To New Zealand and back...way to ring in 2014!

Well hello!!
We left for New Zealand on January 12th and we returned on the 28th, so much to say!! I am really just far too verbose so I have notes I am working from, and then I have to shorten those down too!!!! It's still VERY LONG - so I don't blame you if you don't feel like reading, I know my family will want to though, so I'm putting it up anyhow!

Us on a hike, or "tramping" as they say

Let the spinning begin...

Two posts in June - say what!??!

Not a lot going on though! Seriously! We went to the NRL (Rugby League) game and it was a bit chilly. Think ice rink temperatures but with wind because it's an outdoor stadium. It's a MASSIVE outdoor stadium (we went to ANZ) that holds 80,000 people. There were 20,000 for this particular game. The Doggies lost, they deserved to though, they were playing pretty crap. However, it was cool to see it live. I would like to see another game at a smaller arena because we could only see what was going on if they were at the end we were closest to.

ANZ Stadium during warmups

March Madness!!

Really, the only madness is that I am JUST NOW getting around to doing another post! Crazy. Quite a bit has gone on too, but quite often when we sit down I am working on a project, skyping with friends or family, or we are watching TV or a movie!

February ended up fairly uneventful, the biggest news was probably the news that mum & dad booked their plane tickets!

YAY!!!!!!!!!

They are coming to visit for a month at the end of July! I am very excited about this, so Spyros & I are trying to figure out what to do with and for them (I am sure Spyros will get to see a bit more of his country too!)

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!!

Just a bit of a blurb...

As a Canadian the Hockey Playoffs have been rather big in our lives...sadly the Canucks were out in Round 1 after just 5 games. Also, Ottawa is out too after this afternoon. There is still hockey, but no one in particular we are cheering for!   

Other than that, this past week has been OK. Last week I did all the 8&1s, and was pretty proud! Unfortunately, this week I haven't done any running. The weather was crappy, we have been working (and that really changes around our "non-working" schedule!), and I have been feeling a bit disheartened. I have been watching what I eat & exercising 6 days a week, and still not losing. A bit frustrating, but I will get back at it! This weekend we have big plans for exercise.

Last weekend on Friday night we went to the movies with some friends. Haven't done that in ages, we saw American Reunion and it was pretty freakin' funny. American Pie was within a couple of years of when we all graduated and so we are within the same age group as the characters. I thought it stayed pretty true to the characters and feel of the original, and the soundtrack was sweet! It was a good double date!

Then we went into Vancouver on Saturday, I went to Make It! with a friend. My man spent the day with her man doing guy stuff, and we gals spent the day checking out crafty things! I purchased a little something for my SWAP partner. Yes, I am in another SWAP on Ravelry - this one for Yarn & Buttons. I saw this & couldn't resist! After that we went and walked Main St and then went a yarn shop to see if I could find some yarn for this same SWAP partner. On our way another friend called and she and her son met up with us on our journey. We found Three Bags Full and lucky us, they had a basket of toys for the little guy to play with! That helped as I wandered the shop looking for the "just the right yarn" for my partner. I found some! Also, the shop was adorable, and the women very helpful! Plenty of selection, lots of local & Canadian products -- one of which is what I purchased!! Then coffee, and we met up with the men, had dinner, a bit of wine...it was a great day and evening with friends!

This past Tuesday I did not attend the Knit Night, I hung out with another friend instead and ate Dairy Queen, watched Glee & New Girl! It was fun, and I did get a bit of knitting done.

I finished my socks! In time for the KAL, yay! They do fit, and I kinda super love them! Now I am back to one project on the needles...and now that I have had three, I am finding myself a bit bored with just one. I HAVE STARTITIS!! What the heck!?! Everyone else gets in in January, and here I am in April and now looking at everything in my stash & my queue and I just want to cast on, cast on, cast on! I am NOT, because I may not have much self control when it comes to food, but in most everything else I have very good self control. hahaha. Soooo ~ socks:

My feet are 6.5/7, although I have been told they look large in this photo!

Don't you LOVE them!? I love them!

I didn't think I had much news, or much to say, however I do seem to be awfully good at the rambling!!

Later Gators!

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!!!

Swaps R Us!

So I joined a SWAP. My first swap on Ravelry, I have been stalking a few for a couple of months, but I have been nervous to partake. For all non-ravelers and non-knitters - a SWAP is when you are partnered up and send one another a package. Now this package can vary greatly, but when it comes to Ravelry, it generally will include yarn or a knit/crocheted item. It can also include chocolates, books, postcards, knitting notions, fat quarters for sewing, needles, patterns, etc. etc. etc. The swap group I joined is one that changes each month. Yarn + Something Else, and the something else changes. This time it was Yarn + Chocolate (so you see why I had to join!).

My Swapper was from New Zealand, and I was lucky enough that she is also a member of Three Irish Girls Yarn Skein of the Month Club. I have been scrolling through these amazing handpainted yarns at Three Irish Girls for a few months now. Such incredible colours and great reviews. I have definitely decided to join the SM Club once $$ allows - so imagine my amazement to open up my package from NZ and find a gorgeous skein of Three Irish Girls DK merino!!! Oh happy day! Also, some gorgeous dark chocolate mint chocolate and a dark chocolate chili lime chocolate as well. (I won't lie, I am already well into the chocolate).

Pretty stoked about my first Swap! Here it is:

Naturally, I sent a message with much thanks ...and then started trolling other swaps to see what was going on. Now I have joined another that is a February - make something red Swap. This will be fun because I will be receiving a handknit something in this swap!!

Needles: I have been wanting to work on my thrummed slippers. I have been NEEDING to make myself some thrummed slippers!! However, it has been snowing off and on a fair bit, and we live in the bush...up a hill. So I do not go to town unless I must for work, or groceries. Since we haven't been working much, I haven't been out much! I did make it to town on Friday - I bought the needles, but when I got back and looked at the pattern again, it says "3.5 & 4.5 double pointed needles"...but the bloody pattern is knit in the flat and therefore I got the wrong needles! Oi!

To pass the time I have been spinning. That's right - ages ago I took a drop spindle spinning class.   I haven't touched it since. I always have such a fear of messing up something I don't know very well. But I pulled out the spindle and the roving and started on it. I made a fair bit of single ply VERY thick & thin, very artsy, very inconsistent yarn! But that's ok - at least I am working on it! I want to spin the rest and try to ply it together. Or else I might just Navajo ply the whole kit and caboodle!

Today I cast on a hat, a cute bay boucle hat to be sent to my friend for her photography studio. Soon I shall conquer those blasted slippers!!

Visa: Finally received a reply, the gist of which was, "Yes we received all of your info.  You will not be contacted unless we need something from you. This may take 5 - 12 months."

Well thanks so much Immigration for your understanding of my state of limbo! So we wait...