Friday, January 18, 2013

Friday Mishmash

Thank you all for the sweet comments on Sam's guest post.  He's done an amazing transformation, hasn't he? I'm so impressed!!!

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The winner of Book Giveaway #4 - The Digest Diet Cookbook, is:


Congratulations!  Please send me an email (40somethingsjourney@gmail.com) with your mailing info so I can give it to my contact.  If I don't hear from you within a week, I'll have to choose another winner.  The last giveaway will be on January 22nd - and it's not a book...
  
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One of the men who works with Jeff is in the National Guard, and was recently called up to active duty in Afghanistan.  Before Christmas, Jeff and his fellow work people donated things to send them.  The boxes arrived a couple weeks ago and they sent this picture:
Now that's a lot of goodies!  Pretty dang cool to see that much support.

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My thoughts yesterday while reading my To Do list:   Vacuum?  No.  Clean bathrooms?  No.  Wash sheets?  No.  Knit?  OK.  I ended up starting off with knitting, then took a break and got the rest of the list done.  My priorities might be screwed up, but hey - I have some nice things to show for it, starting with my finished Honey Cowl:
 
I wasn't sure if I'd get much use out of the cowl, but I've actually worn it quite a bit already, and will definitely make another one, although I'll try a different pattern to change things up.

And my finished Scrappy Cap:
I just threw together this pattern in my head and it worked out.  I liked using up my yarn scraps, but all of the yarn changes meant I had 18 ends to weave in - that took almost as long to do as it did to knit the cap!

Plus I have a few projects in the works.  I started a Mystery Knit Along that my knitting guild is doing.  I'll be honest - I wasn't going to do this one, because I figured it was a shawl (it is), and all the lacework intimidates me.  But the lure of the yarn drew me in and somehow I ended up with yarn and needles - here's part one:
If you look closely, you can see the white dental floss - that's a lifeline, and it's recommended that you put them in on intricate projects, so if you make a mistake and have to undo your work, you know that it's good up to the lifeline.

Oh, and I crossed over to the dark side last Sunday when I was working on my sock:
 
I had to switch to double-pointed needles.  YIKES.  Talk about intimidating!  But there was no other way to work this pattern.  I will admit to some frustration with it - you are supposed to seam up part of the heel flap, and I must have tried at least 10 times to do that, but it just wasn't happening.  I read ahead in the pattern and it said you could do that part later, so I moved on.  Still, I'm not sure that this sock is going to have a mate...I love the yarn, but knitting a sock is not super enjoyable for me.

Also, when I look at any project that I've knitted, there's always some extras thrown in, in the way of dog fur.  I wonder why?
 
I have NO idea why that happens, Mom.

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Today is my rest day. No workouts - well, except for one measly plank, thanks to that January challenge I'm doing. Today is the day I let my body recharge and get ready for my 8 mile run tomorrow. Today is the day that I get to sit and drink coffee for a couple of hours without feeling like I need to hurry up so I can get a workout in. I love my rest day. My legs appreciate it, too.

Tomorrow we will do our 8 mile run in what should be great running weather - around 40 degrees! I'm really looking forward to it...I know - who am I???

Have a great weekend!

29 comments:

  1. OMG I am in love with the Scrappy Cap. LOVE. The colors, the pattern, the fit on your head, adorable. The cowl is cute too, but the Scrappy Cap made me stop and stare in delight.

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    1. Oh thank you! I'm pretty pleased with how it came out. :)

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  2. Your knitting is amazing. Love the hat. Keep it up with the sock. You can do it.

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    1. On the one hand, I see hand-knitted socks and want to have some for my own. On the other hand, SOCKS!!! They are a challenge.

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  3. I AM SMITTTTTED WITH THE CAP TOO.
    and impressed.

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  4. Love the hat, can't you make me one? These days I need a hat because it's cold here.

    Love Paco as always.

    Enjoy your rest day and have a great run tomorrow.

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    1. Have you never knitted a hat? I see your next project, Fran - and if you choose bulky yarn, it won't take you long!

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    2. Can't remember I ever did, maybe at school but can't remember. I did knit socks when I was a kid that I do know.

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  5. You hair seems to be getting really long! I love how it looks with the cap.

    Enjoy your rest day :D

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    1. So funny, I actually had about 3 inches cut off in December, but when I blow dry it straight, it seems really long. :)

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  6. You are totally a REAL KNITTER now. All your stuff looks great. I can't get my self to do much posting, but I'm back to knitting and did a pair of baby socks that came out great - on DPNs. I love using them - but it took awhile to get used to them. Maybe my desire to show off the socks to you will get me to post today.

    And to choose knitting over vacuuming? You have your priorities straight, sister!

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  7. What? Only one rest day? Who are you indeed? Your low temp tomorrow is our high so unless I wait until 3 pm to start running I will have to run in cooler weather - which is fine as long as there is not a wind chill like today (25 degrees, feels like 9 - yuck).

    I agree with Leslie - you are a real knitter. There's no turning back.

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    1. We've done that a couple times this winter - wait until late afternoon to run when the temps "warm up".

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  8. You are getting to be an awesome knitter Shelley! Love the blue one - so pretty.

    Hooray for a rest day! We will have temps in the 40s to, until Sunday when the HIGH will be about 8 or 10 for a few dys. I'll take cold over snow any day though!

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    1. Brrrrr - please tell me you'll be wearing a coat when it drops to the single digits!

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  9. That is so cool that Jeff and his workmates did that. How great to get a picture of it.

    Love all your knitting. LOVE that you work on multiple projects at once. LOOOVVVE that you are making up your own patterns!! The hat is so cute, and I do love the look of the mystery project. Socks--I loved making them, but they were always a 'palette' for fun color work. The whole cuff was done in a lot of different patterns and colors, and then the foot part was done simply usually. You'll get used to DPN, I promise.

    Happy to run 8 miles? Is there a yarn store or a hamburger joint or a froyo shop at the end of the 8 miles? That's the only way I'd be happy to be running that far!

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    1. Thought of you when I had to pick up the DPNs last week - I am the epitome of awkward to watch use them right now. I suppose they might get easier, if I keep knitting with them. It's haarrrddd! ;)

      LOL on your last paragraph. There will be a nice bagel and half a cinnamon twist afterward. Although a yarn run would be pretty awesome!

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  10. Definitely looking forward to our run tomorrow! Perfect running weather awaits us!

    Love your hat - you look so "hipster" in it! See, knitting makes you young!

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  11. Look at you! Knitting with DPN's and Lace to boot! I'm so proud of you, and welcome to the inner circle of experienced knitters! DPN's get easier, really they do. You can us a magic loop technique with a cabled needle for socks and other small stuff, but personally, I find it more annoying that the DPNs. And the heel flap? Get yourself to the shop and make them teach you how to knit in the heels with short rows and turns. It's not difficult and the socks will feel better on the feet.

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  12. Love the cowel you knitted - and good luck on your run tomorrow!

    We have 40's tomorrow, then arctic blast and teens as HIGH temps next week. Not looking forward to that!

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  13. This morning on one of our local tv news shows they were talking about healthy habits. One of them was taking up knitting and I instantly thought of you! The hat looks very warm and cozy.

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  14. I love the honey cowl, such a great colour!

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  15. Wow...you are a knitter extraordinaire. (and you're having a good hair day in the pics too!) Paco as always is adorable. Have a fantastic weekend Shelley.

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  16. I enjoyed Sam's guest post about his fitness journey. I was also thinking about Paco. Wasn't he supposed to drop a few pounds? Is he up next for a guest post?

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  17. You are quite a knitter!!! I love the cowl!!! I don't think I have the patience to learn knitting.

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  18. I really love how you love knitting, but sometimes when you explain stuff it sounds like Charlie Brown's teacher/adult :) But don't stop doing what you love!

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