Not knitting (well, not knitting much)
But I have been reading and doing a little bit of lots of other
things. That about sums up the last month.
But I finally do have some progress to
show...
Like these sweaters, that still need to
be blocked, and a single pair of booties (another pair to come) A set
for the twins, that finally, are close to be finished. I have
already cast on the second booties, and they are quick work.
I have been experimenting with sewing,
too, and designed a hat for the girls.. and after 3 tries, finally to
it right—now I have to get sewing before they grow again and out
grow the pattern! I am making them a little big—but hats, like
socks are something where fit really matters. I still have a 2 piece
set—skirt and jacket—for myself cut, but almost untouched–to
sew up—and there is an every lasting supply of fabric for making
other stuff. I did get the interfacing cut, and ironed on—but I
never got beyond that.
As for reading—Mark Kurlansky's book
Birdseye is currently on my night stand—or more accurately,
active on my nook-- but I have also be reading history, (a history of
Pythagoras) and essays, and even some knitting books and and
magazines. I have a huge library on my nook (190 or so books)--of
which I have read a good 50 (25%!) since I got my nook last year, and began collecting books to read. (50 books in a year is not quite a
book a week—but close!) Some of the selections I am having a hard
time warming up to. But Kurlansky? Love him! Read his book Salt
when it first came out (still haven't read Codfish) and his
book The Big Oyster was an early entry on my nook. Birdseye
is a relatively short book (Kurlansky books are almost always tomes!)
but it is interesting all the same.
If you haven't checked my web page recently, you
haven't seen the improvements there.( An other activity that has
occupied my time besides knitting. 6 new videos last week, better
overall appearance and some ease of navigation tools too. There are
now over 60 different cast on methods on the list! (And I thought
the list was complete when I first started it.. at 38! boy oh boy was
I wrong!)
And as the weather gets nicer.. more
exercise. This past winter was exceptional cold, and I became house
bound and sedentary. Yesterday a 3 mile walk (at leisurely paced )
just to get moving. Next week—It's Memorial day (a week early) and
the pool opens... The pool is heated, so those first days, when the
weather isn't really summer yet, it's still a good pool day (provided
you have a good towel to wrap yourself in.) I try to do a water
aerobic work out every time I am in the pool—Running in place,
lifting weights (or rather pushing the “floating” weights under
and keeping them there) –Leg lifts too, for crunches. Not a perfect
work out—but it keeps me moving..
One little sadness. My lovely view is
being bi-bisected. I knew from the first it wouldn't last forever—my
view was dependent on a parking lot remaining undeveloped. A real
unlikelihood in NYC.
5 years ago, a shopping mall went
up—which didn't really interfere with the view. Now an apartment
building is being added.. by the end of the week, the 59th
Street Bridge (aka Queensboro, aka Mayor Koch) will be lost to the
rising structure.
Already a big chunk of the LIE is gone,
and also the not very interesting local westward view (Queens
Mall). I will miss the bridge though, and miles and miles of uptown.
(from about 59th Street to the 80's) I won't lose my
view of mid town—or of the Triborough Bridge... but really, any
loss is a loss. Oh well. I am a victim of progress.
Tomorrow is another Nana day—The
twins have an active social life... (More walking for me, too) so I
might not post again for a few days.
