What I did on my Summer Vacation

OK - not a vacation, but while I was out on medical leave. I think it's important to note what I actually did, besides work on getting my knee back in shape. Besides, I'm proud that I didn't watch as much TV as I could have. No Oprah or Soaps for me. Yeah! So here's the list...

Audio Books:
Friday Night Knitting Club
Dead Until Dark
Living Dead in Dallas
Eat, Pray, Love (which was great since it was read by the author)

Books:
Peeps
The Last Days
Knit Two
Water for Elephants*
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Club Dead
Dead to the World
Dead as a Doornail
Definitely Dead
All Together Dead
From Dead to Worse
Dead and Gone
(which are all the Sookie Stackhouse novels. Sookie short stories compilation comes out Tuesday!)

There are other books between Knit Two and Girl with a Dragon Tattoo, but I can't remember off the top of my head right now.

I did 183 Word Search Puzzles (mostly when I was up in the middle of the night, in pain, and couldn't concentrate on reading)

Watched:
Doubt (OMG! Brilliant movie!)
Coraline
Season 1 of True Blood (You saw that coming right? I've got a big crush on Alexander Skarsgard. Yum)

Finishes:
Girasole
Neon Green Happy Blanket
Cammo Blanket

When you put that together with PT and exercising on the off days, seeing some friends and keeping groceries in the house (when Mom and Dad went home) I guess I kept myself busy and my mind working.

Now it's back to the real world. I could definitely be a kept woman. Know anyone who would like to keep me?

*eta the book I forgot

Woo Hoo!!!

I hit a mile stone in my weight loss. After hovering at 29.5 pound loss for two weeks, I finally dropped down below the 30 lb mark. Total lost is 32.2 lbs.

I blame physical therapy. As I said to IFT last week, I guess I'm working out now.

On that train of thought, I have 6 more weeks of physical therapy, 3 times a week. I think I'm definitely working out now.

Before Bezzie asks, that's 2 Noels and a 1/3 Katie total weight lost. ;-)

Sorry Shannon

I'm not to blame. Bezzie is.

We were discussing which knitted item will be the most worn at Rhinebeck this year. Last year it was February Lady. I think IFT and I saw 20 or more of them the first day of the fest.

Anyway, she thought maybe this little number would be high on the list - Ishbel (Ravelry Link). I'd not seen it before and when I went to look at it, well. I had to purchase it and start knitting it right away.

I bought this yarn the first year I went to Rhinebeck. It's Brooks Farm Harmony (Harmony has MINIONS?!?*) Shannon has been trying to swap me for it for a couple of years now and since she wouldn't part with any Wollmeise, we were at an impasse. LOL


I think the lace will look great when I've got it blocked. I'm happy with it and it isn't too much of a PIA to tink back, even tho the yarn is mostly mohair.

*for Bezzie

Oh yes I did!

The cammo blanket is finished! It took me a couple of days of dedicated work to get it done and I can't be happier with the results.


The afghans are folded and ready to go to the nephews. They are going away for an overnight trip since they have Monday off from school. They've asked me to take care of their dog while they're away, and I'm going to take the opportunity to leave the afghans on their beds while I'm there. This way they'll come home, go to their rooms and have a nice surprise!


The excitement is contagious.

But we like to sleep on clean sheets!

Almost there!

So close to done on this long term project. All I have to do is finish the boarder on this one. When that's done, I have the Cammo blanket to finish. It's great that we've had a cold snap. Much easier to work on the afghan when I'm not bathed in sweat.


Speaking of borders... I'm almost finished with this little number I've been working on all summer. This is Girasole and I love the way it's come out. I have abo0ut 1/3 of the border to do and then it'll be ready for washing and blocking.


I'm using Lorna's Laces Shephard Sport in Butterscotch for this one. The yarn is so soft and yummy that this shawl will be a favorite of mine for a long time.


The pattern is very easy to follow, and has short repeats so you can easily memorize as you go. I was able to pay attention to the pattern and watch TV or listen to an audio book, so you know it wasn't too complex.


I love it so much I have the yarn for another all ready and waiting. I'd happily knit another pattern by Brooklyn Tweed any time.

But I won't start that one till this one is finished. And the neon green blanket has a border.

Silly Cat

I think Katie's trying to get under the ottoman.

Lately if she isn't on me she is by my feet. It's going to be hard when I go back to work, for both of us.

Memorial Day through Labor Day

There is one accomplishment I achieved between the official start and end of the summer.

I've lost 27.5 lbs.

It's really just the tip of the iceberg. I have a lot more to lose, but I'm so proud of my loss so far. I start back on my diet this week.