But, it's the most wonderful time of the year!

Put up my tree today!

 

I went light on the ornaments this year. I wasn't really feeling the ornaments I have, which are all in a traditional gold/red/green/frosted white scheme. I am wishing for robin's egg blue, plus gold and frosted white. Maybe next year? I also have a tree skirt and stocking my gramma sewed. Yay for Gramma! Also, do you see the tiny gray spindle ornament next to the bicycle ornament up top? My favorite.

I've been knitting baby booties lately, for an upcoming baby shower. I really should be studying for the licensing exam I have to take next Thursday... eh, I'll get to it.

Cobblestone Sweater

I love things that match or go together. I love clever patterns and interlocking things - its just how my brain works. I make things relate to other things, and it's off to the races. See if you can follow me on this one.

Last July, I participated in the Tour de Fleece, a yarn-spinning challenge that takes place during the Tour de France (which is sort of like the NCAA Final Four at our house). I spun A. Lot. Of. Yarn.  (almost 2 pounds!)

 

The color was called "Champagne" but it's also the Tour de France colors. When I saw the pattern for the  Cobblestone Pullover, I knew I had to make my own Paris-Roubaix sweater in honor of the very difficult Tour stage notorious for it's cobblestone streets. (It's also a separate race in the springtime, but whatever. It's my sweater, I can name it whatever the hell I want).

 

This sweater turned out great. The only modification was to knit a split hem so I didn't have to add any waist shaping. This was my second NaKniSweMo sweater, and it was knit in two weeks (exactly). This sweater is lightweight but very warm, and it's lovely to wear something that shows off my handspun. Hooray!

Drive-By Posting

My past two weeks have been hectic, as I was asked to fill in full-time at my workplace for someone who is out for health issues. So I have been very busy, and when I wasn't busy I was on call! My knitting has been suffering, but I managed to bang out the sleeves for my handspun Cobblestone sweater (I'm thinking of calling it my Paris-Roubaix sweater, since I spun the yarn during the Tour de Fleece last summer). I even joined the whole thing together, and am up to the yoke now:

I'm hoping to get lots more done - because in addition to my fill-in position, I have to work my own overnight shifts this weekend. I was pretty disappointed that no one was willing/able to cover for me, but it's all overtime, so my Christmas will be a little more merry with that paycheck.

Brian and I made these awesome pumpkin shakes last night and watched some Warehouse 13. I really love that show, and reccomend it highly if you were an X-Files fan back in the day, like me. Here's a shot of our yummy shakes:

Super easy! A pint of vanilla soy ice cream, a cup and a half of frozen pumpkin, and enough soy milk to make it creamy. At first I thought I should have added sugar, but it really doesn't need it. I garnished mine with nutmeg and a vegan gingerbread roll-out cookie. (It's supposed to be a star!) Yum, we will be making these again! The calorie load, though... eek. It's a milkshake, though, so what do I expect?!?

Stay warm and knit fast, friends. By the way, what are you making for Thanksgiving?

58

Since I began my weight loss adventure in March, I've lost 58 pounds through a balance of nutrition, fitness, and emotional changes. Sometimes its hard to believe I've lost that much. 7 months is a long time, and I don't always see how much my shape has changed. My clothes tell the whole story, though!

I knit myself a February Lady Sweater last August, and after losing 5" in my bust, I can't wear it anymore. So my mom jacked it from me and I re-knit it while on vacation last month.

(Lake Kincaid State Park, Falmouth, Kentucky)

In comparing the two pics of the sweater, I can really see how different I look!

Thank goodness for knitting, right?