Bits and Bobs from July

I don't know what I was thinking, but my only excuse for trying to start writing here again so close to crazy time at work was that when I wrote last I didn't yet realize that the final craziness was upon us.

The NCGA wrapped up their session around midnight, Friday, July 1, 2016, a month ago and I've spent the month of July recovering, at least I think I've recovered...almost.  I'm still feeling a bit brain dead most of the time, but it seems to be getting better.

We celebrated my grandson's first birthday at the beginning of the month, and in typical one-year-old birthday style, there was a lot of food, a lot of presents, and a lot of messy toddler.

Before the messy part

 The only other event of any note in July was a quilt class my mother and I took together this past Saturday.  One of my goals for the year was to learn to sew, and I've been slowly doing that.  My mother used to sew a lot when I was a child, but hasn't really in a long time.  She bought a new machine about the time I did and we took a mystery quilt class at the fabric store in Sanford this weekend, just to spend time doing something together.  I'll probably never finish the quilt, at least not the size it's supposed to be, but it was fun.  As usual, I had good intentions of taking some pictures, at least of my mother and I, but I totally forgot.  I'll insert a picture of what I got done sometime soon if I can remember to take it when I'm home.

Other than that, it's now August, and I need to get moving, literally.  I started taking a tap class again about 3 weeks ago, and so far I'm enjoying that.  Class right now is on Tuesday nights, but will shift to Monday nights in the fall.  So I should be able to attend until early January at least.  2017 is a long session year, so session will start in mid-late January and at that point Monday night classes won't be possible.  There is a Thursday night class, but it's more advanced, so if I feel I can keep up in that class by that point I may be able to switch to that.

I'm going to try this month to start getting back into an exercise habit.  Rob signed up for a 10K race the end of the month, so I signed up for the 5K FunRun with the intention of walking it.  Need to get some walking in before then though if I'm going to make it.  Just ordered a new swimsuit so I can start swimming laps again, and I'm considering making an appointment with a personal trainer if I can find one I like through the Y.  Grand plans for sure, we'll see if they actually happen.

Until next time....

Long Time Gone

The longer I go without blogging, the harder it seems to be to come back to it, primarily because I feel like I should tell you everything that's happened of any significance since the last time I posted.  But that's just not realistic, so here I am back again, and I'll hit a few highlights and we'll just pretend it hasn't been that long OK?

My son and his family are back North Carolina, at least for the next couple of years until the Army decides to send him somewhere else, so we've been able to spend more time with him, his wife and the grandkids.  I love my kids, I love my grandkids, but spending a few hours with the grands makes me glad I'm done with the kid-raising phase of my life.  The joy of being a grandparent is being able to enjoy some time with them then send them back home with Mom & Dad!

We took a trip to Louisiana in March to celebrate the 90th birthday of Rob's Aunt Sue.  It was good to see some of his family that we rarely see and my DIL was able to bring the grandkids down too even though my son couldn't get leave.  Sue is my MIL's sister and is quite a bit older than her, but you can see the family resemblance.

Rob & I celebrated our 16th anniversary last week, and I can't believe he's put up with me this long.  There are days it seems like our wedding was yesterday, and others when it feels like it's been forever.  But that's true of most marriages I suppose, but I'm glad he's stuck with me for yet another year.

I took a sewing class for a few weeks and have actually learned how to use my sewing machine, although it will be a long time for I feel like I have any degree of expertise. I've also attended a couple of fiber events this spring, but I'll talk more about those in separate posts.

Other than that, it's my busy time of year at work, so my hours are erratic.  Some days I work relatively normal hours and other days I work until late at night just to get things done that need to be done for the next day.  I've been in my current job over 20 years now, and although some days I would like to find something different, for the most part I still like my job, and every time I try to imagine doing something else I think of all the things I would miss about my current job.  I keep my eyes open for something else that might be interesting, but I've essentially resigned myself to being here another 9 years and 8 months at which point I can retire with full benefits, and hope to do so!

O.k. quick and dirty update done, more crafting and other tidbits to come, assuming I don't get totally distracted again right?

Finally FO Friday

After taking a couple of weeks off for the holidays, the last two weeks of work have seemed inordinately long.  So I'm glad it's finally Friday, and it's a 3-day weekend to boot!

I was feeling the need to work on some quick projects this week and get the sense of accomplishment that comes with actually finishing something, so I made up these three hats.  Aren't they adorable?! The blue & green monkey is for my 6-month old grandson, the pink & purple unicorn is for my 3-year old granddaughter, and the blue & white bear is for my 17-month old nephew.

The yarn is Top This! by DMC and it comes with the cute little animal heads to make these.  Each one knits up in just an hour or two, so I made these in three consecutive nights this week.  One caution if you want to make these, the pattern runs very small.  I actually knit the monkey one twice.  I had heard that the pattern ran small, so I knit the toddler size for my 6-month old grandson, but even that looked too small to me.  So I ripped it out and made the small child size for him, and I made the full child size for my granddaughter and nephew.  If they're a little big, that's always better than too small.

I'm hoping for a relaxing weekend.  I've got some yarn to ply off the bobbin so that I can get started on my Spin the Bin goals for 2016.  I finished spinning the singles last weekend, but didn't want to start spinning something else until this last thing left from last year is completely done.  I also need to sort and organize some clothes this weekend and see what can be donated. Finally, I want to get Scrivener reinstalled on my laptop because so far I have made no progress on my goal to actually write for 30 minutes 3 times per week.  I reloaded my laptop early in 2015 and I've never reloaded Scrivener, which tells you how little writing I've actually done in the past year.  Hoping to change that.

So that's it for today.  Happy Friday!

WIP It Into Shape Wednesday

Knitting WIP
This week's knitting WIP is the pair of socks I cast on New Year's Day.  As I mentioned, one of my goals for 2016 is to knit at least 12 pairs of socks.  I don't know that I will do exactly 1 pair per month, but I know that if I finish at least 1 pair each month, I'll hit my goal, so these are January's pair in progress.

I'm just doing a plain "vanilla" sock, toe up.  The yarn is Knit Picks Felici in Rainbow. I will do the Fish Lips Kiss Heel when I get to that point.  I prefer to knit my socks two at a time on two circulars if possible.  There are occasions when doing certain types of patterned socks where that's not possible, but if I can, I do.

These are being housed in my Dr. Who Tardis bag from Erin Lane Bags.  This is a small sock bag that has a divider inside to keep two skeins of yarn separate.  I love the fabric and I like the interior design.  I'm not a big fan of the way she does her drawstring on this bag.  The bag is very well constructed, it's just a personal preference thing.  I prefer one drawstring coming out one side with a tension clip or something.  This one has two ribbons running through and you pull from both sides. This is the first of her bags I've bought, so it may just be this particular style of bag.  I bought this one at SAFF, so I'll have to look at her others next time.

I'm using a Poke Me Not from JanBSmiley to not only keep my stitches from sliding off the needles, but to keep the small pointy needles from poking through the bag.  I have about 7 of these things because I use them on just about every project.  Highly recommend!


WIP Me Into Shape
I've decided to add weightloss progress to Wednesday's as well.  After all, I'm a WIP too.  I don't really want this to become a weightloss blog, but I don't want to ignore that part of my daily life either, so I will attempt to strike a balance between sharing some of my efforts to be healthier with you without going overboard.

I may do a longer post at some point with a little more of my lifetime battle with my weight, but suffice it to say it's not the first time I've made an effort to lose weight.  I've tried tons of times, and even been successful a couple of those.  I can lose weight when I set my mind to it.  I just need to make it stick at some point.  But for now, I need to focus on losing.  Hopefully by the time I get to where I want to be this time, I'll figure out how to maintain it too.

I'm a lifetime Weight Watchers member, but I'm way over goal.  I've tried to get back into WW the past few months, but it just wasn't clicking and with the changes to the new program, it's not going to work for me.  So I'm doing this without an official program of any kind.  I need to make lifestyle changes that are just that, my lifestyle, and not work this program or that, or this eating plan or that.  So my current tools are my Fitbit Surge and the Fitbit App to track my food intake.  I'm trying a couple of different online groups to find the right fit for support, but mainly I'm trying to eat healthier and move more.

I "officially" started last Tuesday, January 5th and I will record my weight every Tuesday morning.  Doesn't mean I won't weigh myself other days, but the weight I will record for tracking purposes will be whatever I weigh Tuesday morning before I get into the shower.  So yesterday was my first weigh-in day and I did really well this week.  Of course, the first week, when you go from eating a bunch of junk to actually eating somewhat healthy is always good, but it's always a nice boost as well.

I have a lot of weight to lose, and I haven't decided yet whether I want to share actual numbers here or not.  I have a feeling that if I'm actually successful in making some progress this time I will get more comfortable with sharing the details, but until then, I'm sorry if I keep that part vague.  I will say that my first goal is to lose 5# by February 2, and in one week I'm well on my way to that goal.

Happy Hump Day!

Fee Fi FO Friday

Sometimes I actually finish projects.  That's not accurate, I actually finish a lot of projects, but I go through spurts. I'm not a monogamous knitter, so I usually have many different WIPs at any given time, so unless I'm really focusing on one particular project I may go weeks without actually finishing anything and then suddenly I'll finish several things one right after the other.

In knitter-speak a finished project is an FO, i.e. finished object.  I'm designating Friday as the day to generally share FOs, so here's something I've finished recently.

I went to Southern Pines a couple of days before Christmas to do a little last minute Christmas shopping and after I got what I needed for everyone else, I treated myself to a little Christmas at the yarn shop there, Bella Filati.  It's a nice, friendly, yarn shop and I go there occasionally on Saturday afternoons for social knitting.  If you're in the area you should stop and check it out.

But the reason I mention it is that at that visit I bought a skein of Knitted Wit Victory DK yarn  in the Autumn Rainbow colorway.  I just couldn't resist these jewel tones jumbled all together.  Isn't it gorgeous?

I had the store wind it for me so as soon as I got home I could cast on.  I knit a pair of gloves for me, but because I have small hands they only took about half of the skein, so I made a short cowl to create a matching set.

Cowl pattern is Diamond Cowl, gloves I made up as I went.

I love them!  They're so fun and colorful.  I just bought a new charcoal grey dress coat, so they give me a fun pop of color with that.  I loved this colorway so much that I've ordered a skein of sock yarn in the same color from the dyer.  She has more in her shop if you want it, go on, you know you do!

I get many hours of enjoyment from knitting and other crafts, but wearing something you made at the end is also very satisfying.

2016 Reading List

Books I've Read in 2016 (117)

I include audio books I listen to on my daily commute. (A) indicates it was an audio book, (K) indicates it was read on the Kindle app, and no designation means it was a traditional paper book.

January (9)

A New Hope - Robyn Carr

The Naming of the Dead - Ian Rankin (A)

Last One Home - Debbie Macomber
Whose Body? - Dorothy L. Sayers
Exit Music - Ian Rankin (A)
Louise's Chance - Sarah R. Shaber
Three Truths and A Lie - Lisa Gardner (A)
Wound up in Murder - Betty Hechtman
Standing in Another Man's Grave - Ian Rankin (A)

February (7)
Saints of the Shadow Bible - Ian Rankin (A)
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time - Mark Haddon (A)
Even Dogs in the Wild - Ian Rankin (A)
Anything for You - Kristan Higgins
Maisie Dobbs - Jacqueline Winspear (A)
Knitlandia - Clara Parkes
Birds of a Feather - Jacqueline Winspear (A)

March (10)
Pardonable Lies - Jacqueline Winspear (A)
Starlight on Willow Lake - Susan Wiggs
Evening Stars - Susan Mallery
Messenger of Truth - Jacqueline Winspear (A)
An Incomplete Revenge - Jacqueline Winspear (A)
The Summer Wind - Mary Alice Monroe
The Ladies Man/Some Kind of Wonderful - Susan Mallery/Sarah Morgan
The Summer's End - Mary Alice Monroe
Among the Mad - Jacqueline Winspear (A)

April (11)
The Mapping of Love and Death - Jacqueline Winspear (A)
Citizens of London: The Americans Who Stood with Britain in its Darkest, Finest Hour - Lynne Olson
A Lesson in Secrets - Jacqueline Winspear (A)
Isn't it Rich? - Sherryl Woods
Priceless - Sherryl Woods
The War that Saved My Life - Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Elegy for Eddie - Jacqueline Winspear (A)
The Lions of Little Rock - Krisin Levine
Leaving Everything Most Loved - Jacqueline Winspear (A)
I Still Dream About You - Fannie Flagg
Treasured - Sherryl Woods

*I haven't had time to add links for the rest of these, but you can follow the link to my Goodreads in the sidebar and see them all.

May (7)
A Dangerous Place - Jacqueline Winspear (A)
Journey to Munich - Jacqueline Winspear (A)
Mr. Penumbra's 24-hour Book Store - Robin Sloan (A)
The Murder of Mary Russell - Laurie R. King
Clawback - J.A. Jance
The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street - Susan Jane Gilman
The Lake House - Kate Morton (A)

June (8)
Destiny Unleashed - Sherryl Woods
Extreme Prey - John Sandford (A)
The Guest Room - Chris Bohjalian
Edwin of the Iron Shoes - Marcia Muller (A)
Prayers the Devil Answers - Sharyn McCrumb
Fool Me Once - Harlan Coben
Winter at the Door - Sarah Graves (A)
The Girls She Left Behind - Sarah Graves (A)

July (12)
War Brides - Helen Bryan (A)
Redemption Road - John Hart
Wilde Lake - Laura Lippman
Hearts on a String - Kris Radish (K)
Split Second - David Baldacci (A)
Open and Shut - David Rosenfelt (A)
Rebecca - Daphne du Maurier (K)
If You Only Knew - Kristan Higgins
Finding Pride - Jill Sanders (K)
Discovering Pride - Jill Sanders (K)
Hour Game - David Baldacci (A)
Returning Pride - Jill Sanders (K)

August (11)
Lasting Pride - Jill Sanders (K)
Simple Genius - David Baldacci (A)
The Things We Wish Were True - Marybeth Mayhew Whalen (K)
Everything We Keep - Kerry Lonsdale (K)
First Family - David Baldacci (A)
Pierced by the Sun - Laura Esquivel (A)
All the Single Ladies - Dorothea Benton Frank
Unnatural Death - Dorothy L Sayers
Knit Your Own Murder - Monica Ferris
The Sixth Man - David Baldacci (A)
In the Teeth of the Evidence - Dorothy L Sayers

September (15)
King and Maxwell - David Baldacci (A)
Flashback - Nevada Barr
Where They Found Her - Kimberly McCreight (A)
I Let You Go - Clare Mackintosh (K)
Silver Linings - Debbie Macomber
A Christmas Homecoming - Melissa McClone (K)
A Bramble House Christmas - CJ Carmichael (K)
Memory Man - David Baldacci (A)
The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls - Anton Disclafani (K)
Maid for Love - Marie Force (K)
Fool for Love - Marie Force (K)
Ready for Love - Marie Force (K)
Falling for Love - Marie Force (K)
The Last Mile - David Baldacci (A)
Hoping for Love - Marie Force (K)

October (10)
Season for Love - Marie Force (K)
An Obvious Fact - Craig Johnson (A)
Prelude to a Wedding - Patricia McLinn (K)
Wedding Party - Patricia McLinn (K)
Grady's Wedding - Patricia McLinn (K)
A Family for Christmas - Noelle Adams (K)
Small Wars - Lee Child (K)
The Innocent - David Baldacci (A)
A Great Reckoning - Louise Penny (A)
The Life We Bury - Allen Eskens (K)

November (12)
The Hit - David Baldacci (A)
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children - Ransom Riggs
Lilac Girls - Martha Hall Kelly
Downfall - J.A. Jance
The Target - David Baldacci (A)
The Guilty - David Baldacci (A)
The Black Echo - Michael Connelly (A)
Blind Sight - Carol O'Connell
The Old Blue Line - J.A. Jance
Ring in the Dead - J.A. Jance
The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend - Katarina Bivald
Night School - Lee Child (A)

December (5)
Escape Clause - John Sandford (A)
Black Ice - Michael Connelly (A)
Gift Wrapped for Christmas - Mona Ingram (K)
No One Knows - J.T. Ellison (A)
Just in Time for Christmas - Kim Boykin (K)

Watch Me WIP Wednesday

I've realized that in order to post here more regularly, I need to have some recurring segments to fall back on when the brain is not cooperating.  So welcome to the first WIP Wednesday.

For you nonknitters, WIP stands for Work in Progress, so this segment will be related to projects I'm in the process of making using some form of crafting, most often knitting.

This week's WIP is my Jamestown Sweater, which I'm making out of Alisha Goes Around Bevy of Swans DK in a beautiful teal color.  I bought this yarn at SAFF in October and it is sooo luscious!

 I spent most of November knitting this sweater.  I had finished all the pieces and seamed it together, only to discover that I had made it too short.  I knew I needed to make the front and back pieces shorter than what the pattern called for because of my height.  Unfortunately, I wasn't thinking clearly and kept holding the piece up to my side to determine when to start the armhole, which means I didn't account for the amount of length going over my boobs and belly and hips would take up.  End result, I put it on & it's at least 2 inches shorter than I need it to be, and I don't think I'll be able to block it out those extra inches.

Since this is knit from the bottom up, I can't just take out the bottom and knit it longer, so as you can see above, I've ripped the back piece back down below the armholes and I'm in the process of getting the stitches back on the needles correctly so I can knit some more straight before doing the armholes.  Hopefully I'll get it right this time.

I love this pattern and the yarn though, so I really want to finish this sweater.  I'm just trying to stay motivated to get it done now so i can wear it a little this winter.

This sweater is being housed in my library card bag made by Amy Beth aka The Fat Squirrel.  I love this bag because the reading geek in me is thrilled by all the old library cards for books I mostly read as a kid.  Jane Eyre, The Secret of the Old Clock (Nancy Drew), Where the Wild Things Are, and so many more!

I've really become a bit of a knitting bag addict, so I'll try to make a point of showing my knitting bags with my WIPS as well.

Until next time....

2016 Goals

Unlike 2015, which was the year of no goals, I've set some goals for 2016, and one of them is to blog here at least three times per week, so I probably should get on that by actually writing a post huh?

I've done some serious thinking and planning about goals this year.  Who knows if I'll be able to achieve all of them, but I'm going to try.  I'm also trying a technique I've read a lot about of having a word and a mission statement for the year. 

While I will probably talk more about most of these in future posts, for the purpose of this one, I'm just going to give you the list, or as Joe Friday says..."just the facts."

My word for the year is....  

DETERMINATION

My mission statement for the year is....

 Determination and action lead to achievement.

Writing Goals

• Blog 3x/week
• Write 30 minutes 3x/week
• Journal regularly

Health Goals

• Make exercise a habit
• Lose weight (I've set a more specific number, but I'm going to keep it general here for now) 

Crafting Goals

• More yarn out (knit) than in (purchased)
• Knit 12 pairs of socks
• Spin the bin challenge
• 2 laceweight projects
• 2 handspun projects
• Finish Marigold Moroccan
• Steeked & Zippered Cardigan
• Learn to sew