Mid-week catch-up

1.  A potentially tricky situation at work seems to have been resolved quite easily this morning... now to sort the other challenges out!  (there are a few...)  I'm encouraged that I feel so much more confident these days than when I started this role, and that we're being recognised as doing a good job.  I still get to do some of the technical stuff but I also quite enjoy managing the team.  It helps that they're all quite easy to work with though.

2.  Should I be happy that housegroup has been cancelled tomorrow?  It would have been nice to see everyone but this means I can relax more this evening instead of choosing songs for tomorrow, and I won't need to rush home after work to get out again.

3.  I've nearly finished the 2nd fingerless mitt I started last week.  Unfortunately, I realised at the weekend that I've managed to make 2 left-handed mitts... it was too late to unpick to the critical row but I couldn't face frogging it so I've pressed on to complete it and will need to make at least one more right-handed mitt (if I manage to concentrate at the right time).  Ho hum!

Sunday

1. My first time playing bass this year. I'd love to be able to play more interestingly but thankfully what I can do is good enough. I enjoyed playing anyway.

2. Sunday lunch with A's family - delicious. I counted the calories up afterwards (almost 1100!) so maybe it's good that it's not a frequent event... everything balances out though and I'm still about 3lb lighter than 2 weeks ago.

3. I've enjoyed having a quiet weekend. We've not wasted it but relaxed as well as getting a few things done.

Saturday jobs and relaxing

1. A very slow start to the day... and our only chance for some time. It felt good to take it easy and stay indoors on a stormy day (even if I was reading a work-related book for some of the time). We popped out at teatime, but not for too long...

2. I spent a short while filling some of the holes in the wall plaster in the bedroom, so it's almost ready to paper now. Just some sanding needed first - perhaps I'll get round to it next weekend. That's another baby-step taken anyway...

3. I've finally seen the last episode of Sherlock. Even after the spoiler on the radio yesterday I don't know how the final twist was done. Just have to wait for series 3 I suppose.

A good end to the week

1. Housegroup yesterday was good - we had time to catch up with each other and to have a proper discussion. I didn't play in the end, but will make sure I'm prepared for next week.

2. The bathroom floor has been fitted. It took a bit longer than I'd hoped and hopefully the noise didn't annoy the neighbours too much. We're happy with the result though - now I'm itching to get some fresh paint on the walls.

3. Our first knit and natter of 2012. 5 of us were there and it was just a lovely way to end the week. One lady couldn't get over the small dpns I was using...

relaxing, playing and reviewing

1. It's been good to have an evening in tonight - we've enjoyed some of the veg chilli I made for the freezer a couple of weeks ago, with a glass of red. Yum.  A few more calories than I was aiming for, but I'm not being too strict - it's all been pretty low fat, and is still a lot less than I'd been having over the last few weeks...
2. I've dug out my guitar again, to have a practice before housegroup tomorrow.  I played through some of the older songs which I'd forgotten.  Not sure what to use tomorrow evening yet, but we'll see.
3. I've been looking back over the knitted makes from last year.  I started a list of makes on New Year's Day to see what I made last year - I'd only got as far as the baby gifts, so now I've finished part 2 with knits for the home.  I'm enjoying looking back at my makes and reliving them.

2011 makes - part 2

Knits for the home
After all the baby blankets, I decided to make a grown-up version.  I started with 3 colourways of the same yarn (James C Brett Marble Chunky) and began knitting square blocks but then realised that they didn't all go together as well as I thought. So one blanket became 2, with the blue/grey/brown and brown squares making up the 1st blanket and the silver grey squares put aside for a 2nd.

The blue/brown/grey blanket is finished, and has been given to a friend as a house-warming/birthday/Christmas present. And it also has the most stylish Finished Object photo I've managed yet:

Cabled Blanket

5 blocks by 4, alternating colourways, with each block in both colourways.  I tried to get a balance between chunky cables and more "dainty" patterns, and very much enjoyed knitting the different squares.  I was pleased by how quickly they knitted up and surprised by how much less painful it was to sew together than I'd expected.
The edging was my first I-cord edging, which I tried with all number of stitches, but settled on 3 wide.  It also took a while to get the right tension for this, but I was fairly happy with it in the end.
Finished August 2011


The silver-grey blanket is still WIP. 
I also bought some pink-purple yarn of the same type, thinking it might go well with the greys.  It doesn't, so I've started a 3rd blanket - this time based on Elizabeth Zimmerman's garter stitch blanket.  So far, 3 pieces have been finished, and the 4th is about 1/3 done.  Hopefully it'll be finished in 2012.
(and I'm still short of yarn, even after all the extra purchases... I need another grey and another pink/purple ball - at least!)


Ballband Dishcloth
a quick knit just for fun...

I love the Mason-Dixon knitting book, which has this design in it. Their knitting philosophy is lovely, and I just enjoy their attitude.
This cloth is being used in our kitchen, and brings a wee splash of colour to routine work.
Finished February 2011

Hexagon Washcloth

Also from the 1st Mason-Dixon book, and just for fun.
We're using this one as a potholder (and to catch the drips from my teapot when I'm pouring in the living room)
Finished February 2011

Making progress

1. My Pilates class this evening was hard work, but I'm encouraged that I'm able to do so much more than I used to be.
2. My new eating patterns are starting to take effect: I feel much less full (bloated!) and I'm relearning how much I actually need ...and I'm regularly getting at least my 5 portions now.
3. The start of this year feels quite positive so far: lots to do but we're finally making progress.