Hey...

Maybe I’ll dye my hair (the grey in it is starting to get to me)
Maybe I’ll move somewhere (but probably not)
Maybe I’ll get a car (mine is getting older, I have been thinking this...)
Maybe I’ll drive so far they'll all lose track (I road tripped a lot this year, I could do the same again)

Maybe I’ll sleep real late (yes!)
Maybe I’ll lose some weight (please?)
Maybe I’ll clear my junk (Goodwill needs my stuff, right?)
Maybe I’ll just get drunk on apple wine (not sure about the apple wine, but ok)

Hey, maybe I’ll learn to sew (it's an idea)
Maybe I’ll just lie low (definitely ok with this one)
Maybe I’ll hit the bars (brewpubs?)
Maybe I’ll count the stars until dawn (always a good idea)

Maybe I’ll settle down (pretty settled already, thanks)
Maybe I’ll just leave town (Again, probably not)
Maybe I’ll have some fun (YES)
Maybe I’ll meet someone and make him mine (or not, I like the one I've got).

Either way, I'll be fine and dandy, and I hope you are too. Happy new year.

My take on New Year's Resolutions, with apologies to Dolly Parton and Best Little Whorehouse in Texas

Who's that girl?

I got up this morning and saw it was snowing, so I went for a run/walk, because I like my neighborhood route and it's no fun when it's icy and slushy, so I needed to do that a few more times before the snow makes me have a few months without.

I got up last Saturday, drove downtown, and ran a 5k in the 20F cold because I wanted to do one more race this year and I wasn't in town for the Drumstick Dash. That was my fifth race of that length since September, if you count the 3 mile Run Like Hell (and I do, it was a blast!)

I pay attention to my pace and time and distance, because I have to improve all of that to participate in the half marathon I already signed up for next fall.

I really don't recognize myself in any of those things, but somehow they're a part of who I am and what I'm up to lately. This all started with the 500 mile challenge, which ended in May with about 440 miles done. A year and a half after goading myself off of my sofa with that crazy goal, I get cranky if I don't get some exercise every few days. Which means I've got a habit of exercise, which was really the goal of the 500 mile project. And so now I'll try and get a spreadsheet going for next year, because 500 miles in 2012 sounds entirely doable.

The best part of this is the friends who have come along with me. Mandie, Jill and Bri have their own goals, but have been awesome cheerleaders and pacers for me this fall and all the way through. I'm enjoying learning to run with them and I'm excited to see what we do in the future.

Weekend with Amy

In Nancy Bush's class at Sock Summit two years ago, there was a woman who identified herself as a "class-taker". I resolved a while ago to be the same way, and I think it's really really good for me, and I think I should do a more in-depth post about why later.

So when the Indianapolis Knitting Guild made arrangements to bring in Amy Detjen for a weekend workshop, I jumped to sign up without thinking. (In doing so, I made it so I missed a weekend retreat with my grad school math pals, and I'm still kicking myself a little about that - isn't it grand and terrible to have so many options for good times?)

Camnesia happened again. The only picture I have from the weekend is the one I sent my husband in reply to the "I'm in a happy place" picture he sent me from the racetrack in Phoenix. It's below:


It was fantastic spending the weekend with local knitters outside my usual group. There were several of my Thursday night pals there, too, but I got to talk some with several of the knitters I only see once a month or so. It was excellent to see Lana, who came from Terre Haute for the weekend. She's got a sock pattern in the Twist Collective that went live today!

Amy Detjen is awesome. There were three classes and a more informal evening session, and I learned a lot. Every time I spend time with Amy I leave seriously considering trying to move to Madison just to hang out with her more. I want to knit more colorwork and brioche and sweaters and everything.

Saturday Morning

Most weekend mornings I wake up before my husband.  This morning was no different. It's my nice no-pressure quiet time in the week where I can make myself breakfast, knit and watch tv or listen to podcasts, or read. I love a Saturday morning with a book. 
Here's what this morning looks like.

My sweater's second sleeve is growing quickly. I'm hoping to have the garment finished by the end of the month. We'll see.

Living in the future

I know, I've been a little quiet lately. I haven't had a lot of bloggy mojo, or spinning mojo either. I've knit a few things, but pictures haven't happened. So soon I'm gonna try and fix that. I'm posting this from my phone! Crazy, man.

Back to grading. Maybe I'll get a whole round in tonight on the sock I cast on this morning. Here's hoping.

Camp Camnesia

This past weekend I trekked up to the middle of Wisconsin for Meg Swansen's Knitting Camp. I went last year, and it was exhilarating and empowering and I learned a LOT.

Same for this year. I split the drive up in two, stopping at my pal Kylee's house for the night. Kylee is the one who, five years ago, gave me a scarf kit at exactly the right time and started me down this whole knitting rabbit hole.

I had my camera with me in Wisconsin, but I forgot to pull it out. Every day I'd watch Amy Detjen adjust a camera over Meg Swansen's shoulder as Meg knit and I'd want a picture of that, but I didn't get it. It'll just have to be a mental photo, which I'm sorry I can't share.

Jessica logged a lovely moment from camp, though.

As happened last year, I came home with a heavily expanded project queue, including a pile of things from the new book Knit One Knit All. My sweater-in-progress is progressing, it's one that was added to the queue after last year's camp. Right now it's a twisty wad of stockinette on a big circular needle, but it'll straighten out.

Things finished

Managed to do the photodocumenting of various projects today, so here's an update!

A pair of plain socks in Noro Silk Garden:


These started life as an office emergency project, a designated break when grading was crazy or other things were getting to me. They moved pretty fast, because the thickish yarn required a heftier needle than my usual - they were on 2's and I think 60 stitches around. After classes were over they became my track knitting, and we spent at least one day out at the speedway every weekend that cars were on the track, so they grew fast. They were finished on the Saturday of race weekend, so I just had to start a new sock on race day. That one will show up soon.

I made a little shawly thing:

This is the Little Colonnade shawl, in a nice MCN blend from Pigeonroof Studios. The yarn was the special colorway for Simply Sock Yarn's birthday kit last year, and it was lovely to knit.

And finally, my new favorite thing:


I finished this at knitting on Thursday. I've been sighing about it not being done for months now, and finally it is! This is my first handspun sweater. I finished the yarn last fall, cast on once the orange sweater let go of me in February, and now it's done.

Not really a modeled shot, but a "I finished it tonight and I couldn't wait till the next day for pictures" pic in the mirror in my closet.



I love it, can you tell?