I respected, were so clueless. But then again, none of them are really interested in what is going on in the country. I would be surprised if any of them listened to any news at all. They just blindly support Republicans and vote themselves into misery. No raises this year because of the economy - but that they just bitch about and do not connect to their votes.

Sitting in front of the computer is what is giving me headaches, shoulder aches and arm aches. NOT KNITTING!!!! On the 12 hour trip home, I knitted for at least 6 or 7 of those hours and no problem. I was on the computer for most of the morning yesterday and I have a headache and shoulder ache. I am so glad it is not knitting, I really don't want to stop that. Speaking of which, I have been on the computer for a while now.

Day 2

I kept my calories under 1300 yesterday and I walked a total of 3 miles. Of course, I was really tired last night and couldn't wait to go to bed. I also ate a dish of ice cream and whipped cream before I went to bed. I made a deal with myself - if I exercise, I can have a dish of ice cream. I actually have been doing that for a while now - please, I know it is a rationalization, but no arguments.

I also found a web site that counts my calories for me Calorie Count This site is free and also grades you on how you ate that day. I got an A on my first day - emphasis on "first day." Even with the dish of ice cream.

We just got back from vacation and I really feel far behind on everything. I have a lot of things to do - nothing major, but still... One of the things is to post on the Paperback Swap site. I love this site!!! You simply post your books on the site - easy to do, just list the ISBN # - and then if someone wants one of your books, simply mail it to them to earn book credits. And if you want a book, just request it. The only cost is postage - I buy the postage through the site (they charge a small fee) and print my labels and put it in the mail. I have ended up with even more books that I need to read. If only I didn't have to work...

Speaking of which, the only thoughts I have had about work during this month off is about my fish in my office and the book I want to start my students on that isn't coming out till Sept 1,
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins We have read the first in the series, The Hunger Games
and all of these students who are mostly at 3rd grade reading levels were really into it. They and me can't wait until this new book comes out. Even the guards who are usually bored to tears in our classes, sat up and read the book.

Back to the fish - I hope they are ok. I have an automatic feeder but as backup, I usually put one of those vacation feeders in the tank. I didn't this time and now I am worried about them. I could email one of the therapists and ask her to check, but I haven't worried myself into it yet.

I received more books on thyroid conditions. I have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism which is when your thyroid doesn't produce enough hormone. I am beginning to wonder about how it makes me feel. Coming home from our trip, we stopped to eat. One hostess acknowledged us and then went to clean off a table for us, another hostess came and I told her that the first was cleaning off a table for us. The second hostess told me not to get all hot and bothered, that she knew what was going on. For some reason this has been bothering me since it happened. I wasn't trying to be abrupt or rude, I was just telling her that we had already been taken care of - or so I thought. I have tried to rationalize it by excusing the hostess for a bad day, but I keep wondering if my tone was off or something. I think the for the most part undiagnosed thyroid condition had me on edge for most of last year. I know I didn't have the patience I used to have, but I may not have realized that my tone was so harsh. The more I read about hypothyroidism, the more I think that this has been my problem for more than a few years.

Knitting: I have finished Jared Flood's Girasole. He does such beautiful work. I wanted an afghan for my knitting chair. Sometimes in the winter I get cold sitting there knitting, so I wanted an afghan that I liked - I like none of the traditional patterns - and I found this and loved it.



I tried to knit his adaptation of The Hemlock Ring Blanket but for some reason, I couldn't follow the directions. That was last year - September, in fact - I think I may try again. I am almost finished with about 4 sweaters and determined to finish them before I start anything new. I received new knitting books in the mail and I want to start at least 2 new projects. I am hopeless - too much to read, too much to knit, too much to eat, too much to ...

I Am Really Going To Do It This Time!

Well, vacation is over over over over! We had a wonderful time in Edenton, NC - eliminated as a retirement prospect, way way too quiet! - and at Waves, NC - house was great, no family fights - and in Southport, NC - definite retirement prospect.

Pictures of me on the beach and in the pool, plus feeling uncomfortable are making me really want to lose weight. style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Plus all of the obvious reasons - health, fatigue, and not having to knit yards and yards of fabric to cover me. I am starting today and plan on keeping a daily log on this blog to spur my progress and prevent my failure. That sounds like I am expecting failure - it has happened before, but I am eternally optimistic. I am taking Tonalin CLA every night and that seems to have decreased my cravings for carbs????? I am walking 3 miles a day and biking when I can, so I feel like I am on the right track so far. My eating on vacation has been bad, but one thing I have been doing is eating only about half of what I am served - that, at least is a start. Now I need to learn to order salads instead of hot roast beef sandwiches with french fries and gravy. Or does that mean, I am still craving carbs?