I started training for a 3 mile jog last Wednesday. The run is for a good cause and I’m excited to try to meet this new challenge since I’ve never come close to jogging/running anything over a mile. Will running turn out to be another new hobby? probably not. :)

I was surfing ravelry.com and ran across a very talented artist. Barbara made this:
http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/997567
I’m inspired by her use of colors and textures….gorgeous! I’m amazed by how she captured fire. I plan to make something with similar colors one day…..the idea of freeform knitting and crocheting also interests me. I would love to be able to freeform cables one day.

My friend, Stephanie reinspired me to work on the WoW blanket. She and I talked about using post double and trable crochets to get the look I want without me having to work the whole blanket from the front (a huge pain in the arse)…but the more I thought about this, the lion would have looked like he had dreadlocks….so I kept thinking and Lisa said, “why don’t you knit it?”. Granted, this is her answer to most of my crochet issues, but I was stunned and had to wonder why I hadn’t thought of it myself. But then I knew why….knitting a blanket this size is not for the faint of heart, but I like things to look the way I want them to, so I ordered my addi turbo circulars and I’m off to the races. Thank goodness the girls talked me out of double-knitting it. I only considered that for 5 mins, but I’m sure it would have been the death of me….well, either that or I’d have gotten a lovely padded cell. :)

The World of Warcraft blanket is now about 15% done. A vertical yarn lazy susan would make this go a lot faster. I’d like to be able to untwist the yarns midair after I’ve twisted them for carries. Hopefully, the next color section will have less long carries. There does seem to be a patent for what I want, but no product online that I see. I did find a way online to make a $5 yarn swift online using a plastic lazy susan, wire coat hangers, and duct tape. :)
There is something great about knitting a blanket when it is cold and rainy outside. :)

In other news, Couples Retreat was a good movie. :)

Peas out!

(10/11/2009 1:36pm)

Yesterday was eventful.

I stepped on a scorpion. Thankfully, it was dead. :)

I wondered if dogs really do have a sixth sense because I was painting my toenails and Sydney came over and smelled them and then growled. The color? – WICKED. :)

I met up with friends to go to a tailgate before a college football game. That was really fun. I can add got out of a cab somewhere other than an intersection, walked across a fwy (on a bridge – not the actual fwy), and attended a tailgate to the things I’ve done in life. I worked on the pink blanket at the tailgate while watching the game on tv. Later that night, I successfully hailed my first cab. He says he stopped for me because I was calm and not drunk. :)

I brought my own Vitamin water & Diet Dr. Pepper to the tailgate and as I was meeting people and drinking my VW, one guy said “Yea, help yourself to the beverages, but we’re all out of Vitamin water.” LOL

Here are some life lessons that I learned over the course of the night:
Don’t wear jeans that brush the ground if you may be forced to use a port o potty.
Make a serious effort to take your own T.P.
Invest in some pepper spray gel. My second cab ride came with a free safety lecture.

Laters.
(9/20/2009 10:06am)

Where did August go? It was great fun, but hmm. what did I do?
– finished the cream crocheted cables blanket complete with chocolate border. It looks great if I do say so myself.

– went to Denver for some work-related training where I met some very cool folks and learned a lot.
I tried a Bourbonzola Burger (with American rather than gorgonzola cheese) at the Rock Bottom Brewery. Now, I like to keep people’s expectations reasonable so they are not disappointed, but this was one of the best burgers I’ve ever had……but you should keep in mind that most of my fav. burgers are the pineapple/teriyaki ones.
I also had dinner with one of my new friends at a place called Indulge. This wine and tapas bar was VERY cool and if you are in the area, you should definitely try it! I had never had tapas before, but they were delic!…and the banana split martini was great also.

– 80% completed my first amigurumi animal…it is a giraffe for the SIL & BIL’s baby boy…now I need to sew him together……”I HATE assembly” is my middle name.

– started surprise WoW blanket for the husband (TH) for Christmas

– celebrated 9 years with TH :)…I’d marry him all over again. :)
side note: I notice a lot of bloggers say DH for dear husband I think? but that just isn’t me, so I’ll be calling him TH. :)

– got really frustrated with crocheted WoW blanket when I realized I need to work the blanket all from the front -UGH!!!!!!

– started on pink blanket for good friend little girl #2 and set aside the monstrously frustrating WoW blanket.

– TH ruined WoW blanket surprise when he was looking for some ribbon for a friend of ours when I was not home in the craft/gift closet……he decided that the only reason I would have a bag full of gold yarn is for an Alliance blanket. Sometimes he’s too damn smart for his own good! ugh….but now I’ve put it aside, so who knows if I’ll finish it. THAT will be a surprise. :) It is 10% done and holding for now.
side note: damn isn’t a curse word b/c it is in GwtW (Gone with the Wind) :)

– went to the local Children’s hospital for a tour and to donate my first blanket there. I left the purple flower blanket in their hands and am very excited by the prospect of making and donating more blankets. :) This new cause really speaks to me. The idea of blankies comforting sick and hurt kids just makes me feel cozy…….like drinking hot chocolate with tons of whipped cream or marshmellows, but it’s calorie free! A big THANK YOU to Monica Kennedy for sharing the Girlie Flower Baby Afghan Pattern. :) and thank you, K, for inspiring the connection to the Children’s hospital. :)


– went on vacation with TH for a week. That was lovely! :)
I enjoyed the:

• rooftop yoga at our oceanside hotel. I really enjoyed the semi-sun(there was a pergola)/ocean/great yoga teacher combo.
• nice live jazzy type band playing just below our balcony. Their music and the ocean sound in background was amazing. sigh.
• things we saw while scuba diving too (turtles, trunk fish, and stingrays, etc.)
• beachcombing
• seafood crepes
• glassblowing shop
• relaxing with TH

So, now Sept. is in full swing and it is time to get moving. There are many things to be done before Christmas! ah how I love the holiday season! :) It’s a marshmellow world…..

(9/12/2009 12:31pm)