An Open Letter to my Elliptical and a FO

Dear Elliptical,

Why are you trying to kill me? I apologize sincerely for using you as a coat rack and holder of many miscellaneous items these past few months. I have seen you begging to be taken for a gentle stroll even if a brisk walk wasn't in order. Don't think your needs were going totally unnoticed, I was thinking about it almost daily and stuff kept coming up. Did you see all the craziness of the holidays? Did you notice that I was exhausted when I came home at night from work or that I only had a few hours to myself to be lazy and fart around on the computer - or how about the knitting....did you notice me knitting for gifts and embroidering as well? Don't take it so personally, it wasn't you it was me.

So now that I've made a good attempt to return to you and make sure you get daily or every-other-day attention - you punish me? I feel tricked by you! The first few times I took you for a walk you made me feel sooooooo good, I felt like no time had passed since we last walked a good brisk walk. Then yesterday BOOM, it was like you decided to let me have it for all the months of neglect. Within a few minutes of walking or actually running you let me have it. But dear Elliptical I persevered. That's right, despite the pain in my shins, hips and even my feet I kept moving and I know we will be over this spat soon as I will be visiting with you so regularly you will be begging me to give you a break!

Thanks for being there despite my lack of commitment, with you on my side I KNOW I can do this!

Sincerely,
Your Exercise Pal

And now I can write in comfort with my new hand warmers - they are so cozy!

Warm Hearted

If it's true what they say about a cold handed person being warm hearted, I may be one of the most warm hearted people I know....lol! No, I'm not generally a cold hand person - but when the temperatures drop I definitely get cold and when my hands are cold, I feel even that much colder. I am lucky to have a beautiful office with lot's of windows, but in the winter it makes me feel really chilly.

I got some One Skein Wonder books for my birthday last year from my Dad and I saw The Wave Hand Warmers in there and last January I bought two skeins of yarn to make a couple of pairs. I guess I had too much on my plate at that time or I didn't want to take the challenge as they are knitted using dpn's and I haven't really used them before. I was bored last night and I was going to make another spa cloth and then I remembered the hand warmers and I decided to dig out the yarn and needles and give it a try. I had to cast on two times, somehow the first time I did it I twisted the needles and it didn't look right so I tried agian and voila I had success. Before long I was progressing quite well and using the four needles didn't seem to be that big of a deal. Perhaps this is the step in the right direction if I ever plan to succeed with sock knitting :)

Check out more images at my Ravelry page.

Spa Cloth Knitting

I was 'stash diving' the other night and I found two more skeins of Rowan Handknit Cotton. I adore this stuff! I have made four other cloths, just like these and the colour barely fades and they've been through many washings. I got the book 101 Designer One-Skein Wonders for my birthday last year and I fell in love with the simple but beautiful pattern. I had no Rowan and none to be found locally so I did some online yarn ordering and I was not disappointed. I have this lovely green and a nice pink left. Of course I hoard these cloths for my own personal use, who wouldn't? They are also gloriously soft, but shhhhhh, that is my secret!

Do you like my little coaster beside it? I adapted that a bit from another coaster pattern I have and I like it's little ruffled edge. It is nice to add some colour to my work space. I guess I am already dreaming of spring!

Elementary my Dear Watson

Yes, I just got back from seeing the new Sherlock Holmes movie. I have to say I was very impressed! DH and I have been watching some old movies lately on TCM and we were treated to a few of the old Sherlock Holmes movies over the last week and we thoroughly enjoyed them. We also enjoyed the first 'Thin Man' movies.

Yes the weekend was great, hard to believe all the Christmas/New Year's festivities are done with. This week it's back to the normal routine as it were. I've even dusted off the coat hanger elliptical and given it a whirl both yesterday and today. Much to my surprise I it wasn't that hard to get back to it after almost a year of being off.

I don't make New Year's resolutions as such but this year I am putting my foot down on weight loss. I am going to journal about it on a second blog - see my profile for details. If you are interested in reading it let me know and I'll invite you as it's not a public blog for reasons of privacy.

Happy New Year to you all!