sock notes.

A few notes for myself so that the 2nd sock matches the 1st. I might forget what I did!

- cast on 24 stitches (total circumference is 48 sts.)
- after the short-row toe is complete, knit one row in navy before starting the stripes
- 6 rows per stripe
- heel: knit 3 rows in navy, work short-row heel, knit another 3 rows in navy before striping
- cuff: knit one row in navy, work k2p2 for 12 rows
- bind off using EZ stretchy sewn cast-off

photos?

The photos are on their way. I had a very busy weekend with J&A's wedding and related events, including a visit to the mall (during Boxing week!) to find dress pants for T-man and heels for me.

I didn't make a ton of progress on the work sock on Friday but I *may* get it finished today! And then I can post the entire photo series tonight, instead of partying for New Year's Eve. (not really joking about that either)

stretchy cast off.

I'm posting this so that I can refer to it later... found at Weebleknits. (it was the 2nd result in my Google search)

Elizabeth Zimmermann's Sewn Cast off from Knitting Without Tears

Break yarn, leaving a tail about 4 times as long as the circumference of the sock. Thread a tapestry needle.

* sew forward (right to left) through two stitches as if to purl, leave the stitches on. Sew backward (left to right) through one stitch as if to knit and remove the stitch.
Repeat from * until you run out of stitches. Work in tail on the inside of the sock and trim any excess.

Denise's variation for circular knitting (from http://www.socknitters.com):
For the very first stitch only, after you go backwards through it, do not remove it, instead move it to be the last stitch on the final needle. It will then become the final stitch to be cast off. This gives a neater finish to the end of the round.

Via Weebleknits: Stretchy Bind Offs

work socks.

Unfortunately for me, I had to work this week (not the 25th and 26th, but the other days) and there is not much to do. But I have to be there just in case. My manager knows there is nothing to do, so I don't have to pretend to be busy.

Enter the portable knitting project. The secret gifty project is now too big to carry around, so I started a pair of socks: striped toe-up on 3mm dpns using Wendy's Generic Toe-Up Sock pattern. I knit the short-row toe at home on Wednesday night, and finished the foot and heel at work yesterday. Yay! I'm cruising along. Maybe I'll finish an entire sock in 3 days - then another 3 months to knit the mate. ha ha.

Imagine if I could knit at work every day? Not all day long, just a few rows in between other tasks. That would be great!

Stay tuned for pics!

post-christmas blues.

Ah, Christmas. So much stress and anticipation and then.... well.... bah humbug.

This year my family decided not to exchange presents and to bring food instead. It's a great idea - we can avoid the shopping craziness and take some of the cooking load off of my mom. No one knows what to buy each other anyway. However, it didn't turn out quite as I envisioned. I'm not all about the presents, but opening them gives us something to do. And the other people in my family don't looooooove food the way I love food. So dinner was OK. Kind of like a normal dinner. No one was excited about the fancy desserts from Dufflet, except for me and T-man. (and I forgot the leftovers at my parents' house - must pick those up! They won't eat the delicious little cakes and tarts. Oh they are so delicious!)

One thing I don't like about my parents' new house is that the Christmas tree is in the dining room, not the sitting room. So after we eat, we go to the "great room" to chill but there's no tree. There may have been some decorations up, but I can't really remember.

Sorry to whine! I have even more complaints but decided not to share them all. :) I just wanted the holiday to feel special, and it didn't. :(

And I missed watching White Christmas! I love that movie!!

fry up hat and bag.


I have found the pattern for the elegant and classic Fry Up Hat and Bag, otherwise known as English Breakfast Egg & Chips. I had bookmarked a copy of the pattern but that site is gone... I was very sad. Not sure why, as it's not something I'm particularly interested in knitting, although I think it's freakin' hilarious.

The site has several patterns for other knitted foods too.

Via Kristen's comment on this post at Slowknitter.

flog for tuesday.

input:
breakfast - toast and coffee
snack - half a croissant, mini bagel with cream cheese, fruit salad, and mini bran muffin from building's holiday breakfast
lunch - leftover risotto
dinner - falafel
snack - potato chips after rehearsal

output:
walked to and from work
weight class at 12 pm
troupe rehearsal 8-10 pm

flog for monday.

input:
breakfast - smoothie with banana, blueberries, soy milk and hemp protein
snack - almonds
lunch - risotto with butternut squash and peas (last night's dinner)
snack (at work) - an orange
snack (at home) - rest of the smoothie and a handful of potato chips
dinner - spinach patty sandwich with cheese, Vegenaise, relish and mustard. And more potato chips.

output:
walked to work - in the crazy snow!
yoga class at 1 pm
private session with Roula at 6 pm

love it.

101 Handmade Gift Ideas
101 gift ideas that you can easily and inexpensively make yourself

sri.

Some links for future reading. I need to get on the investment train. I even have a financial planner lined up!

Socially Responsible Investing: Part 1 (Money and Values)
Socially Responsible Investing, Part 2: Some SRI Options (Money and Values)

a coupla food pics.

This is my lunch from November 28.

Dal and steamed broccoli from December 3. Before.

And after. Yes, that's T-man throwin' horns in the background.

flog for thursday.


input:
breakfast - toast with almond butter
snack - almonds
lunch - navy bean and vegetable soup with pasta (farfalline - so cute)
snack - salsa and leftover tempeh & black bean burrito filling with Charras
dinner - more soup, but added pine nuts and parmesan

output:
step & scupt class at 12pm
walked to and from work

where are the pics?

I have a ton of photos to post, but I haven't been on the computer much at home, so I haven't downloaded them from the camera. One day I'll post a whole slew of pics and it will be glorious.

flog for tuesday.

input:
breakfast - cereal with soy milk, coffee
snack - carrot cake cupcake (not homemade - someone brought them into work)
lunch - leftover burrito: tempeh & black bean taco scramble topped with chopped onions and peppers, wrapped in a flour tortilla
snack - pretzel with mustard (thanks MP), banana
dinner - apple and a tofurkey sandwich

output:
weight class at 12 pm
bellydance class at 6 pm
troupe practice 8-10 pm

flog for friday.

input:
brekkie - coffee and cereal with soy milk (yes, a decent breakfast!)
snack - some goodies from the United Way bake sale
lunch - fajita leftovers from Wednesday night
snack - ummm 2 Timbits that Rr. brought into work
dinner - veggie stir-fry with tofu, served over noodles

output:
rest day! I'm sore from yesterday's workout and generally tired.

flog for thursday.

input:
breakfast - coffee, miso soup
snack - almonds
lunch - dal and perogies. A weird combination but it was OK.
snack - peanuts, potato chips later on
dinner - spinach patty sandwich on a cheese bun with lettuce, Veganaise, mustard and relish

output:
step & scupt class at 12 pm

I think I'm getting a cold, so I've been eating Vitamin C tablets like crazy. It helps that they taste yummy. Germs, go away!

T-man and I went grocery shopping after work and got a LOT of stuff. It was expensive. Mostly good food but the organic produce selection was slim. Remember when the big stores had lots of beautiful organic veggies? As if they bought up all the best-looking stuff and left the rest for the smaller stores? That's not the case anymore. I will be buying my produce at the lovely and friendly Food 4 Life in Kensington Market. Which is where I should be going anyway. (and I usually go there for produce, they have a great local selection!)

re-look at the re-focus.

Back in October I listed a few good habits that I wanted to re-establish when I returned to my office job and regular schedule. I still feel rather disorganized, so it's time to review those goals and remind myself of them.

1. Food - my eating schedule is better than it was, but there is still a lot of room for improvement. I haven't been planning meals for the week. I still come home from work and scarf down whatever I can get my hands on. (see Monday: dill pickle chips and a cornbread muffin)

To do: 1) Pick a day to sit down and plan 3-4 dinners for the coming week. Preferably on a day when I can go grocery shopping. 2) Make some healthy snacks and/or have smoothie ingredients on hand (fruit, rice milk, juice).

2. Yoga - I've been going to lunchtime yoga (45 min.) but it's rather unsatisfying after the intense 1.25 hour classes at Core Studio. I've only made it to one or two classes at Core in the past month. Going to classes at Core is a lower priority right now, since I'm busy with other activities in the evenings now that it's the holiday season. However, it would be beneficial to work on a small daily home practice.

To do: sneak in a few half sun salutations in the morning, before my brain starts saying "hurry up and get ready for work."

3. Housekeeping - No improvement. The place is a mess.

To do: spend 15 minutes a day cleaning up one room in the house, right after getting home from work or dance class. Only 15 minutes. And rotate rooms, e.g. Monday I sweep the kitchen floor, Tuesday I dust the living room, Wednesday quick-clean the bathroom. Baby steps.

4. Dance practice - this is one thing I have been doing, although I haven't been especially organized about it. Unfortunately, it feels like I've been spending a lot of time going to classes and events and practicing and it's taking away from other areas.

To do: right now, keep the status quo. The previous items take priority.

5. Other stuff - I've been knitting lots, since I have a deadline for the secret project. (which is coming along nicely!) There is never enough time/energy for the crafty stuff, but it's a lower priority.

To do (in general): stop napping on the couch. Not sure how I will manage this, because sometimes I'm just so tired. More caffeine? Sugar? Less of those? I think I need to go to bed earlier. I don't think I'm low on iron or anything because I'm fine when I have to go out, but when I'm at home for the night I want to rest. With my eyes closed. LOL.

flog for tuesday.

input:
breakfast - coffee and a Kick Butt Amped Energy Ball
snack - almonds
lunch - leftover dal and rice
snack - two 2-bite brownies
dinner - more dal and rice

output:
bodysculpt class at lunch (weights)
bellydancing class at 6 pm
shimmied it up at FunkaBelly from 8-11 pm

flog for monday.

input:
brekkie - coffee (and some dill pickle chips, but we won't talk about that)
snack - almonds
lunch - perogies with salsa
snack - potato chips and a cornbread muffin
dinner - red lentil dal with steamed broccoli and brown basmati rice

output:
walked halfway to work
yoga class at 1 pm
walked home from work

I got on the streetcar this morning because I was running a bit late and the sidewalks were icy (and therefore I wouldn't be able to hustle to get to work on time), but the streetcar was a short turn and there was a HUGE lineup of people waiting to transfer. So I decided to walk the rest of the way.