Mittens, Almost Complete!

Since the Olympics started I received the new yarn for Sara's second mitten. Yarn Harlot had opened up a Knitting Olympics, and I had originally said I would attempt a lacy neckwarmer. I started to work on it, made a great headway and lo and behold! my yarn for Sara's mitten came in. Quickly, I changed my sport venue and started to work on the mitten. I'm happy to report that with the Olymics closing on Sunday, I may very well achieve my goal of finishing the mitten before Sunday evening.

Sara is going to Cancun on Saturday with some friends. Of course, we have snow forecast, and the last time she tried to go somewhere, the flight was canceled. She was to leave on December 19, but the snow was so much, the airports were closed; she couldn't get another flight for another 3 days. She ended up going to Georgia with her boyfriend. Dave and I had a very quiet Christmas day in the snow. The week after Christmas we did have our traditional Christmas dinner of Roast Beef, Yorkshire Pudding, and Trifle for dessert. Not shabby at all!

Work has been nothing but travel arrangements, cancel travel arrangements, make new travel arrangements. Not so bad to make the arrangements, but all in one day? Come on; didn't "we" know that "we" wanted to go first-class in the beginning of all this? And didn't "we" know that "we" did not want to wait until 10:00 p.m. for the Red Eye before? Oh, well, I just work here.

With the weather as it has been, there's been very little riding lessons. Sara and I did go to Talbot Run and ride two of their horses. Sara rode Jake, a virtual push-button horse; I rode Louie, who for some reason, could only go to the left. He did go to the right, but it was almost as if he was going butt first! Dressage whips are wonderful!

Ordered some more yarn to make yet another pair of mittens. I found some variegated yarn and I plan to pair it with white! I think it will be a very stunning look.

I am still going to the gym; however, my intake has been more than outlay of calories. Sara is inspiring me, but when I get home, I seem to forget it all. I'm just sick and tired of this weather, sick and tired of work, and just sick and tired of being sick and tired. Hmmm, there is a trend here.

Sadly, Back to Work

Monday morning rolled around, and I knew I had to get into the office since I haven't been there for a week or more! Got up, got dressed, Dave went out to warm up the car and all seemed to be going very well. We are in the car, seat belts buckled, we back up and CRUNCH! We hit a snow wall. We can't go forward, we can't go backward, we try one person driving, one person pushing - nada.

Dave got the shovel and started to shovel out the right rear tire, but then realized he can't see anything and maybe he just might cut the tire; so, in side I go to get a flashlight! Finally, we get out with me pushing and Dave driving. What is wrong with THIS picture? Had to get gas for the car; but after all that and driving to Greenbelt and having to ride the Metro in, I got to work at 7:30!!???!!! What????

Anyway, back to work, which has not changed since I was out of the office. I'm thinking, why am I surprised it's not changed? It never does and it never will. I did, however, print tons of emails and drafts for one of the clients to put in the correspondence file. Started yesterday and still working on it. The fun never stops.

Good news! My black and white yarn arrived, so I can begin Sara's "other mitten". Yay! I'm working on a lace neck warmer, but I'm so happy I can work on the mitten. Of course, the first one just about killed my hands by using a number 1 needle and worsted weight yarn. But, the results of all that are absolutely gorgeous. See pics posted below.

Office Open; I'm Still Stuck in Oella

My office is open today, but I'm still stuck up in the Oella Hills. Not only that, the Camden Line is not running today. From the last bout of trains running a few days ago, I doubt if I would ever get to work. Delays, more delays, and then trains canceled because the was no crew to run the trains. Public transportation..... Unfortunately, it's better than driving into D.C. every day. I have a choice of things to do on the train: Knit, read, or sleep. It's mostly knit; if I read, I fall asleep; if I fall asleep, it's likely that I will miss my station. If I miss my station, the next stop is in Camden, Baltimore. Then, what? By the time I got to Camden, the last train out of Baltimore would probably have already left. I'd had to get my husband to drive up to Camden Yards and get me. That would not be a pretty sight. Ah, riding public transportation on the MARC train system.

Hopefully, I can do something today besides take the dog for long walks. I'm very close to having a yarn emergency! Not only that, I finally finished my skirt and now I want to make a coat. I now it would be cheaper just to buy one, but I've always wanted the satisfaction that I MADE a coat. Must have some very warped gene in me.

Joined The Yarn Harlot's 2010 Knitting Olympics, which will start tonight once the Olympic torch is lit. In 17 days I must complete a project of my choice. Since I don't usually have much time to knit (this week being very unusual what with all the snow we've had!), I chose a project that is not too easy and not too complicated. I will attempt, with number 3 circular needles, a lacy neck warmer in only 17 days. Of course, once I get to work and can't knit, the challenge will be even greater! I printed out three patterns. I made one neck warmer before, and this is very embarrassing, I can't tell which one I actually made! I used a variegated yarn (grays, light grays, and white) and that was a mistake because you can't really see the lacy design. This neck warmer will be made out of white! If you can't see the design in that, then you must be blind! That's all I can say.

(Also, I have to start Sara's second mitten.) That would have been my challenge, but I have to get to work to get the yarn for the next mitten. I ordered more yan, but it was delivered to the office - maybe. I ordered a nice winter riding jacket, and I haven't seen that, either, which was delivered to the house. It's somewhere in the UPS/USPS system. Maybe I'll see it today. Or not.

I should be wearing gloves up here in the loft. My hands are two icicles and it's getting more and more difficult to type. I wold wear my new mittens, but I'm afriad it would be a tad hard on touch typing with no fingers.

Success! I finished one mitten for Sara! It is being blocked as we speak. I have run out of yarn, but not to worry, I have lots of projects to work on - sewing or knitting.









Not much else except that we are still shoveling out from under all the snow we've gotten in the past week. I'm slowly getting very tired of being in the house. Even if I went outside, I couldn't go far and not much is open, anyway.

More Snow, Snow, Snow

We just can't catch a break with all this snow! Tonight/tomorrow another 12"-18" will fall upon us. I am snowbound for the duration. I did, however, get most of Sara's mitten finished. Now working on the thumb. Once that is complete, I have to wait for my new order of yarn to start the right hand. I did order too much, but I'm thinking I can make a vest and use the designs from the gloves somewhere in the vest design.

Ran on the TM the other day, and it kept stopping on me. Not sure what is wrong with it, but I'm not taking any more chances. I really don't feel like going 'round and 'round on the belt! As an alternative, I have to take the dog out for more walks. He doesn't like the snow because there is no place that is acceptable to him to do his "biznezz". He, however, is learning how to deal with it. I walk him and walk him, until he just can't hold it any more. There is a way around all this nonsense.

I have to get into the correct frame of mind to work on my skirt. I think after I finish Sara's left-hand mitten, I can get incentive to work on it. I want it done, but I want someone else to do it. I think I'm too engrossed in knitting right now.

Asked DH to take a pic of the mitten, but he won't until it's done! What difference does it make? I do like photos of in-progress. Let's people see what I'm doing, especially on Ravelry. I really like looking at people's progress on their items.

Snow, snow, snow....

Wednesday evening Sara came over for a quick refresher course in knitting. She was able to start a scarf, which will be striped and is coming along very nicely. With the snow expected this weekend, she may have more time that she thought to make some headway on it.

I started on a pair of mittens for Sara - black and white - different than the ones I made for myself. The yarn in a worsted wight and I'm down to number 1 DPNs! At first I thought it was going to be way to big, but once I started the stranding, it naturally closed up. So, the mittens will be the right size after all!

Today I have to get off my rear end and cut out the skirt that's been sitting on the dining room table for at least 2 weeks. How in the world can I wear it if it isn't done? After watching last night's Project Runway, I'm now inspired to get going on it! Unfortunately, when I get stuck on a certain type of craft, I just can't get away. I've been looking at more mittens to make. I've become a mitten junkie. Worse things I can be addicted to, I'm sure.

Got on the scale today; was pleasantly surprised; now all I have to do is continue to tone all the fat I have on me! Low weight doesn't always mean healthy! Since turning 60, my body shape has changed, and not necessarily for the better. So, toning, it is. Cardio, too.

Have to get back to cutting our my skirt patten. It just won't get done by itself, darn.

Tuesday, but Feels Like It Should Be Wednesday

The weekend had snow, much more snow that anyone anticipated. I had planned to go to the grocery store on Saturday a.m., but unfortunately, I fiddled around before I took Romeo out. Just as we headed out, I saw small flakes of snow come down. I was thinking that it was no big deal as we were told by the very efficient weather man - person - woman - meteorologist? that we would get only a dusting. Hubby said that we should wait since it was snowing, and I was still thinking that it was not a big deal. Anyway, it continued to snow, and the snow came down harder. Next thing - there are 4 inches of snow on the ground! What????? So, we spent the day inside.

Sunday morning the storm was gone; snow plough had come through at least once; I went outside to shovel our parking pad, and found that the snow was very light. I was able to push most of it off the ledge and didn't have to exert myself with actually picking up the snow. The snow plough came through again while I was outside.

After that we got in the car to go to the grocery store. As we got down the big hill of Ellicott City, the roads were miraculously clean of snow. It happens all the time. The "hills" of Oella always get second-best treatment since we are not a main road. Once we got down to Main Street, driving was a breeze.

When we got back from the grocery store, I was determined to finish my left-handed mitten. I knew I didn't have much to do, but believe it or not, it takes a lot longer to actually get it finished than it seems just by looking at it. Took me the rest of the day between bouts of resting from it and making a beef stew for dinner. I was anxious to wear it, but it had to be blocked. I wore them today, and lo and behold! they match my red coat! I didn't even think about it when I got the colors because I had originally thought them to be for Sara. After I started them, tho, I realized that they would be too small for her. They barely fit my hand and I do have a very small hand.

So onward to a new pair of mittens - black and white - for Sara. Now, these might be too big, but we can always improvise and make them fit! No matter what, they WILL fit!

Ran yesterday at the gym on the TM; today was a little bit of elliptical, and rest of the time was strength training (core mostly). Gotta get that gut back! It's out of control now.