Knitting, Crocheting, Audio Books, and Fitbit

 Another Afghan in the works.  Calling this one Fresh Mint.  As you can I have some really different sized squares and rectangles.  I've used this mint green to edge previously and since I'm trying to use up stash, decided I would use the mint green to bring the squares to size, but join them with light gray.  I don't normally join before edging every square, but was having a hard time reaching the rows above, so thought I could join the 3 rows, then move everything down to make reaching things easier.

Here it is before I started edging.  Plus, you can probably tell I moved a few squares around.  Had all the bright yellows at the top and the muted yellows at the bottom for one.

I've made some good headway with my shawl.  When Last I photographed it, I was working on the first green section, and am now on the 2nd green section.  As the triangle gets wider, the number of stitches per row really increases.  Make it seem slower for sure.

Three more Elin Hilderbrand books....sorta.  I didn't really care for Reunion Beach, as the Hilderbrand area was a book I had already enjoyed, and I didn't think much of the others.  The book is an apparent tribute to Dorothea Benton Frank.  I think I read one of hers years ago, but don't remember which one.  I've searched my 5 Libraries and haven't found any of hers as audio books, so probably won't pursue her books.  I did enjoy the first 2 Elin Hilderbrand books though, so put those on your list.

Camera Girl was fascinating.  I was a young girl when Jackie was the first lady, so didn't really know much about her.  This book covers her early years, prior being Mrs. John F. Kennedy.  She was quite accomplished, intelligent, and very full of life.

A story about a woman who defies social norms, her rich parents and follows her heart.  Inspired by the real life story of Samuel Bellamy of the high seas.  Pirates, adventure, and of course love!  Enjoy.

It's been so long since I've recorded my activity that Fitbit, the webpage apparently no longer exists.  I was floored.  You get a message that says you can check your dashboard in the app.  Well the format on the app is not nearly as good as what the  webpage was.  So, The only thing I seem to be able to find is daily averages for each month in miles or steps.  The webpage gave totals for the month which I preferred.  So it looks like the last time I recorded anything here was Dec of 2023.

Jan I averaged 3.85 miles per day

Feb 4.57

March 3.97

April 2.84 (the month I had my dental surgery)

May 2.94

June 3.85.   I don't know when the last time was I recorded planks, so I guess I need to start over on that.

Ukraine hasn't been in the headlines much lately, but I was please to see this sign of support on one of my recent walks through the neighborhood.

Back Home, Catching Up, Yarn, Audio Books, and Exercise

 

The blue afghan grows, inching closer to a 2nd white section.  I've worked on this a few more days.  It's very light weight and as it grows; I like it more and more.  Left the blue blanket at home so only worked on it the last few days before I left town.

The colorful corner to corner blanket has grown 4 more colors...from blue to orange, to green, and currently light gray.  It measures almost 40 inches a side, and in the green section I've started the decrease; so less than half the blanket left to finished.  I worked on this while we were out of town; but still a bit too large to work on it while on the plane.

So this Buckeye Asymmetric Scarf was what I worked on while traveling to and from Hilton Head n the plane.  Smaller items are best for plane travel.  It's growing nicely and might be done fairly soon.  It now measurers 49 inches long and is 10 inches wide as it's widest point.

I started listening to this book, but ended up returning it early...2 fold.  I had several books on my shelf at the time and wasn't going to be able to get them all finished in time and this one called out to me the least...however, I may check it out a 2nd time.  This novel is a recollection of The War in Burma.  It's not a part of the war I know much about.

This was one of the other books I had on my shelf at the same time, and I really enjoyed Kelly Rimmer's other book, The Things We Can Not Say, so went with this one.  A story inspired by a real-life heroine who saved thousands of Jewish Children.  Elzbieta is drawn into what happens in the Jewish Ghetto's by her neighbor Sara.  Let me know if you've read this.

Exercising....mixed bag.  In January I planked 13 times, only 5 during Feb

I did Yoga 3 times in January and only once in Feb.

I went for a walk 5 times in January and did better in Feb 8 times.

Went for a bike ride 6 times in January and 5 times in February.   

February is a shorter month, plus 2 days were travel days, but still...you can see a downfall from January.  January I walked 119.9 miles and 115.95 in February...so that difference isn't too bad.  Gotta see if I can finish a bit stronger in March.

Knitting, and Walking Help Keep one Sane

 

Making headway with the corner to corner blanket/afghan.  In fact made more headway after taking the photo.  Did a section of the blue you see and now have moved onto an orangey color.  When I measured it as you see it, the sides were about 32 inches.  May do about 45 inches per side and then begin the decrease.

Have made more headway also with the scarf, but didn't take another picture, it doesn't look that different.

Crossing The Borders of Time by Leslie Maitland.  The author, an investigative journalist was interested in his mothers stories of escaping Nazi Germany.  This  book,  like many about WWII, tells of hardship, love and lost...as you would expect.  Interesting to me though was learning about camps set up in Cuba for escaping Jews.  Put this book on your list folks and see first hand how one overcomes betrayal, even within the family.

Back out of town where the weather is nicer, and so have been able to get some walking on the beach; though not the distances I really need to get rollin again with steps and miles.  Planks have sadly taken a back seat for the time being.  There's always next week.

I've uploaded this photo as my banner on Facebook, and this picture as my profile picture.

I don't want WWIII, but feel like Ukraine needs a helping hand in it's fight to save it's own country from the monster Putin.  Such troubling times.

***Knitted on the plane, knitting here, knitting helps keep me sane, especially after reading the news.