July 30, 2009

Finished another pair of socks, #11 for the year. Goal for 2009 is 12 pair and that is defiantly in sight now as I've already cast on for that 12th pair. But before we get to those, let's look at #11.
Pattern: Double Basket Socks by Charlene Schurch and Beth Parrott
Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks Stripes in Bronzed Berry Stripes
Started: July 24, 2009
Finished: July 28, 2009
Mods: After working 5 rounds on the cuffs in size 3 needles I realized that they were going to be way to big if I worked them in a size 3 and switched to a size 2.

#12 is a test pattern called Soy Bean Socks. I can't wait to show them to you. Seems like it's going to be an easy pattern but a fun one.

July 29, 2009

I was on track for a 3rd day yesterday and did real well. I stayed within my calorie range and walked for 20 min's with my co-worker in the morning.

Yesterday was just one of those days that doesn't start well and doesn't end well. I over slept by 30 min's, had to rush to get ready and to eat breakfast. Traffic was backed up for miles due to an accident and I literally walked up to my desk at 7am. I'm usually in the office 30 to 45 min's early each day and like to use that quiet time to prepare for my day and knit. Of course I'm the first one in my office in the morning so if I was late no one would know but me but that's not the point. I'm always on time. Once I settled in for the day everything was fine but my day never went back to normal. I felt rushed all day.

Walking with my coworker really has been helpful to me. I start at 7am and we walk at 10:30, back by 10:50 or 11. It's helped me break up my day and made it not feel quite so long. I'm hoping that she'll want to continue for a long time but she's going on vacation next month and will be gone for most of the month as she's going to be gone to china. I'm going to have to keep walking even if I have to do it on my own. I always have my iPod with me and I can use it to keep me entertained. I can always listen to a couple of podcasts while I walk.

The leaving my desk is going to be the hard part. Right now I'd rather read a book that my co-worker has lent me or work on my knitting. I'm on my 12th pair of socks for the year. I had made a goal for myself to make 12 pairs by the end of the year and I'm going to do it. I still need to start on the shawl that I want to make my Grandmother for her birthday but that is not "due" until December so I have some time to get it done. And let's not mention that I need to get started on Christmas gifts now. Can some one please do all this stuff for me?! If that's not a cry for help I don't know what is! lol

While I still need to get all this stuff done, I'm trying to make my health/weight a priority. Since I started this job a year ago I've gained 15 pounds. It's no wonder that I haven't been feeling good and that the chronic fatigue has come back...not to mention the nightmares that leave me feeling like I haven't slept at all the next day. If I don't start back with my "diet" plan and get myself in order and don't start walking regularly, I won't be ready in the fall when the weather changes to start running again. Right now (excuses, excuses) it's too hot for me to run in the evening, and I already get up at 5 am so getting up earlier isn't an option, to run.

I know that some of my coworkers, friends and family might look at me and think I'm just whining about my weight to get attention but honestly I'm not. My BMI is still in the normal range and I don't look like I've put on any weight to others but when I look at me naked I see the fat stomach and the new cellulite on my butt and thighs and even when I'm dressed I see how tight my shirts are around my middle and that my pants are cutting into my stomach and how the material is stretching to try to accommodate my thighs now. I hate it.

July 25, 2009

Another finished pair of socks.


Pattern: Go With the Flow by Evelyn A. Clark
Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks Stripes
Started: 07/16/09
Finished: 07/24/09
Mods: Used a size 2 needle instead of the size 1 that the pattern called for. Also used a 1x1 rib for the top.
This is my 10th pair of knitted socks for the year. My goal was 12 pairs, 1 pair a month so it looks like I will actually be able to complete my goal! I never follow through so I'm pretty excited about it.
I cast on for pair #11 yesterday. I'm doing a basket weave pattern that I've never attempted before because it looked too hard. But it's actually pretty easy. I finished the cuff, leg, heel flap and turned the heel last night. This morning I finished the gusset and am working on the foot.

Yellow House Finch


Right now I'm watching the yellow finches (i think) eat the seeds out of the sun flowers in the garden and trying to get going. Later tonight we're off to "Midnight Mass". It's a car show of hot rods that hubby wants to check out. He's got it into his head that he wants to sell our off road truck and build himself a hot rod. Now's not the best time to try to sell a toy but he's gotten a few calls, nothing promising but we'll have to wait and see.

July 24, 2009

One tired dog,

One happy dog,

and one beautiful feather. Camping was awesome.



July 20, 2009

There was camping and there was knitting. But there are no pictures of either because I was too lazy to even take out my camera. But a good time was had and I'm feeling much better this week.

I cast on for another pair of socks last Thursday before we left for the camping trip, had to frog them back on Friday and re-cast on because I discovered half way down the leg that they were going to be way too small unless my sister suddenly loses weight and ends up a 50 pound pre-teen girl. Some how I doubt that's going to happen (thank goodness). I re-cast on using size 2 needles and they're going to fit much better.

This pair is going to pair #10 for the year. I think I might actually make my goal of 12 pairs of hand knitted socks for the year. I still have to finish my birthday knitting before I can start my Christmas knitting for the year. The only gift I have left to even start for birthdays is the shawl I want to do for my grandmother. But I didn't want to try to take cream yarn camping with me. For some reason I saw that ending badly. If I don't get started on it before the next camping trip, I'm planning to take it with me then. The next trip is to the ocean and the camping is a lot cleaner.

We spent the weekend at Cisco Grove near the summit of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It's about an hour west of Reno. It was much cool there then in the Sacramento Valley. Valley temps were topping out at about 104 degrees over the weekend and we were in the mid to upper 80's at camp. There was lots of talking and laughter, some dog walking and some swimming in the river near the camp ground. To say the least I'm not the brightest bulb when it comes to jumping in the river. I jumped in without a swimsuit in all my clothes only to discover that my short, when wet, were see through! Ooops! Oh well, we were among friends and I had underwear on so it wasn't like you could really see anything! LOL!

The dogs didn't really enjoy the swimming much since neither one of them are much of water dogs. Rex did jump in once and I pulled him in a second time which he didn't appreciate. I accidentally pulled him in and he wen completely under the water for a second before I grabbed him and pushed him back up onto the edge. After that he didn't trust me much for about 30 seconds. I felt bad but I had no idea that he was going to sink to the bottom of the river like a rock!!! But he's a very happy dog and went right back to running up and down the creek, sniffing every and anything he could get his nose near.

Now we're planning a trip to the ocean for next month. We're going to take a couple of extra days off and go for 5 days. I can't wait for that trip. I really need to take some time off work to recharge my batteries. I've gained back some of the weight I lost and it's really been effecting my energy level. I need to get my head straight and get back to eating the way I know I should. But I'm going to have to take some baby steps to get restarted. Step one: Log on to Sparkpeople and log my food. Step two: Plan my meals for the whole day instead of trying to figure out what I'm going to eat when I get home. By the time I get home, I'm starving and will eat any (and every) thing. The weird thing is that my work hours changed and now I get home an hour earlier then I used to. But I'm still starving when I get home. I need to to take less food to work since I'm not working as many hours so that I can have a snack when I get home.

I guess I'll have to wait and see how I do. One day & one meal at a time!

July 9, 2009

For the last couple of months I've been on a search for a new bike. When Hubbs and I bought our house 5 years ago I had a really nice mountain bike that I'd spent a lot of money on but Hubbs didn't have a bike. We wanted to be able to ride bikes around our new neighborhood but we never got around to getting a second bike. Normally when I walk the dogs Hubbs would ride my bike while I walked and that's been working good for us. We jokingly call it "Family Fitness Time" because everyone but the cat participates in.

But since we've been trying to live more simply and not use the cars for short trips we've been wanting another bike. The grocery store is only a mile from the house and it seems silly to drive to the store when when only need a couple of items so we've been walking/riding to the grocery store to pick up whatever we need. We normally do a big run on the weekend and try to get all the groceries we're going to need for the week but some times we will run out of just a couple of things (usually lettuce or bananas).

I'd been looking at used bikes on Craigslist for some time and have even gone to look at a couple but there were never quite right for me. I really didn't want to buy something new but when I found a bike at Target and it fit me perfect and was at a good price, I grabbed it. Thankfully Hubby knows about bikes and was able to adjust the breaks and do a couple of small things to make the bike right. We both agreed that the guys are Target don't know anything about bikes...especially since when we got the bike home last night Hubbs discovered that the front wheel was on backwards.

So without further ado, I'd like to introduce my new bike...Nellie!!! (Name subject to change)

I got to ride her around a bit last night and she's great! I kinda had to relearn to ride because it's been years since I've ridden a bike. When I first jumped on her at home last night and took off, I almost crashed right into the side of my truck! I guess it's really been a long time since I rode a bike. But once I got the hang of it she was very smooth and fun to ride. She's a 21 speed and gos really fast. I love the rack on the back and I'm sure that I'm going to put that to good use.

Just has Hubbs was finishing up the adjustments on Nellie my friend and her hubby rode up on their bikes with their adorable baby in a bike trailer. They'd ridden down to the drug store for an ice cream cone and were on their way home when I happened to step out of the garage. So we rode around the corner to their house to check out her new RV. They found a great deal on a super cute 80's RV and now we've got to plan a RV trip with them. When we left their house I passed up Hubbs and we raced our bikes all the way home. Of course I'm laughing like a loon all the way back to the house and of course there was a bunch of teenagers sitting on the curb across the street from our house watching me laugh like a loon but I was having too much fun to really care.

I love my new bike! Who knew bikes were so fun?! I can't wait to get home tonight and go ride.

July 7, 2009


Pattern: Waving Lace Socks Evelyn A. Clark
Yarn: Patons Kroy
Cast on: July 6, 2009

Proof of actual knitting! I cast on for another pair of socks, number 9 for the year! When these are finished I will be 3/4 of the way through my goal for the year. Back in December when it came time to set new goals for myself, I set the goal of 12 pairs of knitted socks (among other goals). Some of the socks have been gifts and some have been for me. All the new wool socks were especially lovely during the spring months when its still pretty cold but dry enough for me to ride the Harley to work everyday. What a difference a pair of wools socks makes over cotton when it comes to keeping your feet warm on a cold ride to work and home again. The spring air seems to cut straight through my leather riding gear and my boots and go straight to my bones. Some days by the time I get to work my baby toe and all my fingers are numb. Not the best situation but still much better then being stuck in my car.
I love the feeling of the sun shining on my face and the wind in my hair. Some days it such a soothing feeling that I forget where I'm going...like this morning for example. I'm riding along following hubby up the highway, I guess I went to my special place or something and the next thing I know I'm still in the fast lane and am passing the exit I need to take to work. Thankfully there wasn't a car in the right hand lane and I was able to dart off the highway and make my exit. And I was still able to give hubby a quick wave and before off I went.

Its funny how quick I can get caught up in a memory. I was day dreaming about a hike that Hubby and I took last November in Auburn State Rec area. It was perfect fall weather and the air smelled like fallen oak leaves. We didn't see anyone all day and got to enjoy the sunny but cool weather, ducks, deer and squirrels. The dogs, I think, enjoyed the day more then anyone else. All those new smells! The river was just gorgeous and running so calmly, it was like glass. What an amazing day.


July 4, 2009

My garden has really come into it's own in the last few days. It's just beautiful. Sunflower
Zinnias

Different colored sunflowers

The beans are starting to come in.

The pumpkins are starting to turn.

The dahlias are just awe inspiring.

I finished the 3rd Weekender shawl last week and have cast on for another pair of socks. They are turning out really nicely. I hope to have some pictures of them before the end of the weekend.
I hope that your 4th of July is as wonderful as mine is!! God Bless America.

July 2, 2009

Not much has been going on around the Dropped Stitch house lately. Hubby has been working on call for the last week and hasn't been around much. My garden is in full swing and the pumpkins are starting to turn orange. The watermelon is really getting big and I picked the first bunch of Zinnias outta my garden this week. The beans are flowering and I'm hoping to have some green beans soon.

All and all it's been pretty quiet around my house for the last two weeks. I have been knitting and finished my most recent project, a (nother) shawl. I'll post some pictures of it this weekend but I just finished it at work today so I don't have any pictures of it yet. I still need to block it but other then that, it's done. I'm way ahead on my birthday projects for the rest of year with only two to go. One is for a birthday in December and the other is in October. I'm sure I'll be casting on tomorrow for the October birthday one.

Tonight Hubbs and I will be headed off to his parents house for a family dinner. My mother-in-law's sister is in town from Arizona with her daughter for the fourth of July weekend. The whole family including some cousins are gathering to visit tonight. Father-in-Law is going to do some ribs on the BBQ and I'm sure there will be a ton of other good eats too. It's going to be a good time.

Back in February of this year my job cut my hours back by 16 hours per month which is about 10%. It's been tough on the family and we've really been missing that money. Sadly I got word today that they would be cutting my hours again by another 8 hours. That's a 15% decrease in pay per month. It's going to be pretty tough at my house for at least the next year. Thankfully, Hubbs and I have never been ones that live above our means, so we're in a much better position then a lot of other people. We will definitely have to tighten our belts (hopefully this won't cut into my yarn budget!) but I know that I can count my blessings.

Hopefully you can count your blessings too and have a very happy 4th!!!