Wednesday, January 30, 2008

knitting pics!


Pattern: Wendy's Generic Toe-Up Sock Pattern
Yarn: Patons Kroy socks in Norfolk Blue and Krazy Stripes
Needles: 3 mm dpns
Started: December 26, 2007
Completed: January 25, 2008

I still need to weave in all those ends... can I still call it a FO?



This photo is terrible - it doesn't reflect the true colour of the yarn, which is a mottled olive-y green, which I quite like. This looks like barf. You can see the pooling in the yarn, WTF?! Hopefully it's not too noticeable when I wear it.

The pattern is from knit.1 magazine Summer 07. Yarn is Lionbrand Homespun in Mediterranean. I knit most of it in the car on the way to Grand Rapids, MI on Saturday. Yay for road trip knitting!

Monday, January 28, 2008

withdrawl.

I moved on to the next phase of caffeine reduction today, and boy do I feel it. I mixed my coffee half and half with decaf and I have a caffeine withdrawl headache. Ugh.

Friday, January 25, 2008

first FO of 2008.

The work socks are done! I finished knitting them today at lunch. I still have to weave in all of those ends (ugh) and block them... one sock looks quite a bit larger than the other! Hopefully it all comes out in the wash, so to speak. Pics to come.

De-stashing news: I don't have a huge stash, but I do have a lot of acrylic yarn. It's not good stuff, and I don't really want it around but didn't know what to do with it. Thanks to Ravelry, I have some options for de-stashing, in a charitable fashion! The CAMH is looking for yarn donations for their craft group, and a woman in Nunavut put out a call for baby hats and blankets for her local hospital. I look forward to sorting through my yarn bins and bags and letting some stuff go. Unfortunately it will be next week, as I'm going to Michigan this weekend for a family function. I hope to get a lot of knitting done on the 6-hour drive, if I don't get carsick. :)

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

updates.

  • I was not selected to be a juror. My panel was called for two cases, but my name did not come up for either of them. Phew!
  • The Jury Frivolity hat is knitted - I just about finished it while at the courthouse and knit the last two rows at home. Now I just have to sew it up... that may take a while. :)
  • Work socks will see some action today. I brought them to the office to knit on lunch break.
  • The secret gifty project has been cast off!!! (but I haven't cut the yarn yet)
  • I cast on the knit.1 tunic first mentioned here. My gauge is off so cross your fingers.
  • Caffeine cutback is coming along. I'm going VERY slowly. First I just cut back to one cup of coffee in the morning. I did that for about a week and a half. Now I'm starting to mix decaf into my coffee grounds, about one third decaf, two thirds regular. The first day was OK, but subsequent days have found me a bit sluggish. (I'm on day four.) I would like to use a grain coffee substitute as suggested here but haven't been to a store that carries it yet.
  • I bought a new bellydancing costume yesterday! It's an Indian-style skirt and halter top, so not a "real" costume, but I think it will do nicely for the performing opportunities that may be coming up this summer. Something casual but still shiny and festive.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

jury frivolity.


Not a great photo, but here is my jury duty Frivoli hat for T-man. (If it fits. I didn't swatch.) Note the plastic needles. The court clerk asked me how I got my knitting past security! Oh honey, ask and ye shall receive! (information, that is) Knitting in public is a great conversation starter... although most of the time I just want to knit and not talk about it, I try to be a good craft ambassador.

Pattern: The Frivol Hat by Debi Tuttle
Yarn: Lion Brand Vanna's Choice in Linen
Needles: 4 mm
cheating on the work socks.


I have been working on the work socks not at work. I took them home and have been knitting the second sock while relaxing on the couch. Yes, it's cheating, but I didn't have time to knit them at work! The second sock would never be finished! So now there is some progress.

Monday, January 14, 2008

special assignment.

I am doing my civic duty and attending jury duty, or rather jury selection. I wasn't selected today and thus spent most of the day sitting in a large room with many other bored people. To be repeated tomorrow. And perhaps every day this week.

My coworker warned me that there would be many hours of waiting around, so I brought a book to read: The Thrive Diet.

I finished it.

I even read the appendices and resources section! (I was desperate.)

Tomorrow I will bring a book and some knitting. I checked with Security and metal needles are a no-no, but plastic are OK. He wasn't sure about wooden needles, and started to get a little weirded out by my questions at that point. LOL. I will need to start a new project, maybe a hat (pdf) for T-man.

Friday, January 11, 2008

ravel away!

I just got invited to join Ravelry! Yay! I only signed up for the waiting list a few days ago. Oh, I will be spending sooo much time online....

Username: lanicraft

Wednesday, January 09, 2008


flog for tuesday.

input:
breakfast - coffee only, since I was running late
snack - two energy balls
lunch - leftover curry veg and rice
dinner - cold perogies (leftover from Sunday night)
Updated to add: the rest of the Haagen Dazs and some tortilla chips before bed

output:
walked to work
bellydance class 6-7:15 pm
troupe practice 8-10 pm


I'm cutting back on coffee... today I had 1.5 cups at home and didn't take my travel mug to work. Not sure that I want to totally quit, because I really like drinking coffee! But I'm going to cut back for a few days and then try to give it up altogether for a few weeks. I know, I don't sound very confident. It's to protect my ego if I fail. :)

This article started me thinking about it, particularly this part:

I also feel that caffeine blocks too much of my intuition and creativity. I miss subtle sensory input, and my thinking becomes too linear.

I am a very linear thinker. It's not a bad thing, but I would like to expand my creative side. Also, I want to see if there will be a change in my energy levels throughout the day. I'm so tired in the evenings. If there is something to do (like troupe rehearsal), I have energy for it, but otherwise I tend to to nap on the couch. That time could be spent knitting or reading or cleaning or ....

I'll keep you updated on my progress!

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

flog for monday.

input:
breakfast - wholewheat english muffin with Earth Balance, coffee
snack - two energy balls
lunch - perogies and cabbage rolls, leftovers from Uke X-mas dinner last night
snack - apple
dinner -two different kinds of curry vegetables served over rice

output:
1 pm - yoga class
walked home from work

Monday, January 07, 2008

sock kal #2.

I've just joined the Sock It To 'Em Knitalong

Woo hoo! Bring on the socks! (uh, no progress to report on the work socks)

Saturday, January 05, 2008

flog for friday.

input:
breakfast - banana & strawberry smoothie with soy milk and hemp protein
snack - a donut and an energy ball
lunch - veggie dog and miso soup
snack - chips and dip
dinner - spaghettini with tomato sauce and homemade pizza (T-man made dinner while I napped on the couch!)
dessert - Haagen Dazs Strawberry Cheesecake ice cream

output:
walked home from work


A co-worker brought donuts to the office today... I don't even really like donuts, but I have no willpower!! To further prove the point, I was planning to cut up some carrot sticks when I got home from work, since I'd been looking at those raw food blogs, but what did I have instead? Chips and dip. Ugh. And then tons of cheese on the pizza, and more dairy for dessert.

Friday, January 04, 2008

30-day raw food diet trial.

For reading later...

Steve Pavlina's Personal Development Blog
The Skinny on January
work sock update.

I cast on for the work sock mate and knit the first stripe, but that's it so far. The idea is to knit it only while at work (it is a "work" sock, after all) but I haven't had time until today. Hmmm. Perhaps I got too excited by the fast progress on the first sock! The second one may take a while to finish....
flog for thursday.

input:
breakfast - granola with soy milk, coffee
snack - date and nut energy ball
lunch - leftover frittata on toast
snack - chips and dip (bad!)
dinner - veggie dog, followed by ice cream for dessert (extra bad!) (but the ice cream is sooooo tasty!)

output:
cardio interval class at 12 pm


T-man and I went grocery shopping at the big grocery store, and again the organic produce selection was slim. Why do they package each organic red pepper in a plastic bag?? That's just ridiculous! Does it "add value" to have vegetables packaged in bags? Grrrr. Anyway, my plan was to buy lots of veggies and fruit but we ended up with tons of carbs: fresh pasta, dried pasta, bread, hot dog buns, rice... We had so many options for dinner that we couldn't decide what to make - T-man had leftovers and I had a veggie dog. Actually he had a veggie dog later on too. Classy.

I want to make carrot soup this weekend (or tonight, but I think we're having nachos for dinner). The cold weather is causing soup cravings.

Thursday, January 03, 2008

flog for wednesday.

input:
breakfast - granola with rice milk, coffee
morning snack - dried apricots
lunch - falafels and tabouli (hello garlic breath!)
pre-dinner snack - hummus and pita (more garlic breath!)
dinner - frittata with peppers, spinach, pesto, asparagus & cheese, with toast

output:
walked to & from work, in -20 degree weather! (with wind chill)
I meant to go to the gym but I was confused what day it was... will go today for sure

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

sock kal.

I have recently joined the For_The_Love_Of_Socks yahoo group. Welcome to any members that have found their way here!

Looking forward to the first sock knitalong - the question is, do I knit the beginner or experienced pattern?

I think I will take the challenge and go for the experienced option. Wish me luck!

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

pics!

The progression of work sock #1....

December 27 - after the first day

December 28 - after the second day

December 31 - after the third day - finished!

Hanging in front of the computer as I update the blog

Back at home and bound off... but look at all those ends!


Pattern: Wendy's Generic Toe-Up Sock Pattern
Yarn: Patons Kroy socks in Norfolk Blue and Krazy Stripes
Needles: 3 mm dpns