Hello Weekend

What did you get in to?

Once More

My partner and I were chosen as vendors again this year!



Fair details at this link and samples of what we'll be selling can be found here

Phew! I have got to get busy folks. Come by and see us!!

Weekend

We drove north to celebrate with my sister at her baby shower this weekend. So many of my favorite women all together in one place - my girls, my mom, my dearest friend, my sister, and my niece-on-the way. I felt very very lucky.

Of course, since we were already out and about, we thought some vacation style activity was completely warranted.

I hope you're finding time for some of the simpler pleasures too!

How I'll Spend My Summer Vacation

I didn't realize how much I wanted a new sewing machine until the Perfect Storm of a July 4th coupon and in-store sale compelled me to ask hubby to get my b-day gift early. He graciously complied and didn't even blink when instead of waiting for it to come in special order, I drove a few (cough: several) extra miles to pick it up locally.

The real exercise in patience was waiting for a week to use it because I was away traveling. I took the opportunity to break it in though while the girls were at the sleepover party next door with our favorite Play Date mate (and new knitter!)

Here's what has come out from under the needle so far...

I finally attached some appliques I made many months ago to a jumper-turned-tank for Mizan

I converted a pair of old PJ pants into a small, simple tote - great way to practice the measure/measure/cut technique, different stitch types, and applying buttons

Already my favorite project, and one I'll repeat for sure...

This cutie patootie bib was created using the steps in the tutorial found here at Sew Funky. I used some cotton scraps I got in a crate at a yard sale about 4 years ago, some soft fleece fabric from a waaaay too large pair of old shorts, and an old towel for the middle. Upcycling at its best! The truck applique is a sooper sweet bonus from a going-out-of-business craft store sale.

Nancy if you're reading this - avert your eyes! I'm sure the boo boo coming next will make you cringe :) I goofed and didn't do my turning out section quite right, and found out quickly that zig zag stitch does not, in fact, fix everything.

oopsie!

I'll be much more attentive to this little (HUGE) detail next time.

I'm having such fun with all my crafty pursuits lately. Soon I'll be back here to catch you up on what's going on with my knitting needles. Wait...you didn't think that having a fabric stash would put a dent in my verve for knitting now did you??! Not a chance!

Wishing you all a fantastic week!

Celebrate, Comment & Win

Please read this touching and important post over at earthchick's blog!

Think of the impact if we all spread the word about sandhole safety, each one reach one!

These are the good old days

Happy Father's Day!

Try as they might...

...the vicious horses-with-wings we call mosquitos around here could not keep me and my long stick away from my harvest today.

Carrie Mangoes from my yard - worth every blood-sucking bite I had to endure to get them



I'm even considering sharing a small piece of one of these with someone else in the family. Then again, there are more on the tree.




Uh huh - what he said!

A Blanket for Genesis

A Blanket for Genesis, originally uploaded by mamamarce

This project was a combination of right pattern, right yarn, right timing. How often does that happen??

Pattern: Around the Rosy baby blanket, free from Woodhill Designs
Yarn: Berroco Lullaby
Hook: J/10 (6.0mm)
Mods: I omitted the 5tr bobble rounds, added some simple striping to match the center motif, and I did some rounds without increasing the stitch count to avoid rippling (thanks Ravelry!)

Like many of you that are bi-crafty, I've often avoided certain crochet patterns because they don't offer the same movement and drape as most knitting. Not so with this gem - I was so pleased with the softness of the yarn in the ball, that I could only hope it would maintain that quality when stitched up.

My first go at this yarn was a knitted blanket pattern with simple lace, but the gauge was too dense and I frogged it. This second stab at it with the hook instead of needles was just what was called for. The yarn contains DuPont Tencel (I still find that sort of strange) and nylon. It feels like bunny fluff!! That's the only way I can describe it. I just love the way the petals of this "Rosy" lay out, and this is something I'd like to be wrapped in if I were a baby. Hmmm...I do have 4 balls of it left...

This pattern was blissfully repetitive, and surprisingly portable too. It is worked outward from the center, and even though the rounds got longer and longer as it grew, I still enjoyed every step. I even found myself relaxed enough to think some loving thoughts of the recipient. My niece is due to join her two little brothers (who I am just crazy about) later this summer.

Don't be surprised if you see another one of these posted out here before the year is out.

Brought to you by Mr. Greenthumbs

I constantly tease hubby that he's got a hand full of green thumbs; he is in no way clumsy with them either - that man can tend some land! Recently he told me that some corn had randomly started sprouting shoots from our discards, and I immediately had thoughts of hundreds of stalks swaying in the breeze. He's just that good.

Our latest triumph is the renewal of a tree that was whipped to smithereens by the hurricanes of a few years ago - our Lychee (/lee' chee/) tree blooms again.

I found some interesting info on this fruit at the usual place.

Though they are still a bit sour right now, we've ben noticing that some of them are ripening and then bursting open while still on the branch. With that and the inevitable "squirrel tax", you better believe we're devouring them as fast as we can!

The sweetest part? These are usually crazy expensive in the store! It has been very very satisfying to be able to pluck them for free just by stepping out into my own yard.

Slurrrrp!

Bits and Bobs, Blankets and Babies

It feels good to be back to the fiber again. My back pain has prevented me from doing much stitching lately, but I'm combating that as much as I can with exercise, chiro visits, and sheer will. Here's a glimpse at what I'm working on...



Colorific crochet flowers - I intend to turn these into a "hippy" style belt, but for now I just find it very soothing to keep making them. My sister gifted me several of these gorgeous jewel tones of Caron Simply Soft; I'm happy to be able to finally use them.

And speaking of my sister - she's making this for me...

And I'm making this for her...

- a sooper soft blanket for the baby girl inside that belly. Click the photos for details...

I'm really enjoying having both of these projects on the go. I'm also looking forward to my knitting machine lesson coming up in 2 weeks - I hope to get rolling on that new path as soon as possible, the ideas that are brewing really make me smile...

Bonding Over Buns

Another Super Saturday - this time, a baking edition.

I went searching for a good recipe for cinnamon buns online and found this one. During my work travel this past week, one of our dinner conversations turned to the topic of making things from scratch and we all shared stories about which family member was brilliant (or awful) at specific dishes. When we got around to baking, biscuits made from scratch were a hot topic, and cinnamon buns too - mostly because the "magic" that is homemade bread dough still seems to mystify some people.

As a homeschooling lesson, making bread is a great way to teach math and fractions (for measuring ingredients), reading comprehension, science (yeast + warm liquid + flour = poof! fat dough), and the importance of following the order of specific directions. It's also a very tactile process - one that little hands will hopefully remember for many years to come. Mostly though, it is a great way to teach patience. If you are patient, and you take care with each step, the result is something very rewarding, and in this case - something wonderfully delicious (at least...that's what they told me :) ).

Fresh from the oven - bottom side

Flipped out of the pant to cool - Voila! Top side with caramel topping

Our trusty taste testers give signs of approval

The Beginning

I woke up with that thought this morning. This is not just the end of my fasting, it's the beginning of the time when I need to do better than I have done. To treat my body better, and by doing so, feel better.

I admit that brings me some anxiety. Ten days is the "normal" term for the Master Cleanse, and so on the one hand I'm proud of myself for getting this far and for being true to my intentions. On the other hand, I am fully aware that the same temptations are out there awaiting me. Sugar, bread, late night eating, emotional binges - all the things that I was battling before didn't magically disappear in a week and a half. Just as I made the decision to take a break from food, I now have to make the decision to reintroduce food that nourishes, fuels, and sustains me.

One of my online buddies has chatted and blogged about the importance of perspective when it comes to eating right. She has been a Weight Watchers counselor fors some time, and she counsels that it's key to look at healthy eating as a choice you're making for a better you, and not so much as a denial of all these things that are tough to give up. That resonates with me.

Because I have a laundry list of food intolerances and have trouble with some foods that for other people are beneficial, I often wear that like a heavy cross. When I'm more rational, I think of it more like a gift. Most of the things I'm allergic to or can't tolerate well (dairy, eggs, wheat, corn, caffeine, chocolate, wine, vinegar, yeast) just bulk me up or make me downright sick when I consume them. Admittedly they taste good, but if I see them as the system clogging substances that they actually are, they hold less appeal. My ideal eating plan includes all the vegetables I can stand, and most meats. Not bad, right? So many options there.

I am grateful for some of the clear and complete thoughts that have come to me over the last 10 days. One in particular I will carry with me. The way I use (or abuse) food is my choice. I'm blessed to live in a time and place and financial standing that allows me to eat the way I want, the way I should. I can choose to be reckless or responsible with that blessing. So at least one resolve has come of this realization: the way I eat must be a choice I renew EVERY day.

I am going to work at putting food in it's rightful place - something to be enjoyed in moderation, and to be used as fuel for all the things I want to accomplish. When traveling for work, I will find good alternatives to airport food and hotel vending machines (Anywhere I travel has a local grocery store). When good options are not available, I will drink plenty of water and wait until it is. I will take my time when deciding what to eat, and I will not eat late just because it's been several hours since my last meal.

I don't know if I'll write again about this experience today, so I'll finish up with a big THANK YOU. So many of you have reached out to send your support and it has helped more than I can express. This is one of those endeavors that might seem crazy to some, but in typical fashion you have only been kind and shared just the positive feedback and encouragement that I needed. Thanks for sticking with me while I externally processed all this.

For my friends still on this journey over the next several days, or for those considering a start - You CAN give yourself this gift. I've got my pom poms out for you, and a ready and willing ear.

Kapalua Coastal Trail, Maui

Have a FANTASTIC weekend all!

9...

I've started this post in my mind several times, and just didn't have the spare moments to string together sentences. Today has been a tough one, surprisingly so. I hesitate to write that lest I discourage someone, but there it is - today was tough. I've been really really hungry for much of the day. Not the kind of passing tummy rumblings that I've already learned to take in stride, then ignore. A real, gnawing hunger. The kind that won't be ignored, and the kind that the lemonade hasn't been quenching for long. It has caught me completely by surprise.

Even more surprising? I still don't feel tempted to eat. I really think my brain wrapped itself around the idea that this is a necessary reset for me right now, and that sacrifices must be made. The growling I hear now reminds me that my digestive system is fully functional, and it makes me mindful and aware. So much of my eating is often done unconsciously. I was at a point of snacking so often a few weeks ago, that I can't think of a time when I waited to feel anything resembling hunger before feeding my face. That right there is the BIGGEST habit I need to break. Eating for fuel is necessary. Eating out of boredom, as relief from some activity I resent, or for temporary distraction is counter-productive.

So though this hunger is powerful, it's also feeding a motivation that I'm going to need when this fast ends. Eat when I'm hungry. Not a new concept, just one I need to embrace.

Daddy did an awesome science lesson today with the girls on seeds and plants. It was the perfect day for collecting, and I'm proud of how much their little minds can soak up when they are really interested and engaged:

8 of 10

Last night was tough - I felt so down emotionally and just didn't feel like being productive after a certain point in the evening. Thankfully that resulted in an early bedtime and an early wake-up this morning.

I started out doing some Pilates and was stopped cold by a sharp pain in my lower abdomen (turns out it was some trapped air). I did the salt water flush to help clear things out and it worked like a dream!

Since this morning I have had an energy I can barely describe. I re-started (and finished) the 40 minute Pilates workout, then I cleaned my bathroom, did some work, cleaned up my kitchen, and went back to more work.

I want to remember this feeling - this energy. The way I'm feeling at this moment is exactly why I can/should/will continue to stick with this cleansing practice. I had a thought while cleaning a mirror...I have a fairly high energy level for most activities, but it has to be unlocked. It's always there at the surface, but I need a very deliberate kick start. I want to leverage that more and use it to greater benefit. By keeping my body and mind clearer, I can make much better use of it.

On another topic, but still along the lines of energy and the right kind of stimuli, I'm a BIG fan of spoken word poetry, like the kind showcased on Russell Simmons' Def Poetry Jam.

Saul Williams is one of my favorites - when you have five minutes, use it to digest and enjoy this wonderful poem called Coded Language

On the Bright Side of 7

I'm updating in a moment when I'm feeling really, really good. I started working this morning and found myself multi-tasking some things that I'd put off too long, and knocking them down one by one without feeling overwhelmed or stressed. I feel some general lightness of mind, no hunger right now, and just generally GOOD.

I cast on for the Sweethearts blanket last night:

(photo swiped lovingly from my friend Shelley who suggested
this great pattern and is knitting this along with me).

I'm stitching all the love and care I can into this for the baby of my darling friend. Soothing garter stitch and a sooooper soft yarn, Sirdar Snuggly DK in a dusky blue.

Day 6 Part 2 - The Marshmallows

Don't let the title fool you, I didn't cave and go for a fluffy sticky treat (I'm sure my body would reject that as a way to break the fast in no uncertain terms - not worth risking it).

Marshmallows played a part in the start to my morning today. I can't ignore signs, and I think I got a pretty clear one this morning. I didn't know it when I woke up, but today turned out to be one of the tougher days so far. In the late afternoon/early evening, I really started feeling sluggish and discouraged. It was a weird dichotomy - I didn't want to keep fasting, and I didn't want to start eating. Both of those feelings were equally strong and I felt like the struggle in my brain lasted for a good while (couple hours at least).

Back to the marshmallows - this morning I decided to do a short walk/jog to jumpstart my heart rate for the day. As I was getting on my sneakers, I heard the beginning of an interesting story playing on NPR's Morning Edition health segment. It talked about an experiment done in the 1960's to test the will power of children from 4 years old and up. Some very interesting results that I'll let you wander over and discover on your own, but it was meant to explore the idea that will power may be something that some people are naturally born with and others are not.

Fast forward to my walk - I had some podcasts stored up in my mp3 player and I decided to get some brain food via one of my favorites - Radio Lab. The title of the episode I played first? "Mischel's Marshmallows"! Yep - same study, same topic, same LOUD message from the universe. Today was to be a day in which my will power and my resolve would be tested.

At least - that's the way I interpreted it :)

So it was tough today - actual hunger pains, thoughts of specific foods (that's a first since I started) and a nice rosy round ZIT on my forehead that could guide ships into harbor. But with all that, I still sit here committed, waiting to stick my tongue out at Day 6 tomorrow; interested to see what Day 7 will bring. For now, I'm sitting on the patio with my yarn and a new baby blanket pattern, with a lovely breeze that should lull me into sleepiness before too long.

(All show links will take you to the NPR sites where you can listen online to the programs)

Day 6: The 2nd Half Begins

Making my intent to fast public here and on Facebook has paid off in some really great ways. My friend that originally decided to start with me on April 1st posts status updates on her FB profile and keeps me posted on how she's feeling by chat. Several people who have been considering doing the fast or some kind of cleanse have reached out for information. Writing about it has also given me motivation in moments when I have felt weak or uncertain.

But it was a post by Jessica (Ravelry profile) yesterday that convinced me that not only was it good to be open with my internet buddies about this plan, but that - once again - you never know how much you can connect to another person's experience unless you reach out.

Jessica posted her intention to start the Master Cleanse on her blog and I encourage you to read through it. Whether you're thinking about doing something like this or not, she makes some powerful commentary on our perspective on eating, and on her specific motivations to strive for wellness. Well worth a look, believe me. And if you get a moment, leave her some encouraging words - your kind support has really done wonders for me.

Today officially puts me into the 2nd half of the fast. Feeling good this morning, and surprisingly not sore after yesterday's Yoga/Pilates session. Another noticeable physical change is that my eczema has settled down and the most obvious spots that usually pop up after I eat certain foods are nowhere to be found. My scalp is doing great too, normally a problem area. Too much information?? Perhaps, but a cause for celebration there nonetheless.

Yesterday I spent time finishing and seaming this shrug for one of my best friends:

Criss Cross Shrug - A Lion Brand Pattern
Yarn is Patons' Shetland Chunky
Knit all in garter stitch on Size 11 needles
Size is 15" x 85" - just long enough for multi-wearing options
More details on my Ravelry project page

5

*Photos courtesy of our Super Saturday tradition - a day out at Okeeheelee Park

Day 5 dawned well. No headache this morning and the neck/shoulder/back stiffness I'm so used to waking up with was noticeably absent. I've read a lot about how what we eat can affect joints and various aches and pains. This is pretty tangible proof that I needed to do this cleanse - constant pain is something I've come to live with, and the lack of it is very very welcome. It is also a good motivator for the "after" phase of this cleanse. I took the girls out to a park we love yesterday and let them get some sun on their skin. I had some very noticeable up and down moments. What I feel now is no longer really hunger, not stomach rumbling or anything like that.

It's mostly momentary feelings of missing food and the part it usually plays in a day out, or a weekend that is relaxed and fun. I notice myself thinking about what I'll snack on when I get home, then immediately reminding myself that that's not actually going to happen. I've made several meals over the last couple of days so the kitchen is no longer off limits. I do notice that I look inside my pantry with a very different perspective as of this morning though.

For someone who is sort of known for "healthy" eating, I sure do have a lot of snacks in there. I'll have to do better to create a no fail environment when this fast has come to an end. Speaking of the end, I still feel completely resolved to going the entire 10 days, and have even considered going longer. I do have a bit of a hard stop though because we leave for a trip to attend a wedding on the 15th. If I were the bride (one of my closest friends) I might feel a way about someone showing up and politely declining the plate of food I just payed a bunch of money to provide :0) Actually, the real reason is that with the liquid limitations and what it takes to make the lemonade, it's not really practical for a cross-country plane trip. I'm thinking that if I do extend it, I'll go for 12 days at least and then be really strict about what I re-introduce over the period of the vacation. Probably start out with raw foods only until wedding stuff is in full swing.

Results so far? Loving the way my skin looks - already down 9 pounds, and sleeping very well at night. I haven't had any epiphanies or significant moment of clarity yet, but I'm looking forward to that based on past experience. Starting today, I'll be doing some aggressive exercise too (Pilates) to firm up the areas that are looking a little less wobbly than they were last week. Today was also the 2nd day I did the salt water flush - more on that in another post...

In the meantime I'm indulging some major startitis and casting on for whatever moves me at the moment. I think my new resolve is not to let UFOs stress me out anymore unless they are for a gift deadline. So much easier to dive into my stash and put some things on the needles whenever the mood strikes.






I'll spend some time today on my Slouchy Copy Cat Hat.


Really happy with the color of this yarn. I'm using some mods posted by Carlybee on Ravelry.

Happy stitching all!