Aussie, aussie, aussie, oi, oi, oi!

So - I have arrived. In fact, I arrived on Sept. 13th, right on time. After 3 flights, all of which were fairly pleasant, uneventful & I had great seatmates!

I arrived at around 7:30am and Spyros & his brother came to meet me. Went went back to the house to drop off my things & the brother and see the family. We headed out to the job site to see how it was going. I was pretty shocked to see it in person!

In the nick of time...

Time flies. It seemed like forever until I was going to be leaving for Australia, and now it seems it's coming too fast for all of the things I want to get done & all of the people I want to see before I leave! I know 2 years is a blip on the radar of life, and I know it will go quickly, but it also seems a long time when packing up to head off for it!

August is flying by!

Work work work, all day long!

I worked a lot again...probably up until Tuesday - that will be my last day. Then a few days for packing & visiting & then I will be headed for White Lake to visit with my family for a couple of weeks before I head to Australia!

This past week has been gorgeous, more lake weather than painting though!! The paint is drying on the brush & we are just dripping with sweat & red faced. Yep - sexy!

Overtired & overjoyed

Sooooooooo...following a wonderful weekend on Vancouver Island where I got very little sleep, I proceeded to have a very busy week with very little sleep because the guy I am working for was away & I was kinda organizing things for him while he was away. With painting this means figuring out who is where & what they will be doing, also going to & fro to his place to get specific tools, ladders, and cleaning dirty gear each night. I was so looking forward to a mellow weekend, maybe a night at the Drive-In, and I was going to paint my friend's bedroom for her while she was away as a bday gift.

Time flies....

Two weeks?! How does this keep happening to me?! I always mean to write, and then I don't. Too much going on all the time. Still working a lot. For the last month I have been working pretty much 6 days a week, 8+ hours a day, and on Sundays I clean the house & do laundry so that I have work clothes for the week ahead! On top of the I have friends to squeeze in when I can, dinner to make & clean up, a body to wash & a man to Skype with in Australia.

Too much vitamin D!

Last Sunday I did not work. This is no surprise, I don't generally work on Sundays - however on this particular Sunday my friend called me to say he was going to go for a hike & invited me along. Now I have been longing to go for a hike or a canoe in this gorgeous weather & so I jumped at the chance! I hurriedly finished up my breakfast & got my camelback ready. We headed up Golden Ears; it is a hike I have never done, and I definitely want to do again.

A month later?!?!

Hi there...June got to be a crazy month apparently! Here is a prime example of how time gets away on me. I am always saying "the other day" when really it turns out that I meant up to 6 months ago! Oi! I thought it had only been a couple of weeks since I wrote, but it looks like it's been a month!

June was mostly just working & getting ready for Spyros to leave. He had his ticket booked for the 27th. We went up to my parents about a week before he was due to leave. Got to spend some time with them & say goodbye. We had big plans, all outdoor - and none of them happened. It was rainy & terrible & flooding all around us. We were meant to go White Water Rafting, but it was canceled because it was too dangerous. One poor soul did end up losing his life to the river that weekend. The river has been so crazy, fast & full because of all the rain. 

Instead we just played Risk, I knit, we ate, we watched movies...just hanging out. 

Spyros left. I took him to the airport. We got him checked in & spent the rest of our time holding hands & waiting until he had to go through the gates. It was sad. It had been seeming much bigger & more intense as we were packing up all of his clothing & toiletries. It's like he was never here, the closets are empty. Very strange feeling. 

He had a good couple of flights, we chatted on the phone & we have been Skyping quite a bit since then. The time difference doesn't make it the easiest. However, we are used to being together almost 24/7 so it would be harder not to talk!

My friend was here when I got back, I was invited up to dinner & then my friend came down to the suite to learn to drop spindle...she's hooked!!

I have been working a lot since Spyros left. About 6 days a week! I am tired, but it keeps me out and about...not so lonely.

Needles: 

I am working on my Grandma's Shawl which is the Adaptation Shawl by Kirsten Hipsky using my 100% wool yarn I purchased on eBay. On my 4.5mm Knit Picks Interchangeables.

I am also working on my Broke Rack Shawl which is the Yvaine by Liz Abinante using my Rabbitworks Fibre Studio, Fingering Weight 100% Superwash on 5mm Knit Picks Interchangeables.

I did receive the Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Lightweight from the Knitabulls giveaway!!! It's lovely.

I have been spindling like crazy on my Spinatude spindle for the Tour de Fleece! I am spinning up my Smith & Ewe 100% BFL. It's going pretty great! Slowly...but so thin & I am still not sure whether I am going to be making it 3ply Navajo or just a 2ply!

Fitness:

Meh!

Visa:

The trip to my parents was good. Awesome weather on the drive up & back, also we drove a rental car & that was nice to be in new wheels even though I hated the car itself. 

I emailed our Case Worker to update Spyros contact information. I received an auto reply email that my case worker was on holiday. So I forwarded the information to the person who was meant to be filling in & now I wait yet again! Aw geez...

Grey days and sad news...

I know, I know, it's been a couple of weeks! I wanted to have some stuff to talk about & show you!!

Two weekends ago we had company...a good friend from Fort St. John came to visit, but she got a bit of a crummy visit as I had my 5K, and another friend had just purchased a new home & it was the weekend they were moving in. Of course I had promised to help!

Friday night when she arrived we visited the Richmond Night Market for some tasty food & to see what the offerings were. Ended up with some nail art stickers, and that was about it!

At the Night Market (best we could do, no flash on my phone!)

Saturday we had breakfast out, did some running around in preparation for the 5K, and got in some crafting & visiting time. I knit, she cross stitched. 

 

Sunday was the Run for Water & then moving, then dinner, then she went home!

After the 5K - our time was 36:36...not terrible for a first time!

Wednesday we didn't work, so I went over to my friend's house to help with the unpacking & getting organized. It was fun, I like organizing & making a house a home! It was a fun girlfriend day!

 

Last weekend we worked Saturday and on the way home our van overheated and started spewing coolant out as soon as we parked it. So we let it cool down. Topped it up with water, and then we drove it home. Had some help trying to figure it out. We have known that it has issues and a coolant leak before, but it's never done this, so obviously the leak has gotten worse! We figured we only needed it to last us another month or so, we added some weird stuff that is meant to block any holes. After that we realized one belt was shot. Replaced it. Topped up coolant & haven't had the same bizarro issue since!

 

It pretty much killed our weekend because all of the things we did to it were over 3 days and we were worried to drive it too much before we did them.

 

Fun things?! I won some yarn on a podcast!!! Knitabulls I was SO excited. I haven't gotten it yet though, and it was over a week ago that I found out I won. I am excited, first win on a podcast give-away & it will make a cute baby something I think! I was hoping to be able to show it, but that's not happening.

 

Worked all week, went to the movies last night with friends. Snow White & the Huntsman. I liked the movie, quite a lot. I don't know that I liked the liberties that they took with the movie. I like adaptations, and I like when stories are told from a different POV. However, this was a bunch of stuff that was not in the story, was not following the storyline, etc. Also, I felt Kristen Stewart's character was almost identical to Bella in the Twilight series. Very similar reactions & behaviours, I have seen her in other roles and liked her, so was a bit annoyed this was so similar. I enjoyed the movie though!

Today we worked, but on a friend's parents place, repainting some rooms. Tomorrow my cousin and his lovely lady are coming for dinner!

 

Needles:

I finished all of the washcloths & took a photo (there are 2 missing from the photo as they had already been delivered to recipients!)

 

I finished up the SWAP fibre and navajo plied it - here is what I got!

1oz, 48 metres, navajo plied, DK/Sport weight (144 metres in singles)

 

I made two stuffed animals for my niece & nephew! My first creatures...they are cute!

Tuck the Turtle

Ella the Elephant

I have started working on some booties for a friend and the baby-to-be. Once those are done I will be getting back to my regularly scheduled programing of Stash-Busting!

I got my drop spindle from Spinatude and its beeeeeautiful I am going to be spinning up some 100% BFL from Smith and Ewe but I haven't started yet...

Spindle with the roving

So incredible Steam Punk inspired spindle!!!

Fitness:

So lazy, have not run since the 5k! I did pilates once. I need to get back to it!!!

Visa:

Ok, I called Immigration. News?! Still looking, not going to reach the stage where they know if I am approved or not anytime soon. Spyros has to leave by July 7th, and it looks like I am going to be here through July at least. It sucks. It was be SO weird to be apart, we are literally together 24/7. We live & love together, we work together, the only time we are apart is if I am having a "girl night". I am going to miss him. I am going to talk to myself a lot. He thinks it might be good that he is able to get all of his paperwork & things in order before I get there. Still frustrating though!

So the only traveling on my horizon is a trip to my parents, so they are able to say goodbye to Spyros, and to & from work!!! I would love to get up north and see my friends & family up there, and I would love to get to the Island to see my friend's place there. I just don't think it's going to happen. July sure snuck up on us!

Have I mentioned lately how frustrating dealing with government can be?????????

So much crafty time!

Hello again!

Last week was a lot of working. We did not do the long weekend thing, we worked Friday & we worked a half day yesterday.

 

I slacked off a lot with the exercise. Ran Monday and then did nothing until Sunday when we did another hike. A smaller hike, but a hike, with a couple of friends. This time the hike was in the rain...but it was still fun, no hot sun, but it was muggy.

My mum had a birthday! However, she & my dad went to Montana to watch my nephew graduate, so we were unable to celebrate with her. She had some fun though & was thrilled with the Ipad from my dad.   

Saturday was a FIBRE day for me! We ran a couple of errands, I tracked down from Hemp yarn to do my mums washcloths (yes I am still working on those!!) I am on the last cloth & will post the photos next post!

A friend was in town & I got a bit of a visit in with her & her man. Brief as she has been working like crazy to finish up her Masters. It was good though! Next weekend will be crazy as a friend is coming to stay with us for the weekend, and another couple of friends is going to be moving into their new home, and the 5k!

Needles:

I am on the last of the washcloths ... I was doing them for the May KAL with

Knitabulls and have used up all of my cotton, and I purchased 2 skeins of hemp to use for specific projects! I will post photos of all of them when I am completely done.(Next post!)

 

I am also spindling up the fibre that my swap partner sent me. I am not sure what it is, but it's spinning really thin! It's only 1oz so it will go quickly, but I thought I would take the opportunity to spindle it before I took on the BFL. (Plus I may have taken advantage of the Knit Me Happy podcast discount and purchased a gorgeous, gorgeous, spindle from Spinatude and wanted to give it time to get to me!).

The other things I accomplished???

I plied up all the yarn I made from the batts of miscellaneous sheep wool I received from Lynne @ Fibre Arts Bootcamp during my drop spindling class. Also, the fibre I won at Fibres West - Ashford Correidale. I Navajo Plied them & washed & "thwacked" it.The FAB very thick & thin & very slubby - and I broke it into 2 sections. The Correidale was more consistent, but after the Navajo still came out Super Bulky.

#1 - 2.2oz and I got 44 yards

#2 - 2.5oz and I got 38 yards

#3 - 3.5oz and I got 70 yards

ALSO - I had purchased some sock yarn at Fibres West from Pollika and I finally dyed it. I wanted to do something easy that I didn't have to purchase a bunch of new dishes, so I bought 2 packets of Grape Koolaid, and 2 packets of Blue Raspberry Lemonade Koolaid. I scoured the internet & tried the easiest method...in the microwave. I just did half the skein one colour & the other half the other...here's what I got:

After drying...

Re-skeined

I am pretty happy with it! There are a billion other things I want to try now, but they will have to wait. Now I am not sure whether this is going to be socks or a shawl though!!!

Lastly, my non-fibre related crafting, the stepping stone for my momma! It turned out pretty good...I have a couple of issues, but it's concrete, so it's done now! hahaha Here you go:

 Fitness:

Lazy last week. Hiked Sunday. Ran yesterday, and will be running tonight. Still doing the 5k - this weekend! Yikes! Yesterday we ran 5.83k so that was good!

 

I also plan to get back into doing strength training this week too. One week off was plenty, I need to keep this up!

Here's the my gal and I at the top of the Minnekhada Regional Park:

 

 

Visa:

I heard back from Immigration. I received an email and it said "we need more proof of this...." so I found some documents and sent them. Now we wait! However, it does feel really good that we now have a case worker and someone to speak to directly!

 

 

Hiking in the sun....

Hello all!

 

Since May 4th I have been doing a challenge on SparkPeople that I am working out 7 days a week. So I have found time for knitting in the evenings, but haven't found time for too much else.

 

Last week we went to dinner with my cousin & his lady for her birthday. Gastown Old Spaghetti Factory. Food was good, service a bit disorganized. Time with family - awesome! 

 

My dad was in town all week, so Tuesday he wanted to come over & go for sushi!! (No Knit Night for me that night!) Went for sushi & to Staples...he bought mum an Ipad for her Mother's Day/Birthday gift! ooohh lala! Other than those two dinners we worked all week. Running every other day, 10&1s (3 in a row). So the average was about 4.88km in 37min (with the 3min warm up & cool down).

 

This past weekend on Saturday Spyros & I went up to Harrison with our pals. Got there in time for lunch, had some foods. We were planning on a hike, but ended up wandering the boardwalk & playing a bit with the volleyball at the beach. We knocked it around for awhile, and then the guys were trying to teach us how to juggle it (like a soccer ball). I am the only one of the four of us that is very white. So they got tans in the beautiful sun & I got a bit of a sunburn. Aloe is my friend. Honest, I am a sunscreen-a-holic but I thought we would be hiking in the trees, and had only applied it to my face. Ooops!

Here's a couple photos from the day:

On the beach taking a break from the volleyball (can't see the sunburn yet!)

The fellas went up ahead on a path to see what they could see...

Sunday Spyros & I went to Hayward Lake to do the loop. It's a 17km loop all the way around, 10 on one side & 6 on the other. We started on the 6km side, and it was closed at the point where you cross the lake to the other side. We did a few side trails to see what there was to see...but it ended up being a 2h40m hike that covered 13.59km. So it felt good.

Here are some photos:

Some run off heading down to the lake

The two of us walking along the path

Another area where there was a lot of run of coming down the mountain

Needles:

I finished the Lily Pond Scarf by Maggie Magali in Malabrigo Sock Yarn - Caribeno (held double) for my cousin! I even shipped it off to her with a dishcloth!

Hope she likes it!

 I have been knitting up washcloths like a crazy person...doing them for the May KAL with

Knitabulls but I will just post photos of all of them when I am completely done. It's been good though - using up all the cotton yarn in my stash!

 

Stash!?! Yes - I just received my SWAP today & OMG I got spoiled! Check it out:

A pattern, hemp/cotton yarn, tea, 1oz roving, a lovely postcard note & loads of beautiful buttons!

Did a little non-knitting crafting. My sister, brother & I each made a stepping stone from Michael's and I just finished it. It's drying - so when it's completed I will post a photo!

 

Fitness:

As I mentioned I have been still running the 10&1s. I have been doing strength training 6 days a week. I have been working every day as well. I am feeling good most days. Went hiking and had a fairly active weekend so we didn't run at all. However, my weigh-ins have not been reflective of my working out!

My friend & I signed up for our first 5km on May 27th. I am a bit nervous & a bit excited. I don't think that I am going to be someone who regularly does these races, but it will be a good challenge for now!

 

Visa:

I phoned Immigration today as it has been over 5 months now. Basically, keep waiting. This is very frustrating as we are nearing the time to begin looking at flights for Spyros, however, it is government so we continue to wait!

Hope this had plenty of info for the non-knitters!!