30 April 2011

Yoga, Running, Knitting, Reading ... my favorite things :-)

What's Happening?
Easter was very nice.  My mother-in-law visited from Chicago.  We dyed Easter eggs and did a little knitting.  We attended a lovely Easter service at St. Paul's in Wilmington, NC.  Afterward, I cooked a brunch: grits, an egg dish, salad, and banana pudding for dessert.

Also, I really enjoyed watching the Royal Wedding over the weekend!

What's off my sticks?
I finished knitting my mom's socks for Mother's Day just in time.  I think they turned out very well, my best socks yet :)


What's on my sticks?
I started knitting "Charlie the Ceiling Monster" out of Rebecca Danger's The Big Book of Knitted Monsters: Mischievous, Lovable Toys.  I'm going to use Charlie as my yoga monster since I have gotten back in the swing of yoga again.  My work, Wilmington Access for Teens or WHAT, is offering a free yoga class starting this Monday.  I'm very excited.   

Knitting News
The exciting part about knitting this monster is that I learned some new skills: 1) how to cast on using the long-tail cast-on, and 2) how to knit in the round using the magic loop.  I learned how to do the long-tail cast on using you-tube.  The magic loop is taught very well in Rebecca Danger's book.  She includes simple instructions along with useful pictures.  I'm enjoying the magic loop, it is pretty mindless and relaxing once you get used to it ... perfect for TV knitting.  I don't know if I would want to use it for sock knitting though.

What am I reading?
I love listening to books on Audible.  I listened to Haruki Murakami's book, What I Talk About When I Talk about Running to help inspire me to train for a 5K I completed with Fred (my Border Collie), Paws 4 People.  If you run, you would probably enjoy this book.




I also listened to Jodi Picoult's The Pact.  I could not put this book down, it was a very good read.  I highly recommend adding it to your wish list. 

I really enjoyed listening to Nora Roberts's third book of The Bridal Quartet, Savor the Moment.  Only one more to read, I will be sad to finish the series.
On my Kindle, I just finished Jessica Berger Gross's enLIGHTened: How I Lost 40 Pounds With a Yoga Mat, Fresh Pineapples, and a Beagle Pointer.  I really enjoyed this book, it is educational, but also very entertaining.  I felt like the author was an old friend by the end of the story.  

05 March 2011

Meditation on Spring


What's Happening?
 
I am so excited that it is almost spring.  Daisy & Fred are excited too, because they are getting to run and walk more.  I think they enjoy trips to the beach as well.  I have filled my house with daisies to remind me that warm weather is nearly here ...

What's off my needles?

Nothing yet, I'm almost finished with my mom's sock #1 for Mother's Day.  I am enjoying working with Knit Picks' fingering-weight Stroll yarn in the colorway Make Believe.  The yarn is machine wash, tumble dry low.  I am using size 2.75 mm and size 3 mm DPNs - Harmony Wood, also from Knit Picks.  

What's on my needles?

Here's sock#1, almost finished ...
















Knitting News

 I just found out about a lovely knitting book recommended on the Knitmore Girls' podcast - Rebecca Danger's The Big Book of Knitted Monsters: Mischievous, Lovable Toys.  As soon as I have the proper yarn and needles I look forward to knitting these adorable monsters.  How about knitting, Gort the Gym Bag Monster to motivate and remind you it is time to exercise?


What I'm Reading

I have just completed Sharon Salzberg's book on meditation, Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation.  It is  28-day program that teaches meditation in an easy to understand format.  I've read quite a few books on meditation and this one really provides a step by step instruction on how to add meditation to your daily lifestyle.