Posts from — December 2009

Merry Christmas everyone! I’m writing to you via Gogo wireless on a Delta jet in route to Arizona. Isn’t technology crazy? While catching up on my blog reading, I came across this great contest to win a Tassimo coffee system. It makes single servings in just a minute.

Go check it out and be sure to let me know if you win!

Part of every trip I take is getting my travel knitting together.  This poor Vivian sweater has been back and forth to Arizona multiple time and yet has languished  on the needles since December 18th of LAST YEAR. 1  It probably wasn’t the best choice for a travel project then either, cast on for last year’s trip to AZ around Christmas.  Our trips typically include plenty of relaxation time and knitting time yet I haven’t been able to force myself to pay attention to Vivian.  As you can see there are plenty of cables and multiple charts which require some focused knitting.  It would be great to have this beautiful sweater in time to wear for the rest of winter, so I’m really going to try to give it some quality time this trip.

Of course, I still need a mindless project for times when I just can’t do focused knitting so I cast on some new socks.  I chose the beautiful Veronica yarn from Dizzy Blonde Studios and used my typical Judy’s Magic cast on, 24 stitches each sock, US 1, magic loop.  I decided it might be good to knit something besides the monkey pattern again so I found an easy lace pattern; Coupling from Knitty.com.  I’m sure anything will be lovely with this yarn but I can’t wait to see what the yarn/pattern combination looks like a little further along.

I’m shocked I got in another post before Christmas, but I was inspired (or procrastinating) so there.  I hope you have a wonderful and safe holiday.  I normally don’t do resolutions but I’m planning some big ones for 2010.  I’m going to share them here so I’ll have some perceived responsibility to work on my list throughout the year.  I’ll be posting a resolutions list soon and I’m looking forward to reading some of yours too!

1. Isn’t that one of the best things about Ravelry.com?  You know exactly how long your WIPs have been laying around.  Guilt helps get knitting finished. [↩]

I’m long overdue for a finished knit item!  Somehow I stretched these socks into multiple trips and two months of knitting. They make me so happy that I may have gone a little overboard with the pictures. They are my first Wollmeise knit item.  I was never able to purchase Wollmeise at any of the updates.  If you’ve tried before, you know they sell out in like -250 nanoseconds.  I finally decided to go with one of their grab bags which are easier to get due to the cost (5 skeins at once).  I figured any I didn’t like would be easy to sell, but I needn’t have worried.  All of the colors are gorgeous, for which Wollmeise is best known.1  The yarn itself is nice, but really nothing special.  It is a little unusual though with 8 plys.  I think it might make it wear better than other sock yarns.  I’ll be sure to report on that after I’ve had a chance to test that theory.

Thanks again for all the support and concern over my knee situation.  Obviously, I’m no longer training for the Phoenix Marathon.  I toyed with the idea of still walking the 1/2 marathon, but Jim threatened divorce.  On a positive note, my father’s training is still on track so it looks like at least one Schnellenberger will be running on January 17th, possibly with a Boston qualifier time!  I’m looking forward to still being able to check out the expo and experience the marathon vicariously through my Dad.

On a daily basis I don’t have any pain as long as I’m taking the diclofenac.  I went off of it for a few days as an experiment and that was NOT good.  I’ve been trying to keep up some kind of workout routine by going to the gym, but I HATE the elliptical machine.  It’s not so much the fault of the elliptical, but I really just don’t like being inside.  My gym does have televisions and corresponding audio to plug into on each machine but it doesn’t take away the boredom.  The Kindle didn’t work either.  I’m looking forward to my time in Arizona so I can hike or bike every day.  I figure giving my knees a rest by not going to the gym will allow me to take full advantage of my time there (nice excuse for not working out, bah).

The weight loss has stalled in part I think from not running and in part from depression over the situation.  I’m holding steady though and that is fine for now until the holidays are over.  That said, I’ve lost a total of 15 pounds since beginning my “diet” 9/13/09.  Some have asked why I’m losing weight, I already look good, etc…which by the way is great for my ego and very sweet.  Just to reiterate, I was never overweight for my height and I realize I’m not “fat”.  However, I was 20 lbs heavier than I had ever been.  My weight prior to the surgery February 2007 was very steady for years and resulted in a nice wardrobe I’d still like to use!  Plus, now that I know I have osteoarthritis is is more important than ever to maintain a weight as low as possible to take as much pressure off my knees as I can.  I’d like to lose another 10-15 pounds but that will be more difficult with my new workout restrictions.  I still have some hope that after a rest, strengthening and weight loss I can return to a some low mileage running.

In case I don’t get to post again before next Friday, Merry Christmas!  I hope your holiday is safe, happy and filled with love and fibery goodness!

ETA:  Whoops!  I can’t believe I didn’t give the particulars!  One WHOLE skein (about 32″ left) Wollmeise merino superwash (weighed into two equal balls prior to start), toe up, Monkey lace, magic loop, two at a time. Cast on 24 for each sock. Short row heels with 10 left in center.

1. Notice how I totally avoided the preposition at the end of the sentence there? :P [↩]

Sorry, this wheel has been SOLD.

Selling my first spinning wheel only because I bought a new one. It’s an Ashford Traveller, double drive, double treadle, clear lacquer finish with two extra bobbins (total of 6) and lazy kate (does not come included with the traveller model). I’ve only had it about 2 years and spin infrequently. Works beautifully and I’d love to see it go to a good home…it was a great first wheel and easily portable.

There is only one “issue” I can see and it has been there since I put it together. For whatever reason, the screws that were sent were too long. You can decide whether to replace the screws. It doesn’t affect the function of the wheel at all and you really can’t even see them when looking at the wheel. Also, the original drive band broke, so I have a cotton replacement.

Same wheel new sells for $555. Value of extra bobbins is $22, lazy kate $20. I’m asking $485 which includes the shipping and insurance. Please feel free to ask any questions using my contact form. Even if you don’t want a wheel, maybe you know someone who does? Please spread the word so I don’t have to list it on ebay!