I know I said I would start this grand experiment on the 21st, and I know that it is now the 25th, but a horrible thing happened that tossed all my plans into the bin.
The flu hit the house.
And not a normal flu either. This is a flu on steroids. And the day my fever broke my husband started one. It's been a week I tell ya. We have officially canceled the holidays. Maybe next year.
So now I'm trying to start on the actual 1st. But still be over by 12/21 next year because darn it, that is the real holiday.
All right, so, plans for the year. Here we go:
The knitting word for the year is WARM. After this winter I want to be prepared. And I think I might be over the whole fair thing, mostly because after I work so hard on something I don't want to risk it.
So this year I plan to:
Replace the mittens that went through the wash and are now child sized with my first attempt at color work. Polska by SpillyJane
Make the husband a new French Press cozy, since he asked for one. Caffenate! by Coryna Blaskco
Make new hats for both of us. He wants a Cunning Jayne Hat by Renee Peterson (yes, my husband is a geek), I'm going to try to make an Argos by Deborah Tomasello that more or less matches the Polska mittens
New scarves for both of us. I want a Hitchhiker by Martina Behm in Blue Moon Socks that Rock in the Fire on the Mountain colorway. Flowermouse did one and it is gorgeous. And he might get a Noro Striped scarf by Jarod Flood, if he wants one.
New mitts for both of us. He will probably get Susie Rodger's Reading Mitts in this olive drab DK I have in stash, (hopefully I have enough). I haven't picked a pattern yet, I might use the same or I might go with lace.
I will finish the Grandmother shawl this year and make my Catkin by Carina Spencer in dark red and oatmeal
And then I am knitting a blanket. I'm knitting hexagons much like the blogger at VintageFusion Knits did here. But I'm using up my rainbow of acrylic scraps because we have cats. They will be hooked together with black crochet to give that stained glass effect. My goal is to do one a day but I'm already five days behind. I need to get knitting.
All of that ought to keep me pretty busy for knitting in the months ahead
The embroidery word this year is OLD. I have a number of old patterns that I have been wanting to finish literally since the 1990's, and this is going to be the year that I finish them all.
First up is the stocking for the kitties. Obviously not done in time for the holiday but it will be done for the next one
Then I have this darling little picture which I cannot find anywhere. It's a cross-stitch of a farm stand in Vermont. That's already on the frame so it's up next
I have these patterns saved from way back when of two cats in these amazingly beautiful gardens. Those are also aging rapidly and need to be done this year.
And then I will be doing stockings for the husband and I. He is getting the Workshop stocking and I am getting the Stitchers room stocking on the far right. Apparently they are coming back in style as "vintage". I remember when they were first published. I now feel old.
The sewing word this year is PIECES. Which you would think made sense for quilting, but that's not exactly what I mean.
Just like I am with knitting hexagons I'm also sewing them. I've delved into the stash to start English Paper Piecing one a day into what will hopefully be a bed quilt. I'm trying to sew in one a day but like the other I'm already behind.
I would like to make a Sylvia's Bridal Sampler quilt this year, but that will only come off if I can get the material in the next month or so. We'll have to see.
Otherwise it's going to be clothing and aprons this year. I have shirts to make, I need new summer skirts, and I am desperate for more aprons. A couple more of those might even be a priority.
In books I am staying away from series. While I like reading an entire series front to back I tend to run into trouble when I don't have the entire series at hand. That's bit me three times already so this year with one exception I am avoiding series. That one exception is the Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson which my husband is also reading so my chances of getting the third book are high.
For school this year I want to study philosophy. I want to learn different ways of looking at the world. Not entirely certain which classes I'll be taking yet, I'm installing the new iTunesU app on my tablet and then I'm going to see what's offered.
I'm also going to read the bible cover to cover over the course of the year and share my thoughts and reflections on what I find there. I haven't read the bible since high school so it should be interesting. I will probably use a plan like this one but I'm hoping there's an app for that.
Fitness wise I'm shooting for 100 Pushups, 200 Situps and my first 5K. Because I might be round and have a list of health issues but that doesn't mean I can't get fit. Of course I said that last year but 2013 is going to go down as one of the more complicated years we've had so far.
My other goal is to keep us on a meal plan that allows us to effectively stay on something close to a Primal diet and to go all organic. Not that easy when you're on a tight budget, but we think it's doable. It certainly has been helping to keep us both healthier than we were before we started.
I'll be sharing more about what we eat and my "home management binder" in the next few weeks.
I do believe that covers all the bases. I doubt I'll be keeping up the format I've been using, but I plan to report every day or nearly every day as a way of staying accountable.
See you all in the new year.
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Far too long
Has it really been nearly a week since I last posted? Have I really lost track of the days that much? It certainly looks like I have. But I have an excuse.
Snow!
This is what we received back on Friday
Which might not seem like a lot to people in some areas, but out here we never get this much snow. As in we have no snow plows or road salt or sand. It's been a long week-end around here. And it has yet to melt, it hasn't been above freezing in four days. It's been distracting as anything.
Also, this weekend was the big fund raiser for the hospital. the Festival of Trees. I'll share one of their pictures since we don't have ours developed yet.
The trees were amazing as ever, the whole event was glorious. I just hope that we had enough visitors to make our goal this year.
Between the weather and the event I've been too busy to keep up with anything. Hopefully now that all of that is past I can make entering a regular event.
One thing I have decided is what this years knitting them is going to be. WARM! After this winter I want mittens and hats and scarves and blankets done. Everything is going to be wooly and warm for next year. Keep checking the sidebar, I'll be putting up a list of projects for the year soon.
What I wore today
A simple pale blue shirt and pants. Yes, pants. It is currently 11° out there, I'm in my own house and my husband does not mind. But when I went to the store earlier I wore a tan calico shirt and a denim skirt.
Dinner/supper today:
Roast chicken with roast carrots and parsnips/tuna salad
Knitting of the day:
Over the past three days I started and finished a hat for myself. A simple watchcap in an acrylic yarn that used up all my scraps
I've also decided that it's silly to put pictures of my clothing hanging on the door on the web. Let's face it, I'm fat. I'm also a stroke survivor. Those are connected since part of my pituitary gland was damaged in the stroke. And before anyone says "See what God does to Atheists" it happened when I was 4 and caused by neglect. If that's what your God does then is it any wonder why Maltheisim is a thing?
Anyway, this is me
Yes, I do like this picture
Sewing of the day:
None, I've been too busy knitting. I will probably work on the cat stocking tonight if I do anything. I have just done a massive update of my Pinterest board, sharing some things I've worked on over the past few years. The link is on my sidebar, the board is "Projects That Don't Fit Ravelry".
Book of the day:
I'm about 2/3 through A Room With a View
Exercise today:
None
Schoolwork today:
Have not started yet. But I still have time
Housework today:
Got to the grocery store and got it all put away. That's enough for one day.
Words written today:
I'm behind on this too. I need to get back on track tomorrow.
Snow!
This is what we received back on Friday
Which might not seem like a lot to people in some areas, but out here we never get this much snow. As in we have no snow plows or road salt or sand. It's been a long week-end around here. And it has yet to melt, it hasn't been above freezing in four days. It's been distracting as anything.
Also, this weekend was the big fund raiser for the hospital. the Festival of Trees. I'll share one of their pictures since we don't have ours developed yet.
The trees were amazing as ever, the whole event was glorious. I just hope that we had enough visitors to make our goal this year.
Between the weather and the event I've been too busy to keep up with anything. Hopefully now that all of that is past I can make entering a regular event.
One thing I have decided is what this years knitting them is going to be. WARM! After this winter I want mittens and hats and scarves and blankets done. Everything is going to be wooly and warm for next year. Keep checking the sidebar, I'll be putting up a list of projects for the year soon.
What I wore today
A simple pale blue shirt and pants. Yes, pants. It is currently 11° out there, I'm in my own house and my husband does not mind. But when I went to the store earlier I wore a tan calico shirt and a denim skirt.
Dinner/supper today:
Roast chicken with roast carrots and parsnips/tuna salad
Knitting of the day:
Over the past three days I started and finished a hat for myself. A simple watchcap in an acrylic yarn that used up all my scraps
I've also decided that it's silly to put pictures of my clothing hanging on the door on the web. Let's face it, I'm fat. I'm also a stroke survivor. Those are connected since part of my pituitary gland was damaged in the stroke. And before anyone says "See what God does to Atheists" it happened when I was 4 and caused by neglect. If that's what your God does then is it any wonder why Maltheisim is a thing?
Anyway, this is me
Yes, I do like this picture
Sewing of the day:
None, I've been too busy knitting. I will probably work on the cat stocking tonight if I do anything. I have just done a massive update of my Pinterest board, sharing some things I've worked on over the past few years. The link is on my sidebar, the board is "Projects That Don't Fit Ravelry".
Book of the day:
I'm about 2/3 through A Room With a View
Exercise today:
None
Schoolwork today:
Have not started yet. But I still have time
Housework today:
Got to the grocery store and got it all put away. That's enough for one day.
Words written today:
I'm behind on this too. I need to get back on track tomorrow.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
This is a doing blog
This is a doing blog, not a political blog, so I really didn't want to get into political stuff. But something has been bothering me for the past few days so I'm quickly getting it off my chest.
First, read this
https://www.facebook.com/notes/jordan-muela/how-silence-enables-abuse/10152148673878969
Then read this, It's a page offering advice for abuse victims on how to get along with their families for the holidays. Especially, I hate to say it, their religious families.
http://feministing.com/2013/11/27/feministing-guide-to-surviving-the-holidays/#more-71531
Which is written by the much maligned feminist community.
Now ask yourself this, is this how God wants you to treat other people in pain?
http://sunshinemaryandthedragon.wordpress.com/2013/11/29/feminists-maladjusted-killjoys-at-the-holidays/
Or would he want you to love them and try to help them? And who would tell you to attack a community that's is trying to show love and support to those in pain and say it came from God other than an abuser trying to cut off support for his victims? And ask yourself how many pastors are abusers?
Answer: A lot.
http://mojoey.blogspot.com/p/the-morally-corrupt.html
An awful lot. And not all Catholic either.
I believe the correct phrase is be a Berean and check the gospel, not the pastor, for what to do.
All right, off the politics. On to the doing, and the past few days have had lost of doing. I've chopped the salad veggies for the week and put them up in vacuum sealed jars for lunches just like this.
I made 12 cups of chicken broth and turned it in to a large bowl of chicken and rice soup for the husband to take to work. I don't use chicken breasts, instead I roast a chicken every week, serve the breasts for dinner that night, take off the leg quarters for dinners for me while the husband is at work, then boil the carcass for soup and pick the meat off when it's done to go back in. The meat is flavorless then but the flavor is in the broth so you can't tell, and it's still good protein. In this way one $4 chicken makes ten servings, or five meals for the two of us. That's less than a dollar for the protein a meal. I made a batch of cream of cauliflower soup, which you unfortunately have to pay for. Sorry. I made the weekly batch Lembas and boiled eggs to go with the salads. And I did a number of other things.
In other words, I'm pooped.
But all the chores are done for a few days at least, more or less, so I can kick back and maybe finally watch the Thanksgiving parade a week later. Thank the techs for DVR's
On to the work:
What I wore today
A favorite floral top and a skirt that managed to get highly rumpled somehow. Blogger isn't letting me load the picture. When it does I will.
Dinner/supper today:
Leftover chicken and steamed broccoli/Cream of cauliflower soup
Knitting of the day:
Still working on the knee warmer. Arthritis is not fun. Don't get old
Sewing of the day:
More work on the practice quilt square. It should be finished by the week-end
Book of the day:
I'm about halfway through A Room With A View
Exercise today:
None, unfortunately. It's been in the 20's here. See my comment about arthritis
Schoolwork today:
Haven't started yet. I'm getting there
Housework today:
Finished putting laundry away and finally got my kitchen back together after two serious days of cooking
Words written today:
1,957
First, read this
https://www.facebook.com/notes/jordan-muela/how-silence-enables-abuse/10152148673878969
Then read this, It's a page offering advice for abuse victims on how to get along with their families for the holidays. Especially, I hate to say it, their religious families.
http://feministing.com/2013/11/27/feministing-guide-to-surviving-the-holidays/#more-71531
Which is written by the much maligned feminist community.
Now ask yourself this, is this how God wants you to treat other people in pain?
http://sunshinemaryandthedragon.wordpress.com/2013/11/29/feminists-maladjusted-killjoys-at-the-holidays/
Or would he want you to love them and try to help them? And who would tell you to attack a community that's is trying to show love and support to those in pain and say it came from God other than an abuser trying to cut off support for his victims? And ask yourself how many pastors are abusers?
Answer: A lot.
http://mojoey.blogspot.com/p/the-morally-corrupt.html
An awful lot. And not all Catholic either.
I believe the correct phrase is be a Berean and check the gospel, not the pastor, for what to do.
All right, off the politics. On to the doing, and the past few days have had lost of doing. I've chopped the salad veggies for the week and put them up in vacuum sealed jars for lunches just like this.
I made 12 cups of chicken broth and turned it in to a large bowl of chicken and rice soup for the husband to take to work. I don't use chicken breasts, instead I roast a chicken every week, serve the breasts for dinner that night, take off the leg quarters for dinners for me while the husband is at work, then boil the carcass for soup and pick the meat off when it's done to go back in. The meat is flavorless then but the flavor is in the broth so you can't tell, and it's still good protein. In this way one $4 chicken makes ten servings, or five meals for the two of us. That's less than a dollar for the protein a meal. I made a batch of cream of cauliflower soup, which you unfortunately have to pay for. Sorry. I made the weekly batch Lembas and boiled eggs to go with the salads. And I did a number of other things.
In other words, I'm pooped.
But all the chores are done for a few days at least, more or less, so I can kick back and maybe finally watch the Thanksgiving parade a week later. Thank the techs for DVR's
On to the work:
What I wore today
A favorite floral top and a skirt that managed to get highly rumpled somehow. Blogger isn't letting me load the picture. When it does I will.
Dinner/supper today:
Leftover chicken and steamed broccoli/Cream of cauliflower soup
Knitting of the day:
Still working on the knee warmer. Arthritis is not fun. Don't get old
Sewing of the day:
More work on the practice quilt square. It should be finished by the week-end
Book of the day:
I'm about halfway through A Room With A View
Exercise today:
None, unfortunately. It's been in the 20's here. See my comment about arthritis
Schoolwork today:
Haven't started yet. I'm getting there
Housework today:
Finished putting laundry away and finally got my kitchen back together after two serious days of cooking
Words written today:
1,957
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Welcome a new season
Sorry I haven't written in a few days, but I've been all wrapped up in the holiday and enjoying the husband while he's had some time off.
First off, Thanksgiving was a complete success. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of the bird, but I did get a picture of the buffet.
Not a very good picture, but this is a doing blog not a photography blog, so I'd rather give you recipes.
We had:
Turkey and gravy
Stuffing
Cranberry sauce
Roast cauliflower and broccoli
Millet Bake
Roast Brussels sprouts
Pumpkin pie in a nut crust
Peanut-butter swirled Guinness Brownies
We had a feast. It was us and good friends and it was totally worth popping my knee out as we were getting it on the table.
As a result it's taken me two days to do this
Yes folks, the tree is up. The holidays are in full swing.
(Yes, Atheists put up trees. Call them holiday or Yule or Solstice trees if you like. What I do wonder is why Christians still put up trees. Jemimah 10:1-4 people. Heathens put up decorated trees, Christians aren't supposed to do that.)
Mostly I've been keeping ice on my knee. Which is a good thing because tomorrow is a busy work day.
Speaking of the work of the day...
What I wore today
For Thanksgiving I went with something to amuse my guests
Otherwise it's been totally feminine.
Yesterday
And today
I do tend to wear a skirt a few times before I wash it.
Dinner/supper today:
Leftovers. We've been doing leftovers for days
Knitting of the day:
I've been too busy decorating. I'm behind on everything
Sewing of the day:
Same here
Book of the day:
And here
Exercise today:
And here, unless ice and stretching counts
Schoolwork today:
Not yet, next week at the earliest
Housework today:
Decorating
Words written today:
Yes, entirely behind
First off, Thanksgiving was a complete success. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of the bird, but I did get a picture of the buffet.
Not a very good picture, but this is a doing blog not a photography blog, so I'd rather give you recipes.
We had:
Turkey and gravy
Stuffing
Cranberry sauce
Roast cauliflower and broccoli
Millet Bake
Roast Brussels sprouts
Pumpkin pie in a nut crust
Peanut-butter swirled Guinness Brownies
We had a feast. It was us and good friends and it was totally worth popping my knee out as we were getting it on the table.
As a result it's taken me two days to do this
Yes folks, the tree is up. The holidays are in full swing.
(Yes, Atheists put up trees. Call them holiday or Yule or Solstice trees if you like. What I do wonder is why Christians still put up trees. Jemimah 10:1-4 people. Heathens put up decorated trees, Christians aren't supposed to do that.)
Mostly I've been keeping ice on my knee. Which is a good thing because tomorrow is a busy work day.
Speaking of the work of the day...
What I wore today
For Thanksgiving I went with something to amuse my guests
Otherwise it's been totally feminine.
Yesterday
And today
I do tend to wear a skirt a few times before I wash it.
Dinner/supper today:
Leftovers. We've been doing leftovers for days
Knitting of the day:
I've been too busy decorating. I'm behind on everything
Sewing of the day:
Same here
Book of the day:
And here
Exercise today:
And here, unless ice and stretching counts
Schoolwork today:
Not yet, next week at the earliest
Housework today:
Decorating
Words written today:
Yes, entirely behind
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