And miles to go before I sleep...

It's Christmas Eve and I would like to say that the tree will be surrounded by lovely hand-knit gifts...but unfortunately that is not going to happen. Not this year anyway...The Cobblestone pullover is still on my needles, however I am up to the yoke. I did manage to finish one Koolhaus and had it proudly on display on my Value Village model head. Then a winter storm hit and the hat founds its place on Lydia's head who has worn it almost daily ever since. At least it is doing what a hat is supposed to do. I have a big bag of Berroco Peruvia in my closet - just waiting to be knit into my Tilted Duster and have joined the KAL group for this on Ravelry. We being January 1st so I had better get to that Cobblestone! I also managed to get a hold of the pattern for the Central Park Hoodie. If you go to Knitting Daily you can purchase the pattern online from their pattern store. While you're searching around, have a look at Brooklyntweed's latest:

Maybe for next Christmas?

...busted...

Winter seems to have settled into southern Ontario and unfortunately I seemed to have settled into winter. It is just so easy to move into hybernation mode, stay indoors, knit a bit, go to work, sleep a bit, knit a bit more.... and I was getting away with it too, that is, until this weekend...



Saturday was a lovely day, the sun was out, the temperature was quite mild, no cold wind even, and so the thought did cross my mind that I should go out for a run before I fall totally back out of shape. The thought was later reinforced when I stopped in at VanBelle's and spoke briefly with Karl, one of the owners, about...running. Next, off I go to the library where I bump into Peter and Marja, my pastor and his wife, who casually ask if I have been "keeping up with my running lately?" Nope. Then I find out they had run with the church running club that morning, after which they donated blood! Okay, okay, I get the hint! Busted again....



And so, after the kids were off to school this morning, I headed out to a local indoor track and ran in circles for 20 minutes. Done!



Now for a bit of knitting....I have no trouble with this activity in the winter months! Apparently you only burn off about 30 calories per hour knitting but I think I doubled that while making this hat! Here is Jared Flood's Koolhaas and I love it, love it, love it. However, I did muddle up the decrease rows and had to tear back some of it four times before I got it right. It wasn't the pattern's fault ....just mine. Even though it took me longer than I originally thought, I will definitely make this one again and probably add an extra pattern section for my big-headed relatives!


Lydia loves the Koolhaas too, snatched it off the dummy head, and has been wearing it ever since!

Prerequisite weather...

Christmas is, of course, a perfect time to build wonderful traditions with your family. Our family choses a "real" tree each year; however, before we can haul the thing home, the day must meet the prerequisite of having the worst weather of the season!

Well, yesterday was just such a day. Between the dumping of snow we received through the night, the gusty winds, and the freezing rain during the day, it was the perfectday to go pick our Christmas tree (which of course is furthest back in the field).

Once back in our warm and cozy home, stirring our hot chocolate and marshmallows with the candy canes given out at the tree lot, we discovered our tree to be "weeping" from all the snow and freezing rain on its branches!

It looks lovely now though, all decked out with ornaments and angel...

...but the weather isn't any better!

Finish-itis

Along with a "no-good, dirty rotten, miserable" cold, I also find myself with a case of finish-itis. The other day I sorted out my knitting and was surprised to find a few...ahem...unfinished items. These items include:
-matching generic sock (second sock syndrome) to make for daughter with cold feet
-second sleeve (syndrome) for the Cobblestone pullover. I can't believe how far I've come on this project, only to screech to a halt now...(I think I can....I think I can...I think I can...)
-the top half of this gorgeous hat (may I call this a toque?), Jared Flood's Koolhaas featured in

Holiday Knits 2007 from Interweave. It's a beautiful pattern but don't knit it at night, in a van, on the 401 as you need to see the pattern evolve (not to mention fix your mistakes right away). As a result, this is take 2 for me!
-magnum opus (perhaps one day), the Peacock Feathers Shawl from Fiddlesticks Knitting. I think I bit off more than I can chew on this one!
-seaming and buttons for my Baby Surpise Jacket (at least this one is knitted up)
...and, just to make matters worse (or better, depending on how you look at it), this has arrived from Webs

...my wool for the Tilted Duster! This project must wait, however, as I have joined a Tilted Duster KAL on Ravelry which doesn't begin until January 1st.

Just think, if I get all these finished (with the exception of the magnum opus), I will be way ahead on my Christmas knitting!

Dionaea muscipula

Otherwise known as:

...that's right, Jaws. After a summer day trip to the amazing Toronto Zoo, Thomas came home with a little "pet" - this Venus Flytrap! Two weeks ago Jaws was not looking good at all. He became quite dried out and most of his leaves and stems turned black. However, with a little TLC he seems to be making a speedy recovery and has sent up some new green growth. Soon it will be time for another fly...

Extreme Makeover...

Same dog....

...same day...

...it's amazing what a good stylist can do!

My little dog - a heartbeat at my feet. ~Edith Wharton

Success Story

Here's my sister Ingrid who is a Running Room success story. She started with the Learn to Run program just a few years back and has now progressed to this ... posing with the John Stanton, founder of the Running Room!!! (Not to mention all the 5K's, 10K's, and half marathons under her belt too.)


Way to go, BB!

A little running...a little knitting...

Saturday was my first "cold weather" run and I didn't enjoy the cold air in my lungs and the wind in my face. Fortunately, about halfway through the sun did come out, the wind died down, and it was almost enjoyable. This winter will be the big test for me to see if I can keep up with this running thing. I suppose I could opt to take it indoors once in a while and use the track at the "Y."

Winter and knitting, on the otherhand, were made for eachother. Having finally reached the armpits on the Cobblestone I am ready to cast on for the sleeves. I am feeling optimistic that one day it will be finished and so have ordered wool for my next project, my very own Tilted Duster (pictured on the cover of the Fall 2007 issue of Interweave Knits).

I have even gone so far as to order the suggested Berroco Peruvia in the colour "Marron" (#7107). Can't wait!

Random Acts of Knitting

Although the Cobblestone is coming along, I did have to tear out about 10 rows after discovering a mistake in the garter stitch down one of the sides. I have recovered, and am now working my way back up to the yoke. This is nice knitting, round and round...and round and round...but doesn't make for very exciting pictures.



Instead, here are a couple of previously finished objects. On the left is a pair of very soft baby socks made from leftover Austermann Step sock yarn with aloe and jojoba oil. This is a self-striping yarn but on these tiny socks the colours only changed twice, from the ribbing to the heel and then from the heel to the toe. The other project is a generic dishcloth made from Bernat Cotton.

Jupiter, Fifth Planet from the Sun

Ever find that your knitting needles are useful for purposes other than knitting? This 5mm needle was just the tool for turning and holding Jupiter during painting for a third grade project.

It's twin, however, has long since been lost to a niece with a broken arm who used it as a scratching tool. No, I don't advise this (even though it worked great) and no, I don't want it back!

Coming Apart at the Seams

These were my first and favourite running shoes. I learned to run in these shoes. I ran my first 5K in these shoes. I have tried to replace them once but the new shoes gave me pain in the arches of my feet. So I went back to my #1's...but now...I may have to finally say goodbye...

...well, maybe not just yet. They have a few more kilometers left in them before the snow flies. In the meantime I will need to head out to the Running Room with my 20% off coupon.

October Rain

Today is an about-face from the 26 degree Celsius sunshine we enjoyed yesterday! Although everything looks fresh, clean, and green outside right now, the temperature is beginning to drop and the rain continues. A perfect day for .... cleaning (yes, I can't avoid it today).

Also, great weather for baking .... I'll get those old bananas off the counter.

And of course, perfect weather for a bit of knitting. I began the Cobblestone pullover last week and am making slow progress. My guage looks good but I am a bit afraid that I might not have enough wool. So far I have already used 2 balls and it calls for 13. I will keep my fingers crossed and re-measure after another two balls or so. Here is a photo of some of the "cobbling" in progress. The wool is a bit darker than it appears here and has flecks of beige and darker gray in it as well. This shows where the garter stitch continues along the sides.

10's and 1's

Blogging - day two:



Well, I have learned a thing or two about blogging, search engines crawling, being patient, etc. Although I can see my blog, it appears no one else can...yet.



In the meantime I will continue to update. Today's post is about the "run away" aspect of this blog. I have two sisters who run (5K's, 10K's, half-marathons, even one full marathon). About a year ago they began giving me "gifts" like running shoes, water bottles, and gift certificates to the Running Room. I took the hint and two weeks ago I finished my first 5K at the Run for the Cure!
Following the Running Room's Learn to Run program I gradually built up my running time until I was running 10 minutes and walking 1 minute, then running 10 minutes, walking 1 minute, etc. Here I am crossing the finish line after 38 minutes (3-1/2 sets of 10 minutes running with 3 one minute walking breaks):



Today I stuck to a nice, gentle run of 20 minutes (2 sets of 10's and 1's). If I can only figure out a way to knit and run at the same time...

The Birth of a Blog

What better way to start my first knitting blog than with a FO (finished object) or two?! First, still hot off the needles is the "Alligator Scarf" from Morehouse Farms. I am very happy with the way he turned out and will definitely make a few more.

Also recently finished and sent off to a lovely new baby is the Pea Pod cardigan which is a free pattern from Interweave Knits. For this I used Sirdar Snuggly DK which is a bit fuzzy but very soft.

Next up - Jared Flood's Cobblestone Pullover in the latest edition of Interweave Knits. There is a really nice one posted here. I was having difficulty finding a wool to use but settled on Natura by Marks & Kattens in a dark, smokey gray. I found this at a wonderful shop I stumbled upon called "Ferguson's Wool" up in Myrtle. This store is a small house filled with beautiful yarns from floor to ceiling, two stories! It's worth the drive to Myrtle...