Monday, March 26, 2012

I love Spring, but not allergies!

What have I been up to?! 

My good friend was in town last week, so Sunday evening after my last post, was dinner with her family, Tuesday was a pub night and Friday we went out for Thai at a new place in town, Smile Thai - there were 4 of us and the consensus was that we all loved it!

Also, we have a bit of work happening. A friend needed to drywall his garage, so Spyros & I went to help with that last Saturday (Mar. 24th). It was fun, but our bodies have certainly gotten used to lying about the house. It felt good to use muscles that haven't been used in some time! It was fun to spend a day with friends too. My dad was in town, and as it was Saturday he didn't have to work, so he dropped by and helped out a bit too. He's of the generation of men who literally have no "couch potato" in their makeup! 

Sunday we went to brunch with my dad & sister, she was in town as well for a birthday.  After lunch I tried to go to my LYS, but it was closed! (I thought it was closed Mondays, turns out it is both Sunday & Monday) After that we drove out to the dykes for a jog. My dad met us there and after our jog we went for another hour long walk with him.

Needless to say, my body saw a lot more activity last weekend than it is used to - but it felt awesome to be feeling muscles, even if they were sore it was nice to know they are there!

Today is Monday, March 26th, and we began a job for a friend today. Repainting their townhouse. Made a good start on it and probably have another 3 days or so. These last few days I have been getting out of bed at normal hours and getting tired by 10pm. This is also a welcome change!!!

Needles:
Green Honey Cowl

I also completed my version of the Munchkin Hat by Jeannie Kubricht in Sirdar Crofter DK in 0042
Long Tailed Baby Girl Hat




I currently have nothing on the needles!! Not for lack of wanting, but because the next few projects I want to begin I do not have the correct needle size for, and my LYS has been closed when I have been free!

Upcoming:
Oh so much loveliness! 
 

Spinning:
I wound the single from my drop spindle onto something so that I can ply it. I then started spinning the Ashford Corriedale that I won at Fibres West...only a teensy bit as I was showing a friend how I drop spindle.

Fitness:
The lifestyle change continues!! I made it through 2 and 1s, and will be starting 3 and 1s tomorrow!! 
My Friday weigh-in was a no-change weigh-in, but that is better than going back UP! I know that my activity level will skyrocket without me even having to think about it if I start working more, and I look forward to the auto work-outs on top of my planned/specific work-outs!

Travel/Visa:
Nada on Visa.
Soon will be heading up to the Interior for Easter with the family - on that same trip will also be getting some working in, as a friend of mine has a family friend that wants us to do some painting! WIN WIN!

Thanks for reading! Have a super week!

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Another amazing Fibres West experience

What's been going on here?! Well it's been raining a fair bit. However, it has not stopped me from keeping up with the exercise regime...yay!

I have been knitting plenty...and watching Being Erica on Netflix while I knit. I know a lot of podcasters are really obsessing over Downton Abbey, I just haven't given it a try as yet.

 I needed a different size of needle the other day, to begin 2 separate cowls. I went to Once Upon a Sheep and chatted for quite awhile. I purchased a demp/starter Knitpicks Options kit. It had two 24" cables and 3 sizes of tips. 4mm, 4.5mm, 5mm in the 3 materials (acrylic, birch laminated, and nickle plated). I purchased the appropriate size cable as well. When I got home and took out the acrylic (the size tip I needed), and my cable I was losing my mind over how flexible the cable is!! The join is smooth... so far it's LOVE! I am very excited to learn Magic Loop on these suckers!

My biggest excitement was over Fibres West. I went on Friday, and am always a  bit sad to wander around by myself, but was not nearly as overwhelmed as last year. It seemed smaller, but that may have been the fact that I was not overwhelmed! There was plenty of fibrey goodness. Spinning implements, yarn, roving, untreated wool waiting for the hardworking to take home to wash, comb, card, spin...I did a lap, and then several more. I found myself wanting to purchase from people who were making eye contact and chatting a bit with me. I found myself wanting to purchase EVERYTHING!! However, I left the house with $150.00 and that was all I was able to spend on my day. 

I knew I wanted sock yarn, and I knew I wanted roving. So I bought from the following vendors:

Everything Old - I purchased sock yarn & a braid of SW Merino/Silk
Kattikloo - I purchased sock yarn
Valley Yarn - I purchased Malabrigio sock yarn
Smith and Ewe - I purchased a braid of BFL
Pollika  - I purchased undyed sock yarn to try dyeing!

I also bought a WPI tool since I plan to be spindling!! There was SO much more I wanted to purchase. Then I was thinking I should leave, or risk losing self control and heading for the ATM, but I wanted to stick around for the drawing of the door prize basket. I was standing there in shock when they announced MY NUMBER!!! I seriously don't know that I have ever won anything, so I was ecstatic, but shocked. My prize? More fibre, a Namaste Bitty Bag, a skein of art yarn, a scarf, 3 weaving magazines, a bottle of Soak, and a flower vase from the pottery vendor at the show.


Here is what I purchased and what I won!
My stash enhancement!

My prize basket
 Other news? I received my SWAP package! Yay!! Here's what my Swapee sent to me:
 

Earwarmer, towels, notepad & lights!
Needles:
I completed my slippers...

I completed Burberry Inspired Cowl by Julianne Smith using Three Irish Girls Springvale DK in Geneva.



I completed a The Duketer by Jenny Wiebe using Katia Azteca 7816

My current WIP is Honey Cowl by Madelinetosh using Berroco Ultra Alpaca in Irwyn



Spinning:
Nada - but soon that will change!!
 
Fitness:
I am doing 6 days a week. 
Learning to run Tues/Thurs/Sat. I just finished Week 2 of Learn to Run, next week will be running 2min, walking 1min. 
Strength training Mon/Wed/Fri. It's going well. Sometimes I really don't feel like doing anything, but am determined to get back to a place I am happy, so I am doing it!
I have been tracking, and have been losing weight and starting to feel a bit better about things, starting to see some changes. Still not fitting the clothes I want to fit though!
 
Upcoming:
I have sorted through my Ravelry queue and have big plans for upcoming projects!! Cowls, Monsters, Socks, Wraps, Shawls..still knitting from my stash, and I am excited now that things have plans!

Definitely hoping to get to Knit Night on Tuesday, but do have two friends who will be in town, so I am not positive it will happen.

Hopefully soon we will be swamped with work and won't be having as much time for knitting, but that does remain to be seen!

Travel/Visa:
I sent the email to the Dept. of Immigration to let them know that we had moved. Got back a form email saying "We have passed this on to the appropriate people. Have a nice life."

Well this was LONG! Sorry about that! 


Monday, March 5, 2012

M is for March, Moving and Merino!

I know one of these days I will get some type of a schedule happening here! But I truly don't know that I am interesting enough or have enough going on to even do this weekly!! I am not traveling much right now, and I am a monogamous knitter for the most part, so it's not like there is a lot to tell about that either!!

Anyway...

I am feeling pretty normal now. Scars seem quite tiny and I will use vitamin E to minimize. Moving was difficult because every time I moved I was told to "sit down", "don't lift that", etc. Which was frustrating, I am a doer, and even a bit of a control freak when it comes to packing my things. I have moved quite a bit in my life, and really have only had help twice...the help stresses me out far more than the packing itself or the moving. I worry things are not getting packed correctly, that things might be missed, or that another person's things will get packed with mine (when I have a roomie). Of course it was OK, there were a couple of things forgotten, but since it was my sister, it will be alright. 

The drive from the Interior of BC to the Lower Mainland was uneventful. We took the Fraser Canyon route because we didn't want to deal with Coquihalla weather. It was sunny and a nice drive. When we arrived we had help unpacking (since no one wanted me to help, that was especially nice for my man & my dad!).

We are lucky, a very good friend of mine has parents here with a suite in their basement. This way we get super decent rent AND no lease to worry about, so when we get the OK from the Visa we will be able to head off right away. It's nice not to have that worry.

Looking for some work. It's raining alot...but that is the norm here. At least there is no hill that we are unable to get up!!!! Have been able to reconnect with friends & family again already, which is always nice.Vehicle insurance came due, and have to deal with aircare too because we are in a much more populated area. Hopefully will get that all sorted tomorrow.

I am all caught up on the podcasts that I have been watching. Two have a couple of KALs that I am interested in doing for April - but will see if that happens. I am meant to be knitting from stash & neither of the KAL's go along with the yarns I currently have! BOO! (hahaha) FYI - I want to do the "Stephen West KAL" that Knitabulls is doing, and the "Sock KAL" that Knitting in Circles is doing!

Needles:

My swapee has received her mitts!! The pattern is free on Ravelry and is called the Cupcake Mittlets . I used SMC Extra Soft Merino in Ruby. So here are a couple of photos (I love these AND have more of this yarn...might have to do another pair):

The cupcake mittlets together

The mitt on a hand (my hand!)



Also - I have started the thrummed slippers! In fact I am probably about two thirds done. This is a kit I received from my mum on my last birthday, she got it at a market from a local (to her) company called Tocino Alpacas

It's knit in the flat in pieces. Sole, Upper, Sole, Upper, sew Soles to Uppers. I am about half way through my second Upper and then just have to sew all the bits together. Putting in all the thrums does take a bit longer, but it's not as challenging as I was worried it might be. Here is what I have:
The sole with the thrums showing side on...

The upper with all of the thrums hanging out...

Spinning: 
No change!

Fitness:
Now that I am healed I can start exercising. I have been tracking, but now I am ready to get moving. So I am going to continue with the Spark People plan, and up the cardio from just walks to Learn to Run...I have a print-out of the program and have started it before. I am going to try to do it on my own, but I am also thinking of going to the Running Room if I am having motivation troubles. 
Upcoming:
Now that I am back in the Lower Mainland I am going to look for a new SNB to attend. Also, as I am in town and not in the bush I hope to attend regularly!

Fibres West is coming March 16th and 17th. I went last year but was just starting to get serious about knitting so I bought two skeins of yarn and haven't knit from either. I am excited to attend and to meet up with other Rav lovers and am hoping to buy:
1) a skein of sock yarn
2) a braid of fibre to spin with
3) perhaps enough yarn to make a sweater type of project

I am hoping to next use the DK that I got in my first SWAP, and also one of the yarns I got from Fibres West last year...not entirely sure which projects I will be doing though!

Travel/Visa:
We traveled several hundred kilometres to get to the coast! But nothing else planned yet. Talks of going back to visit my parents, going up North to visit friends and possibly work, and going to Vancouver Island to visit friends have all been had. Hopefully some of these ideas will come to fruition! 
Visa - nada. However, I now need to update them as we have relocated!

Well that was lengthy...but I think I am done. I am so obsessed! I just need to improve and learn more skills!!!