Quietish

Starting today I will periodically have posts that are password protected. I’m divulging some things about my health and weight loss that I’d rather not have completely open to the public. If you would like the password, please ask by emailing me or posting a comment with your email address in it. Thanks!

I promise at some point soon I will do some craftblogging again. At the moment I am knitting and stitching a bit here and there and of course I continue to approach everything in a craftminded sort of way. I’ve just been bad about not putting it together in some way that’s presentable.

In the meantime I’m becoming preoccupied with my level of fitness. Well, non-fitness. I am walking regularly but it’s a trickle, you know? In fact, I’m still on the road to Rivendell. True, I’m much closer now than I was a year ago, but I rather hoped I’d have made it by now. The end approacheth though, and I am going to try to step it up. I’ll have a several mile a day goal or something. I have stayed about the same weight all of 2007 and it is just not acceptable.

My plan of action then, is:

• Quit ignoring WW points.
• Walk lots.
• Maybe throw in some workout videos.

It worked in 2006, anyway.

I spend quite a bit of time thinking about and/or complaining about my lack of time and my inability to do everything I want to do. I’m often frustrated that I can’t keep up with all of my interests. Last night however, I was surprised to sit up and realize that the “regular” day I had been having was actually very productive.

I started the day by trying a new hairstyle with Jamie. Tall pigtails right in front to keep her out-of-control bangs out of her face. Once she was at school, Cian and I got some coffeeshop time as well as knitting time. I had finished some fingerless gloves the day before and celebrated by starting a new shawl project.

The afternoon was relaxed but also managed to not be lazy. When I’m home with the kids I do things here and there, but yesterday I also managed to grab up the guitar and practice a bit several times. I had a cat in my lap or a dog in my lap at various points. Oh yes, fuzzy puppy/kitten time is indeed essential. I also had kids in my lap or sitting on my legs here and there, too, naturally.

I cooked dinner. For the third time this week. I will wait while you regain consciousness.

After dinner we had family TV time (which is actually pretty unusual for us). Pokémon. I cross stitched. CROSS STITCHED, people! I did maybe 2 square inches of stitching in all of 2007. This is huge!

With the kids in bed, I fit in my nightly walk accompanied by an audiobook. I came back and stitched some more.

What I did to deserve a day with more hours, I don’t know. When I spend some time drawing and writing in the next few days I will have everything covered this week. Who knows, I may even feel like I have something to post about.

I have a really full life without even trying too hard. That is exciting to me, and I hope that I can make a habit of not worrying too much about things and letting them happen.

Happy 2008, everyone!

Walked tonight, as (mostly) usual. I’ve just:

Reached dike and hedge. Former boundary of Cardolan, part of the North Kingdom of Arnor. (124.66 miles as of a bit ago)

It occurred to me earlier that the photos from yesterday don’t exactly clearly demonstrate why the thing should be called Lacy Waves Top. The sleeves are quite ventilated and the neckline, which is actually worked seperately and sewn in to finish, is also open with a little cabling to shape the “waves.” This definitely makes it worth the almost endless stockinette parts.

I’ve spent a little time yesterday and today working on a sock I’ve yet to show off here on the blog. I have let it sit mostly un-worked on for weeks and it hasn’t yet been big enough to bother taking a picture of it. Soon though, I think.

Actually, I think I’ll go back to it now; I’m just sitting and hoping for the rain to die down a little so I can get a coupla miles in tonight.

Rivendell status:
On the way to Tom Bombadil’s (97 miles)

Finished Saturday afternoon, took all evening and most of Sunday to dry with this lovely humid weather.

As usual, black is not the easiest color to photograph. There is lace there, I promise. Squint. Or use your imagination ;) Thanks go to Shell for snapping this for me while Jamie was in class.

Pattern:
Simple Knitted Bodice
Yarn:
Berroco Love It
Comments:
I made gauge perfectly with the yarn, but having read in a lot of places that the pattern runs large, I made the size down. Fits rather well, I think. I especially love the fit in the shoulders. There isnt any extra fabric under the arms, which really bugs me in some of the commercially made raglan shirts I have. The neat little lines of the raglan shaping make me happy.

So, onward towards more springy/summery knits. And perhaps some sock knitting as well.

~~~~~~~~~
Rivendell update: Been walking quite a bit. I dig the warmer weather, and wish it would just stop at this temp or so.

On path in the Forest. Path climbs gently. (84 miles)

Just so-s: You can always check my progress in Middle Earth as well as my weight loss ticker (eeps!) here.

My mom in law and sis in law have been in town since yesterday afternoon, which is why you all haven’t seen me on the IMs. I think I like the excuse to sit around on the couch rather than in here, actually.

Anywhoo. We went to the zoo today, despite of the rain. Got quite wet.

Please excuse the less-than-flattering SPS pic. And the campy smile. Sheesh.

Those are grizzlies in the background. If you’re in OKC, you should check out their new Oklahoma Trails exhibit. Quite cool and still smelling of fresh paint and cedar.

I’ll get a little video from today up, as soon as I can figure YouTube out. Here’s a little fun video from today:

And as you may have surmised, I’ve gotten some walking in today. So now I’m in:

Reach area of the Marish with fields, meadows, hedges, gates, and drainage dikes. (59 miles, less than 400 miles to go!)