tortoiseshelly blog feed

Grove mittens are bringing me to my knees...

2010-01-17T15:41:17Z

Heather is a good friend of mine - bright, beautiful, funny and generous to a fault. So when Heather recently expressed the desire to have me knit her some mittens or socks? Well, let's just say the door didn't stand a chance of hitting me in the patookus, I ran out the house in such a frenzy to get to the yarn store.

I cast on the Grove Mittens from Made in Brooklyn.

Unfortunately, the mittens were small. Small, small. The mittens might fit my mother (who has such delicate hands that they could be mistaken for a 10 year olds), but they won't fit many others. When I tried them on, I nearly cut off blood flow to my fingertips.

Nonetheless, despite the extremely narrow size, I knit on. I read a few knitting blogs, I read the Grove pattern discussion on Ravelry. People complained about the tightness of the mittens, but for some, blocking was the answer! Yay for blocking!

I finished the left mitten hand and picked up stitches for the thumb. I tried on the mitten again. I looked at how stretched out the mitten was. I knit some more on the thumb and tried on the mitten again. I attempted to tighten up the stitches. I threw the mitten across the room. I picked up the one-row scarf for Jeff's dad and knit on that while the mitten mocked me from afar. I came close to giving it to my cat to play with, but I have the one cat in the universe who cares not a flip about wool.

Part of me wants to finish it, block it and hope for something magical. (Delusional, I know.) I'm just delaying the inevitable frogging. For the the mitten to work as I want, I need a thicker yarn and larger needle. I may be sick to my stomach.

Is anyone out there? I need a pat on the back and maybe a cup of chamomile.

Flat Belly, Flat Belly...

2010-01-06T18:23:44Z

Do you ever set a goal for yourself, get yourself revved up about it even, and then somehow take forever to get out of the starting gate? That's how I'm beginning to feel about my fitness plan.

I've not chucked it, but I am definitely taking longer to get going than I anticipated. I probably should have known better than to start around the holidays, but what can I say. I was optimistic.

So, baby steps it is. I bought the Flat Belly Diet book. I also purchased the Flat Belly Diet Pocket Guide. The first book contains a lengthy explanation of the diet, recipes, shopping lists, fast food recommendations, meal replacement bar recommendations, frozen dinners that fall within the diet's guidelines, a diet journal and exercise plan.

The pocket guide contains a 28-day meal plan with shopping lists and short recipes for the meals. Honestly, nothing seems overly complicated here, and most of it actually looks pretty decent. (Maybe it's just the four day intro plan that is so meager in options.) The pocket guide also has restaurant and product recommendations, similar to the full-sized diet book.

Daily calorie totals appear to average around 1600, which includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack. I don't find anywhere in the book where it adjusts the caloric intake for men, but it's possible I haven't read far enough yet.

Both diet books include brand and product recommendations for persons who require gluten free, dairy free, soy free or vegan options.

My favorite feature is definitely the shopping lists for each of the first four weeks, as it makes it easy to clear out the cabinets and buy solely what you need to stay on course. The brand and restaurant recommendations are also pretty nice. The restaurant recommendations include options at both dine-in restaurants and fast food chains:

Au Bon Pain
Burger King
Chili's
Chipotle
Culver's
Dunkin Donuts
El Pollo Loco
Hooters
Jamba Juice
McDonald's
Mimi's Cafe
Old Spaghetti Factory
Panda Express
Panera Bread
Qdoba Mexican Grill
Red Lobster
Sbarro
Sizzler
Smoothie King
Starbucks
Subway
Taco Bell
TCBY
Wendy's

I'm not fond of all the restaurants included, but there are enough of the ones I frequent that the list is useful.

I'm shopping tomorrow for the four day anti-bloat jumpstart and week one menus. I should note that the menus are suggestions, but you can interchange the meals and to a certain extent, the ingredients. However, the authors don't suggest that you create your own meals during the first four week period, as they want you to become accustomed to the portion sizes, types of ingredients and basic meal makeup.

So is anybody in this with me? Has anyone already started?

Lesser known ways to ring in the New Year...

2010-01-05T10:11:19Z

5. Have a head cold so brutal that your own voice echoes and ricochets inside your skull each time you speak.

4. Feel guilty about the Christmas cards lying on your bedside table, only half of which are addressed.

3. Juggle a glass of orange juice, taking care to spill the juice all over your pants.

2. Juggle a bottle of Advil, taking care to empty pills all over the bathroom floor.

1. Wonder if Parkinson's diagnosis is in near future.

One row scarf, editions 1, 2 and 3...

2010-01-05T09:48:08Z

I've fallen hard for the one row (handspun) scarf pattern by the Yarn Harlot. So hard, in fact, that I barely finished one scarf before casting on two more. Witness:

The pattern is more interesting than generic ribbing or stockinette, yet easy enough to knit in semi-darkness while watching one of your favorite t.v. shows (e.g. Modern Family).

The yarns, from top to bottom photo, are Noro Silk Garden Chunky, Elsebeth Lavold Chunky AL, and Patons Classic Wool. On a side note, this is the first time I'm using Patons, and I'm surprised that it's knitting up rather nicely, since I bought it for a song.

I have more knitting in the works, as well as a few photos of new knitting accessories I received for Christmas (I'm so excited someone actually purchased me some knitting supplies, I can't even stand it), but right now I've got to hop on some work.

Project Update 4 - Mock Cable Socks

2009-12-28T16:25:41Z

Because my cousin, Casey, begged and pleaded and cast herself onto the floor in front of me, I am knitting her a pair of Mock Cable Socks. The pattern is in the book Socks from the Toe Up: Essential Techniques and Patterns from Wendy Knits, which I bought back in the summer during a trip to Oklahoma. I believe I bought it at a cute yarn store in Guthrie, called Sealed with a Kiss, in case you're interested.

In any event, since I'm not one to deny a person the pleasure of knitted socks, I immediately cast on for the socks. I wish I could recall the yarn info (and if anyone recognizes it, please drop me a note), but somewhere along the way I lost the band. It's beautiful stuff, though.

Here's where I admit that I haven't exactly had the greatest luck with toe-up socks in the past. Ahem. I don't know what my malfunction was, but I appear to have conquered it with Judy's Magic cast on (described in the book, as well as on Knitty.com, in a youtube video, and apparently at Sock Summit 2009). Needless to say, it's a method that works well for toe ups.

Judy Becker, I love you.

Right now, the foot looks enormous, which has me a wee bit concerned, since I'm pretty sure Casey has cute, dainty little feet, and does not, in fact, secretly sport Sasquatch-sized tootsies.

Project Update 3 - Embossed Leaves Fingerless Mitts

2009-12-28T15:44:40Z

Based on the beautiful Embossed Leaves Socks pattern by Mona Schmidt (published in Interweave Knits, Winter 2005 and again in Favorite Socks: 25 Timeless Designs from Interweave), I knit the socks for my sister. Liking the design so much, I recently decided to use some stash yarn (Cherry Tree Hill supersock DK in Wild Cherry - 1 skein) to create some fingerless mitts.

I've only completed one mitt at this point, but will write up my modifications for the fingerless mitt pattern as soon as I cast on the second and take some notes. The basics, however, involve keeping the two-stranded tubular cast on and finding a tubular bind off to match. I used a twisted stitch ribbing for the cuffs and palm, knit two leaf pattern repeats for the top of the mitt, added a thumb gusset, and separated the pattern repeats from the palm stitching with small swath of purl stitches on each side of the mitt.

Project Update 2 - Green Autumn (Druid Mittens)

2009-12-28T14:41:35Z

I indulged in a little selfish knitting with this project, as the Druid Mittens (pattern by Jared Flood of brooklyntweed) are for my own personal use.

Using Cherry Tree Hill Supersock DK in Water, I cast this lovely mitten on October 18, 2008. To date, I've finished one mitten, having been struck with a dreaded case of startitis (you'll soon see what I mean as I post additional project updates). That being said, however, I intend to finish them before my birthday, so at least they will see some winter use.

Project Update 1 - Shifting Sands Scarf

2009-12-28T14:25:01Z

Knit for my Aunt Donna's birthday, I believe I finally finished the Shifting Sands Scarf (pattern by Grumperina and available for free here) a mere two months late. Sadly, I did not actually give it to my aunt until mid-2009, because I am so on top of the ball. Sadder still is the fact that I did not take a photo of the completed project, and have only a work-in-progress shot. However, since that's the best I can do, I'll share:

I absolutely loved this pattern.

And so it begins...

2009-11-10T19:54:49Z

Well, technically, the preparations to begin have begun. In order, I've:

1) Made a commitment to run a half marathon next year, specifically, the Georgetown to Idaho Springs half marathon.

2) Purchased Flat Belly Diet. I'm not sure whether I'm going to follow the diet plan outlined in the book, or whether I'm going to rejoin Weight Watchers. The diet in the book (well, let me back up, as it's technically the 4 day ramp up cleanse) is meager. They want me to drink "Sassy Water," and the name alone makes me want to head the other direction.

3) Discussed with my parents and Jeff the possibility of everyone getting on board with the "Fit Not Fat" goal. (They are all willing, if as lukewarm to the fun as I am.)

4) Talked with Jeff every morning for the past week about going for a walk. Have gone on one walk.

5) Taken the Wii Fitness Test - twice. Am thrilled to report I clock in two years younger than I actually am.

I intend to actually make it onto the treadmill tomorrow.

Long Overdue...

2009-11-10T18:57:13Z

You know, I'm coming up on my 39th birthday, and I'm anxious. The reason, however, has more to do with feeling the need to get moving on with my life than with merely turning a year older.

Part of it is wanting marriage and a family. If there's one thing with which Jeff and I have struggled, it's that. It's not that we don't want to marry each other. It's not that we don't want to have children together. I put it down to us constantly being in flux - I was in school, then he was in school, then I was in school again in another state a two day drive away while he was just starting his career in Texas. As I neared graduation, the firm he worked for downsized drastically. We both went to live with my parents, while I studied for the bar exam and Jeff looked for work. Jeff started back to school, I passed the bar, then I found a job. Then Jeff quit school, and his job opportunities took him back to Texas. I followed several months later and started my own business there. Then there were health issues. Still are.

However, late last year, we looked at each other and decided we really didn't like living in Dallas anymore. It wasn't where we wanted to put down roots, get married, buy our first home, and have a family. The lifestyle didn't suit us, and we were both becoming more depressed and cynical the longer we stayed. So we happily made the decision to move back to Colorado. I was glad to be near enough to help my mom as she recovered from back surgery and struggled with fibromyalgia, and we were grateful to have the move behind us.

But the move coincided with me really sinking into a depression I couldn't seem to escape. Too many heavy things started happening at once. My uncle succumbed to lung cancer. My mom was back and forth to the doctor, not seeming to get better as soon as everyone (especially her) hoped. Two old high school friends passed away. Jeff and I began confronting long-standing issues in our relationship. It became too much.

Something had to give, and it was Jeff and I. We took a break. Then we took another. First I took a trip to Las Vegas with some law school buddies. My friend, Heather, knowing what I was going through, generously paid for my flight and hotel. That little trip helped me recharge a bit and push on.

At the end of September, Jeff took a trip with his family to visit his brother in Washington. A two and a half week sigh of relief for both of us, as things had really reached the boiling point. I spent the time with my sister, nephew and niece - playing Wii, sleeping in, reading a book. Jeff played guitar with his brother and enjoyed the chance to relax by the ocean.

We're back together under one roof now, and we're working on this together. We're thankful for our families and friends for being our shoulders to cry upon, even when they don't agree with the decisions we make.

We hope, and think, we are on the mend as a couple. We are setting long-term goals as a couple again. There's a sense that maybe we're finally getting on with our lives. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it's not too late for us to have the family we once planned. I'm still anxious.