New Years, Stash Busting, Exercising and Books!

 

Happy New Year to you all.  This was a LONG time ago, neither hubby or I had gray.  Plus, we no longer party out over New Years.  We were skiing in Holiday Valley back in the day, had party hats, noise makers etc.  Hope you all had an enjoyable and safe New Years.  We had a nice meal, toasted in the New Year with some bubbly, then called it a night.  I'm feeling tired today, not used to staying up that late.

Sherbet Baby Blanket is finally done!!  It's drying and being slightly blocked.  I edged with a small crocheted ruffle.  Need to get it in the mail for my great niece.

Haven't recorded exercise in a while.  October I knew was well down, but hadn't recorded the stats.  81.05 miles (average of 2.6 daily), November was better 99.4 miles (average of 3.31 daily).  December was up at 109.15miles (average 3.5 daily).  My high for December was 23,341 steps (10 miles with a low of 4,019 just 2 miles.  I'm pleased that steps/mileage is up...AND Starting Dec 1st I was able to start doing planks again...my elbow no longer a problem.  Before the injury I was doing 55 second planks with 14 seconds of rest x 4.  When I restarted I started with 30 second planks with 10 second rest x 4 and managed to do that 10 times in December and then upped to 35 seconds x 4 and did that 6 times.  So 16 planks throughout the month.  I also restarted doing knee lifts a count of 50 and did that 12 times in Dec, along with a fast count of 100 walking in place 9 times in the month.  Let's see what January brings.  

This is what 41.5 pounds of yarn looks like!  This is a drop in the bucket of my yarn stash.  My daughter convinced me to do some sorting.  I had lots of baby yarn, variegated knitting worsted, and tons of white and off white yarn that was left from projects, and a good deal of yarn that was donated throughout my 14 years of running a charity that benefited Homeless.  The 41.5 pounds is being donated in multiple places where it can be used.  This is all yarn that wasn't suited to my particular charity.  It took multiple days to roll the yarn in balls after doing lots of detangling.  My daughter will distribute this once back from the holidays in St. Louis.

An interesting historical fiction about a woman, a Black Woman passing as White and being a part of Old Hollywood with all it's glamour.  Very insightful.  I enjoyed the story.

Another historical fiction post World War II.  A story about a rather dysfunctional family, their lives from being rather poor to becoming rich.  Lots of entanglements between family members.  Extremely enjoyable with Tom Hanks being the moderator.  

Classified as historical fiction.  This book takes place in Georgia in 1958 during the horrible Jim Crow period.  10 children, different fathers, and a horrible mean spirited and aggressive controlling mother.  A story about survival.

Another historical fiction.  A lot going on in this book, betrayal, love, isolation, and adapting as one comes of age.  The Marsh Girl is a naturalist...self taught.  You root for her throughout the whole book.

Still blogging about my tour of The UK, The Military Tattoo

Stash Alert! Wear Safety Goggles

Can you feel it? Stash alert seriously....I don't need more yarn; but this jumped right into my hand. 220 yards, only $6.00. Look at those colors..........green and purple, do you know what that means? Bet you do, if you've been here and read some of my other posts that talk about those colors. This is Melody Super Wash 100% wool by Jojoland. They recommend size 1-3 knitting needles for this. When I last tried my hand with some lace I was using super fine sock yarn and just really had trouble. I think, I hope....fingers crossed this will work better for me; as a newbie when it comes to lace knitting.
Luscious, lovely and I just couldn't resists this! I've shown tremendous restraint not starting on either of this skeins right after they adopted me. It's been several days, and really I'm trying to finish one or two more WIP before starting on these but.........it's getting really hard. The orangey reddish, bright here is for mawah. The purple and green of course is for the one and only Darling Daughter since purple and green are her signature colors.

Not reporting on WIP here, maybe next post.

Adding Stash

I need more in my stash like I need a hole in my head, and yet....that didn't stop me. Here's my latest acquisition. There's an Italian yarn that I just learned has been discontinued. Hum...the store had plenty of it, perhaps that's why it was on sale? I'll make up at least one of these into a funky fun scarf my young niece. If I like it, might go back and get more while it's on sale before it's all gone?

This is a bulky yarn with lots and lots of texture, 38% Acrylic, 38% Nylon, 21% wool, and 3% Polyester. I can tell from that it's not going to be soft...but it is fun and I think will look very decorative. They're small skeins, only 55 yards, but apparently one is enough to make a skinny scarf for decorative purposes.

I love the color combinations, anyone used this? (the 2 larger skeins the redish black combo and the blue purple one).

The pattern looks like a fabulous sweater I'd like to make for myself, wonder if that will happen?

The other fun funky yarn Plymouth P-zazz and is 61 yards, 65% nylon and 35% rayon. The colors remind me of a box of crayons and look like it would go with anything.

Last, but not least is 100 yards of 100% cotton Adrienne Vittadini Alexa. I LIOVE the color and wear a good amount of that color in the summer time. It's made in Romania. I think it will make a nice skinny scarf, nothing fancy; just liked the color.

I should be de-stashing; but I seem to be going the other way. Figures, I'm backwards!