Naylor Street

I sometimes have the telly on during the day, while I knit, or surf the net.  In the mornings I like the NBC Today Show. Kathy Lee and Hoda crack me up and keep me company.  

Last week, our local news show had a piece about an upcoming event the American Red Cross was organising.  "Knit Your Bit" was a day long knit-a-thon, inviting knitters, and non-knitters who wanted to learn, to come to the event at their offices and knit winter accessories for local low-income women and children.

The Irishgirlieknits group on Ravelry just chose their Q1 Knitalong pattern and it couldn't have been more perfect for the American Red Cross event.  Naylor Street is a cozy hat, knit in worsted weight yarn.  The pattern is quick and customizable.  Add the holes, or keep the checkerboard pattern intact.  There are instructions for both versions.

I chose a cheery red, washable wool blend, and loved knitting amongst the young hipsters of the Americorp.  I started the hat the night before and knit that morning from 9am to around 12.30 when I completed the hat.  Quick, or what?!

Look at baby Padraig, peeking out.  The cuteness!

Pattern: Naylor Street by Irishgirlieknits
Yarn: Vintage by Berroco - colourway 5134
Ravelry project page

Wood Hollow Vest

I finished this vest way back in the summer.  Apart from having million degree weather, I had, literally, nothing to wear it with, so it lay in the closet til Christmas.  I know, right?!.  We knitters will make great yarn choices, based on nothing but the colours in front of our faces at a moment in time.  

I'm glad I did though.  I rarely go in Abercrombie, but was shopping for my British Godsons, when I found the perfect shirt for the vest.  I don't know what I'm more pleased about, the beautiful vest, or the fact I can fit in something from Abercrombie & Fitch!  Perhaps we'll call it a tie between the two :0)

Full Frontal.
Do you see any cables that're off?

The yarn is Miss Babs Yowza - Whatta Skein! and the colour, Blackwatch.  I used almost 2 full skeins.  Those cables, really eat up the yarn.  They do pull the vest in slightly, giving a little shaping, without the bother of decreasing and increasing.  There were 5 different patterns to follow on each row, so one less knitting ninja move to track was appreciated.

Backside.
Any out of place cables?

There is plenty of space on the sides to add shaping if you wanted.  I think maybe I could've done with a little extra.  That, or my running is finally paying off.

Plenty of room on the sides.

All in all, the vest was an enjoyable knit and a cozy addition to the winter wardrobe.

Pattern: Wood Hollow Vest by Kirsten Kapur
Yarn: Miss Babs Yowza - Whatta Skein
Colourway: Blackwatch
Ravelry project page

Sunday Inspiration

I just came across this very inspiring, knitting related indiegogo campaign in the Ravelry forums.  madmanknits.  Do go check out the story of a homeless man knitting his way out of poverty.  Gregory's surpassed his campaign goal, but I'm sure some extra $s wouldn't go amiss :0)

Here are Gregory's patterns on Ravelry.  The bears are beautifully shaped and have such character.  His blog is here.

I cannot wait to read his book.

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We've been looking forward to our snowy winter.  And it looks like it's arriving today.  Freezing temperatures and snow are in the forecast.  We already had a few tiny flakes.  Unfortunately for us, our power went out last night and the repair schedule shows, it likely won't be fixed until late tomorrow night.

We've set out all our necessaries for tonight and tomorrow morning and hot-footed it over to DH's factory to hang out for a bit - charging our phones, computers, Nintendos and Nooks is a necessity.  Our afternoon is looking like the library and then the movies.  Thank goodness for public services, eh!

Hope y'all are having a wonderful weekend.
Disco xo

Music for running

Child: "Mommy, when I push my finger like this it hurts".  

Mom: "Then don't push your finger like that".

Last night, my foot hurt a lot when I stood on it, just so.  It worried me, as I was due to run this morning.  Well, I guess it rested up enough, as it didn't hurt when I woke up and started moving around the house today.

Yesterday, I had a big disagreement, and disappointment, when the boys told me they didn't want to play on the school's Chess Team anymore.  They prefer to spend that time swinging on the monkey bars.  I'm disappointed that they're wasting this opportunity - when I was at school we had ZERO extra-curricular activities.  I would have died to have a nerdy team to join.

So I went for my run this morning, with both of these issues on my mind.  And it was awful.  I had to keep stopping to walk.  I know for sure that I can run the distance - I've been on this course for over 4 months now.  Time and again, I am reminded that it is 'mind over matter' with running.  This morning, my mind was definitely affecting my matter.

Here's the song that makes me run the hardest.  I should just put it on repeat for an hour.

Disco xo

Weekend fun

Our Friday mail was awesome. We received this gift from one of my nieces in England.  Her whole school drew self-portraits and had them printed on tea-towels.  The boys and I spent quite some time (maybe too much), looking at each portrait.  Some of them are hilarious and lots of them are quite artistic.  What a great school fundraiser.

Cassie's tea-towel

Saturday afternoon saw us in downtown Grand Rapids.  We enjoyed an hour at the Public Museum.  One of my favourite museums ever.  It's not huge, but they have a very interesting, eclectic collection.  Each time we visit, something new catches my eye.  We had watched the movie Hugo a couple of nights before and loved seeing one of George Melies' props on display.  If you haven't seen that movie, DO, it is beautiful and touching.

We walked across the river to the Art Museum where there was a snow-boarding demonstration going on.  We'd passed it earlier, when they were wheel-barrowing in the snow.  As you can see, there wasn't much left on the ground after the Christmas 'dump'.  Probably not what they were expecting in Michigan in January!

Snowboarding, but not much further than you see in the photo.

In the evening we tried a new-to-us restaurant, The Green Well, which serves locally sourced, fresh food.  I had an amazing risotto and mushroom stuffed tomato, while the guys shared a chicken burrito and a gourmet Mac and Cheese they declared to be the BEST EVER!  My beer, on the right, was brewed right across the street at Brewery Vivant.  Delicious :0)

Mmm, beer!

After dinner, it was home to play our new favourite game, Qwirkle!  Have you played it yet?  It's kind of like Uno with dominoes.  And no extra cards.

Wow, I look all of my 29 years, AND some.

Sunday night, I made the Minestrone Soup that Irishgirlieknits has blogged about a couple of times.  And now I know why she keeps blogging it.  It was SO worth the time in the kitchen.  Everyone loved it and I join the fan club.  The boys even want me to put more spinach in it next time.  Find the recipe here.

Well, I hope y'all had a great weekend and are savouring your Tuesday.
Disco xoxo

Boy Socks

I only knit 2 pairs of socks last year.  So a couple of weeks before Christmas I set to rectify that by making my boys some.  I had wanted to give them as Christmas gifts, and even though we had a loooooong car ride home for the holidays, I just couldn't get both pairs finished in time.  They wouldn't have understood if I'd given 3 socks and one on the needle, it just wasn't worth it.  So a couple of days after Christmas, they were complete and the boys loved them.

They are a plain 2x2 rib on 60 stitches, with an afterthought heel.  Thanks go to Turtlegirl76 for helping me out with her very own afterthought heel tutorial that went a little something like this: "pick up the stitches and work a toe".  Doh!

Both pairs are made of Socks That Rock Mediumweight - the sock yarn of champions.  Thanks to Irishgirlieknits, she gifted both these skeins to me at different times.  The boys sure find them cozy and warm in their winter boots.

It's snowing here in MI this morning.  We woke to a fine layer on the ground and since then, the pace has picked up.  I'm off out for a quick run.  It should be so peaceful with the snow falling gently, and I'm hoping a lung full of freezing air will chase away the sniffles I've had since last night :0)

Happy Monday knitsters!
Disco xoxo

Snowy Goodness

I'm really enjoying the ladies' from Mason Dixon lightning blogging this week.  Great idea - 15 minutes per post.  I have 10 minutes before I have to leave to get the boys from school, so here goes....

We arrived back in Michigan last weekend to lovely snow on the ground.  This is the most snow I've seen in for. ever.  The boys had so much fun after school on Monday, sledding down the hill.  We are so blessed to have the school grounds permanently open to play in. 

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

 I ran round the lake and tagged a bit extra on to my usual run on Tuesday.  Gradually building my mileage up.  The snow and ice certainly add an extra dimension to keeping the muscles in control while stepping.  The scenery was so pretty that I went for a walk on Wednesday and took these pics.

This is a mini lake by the lake.  The ice is melting right in the middle of it.

Marshland on the other side of the road round the lake.  Pretty melting ice.

Summer, a distant memory.......

....on the frozen lake......

.....starting to melt.

Finishing with my cuties.  Brothers in arms :0)  It may be snowy but it's not 'that' cold.  I'm told!

Happy Friday knitsters.
Disco xoxo

A Productive Road-Trip

Yesterday, we drove the million miles back to Michigan from South Carolina.  I say a million, it's more like 900 and no direct roads.  Gotta go West to go North.  We spotted this awesome truck leaving a Kentucky gas station.  Fortunately it was traveling the same direction as us so we were able to catch up (at a safe speed, promise!) and take a snap of it.  Fun!

 My boys must be the best travelers ever.  Give them a Nintendo and a Nap and they're good for at least 12 hours.  Throw in a couple of McDonalds/Subway/Starbucks pitstops and they're good for 13 :0)  They are funny - see how they nap in the same positions.  Bless!

And here's how productive I was.  Edged 12 granny squares and knit a full 5 hexipuffs.

Michele's blanket is coming along nicely - 74 of 150-ish squares complete.  I'll call that half-way and be pleased :0)  Take a look at her Etsy shop - she is a whizz with a needle and thread, so creative and a colour maestro: makehandmadegoods

Happy Monday y'all.
Disco xoxo

New Year Re-do

So, we had to have a little New Year re-do today.  I backed up our car into a neighbour's last night.  Hopefully, not starting the year as I mean to go on.

Actually, this year is going to be full of positivity.  I will make it so.  Have you seen this dansko design - spotted on a shopping trip yesterday, I just knew y'all would love them :0)

Here are the shoes I will be mostly wearing this year.  After I ran, and enjoyed, an 8k Turkey Trot at Thanksgiving, I decided it was time to take things up a notch, so I just committed to running a (for me) super long race later this year.  Lots of training to be done.   I can't wait to have everything in place so I can share :0)

Happy New Year, y'all.

Disco xoxo