Got 2 Soles (and a couple other things)

I finished the two soles for Trisha's slippers.  As I mentioned last week, they are a little wonky since I practiced knitting backwards.  The tension should even out as they are worn.  I'll work on these tomorrow while watching the Super Bowl.   The tops of the slippers work up very fast.

I had to go back down to Cincinnati this week for another funeral.  A family friend passed away.  This lady was also the mother of my friend who lost her husband last year.  This was the third funeral in six months.  I think that is enough.

While I was staying at Mom's I worked a little more on Pure Love.  This is definitely a project where I have to concentrate and not have any sort of distractions.  My progress is slow, but it is worth it.  I'm still absolutely in love with this yarn and the pattern.

On my way down to Mom's I stopped at Fiberge yarn shop. It is the shop where I purchased the pattern and yarn for the girls' slippers. This time I bought some Malabrigo sock in Archangel colorway. OMG! I understand now why people are in love with Malabrigo. I'm making myself a pair of socks using the pattern Little Minx. It is a little difficult doing the traveling twisted stitches with size 1 needles but my fingers are getting acclimated to it.  This pattern uses Judy's Magic Cast On.  This was the first time I tried it.  It is so easy.  I will definitely use it again for toe-up socks.

The weather today is wet and dreary.  It was a mix of rain and snow earlier.  Now it is just cold and overcast.  I wish winter would just roll in for a little bit.

Working on #2

With Kristin's slippers finished, I started on Trisha's.  I have the sole of one finished and the second sole started.  I'm practicing knitting and purling right to left with these.  It is a bit difficult throwing with my left index finger, but I'm getting the hang of it.  My tension is very wonky so I have to stop every few stitches to even things out.  I figure since this is garter stitch, and the bottom of the slipper, a little wonkiness won't hurt.

Winter teased me again this weekend.  This is what Mother Nature was giving us when I got up in the morning.  I knew the weather report didn't call for much, but I had hopes that the predictions were wrong.  Darn it if they weren't right!  By mid-afternoon the sky was clear and brilliant blue.  It is still cold and blustery, but the sun is shining.  I'm still hoping for one big snow storm. 

Ed and I are getting into crunch-time for getting the paperwork completed requesting financial aid for Kristin.  We know we won't qualify for any assistance, but we have to file the forms anyway.  The university Kristin has decided to go to requires all scholarship recipients to file the form so that they can report demographics.  Oh well, I guess we better get started.

Blast of Winter

The weather has been up and down.  Cold air and a wintery mix hit last night.  Here's what it looks like from the back and the front of the house.

Honestly, I was hoping for more snow.  My philosophy is 'if it's going to be cold, it might as well have a lot of snow.'  The whiteness is much better than the grey and dreary.  This snow isn't going to last long.  The forecast for tomorrow is 50 deg F. 

I finished Kristin's slippers in the past week.  Here they are on her feet. 

I think she might have them on the wrong feet, but who really cares.  They got the seal of approval from her.  Instead of slipping them off, she kept them on when she put on her boots to run some errands.  Now I'm off to make a pair for Trisha.

Things are starting to look like they might get crazy again at work.  I really hope not.  This time around, though, I am not going to let it consume me.  I've learned to do what I can and then let go when I begin to feel overwhelmed. 

Part of my plan to not let work overwhelm me is to take frequent days off.  We are planning a get away in the spring and I've decided to go to Stitches South in April.  Two of my friends from work are also going.  It is going to be a great girls trip.  I can't wait!  I have to sign up for classes still.  I'm only going to take a couple.  There are a lot more crochet classes than in the past.  I know how to crochet but I really am not a fan of how it looks, at least in garments.

Oh!  Lastly, today is National Hug Day.  Be sure to hug everyone you love!!

Yummy!

I haven't made much progress on knitting this week.  Work and evening events consumed too much of my time.  When I get the slippers finished, I'll post a picture.

This year my work is starting a new initiative to promote wellness.  I was selected as one of the advocates for this program.  Anyone who looks at me and sees how overweight I am might wonder why was I chosen.  This program isn't just about physical wellness.  It is also about mind and spirit wellness.  As an advocate I feel I should take actions to promote wellness at home as well as work.  In keeping with that I made some healthy, but very yummy, pancakes yesterday for breakfast.

These are oatmeal whole wheat blueberry pancakes.  They were so good, and so filling.  I couldn't finish that plate.  Later in the day when I was with some friends for lunch, I still wasn't very hungry and at only half of my sandwich.  The recipe is one I came across on Pinterest.  (I'm totally addicted!!)  The recipe came from here.  I didn't have buttermilk so I improvised by adding lemon juice to regular milk.  Also, I used quick oats, so I didn't feel like I needed to wait an hour before cooking up the pancakes.  They were so yummy. The rest are in the freezer for workday breakfasts.

Also yesterday, I went to a Sew-In at my work.  Years ago, a group of friends from work and I formed a group to make baby quilts for ABC Quilts.  ABC Quilts was a non-profit organization that donated crib quilts to hospitals and family agencies to give to at-risk children.  We would have monthly Sew-Ins to work on our projects.  Back then my children were little and it was a nice Mom's Day Out.  The group expanded to include people from a local quilt guild.  A few years ago ABC quilts closed shop.  Many of the original members left the company.  My kids grew and got involved in activities that made it difficult for me to go to the Sew-Ins.   As a result of all these factors, plus a transition from quilting to knitting, I quit going to the Sew-Ins. After Dad's passing I felt like I needed to do some of the things I used to do.  I went to the December Sew-In and got to see a lot of the old group who also happened to be there.  At that Sew-In a few people expressed an interest in learning to knit.  So yesterday, at the January Sew-In, I taught a beginners knitting class.  I was nervous at first and not sure I was going to be able to do it.  I think it went very well.  The two ladies picked it up quickly.  The one lady even tried, and loved, continental knitting.  The other lady was having a little trouble because she is having carpal tunnel issues in her dominant hand.  I'm anxious to see if the keep up the knitting.   Sharing my obsession was fun!