2014 Goals

Start as you mean to continue.  I've often heard this in relation to the New Year.  So today I have been filling my cupboard shelves and my heart with 'enough.'  For 2014, I want enough.  Enough love in my home, Enough money to pay the bills, and Enough food to keep us fed. I don't need more than that.

But in the fine tradition of new years resolutions, this is the list of my goals for 2014.  

1.  Update the blog once per week 

2.  Feel comfortable enough in my skin to wear a little sun dress for Easter
3.  Finish everything currently on the needles - Lady Eleanore scarf; 2 pair of socks for my daughter and the Old Man and the Sea Sweater

4.  Knit a handspun pair of socks

5.  Knit a worsted weight pair of socks

6.  Knit a pair of mittens from silk hankies

7.  Knit the sweater from 'Botanical Knits'

8.  Knit a sweater from the Blue Cascade yarn

There is nothing shocking or unattainable here but they are things I want to finish or do in my life.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Un-delete

It's almost the end of another year and when not freezing (it was -5 F at noon), I've been thinking alot about the past year.  I've been contemplating where I am, where I want to be and what I want in my life.  These are questions that I think about alot but more so this time of year.  One of the things that was bothering me was that a few months ago I deleted this blog.  I really didn't have time to keep up with it and decided it wasn't worth it.  But as usual for me I had delete remorse.  Luckily for me, blogger now has an undelete option.  So, as luck has it, I have my blog back.

I'm not sure where it will go but it's good to be back online.

I leave you with today's knitting project.

Day 2

My goal today is to clear this mess off of my treadmill so that I  use it.

I was 5 points over my daily points allotment due to being attacked by a bag of potato chips after work.  But I got a 30 min walk in during lunch.  Then when I got home I got the treadmill cleared off.  I jumped on it for the first time in a couple months and did one of the 30 min programs. 

Progress is progress.

From Flabby to Fit

I feel like I've been trying to lose weight for quite sometime.  When it has really only been since i quit smoking about 7 years ago. I'm not sure just why I haven't been successful in losing and keeping the weight off.  I consider myself lucky, in that I have a lot of moral support.  My Mom and two of my aunts are also trying to lose weight and we've have supported each other.  But my weight still fluctuates, never resting where I want to be.

Last night I wrenched my back while bowling. I know, funny right. I shouldn't be hurting myself over anything like that. So, this morning while I waited for my hot water bottle to work it's magic and after I called into work, I decided that before I turn 46 I want to lose the weight for good and get healthy.  That is only 5 months away.  Needless to say I spent the rest of the morning trying to figure out how to make that happen.

I came to the conclusion that the only way this is going to work is if I'm held accountable. This is where you come into the plan. I'm hoping that if I have to post my successes and my failures that it will force me to be more mindful of my choices. I really don't want to have to come to you with failures.

I plan to post most days about what has gone well and maybe not so well, whether i went over my Weight Watchers point or stayed on target and finally when I exercise or slipped up.

I hope this will be a successful journey, and maybe if I'm lucky I'll inspire you as well as myself.

 Day 1 - I did what I set out to do today. I started my journey. I stayed under my WW points. And as an added bonus, I did 15 minutes of yoga to gently stretch my back. I have to say that it worked quite well.

Introduction to Spinning

I never expected to enjoy spinning when I took my first class.  But by the end of the day, I was hooked. And bought my wheel on the spot.  Spinning, for me, is not about the getting yarn but about the process of creating.  So when I received an assignment for my english class to explain a green technology in essay form it was only natural for me to turn to an enjoyable hobby that uses very few non-renewable resources and is powered by the human body.  The rest of the assignment was to create a video to go along with the essay - Introduction to Spinning.

The video was much more difficult than I expected and gives me even more appreciation for those people who podcast week in and week out.  I'll just apologize up front for the stops, stumbles, umms and ahhs throughout.  I hope you can enjoy it for what it is.

Here are some further spinning resources that I enjoy and you may find helpful:

Podcasts:
 The KnitGirllls - This podcast is excellent at enabling.  They also show beautiful examples of finished yarn and spinning in process.
 Blooming Knitter - This podcaster has done several very professional tutorials and is a pleasure just to listen to while your spinning or knitting.
The Proverbial Knitter - This podcaster has done tours of several different types and styles of spinning wheels.  If you think you want to get a spinning wheel, go check her out.

Books:
Start Spinning by Maggie-Casey
The Spinners Book of Yarn Designs by Sarah Anderson

Edited to add:  I want to say a HUGE thank you to my daughter Jade for all of her help in creating the video.