You are currently browsing the monthly archive for June 2011.
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“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under the trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky is by no means a waste of time.”
John Lubbock
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How do you find rest?
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We hashed out a training plan this weekend. And so it’s official – I’m training for a marathon. Minneapolis in October.
It wasn’t on purpose that it ended up on the bulletin board with the photo strip, but it’s right. This is – oddly? naturally? – a very romantic thing. He’s inspired me to do this. We train together side-by-side for hours.
Why am I nervous now? I’m no more ‘in training’ than I was 2 weeks ago. I’m no more ‘in training’ than I was last year when I pushed my long runs up to 18 miles. Perhaps it’s the concrete date. Knowing that in 14 weeks I’d better show up with everything I need. What if I get injured? sick? That’s probably a big part of it. I’ve gotten good at being a half-marathon runner. Training that distance, enjoying longer runs. It’s work, but within my comfort zone and my confidence zone. But now, now it’s time to produce.
My goals are simple:
1) finish
2) (bonus goal) finish in less than 5 hours. 4:30 sounds reasonable given what I know of myself.
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Time, she is flyin’.
Although, let’s be honest, Presley doesn’t look like the kind of monster who’d roar. He might, “Hmmmm.” Or possibly sigh and then snuggle up against you.
The pattern is simple but has clever little details: the mouth line, the foot shaping. Just clever. I like that you can use any weight of yarn. This is worsted, but she says that 200 yards of any weight should give you a groovy Presley.
Tip: leave long ends on the i-cord and the feet and thread it back down them to where the shaping might have left a few gaps. I filled in a bit near the slipped stitches on the feet and on the decreases on the top of the head.
I left out the teeth. I didn’t like the look of the knitted-on teeth and I liked the pensive yet sweet look of the mouth line.
I embroidered eyes and bellybutton even before starting to decrease. That meant I could anchor my thread good and tight and hide the ends away. I did satin stitch for the eyes. Started with covering one stitch, broadened out to 2, narrowed back. I did them about the same distance from the mouth as the belly button.
I think my arms could have been just a little bit more towards the very tip of the mouth. Not that the child in question is going to analyze the aesthetics of his hang. I do love how toys make me want to pose them all over the place. Photographing toys is one of the most funnerest things.
If you are looking for a fast, fun, and sweet project, I heartily recommend this pattern. The pattern is clear and quick. Rewarding. He’s the Presley Cash that Rebecca Danger designed in honour of her new baby son whose name is, you guessed it, Presley Cash Danger and who has recently begun smiling.
Just now it occurred to me that since he’s green, Parsley might be a hilarious name for him. I think he looks like a Parsley, don’t you?
And that brings me up to 1929m in my 5k Stash Dash. Motoring right along.
It was a good birthday.
Friends who took me out for coconut cream pie. A daughter who walked to secretly buy streamers and balloons. A husband who baked a Linzer Torte. Kisses. Hugs. Smiles.
Life is excellent, and birthdays are excellent reminders of that.
4 soccer games in 2 cities. 500 km round trip.
1 marathon on Fathers’ Day
1 weekend that needs another weekend for recovery
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Swiss Chard. A new vegetable to me. I love the green-red contrast being present in just one vegetable. I’m finding tasty ways to eat this. Even the kids liked this version from Simply in Season.
Time to admit: the 2011 12 in 12 Project is failing. To be specific, I’m failing it this year. Last year the books, the letters to grandparents, and the socks worked so well. Monthly accomplishments to make me feel like a better version of myself.
This year, the socks are a rockin’ but the rest is a shambles. So let’s think…hiking/snowshoeing and inviting folks for supper…involve leaving the house and coordinating with other people. Letters and reading…very much tasks that can be woven into the holes in the fabric of my life. There’s a lesson in that.
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Socks are happening, though.
Pair 6 of the year:Shur’tugal free Ravelry pattern
Yarn: Knit Picks Stroll Tonal , Kindling
Great textural pattern. It’s named for a dragon rider, I believe, but in this yarn it reminds me of tree bark. They didn’t speed along, mostly because I had to pay attention and there are more holes in the fabric of my life for knitting that happens at the same time as other things. They’re Rainer’s, to try to plump up his sock drawer.
Another photo, on the theory that a confession of failure can’t have too many pictures of successful socks:
Pair 7 of the year: Simple striped socks. A cheerful project for the rainy and cold spring days we have been having. Let’s just say the highest flood in the past 300 years hasn’t abated much.
Yarn: Knit Picks Felici, Caprica. Lovely soft. I’m very interested to see if these wear well. If so, ooh la la
Pair 8 of the year: Simple black socks. To be incognito handknits when I’m dressed in all black. A good project to work on in the sunniest of seasons. When the sun does shine. Otherwise, good thing there’s no patterning to need to see.
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I see a little bug dancing in this tulip. Arms up! Kick it! C’mon, shake it!
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“Remember, no effort that we make to attain something beautiful is ever lost.”
Helen Keller
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What efforts to beautify life are you making today?
