Weekend Results

This weekend was a nice break from the normal grind of the summer social life. I ended up doing chores, cleaning, getting my hair cut (just a little), and knitting. Unfortunately, I can't stop knitting on the doomed cotton cardigan. I just know I'll run out of yarn, although I still keep tinkering on exactly how much. The latest conclusion is that it will be close and I'll only need less than one extra ball - which is frankly too frustrating to contemplate (that had I only plunked down another $2.50 or whatever it was, I'd have a finished sweater and no grey hairs). I now carry the yarn label in my small wallet, just in case I happen into a yarn store and can search in the back. Did I mention this is a discontinued yarn from years ago and no longer exists anywhere - not even on Ravelry(in my color).





However, this meant that I did very little in regards to my targets. I just kept knitting that sleeve, and in my normal way to achieve calmness in chaos, I organized. This time it was the yarn. You see I have all this yarn and all these patterns and have been having trouble matching them up - partly because I forget what is in my stash that I have enough of to make a sweater. So this weekend, I reorganized and cataloged only the sweater quantity of the stash. Counting yarn for making tank tops, I have enough I believe for 42 sweaters! At a minimum (I have cones which I swear just never run out - 2, 3, 10 sweaters and there still will be yarn).





So the next step is to sort the yarn by gauge and sort the patterns by gauge and see who gets matched up with whom. On the plus side I did actually touch the target projects, moving them to a brand new basket for UFOs that fit into my yarn storage. Baby steps, baby.



I have to add, that like Emily, I really have to "feel" that the yarn and pattern are meant to be. I've been known to rip out a sweater because they don't match up well.

Knitting Targets

I know it's only Thursday, but the weekend will be here in no time. I actually have very little planned. I'm trying out a new salon (or is it saloon, I think the first) on Saturday. I've scheduled a much needed hair cut after my yoga workout in the morning (there by ensuring I don't skip out in going on Saturday). I might even indulge myself in my annual pedicure. I hadn't gotten one yet this summer because of all the horrible health and environmental news I've been reading around the asian places. This place seems like they provide better services for both the customers and workers.

So, I am writing it here and hopefully delivering next week. I will work on the unfinished projects I keep taking out of the knitting basket and putting back untouched. At this time, this includes (sorry, names are made up at this time):

• Children's roll-neck sweater - seaming



• Moss stitch grape cardigan - seaming, collar?



• Drops plum cardigan - rip back and increase arm hole size

I was going to list more, but these are the big three that are so close to being finished - or else I can't wait until they are finished. Now my whole motivation for finishing these this weekend is that I just got the preview pictures of the upcoming Interweaves magazine. Usually I like the patterns alright but love that Ravelry exists now, there by providing me exposure to much better patterns. However, check out the Pea Coat they have:

The detailed picture makes me love the pattern even more. Now, I need to just see if I can find some yarn in the stash that will match the pattern.

Zen and Blind People

Summers are always so crazy I find and can't quite identify why. I guess people are more out and about so there are more social events. Anyways, I've been trying to keep work overload at bay and stay balanced there. I think I still am, but am teetering. Must be strong.



This last weekend, I participated in an intensive weekend long bootcamp with my yoga center. It was really good, but crazy. Less about physcially working out and more about finding your true-self and working through the behaviors, emotions, preconceptions and thoughts that we layer on everything. On my way to the second all day session on Sunday, I got rear-ended. No one hurt except for my little old plastic Saturn. I was good and didn't really think about it until I had to later in the day. Just put it away to address later. Of course later is now and I'm dealing with the possibility that the damage done exceeds the value of the car and that the folks who hit me would rather not go through the insurance company. No decisions made yet until I get hte final price quote - their ripping her open today to see the full extent of the damage. So now, I am feeling the pangs of being carless. On a technical note, in MA, I'm allowed a rental car, but frankly, I don't really need a car, I just like the idea of knowing that there is one there in case I need it.



Speaking of needing a car, take last night. I finally wrap things up at work - busy day, and I don't leave until 7 pm (however, I came in late since I was dealing with car stuff). Which means I don't get home until about 8 pm. Which means that I won't be picking up my food share of vegetables by 7 pm. I put the call in and there is no problem (it's at someones house, so hate to disturb them). I get home, and realize, I can't hop into the car. I finally am forced to bike to get the veggies. However, this summer, I haven't been as good and there's one reason or another that I've had to drive the past several weeks to pick up the produce. This time, there's no way around it unless I just forgo the pick up - which I did consider as I had barely touched the veggies from last week - they're running me over.



So I change, run downstairs to the basement and grab the bike. But I need to pump up the tires from half a year of not riding the thing. And then find the bike lamp I got for Christmas as by now it's almost dark. And then the stupid kick stand wouldn't go up and I couldn't remember the trick. I kick and kick and nothing. So end up taking it off by unscrewing parts - who really needs a kickstand anyways. I find out hte bike lamp has dead batteries and all my chargable batteries are uncharged so scrounge for 4 AAs. I finally get outside and am on the road when I realize that night has come, the temperatures have dropped and with the breeze I'm actually quite cold in a t-shirt. And of course it's started raining. And it's way after 8 now when I said I would pick up the veggies. That's when I just let it all go. It's amazing how those little things out of your control can spiral and cause me way more frustration then they should. It's all because I forgot I didn't have the car access anymore and hadn't planned on biking. The great part of the whole story was that the bike ride was a breeze (well almost) which was amazing as it's usually a chore going up the hills. The yoga really pays off - I must have some muscle and endurance built up. Not that you can actually see any.



So I found my zen. I keep trying to reconnect to that when I find I'm feeling overwhelmed. My biggest obsticle is time - it turns a normal situation into a stressful situation and really shouldn't. Speaking of which, I keep seeing the budhist monks walking down my street every now and then. It turns out there is a little temple (or what not) one block over. So that explains that. Now the only other thing that I've finally noticed is that there seems to be a lot of blind people around too. I would have to say that I've seen at least 10 different folks over the past year - both with the canes and the dogs. I've always noticed them but thought nothing of it and it hit me today when I saw two blind people on my bus today (who didn't know each other I dont' think) and realized the density numbers are a bit high. So that's a mystery.

It all works out

I've been enjoying the freedom and liberation summer time brings with it (especially when it's not too opressively hot and humid). There's something about the pleasent breezes and the longer days that gives one the feeling of something different. (Don't get me wrong though, all this waxing prophetic about summer time does not change the fact that I'm a winter baby through in and through - nothing beats a really good winter).



That being said, two general things to report. First, today I was itching to do something social this week, but most of my nights are already booked with prior commitments, which just left tonight, and there was nothing come to mind (I realize I"m not hte planner - it's my friends that come up with the great ideas for jaunts). All of a suddent, I get a call this afternoon from Nima - old highschool friend, and long story short, four of us from P-town are getting together for dinner tonight. Sara is in town from DC and Maggie is coming up from RI. I'm excited - it's just what I wanted to do, but didn't know how to plan. FUnny how it all falls into place.



The second thing to report is a wonderful little website, Postsecret. People mail in postcards they've created with their own secrets. Some are really serious others are funny. I felt an affinity towards this one:

There was a comment that "I'm the kind of person who can't separate a bunch of bananas in the store because they'll miss each other. I have to buy the whole bunch, or none at all." I've done that before - tomatoes, bananas, they've had a long trip together, it just seems wrong.

In general news on adventures, I've been trying to keep a balance of summer fun and summer down time. I had a great time visiting with friends over the 4th of July weekend (reminder that parents can be kooky, not just your own). I made it up to Ipswich and kayaked on a private estuary. Noah, an ex-colleague was housesitting a marvelous house in a wonderful setting that you don't come across often - overlooking beautiful park land of wetlands. Unfortunately, I woke up the next morning and found a tick in the bed with me (not on me and no sign of bites, but we did spend the night together I think).

This weekend I'm doing a Yoga retreat workshop both days which I'm looking forward. Specifically in getting more grounded on where and what I want to be. In preparation I'm doing some unusual exercises, but think that I might have some awesome abs by the end of it all. Maybe not a 6-pack but perhaps a 2-pack. One can hope. It sure feels like I should.

The food share this year has been good, although it seems like the novalty has worn off or else we're getting less variety. I'm starting to have to get creative with how I eat some of the food. My latest brilliant idea after I realized I just couldn't eay any more swiss chard, was the creation of panini sandwiches for lunch. Basically just a glorified grilled chees sandwich with some precooked chard and koharbi and other goodies. Heated up in the microwave at work it's not half bad (the trick is really good rustic bread and good irish shannon cheese). The downside is that I have yet to bike to the pick up due to one issue (read excuse here) or another. I'm hoping tomorrow I might actually be able to bike (although now that I've written this, it's not likely).

Oh, also, I almost forgot, Netflix has been great at discovering tv shows I never knew existed (downside is that they're sometimes just one season -but that's just like a movie then). As somethign light and quirky, my latest find is Wonderfalls. I just signed up for Mad Men but Netflix has the first DVD listed as a "very long wait" so even though everyone raves, I might have to put that on hold for now. All in all not a bad summer so far. I'm enjoying it as it unfolds and not stressing the little stuff. Now if only I could remember to bring my camera with me some of these times.

Milestones

The biggest milestone in my life is that my knitting books arrived when I returned from visiting friends in upstate NY (if you can call the area BELOW Albany upstate). I spent a lot of time figuring out what yarns do NOT go with which patterns. Many swatches later and I still don't have a project for the 4th of July vacation. I'll perserve again tonight.

The milestones I speak of are those that I have pictures of. First, my old college friend Joanne tied the knot on the exotic island of Bermuda. They are standing in front of the moongate which brings good luck to the marriage. Although she's got her self a wonderful man in Kevin, even if he has no shoes.

The other milestone was the birth of Duncan that I mentioned in an earlier post. I made it to NY to visit Emilia and her family and got to spend some time with the wee one. He's just five weeks old, but I really took a hankering to him. Usually I don't spend much time with newborns as they aren't awake much, are fussy, or the mom is attached to them. In this case, I got to help out and keep him happy. He was so fun to just stare at I started wanting one (he's an exceptionally easy going guy). Geoff, another friend of Emilia's and I would just find ourselves staring at him as our conversation dragged to a stop.

It was great just to hang out and chill (this is Fred and Duncan on the left, me and Griet and Geoff watching some Curious George). They were surprised that I was versed on my Curious George but you gotta love the cartoons. They had rearranged their house for the newest addition and it is such a good use of space.









In the interest of time, I'm posting the remaining pictures with less commentary.


Me, Emilia and Jess. It was great having the old gange back although missed Andrea - our tea party fourth. We only look like we do because it was balmy and hot. As proof, check out Solly.


Jess's two year old son who was also very hot and sweaty. He was adorable and so well behaved and quiet (although I'm sure that's not always the case).

And of course, we can't forget the most important, Griet, the eldest born of Emilia (here as a dog or perhaps a cat with Jess).


And finally the last milestone, is my friend Cece (click her name to link to her blog with the picture) is starting to show. She's due early December. I get to hang out with her this weekend in the Berkshires with some other friends. It should be a great time - as long as the mugginess goes away!