I know it has been a long time since I posted. And it's not like I haven't thought about posting. I guess other things have gotten in the way since I sat down to write in March.
Let's see. I had started running again and was doing quite well. Until I fell skiing in late March. Waiting in the lift line my youngest son had skied over my skis and down I went with my legs all twisted up under me. Oh yeah, can you say the knees hurt? But up to the top I went and then skied down. And caught an edge which launched me and I came down hard. And I was done. I told DH that's it, I'm done and I skied down. So, the knees have been slowly getting better, but not much running has been going on.
I have two gardens this year. I was lucky enough to get a space this summer in the community garden in the open space near my house. It's a 10' x 20' plot and I have planted corn, watermelons, cucumbers, various varieties of squash, onions, radishes, carrots, nine varieties of tomatoes, and edged it with some California wildflower seeds that should make it look lovely. But of course, it snowed after I put it in after three days of 80 degree weather, and it's been raining quite a bit (which we badly need). So, what seeds will come up? We shall see. And the jalapeno and tomato plants look a bit beat up, but as I look at it, this is a test year to see what will really grow out there. And I have my backyard plot where I put in several varieties of beans, and I have basil and parsley in pots on the deck. I have high hopes for a lot of veggies.
Reading, oh, I am so behind on my reading. And I think it has to do with the explosion of video podcasts. There are so many that I watch and they can really be a time suck, that I guess I justify because I sit and knit while I am watching them. But...it has been 22 weeks since my birthday and I like to average a book a week. Hmm, not even close. And I have a stack of books, several of which I have renewed more than once. I need to get reading.
11. To the Nines by Janet Evanovich
12. A Catered Birthday Party by Isis Crawford
13. A Catered Thanksgiving by Isis Crawford
Knitting. I have been knitting, and along with everything else in my life, I am determined to get organized. Because somewhere along the way, I became a starter and not a finisher. And I don't know if it was like other things in my life that I got bored. But maybe so. I know I am a process knitter, I like to see what the yarn does, what the pattern looks like, but having the finished object was not really a priority until I would go to knitting events and wish I had some more of my work finished. And something else bothered me, but I won't go into that. But it did.
So I went through the yarn room and made a list. And I really did check it twice. And it represents the projects that I really want to finish this year. And I made categories with five lines under each category. (And socks don't count, just like sock yarn does not count as stash). So here are my categories:
Stranded colorwork
Bohus
Cables
Lace
Japanese
Black Water Abbey
Double Knitting
Miters
Misc. projects/techniques
Oh, it looks rather daunting doesn't it? Not all categories have 5 projects in them, and there are other categories that could have many more added. But these are my priorities. And I am trying not to buy yarn from the time I left Spring Fling until the fall knitting retreat I attend. I went to the Spring Fling last month and bought yarn but I stuck to what I wanted to do - spend less than $100 at the Loopy Ewe - 1 skein Needle Food sock yarn, 2 skeins Malabrigo sock, and some spinning fiber. I also came home with 2 skeins of Wollmeise, a skein of Skinny Bugga and a skein of the new Loopy Ewe self-striping. But they were gifts or prizes,and all sock yarn so they don't count do they? And really, we all know I don't need any more yarn. I may go to Estes this year, but that would only be for spinning fiber or spinning related tools. But this girl has enough fiber to keep me busy for a while.
I have been knitting and actually there has been some finished objects. This is my Shipwreck Shawl when it was drying after I blocked it. I knit it out of some Woolen Rabbit Lark in the colorway Forever in Blue Jeans. This yarn is just lovely - alpaca, silk and cashmere. I have one more skein left. I haven't decided what I am going to do with it yet. I thought I finished something else, but for the life of me I can't think of what it was.
I am hoping to blog more - at least once a week and update on my 2011 knitting list. And my garden. We shall see. Baseball started this past week so I definitely have some dedicated knitting time. Not sure I if I will be the scorekeeper for youngest son's team or not, probably will since DH is the coach. But practices = knitting time, which is fine with me.
Well, the boys should be coming home soon as their school lets out in 10 minutes.
Quote of the week:
I have written some songs, but I would really call what I've done poetry at the end of the day, because I'll sit with my guitar for hours and hours on end for, like, a week and then I won't touch it for a month. I also just have no confidence. And you know what? I don't have time, because I'd rather be doing other things, like knitting.
Amanda Seyfried
