Life is Good

I have always like the Life is Good products and it was so ironic because last night we had a general family discussion (read big fight) about getting new cell phones and all of us pretty much went to bed angry, but this morning I noticed that the coffee cup I reached for was my Life is Good Peace cup and when my dear husband finally got up, he had on his Life is Good Golf shirt, so all is well and Life is Good. (I still don't know about the cell phones.)

On the Weight Loss Front

I have lost 16 pounds since the second week in September. YEA!!! I think I may have finally found a program that works and that I can stick with. I love all the staff at the Methodist Weight Management Clinic and it has just been great. I hope I can keep it up.

One the Knitting Crochet Front

I have finished objects. First the shawl I did for my mother out of the hand died yarn we got when we were in Lancaster Co., PA:

This is just a simple shawl. I cast on 40 stitches using no. 15 circular needles and just kept adding a stitch at each end. It was great fun, but I thought I was never going to run out of yarn. I told my mother that I was sure the sheep were breeding and multiplying the yarn as I was knitting it.

The second is a circular shawl that I crocheted out of the yarn my dear husband bought me last Christmas. I love it. The patter is from Vogue Crochet to Go Shawls. I think I already have an Amazon link for this book. It has a ton of great wrap patterns that I can't wait to make.

And I save the best for last, next weekend I will be in knitting heaven. My dear husband gave me three knitting classes with Cat Bohrdi of New Pathways for Sock Knitters fame. I can't wait, I finally get to meet a knitting rock star. I got Cat's Lorna's Laces yarn which was recommended for the classes and I got some Malabrigo for the Mobius class and some Noro sock yarn for whatever else comes up. I still need to get a 47 inch cable circular for the Mobius class, but they had not arrived at my LYS yet.

That is all for today. Don't forget, leave comments.

Peace

Laura

I have now been on the Methodist Weight Management Steplite program for 5 weeks and I have lost 13 lbs. I can't remember the last time I lost over 10 lbs. or stayed with a program for 5 whole weeks. On this program you drink 2 of their shakes a day, and they are very good, and then you eat 600 extra calories. You can do whatever you want with the extra calories, but of course you should eat healthy. Once a week I go for weight in and counseling and they are very good classes. Tonight is the first time I have really cooked my extra meal and I have to say that I am going all out. Last week I wanted to be in Ithaca, NY at Moosewood Restaurant so bad that I could not stand it, so I thought if I can't go to Moosewood, I will bring Mossewood to Texas since I have several of their cookbooks. For those of you who might not be familiar with Moosewood, it is a cooperative owned, vegetarian establishment that has been in business for several decades. Their cookbooks are sold in any bookstore, I will add links to the one I am using tonight to Amazon, and they sell ready made items in upscale/ health food stores such as Whole Foods. Tonight I am making a Morocan Spinach Chickpea Orzo dish, a Roasted Garlic Dip and an Applesauce Cake. All of the recipes can be found in the Moosewood Lowfat Cookbook. I even put together a Vegetarian Lasagna for tomorrow. Unfortunately I also had to make a meatloaf for my son and husband. My mother is coming to join us for dinner. I will have to get back and let you know how good it is.

Peace,
Laura

Ok, the blog is starting over.

I am totally committed to losing weight. I have gotten financing to have lap-band surgery, but I am not going to have it as long as I am losing weight with Weight Watchers Online, www.weightwatchers.com . I am at the beginning of my forth week and I have lost every week, even the week and a half I was out of town. I just wrote down everything I ate, no matter what it was, and counted all of the points. We walked a lot touring and shopping, but I never did "workout." I am going to take this one day at a time.

I had the most amazing walking workout tonight. I found it as a podcast on itunes. It is Prevention Magazine's Interval Walking Workout. It is only 16 minutes, but I just played it twice. There is music so all you have to do is walk to the beat. It is called interval because you walk at a fast pace for 3 minutes and then you walk at a very fast pace for 1 minute and then you go back to the previous pace and you alternate until it is over. I was very worked out afterwards and I really had a good time doing it.

The next thing I am going to do is for the mental aspect of motivation. I am going to order a pair of yoga pants from http://www.tranquilit.com/ . I have wanted all of the line for so long and this is going to be my goal. When I get the pants I promise that I will take some very embarrassing pictures of how far they won't go around me, but one day I will get into them and everything else in the line.

Please leave me comments and encouragement, I will need it.

Peace,
Laura

On the Knit/Crochet Front I cast on the Imagine sweater and I swear I can never start anything in the round without getting it all into a big twisted mess. Well, I frogged it and started over with a knit cast on and have had no problems since. I also got the last hank of Aracunia Ranco Multi that I needed to complete my Circle/Swirl shawl and I hope to complete it this weekend, because I need it for a trip that I am going on next weekend. How do we get ourselves into these deadline messes. Aren't we doing fiber art for fun? Fun should have no deadlines.

On the Weight Loss/Getting Healthy Front Monday I visited a nutritionist and I really like her. The main thing I am working on this week is portions and slowing down when I eat. Both are hard, but slowing down for me is the hardest. Everyone in my family eats fast and I have to really concentrate to slow down. I am still considering having the lap band, but I am not there yet.

Go do something just for the heck of it.

Peace,
Laura

On the Knit/Crochet Front I know that in my last post I said that I have too many works in progress (WIPs), but I have cast on yet something else. I am going to knit Imagine from the most recent Knitty.com.

You know how I like anything hippie. I am knitting this in Cascade Cotton Rich DK in a very light green colorway. I ordered my yarn from WEBS at www.yarn.com . They are currently having a great 35th anniversary sale, so you ought to go and check it out. This should be an easy knit as it is all in stockinette. I am knitting it in the round until the underarms and then I am going to finish up the front and back, seam at the shoulders and the pick up the stitches for the sleeves and knit them down. This is not the instructions that are written for the pattern, it is written in pieces, but I wanted to eliminate some of the seaming. I will let you know how it goes.

Peace,

Laura

Well good morning and a long time no talk. I don't know why I have been away so long, but I have got a lot to catch you up on.

On the Weight Loss Front I rejoined Curves today and had a great workout. I quit about a year ago because I had no time to go. I don't know why I think I have time now, but I guess I am just going to rearrange my priorities. I have got to make big changes and this is the first. I am meeting with a nutritionist on Tuesday, at the advice of my new doctor who I love. I am not sure what the nutritionist is going to tell me. I am sure that I could pass with flying colors what ever kind of board test they have to take to practice, but I just don't do what I know. Maybe that is what she will get me to do is do it. If I don't get my act together I am going to have to have Gastric surgery and I do not want that. Send good vibes so that I can make things start happening.

Weight Loss Find Chick Filet's Char grilled chicken and fruit salad. This salad has grilled chicken on lettuce, a little cheese, grapes, apples, mandarin oranges, strawberries, carrots, and red cabbage. It is so colorful and very tasty. If you have access, try one this week and let me know what you think.

On the Fiber Arts Front I have so many things on the hooks and needles right now that I don't even know where to start. My main push is a Modern Baby Blanket from the first Mason/Dixon book (it can also be found free here http://images.amazon.com/media/i3d/01/log_cabin.pdf )and the Spiral Shawl from Vogue's On the Go Crochet Shawl book. (I will include them in the Amazon picks on the right side of the blog.) I am doing the MBB in Knit Picks Swish DK in the following four colors:

Swish is a superwash merino and can be found at http://www.knitpicks.com/. If you have never ordered from Knit Picks you don't know what you are missing. They make the best knitting needles ever. They are wood and called Harmony and are both beautiful and very, very nice to knit with. I am making the Shawl out of Aracunia Ranco Multi in a blue, gray, brown, copper, cream colorway that my dear husband gave me for Christmas. He even went to my LYS and picked it out and purchased it all by himself. Of course earlier, when he was with me one time, I pointed to a wall and said that I would love pretty much any and everything on it. So he knew where the good stuff was.

I am sure that I have tons more to share, but I don't want the post to be too long. Please leave comments and let me know what you are up to.

Peace,

Laura

Battlestar Galactica

Finally

The Bush Countdown Clock has been removed, that means that the country can finally move forward and heal. I hope it does not take more than 8 years to undo what has been done in the previous 8. I am home sick, everyone in our department has had whatever this is, but I am watching the parade. I love Michelle Obama's outfit and I can't wait to see what she has on tonight. This is truly a historic day.

On the Weight Loss Front Since the first of December, I have been on the Jenny Craig Weight Loss program, but not faithfully and as of today I have lost 8.2 lbs. I have also not been able to exercise because I have a foot problem, but that is getting better. In the past 2 weeks, I have attended seminars for Weight Loss Surgery and a Medical Fasting Plan. I don't know if I can ever wrap my head around having the WLS, but I know now that I will do that instead of the Fast. The Medical Fast will cost almost the same as WLS and it just sounds horrible. Hopefully I will continue to lose on Jenny. All of the food tastes great and, since I already carry my lunch to work, it is not all that hard to do. I think, now that I have reviewed all of the other options, I am more committed and will hopefully continue to see steady losses.

On the Crochet and Knit Front I have more on my needles and hooks then I have places to store or time to write about. I have had a major after Christmas, lets start everything that looks remotely interesting, mindset. It has been fun, but now I am having a reality check and know that I have some items that I have to complete because they are gifts that are to be given soon. I will get focused.

On the Book Reading Front I got a Kindle for Christmas. Everyone needs one. It is great. You can download books no matter where you are. I downloaded the Bible in the car on the way to church. I waited for the Kindle to be out for an entire year before I decided I wanted one. I was not sure I would really like a book reader, but it is great. Hopefully Saturday I will be getting back to the Saturday Morning Book Review. Check out the Kindle Link to the right and get one for yourself or the book lover in your life. Remember Valentines Day will be here before we know it.

Leave comments and let me know how your year is going so far and talk to you soon.

Peace,
Laura

Saturday Morning Book Review

The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton

It has been several years since I initially read this book and I think that I enjoyed it more this time than the first. I downloaded The Custom of the Country from Librivox.org and listened to it on my way to work and when I walked. Undine Sprag has got to be one of the most misunderstood characters in literature. She is the ultimate product of her society. She can also be looked at as the poster child of what happens when parents do not set boundaries for their children. It is always said that there is no manual for parenting, but Custom comes pretty close. If the Sprag's had from the beginning sat boundaries for Undine, her life, their life, her son's life and the lives of all of husbands (and the death of one), would have been completely different. I highly recommend Custom as both a great read and a great listen. I will add an Amazon link in Favorites-Book Review.

Remember that Christmas is close and an Amazon Kinder would be a great present for any of your loved ones. Just follow the link to the right and get more information.

Peace,

Laura

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Yey, Amanda! I can't wait to see your scarf and then I know you can go on to crochet anything.

Peace,
Laura

How is everyone. It is finally turning cooler, never cold here, and I love it. Next week is Thanksgiving and then Christmas. I am not ready.

On the Crochet/Knit Front Marly of Yarn Thing is back for her next season. You need to check her out at www.yarnthing.blogspot.com and you can also subscribe on itunes. I have so enjoyed her podcast. I currently have many works in progress and none are what I would like to be doing. I have a baby blanket for my cousin and the baby will be here next month. I have a blanket for my son and I have my Clapotis from www.knitty.com . The only thing I would like to be working on is the Clapotis, but I know it will have to wait until after other things are finished. My family is having a baby boom and I have a blanket that will be due in March, May and June. I swear I am going to start handing out birth control pills. The good think about all of these blankets is that I am getting to listen to a lot of great books as I am knitting/crocheting. You need to be ready for lots of book reviews and I promise I am going to start posting pictures of all of my finished objects. I have a scarf that I need to take a picture of and I promise you are going to love it.
The blanket I am making for my cousin is out of Plymouth Baby DK and I am using 4 colors; purple, blue, celery green and a variegated that has all of the colors. I am crocheting this one due to the time constraints and I can crochet so much faster than knit. My cousin is having a boy so the border is going to be the blue color. I love making blankets for babies that are close to me, but when this one is finished, I am not starting another until after the first of the year.

Have a great week and I am so glad that I am back. I have so many great things to share with you.

Peace,
Laura

I know that you have probably given up on me, but please do not I am still here and I am just trying to find my balance between all of things that this blog is about and work. So I am going to get back in this habit.

Saturday Morning Book Review

Metatropolis by various Sci Fi Authors

This has got to be the best near-future Sci-Fi I have read/heard in a long time. Metatropolis is a compilation of five novellas, each written by a different author. However it is not just a jumbled up anthology. The difference, the authors came together and built the world that they would write about. So, each novella is set in the same world, not the same city, but the same world. Each story shows a different aspect of what life might be in the near future. There is political intrigue, but you understand it because it is only about 50 to 100 years in the future. There is reference to events that have happened in your lifetime, like 9/11, our failing economy, our job losses, climate change and much, much more. Metatropolis is how this group of authors sees how the human race could deal with each of these issues and survive. At the first I refered to "hearing" this work and I did. I downloaded it from Audible, www.audible.com , and this is a work that, I think, needs to be listened to. The best part is that one of the stories is read by the actor that plays Ty on Battlestar Galactica (the new version) and another story is read by the actor who plays Dee from Galactica. So this was a nice little respit from the Galactica season break (I am not sure what I am going to do when it ends for good next year). Stefon Rodniki is also a reader and he is always one of my favorite Sci-Fi voice actors. Check Metatropolis out and let me know how you enjoyed it. I have added the Amazon Downloadable version to Favorites-Book Reviews.

Peace,
Laura

WE SURVIVED IKE

We went to our nephew's northwest of Houston and it was the best decision I ever made. They graciously opened their home to us and it has been wonderful. This is one of the few homes in the Houston area with power and it is a true blessing. Our home faired well. Our fench is down and of course there are limbs and so on, lots of clean up. We are not supposed to have power for two to three weeks and, as of tonight, the water in our city has been turned off. Luckily I don't have to go to work yet until Wednesday, but I don't know how I am supposed to be ready for work without water or electricity. I guess we will figure this all out as we go along.

On the Knitting/Crochet Front Since I have had time on my hand, I have mastered the Cat Borhdi sock method. I have also finished a baby blanket, and a pair of monkey socks that I had sitting in the knitting bag that I brought with me. Maybe one day I will get some pictures posted.

I will try and blog tomorrow about out the storm recovery is going. If you live in the Houston area, let me know how you are doing.

Peace,
Laura

Yes, it has been forever since I have posted, but with worrying about hurricanes and work and everyone having a birthday, I have not had much time. I have been knitting though and I will soon have a finished pair of socks to show, Monkey by Cookie A. I have also been watching Battlestar Galactica, the new one. I have just started season 4 and I think that it is the last of the series. Overall I have enjoyed it very much. I am a Star Trek fan from way, way back and I have never really gotten over my love for space sci-fi. One of my favorite book series of all time is the Ender series by Orson Scott Card. If you have not read it, make sure you do so in order and, if you can, listen to the series instead of read it. Card, himself, says that he writes his books to be read as a performance. I will be sorry when I am through with Galactica, but I am then going to start on the Stargate franchise and there are many, many seasons of them.

I know that you may be wondering why I am spending my time on sci-fi when the new school year has started. Well, I really like my new job and right now I am going to concentrate on becoming a Certified Research Administration Accountant. I begin the University of Houston System certification classes this month and I can't wait to get started. I guess I am returning to the skills I already have and at 45 I am ready to embrace this career and then be able to spend my free time doing things that I truly love, like knitting, crocheting and being with friends. I will still be reading the classics and reviewing them here. In fact, I hope to find a good online classics book club to join.

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend and remember to send comments.

Peace,
Laura

On the Knit/Crochet Front I have done it, as I am watching the closing ceremonies, I have on my Ravelympic Sock Put Socks. As soon as I can get the camera from my husband I will take pictures. This is a great way to have incentive to actually finish a project in a certain period of time.

On the Weight Loss Front I got a Wii Fit for my birthday. It is so much fun. The whole family is enjoying it. So much so, I have to fight for my own present. I have done the yoga, downhill skiing, and the ski jump. This is a great way to exercise without it being exercise.

Hopefully I will get back now to more regular posts. Leave comments and let me know who you are.

Peace,
Laura

On the Knit/Crochet Front Tonight I attended my first Knitting Guild Meeting. It was great. The Guild that I am a member is the Knit at Night Guild here in Houston. They are a great group of women and we learned how to fix our knitting mistakes. I think the wisest thing our teacher said was to learn what you are willing to live with. If the mistake is a the top of a sock that no one is going to see then don't drive yourself crazy. My two cents is that this is a hobby and most of us do it to relieve stress, why add more stress. On the other hand, I will be the first one ripping back to make it match the pattern whether anyone can tell or not. If you are not a member of your local Knitting or Crochet Guild, join. This is art that we are talking about and it is art that we do not want to lose.

Also, my Ravelympic socks are coming along great. I may actually get them finished by the extinguishing of the flame.

Peace,
Laura

On the Knit/Crochet Front The Opening Ceremonies of the Olympic Games start tomorrow and, more important, the Ravelympics starts tomorrow at 7:00 am for those of us in the Central Time Zone. What is Ravelympics some may ask? Well you should take up knitting and crocheting, join Ravelry and you would know. But, since there are some out there who never will, so, Ravelympics is the knitters and crocheters version of Olympic Games. The rules are that we can not cast on until the Opening Ceremonies begin in China and that is at 7:00 am my time, and you must be completed with you project by the time the Flame is extinguished. I am in the Sock Put event and tonight I have come home from work, taken my shower, put on my training clothes ( PJs, of course) and I am now in training. I am watching Battlestar Galactica and I am balling my beautiful Lorna's Lace Shepherd Sock in a wonderful red color way. I will not be able to cast on at 7:00 am as I will be on my way to work, but as soon as I make it to my local SNB tomorrow night, I will. Let the Games begin.

Peace,
Laura

On the Green Front I am not sure if Global Warming is caused by man or is a cycle of nature, but there is no denying that every year it gets hotter and hotter. I found the following article on CNN and thought that it was interesting enough to share.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/07/30/canada.arctic.ice.ap/index.html

On the Crochet/Knit Front For those of you on Ravelry, join the Ravelympics. The rules are that you have to cast on during the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics, and you have to be finished with your creation by the time the flame is extinguished. I am in the Sock Put Event and I am going to complete the Cookie A Twinkle Toes Socks, see link to pattern.

http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/shows_dkng/episode/0,2046,DIY_18180_49938,00.html

I am going to make them out of some wonderful yarn that should be on its way, I hope, to me from WEBS yarn store, www.yarn.com , see link below. It is similar to the Daffodil color way on this page.

http://www.lornaslaces.net/colors.asp

Send comments.

Peace,
Laura

I am for all things "green" and I am for saving the planet, but I want individuals to do it because they to see the need, not because it is legislated. I just read the following linked article on MSNBC and I can not believe it. How much more are we going to let government get control of? Government should not legislate morality, speech, and certainly not the food that you eat. Read the article and send in your comments.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25896233

Peace,
Laura

Saturday Morning Book Review

No Sheep For You, Knit Happy with Cotton, Silk, Linen, Hemp, Bamboo & Other Delights
by Amy R. Singer

The headline on the back of this book says it all: A World Beyond Wool! There are many people who are allergic to all things sheep and animal, but still love to knit and crochet. Until now these unfortunate individuals have had to use acrylic. OH MY! (No offense to acrylic yarn. It does have its place, like for baby things that need to be able to be washed often, but I am becoming a yarn snob.) Today things are much better and this book details them all. There is bamboo, organic cotton, hemp, flax, linen, soy fiber, silk, milk fiber, fiber make from bananas and sea weed, and much, much more. Of course, milk fiber and silk are not vegan yarns, but there are so many more, that even if you are a strict vegan, you can have a stash that any fiber artist would be proud to call their own. I have personally worked with bamboo and soy and I loved both. No Sheep For You also has some really great patterns to support these wonderful new and old fibers. Even if you can wallow in 100% mohair, you need this book to expand the fibers you can work with and to make up some of the great patterns. I am adding a link to it under Favorites-Book Reviews.

I got to buy this great resource with the very nice gift certificate to my LYS, Yarns 2 Ewe, my dear husband gave me for our anniversary which was on July 4th. I went for the first time to the Friday night S&B last night and had a great time. It is so neat to sit surrounded by yummy yarn talking with others who don't look at you like you have lost your mind when you cast on a sock on things that look like four tooth picks, who know you by your Ravatar and who don't ask you what a Clapotis is. I love my family and friends dearly and always want to be with them, but there is nothing like being with another group of people who would think that it is completely normal to have bags of yarn and WIPs placed as decor in the family room. If you have not joined a knit/crochet group, I highly recommend it.

I had another great treat today, my dear niece treated me to Starbucks. I love you Emilee.

Peace,
Laura