A Work in Progress

Just an update on my personal work in progress.  

So far, I'm down almost five pounds.  I've been walking more.  I set up a tentative training schedule starting in January to get me ready for a half marathon in mid-June.  I'm planning on using the time in between now and January to get a better foundation in place.

Step by step, I'm getting closer to that finish line.

Maureen

Things I Love Thursdays

I love taking pictures of flowers!

It's wonderful to be able to see the bright colours when it's not so bright outside.

Too bad I pretty much suck at growing them!

Maureen

It feels like fall out there

Even though the calendar says that it is still summer, it feels like fall has arrived.

One of the first signs that summer is ending is when this bush gets buds on it.  And now it's blooming.

The bees love these flowers.  There are always some gathering food from them.

The leaves are changing colour.

All too soon the snow will be here!  ARGH!!!  Where did summer go?

Maureen

Things I love Thursday

My furbabies!

This is Katie.  She's a twelve year old tortoiseshell Maine Coon cross.

 This is Penn.  He's a one year old Maltese/Poodle/Yorkie cross.

The pair of them just add so much love to my life.

Maureen

Decide What To Be...

And Go Be It.

I saw this saying on Facebook today.  It fits with my thoughts lately.

I watched one of my best friends finish her first half marathon yesterday.  I want to do that again (I did a full marathon and a half marathon back in 2003).

Another friend posted on Facebook this weekend about her weight loss.  I want to lose weight.  I'm tired of my hips aching, my knees aching, my ankles aching.

So what am I going to do about this?  Well, today I tracked what I ate.  I went for a walk around the block mid-afternoon.

It's a start.  And tomorrow the plan is to track what I eat, and take another walk.  Maybe a little further this time.

And if I keep doing this, I can build a foundation to train next year.

And next year, I'll be crossing the finish line.  I've decided that next year I'll be a finisher.  So now I'll work to be it.

Maureen

I'm Singing in the Rain

Just back from seeing "Singing In The Rain" on the big screen.

I love this movie!  It was wonderful watching it in the theatre, rather than on television.  The colours just popped!

This is a movie that always makes me feel good.  I should get a DVD copy of it to play when I'm feeling blue.

All pictures, of course, are from the movie.

Maureen

Fifty

It's just a number.  I don't feel any different today than I did yesterday.

But I am thinking about what I want to accomplish in this next decade of my life.  Who it is I want to be.

I think I'll make some birthday resolutions.

The obvious ones, of course.  Move more.  Eat better.

Blog more often.  Keep track of the joys and good things in my life to help in the dark days.

Be creative.

Keep in touch with friends old and new.

Excuse me now, I hear a raspberry cheesecake brownie calling my name.  Hey, it's my birthday!  I can have dessert for breakfast if I want to !

Maureen

Feeling a little sheepish...

that I couldn't come up with a punnier title!

Saturday I went with some of my knitting group to Drake, Saskatchewan.  Susie was going to be judging fleece, and wanted some people to go with her.  So, with knitting projects in our bags, off we went!

There were several different breeds of sheep there.  Unfortunately, I don't remember the names of the breeds to go with the pictures.

There were black sheep

and white sheep

and white sheep with black faces

and little girls walking their sheep

And homemade pie from the concession stand!  I ate it before I thought to get a picture of it though.

All in all, it was a good day.

Maureen

It's gray out today

and I haven't been feeling well.  I need some colour!

Purple...

Pink...

White...

And more white...

And a pair of puppies looking cute!

Maureen

WIP Wednesday

Haven't done much spinning in the last week.  I started spinning some yummy merino.  All was going well, until it got to be too thin and broke.  I couldn't get it to join again, so it's waiting for a bit until I can convince the fibre that it really wants to be spun!

And it's so pretty...

I'm also working on a sock

The colours aren't showing well in this picture.  It's more purple and green than it appears here.

It's hot and humid out there!  Hoping for a break in the weather that isn't accompanied by a massive storm!

Linked to Work in progress Wednesday

Maureen

Vacation time and Tour de Fleece update

I've been on holidays this last week.  It's been so nice having the time off.  I've spent a lot of time catching up on my sleep.  I've also spent time spinning!

So, in a week I've gone from this

 

to this!

My very first skein!  I'm still working on consistency, so it's kind of thick and thin.  It will come with practice.

Maureen

Happy Canada Day!

145 years and going strong!

Penn and Ciara are ready for the day!

The sister and I are off to Moose Jaw this morning for Park Art.  Not sure what the rest of the day holds.  Maybe the fireworks tonight?

Maureen

Tour de Fleece (day one)

The Tour de France started today.

Spinners around the world celebrate this by taking part in the Tour de Fleece.  They set goals for themselves, and spin lots of lovely fibre into lots of lovely yarn.

Since I'm a beginning spinner, this is my first year to participate.  My goals are fairly simple; just spin!  I have 235 g of Blue Face Leicester just waiting to be spun.

And here is the results of the first day:

Maureen

After the storm

It's been a really hot day today.  We've been under a severe thunderstorm warning for several hours now.  Luckier than some areas; there was a tornado spotted near Moose Jaw.

We had a brief storm this evening.  Lots of rain, some thunder and lightning.  Windy, but not scary windy.

After the storm was over, I looked out the window and saw some strange clouds.

Hopefully the clouds are not the beginning of another storm.  This Saturday is the 100th anniversary of the 1912 Regina Tornado...we don't need another to commemorate the event!

Maureen

A Finish!

I finished my very first pair of hand knit socks today!

No, the pattern doesn't match, and one is pointer than the other; but who cares!  They're finished and they fit!

On to the next pair!

Maureen

At the Zoo

On Monday, I went to the Calgary Zoo.  In particular, I wanted to see the new penguin exhibit ("Penguin Plunge") and the tiger cubs.

I made it to the zoo just after the gates opened.  Good thing, 'cause I got into see the penguins without having to stand in a line up!

These were the penguins outside the exhibit.

And inside...it was feeding time!

The penguins were so close, you could literally put your hands over the small barrier and touch them.  Not that that would be a good idea, they would bite!  There were zoo staff there reminding people not to put their   hands in the water or touch the penguins.

My next destination was the tiger enclosure to see the babies.  But on the way, I came across the peacocks. It must be peacock mating season, as all over the park the males were displaying their lovely plumage.

The tiger cubs!  I was lucky that they were outside.

There were three of them, although I seem to only get pictures of two of them at a time.

I was there for a while, but finally momma tiger took her cubs back into their house.  A lady told me that usually the cubs are only out for a little while in the morning, and then not again until later in the afternoon.  I was lucky to see them.

More zoo next time!

Maureen