Look what I got!

I went to my favorite local knitting store and whined about my circular needles. Cindy at Urban Fiber Arts whipped out some hiya hiya interchangeables and I'm in love! They screw together so smoothly and have a great little carrying case. Lucky me!

I've picked up knitting again after giving it a few month's rest. I've been trying to decide how to knit up this delicious Socks That Rock Sassafrass yarn and found the pattern Spring Forward. I love this pattern even more now than I'm knitting on it-it's wonderfully stretchy and fits the yarn well, I think:

I just love it!

Here's a photo that cracks me up: it's Eli a few months older now and still a big nut!

I think his papa was a jackrabbit!

Eli's a commin.....

Well, he's actually here. Whatcha think of him?

He's quite the little squirt and finds lots of trouble to get into. Isn't his tail cute?! He's 4 months old, and full of spit and vinegar. His paws are really big so I'm assuming he's going to be a big cat. We'll see.

Bar Method Challenge-one month in

So, I've joined the Bar Method Portland fitness challenge, and now that it's been the first of three months I decided to take stock in where I am. I've been frustrated because it doesn't feel like I'm making any headway, and those damn thigh exercises are as impossible as ever! My eating habits have sabotaged some of my efforts, but I'm working on that. So, as I was walking on the treadmill at the gym yesterday I made a mental list of the good and bad of my progress:

• I can do 30 pushups consecutively, 50 within the one hour class. On the other hand, I still can't do a guy pushup yet
• I can make it all the way thru the arm, buns, and (most of the time) the glutes without stopping. The abs and, as I said before, thighs are still a huge challenge
• Coming back to walking/jogging on the treadmill, I am improved in speed and length of time I can jog
• My flexibility is much better, but still a ways to go
• The scale is the same, but I was able to fit into a pair of jeans I haven't been able to button up in the last few months (there is still the muffin-top scenario though)

So, all in all I'm getting progress, more than I thought, but really need to kick in the better eating habits so I can feel I'm making better headway. I also need to remember that being in my 50's makes the whole process really slowwwwwwwww. I do feel great once I'm out of the class, so it's a good way to start the day.

I've been knitting a bit, trying to make a few pairs of fingerless gloves. I have a ton of stashed yarn, and am dieting with that too. Hopefully I can make better headway with that than my fitness challenge!

Here's another picture of yummy stash I've recently accumulated:

                                    (I said nothing about a fiber diet, now did I?!)

Fitness challenge

Ok, I am committing to a fall fitness challenge at The Bar Method. I've been exercising there for a month now (very killer workout) and decided to join the challenge as a way to stay on track. They took my measurements at the beginning (9/15/10) and will take again in 3 months. It was a bit embarrassing having this totally toned and fit person record my measurements but I figure that should encourage me to do well. Hopefully!! I've committed to going to class 4 days a week so we'll see how that all pans out.

I've been spinning a lot lately, and able to get my yarn a lot smoother and thinner. I bought a bunch of roving from CJ Delights and have been having a lot of fun with it. I think these are all rambouilet and, of course, the colors are much more delicious in real life.

Look at all those sample braids; I can't wait to see what they all spin up like!

I also got a bump of fiber from Rogue Adventures that is really pretty:

I've started to spin this up and I really like it; I'm stuck, however, until I find the end of the yarn I lost! I'm hoping to get most of this spun up before next weekend; this will be the first year I've attended OFFF so I'm excited to see all the fiber for sale. Whoo Hoo!!

9/11

I don't have a specific blog planned for today but wanted to acknowledge the day and all it's meant to our country since 2001. Here's a nod to the people who lost their lives, and the others who have helped clean up the aftermath.

Seen Astoria lately?

Hubby and I joined another couple for a weekend trip to Astoria; haven't been there in years. It's still gray most of the time and it has it's influx of tourists along the main drag but it also has some new places to explore. The views of the city and river are still the same, gorgeous in their own right:

Lots of old buildings lining the river's edge, with some picturesque ships in the water behind. There's a wonderful sunday market downtown, with fresh fruits and veggies along handmade crafts and other things to look at.

Vodoo Lounge is a great little place to hang out and have delicious pizza and check out the neat displays all around the room. It has a lot of little mexican figurines often displayed during Day of the Dead. It's a fun place to visit.

Vodoo Lounge

If you're hungry for a great breakfast or lunch, pop on over next door to the Columbia cafe. Prepare to wait in line a bit as it's a tiny little place and very popular. Scrumptious breakfast and drinks.

Columbia Cafe   

 

 

 

 

 

Spinning

Yes, I finally took some spinning lessons, 4 to be exact, and was spinning away to my heart's content the first night. I'm not saying I did anything worth bragging about, but never the less here is my first officially spun yarn:

It's the kind of thing only a mother could love, but I will keep it for posterity. Below is what I was spinning after another lesson and a lot of practice:

Still not perfect but I'm happy with it.